Basic Info about the Czech Republic
- Area: 496 sqkm
- Population: 1,212,097 (2007)
- Geographical situation: north latitude 50° 05’, east longitude 14° 27’, height above sea level 235 m (average)
- Time: Central European (GMT+1), summer time - Central European +1 (GMT+2)
- Climate: average temperature 9,0°C
summer season - July 19,0°C
winter season - January -0,9°C - The Vltava river flows through the city in the length of 30 km, its maximum width being 330 m
- Parts of the historical centre: Hradcany, Mala Strana (Lesser Town), Stare Mesto (Old Town) including Josefov, Nove Mesto (New Town) and Vysehrad
- Administrative division: 22 administrative areas
- Voltage: 230 V
Prague
The capital of the Czech Republic, is our most valuable historical city reserve. In 1992 the historical core of the city covering 866 hectares was listed in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural1Heritage1Register.
"Praga caput regni" has been inscribed in the Prague´s coat of arms. And rightly so. Since its beginnings Prague has always played an important role in the history of the nation, the country and Europe. Since the Middle Ages Prague has been famous as one of the most beautiful cities of the world, and has been attributed adjectives such as "golden", "hundred-spired", "the crown of the world", "a stone dream". Throughout centuries prominent personalities paid homage to it. W. A. Mozart, L. van Beethoven, F. M. Dostoyevsky, A. Rodin, G. Apollinaire, P. I. Tchaikovsky, O. Kokoschka and also the British Queen Elizabeth II and Pope John Paul II professed their beguilement by its attractiveness and architectural beauty. The native town is reflected in the works of Jan Neruda, Jaroslav Hasek, Jaroslav Seifert, Franz Kafka, Max Brod or Egon Erwin Kisch. Prague represents a unique collection of historical monuments dominated by the Prague Castle which towers high above the city. It is a display of all artistic styles and movements. The historical core of the city is situated on both banks of the Vltava river and consists of 6 parts - formerly independent urban units unified in the 18th century. They are as follows: Stare Mesto (Old Town), Josefov (the preserved part of the former Jewish Town - today a part of the Old Town), Nove Mesto (New Town), Mala Strana (Lesser Town), Hradcany and Vysehrad. Naturally, most of the historical monuments, museums and galleries are concentrated right there.
The most beautiful views of the city
Smetanovo nabrezi (embankment) - Novotneho lavka, the Old Town Hall Tower, the Powder Tower, the Old Town Bridge Tower, the Lesser Town Bridge Tower, St Vitus, St Wenceslas and St Adalbert Cathedral Tower, the Prague Castle ramp in Hradcanske namesti, Petrin View-Tower, Letna Park - Hanauer Pavilion, belfry of the St Nicholas church, Zizkov TV tower, Vysehrad.
Prague Attributes
Prague has always played an important role in the history of the nation, the country and the whole of Europe. She has cherished the reputation of one of the most beautiful cities in the world and has been paid tribute by outstanding personalities. During centuries she had been given various attributes:
Prague, the City of One Hundred Spires - this attribute was probably given to Prague for the first time by writer Josef Hormayer at the beginning of the 19th century. Prague towers were first counted by mathematician and philosopher Bernardo Bolzano and he got to the number of 103, without counting water towers and private houses. Right now Prague has around 500 spires.
Prague, the Heart of Europe - Prague is situated in the center of Europe, it is 600 km away from the Baltic Sea, over 700 km away from the Northern Sea, as well as from the Adriatic Sea.
Golden Prague - this attribute may date back to the period of Charles IV, the Czech King and German Emperor, when the towers of the Prague Castle were gilded. Another theory says that Prague got this attribute during the reign of Rudolf II who supported alchemists in their quest for gold. Then in 1882 Prague Mayor Tomas Cerny depicted Prague in his speech at the Town Hall as "Golden and Slavic". Since 1884 a magazine called Golden Prague had been published and in its opening poem Adolf Heyduk, a well-known Czech poet, used this expression.
Stony Prague - this attribute was given to Prague by merchant Ibrahím ibn Jakúb, a member of a delegation to the German emperor in the 10th century, in his book of travels in which he depicted Prague admiringly as a "town built of stone and lime".
