Babysitters

Baby sitting service can usually be arranged at your hotel. In case your hotel does not provide baby sitting service, below is a list of agencies that you can contact in case of need.

Tetty – Baby Sitting
Address: Na Pískách 88, Prague 6
Phone: +420 233 341 588, mobile: +420 603 819 403
Website: www.tetty.cz

Baby Domestica
Address: Lidická 7, Prague 5 – Smíchov.
Hours of Operation: daily from 9am to 5pm
Orders can be placed non-stop by phone: +420 257 322 363,
Website: www.domestica.cz

ABC Agency
Babysitting, help with housework, service for seniors, etc.
Address: Janovského 920/34, Prague 7 – Holešovice
Mobile: +420 603 812 839
Website: hlidani.matrok.cz

Bookstores (Prague)

The largest English-language bookshops in Prague:

The Globe
Address: Pstrossova 6, Praha 1
Tel. 224-934-203
Website: www.globebookstore.cz

Big Ben Bookshop
Address: Malá Stupartská 5, Praha 1
Tel. 224-826-565
Website: www.bigbenbookshop.com

U Knihomola
Address: Mánesova 79, Praha 2
Tel. 222-729-348

Neoluxor
Address: Václavské nám. 41, Praha 1
Tel. 221-111-364
Website: www.neoluxor.cz

Calling From/To Czech Republic

Calling Czech Republic from outside the country
- The country code for the Czech Republic is 420.
- To call the Czech Republic from outside the country, dial the international access prefix, then “420,” and then the nine-digit Czech number.

To call our office from the U.S. dial: 011-420-773-103-102
When calling from UK dial: 010-420-773-103-102
When calling from Ireland dial: 00-420-773-103-102
When calling from Australia dial: 0011-420-773-103-102
When calling from Singapore dial: 001-420-773-103-102
Calling Within the Czech Republic
- Now that most people in Prague have mobile phones, working phone booths are harder to find.
- If you can’t find a working booth on the street, the telephone office of the main post office is the best place to try.
- There are no regional or area codes in the Czech Republic.
- Numbers that start with the first three digits running from 601 to 777, however, are mobile phones and the charge may be correspondingly higher.
- When calling a Czech number from within the Czech Republic, do not use the country code or any prefixes; simply dial the nine-digit number.

Calling Outside the Czech Republic
- A call to the United States or Canada, for example, would begin 00-1, followed by the U.S. or Canadian area code and number.
- International Operator (133004)
- International Directory Assistance (1181).

Calling Cards
- With the prepaid Karta X (300 Kc to 1,000 Kc), rates to the U.S. are roughly 13 Kc per minute; a call to the U.K. costs about 12 Kc per minute.
- The cards are available at many money-changing stands and can work with any phone once you enter a 14-digit code. You do not need to find a booth with a card slot to use the cards.

Country Codes & International Area Codes For Dialing Abroad
www.howtocallabroad.com/czech-republic/

Car Break-Ins & Car Theft

- Car break-ins are the leading type of property crime in Prague.
- The advice here is simple: never leave valuables in your car.
- Car theft is also quite common in the Czech Republic although the situation has gotten a little better in recent years.
- To prevent your car from being stolen or broken into, always park it in a guarded parking lot or a parking garage.
- Don’t leave your car on the street if you don’t have to.

Clothing

In general, pack for comfort rather than for style. Casual dress is the norm for everyday wear, including at most restaurants. Shorts for men are not as common in Prague as they are in North America.

In the evening, long pants are the norm, even in summer. Many areas are best seen on foot, so take a pair of sturdy walking shoes and be prepared to use them. High heels will present considerable problems on the cobblestone streets of Prague.

Toiletries and personal-hygiene products have become relatively easy to find, but it’s always a good idea to bring necessities when traveling in outlying areas.

Conversions

Visit popular conversion website for conversions of length, temperature, speed, volume, weight, area, currency, etc: www.onlineconversion.com

Customs

What You Can Bring Into the Czech Republic
- Czech Customs laws are usually lax, but official allowances for importing duty-free goods are:
- 200 cigarettes (or 250g of tobacco),
- 1 liter of alcohol (or 2 liters of wine),
- and 50 grams of perfume (or .25 liters of toilet water).
- Most items brought for personal use during a visit aren’t liable to import duty.
- Gifts are taxable if the quantity and value aren’t in keeping with the “reasonable needs” of the recipient.
- There are no longer any currency restrictions at borders, but transactions over 500,000Kc ($20,800) must be declared by financial institutions.
- Live farm animals, plants, produce, coffee, and tea may not be imported, but household pets can enter with an international health certificate.

What You Can Take Home fromt the Czech Republic
- There are few restrictions on what you can take out of the Czech Republic.
- The main exception is items with special historical or cultural value.
- To be exported, an antique or work of art must have an export certificate.
- Reputable shops should be willing to advise customers on how to comply with the regulations.
- If a shop can’t provide proof of the item’s suitability for export, be wary.
- Under certain circumstances, you can receive a refund of the 19% value-added tax payable on:
- purchases over 2,500 Kc, provided the goods are taken out of the country soon after purchase.
- Ask about “Tax Free Shopping” at the store when you purchase the goods and make sure to collect all of the necessary stamps and receipts. You can get a cash refund at the airport.

Citizens of USA
- For specifics on what you can bring back, download the invaluable free pamphlet Know Before You Go online at www.cbp.gov. (Click on “Travel,” and then click on “Know Before You Go! Online Brochure”)
- Or contact the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP), 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20229 (tel. 877/287-8667) and request the pamphlet.

Citizens of Canada
- Ask for the booklet I Declare, issued by the Canada Border Services Agency (tel. 800/461-9999 in Canada, or 204/983-3500; www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca).

Citizens of the U.K.
- Who are returning from a European Union (E.U.) country will go through a separate Customs Exit (called the “Blue Exit”) especially for E.U. travelers.
- In essence, there is no limit on what you can bring back from an E.U. country, provided the items are for personal use (this includes gifts), and you have already paid the necessary duty and tax.

Citizens of Australia
- A helpful brochure available from Australian consulates or Customs offices is Know Before You Go.
- For more information, call the Australian Customs Service at tel. 1300/363-263, or log on to www.customs.gov.au.

Citizens of New Zealand
- For more information, contact New Zealand Customs, The Customhouse, 17-21 Whitmore St., Box 2218, Wellington (tel. 04/473-6099 or 0800/428-786; www.customs.govt.nz).

Customs Offices (Prague)

Customs Offices (Prague)

Celni urad Praha (Prague Customs Office)
Prague 8, Podolská 22, phone 224 816 256
Celnice Hlavni nadrazi (Main Railway Station Customs Office)
Praha 2, Wilsonova 80, phone 224 221 905
Celnice Ruzyne (Ruzyne Customs Office)
Praha 6, , Aviatická 12/1048, Ruzyne Airport, phone 220 113 100
Vyclivaci posta (Customs Clearance Post Office)
Praha 5, Plzenska 139, phone 257 019 102

website: http://www.mfcr.cz/cps/rde/xchg/mfcr/hs.xsl/en.html

Czech Language & Basic Phrases

Czech Language
Czech is one of the West Slavic languages, along with Slovak, Polish and Lusatian Sorbian. It is spoken by most people in the Czech Republic and by Czechs all over the world (about 12 million native speakers in total). Czech is quite close to and mutually intelligible with Slovak and, to a lesser degree, to Polish or to Sorbian in East Germany. As for the relation between Czech and Slovak, speakers of these languages usually understand the other language pretty well both in its written form and spoken. Apart from Czech language, which is the language of 98% of the population

Czechs And Foreign Languages
Czechs can be divided into three groups: The first one, the older generation – above 70 years old, speaks German, the middle group, people between 30 and 70 should be able to speak Russian as most of them studied it at school. Young people speak English. English is more and more popular among the older generations too – it’s the language of business and trade and a lot of people attend language courses in order to catch up with the rest of the world.

Learn Basic Czech Words
It pays to learn few basic Czech words and phrases; you might get a more warm welcome by local people if you suprice them with Czech words on your lips:

Hi, Hello – (informal) Ahoj
Help – Pomoc
Please – Prosim (PRO-seem)
Thank you – Dekuji (D’-e-kwee-ee)
Yes – Ano (AW-no)
No – (Ne neh)
Hello – (Dobry den DOE-bree-den)
Goodbye – Na shledanou – (NA SKLE-dawn-o)
Do you speak English?- Mluvite anglicky? (MLOO-vee-tay awn-GLITS-kee?)
Good evening – Dobry vecer
Good night – Dobrou noc
One – Jeden (he), Jedna (she), Jedno (it) (YED-en, YED-na, YED-no )
Excuse me – Prominte (Pro-MIN-tay)
Where is …? – Kde je…? (GDAY ye … ?)
Where is the metro? – Kde je metro? (GDAY ye metro?)
Where is the bathroom? – Kde jsou toalety? (GDAY sow TOWA-aletty?)
One beer – Jedno pivo (YED-no pi-vo.)
Please, you are welcome – prosim (PRO-seem)
Another (beer), please – Jeste jedno (pivo), prosim (YESH-ty-e YED-no (pi-vo), PRO-seem)
How much does it cost? – Kolik to stoji? (Koe-LEEK toe STOY yee?)
Washroom, Toilet; – Zachod, WC
Currency exchange – Smenarna
I do not understand – Nerozumim
I need…- Potrebuju…
It is too expensive – To je moc drahe
Police – Policie
Thank you – Dekuju

Web tutorial
- A clever illustrated web tutorial is found at www.czechprimer.org.

