The art of making Czechs like you: An etiquette masterclass for expats

“Mohu dostat ještě trochu ledu?” I recited carefully to the person behind the café counter. Smiling, she took my glass and dumped a small scoop of ice into it.

The mission was a success, and on multiple counts. Not only did she understand my Czech and give me ice, but she also smiled at the effort.  

As a three-time expat in Prague (and nine-time expat altogether) I consider the good opinion of my hosts essential and expend much energy and effort to earn it. This is not just about respect and practical living strategies, but an appreciation of the cultural access and goodwill locals can provide. 

Earn the friendship of a Czech, and you may be whisked away one early spring day to a small village near Pardubice and taught to weave a rod, color eggs with onion peels, learn a song, and whack behinds in Velikonoce festivities. Or you might find a spot on the guest list for a Czech concert at Klub Doupě, or be shown a great café and park in Pankrác with nary a tourist.

Indeed, it’s these local connections that have made the most memorable experiences during my expat tenures in the UK, Estonia, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Turkey.

Now that I’ve returned to Prague and am determined to make it permanent, making a good impression on Czechs is more important than ever. And it takes more than time and technique, but a deeper understanding not only of what makes Czechs tick but what ticks them off.  

To get a sense of what makes a good impression in Czechia, I spoke with etiquette expert Ladislav Špaček, a writer, educator, and former press secretary to Václav Havel; Libor Neuwirth, who runs Czech etiquette courses and training; and Prague guides Vaclav Zahradnik and Valerija Zahradnikova, who have spent more than years observing how foreigners interact with Czechs as the co-founders of Real Prague Guides.

While all admit to a range of perspectives and philosophies among Czechs, they do suggest new arrivals and expats embrace the following protocols to make the best Czech impression.