Praga tocius Bohemiae domina - Prague, the Lady of the Czechlands - this expression was used by Kosmas, the renowned Czech chronicler in 1119. Another similar attribute is Praga mater urbium - Prague, the Mother of Towns.
Praga caput regni - Prague, the Head of the Kingdom - this expression was used during the Middle Ages, but the first person who speaked it out, according to the chronicle, was Jan Pasek of Vrat, who became the Prague Mayor and reigned over both the Old Town and the New Town. In 1518 he had this slogan written on the building of the Old Town Hall, where it can be still seen today, though its author died in oblivion.
Prague, the Rome of the North - if Rome was built on seven hills, then Prague was built on nine hills: Letna, Vitkov, Opys, Vetrov, Skalka, Emauzy, Vysehrad, Karlov and the highest of them - Petrin.
Tips to visit in Prague
Prague represents a unique collection of historical monuments dominated by the Prague Castle which towers high above the city. It is a specimen of all artistic styles and movements. The historical core of the city is situated on both banks of the Vltava river and consists of 6 parts - formerly independent urban units unified in the 18th century. They are as followed: Stare Mesto (Old Town), Josefov (the preserved part of the former Jewish Town - today a part of the Old Town), Nove Mesto (New Town), Mala Strana (Lesser Town), Hradcany and Vysehrad. Naturally, most of the historical monuments, museums and galleries are concentrated right there.
Prague Castle, river Vltava and Charles Bridge (Prazsky hrad, Vltava, Karluv most):
Places of the Prague Castle accessible to the public:
The Royal Palace (Vladislav Hall, Old Parliament, equestrian statues, Czech and Court Chancellery, Theresian Wing)
St Vitus, St Wenceslas and St Adalbert Cathedral with its St Wenceslas Chapel and the tomb of Czech Kings
St George Basilica, St George Monastery
Prague Castle Gallery
Golden Lane with Daliborka Tower
Powder Tower called Mihulka
Lobkovic Palace
Queen Anna´s Summerhouse
Royal Garden with Ball Games House
Prague Castle Riding Hall
Prague Castle Gardens
Don’t forget to visit monuments run by the Prague Information Service:
Lesser Town Bridge Towers, Old Town Bridge Tower, Old Town Hall and Tower, Tower of the St Nicolas’ Church, Powder Tower, Petrin View Tower, the Maze and the Ctenice Castle. They are ancient, unique monuments, mainly towers and from their galleries you get the best view and hence the best photographs of the city. The Prague Information Service guides are ready to give you a lot of interesting information.
Vocabulary
| In English | Česky |
| Hello! (Good day!) | Dobrý den! |
| Hi! | Ahoj!/Čau! |
| Good morning! | Dobré ráno! |
| Good night! | Dobrou noc! |
| Good bye! | Na shledanou! |
| Bye! See you! | Ahoj!/Čau! |
| See you later! | Na shledanou později! |
| Please. | Prosím. |
| Excuse me. | S dovolením. |
| I’ m sorry. | Promiňte. |
| Thank you. | Děkuji. |
| Thanks. | Dík(y). |
| You are welcome! | Prosím./Není zač. |
| Yes. | Ano |
| No | Ne |
| Entrance. | Vchod. |
| Exit. | Východ. |
| Open. | Otevřeno. |
| Closed. | Zavřeno. |
| No smoking. | Zákaz kouření / Kouření zakázáno. |
Currency
Legal tenders - Crown (Kc)* = 100 Hellers
Coins:
hellers: 50
CZK: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50
Banknotes:
CZK 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000
*CZK = Koruna ceska = Czech crown
EUR 1,- = app. CZK 23,50,-
Exchange rates - www.cnb.cz
Currency converter - www.xe.com
Losses of credit cards are to be announced at the following telephone numbers:
272 771 111 - Master Card/Eurocard, Visa
267 197 450 - Diners Club
222 800 222 - American Express
Eat & Drink
Prague offer of hospitality is abundant. There are restaurants of different price categories here, with international cuisine, with all kinds of national cuisine, as well as restaurants specialized in fish, venison, vegetarian, kosher dishes, etc. At one’s disposal, there are wine-bars, beer halls, coffee lounges, internet cafés, confectioneries, tea-rooms and night-clubs with entertaining programmes. Culture and style of catering are always interesting in a foreign country. Therefore, the first place in the offer is represented by restaurants with Czech cuisine, which is highly appreciated by a majority of visitors. It includes plenty of various classical dishes, such as pork with sauerkraut and dumplings, sirloin of beef, tomato, dill, mushroom and other sauces with dumplings and beef, or schnitzel with a special potato salad, roasted pork knuckle, or perhaps yeast fruit dumplings strewn with cottage cheese and sugar. It is also possible to choose from many regional specialities, various potato and mushroom dishes as well as desserts, such as famous Bohemian and Moravian cakes.