Drinking Water

You don’t have to fear drinking water from the tap. Only the water in trains is not for drinking.

Electricity

- DO bring an adaptor if you plan to use American appliances.
- The Czech Republic uses the 220V system common throughout Western Europe; plugs have two rounded prongs.
- You will need a voltage converter, or (if your appliance has a 120/220V switch) a plug adaptor to use your electrical appliances, PCs, etc. in the Czech Republic.
- The adaptors are available in hardware and travel stores throughout the US.
- Steve Kropla’s Help for World Traveler’s (www.kropla.com) has information on electrical and telephone plugs around the world.
- Walkabout Travel Gear (www.walkabouttravelgear.com) has good coverage about electricity under “adapters.”

Emergency Numbers

- Fire, tel 150
- Emergency road service, tel 154
- Ambulance, tel 155
- Municipal police, tel 156
- Police, tel 158
- ÚAMK Emergency Roadside Assistance, tel 1230. (www.uamk.cz).
- Searching for phone numbers locally, tel 1180
- Searching for phone numbers internationally, tel 1181
- National operator, tel 133002

Emergency Services to Motorists

Emergency Services to Motorists

UAMK CR – Assistance Service to Motorists in the Czech Republic
SOS number: (+ 420) 1230
Emergency services to motorists – 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.
Information system to the drivers – traffic, motoring and touring information.

More information:
Adress: Na Rybníčku 16, 120 00 Praha 4
Tel: +420 261 104 279
Fax: +420 261 104 278
Url: www.uamk.cz
Email: info@uamk.cz

ABA – Autoklub Bohemia Assistance, a.s.
SOS number: (+420) 1240
Assistance services – nonstop call centre for Czech Republic and Europe
Information on-line traffic information from all over Czech Republic.

More information:
Adress: Střelničná 1680/8, 182 00 Praha 8
Tel.: (+420) 222 241 257
Url: www.aba.cz
Email: aba@aba.cz

Entry Requirements

- Regarding non-European states, citizens of the USA, Mexico, Canada, Argentina, the Korean Republic (South-Korea), Malaysia, Chile, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and Israel are not required to have visas.
- All other nationalities must have a visa. These can be obtained from the Czech embassy offices abroad.
- Foreign visitors to the Czech Republic must have a passport valid at least 90 days beyond the time of their planned stay in the Czech Republic.
- Immigration officers may require a foreign visitor arriving in the Czech Republic to produce a certificate of travel health insurance for the intended time of stay.
- Children inscribed in their parents’ passports can travel with their parents up to the age of 15.
- Once the child has reached the age of 15, a separate passport is necessary.
- Citizens of European countries are not required to have a Czech visa with the exception of Albania, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Macedonia.
- Bearer of Czech tourist visa must register at any Czech Immigration Police Station within 3 days after arrival in the Czech Republic.
- Visitors staying in hotels are registered automatically.

Foreign Missions to the Czech Republic

Czech Missions Abroad

Find Your Address

Hire Our Local Area Assistant
In the past I have assisted journalists, photographers, people relocating to the Czech Republic and many others. Knowing local conditions, our experienced assistants will help you quickly find your desired location and help you overcome problems or complications with the language barrier. Contact us for details.

Original Map of Prague

Prague Information Service
Find desired place according to different criteria (shopping, monuments, parks, etc.)
http://www.pis.cz/en/prague/addresses

Foreign Embassies (Prague)

Embassy of the United States of America
Tržiště 15, Praha 1, 118 01
Tel: 257 530 663, 257 532 716 (after hours)
Fax: 257 530 583 (Ambassador’s Fax)
Office Hours: 08.00 – 16.30 (Mo-Fri)

Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Thunovská 14, Praha 1, 118 00
Tel: 257 402 111
Fax: 257 402 296
Office Hours: 08.30 – 12.30 13.30 – 17.00

Canadian Embassy
Muchova 6, Praha 6, 160 00
Tel: 272 101 800
Fax: 272 101 890
Office Hours: 08.00 – 12.30 13.30 – 16.00 (Mo-Fri)

Consulate of the Commonwealth of Australia
Klimentská 10, Praha 1, 110 00
tel: 296 578 350, 296 578 351
fax: 296 578 352
Office Hours: 09.00 – 13.00 14.00 – 17.00 (Mo-Fri)

Irish embassy
Tržiště 13, Prague 1, 118 00
Tel: 257 530 061-4,
E-mail: irishembassy@iol.cz
09.00 – 13.00, 14.00 – 17.00

Belgian embassy
Valdštejnská 6, Prague 1 – Malá Strana, 118 01
Tel: 257 533 283 – 287
E-mail: Ambabel-Prague@mbox.vol.cz
08.30 – 12.30, 14.00 – 17.00 /Mon – Thurs/08.30 – 12.30, 14.00 – 16.00 /Fri/

Danish embassy
Maltézské náměstí 5 P.O. Box 25, Prague 1 – Malá Strana
Tel: 257 531 600,
E-mail: prgamb@um.dk
08.30 – 16.30 /Mon – Fri/

Israeli embassy
Badeniho 2, Prague 7, 170 06
Tel: 233 097 500, 233 097 513, 233 097 515
09.00 – 12.00 /Mon – Fri/

German embassy
Vlašská 19, Prague 1, 118 01
Tel: 257 113 111, 257 531 481
E-mail: ZReg@Prag.auswaertiges-amt.de
08.00 – 16.30 /Mon – Thurs/ 08.00 – 15.00 /Fri/

Dutch embassy
Gotthardská 6/27, Prague 6 – Bubeneč, 160 00
Tel: 224 312 190
E-mail: nlgovpra@ti.cz
09.00 – 13.00, 14.00 – 17.00

Swiss embassy
Pevnostní 7, P.O.Box 84, Prague 6, 162 01
Tel: 220 400 611
E-mail: Vertretung@pra.rep.admin.ch
Mon, Tues/ 08.00 – 13.15 14.00 – 18.00 /
Wed/ 08.00 – 13.15, 14.00 – 17.00 /Thurs/ 08.00 – 14.00 /Fri/

List of all foreign embassies in Prague
http://www.infocesko.cz/Czechia/content/clanek.aspx?clanekid=6495&lid=2

Gay and Lesbian Scene (Prague)

- The majority of Czechs don’t like, or are not accustomed to, seeing same sex affection in public.
- Recently the government approved same sex marriage but still it is recommended keeping those relations discreet.
- On the other hand there’s quite a few gay bars and nightclubs where you can feel comfortable.
- For more info about Prague Gay and Lesbian scene check ww.amigo.cz (monthly magazine) or www.gaynet.com.
- There’s also printed publications for lesbians called “Alia” and “Promluv”.
- Note that the age of consent is fifteen whatever is your sexual orientation.

Prague Gay Community
- Bar 21,Prague 1, Římská 21 tel: 724 254 048
- Fajn bar, Prague 2, Dittrichova 5, tel: 224 917 409
- Friends, Prague 1, Bartolomějská 11
- Fusion, Prague 2, Šafaříkova 11, tel: 608 071 058
- Prague 2, Budečská 18, tel: 224 254 470
- Chameleon, Prague 2, Slovenská 19, tel: 724 352 770
- U Rudolfa, Prague 1, Mezibranská 3, tel: 605 872 492
- Saints, Prague 2, Polska 32 tel: 222 250 326
- Reviera, Prague 2, Balbínova 26, tel: 606 817 753
More Information In the Prague Gay Guide
http://prague.gayguide.net/Gay_Guide/Cafes/

Health Issues, Care, Hospitals, 24 Hours Pharmacies, etc.

Health Issues
- There are no health risks associated with traveling to the Czech Republic.
- The hygiene standards are reasonably high and the risk of infectious diseases (other than the seasonal flu) is low.
- No vaccinations or immunizations are required (or even recommended) unless coming from an infected area.
- The tapwater is safe to drink, although it may have an unpleasant odor due to chlorination; bottled spring water is available everywhere.
- As there are no international agreements in place between the US and the Czech Republic regarding free emergency medical care, we recommend that you purchase travel medical insurance prior to traveling.
- In the case of an emergency, you should call for an ambulance; the toll-free number is 155; try to have a Czech-speaking person assist you with the call.

Health Care
- In the event of an acute illness or accident foreign tourists can receive treatment in any hospital or first aid facility.

