Recently I came across a ranking of Czech cities compiled through analysis of various data - accessibility of schools, hospitals, number of young people (and single girls, yum-yum) in the city, and even the ecological situation.
If anyone's interested, the list itself is here. And I'll tell you about several best cities according to their version and say if I agree with them.
Generally, in my opinion, today it's extremely important that a city has the following: good transport, healthcare accessibility and a large number of services. I'm not thinking about schools, ecology and political situation yet, but I keep that in mind too.
I've been living in Prague for 5 years, visited many European cities and still consider Prague one of the best cities. Let's go through the list.
First Place - Říčany u Prahy
I visited this city literally a week ago. It's about 15 minutes drive from Prague, so essentially uses all its infrastructure. The city is small, well-kept. The difference that immediately catches the eye - lots of people, and especially many children.
Didn't take many photos there because essentially there's nothing to photograph - it's quiet and clean. For example, here's a playground:
So why is this city good? I think because of real estate - prices there are very high by Czech standards. And where there's money, there's convenience.
Second Place - Prague
Nothing to say here - almost everything is good. Hospitals that cured me, university that teaches me. Here I got on my feet because here it's possible.
Everything is good here, except that housing here in the last 5 years has become so expensive that I'll probably never be able to buy it.
Third Place - Černošice
Haven't been yet, but planning to. Town near Prague. Nothing comes to mind yet.
4. Třeboň
Very cool city in southern Czech Republic, I already wrote about it. I really liked it there, apparently not for nothing. The only minus - far from Prague, meaning infrastructure and work will be worse.
5. Trhové Sviny
No idea what this is. If I at least heard about Černošice, about this - nothing at all. Located near České Budějovice, so getting there is problematic.
6. Beroun
I was in Beroun back in 2015 and liked everything. God knows why I never wrote about it, despite the story of visiting it being quite funny, because there I saw my only Oscar-winning director in person. If interested, I'll tell soon.
Memories of the city - everything's OK. Quiet, calm, while the city isn't really small, meaning there's where to walk. And the best part - nearby is very cool nature, Karlštejn Castle and all that
7. Brandýs nad Labem - Stará Boleslav
City near Prague consisting of two cities. With a long history.
I haven't been there yet, will go soon, I'm curious what's there.
8. České Budějovice
I've been there too (part 1, part 2). Honestly - so-so in my opinion. As seen in the photo - the center is OK. But the minus - the city is big, and you can immediately see transport problems (especially after Prague).
People also looked kinda poor, services - nothing interesting, little work, and worst of all - the city is very touristy, so poorly suited for living. You might object that Prague is also a touristy city - I disagree, for residents it's much better and more convenient, though it's not immediately noticeable.
9. Hustopeče
Again no idea, never heard. Way down south, almost in Austria (apparently that's why all the goodies)
10. Turnov
Was there quite recently, but not in the city itself, in Bohemian Paradise. Started the journey from the city of Turnov. Unfortunately, didn't really see the city itself, only one street. But by appearance - nothing interesting, all standard.
11. Plzeň
One of my favorite cities, always happy to return there, because when someone from acquaintances comes, we always take them on a brewery tour.
The city is relatively close to Prague, I heard work is good there. The city is big, has everything. And of course, if a city has trams, the city can't be bad.
12. Litomyšl
I haven't been there myself, but I like to ask my Czech colleagues directly - what cities they like, what cities will get richer etc. A couple Czechs claimed they really like Litomyšl.
Don't know why yet, but will definitely go.
13. Rychnov nad Kněžnou
No clue
14. Židlochovice
No clue
15. Domažlice
City in western Czech Republic, almost Germany already. Haven't been there, but while writing the article, looked at photos - will definitely go.
16. Brno
I was in Brno (in Czech Brno is declined, and in my opinion, it suits it even better) but only once. In summer right after a year of study in Poděbrady. Didn't take photos because I was a loser then.
The city made a good impression. Known for the fact that between Prague and Brno residents there's a decent feud, like between St. Petersburg and Moscow. It's believed that idiots live in Brno, and stuck-up people in Prague.
I really liked the city then, except that in places it reminded me of a real backwater village. From the funny - my colleague and I went to Cologne for work, stayed in a hotel 20 minutes from the city center. You probably imagine Cologne, and Germany in general, like this:
But Cologne is like this:
And there, when we bought a bottle of beer in a kiosk with bars on the windows(!), around which Turks and gopniks hung out (!!), which closed at 8(!!!), I was walking and sighed: "What kind of Brno is this?". After that "What kind of Brno is this" became a local meme of our company. I still don't know why.
17. Nové Město nad Metují
The name speaks for itself - nobody knows what it is. But I have a colleague from my former job from there, he's a decent guy, so the city is probably good too.
18. Kralupy nad Vltavou
I was there, the city was kind of depressing, in my opinion. Very residential - solid panel buildings.
But in comments a guy wrote: "Complete nonsense. Come to Kralupy now in 2018. Lots of tourists. Streets are clean. And the main difference - cultured people". So I'll need to look again.
Well, that's it, enough for you. What's surprising, you probably think - he's been nowhere in Czech Republic at all, scrub.
And the joke is I've already traveled almost all of Czech Republic, literally almost nothing remains. I just try to go to cities where at least 10 thousand live.