A good dinner must be accompanied by the Czech national drink - beer, first and foremost worldwide known Pilsner beer, brewed in Plzen, the city in the Western Bohemia. But many other excellent light and dark beers also figure in the offer - Budvar, Radegast, Gambrinus, Smíchovské, Kozel, Bernard, Krusovice and tens of other brands. Some beerhouses brew their own beer and it is possible to order an excursion to a brewery.The selection of delicious Czech and namely Moravian wines is abundant as well. Men like to visit picturesque beerhouses, whereas women indulge themselves in neat confectioneries with a rich selection of sweet desserts and good coffee, but both agree on one of stylish wine cellars.
The main meal is usually dinner served at midday time or supper, which is served most often from 6 to 8 p.m. The day activity begins earlier then in the most of other European countries, but the development of tourism brings a progressive adaptation to custom practices in other countries. Smoking is allowed only in places, where there are ashtrays on tables.Waiters are tipped at the moment of payment and the service charge is set by rounding the paid sum and reflects the client’s satisfaction (at average ca 10 %). In the best-known and luxurious restaurants, the seat reservation is recommended, especially in the evening.
As it is usual also in other countries, the prices in restaurants differ - it depends on type, standard or locality of the catering establishment. The price of a menu usually ranges from 200 CZK to 500 CZK, in choice restaurants it generally exceeds 1 000 CZK.
From an enormous number of restaurants, beerhouses, coffee lounges, wine-bars, and tea-rooms being at present available in Prague, we present at least some selected establishments, according to the type of their special cuisine.
24-hour Hospitals
Hospital Na Homolce - Aliens Ward
Roentgenova 2
Praha 5 - Motol
150 30
Phone: 257 271 111
E-mail: hospital@homolka.cz
Web: http://www.homolka.cz
Teaching Hospital Motol - Aliens Ward
V Úvalu 84
Praha 5 - Motol
150 06
Phone: 224 431 111
E-mail: cizinecke@fnmotol.cz
Web: http://www.fnmotol.cz, http://www.fnmotol.cz/foreignersdepartment/html/contacts.php?menu=1
Phones
Local phone calls
Telephone cards in the value of 200,- Kc and 300,- Kc are available at newsagents’ and tobacconists’, post offices, department stores, hotels, travel agencies, etc.
Mobile Phones
There are three mobile operators in the Czech Republic:
Telefónica O2 - www.cz.o2.com
T-Mobile - www.t-mobile.cz
Vodafone - www.vodafone.cz
Important Telephone Numbers
Emergency call 112
Ambulance service phone 155
Police phone 158
Fire emergency phone 150
Municipal police phone 156
Emergency road service phone 1230, 1240
General information phone 12 444, 221 714 444
Directory inquiries (Prague and the whole Czech Republic) phone 1180
Directory inquiries (international) - both telephone and fax numbers, call services and prices phone 1181
Calling from abroad to the Czech Republic
dial 00 420 + local number (9-digit number)
Example: If you would like to hire a guide (Prague Information Service)
dial 00 420 + 236 002 562
There are some exceptions.