Hospitals With a Foreign Department

Hospital Na Homolce
- Address: Prague 5, Roentgenova 2
- All branches of medicine.
- It also has an emergency service where they speak English, German, French and Russian.
- Tel. 257 272 144, 257 272 146
- Website (in English): http://www.homolka.cz/en/

Motol University Hospital
- Address: V Úvalu 84, 150 06 Prague 5
- Children’s reception: tel +420 224 433 690, +420 224 433 691
- Adult’s reception: tel +420 224 433 681, +420 224 433 682, +420 224 433 674
- Website (in English): http://www.fnmotol.cz/foreigners-department/html/
- Email (for foreigners): cizinecke@fnmotol.cz

Other Prague Hospitals
- Hospital Prague 1, Na Frantisku 8, tel 224 810 502
- Hospital Prague 2, U Nemocnice 2, tel 224 961 111
- Hospital Prague 4, Videnska 800, tel 261 081 111
- Hospital Prague 6, U Vojenske nemocnice 1200, tel 220 201 111
- Hospital Prague 8, Budinova 2, tel 266 310 585

Foreign Medical Clinics
- American Medical Centre , Janovského 48, tel +420 220 807 756 , +420 220 806 200
- Canadian Medical Centre , Veleslavínská 30, tel +420 235 360 133
- First Medical Clinic of Prague , Vyšehradská 5, tel +420 224 918 201
- Na Homolce Hospital , Roentgenova 2, tel +420 257 271 111 , +420 257 272 146
- Health centre Prague, Vodičkova 28, tel +420 224 22 00 40
- General Health Care Corporation , Krakovská 8, tel +420 222 211 206, +420 222 211 208
24 Hours Pharmacies (“Lekarny s nepretrzitou pohotovostni sluzbou”)
- Pharmacies Prague 1, Palackeho 5, tel 224 946 982
- Pharmacies Prague 2, Belgicka 37 (Namesti Miru), tel 222 519 731
- Pharmacies Prague 4, Vídeňská 800, tel 261 084 019
- Pharmacies Prague 5, Štefánikova 6, tel 257 320 918 (only till 10 pm)
- Pharmacies Prague 5, V Úvalu 84 (FN Motol), tel 224 435 736
- Pharmacies Prague 6, Vítězné náměstí 13, tel 224 325 520
- Pharmacies Prague 7, Františka Křižíka 22, tel 233 375 599
- Pharmacies Prague 8, Bulovka 282 (FN Na Bulovce), 283 840 501
- Pharmacies Prague 10, Plaňanská 1/753, tel 281 019 258

Medical Emergencies
- Prague 1, Palackého 5, tel +420 224 949 181
- Prague 3, Koněvova 205, tel +420 284 861 979
- Prague 4, Pacovská 31, tel +420 241 733 916, +420 241 733 918
- Prague 5, V Úvalu 84, (Motol Hospital) tel +420 224 438 590
- Prague 6, Vítězné náměstí 13, tel +420 233 340 912
- Prague 7, Dukelských hrdinů 1, tel +420 233 370 391
- Prague 8, Budínova 2 (Bulovka Hospital), tel +420 283 842 222
- Prague 9, Lovosická 40/440, tel +420 286 881 518
- Prague 10, Plaňanská 573/1, tel +420 281 019 213

Dental Emergencies
(Mon to Fri 7 p.m. – 7 a.m., Sat + Sun non-stop)
- Prague 1, Palackého 5, tel +420 224 946 981
- Prague 4, Pacovská 31, tel +420 241 733 917

Holidays

January 1st – New Year’s Day

Easter Sunday & Easter Monday

May 1st – May Day (Labor Day)

May 8th – Liberation from Naziism Day (end of World War II in Europe)
July 5th – Slavic Missionaries Cyril and Methodius: the arrival of Christianity in Greater Moravia, AD 863
July 6th – Jan Hus Day (Master Jan Hus, or John Huss, a Czech religious reformer and thinker, was burned at the stake by the Catholic Church in 1415 in Konstanz, Germany)
September 28 – St. Wenceslas’ Day (Day of Czech Statehood)
October 28 – Independence Day (the founding of independent Czechoslovakia in 1918 after the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire)
November 17th – Student Resistance Against Totalitarianism Day
December 24, 25, 26 – Christmas holidays: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Second Christmas Day.

Hours of Operation

- In season (from May through September), most museums, castles, and other major sights are open daily – except Monday – from about 9 AM to 4 PM.
- Some attractions in smaller, off-the-beaten-track places shut down altogether from November to March.
- Though hours vary, most banks are open weekdays from 8 AM to 5 PM.
- Private currency exchange offices usually have longer hours, and some are open all night.
- Gas stations on the main roads are open 24 hours a day.
- Most pharmacies are open weekdays from about 9 AM to 6 PM, and are closed weekends.
- For emergencies, some pharmacies maintain weekend hours, though these can change from week to week, see our list of 24 hour pharmacies in Prague.
- Most stores are open weekdays from 9 AM to 6 PM.
- Larger grocery stores open as early as 6 AM, and a few of the hypermarkets in Prague (usually well outside of town along the metro lines) are open 24 hours.
- Department stores often stay open until 7 PM.
- Outside Prague, most stores close for the weekend at noon on Saturday.

Internet (Prague)

Internet is widely available at hotels and many provide Wi-Fi. Cafés with Internet stations are also all over Prague.

Most popular internet places in Prague city center:

The Globe (Bookstore Internet Cafe)
Address: Pstrossova 6, Praha 1
Tel. 224-916-264
Website: www.globebookstore.cz
Open daily from 10am until midnight.

Internet cafe Inetpoint.cz
Address: Jungmannova 32, Praha 1
Tel. 296-245-962
Website: www.inetpoint.cz
Open daily 10am to 10pm.

The Bohemia Bagel
Address: Újezd 16, Malá Strana, Praha 1 (near the funicular train)
Tel. 257-310-694
Website: www.bohemiabagel.cz
Open daily from 7am to midnight on Monday to Friday, 8am to midnight on Saturday and Sunday.

Cyber Cafe-Jáma
Address: V jáme 7, Praha 1
Tel. 224-222-383
Website: www.jamapub.cz
Open daily 11am to 1am.

View a list of other internet cafes in Prague city center:
http://www.expats.cz/prague/directory/internet-cafes/0/

Laundry & Dry Clearing (Prague)

Laundry Kings
Address: Dejvická 16, Praha 6
Tel. 233-343-743
Each small load costs about 70Kc.
An attendant can do your wash for 180Kc in the same day.
Open Monday to Friday from 7am to 10pm and Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 10pm.

Laundryland
Address: Londýnská 71, Praha
Located 2 blocks from the Námestí Míru metro station and close to the I. P. Pavlova metro station.
Tel. 222-516-692
Offers dry cleaning as well as laundry service and charges about the same as Laundry Kings.
Open daily from 8am to 10pm.

Liquor Laws

There’s no law against teenagers drinking alcohol, but it can only be sold to those who are over 18. Any adult selling liquor to younger person can be prosecuted. Pubs and clubs can stay open 24 hours.

Lost and Found Department

Police
- Address: Prague 1, Karoliny Svetle 5
- Tel. 224 235 085

Luggage Storage & Lockers (Prague)

- The Ruzyne Airport Luggage Storage Office never closes and charges 60Kc per item per day.
- Left-luggage offices are also available at the main train stations, Hlavní nádrazí and Nádrazí Holesovice. Both charge 30Kc per bag per day and are technically open 24 hours, but if your train is departing late at night, check to make sure someone will be around.
- Luggage lockers are available in all of Prague’s train stations, but they’re not secure and should be avoided.

Mail & Shipping Packages

- Remember to pay a little extra for airmail; otherwise your letters will be sent by ship.
- If you’re sending mail overseas, make sure it’s marked “Par Avion” so it doesn’t go by surface.
- You can buy stamps at post offices, hotels, newsstands, and shops that sell postcards.
- If you mail your letters at a post office, the clerk will add this stamp for you.
- Postcards to the U.S. cost 14Kc, to any E.U. country 9Kc.
- Mail can take up to 10 days to reach its destination.
- The opening hours of post offices vary. Most large post offices are open from 8 AM to 7 PM on weekdays.
- The main post office in Prague is open 24 hours, with a 30-minute break after midnight.
- Official Website of Ceska Posta (Czech Post): www.cpost.cz

Orange Post Office Boxes
- Can be found around the city, usually attached to the side of a building.

