13 Really Useful Things to Know before visiting Prague!
Old Town with the Astronomical Clock and the Tyn Church in Prague, Czech Republic
13 Really Useful Things to Know
BEFORE VISITING PRAGUE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
A little History & Prague Spring
So you’ve been thinking about visiting the Czech Republic ever since Prague Spring ushered in sweeping changes through out parts of Europe. Well don’t miss it!
I know my first visit was the year before that and the changes from my first to my five years of living and working there and visits since have been dramatic indeed!
Slowly but surely the crumbling architecture and intricate stone walkways and streets have magically transformed and come back to life in all their traditional color and glory.
Trendy shops and restaurants have opened with all kinds of ethnic foods that had not been seen since before the war. They got a McDonalds and a Kentucky Fried Chicken but with different offerings geared to European tastes and sensibilities.
People have come back to claim properties seized by the communists; my own husband, an architect and originally from Prague, worked with a group to reopen a big hotel off Wenceslas Square. Young people are staying put rather than leaving. It has been an exciting thing to watch and be a part of.
The architecture and statuary are breath taking in and around the Czech Republic
THE CAPITAL, THE SIZE, THE CURRENCY & THE WEATHER
Prague is the capital and the hub of the Czech Republic, formerly known as Czechoslovakia. They separated peacefully but the Czech Republic has done much better and is sort of known for being the new Paris or London.
With about 1.3 million residents it doesn’t sound like a really big city. Having said that, it feels packed! With over a million visitors each year it can be overwhelming at times particularly in the summer. We now try to avoid it during that time.
While it joined the EU in 2004, it continues to use it’s original currency called the czech koruna (CZK). The exchange rate is pretty darn good for travel there right now with $1 being equal to about 22.86 koruna. That is very good buying power.
The best times to visit are in spring and fall. With the weather changes occurring across Europe, summer has become very hot and places that never needed air conditioning are finding they do now. It can be a more expensive challenge to get it in a rental car as well. Fortunately, you don’t need a car and parking is a nightmare anyway!
Tips: Prague is busy, the exchange rate is great, and avoid the crowded summer heat!
Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague has been updated, is busy and is easy to navigate
AIRPORTS, FLIGHTS, LANGUAGES & TIMES
The airport is named after Prague’s beloved President and poet who has now passed away, Vaclav Havel. It has had a good amount of work done to it and is pretty easy to navigate. It is a short hop from other hubs such as Vienna, Budapest, Berlin & Krakow.
Delta used to have a dream direct flight from Atlanta that they no longer offer. If you are traveling with children or animals as we do, direct is best. Some airlines are also cracking down on animal policies. We recently found a direct flight out of Boston with Delta in September for $800 which is pretty good.
Upon landing you will find yourself on Central European Time (GMT +1) and that English is spoken along with many other languages such as Czech, German, Italian & French.
You can easily grab a taxi into the city which is a 30 minute ride for a flat rate of around $25. Uber is available and can sometimes be a wait but the rate is half the price at $12 so keep your Uber app handy.
Tips: Airport is easy to navigate, is close to other good hubs, direct flights are best & Uber is cheaper!
Buses, trams and the underground are all easy and affordable choices for you over a car in Prague
TRAINS & TRAMS & BUSES OH MY!
On a budget? Buses, trams and the underground are all easy, affordable options running on a ticket system you purchase ahead. There are machines in the underground stations and tobacco stores sell them as well. There are many different programs offered; just pick the one best suited for your use and length of stay.
You take a ticket from your pack and get it time stamped in the little machines at the front and middle of the cars. Put that ticket in your pocket and watch your clock. You get to use that ticket on anything for an allotted amount of time.
Do not lose the ticket; inspectors do come around and ask to see tickets to make sure people aren’t trying to game the system. It is a high, on the spot fine designed to keep people honest.
Think you are great enough to drive in Prague? Think twice. It is confusing with trams and there is not enough parking. The police are boot givers and fines are hefty and on the spot.
Tips: Use the public transportation system, keep your tickets with you and think twice about driving!
STREETS, TOURING & SAFETY
Prague is meant to be a walking city in that with a small map guide you can easily walk from New Town to Old Town than over to the Charles Bridge and Lesser Town. These are three of the main areas you will spend most of your time in.
Having said that, bring a comfortable pair of shoes that are not slick. The fancy stone walkways and the cobblestone streets can be treacherous especially for weak ankles or seniors. Be sensible and leave your wonderful Manolos at home.
If walking is not your thing or you have small children, consider a horse and carriage tour or bus tour that you can easily pick up on the square in Old Town. There are fancy cars for hire around and there are also water tours that can be great fun on a beautiful day for a lunch or dinner.
Prague is a very safe city. In all the time I lived there and on the visits since I have only experienced a few instances or problems. There is a begging factor; help as you wish or not.
Keep your hands on your valuables while riding the underground. Pick pockets can be slick. They hit or try to as the train is coming to a stop while you are distracted and they jump off and on a waiting opposite train with your goods in hand.
They got a wallet of mine once that only had business cards in it for artists I was gathering for the gallery. They tried to get my sister-in-laws one day and she felt it and called them out on it. It doesn’t happen a lot just be aware of your surroundings and your stuff when on public transportation! Got it?
Tips: Bring comfortable shoes, Prague is a walking city but you have choices and keep an eye on your stuff!
Old Town Square with a view of St. Nicholas Church
AN EXTRA BIT JUST FOR YOU
Prague used to believe that all this wonderful “historicness” should be shared with the public at no cost. It is a sound social decision to make but sadly one they now have to break. Meaning, they have discovered the wonders of capitalism.
They also have discovered that a million visitors each year anywhere leaves a footprint that has to be addressed in a variety of money spending ways. What does that mean to you? Practically nothing is free anymore but it is at least at a price way under what you would expect in other major cities.
They do offer a Prague Card that is a handy thing available in all their tourist centers that will get you in to all the attractions you will want to see and on all public transportation as well for free-well you know after you buy the card. Czech it out!
I hope you enjoyed reading this and learning some valuable tips and hints for your trip to Prague; cause if you are here, you must be thinking about it. You might also enjoy reading some other blogs under Explore the World and Edible Fare. Look for several more blogs in this series on Prague including some great day trips to take as well coming soon.
Hey, don’t be a stranger! Let me hear from you on whether this helped you out or not. Let me know what you want to know about Prague or anything else that might be on your mind OK? Until next time…
Cheers,
ArtsyChowRoamer
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