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Trip Tips: Survival Essentials
Prague is one of Europe's most beautiful and friendly cities.
However, there are still a few recurrent complaints.
Read our tips on how to navigate the city, avoid problems, find a charming hotel, and have a great time.
TRANSPORTATION
In Prague
Automobile:
Our advice: Do not drive in central Prague.
Historical Prague is best seen by walking. Choosing your hotel carefuly,
near the Old Town or Castle, can eliminate the need for driving, taxis, or long trips by tram or Metro. The historical center is small and cozy. An average person can walk (briskly) from the Castle to Republic Square in 90 minutes.
If you must arrive by car, click on the photo for our FAQ #5 about
driving to, into, and around Prague, avoiding car theft, and solving problems with parking.
Reminder: Check the
driving laws and regulations. Some are different. Zero tolerance for blood alcohol. No right on red. Driving license needed. More...
Public Transit:
When you'd rather not walk, take the metro or a tram.
The Prague transit system is excellent: quick, frequent, and pleasant. All public transit uses the
same tickets, including the buses to the outlying areas of Prague.
The system itself is sensible, but the ticket procedure can be
confusing to visitors who don't have a similar system at home or haven't found an explanation. Read about it before arriving.
Key facts to remember: You must time stamp your ticket to activate it as you enter the Metro station or after
you enter the tram or bus. The time period for which it is valid starts at that moment.
This period varies by type of ticket and time of the day/week.
Signs to know within the Metro stations:
Přestup=transfer
Vstup=entry
Výstup=exit
(Note that the crucial letter "ý" is the difference between entry and exit.)
An inspector may ask to see your ticket. If it is not stamped or
if the time has expired, you will be fined on the spot. Be sure to have a valid ticket for your luggage or backpack, too.
Inspectors do not wear uniforms and are quite inconspicuous on trams, less so in the Metro stations where they are often flanked
by police officers. Do NOT argue with an inspector if you don't have a valid ticket. Pay quietly and get a receipt.
Hedgie recommends:
If you are not staying in the historical center itself,
you will be using public transit or taxis a lot. To simplify things, buy a transit pass for 3 days or a week. You time stamp it once to activate it for the entire period.
It will save you the hassle of hiking to the nearest metro station or looking for an open newstand, especially on a Sunday, in order to
buy a ticket. Just hop on and off without worrying about time limits, transfers, or fines, as most locals do.
The latest prices for all types of transit passes can be found, in English,
here. Read the fine print on any other kinds of passes. The "Prague Card" does not include transit.
Taxis:The city's continuing war on rip-off taxis has made some progress but victory is not yet in sight. Never hail a taxi on the street
or take a taxi lingering in front of a tourist attraction. Taking a cab from a taxi stand marked "Fair Place" is supposed to guarantee honest service at the established rates. Be cautious, however.
Here are some tips:
- Ask the approximate fare to your destination before entering the cab.
- Pay in Czech crowns, not Euros. The exchange rates of cabbies may be hard on your wallet.
- Watch the meter and get a receipt. If the driver refuses, you will need the registration number and the number on the taxi's door in order to complain. (It's easier to avoid the problem than to pursue a complaint, of course.)
- If possible, call your own cab. Have the telephone numbers of reliable taxi companies handy and call the dispatcher. Profi Taxi (Tel 14015) and AAA taxi (Tel 14014) are two widely-known honest, reliable companies. You will be given an approximate time and the number of the taxi. To prevent scams from other operators, verify this number which is printed on the outside of the cab, as well as your name, before getting in.
When you call, some taxi company's computers will store your name, phone number,
and reliability; on subsequent calls you are greeted by name. You build
your reputation with them, as they build theirs with you.
Airport
The Prague airport code name is PRG. The airport, named Ruzyne, is about
15 kilometers from the city center. Essential information, including a map of the airport, is here, mostly in English with a sprinkling of Czech.
Allow a half hour minimum to get to the center by car, double that or more at rush hour and with tunnel, tram, and metro construction projects digging up streets. When going back to the airport, allow plenty of time, unless it is midnight.
Bus plus Metro
If you are on a tight budget, it is possible to get to the center from the airport by public transportation very cheaply. However, the first step is taking a bus to a Metro line. If your hotel is not near a Metro line, you may then need to transfer to a tram. If you are exhausted and have heavy or bulky luggage, this is very uncomfortable and may make you easy prey for the pickpockets. If you have never been to Prague, this also instant immersion in both the Czech language and the intricacies of the transportation system. Note that you need a ticket for yourself and separate one for each piece of luggage over a certain size. Check the rules.
Shuttle Services
Privately-run shuttle services are your next cheapest option and are considerably more comfortable and hassle-free. Just be sure to have Czech crowns handy to pay with.
The first, and one of the best, is CEDAZ. It provides vans with plenty of luggage space, friendly drivers, and very reasonable rates. It is a particularly good buy for families or groups going to the same destination. You can take one directly to your hotel. Chatting with other passengers is often very informative as well as pleasant. If you don't speak Czech, have the name and address of your hotel written on a card to show the dispatcher at the curb.
Taxis
Regulated taxis are now licensed to pick up passengers at the airport. These will be parked at the curb outside the terminal. The typical price to the historical center should be about 600Czk.
Show the driver your address and discuss the price before getting in.
Hotel Transport Services
Individual transport from the airport to your hotel is potentially the most expensive option, but not necessarily. Some hotels provide this for the same fee as a regulated taxi would cost. You will be met by a hotel representative holding a small placard with your name just as you exit the customs area. Check the prices before signing up for this extra service and be sure the hotel has your exact flight information in case of flight delays.
Outside of Prague:
While driving in the city is not pleasant, a car is the ideal way to explore the
countryside. Do not limit yourself to Prague. Medieval forts, Baroque
castles, underground caverns, outdoor folk museums, hiking trails, and
bike paths are set amidst the country's rolling fields, forested hills, and picturesque mountains. Prices are still low and people are friendly.
If you have not arrived by car, you can easily rent one. All the major agencies are here. Check the currency conversion rates used.
Renting a cottage or staying in a small pension while you explore
is a relaxing way to see these sights.
BEST MAP
There are good freeways (motorways), but get off the main thoroughfares. Invest in an excellent road atlas giving lots of detail.
In Hedgie's experience, the "Ceske Republika Autoatlas"
published by Geodezie Cs a.s. under the "Marco Polo" label is the best. The large format makes it much easier to use than the pocket-sized atlases. The minute detail makes it much more useful for exploring than an ordinary roadmap. Castles, hotels, service stations, etc. all have their own icons. Even those who are "navigationally challenged" can find their way with this! Ask for it by name in city center bookstores or in some gas stations along freeways.
Note: Do not buy one of the German-made maps with Czech names changed to German ones. Even if you speak German, and perhaps even if you lived here in 1945, this will be confusing.
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