May 2025: Everything you need to know this month in Czechia

Starting in May, Czech municipalities must provide places in kindergartens or children’s groups for all three-year-olds or pay parents about CZK 5,000 monthly if no spot is available. Kindergarten enrollment (zápis) runs from May 2 to 16.

Starting May 1, the monthly TV license fee in the Czech Republic will rise by CZK 15, to CZK 150, and the radio fee will increase by CZK 10, to CZK 55. Households with internet access who watch TV must now pay the fees, even without owning a TV or radio. Foreigners with long-term or permanent residence permits are treated like Czech citizens and are therefore obligated to pay. Read more in our article.

The deadline for submitting your online tax return for 2024 is May 2. Self-employed people must do this via their data box. You have until the start of July if a registered financial advisory/accounting firm or person does it on your behalf. You may find and complete all electronic forms on the Moje daně (My Taxes) portal.

As a self-employed person, you must show your tax return and submit reports on your income and expenses to your health insurance company (usually VZP) and the Social Security Administration within a month of submitting your return. You can send these via your data box. People who submitted their tax returns around the end of April thus have until the end of May to do this. 

The deadline for paying real estate tax is May 31 at the latest. The exception is when the annual tax liability exceeds CZK 5,000: in this case, the owner can pay the tax in two installments—half at the end of May and the other by Nov. 30. The most convenient ways to pay are through internet banking or a Czech Post branch. You may also do it via your data box.

Banks, government offices, and similar institutions will be closed on this public holiday on May 1. Schools and most universities will also be closed. However, major shops over 200 square meters in size will stay open. As part of Labor Day, the Liechtenstein Palace, which was chosen as the residence of many Bohemian nobles, will be open to the public for tours.

In Czechia, May 1 is also celebrated as a day of love, inspired by the romantic poetry of Karel Hynek Mácha. Couples traditionally visit blooming cherry trees, where they kiss beneath the blossoms to ensure love and happiness throughout the year. Prague's Petřín Park is an especially popular spot: namely, the Karel Hynek Mácha statue.  

Liberation Day (also known as Victory Day), celebrated on May 8, marks the end of World War II. Banks, public offices, most schools, and shops over 200 square meters will close, though pharmacies, gas stations, and shops at transport hubs and hospitals remain open. Delivery services operate normally. A public holiday, most have the day off work.

Commemorative events include a historical battle reenactment in Prague 4’s Nusle district and a photo exhibition with witness testimonies on Strossmayer Square in Prague 7. Pilsen’s Liberation Festival (May 2–6) features a World War II tank parade, air shows, and appearances by veterans and army units.

Between May 1 and May 30, tram service will be suspended between Zahradní Město and Nádraží Hostivař due to track repairs, with replacement buses X22 (day) and X97 (night) operating via Skalka. From May 8 to May 10, trams will not run between Strossmayerovo náměstí and Výstaviště due to roadworks.

Simultaneously, from May 8 to May 11, service will be interrupted between Palackého náměstí and Výtoň for structural renovations, affecting lines 2, 3, 7, 17 and more, with several route adjustments and the cancellation of line 21. See the English-friendly Prague Public Transport Company site for more details.

On the morning of May 4, around 8,000 runners will take part in the 30th edition of the Prague International Marathon. Be aware of heavy public-transport and traffic disruption, which start from the early hours of May 4 and end around the early afternoon.

The race starts at Old Town Square, and runs through Celetná, Na Příkopě, and Národní streets, all of which will be closed to motor traffic. Participants will also run on Masarykovo nábřeží and Sematnovo nábřeží parallel to the Vltava River.

Microsoft has confirmed that Skype, a platform used by many to place calls abroad, will officially shut down on May 5. According to Microsoft’s official announcement, users will no longer have access to their call and messaging history or contacts list once the service is shut down unless they take action before the deadline. 

If yo'ure planning on doing yard work with the onset of warm weather, burning leaves, grass, and plant waste is now banned across Czechia under an amended Waste Act. The law overrides local rules and aims to reduce pollution. Fines can reach 50,000 crowns. Campfires for grilling and events are still allowed. Residents should compost or use brown biowaste bins.

Ticks in Czechia are spreading to higher altitudes due to climate change, experts say, with numbers up 75 percent since 2021. A mobile app, Tick App, now tracks tick activity and infections in urban areas. Public users can report tick findings to improve mapping and awareness of health risks across the country.

On May 8, the Czech Senate and Chamber of Deputies host Open Days. Visitors can explore the Wallenstein Palace, including the normally closed Meeting Hall and Kolovrat Palace. The Chamber of Deputies allows access to its main hall, committee offices, and other representative spaces from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with entry from Malostranské náměstí. The Hrzán Palace, typically used by the prime minister, will also be open.

May 18 is International Museum Day, with many institutions opening their doors, exhibitions, and expositions for free or at reduced admission prices. Some of the museums and galleries taking part are: the National Gallery Prague, the National Museum, Schwarzenberg Palace, and the Museum of the Capital City of Prague.

This year's International Museum Day will be preceded by the 21st annual Museum Nights Festival, organized by the Association of Museums and Galleries of the Czech Republic. Further, this resource from the state CzechTourism shows participating institutions open during daytime.

The 2025 Open House Prague event takes place from May 12 to May 18. The 11th edition of the festival will open 125 buildings and spaces around the capital city. While tours at the open buildings are free with no prior registration necessary, some accompanying events do require a reservation or the purchase of tickets. Notable buildings include Clam-Gallas Palace, Faust House, and Hrzán Palace.

On the night of May 23, the Night of Churches offers free tours of churches and places of worship, allowing visitors to explore usually inaccessible spaces like crypts and towers, with some sites hosting concerts and lectures. Last year, over 1,850 locations registered for the event.

On May 31 (and June 1), the public will have a rare chance to explore Prague’s municipal and private vineyards, many of which are usually closed to visitors. This event invites guests to taste local wines in their original, often heritage-protected settings. Lysolaje vineyard (Prague 6), Svatojánská vineyard (Prague 1), and Vinice Máchalka (Prague 9) all feature.