The Czech Republic is located in Central Europe, and its capital Prague can be accessed by plane, train or bus, while the last two possibilities are available only for European tourists.

Getting to Prague by Flight

Prague Ruzyne (Ruzyně) International Airport is situated about 12 miles northwest of the city. Ruzyne Airport serves dozens of international air companies from more than 100 destinations around the world, including most major cities in Europe, and also from some North American, African and Asian destinations.

There are many ways to get to Prague from the airport:

1. Regular shuttle. Shuttle minibuses leave from Ruzyne Airport to Prague (V Celnici street) every half an hour from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm. The price tariffs are as follows:

a. 90 CZK for one-way ticket to V Celnici Street or back.

b. 60 CZK for one-way ticket to Dejvická metro station or back.

c. Free of charge for children under the age of 10 accompanied by adults.

The trip takes about 30 minutes. Tickets are available on board.

2. Taxi. Taxicabs can be found across following arrival halls: Terminal North 1 (exit D) and Terminal North 2 (exit E). The price tariffs are as follows: 34 CZK as a starting rate, 25 CZK per 1 kilometer and 5 CZK for 1 minute waiting.

3. Special Minibus 24-hour Service – private minibus to any destination in Prague and outside of Prague. The basic price tariffs are as follows:

a. 480 CZK for group up to 4 people to one destination in Prague’s center.

b. 960 CZK for group up to 8 people to one destination in Prague’s center.

c. 960 CZK for group of 1-8 people to one destination outside Prague’s center.

4. Public Transportation. Routes 100 and 119 are the quickest way to get to Prague’s center. Bus № 100 leaves from Terminal North 1 and Terminal North 2 and arrives at Zličín (metro line B) within approx. 15-25 minutes. Bus № 119 leaves from Terminal North 1 and Terminal North 2 and arrives at Dejvická (metro line A) within approx. 20-30 minutes. The buses depart every 10 minutes from 4:30 am to 11:30 pm. The tickets cost 12 CZK and are available at the newsstand or at the yellow apparatus at the bus stop.

5. Night bus. If you arrive in the airport at night, you can use the Bus 510, which can be changed to night tram 51 at Divoká Šárka stop. The night tram 51 will take you to various spots in the city, including Staroměstská, Národní třída(M) etc.

Getting to Prague by Train

Trains operate on a daily basis between Prague and most major European cities, including Paris, Amsterdam, Munich, Vienna, Moscow and more. Trains from outside the country arrive and depart from the main railway and metro station in Prague (Hlavní nádraží), next to the Museum metro station on the Wenceslas Square.

The trains arrive at 3rd level of Hlavní nádraží station, whereas Prague’s tourist information (PIS) booth is situated at level 2 and left-luggage area and showers are situated at level 1. Other services, including exchange office, accommodation agency, day-use lockers and fast food stands are available as well.

Some of the international trains stop at Praha Smíchov (connected to Prague’s metro system via Smíchovské nádraží metro station) or Praha Holešovice (connected to Prague’s metro system via Nádraží Holešovice metro station).

Getting to Prague by train is usually cheaper than getting by plane, although a good advice is to conduct a thorough research of air companies prices just to be sure. In case your departure location is relatively close to Prague, such as Berlin, Vienna or Bratislava – the time of journey could be almost the same, considering the fact that the airport arrangements tend to be time consuming. For example, reaching Prague by train from Berlin and Munich takes 5 hours, and from Vienna and Bratislava it supposed to be about 4.5 hours. The estimated one-way ticket’s price is about $50. Getting to Prague from Paris takes about 10 hours. The estimated round trip price is about $300 (first class) or 200$ (second class).

It is important to know that during the high season it is highly recommended that international train tickets be booked a couple of weeks ahead since the trains could be full.

Getting to Prague by Bus

The bus is probably the cheapest way to get Prague from inside of Europe. The two most frequently used Prague bus stations are Florenc and Roztyly, while most international buses arrive to Florenc (Main Station). Both stations have metro stops and are easily accessible.

Useful Information

A part of the historical reconstruction process in Prague, the Cubistic building, located about 100 meters from Wenceslas Square, had collapsed on 16.7.2006 under reconstruction. The residents of neighboring houses suffer from shock, but no physical victims were found. The collapsed building was supposed to feature shops, offices, coffeehouse etc.

Pařížská 17

Praha 1

Pravda is a very fashionable, hip fusion restaurant. Its cuisine absorbed influences from many world cuisines; allows you to enjoy a culinary trip around the world. Beside every course in the menu one can notice its “ethnic origin”. The interior is minimalist but diversified and sophisticated, inspired by the prestige and modern ambience of the surrounding Pařížská street.