Postal Services in Prague
- Main Post Office, Prague 1, Jindřišská 14, daily non-stop, rest. period 24-02

Other Post Offices in Prague Center
- Hybernska 15 – near Namesti Republiky
- Kaprova 12 – near the Old Town Square
- Josefska 4
- Rybna 14
- Na Frantisku 32

Shipping Packages
- The Czech postal service, Ceská posta, runs an Express Mail Service (EMS).
- You can post your EMS parcel at any post office, and Ceská posta can supply forms for customs clearance.
- Delivery times vary between one and five days, though material is often delayed by American customs.
- You may not send currency, travel checks, precious metals, or stones through Express Mail.
- Ceská posta delivers anything up to 30 kg.
- Some major stores can make their own arrangements to ship purchases home on behalf of their customers.
- A number of freight and cargo services operate international delivery services, and these can generally be relied upon.
- An average shipping time to the U.S. is 21 days (4 days for air cargo).

Express Services
- EMS, Czech postal service (800-104-410. www.cpost.cz)
- DHL (800-103-000. www.dhl.cz)
- Fed Ex (800-133-339. www.inspekta.cz/fedex)
- UPS (800-181-111. www.ups.com)

Money: Czech Currency, Budget, ATM´s, Travellers' Cheques, Tipping

- The Czech national currency is called the Czech crown (abbreviation: Kc or CZK), and it is the only legal tender in the country’s shops, hotels, and restaurants, although prices may be sometimes quoted un US dollars or Euros for convenience’s sake.
- Although the Czech Republic is still generally a bargain by Western standards, Prague remains the exception.
- As for prices of hotels and restaurants in Prague they are comparable to the U.S. and Western Europe, while outlying towns are much more reasonable.
- The prices for castles, museum, and other sights are rising, but still low by outside standards.

Currency & Exchange
- The unit of currency in the Czech Republic is the Koruna, or crown (Kc)
- Koruna is divided into 100 haléru, or hellers.
- There are coins of 50 hellers.
- Coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 Kc.
- Notes of 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 Kc.
- Notes of 1,000 Kc and up may not always be accepted for small purchases.

Current exchange rate
- Czech National Bank Website: http://www.cnb.cz/en/financial_markets/foreign_exchange_market/exchange_rate_fixing/daily.jsp

Budget and Shopping

Meals
- Budget: US$5-10 (fast food)
- Mid-range: US$10-20 (local restaurants)
- Top-end: US$40 and upwards (best dining venues in major turist areas)

Lodging
- Budget: US$20-30 (hostels)
- Mid-range: US$50-200 (2-3 star hotels)
- Top-end: US$ 250 and upwards (4-5 star hotels)

Travellers’ cheques are easily cashed throughout the Czech Republic
- Eurocheques are cashed free of charge at Komercní banks.
- American Express and Thomas Cook offices in Prague which will change their cheques at bank rates free of charge.

DON´T exchange money on the street
- Don’t bother exchanging money on the black market
- The usual rate is barely above the bank rate.
- And there are plenty of scammers ripping off tourists with discontinued old crown notes or Hungarian Forints of lesser value.

DO bring your ATM card
- ATM card will give you access to Czech money immediately after you arrive.
- It is quite difficult, and expensive, to obtain Czech currency in the United States; if you feel that you must obtain it before you leave, then American Express or Thomas Cook are your best bets.
- It’s a good idea to inform your credit-card company before you travel, especially if you’re going abroad and don’t travel internationally very often. Otherwise, the credit-card company might put a hold on your card owing to unusual aktivity; not a good thing halfway through your trip.
- Record all your credit-card numbers as well as the phone numbers to call if your cards are lost or stolen in a safe place, so you’re prepared should something go wrong.
- Both MasterCard and Visa have general numbers you can call (collect if you’re abroad) if your card is lost, but you’re better off calling the number of your issuing bank, since MasterCard and Visa usually just transfer you to your bank; your bank’s number is usually printed on your card.
- Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are widely accepted by major hotels, restaurants, and stores, Diners Club less so.
- Smaller establishments and those off the beaten track, unsurprisingly, are less likely to accept credit cards.

Reporting Lost Cards
- American Express (800/992-3404 in U.S.; 336/393-1111 collect from abroad. www.americanexpress.com).
- Diners Club (800/234-6377 in U.S.; 303/799-1504 collect from abroad. www.dinersclub.com).
- MasterCard (800/622-7747 in U.S.; 636/722-7111 collect from abroad. www.mastercard.com).
- Visa (800/847-2911 in U.S.; 410/581-9994 collect from abroad. www.visa.com).

DO use ATMs
- Your own bank will probably charge a fee for using ATMs abroad.
- Usually you will get a better rate of exchange at an ATM than you will at a currency-exchange office or even when changing money in a bank.
- Extracting money as you need them is a safer option than carrying around a large amount of cash.
- In order to use your ATM card in the Czech Republic make sure you have a four-digit PIN.
- If yours has five or more, remember to change it before you leave.
- ATMs are safe and reliable. Instructions are in English. If in doubt, use machines attached to established banks like Ceská Sporitelna, Komercni Banka, and CSOB.
- ATM .give you good rates and don’t charge commissions.
- The Czech word for an ATM is “bankomat”.

DON’T use one of the many round-the-clock exchange offices
- They are located on the streets of major tourist destinations.
- Despite the “low commissions” they claim to offer, their exchange rates are far from fair.
- If you wish to exchange cash go to an exchange office that’s affiliated with a bank.
- The only recommended exchange office (not affiliated with a bank) in the Prague historical center is the “blue” Exchange, Kaprova st. no 15 (on the very corner of Kaprova and Maislova street, at the Franz Kafka Sq.).

DON’T bring personal or company checks
- They will not be accepted as payment for goods or services.
- Shops and restaurants, especially in Prague, will accept most major credit cards (Visa, AmEx, MasterCard), and, of course, cash (Czech crowns).

A TIP of 5-10% is appreciated
- In any tourist restaurant with table service.
- The usual protocol is for them to tell you the total food bill and for you, as you hand over the money, to say how much you are paying with the tip included.
What are the opening hours of Prague stores?
- Most stores open between 9 and 10 a.m. and close between 6 and 7 p.m. There is usually no lunch break.
- Stores in the historical center are also open during the weekend.
- Some shopping centers are open until 8 p.m.

Do Prague stores and restaurants accept the Euro?
- The Czech Republic is not part of the European Union yet, so the Euro is not in official use.
- Some shops, restaurants and hotels accept payments in Euro and other currencies but usually with an inconvenient exchange rate.
- It is recommended to change your Euros at the bank and pay for everything in Czech Crowns.

National Telephone Codes

Newspapers & Magazines in English (Prague)

The Prague Post (www.praguepost.com) is published each Wednesday. It is a quick read that usually offers a couple of interesting features, along with updated listings of entertainment happenings.
The Prague Tribune (www.prague-tribune.cz) is a glossy monthly with an excellent mix of news, business, and cultural features.

Orientation

Hire Our Local Area Assistant
In the past we have assisted journalists, photographers, people relocating to the Czech Republic and many others. Knowing local conditions, our experienced assistants will help you quickly find your desired location and help you overcome problems or complications with the language barrier. Contact us for details.

Orientation Advice: 

Set Your Reference Point – Prague Castle
- The river Vltava bisects Prague and provides the best line of orientation.
- You can use Charles Bridge as your central point.
- From the bridge, turn toward the dominant of the city skyline – Prague Castle with the cathedral thrusting out.
- Now you’re facing west.

Quarters of the Historical Center
- Up on the hill is the Castle District known as Hradcany.
- Running up the hill between the bridge and the castle is the district known as Malá Strana (literally the “Small Side,” but known as Lesser Town in English).
- Turn around, and behind you on the other side of the Vltava river (east) bank is Staré Mesto (Old Town).
- And farther to the south and east Nové Mesto (New Town).
- The highlands even farther east used to be the royal vineyards, Vinohrady, now a popular neighborhood for expatriates with a growing array of accommodations and restaurants.
- The districts farther out are where most Praguers live, and have few attractions.

Main Bridges, Squares & Streets
- You’ll best enjoy Prague by walking its narrow streets, busy squares, and scenic bridges.
- After Charles Bridge (Karluv most), the other two bridges (next to Charles Bridge) worth walking are Mánes Bridge (Mánesuv most), which provides a stunning low-angle view of the castle especially at night,
- and the Bridge of the Legions (most Legií), which links the National Theater to Petrín Hill.

Old Town Square – Heart of Prague
- On the east side of Charles Bridge, you can wind through most any of the old alleys leading from the bridge and get pleasantly lost amid the shops and cafes.
- The tourist-packed route through Old Town is Karlova Street.
- Like Karlova, almost any other route in Old Town will eventually lead you to Staromestské námestí (Old Town Sq.), the breathtaking heart of Staré Město with the famous Astronomical Clock at the Clock tower dominating the square.
- We recommend you to visit this tower providing the nicest views in town.
- A monument to Jan Hus, the martyred Czech Protestant leader, is to be found in the middle of the square.
- The tree-lined boulevard to the right behind Hus is Parížská (Parisian Blvd.) with most expensive boutiques and restaurants; it forms the edge of the Jewish Quarter.
- Alley Melantrichova (opposite of the Astronomical Clock) winds southeast to Václavské námestí (Wenceslas Sq.), site of pro-democracy demonstrations in 1968 and 1989.

