Changing money
Exchange: 1 € = approx 29 Koruna (1 Koruna = 100 Heller)
1 GBP = 1.46 €
1 GBP= 41.28 Koruna (Kc)
It’s advisable to exchange sufficient currency at the border or at the airport (for taxi, hotel, meals, petrol etc). Alternatively you can use your cashcard at the many ATMs in Prague where you will usually get a good exchange rate, which is rarely the case if you change currency at your bank back home. A foolproof method is to change cash directly into Czech Koruna at a bank in Prague, where you can be sure that you are getting an absolutely correct (although not always the best) daily rate. You’re advised to take care at exchange booths, even though some of these may offer better rates than the banks.
Transfer from the airport to the hotel or clinic
Please let us know at least a week in advance if you want to be collected from the airport and don’t forget to give us your flight number and arrival time. Our driver will bring you directly to the clinic or hotel as appropriate.
The buses of the Cedaz Shuttle service (Tel: 220 11 42 96. Fax: 220 11 42 86. www.aas.cz/cedaz/ <http://www.aas.cz/cedaz/>) leave every half hour and connect the airport with the city centre. Cost is 90 Kc (approx 3 €/2GBP) including 1 item of luggage (journey: 30 mins). Bus line 119 is in operation between 04.30-23.30, departing every 10 minutes for Metro station Dejvick (Line A). Tickets cost 12 Kc and can be purchased from newspaper stands or from automatic machines at the terminal. The taxis of the FIX s.r.o. company (Tel: 220 11 38 92) are more expensive and demand between 120 and 870 Koruna according to the number of zones (for the city centre expect to pay around 800 Koruna).
Speed limits
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|
 |
| Motorway |
130 km/h |
| Roads |
90 km/h |
Inner-city
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50 km/h |
| Driving is on the right! |
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- Motorway toll sticker: 150 Koruna/week (approx 5 €) for cars
- Alcohol limit 0%
- Breakdown Stredn:
Automotoklub (AMK) (Tel: 1230).
Autoklub Cesk Republicky (ABA) (Tel: 12 40).
Roads are generally in good condition and lead-free petrol is available nationally. Driving regulations are similar to Germany. Please note that cars must use headlights night and day during the entire winter time (MEZ), otherwise you risk a fine of 35€ = approx 24 GBP. Accidents involving injuries or damage to vehicles can cost over 20,000 Kc (approx 680 €/460 GBP) and must be reported to the police. International and EU driving licences are recognised.
Driving and parking in the city
Parking in Prague is a problem. Tourists are advised to leave their car at the secure hotel car park and take public transport. Wrongly-parked cars will be either clamped or towed away, incurring a fine of at least 1000 Kc. Cars should be locked and alarms activated. Valuables and radios should be stored out of sight.
Do take care when using taxis, especially at tourist hotspots where unlicensed cabs try to pick up unsuspecting customers. Taxis in Prague charge 30 Kc (approx 1 € = 0.68 GBP) for the initial charge followed by 22 Kc per kilometre. Price guides are on display at the popular tourist locations in the city.
Travelling by train
Trains are reliable and normally punctual, although buses are often quicker. The two main railway stations with international connections are the main station Hlavn ndraz (Wilsonova, Praha 2) and Holesovice (Vrbenskho, Praha 7). Both offer exchange facilities and tourist information. Lockers and 24-hour luggage storage can be found at all stations.
Public transport
The efficient and affordable public transport system (Tel: 29 61 91 111 www.dp-praha.cz <http://www.dp-praha.cz>) offers metro, tram & bus connections as well as a funicular railway up Petrin Hill. Lines run till midnight when night buses & trams take over between 00.00-05.00. The three Metro lines (green line A; yellow line B; red line C) run every two minutes on weekdays from 05.00-00.00, at all other at 5 to 10 minute intervals. You can change lines at three stations, Muzeum (A & C), Mustek (A & B) and Florenc (B & C).
Tickets (jzdenky) must be bought in advance and validated upon boarding buses and trams as well as at the entrances to the metro stations. Valid for all forms of transport, they can be purchased from machines at metro stations, tobacconists, information centres and any shop bearing the red and yellow DP sign. There are two different tickets: the 8 Kc ticket allows you to travel up to 4 stops on the metro or take a 15 minute journey on bus or tram (without changing, also not valid for the night bus, funicular railway or historic trams). The 12 Kc ticket is valid for all forms of transport, allows you to change and lasts an hour at peak periods and 90 minutes at all other times. You will be fined 200 Kc if you are not in possession of a valid ticket.
Day and week tickets cost 70 Kc for 24 hours, 200 Kc for three days and 250 Kc for one week.
Car rental
Cars can be hired at Prague Ruzyne International airport, Cedok, at American Express offices and many of the larger hotels.
The following companies also operate in Prague:
- Avis
Klimentsk 46, Praha 1
Tel: (02) 21 85 12 25.
www.avis.cz
- Budget (
Cistovicka 100, Praha 6.
Tel: (02) 35 32 57 13.
www.budget.cz
- Hertz (
Karlovo nmest 28, Prag 2
(Tel: (02) 22 23 10 10 or 20 10/24 24.
www.hertz.cz
Although we hope that these guidelines help you plan your visit to Prague, we can take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information as circumstances can change at any time. These guidelines are issued in March 2006.
British Embassy Prague
Thunovska 14
118 00 Prague 1
Czech Republic
Tel: (+420) 257 402 111
Fax: (+402) 257 402 296
e-mail: info@britain.cz
Opening Hours:local time (GMT + 1 hr)
Monday - Thursday 08.30-17.00 Friday - 08.30-16.00
The Consular/Visa Section of the British Embassy is open on weekdays (with the exception of Czech and British public holidays) from 09.00 to 12.00 for visitors and applicants (All Visa applications should be submitted by 11:00).
e-mail: Consular/Visa
In the event of a real emergency outside normal working hours, please contact the duty officer 602 217 700
If you have any consular/visa related enquires and you cannot find the answer on our main switchboard telephone information service, or on our web pages, please contact us at:
Consular/Visa
Alternatively contact the main switchboard (+420 257 402 111) who will connect you to the Consular/Visa Section.
The Consul and Head of the Consular and Visa Section is Gavin Scott (+420 257 402 226)
VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR BRITISH CITIZENS TO VISIT THE CZECH REPUBLIC
If you hold a British passport and your nationality is shown as British Citizen, you do not need a visa to enter the Czech Republic as a tourist.
As from the 1st of May 2004 nationals from European Union countries and European Economic Area can travel to the Czech Republic with a passport which is valid for the entire duration of their stay. However please be aware that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises travellers to ensure their passport is valid for 6 months beyond the date of travel to allow for unforeseen circumstances.
Holders of British passports whose nationality is shown as anything other than British Citizen must contact their nearest Czech Embassy to determine whether they require a visa for entry to the Czech Republic and if so, what requirements they must meet to obtain a visa..
Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months and in a presentable state. Holders of passports with just a short period of validity remaining or which are in poor condition have been refused entry to the Czech Republic.
Children aged 15 and above must have their own passports. Those travelling on a parent's passport will be refused entry to the Czech Republic.
Visitors are also advised to carry with them a photocopy of the datapage of their passport at all times, for identification purposes.
Kindly ensure you complete the next of kin details in the back of your passport before travelling.
Please make sure you have valid travel insurance before leaving the UK.
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