Local Information


Visas

The citizens of the USA and the European Union do not need entry visa for the Czech Republic. Visitors from other countries, when unsure, should contact their Czech consulate to inquire about the required visa practice.
Please note a somewhat changed situation after the Czech Republic has joined the Schengen (more details).



Currency

Currency in the Czech Republic is Koruna (CZK), smaller unit is Halir (1 Koruna=100 Halir).
The exchange rates are about 17 CZK per US dollar and 26 CZK per Euro (February 2008).

Up-to-date exchange rates of the Czech National Bank are given here.

The OANDA convertor: www.oanda.com

Major credit cards are accepted in many places, especially in the city center.



Public transport

Prague public transport consists of three underground (i.e. subway,tube, Metro) lines A, B, C, connecting city centre with edge parts and numerous tram and bus lines. You can also enjoy funicular railway to the Petrin hill.

More information on routes, tickets, fares, time tables, etc you can find on the web site of Prague Public Transit Co. Inc..



Arrival to Prague

By train: you can get out either at the Main Station ("Hlavni nadrazi") or at the station "Nadrazi Holesovice".

To get to the center of Prague from train stations: The best choice is to use underground. Both stations are on line C of Prague underground.


By plane: you land at the Prague Ruzyne International Airport.

To get to the center of Prague from Airport you can take either:

Shuttle service:

- to a coach terminal - downtown, close to the Metro station "Namesti republiky" (Line B)
Departures from the airport: each 30 minutes, price CZK 120.

- to any other place in Prague
Order in advance is required, departure at any time, price about 500-700 CZK per vehicle.

Taxi: The price per km: about CZK 25-30.
The price from the airport to the city should not exceed CZK 600-800, depending on the destination.
Please check the price with the driver before you get in.
Further information on Prague taxi transport.

Public transport:
Bus No. 119 takes you to the Metro terminal Dejvicka (line A).
Bus No. 100 goes to the Metro terminal Zlicin (line B).
You can use the transfer public transport tickets, cost CZK 26, available at newspaper agents or vending machines and valid (after validation in vehicle) for 75 min and any number of transfers.

Further possibility is the Airport Express bus that costs CZK 40 (payable at the driver) and connects the Airport with the Metro terminal Dejvicka (line A) and the station "Nadrazi Holesovice".

Further details on transport from and to Prague Airport you can find here.




Emergency phone numbers

Free calls: Police : 158
Ambulance: 155
Fire Department: 150
Unified Emergency call: 112

Other Prague emergency and important numbers you will find here.



Weather

The weather in Prague has continental character. In the end of July the maximum day temperatures reach usually 25 to 30 Centigrade and fall down to 15-20 Centigrade during night.

Actual information on weather in Prague you can find here.



General information on Prague

Many important practical information you can find at www.prague.cz or

on the www pages of Prague Information Service: http://www.pis.cz/en

Description on Prague attractions and monuments is available here.

Culture events and historical monuments in Prague: www.heartofeurope.cz.

Interactive maps of Prague: here or here.



General information on Czech Republic

Official pages of the Czech Republic: www.czech.cz.

Tourist regions of the Czech Republic: www.czechtourism.com.

Interactive map of the Czech Republic is here: here.