Parking (Prague)

- What regards parking in Prague the latest tendency is to rid Prague of cars and pollution so more and more measures are taken to prevent parking in the city.
- Most convenient and safe parking is in guarded parking lots or a parking garages.
- Use P+R (Park and Ride) system: park your car at the outskirts of Prague and then continue tto he city center by metro. See lower for details.

P+R Parking Lots
- Suggest exactly, „park and ride” by the city transport (underground – Metro).
- Thereby, the parking problems in the city center can be avoided.
- These parking lots are guarded and the fee is 10 CZK for the whole time of parking.
- The users of parking, who have not a season-ticket are obliged to buy a ticket for city public transport (at the advantageous price of 40 CZK for a transfer return ticket and 80 CZK for a day-ticket).
- The parking is practicable from 4 a.m. to 1 a.m. of the following day (termination of the operation time of Metro).
The parking lots P + R are situated near the following
Metro stations:
- A-line: station Depo Hostivar, Skalka I and II
- B-line: station Zlicín I and II
- B-line: station Nové Butovice I and II
- B-line: station Palmovka I and II
- B-line: station Rajská Zahrada
- B-line: station Cerny Most I and II
- C-line: station Ládví
- C-line: station Nádrazí Holesovice
- C-line: station Opatov
- C-line: station Chodov

Parking Zones in the City Center
- The city has installed street parking meters marked with a blue “P” in required zones; they issue slips that you place inside your car on the dashboard so they’re visible through the windshield. These normally run from 30Kc to 40Kc per hour for up to 4 hours.
- Should you venture to drive to the city center be aware of the different parking zones:

The Orange Zone
- Maximum time of parking is 2 hours. Charges: cca Kc 40 per hour.
- Equipped with coin-operated parking meters for coins of Kc 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 or 50.

The Green Zone
- Maximum time of parking 6 hours. Charges: cca Kc 30 per hour.
- Equipped with coin-operated parking meters for coins of Kc 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 or 50.

The Blue Zone
- Long-term parking zone is designed exclusively for local residents or companies based in this district.
- Only vehicles with a parking card can park there.

Parking Fines
- Fines for illegal parking can be stiff, but worse are “Denver Boots,” which immobilize cars until a fine is paid.
- If you find your car booted, call the number on the ticket, tell them where you are, wait for the clamp removers, and pay them 500Kc or more depending on your violation.

Public Parking Garages in the city center
(usually cost 40 crowns per hour, 300 – 600 CZK a day)
- Praha 1, namesti Jana Palacha
- Praha 1, Ostrovni (the National Theater)
- Praha 1, nam. Republiky 8 (Kotva department store)
- Praha 1, V Celnici 7 (Hotel Hilton Prague Old Town)
- Praha 1, V Celnici 10 (Millenium Plaza)
- Praha 1, namesti Curieovych 5 (InterContinental Hotel)
- Praha 1, Opletalova 9 (near Wenceslas Square)
- Praha 1, Wilsonova (Main Railway Station)
- Praha 1, nám. Republiky 1 (Palladium)
- Praha 2, Václavská 18
- Praha 2, Wilsonova 77 (near State Opera)
- Praha 2, Vinohradska 151 (Flora)
- Praha 3, Taboritska 23 (Olsanka Hotel)
- Praha 3, Vinohradska 157 (Don Giovanni Hotel)
- Praha 4, Roztylská 19 (Centrum Chodov)
- Praha 4, Milevska (Corinthia Panorama Hotel)
- Praha 4, 5. kvetna 65 (Congress Centre)
- Praha 5, Kartouzská (OC Nový Smíchov)
- Praha 5, Bozdechova (Zlaty Andel)
- Praha 6, Studentská 2 (Metro Station Dejvicka)

Selected Watched Car Parks (City Center)
- Praha 1, Wilsonova (the Main Railway Station)
- Praha 1, Alsovo nábrezí
- Praha 1, Na Florenci
- Praha 1, Malostranské námestí

Police Stations (Prague)

- If you need to contact the police, call 158 (state police) or 156 (city police) or the Emergency Central Number 112.

Below is a list of police stations in the city center:

Old Town
Bartolomějská 14, Prague 1
24-hour phone: 974 851 700

Lesser Town
Vlašská 3, Prague 1
24-hour phone: 974 851 730

New Town

Benediktská 1, Prague 1
24-hour phone: 974 851 710

Krakovská 11, Prague 1
24-hour phone: 974 851 720

Hybernská 2, Prague 1
24-hour phone: 974 851 500

Jungmannovo náměstí 9, Prague 1 (headquarters)
24-hour phone: 974 851 750

Vyšehradská 20, Prague 2
24-hour phone: 974 852 710

Vinohrady
Šafaříkova 12, Prague 2
24-hour phone: 974 852 720

Public Transportation (Prague)

The best way how to learn the city of Prague and make the most out of your stay is to hire a local professional guide. Should you venture to explore the city by yourself you might find this basic info about the Prague public transportation useful (http://www.dpp.cz/en/).

Tickets & Passes
- For single-use tickets, there are two choices:
- You can ride a maximum of five stations on the metro (not including the station of validation)
- or 20 minutes on a tram or bus, without transfers, for 18Kc ($1.2); children 6 and under ride free, – 6- to 15-year-olds for 9Kc (60¢). This is usually enough for trips in the historic districts.
- Rides of more than five stops on the metro, or longer tram or bus rides, with unlimited transfers for up to 75 minutes (90 min. on Sat, Sun, public holidays, and after 8pm on workdays) after your ticket is validated, cost 26Kc ($1,6).
- See lower for all available fares.

By Metro
- Metro trains operate daily from 5am to midnight and run every 2 to 6 minutes.
- On the three lettered lines (A, B, and C, color-coded green, yellow, and red, respectively), the most convenient central stations are:
- Mustek, at the foot of Václavské námestí (Wenceslas Sq.); Staromestská, for Old Town Square and Charles Bridge;
- and Malostranská, serving Malá Strana and the Castle District.
- Refer to the metro map for details.

By Electric Tram or Bus
- The 24 electric tram (streetcar) lines run practically everywhere
- and there’s always another tram with the same number traveling back.
- You never have to hail trams; they make every stop.
- The most popular trams, nos. 22 and 23 (aka the “tourist trams” and the “pickpocket express”), run past top sights like the National Theater and Prague Castle.
- Regular bus and tram service stops at midnight, after which selected routes run reduced schedules, usually only once per hour.
- Schedules are posted at stops.
- If you miss a night connection, expect a long wait for the next.
- Buses tend to be used only outside the older districts of Prague and have 3-digit numbers.
- Both the buses and tram lines begin their morning runs around 4:30am.

By Funicular
- The funicular (railway) makes the scenic run up and down Petrín Hill every 10 minutes (15 in winter season) daily from 9am to 11:30pm with an intermediate stop at the Nebozízek restaurant halfway down the hill, which overlooks the city.
- It requires the 20Kc ticket and departs from a small house in the park at Újezd in Malá Strana.
Where to buy a ticket
- You can buy tickets from yellow coin-operated machines in metro stations or at most newsstands marked TABÁK or TRAFIKA.

Transit Inspection
- Hold on to your validated ticket throughout your ride; you’ll need to show it if a ticket collector (be sure to check for his or her badge) asks you.
- If you’re caught without a valid ticket, you’ll be asked to pay a fine 500Kc.

Radio

You can hear English-language World News on the BBC World Service (101.1 FM).

More than a dozen private stations compete with publicly owned news-talk:
- Czech Radiozurnál (94.6 FM),
- Radio DEEJAY (99.7 FM) is a rock station that gives Czech bands lots of play,
- Radio Kiss (98 FM) is an Irish-owned station with a strictly pop-oriented play list,
- Radio 1 (91.9 FM) plays a world-class assortment of contemporary dance and trance music, mixed with some novelty songs,
- Radio Free Europe (1287 kHz AM) is an American-funded news-oriented station now based in Prague’s Communist-era Parliament building.

Religious Services (Prague)

Services in English
- Church of England, Church of England Congregation at St Clement’s Church, Prague 1, Klimentská 5, Sun. 11 a.m.
- International Baptist Church of Prague, Prague 3, Vinohradská 68, Sun. 11 a.m.
- Czech Brethren, International Church, Prague 5, Peroutkova 57, Sun. 10.30 a.m.
- Roman Catholic Church, Church of Our Lady Victorious (the Prague Bambino), Prague 1, Karmelitská 9, Sun. at noon (For updated mass schedule please call 257 533 646)
- Roman Catholic Church, St Thomas Church, Prague 1, Josefská 8, Sun. 11 a.m., Saturday 6 p.m.
- Evangelical Church of Augsburg Religion – Lutherans, Prague 1, V Jirchárích 14/152, St Michal`s Church, Sun. 11 a.m.
- Prague Christian Fellowship, Prague 2, Jecná 19, Sun. 4.30 p.m.
- Faith Community Church, Prague 2, Mánesova 38, Sun. 4.30 p.m.
- Diamondway Buddhist Center Prague, www.bdc.cz/praha

Religious Services in Other Languages
http://www.pis.cz/en/prague/events/foreign_language_divine_services_selection

Restrooms – WC (Prague)

- Public restrooms are more common, and cleaner, than they used to be.
- Toilets are located in every Prague metro station and are staffed by cleaning personnel who usually charge users 5Kc (30¢) and dispense a precious few sheets of toilet paper.
- Restaurants and pubs around all the major sights are usually kind to nonpatrons who wish to use their facilities.
- Around the Prague castle and elsewhere, public toilets are clearly marked with the letters WC.
- For comfort and cleanliness, try lobby-level lavatories in Prague’s better-known hotels.

