Space

Czech Republic, like most Europe and unlike America or Australia, has to do with limited space. This influences Czech's perception of distances . Even a one-hour drive is a significant undertaking. On the other hand Czechs like to travel both within the country as well as internationally.

Building and housing space is also influenced by the constrictions of geography. Vast majority of the population (even in small towns) lives in apartment block buildings.

Mobility of Czech population is very small. Even in times of growing regional unemployment people are reluctant to move after work. This is partly caused by the shortage of rent-controlled housing but also by the strong attachment many people have to the place where they grew up.

Personal space is also smaller. See below.

Time

Czech concept of time is mostly compatible with western treatment of time as commodity. People are expected to be on time and typically are. There is a limit of 15 minutes on appointments called akademická čtvrthodinka (academic quarter-hour) but nowadays, especially in business dealing, it is inappropriate to be more than 5 minutes late.

Czech daily schedule begins and ends earlier than most of western Europe (see below).

Status

Czechs are by nature egalitarian and frown on status and its outward representation. Knowledge and ability are more worthy of respect. Czech proverb šaty dělaj člověka (clothes make a man) is very representative of this belief. So is the importance attached to academic titles (see below).

What is very important, however, is to distinguish between formal and informal language and situations to choose appropriate forms of address. Formal and informal forms of address are used even with people of same age.

The elderly have certain prerogatives by virtue of their age, for example, younger people are expected to relinquish their seats on public transportation.

Czech dress code is different from western standards. In general, Czechs frown on shabby or unruly clothing and disregard for appearance. However, they tend to dress less formally for work (a computer consultant in a suit is an exception) and more for entertainment. Even a visit to the movies or restaurant, let alone the theater, requires better clothing. Jeans worn in an opera are a surefire way of identifying a tourist.

Virtues

"Sense of Humor" and an ability to take things lightly is probably the most important quality for a person.

Modesty is a very important virtue. For example, a proper response to a compliment is not to say thank you but a statement of disagreement.

Disregard for the material is represented in tipping . You are not so much paying for service as showing disregard for small change.

Down-to-Earth Mentality is also regarded highly. King Wenceslas IV. is famous to this day for seeking advice from the commoners in disguise, and one of Václav Havel's oft-quoted virtues was his propensity to go out drinking with his buddies with only a bodyguard or two.

Family

Family ties are closer than American but often that's because of space limitations.

Drinking habits

Czechs consume the most beer per capita in the world. This number is even higher if we take into account that most Moravians prefer wine.

Wine and beer are never combined. But some drinkers will put liquor into their beer.

Eating habits

Eating out is not common among Czechs and is considered something of a treat. This is slowly changing as more western life-style is adopted by the younger generation.

Table etiquette is very important. It is considered a sign of bad upbringing not to use knife and fork in the continental manner. Making any slurping noises while eating is a gross violation of etiquette.

Traditionally, drinks are served after meals (according to traditional lore) and in some restaurants you have to ask if you want to drink before eating.

Courses of a meal are served in a strict order (soup, main course, salad, dessert) and many combinations of foods are not common or downright repulsive to a Czech person. For example, rice and fried chicken or beer and a pancake.

Hygiene

Čistota půl zdraví. (Cleanliness is half your health) is a Czech proverb showing that hygiene and cleanliness is important for Czechs. The Czech hygienic habits, however, differ from Western-European and especially American ones.

Most notably, Czechs are not as conscious of body odor as other nations (particularly Americans and the Japanese) and many do not use deodorants.

Czechs are, however, conscious of the cleanliness of their private environment. For example, when entering a home, shoes must be taken off. Another example, showering or bathing which is traditionally done before sleep to wash off the dirt of the day as well as to keep bedding clean. It is absolutely unacceptable to step in one's shoes on something used for sitting, or putting up feet with shoes on.

Education

As mentioned above, education is very important for Czechs. To obtain an academic title is an important goal for many people. See below on the use of these titles.

Czechs and foreigners

Czechs attitude to foreigners is at once superior and inferior. They ridicule them for strange habits or funny foods, and despise certain behaviors typical of tourists, but on the other hand they feel respect for other countries for their achievements be they economic, political or cultural.

Czechs and races

For the last forty years, Czechs have lived in a basically culturally and racially homogeneous environment. This resulted in latent racism present in most Czechs. 45% of the population would like for the Gypsies to leave. Czech racism is not philosophical, i.e. they do not believe that other races or nations are inherently better but through lack of contact high level of xenophobia (i.e. fear of the unknown) developed, sometimes bursting into racist violence.

Romany/Gypsy: The only significant racial and cultural minority are the target of most racist attacks.

Black: Blacks have no negative connotations for Czechs and the major part of Czech attitude to them may be described as timidity.

Asian : Czechs mostly come in contact Vietnamese street vendors who are known for cheap, lower-quality goods and are considered hard-working and harmless.

The skinhead movement, however, is distinctly racist and its members, distinguished by cropped hair and green jackets, are responsible for most violence.