Example: If you would like to ask for information by phone (Prague Information Service)
dial 00 420 + 12 444 (or 00 420 221 714 444)
Calling abroad from the Czech Republic
dial 00 country code + local number
Average annual temperatures
|
|
°C |
°F |
|
January |
-1,7 |
28,9 |
|
February |
-0,9 |
30,4 |
|
March |
3,8 |
38,8 |
|
April |
8,5 |
47,3 |
|
May |
13,5 |
56,3 |
|
June |
16,7 |
62,1 |
|
July |
18,3 |
64,9 |
|
August |
17,8 |
64,1 |
|
September |
14,0 |
57,2 |
|
October |
9,3 |
48,7 |
|
November |
3,7 |
38,6 |
|
December |
0,1 |
32,2 |
City Transport
The major city-transport carrier in Prague is Dopravni podnik hl. m. Prahy, a.s. (The Capital City of Prague Transport Company). Its total annual transportation volume is more than one billion passengers. They are served by the system of underground, trams and buses.
How does the city transport in Prague operate?
Metro
The Prague Metro network consists of 3 lines designated by letters and differentiated in colour:
green colour (Depo Hostivar station - Dejvicka station)
yellow colour (Cerny most station - Zlicin station)
red colour (Letnany - Haje station), with possible changes at Muzeum station (lines A and C), Mustek station (lines A and B), Florenc station (lines B and C). Metro operates daily from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. The time interval between train departures is approximately 2 - 3 minutes during the workday rush hours and 4 - 10 minutes during off-peak hours.
Trams
Daytime operation is from 4:30 a.m. to midnight. Night operation is from midnight to 4:30 a.m. and is provided by tram numbers 51 to 59 in the interval of 30 minutes. The central interchage station for night lines is Lazarska stop. Tram schedules are located at individual stops.
Buses
The daytime and night operation of buses is similar to tram operation. Night service is provided by bus numbers 501 to 514 and 601 to 604. Bus schedules are located at individual stops.
The Funicular
The Funicular to Petrin Hill operates along the route Újezd - Nebozizek - Petrin. The Funicular operates daily from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (April - September) and from 9 a.m. to 11:20 p.m. (October - March) with traffic intervals from 10 to 15 minutes.
Prague City Transport Fares
Travelling by city transport is possible only with a valid ticket. Passengers have to obtain their tickets before boarding the vehicle or entering the Metro system. The ticket is valid only if marked in the validation appliance. Tickets can be bought at selected Metro stations or in Dopravni podnik Information Centers, hotels, at news stands, travel bureau, department stores, etc. Single tickets can also be bought from the ticket vendors located at Metro stations or near some stops of surface transport.
Fares
Transfer ticket CZK 26,- / app. EUR 1,20,-
Discounted (children 6 to 15 years) CZK 13,- / EUR 0,60,-
- the ticket is valid for 75 minutes after marking. During off-peak hours, i.e. 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. on working days and all day Saturdays and Sundays ticket validity is prolonged to 90 minutes.
Ticket with limited transfer options CZK 18,- / EUR 80,-
Discounted (children 6 to 15 years) CZK 9,- / EUR 0,40,-
- in trams and buses a nontransfer ticket is valid for 20 minutes after marking and does not allow changing of lines. In the underground the nontransfer ticket is valid for 5 stations after marking (excluding the starting station) and allows transfers between the underground lines. Time validity of the nontransfer ticket in the underground is limited to 30 minutes.
- nontransfer tickets are not valid on night trams and buses and for the Petrin Funicular
The prices may be increased during the year.
Tourist Tickets – Several Day Tickets
These tickets are valid for all the city transport facilities and allow changes. The ticket is valid from the moment of its marking.
Free-of-Charge Transport of Passengers and Objects
- children up to 6 years of age
- citizens of the Czech Republic and foreigners with residential permit inthe age over 70
- disabled persons (only citizens of the Czech Republic, holders of ZTP and ZTP-P card) including wheelchair, guide and dog
- prams with babies
- animals in protective boxes
- luggage sized up to 25 x 45 x 70 centimeters
- rodlike luggage up to the length of 150 centimeters and 20 centimeters in diameter
- boards sized up to 100x100x5 centimeters
- 1 pair of skis
- bicycles
Ticket Inspection
The validity of tickets can be checked by the ticket inspectors of Dopravni podnik at any time during travel or stay in the Metro system. The ticket inspector is entitled to ask the passenger to produce his or her valid ticket, to confiscate invalid tickets, and to collect a penalty (950 Kc, if paid at once 700 Kc) in case of travel without a valid ticket. In case of unpaid freight the inspector collects a penalty 200 Kc, which is reduced to 100 Kc, if it is paid on the spot or in an excess fare ticket office of Dopravni podnik. To prove their identity, inspectors produce yellow-and-red badges. They issue receipts for the penalty amounts.
