Packing Tips for Students Moving to Czechia

Written by Nick

What to Pack?

Packing for your study abroad semester can feel overwhelming, but focusing on three core categories—clothing, personal hobbies, and comforts from home—can help you stay grounded and prepared.

The Czech climate is characterized by long, wet winters, and contrasted by short, but hot summers. Upon arrival in September, be expecting 25-35C weather. Humidity may not be too high, but it can still get very hot and sunny – make sure you bring sunscreen and a water bottle. However, the fall will come quickly, dropping down to 5-10C, and then eventually 0C in the dead of winter – bringing warm coats, thick clothing, and base layers can be especially helpful. While it does not rain hard here, it can still be very wet and dreary; be prepared with an umbrella, hat, and/or raincoat.

Don’t underestimate how important your personal interests will be during your time abroad. Whether you love reading, journaling, knitting, sports, or sketching, bringing a few hobby-related items will help you relax and reconnect with yourself when adjusting to your new environment. There are also very many facebook groups out there with all sorts of hobbies and activities if you ever want to meet other people with your hobbies.

Finally, please bring at least something that can serve as a reminder of home. Sooner or later, it is inevitable that you will become homesick, and it is important to have things to help you with these emotions. For this reason, I believe it is important to always give yourself a connection with home.

What NOT to Pack?

Avoid packing things that are heavy, bulky, or already provided. Save your luggage space (and your back!) by skipping the following:

Kitchen appliances (pots, pans, kettle, etc) should be greatly avoided with packing. These are big, bulky, and heavy, and take up precious packing space. Instead, you should opt for buying them after moving in. Stores like Lidl, Kaufland, and IKEA all have good priced, accessible kitchenware that you will need.

Bedding and pillows should also be avoided as the dormitory provides all of this for you; it will be waiting in your room. Tuesdays and Thursdays, every week, you may exchange your sheets for news sheets with the accommodation, for free! If you decide that you want a better pillow, simply order online at Alza or IKEA.

Lastly, avoid overpacking with things like cleaning products, dish towels, or dishes. These are not only cheap to buy locally, but are also better shared with roommates. Coordinate together and split costs—it’s more affordable and helps prevent duplicate clutter in small spaces.