Road Distances From Prague To Cities In Europe

Safety & Pickpockets

- Prague is one of the most popular European destinations which makes it the pickpocket’s paradise!
- Don’t become paranoid. Make sure you are still enjoying yourself on your trip. Although pickpocketing is a problem in Prague, just like it is a problem in many tourist destinations around the world, it doesn’t mean that thieves are waiting for you at every corner.

Tips to avoid becoming the victim of a pickpocket:
- Always remember to keep your bag closed and avoid carrying your passport, wallet and valuables in your back pocket.
- It is also recommended to wear your backpack on your chest.
- Leave all your documents at the hotel – in the safe deposit box if possible.
- Don’t carry large amounts of cash with you – carry a credit card and take money out of a cash machine as you go (there are plenty of cash machines in Prague).
- Don’t show your money or wallet in public places.
- Wear a money belt instead of a handbag.
- If you are carrying a handbag, always be aware of it.
- In pubs and restaurants, don’t sit at a table that is near the entrance.
- Always choose the less crowded means of transportation and watch out for people touching or pushing against you.
- Be careful in the historical center: on the Charles Bridge, in front of the Astronomical Clock on the Old Town Square – while your eyes are looking up, the pickpocket’s hands are working down…
- While being hypnotized by shops windows, pay attention to your back, too.
- Always keep your eyes open to know who’s around you, especially in crowded places (trams and subways, crowded town squares, stores, etc.)
- Trams, buses, underground: especially tram no. 22, mostly in Malá Strana. They let all the passengers get on and then push themselves in: while they push, they help themselves.
- Never leave valuables in your car.
- When in restaurants, fastfoods (Mc Donald´s, KFC) in the touristy areas, never lieve your jacket/bag on the back of your chair unattanded.
- If you are robbed in spite of following these tips, get ready to wait in long lines at the police station and at your embassy.
- Always go the police station with your pictures – they might be useful.
- See the „Emergency numbers“ section for addresses of police stations in Prague.
- You must go to the police station that is nearest the place where you got robbed.
- Be very patient because this process usually takes a long, long time.

Taxes & Tax Refund

- Taxes are usually included in the prices of hotel rooms, restaurant meals, and items purchased in shops.
- The price on the tag is what you’ll pay at the register.
- The airport departure tax, about 600 Kc, is usually included in the price of airline tickets.
- The Czech V.A.T. is called DPH (dan z pridané hodnoty), and there are two rates.
- The higher one (19%) covers nearly everything – gifts, souvenirs, clothing, and food in restaurants. Food in grocery stores and books are taxed by 5%.

Tax Refund
- Exported goods are exempt from the tax, which can be refunded.
- All tourists outside the EU are entitled to claim the tax back if they spend more than 2,500 Kc in one shop on the same day.
- When making a purchase, ask for a V.A.T. refund form and find out whether the merchant gives refunds – not all stores do, nor are they required to.
- Have the form stamped like any customs form by customs officials when you leave the country or, if you’re visiting several European Union countries, when you leave the EU.
- After you’re through passport control, take the form to a refund-service counter for an on-the-spot refund (which is usually the quickest and easiest option),
- or mail it to the address on the form (or the envelope with it) after you arrive home (the processing time can be long, especially if you request a credit-card adjustment).
- Global Refund is a Europe-wide service with 225,000 affiliated stores and more than 700 refund counters at major airports and border crossings.
- Its refund form, called a Tax Free Check, is the most common across the European continent.
- The service issues refunds in the form of cash, check, or credit-card adjustment.
- Global Refund (800/566-9828. www.globalrefund.com).

Taxi

Overcharging foreigners is, unfortunately, still a frequent occurrence in Prague. Do use reliable radio taxi companies like AAA, tel 140 14, hotel taxis, or public transit. DON’T use any of those shiny new Mercedes cabs waiting in places like Wenceslas Square, Old Town Square, etc. Always request a receipt printed by the meter, not one written by hand.

Maximum prices for taxi services in the district of the capital city of Prague:
- Ride in the district of the capital city of Prague 28,- Kc / 1 km ( 1.12 EUR)
- Boarding fee 40,- Kc (1.6 EUR)
- Waiting 6,- Kc / 1min (0.25 EUR).
- The prices can be raised within a year

Reliable Taxi Companies:
- AAA Taxi – tel. 140 14 or 222 333 222
- Profi Taxi – tel. 140 35 or 2 61 31 41 51
- City Taxi – tel. 233 103 310
- Halotaxi – tel. 244 114 411
- Radiotaxi – tel. 272 731 848
- Sedop – tel. 271 726 666

Television

- There are four national broadcast TV stations. CT1 and CT2 (channels 1 and 2) are public-service stations often with reruns of Communist-era teleplays and classical music broadcasts.
- TV Nova is a private commercial station loaded with American sitcoms and serials, sensational newscasts, and Western movies all dubbed into Czech.
- TV Prima is the upstart nationwide commercial station trying to cut into Nova’s dominance with the same tactics.
- If you’re channel surfing after 10pm, note that both Prima and Nova (which you can find on various channels depending on how your TV is programmed) have very saucy shows often including full-frontal nudity.
- All four stations are off the air sometime between midnight and 2am.
- Satellite channels at hotels and on cable include Eurosport, MTV, CNBC, CNN, and BBC World.

Time Zone

- The Czech Republic is on Central European Time (CET)
- 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) from April to the end of October
- and 1 hour ahead from November to the end of March (in both cases 1 hr. ahead of London).
- It’s usually 6 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time.
- Clocks here spring forward and fall back for daylight saving time, but the semiannual rituals follow a slightly different schedule than in the States (about 3 weeks earlier).
- See current time in Prague: http://worldbuddy.com/buddy.cgi/Europe/Prague

Traffic Rules in the Czech Republic

Basic Traffic Rules
- Vehicles must use passing lights all year long.
- You may not legally make a right turn when a traffic light is red.
- Cars must stop when a pedestrian steps into a crosswalk.
- The yellow diamond road sign denotes the right of way at an unregulated intersection.
- When approaching an intersection, always check to see who has the right of way, since the “main” road can change several times within blocks on the same street.
- Children younger then 12 years or under 150 cm of height must use child seat.
- Drivers are not allowed to consume any amount of alcoholic beverages before and while driving.
- Drivers must not use handheld cell phones while driving
- Safety belts must be fastened for the entire duration of the ride
- Motorcyclists and their passengers are required to wear a helmet

Highway tolls
- Highway sticker is affixed to the front windshield.
- These stickers can be purchased at post offices, border crossings and selected gas stations.
- Motorways and expressways toll stickers

Type of Toll Strickers (for 2008)

Transportation - Arriving & Departing (Prague)

I. By Plane
Prague’s Ruzyne Airport
Tel. 220-113-314, www.prg.aero or www.csl.cz
Is located 19km (12 miles) west of the city center.
Prague Airport ranks among the most modern ones in Europe.

Getting Downtown
You can make your way from the airport to your hotel by:

Private Airport Pick Up
- Most convenient airport – hotel transportation.
- A driver holding a sign with your name on it and standing at the arrival gate will wait for you.
- Book your private airport-hotel transportation here.

Official Airport Taxis
- Line up in front of the arrivals terminal. The Volkswagen Passats queued directly outside the terminal’s main exit all belong to the same company.
- Negotiate the fare in advance and have it written down.
- Expect to pay about 700Kc to 800Kc for the 20 or so minutes to the city center.
- If you want to save money, find other travelers to share the expense.

CEDAZ Airport Shuttle
- Tel. 220-114-296, www.aas.cz/cedaz
- Cedaz Operates an airport shuttle bus from the airport to námestí Republiky in central Prague.
- It leaves the airport daily every 30 minutes from 5:30am to 9:30pm and stops near the námestí Republiky metro station.
- The shuttle costs 90Kc for the 30-minute trip.

City Bus
- Even cheaper is city bus no. 119, which takes passengers from the bus stop at the right of the airport exit to the Dejvická metro station, green line A (and back).
- The bus/metro combo costs 26Kc, but the bus makes many stops.
- Travel time, airport – city center (bus and metro), is about 40 minutes.