Taxi Services
The 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
- boarding fee 40,- Kc
- waiting 6,- Kc/1min.
The prices can be rised within a year. The maximum prices are valid for all the vehicles offering the taxi services in the district of Prague. The price forwaiting includes waiting in a trafic jam (slow trafic) as well as waiting on customer’s request. Fare outside the district of Prague is not limited.
Warning for Customers
- Each taxi has to be equipped with a permanetly installed roof lamp with the TAXI sign.
- The registration number, company name and the price list including the basic rate,
- kilometer rate and one-minute-waiting rate must be displayed on both front doors of the taxi. These prices must correspond with the prices set on the taximeters in the taxi.
- Customers are recommended to order a taxi by means of nonstop dispatching offices, where the information on fares is available in advance.
- When the journey is completed, the driver is obliged to issue an orderly and fully filled receipt for the payment. The receipt has to be issued by the taxameter printer.
Selected Taxi Companies
AAA radiotaxi
- Phone: 140 14
Fax: 221 102 233
E-mail: sekret3@aaa.radiotaxi.cz
Web: http://www.aaataxi.cz
Citytaxi
- Phone: 257 257 257
Fax: 257 257 299
Web: http://www.citytaxi.cz
Road Traffic
The Highway Code in the Czech Republic is basically the same as in other European countries. However, the following should be kept in mind:
- drive on the right side
- safety belts must be fastened both in and outside towns and villages
- car safety seats are obligatory for children up to 36 kg or 150 cm
- maximum speed for passenger vehicles is 90 kmph, in towns and villages 50 kmph, and 130 kmph on motorways
- to drive under the influence of alcohol is prohibited
- motor vehicles must be alight also in the day-time (since 1st July 2006 all the year round)
- for driving on highway the toll sticker must be applied. The appropriate special stick-on label can be bought at border crossings, post offices or fuel stations
Price of highway toll stickers in Kc:
|
vehicle |
1 year |
1 month |
7 days |
|
up to 3,5 t |
1000,- |
330,- |
220,- |
|
3,5 - 12 t |
8000,- |
2000,- |
750,- |
Important Telephone Numbers
Emergency Call - phone 112
Czech Police - phone 158
Municipal Police - phone 156 (Information on towed vehicles)
Medical emergency - phone 155
Emergency Service - Road and Wrecking Nonstop Services
ABA - Autoklub Bohemia Assistance - phone 1240
Ustredni automotoklub - phone 1230
Servis 24 - phone 261 104 477 (for buses, coaches, lorries and trucks)
Skoda Assistance - phone 261 104 666
Road Distances from Prague
Road distances from Prague to some of the cities in the Czech republic
|
Brno |
209 km |
|
Ceské Budejovice |
153 km |
|
Cesky Krumlov |
176 km |
|
Hradec Kralové |
112 km |
|
Karlovy Vary |
129 km |
|
Kutna Hora |
74 km |
|
Liberec |
107 km |
|
Olomouc |
288 km |
|
Ostrava |
385 km |
|
Plzen |
93 km |
State and Public Holidays
- January 1st - Independent Czech State Renewal Day, New Year
- Variable - Easter Monday
- May 1st - Labour Day
- May 8th - National Holiday - Liberation Day (1945)
- July 5th - National Holiday - Cyril and Methodius Day - the Slavic Christianity Day
- July 6th - National Holiday - Master John Hus’ burning at the stake (1415)
- September 28th - National Holiday - Czech Statehood Day
- October 28th - National Holiday - Independent Czechoslovak State Proclamation Day (1918)
- November 17th - National Holiday - Day of Fight for Freedom and Democracy
- December 24th - Christmas Eve
- December 25th - Christmas Day
- December 26th - St. Stephen’s Day
