Ahoj, Monday! 5 tips for the week ahead in Czechia

The 94th annual Academy Awards were handed out during a gala ceremony in Los Angeles last evening, and Prague's Kino Světozor has been celebrating early this week by screening many of the award-winning features. Catch a screening of this year's Best Picture at the Prague cinema on March 16.

The Czech Lion Awards were also handed out this weekend, honoring the top Czech films of 2024. The controversial historical drama Brothers won Best Picture, while the sci-fi movie Restore Point earned five awards. Both can streamed with English subtitles on Netflix in the Czech Republic.

Prague's two-day Career Expo from March 13-14 offers career counseling, networking, and insights into industry trends. Attendees can engage with representatives from over 120 companies, including Amazon and Raiffeisenbank, to explore job opportunities in various languages.

Panel discussions and expert talks will even include a speech by Expats.cz CEO Martin Howlings. The Career Expo takes place at O2 universum in Prague 8, with free entry upon registration.

Easter markets welcoming spring are always one of Prague’s top annual attractions, and the Old Town Square seasonal market will open on March 16 and run through April 7. The traditional Wenceslas Square and Náměstí Republiky markets will run during the same time window.

The start of spring is also a great time to see some of the new blooms atop Prague's Petřín Hill, but be prepared for a walk if you head there over the next two weeks. The Petřín funicular railway will be out of operation between March 11 and March 27 for regular spring maintenance work.

The Barrandov Bridge reconstruction commences on Monday, aiming to connect two stages, reducing the overall duration by a year. Despite potential delays, the repairs are expected to conclude by the end of summer. As of now, traffic disruptions are minimal, and no accidents have been reported. The current phase focuses on the right lane from Braník to Smíchov, with three open lanes.

Former US President Bill Clinton is now in Prague ahead of the Our Security Cannot Be Taken for Granted conference on March 12, which will mark 25 years of Czech NATO membership.

The event at Prague Castle will feature Clinton alongside former NATO Secretary General George Robertson and Czech President Petr Pavel, and reflect on Clinton's pivotal role in NATO's expansion, with discussions encompassing European security and the alliance's future. Clinton's ties to Prague date back to a 1970 student visit.

Another Tuesday event will mark the Czech NATO anniversary: Fighter jets will fly over Prague on March 12 along the Vltava River. The formation includes Czech Gripen fighters and German Typhoons, symbolizing NATO cooperation. The planes can be spotted over the Charles Bridge at 10:30 a.m.