II. By Train
- Passengers traveling to Prague by train typically arrive at one of two central stations: – Hlavní nádrazí (Main Station) or Nádrazí Holesovice (Holesovice Station).
- Both are on line C of the metro systém and offer a number of services, including money exchange, a post office, and a luggage-storage area.

Hlavní nádrazí (Main Railway Station)
- Wilsonova trída, Praha 2 (tel. 224-614-071), is the grander and more popular station which also means more pickpockets are making their living here.
- Built in 1909, this once beautiful Art Nouveau structure was one of the city’s beloved architectural gems before it was connected to a darkly modern dispatch hall in the mid-1970s.
- From the train platform, you’ll walk down a flight of stairs and through a tunnel before arriving in the ground-level main hall, which contains ticket windows, a useful Prague Information Service office that sells city maps and dispenses information, and restrooms.

CD Center
- Tel. 840-112-113, www.cd.cz, run by the Czech Railways.
- It provides domestic and international train information as well as currency exchange.
- Open daily 7 to 11am, 11:30am to 2pm, and 2:30 to 5:45pm.
- Visa and MasterCard are accepted.
- An information window is open 3:15am to 12:40am
(the train station is closed 1-3am).

Luggage Room
The station’s basement holds a left-luggage counter: open 24 hours and charges 30Kc per bag per day. The lockers aren’t secure and should be avoided.

Leaving the Train Station
- After you leave the modern terminal hall, a 5-minute walk to the left puts you at the top of Wenceslas Square and 15 minutes by foot from Old Town Square.
- Metro line C connects the station easily to the other two subway lines and the rest of the city.
- Metro trains depart from the lower level, and tickets, costing 20Kc to 26Kc, are available from the newsstand near the metro entrance.
- Gouging taxi drivers line up outside the station and are plentiful throughout the day and night but are not recommended.

Nádrazí Holešovice
- Partyzánská at Vrbenského, Praha 7 (tel. 224-615-865), Prague’s second train station, is usually the terminus for trains from Berlin and other points north.
- Although it’s not as centrally located as the main station, its more manageable size and location at the end of metro line C make it almost as convenient.

III. By Bus
The Central Bus Station-Florenc
- Krizíkova 4-6, Praha 8, Tel. 900-144-444 for timetable info,
- A few blocks north of the main train station.
- Most local and long-distance buses arrive here.
- The adjacent Florenc metro station is on both lines B and C.
- Florenc station is relatively small and doesn’t have many visitor services.

Transportation by Bike

- Should you decide to discover Prague or the Czech Republic on a bike contact us for details; we will help you rent a suitable bicycle and create an interesting itinerary.
- Though there are no special bike lanes in the Prague city center, and smooth streets are unheard of, Prague is a particularly fun city to bike when the crowds are thin.
- Vehicular traffic is limited in the city center, where small, winding streets seem especially suited to two-wheeled vehicles. The city’s ubiquitous cobblestones make mountain bikes the natural choice.

Transportation by Bus

Are you coming to Prague and the Czech Republic with a larger group and think of a bus cruise? We can provide you with a very good priced coach / bus and a professional guide to make the most out of your stay. Contact us for details.

Regular bus lines connecting Prague and major European cities
- In the Czech Republic, buses cost significantly less than trains and often offer more direct routes.
- If you’re coming from London, Eurolines (tel. 08705-143-219; www.eurolines.co.uk), runs regular bus service from London to Prague. Coaches are equipped with toilets and reclining seats, and trips take about 30 hours.
- Kingscourt Express, Havelská 8, Praha 1 (tel. 224-234-583; www.kce.cz), operates scheduled bus service between London and Prague, which stops in Prague just across from the Florenc station. The nearly 21-hour trip runs six times weekly.
- A daily bus connection between Prague and Vienna with CSAD (Krizíkova 4-6, Praha 8; tel. 222-624-440; www.jizdnirady.cz) leaves from the Florenc Bus Station. The trip takes about 4 1/4 hours.
- There’s bus service between Prague and Warsaw twice a week as well as between Prague and Berlin.

Bus Stations (Prague)
- Bus Terminal Florenc Prague 8, Krizikova,tel 224 211 060
- Smichovske nadrazi Prague 5, Nadrazni, tel 2542797
- Nadrazi Holesovice Prague 7, Arnostovska, tel 2806790

Transportation by Car

- The best way how to explore the Czech Republic is in an air-conditioned vehicle and with one of our professional guides.
- See our driving tours in and outsider of Prague.
- We can also arrange renting a car for you. Contact us for details.

Info for Drivers
- You definitely shouldn’t rent a car to explore Prague because one is not allowed to drive in the historical city center.
- If you want to see the countryside, driving can be a fun way to travel.
- By road, visitors can enter the Republic at over 30 points and the list is growing all the time.
- It is advisable in order to avoid fines, to obtain a window sticker (dálnicní známka) which goes on your windshield (see lower: Traffic Rules). Most filling stations and post offices sell them. Rented cars should come with a valid stamp already.
- Major roadways radiate from Prague like spokes on a wheel, so touring the country is easy if you make the capital your base.
- You are advised to check the most recent map before you travel. Alternatively, see www.ceskedalnice.cz, where you will find updates on the newly built motorways.
- Foreign drivers are required to have an international driver’s license and proof of international insurance (a green card issued with rental cars).
- Czech police are infamous for stopping cars with foreign plates, and the “fines” they exact are often negotiable. If you’re stopped, expect to pay at least 1,000Kc for speeding.
- Those caught by the police should ask for some type of receipt (úcet in Czech, pronounced “oo-chet”); this can help cut down on overpayment.

Gasoline
- gasoline (benzín) in the Czech Republic costs much more than you’re accustomed to paying -around 35Kc per liter, or 140 Kc per gallon.
- Filling stations, which used to be difficult to find, are now on all major highways.
- Most are open 24 hours, and many have minimarkets with food and drink as well.
- If you’re leaving the country, fill up near the border, as the price of gas in Austria and Germany is much higher still.

Traffic Rules

Transportation by Ferry (for U.K. Travelers)

- If you’re traveling from England and don’t want to fly, there are several options for getting to continental Europe:
- If you want to drive, P&O Ferries (tel. 08705-980-333; www.poferries.com) is one of the U.K.’s largest drive-on ferryboat operators, carrying cars, passengers, and freight. The company offers daily crossings of the English Channel from Dover to Calais, France, and from Folkestone to Zeebrugge, Belgium.
- Brittany Ferries (tel. 08703-665-333; www.brittanyferries.co.uk), offers regular ferry service from Portsmouth to St-Malo and Caen in France.
- Another way to cross the channel is by SeaCat (a form of high-speed motorized catamaran), which cuts your journey time from the United Kingdom to the Continent.
- A SeaCat crossing from Folkestone to Boulogne, France, is more timesaving for passengers than the Dover-to-Calais route used by conventional ferryboats.
- For reservations and information, call HoverSpeed at tel. 08702-408-070; www.hoverspeed.co.uk.
- You can also go via the Channel Tunnel. The drive-on/drive-off “Chunnel” train runs between Folkestone and Calais, France.
- Travel time under the water between England and France is just 40 minutes.
- For more information go to www.eurotunnel.com.
- For up-to-the-minute information, check BritRail at www.britrail.co.uk.

Transportation by Plane

Prgue Airport
Ruzyne Airport, Prague 6
Tel: +420 220 111 111
Website: www.prg.aero

Super Cheap Flights to Prague & Online Reservations
Website: www.bookingbuddy.com

Major Airlines Flying to Prague
- About two dozen international airlines offer regularly scheduled service into Prague’s Ruzyne Airport.
- The only U.S. carriers flying direct to Prague are Delta via Atlanta and Continental via its New York/Newark hub using a code-sharing arrangement with the Czech national carrier CSA Czech Airlines, tel. 800/223-2365, www.czech-airlines.com.
- CSA also flies to Prague from Toronto and Montreal.
- Germany’s Lufthansa, tel. 800/645-3880, www.lufthansa-USA.com, has frequent connections to Prague with flights from New York and San Francisco via their Frankfurt hub.