Karlova 20

Praha 1

Reykjavik is one of the first private restaurants in Prague, founded in 1991. It is named after the capital city of Iceland, its owner’s origin. The cuisine is partly Scandinavian and partly fusion, although my favorite dishes in this restaurant are still salmon and seafood. The excellent variety of meat dishes (beef, pork, lamb and chicken); and light meals such as sandwiches, hamburgers, pastas and salads create a real culinary experience, which is never boring to the eye or tongue. The Reykjavik’s is located on Karlova Street right on the way to Charles Bridge and is just perfect for tourists. A marvelous lunch for two will cost you about 1,600 CZK.

According to the UNICEF estimations, about 1.2 million children are sold every year in the world, some of them in Czech Republic. Most baby traders offer children aged one or two years for sale to foreign couples. Recently, three Czech men have been arrested for trying to sell 10-month-old girl to a foreign couple for 100,000 euros. Police doesn’t yet know the baby’s identity.

Cases of selling Asian and African children to local pedophiles in Western Europe were reported as well.

This year, Japan became the second biggest investor in Czech Republic, after Germany. The biggest Japanese investors in the Czech economy are:

If you’re planning a visit to Prague, I have some good news for you: Prague’s newcomers are the lucky ones. Most important historical and cultural sites are located very close to each other, so every site can be reached from another site in less than half an hour, using the underground. If you’re in a rush to see it all, you can visit all of these magnificent sites in an intensive three-day trip, or less intensive five-day trip.

The “must-be-visited” sites of the city are as follows:

In the Old Town (Staré Mesto):

Old Town Square (Staroměstská Náměstí) – the main Square featuring the famous Astronomical Clock, the Tyn (Týn) Church, Jan Hus’ monument and many coffeehouses and restaurants.

Josefov - the Jewish Quarter, featuring many historical synagogues (one of them is assosiated with the Golem legend) and old cemetery.

Charles Bridge (Karlův most) – the famous medieval bridge connecting the two opposite banks of Vltala and enjoying the reputation of most romantic site of Prague.

Ungelt - Tyn Yard (Týnský dvur) – The medieval marketplace, probably established in the 11th century.

Bethlehem Chapel (Betlémská kaple) – the church in which Jan Hus preached his sermons in Czech instead of Latin.

In the New Town (Nové Mìsto):

Wenceslas Square (Václavské námestí) - the famous Czech history and social life modern center.

Na Příkopě – the lively pedestrian mall.

Obecný dum – the beautiful art nouveau building that had featured Prague’s municipality in the past.

In the Lesser Quarter (Malá Strana):

Petrin (Petřín) Hill – The hill features a huge park with the most beautiful Prague’s views, and Petrin Tower - a small imitation of the Eiffel Tower.

Kampa Island - features beautiful serene park, where you can walk or feed the ducks. Kampa is full of pubs and cafes.

The Wallenstein Palace and Garden – Renaissance palace that was build in the 17th century for General Albrecht Vaclav Eusebius of Wallenstein, the powerful and wealthiest Czech nobleman.

In Hradčany:

Prague Castle (Pražský hrad) - the official residence of the Czech kings, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of the modern Czech and Czechoslovak Republic, first established in the 9th century and renovated by the architect J. Plecnik after the WWI.

In Vyshehrad (Vyšehrad):

Vyšehrad (Castle on the Heights) - an ancient Czech castle built on a hill over the Vltava River in the 10th century.

Vyšehrad cemetery – the cemetery contains the remains of many famous Czech.

Increasing number of foreign tourists, predominantly from Great Britain, Ireland and the US, spend their honeymoons in Prague. According to the estimations of tourism industry specialists, approx. 5% of all the foreign Prague visitors (3.725 million tourists) last year were honeymooners.

The hotel investment market in Eastern Europe – including the Czech Republic – is boosting due to increasing demand. The average room rate in Prague is estimated to be about € 101.40. As a result, hotel rooms supply in Prague, city that characterized by well-developed tourist industry, has increased by 33% since 2000. Prague ranks third in Europe for the hotel occupancy level (75.3% occupancy), after Amsterdam (78.5% occupancy) and Edinburgh (76.4% occupancy). The average room yield in Prague is about € 76.36.

The new law, which allows registration of gay and lesbian partnership, has come into force in 1.7.2006. Since then, two homosexual couples and one lesbian couple have officially registered their partnership.

The law was initially suggested in 1998, but the parliament formally passed it only this year. Under the law, same-sex partners – just like married couples - got the following rights: to receive information about each other’s health state; to inherit property; to reject a job on the basis of the place and the character of the other partner’s job. However, same-sex couples still cannot adopt children; cannot receive widows or widower’s pension; and are not subject to joint taxation.