Other Major Carriers Serving the Czech Republic
- Air France, tel. 800/237-2747, www.airfrance.com
- Alitalia, tel. 800/223-5730, www.alitaliausa.com
- Austrian Airlines, tel. 800/843-0002, www.aua.com/us/eng
- British Airways, tel. 800/AIRWAYS in the U.S., or 08708-509-850 in the U.K., www.british-airways.com
- economy short-haul service from easyJet from London’s Stansted, and Gatwick Airports, www.easyjet.com
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, tel. 800/447-4747; www.klm.com
- SAS, tel. 800/221-2350, www.scandinavian.net
- Swissair, tel. 877/359-7947, www.swiss.com

Prague Airline Offices
- To get flight information in Prague or to make reservations or changes, contact:
- Air France, Václavské nám. 57, Praha 1, tel. 221-662-662
- Alitalia, Václavské nám. 11, Praha 1, tel. 221-629-150
- Austrian Airlines, the Ruzyne Airport, Praha 6, tel. 220-116-272
- British Airways, the Ruzyne Airport, Praha 6, tel. 239-000-299
- CSA Czech Airlines, V Celnici 5, Praha 1, next to the Hilton Old Town Hotel, tel. 239-007-007
- For easyJet information and reservations go to www.easyjet.com
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Ruzyne Airport, Praha 6, tel. 233-090-933
- Lufthansa, the Ruzyne Airport, Praha 6, tel. 234-008-234
- SAS, Ruzyne Airport, Praha 6, tel. 220-116-031
- Swissair, Lazarská 8, Praha 2, tel. 221-990-444

Flights to Prague from U.K.
- Very frequent and cheap.
- In London, most of them leave from Gatwick or Stansted airports instead of Heathrow, making them less attractive options for Americans.

Booking
- When you book, look for nonstop flights and remember that „direct“ flights stop at least once.
- Try to avoid connecting flights.

Fares
- Tend to rise dramatically during the busy summer season, particurarly from June through September.
- There are many discounts during the slow winter months.

Cutting Costs
- The least expansive airfares to Prague are almost always on European budget carriers like EasyJet that fly from secondary airports.
- This means that you will not only have to change the airline, but also the airport, so you should consider whether flight connections can be timed so that you can transfer from one airport to another without an additional overnight stay.

Flying Times
- A nonstop flight from New York to Prague takes about 8 hours, but the entire trip can take much longer (12-14 hours) if you must change planes in Europe.
- The flight from London to Prague taktes 2 hours.
- The flight from Vienna to Prague takes less than an hour.

Check-in
- Always find out your carrier´s check-in policy.
- Plan to arrive at the airport about 2 hours before your scheduled departure time for domestic flights and 2 ½ to 3 hours efore international flights.
- Always bring a government-issued photo ID to the airport; a passport is best.

Transportation by Train

- The train is the easiest (if not the cheapest) way to get from Western Europe to the Czech Republic.
- Train fares in Europe are lower than those in the United States.
- There are some 18 rail crossings into the Republic and it has one of the most extensive railway networks in Europe.
- You can reach almost every small town by rail and trains are indeed a romantic way of traveling around the country.
- Travel can be rather slow, however, often involving several changes.
- The quickest way of traveling along the major lines are the expres or “rychlík” trains.
- Local trains (osobní vlak) stop everywhere and are very cheap.
- Somewhat faster are services called “spesny vlak” which stop less often but cost the same as local trains.

Distances
- Because European countries are compact, it often takes less time to travel city-to-city by train than by plane.
- Prague is about 5 hours by train from Munich, Berlin, and Vienna.
- Direct trains to Prague depart daily from Paris (via Frankfurt) and Berlin (via Dresden).
- An ultramodern, high-speed, passenger-only train travels from London Waterloo International Station to Europe, the Eurostar, at www.eurostar.com or by calling tel. 01777-777-878.
- Trains connect Prague and Vienna five times daily; the 5 1/2-hour trip.
- Trains leave Prague to Warsaw two times daily; the 9-hour trip.
- Trains connects Prague and Munich three times daily, with the 7-hour trip.
- Trains connects Prague and Frankfurt two times daily, with the 7 1/2-hour trip.

Train Passes
- Note: most foreign train passes are not valid in the Czech Republic!
- The Czech Republic is NOT covered by the Eurailpass.
- The European East Pass and the Austrian Czech Railpass are accepted.
- The InterRail card widely used in UK and Europe isn’t valid for travel in the Czech Republic.

Main Railway Stations in Prague (with international train connections)
- Hlavni nadrazi Prague 1, Wilsonova 16, 221, tel 615 108
- Nadrazi Holesovice Prague 7, Holesovice, tel 221 615 865

Other Train Stations in Prague
- Nadrazi Praha Smichov Prague 5, Nadrazni, tel 221 615 086
- Masarykovo nadrazi Prague 1, Hybernska 13, tel 221 615 076

Time Table: http://jizdnirady.idnes.cz/connform.asp?tt=a&cl=E5&p=MF
- Information on traveling on Ceské dráhy (Czech Railways) on www.cd.cz.
- Info Line: Czech Railways’ White Line, +420 840 112 113
- Rail Europe, toll-free number 1-800-848-7245, 1-800-4-EURAIL

Transportation to Prague (From Vienna, Budapest, etc.)

Door-To-Door Service
- Are you touring Prague, Vienna and Budapest (or other)? Let us take all the transportation hassle off you.
- Why wait hours at the airport and pay more if the ride to Prague only takes a couple hours, and you will get to see the country as well?
- At Private Walks you can order door-to-door service from any European city to Prague. Contact us for details.

Other transportation services

Travelers with Disabilities

Are you using a wheelchair and want to explore Prague and the Czech Republic? Send us your tour requierements. In the past, we have assisted many clients and organized special city tours.

General Advice For People On a Wheelchair
- The Czechs have made little effort to accommodate the needs of those with disabilities. The situations is slowly improving.
- There are few elevators or ramps for wheelchairs, and few beeping crosswalks for the visually impaired.
- TTD phones for the hearing-impaired are rare.
- In the cobblestone streets of downtown Prague, wheelchairs are almost unknown.
- Only a few hotels (like Hilton and the Palace) offer barrier-free accommodations,
- Most stores, public transport, theaters, and restaurants are inaccessible to wheelchairs.
- For the most part, attractions don’t offer discounts to people with disabilities.There are exceptions, however, so always ask before paying full price.

The Prague Public Transportation
The following metro stations in the city center are accessible: Florenc, Hlavní nádrazí, Karlovo námestí, and Nádrazí Holesovice. For more information visit their website: www.dpp.cz

Organizations Provide a Library of Accessible Travel Resources Online
- include MossRehab (www.mossresourcenet.org), the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB, tel. 800/232-5463; www.afb.org)
- resources for the blind or visually impaired that include information on traveling with Seeing Eye dogs; and SATH (Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality, tel. 212/447-7284; www.sath.org)
- For more information specifically targeted to travelers with disabilities, the community website iCan (www.icanonline.net/channels/travel) has destination guides and several regular columns on accessible travel.
- Also check out the quarterly magazine Emerging Horizons (www.emerginghorizons.com).

Unsafe Areas (Prague)

- Prague is a relatively safe city.
- The rate of violent crime is low and most areas of Prague are safe to walk around even after dark.
- Be careful on Wenceslas Square at night. There have been cases of trusting “love-seekers” being robbed of all their money.
- The park around the main train station (referred to by the locals as “Sherwood” for obvious reasons) is not the safest place after dark. This should change with the planned renovation of the train station, which should be carried out in the years 2007 – 2009.

Weather

Czech seasons are distinct. Summer, June through August, receives the highest temperatures and also the heaviest rainfall. On average, the summer temperatures are about 20 °C (68 °F). Especially in the last decade, summer temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F) are not unusual.

The cold, bitter winter months of December, January and February often have temperatures reaching as low as -5°C (23°F) in the cities and -10°C (14°F) to -15°C (5°F) or even -30°C (-22°F) in the mountainous areas. They are tailor-made for skiing and other winter pursuits; the mountains receive about 130 days of snow a year, but other areas get coverage as well.

Spring, late March to May, brings changeable, rainy weather and sometimes flooding.

Autumn is also variable but temperatures can be as high as 20°C (68°F) in September.

At the highest peak (Sněžka, 1,602 m/5,260 ft) the average yearly temperature is only −0.4 °C (31 °F), whereas in the lowlands of South Moravia, the average yearly temperature is as high as 10 °C (50 °F). This also applies for the country’s capital Prague, but this is due to urban factors.

Prague – Average Temperature Chart

Current 6-Day Weather Forecast for Prague

SaturdayFeb 04 -9°C15.8°F Cloudy. Gentle breeze.

SundayFeb 05 -8°C17.6°F Cloudy. Light breeze.

MondayFeb 06 -11°C12.2°F Fair. Light breeze.

TuesdayFeb 07 -9°C15.8°F Cloudy. Gentle breeze.

WednesdayFeb 08 -5°C23°F Partly cloudy. Light breeze.

ThursdayFeb 09 -4°C24.8°F Cloudy. Light breeze.

By Wunderground (you will be forwarded to the Wunderground website)

By Yahoo (you will be forwaded to the Yahoo website)

Webcams (Prague)

Click here (you will be forwarded to www.praguewebcam.com)

When To Go

The high season and the best time to go is in May or September, when weather is mild and crowds fewer. Many museums, galleries, castles and the like are only open at this time.

April and October are chillier but you’ll benefit from smaller crowds and cheaper rooms.

In July and August hostels are full of students, especially in Prague.

In winter, you’ll likely get to see it all under a blanket of snow. Attractions in smaller towns are closed, but the time is right for skiing and other winter pursuits.