Practical information

Basic facts

Geography

The new Czech Republic first appeared on the map at the beginning of 1993, after the division of former Czechoslovakia. It is a landlocked country, situated in the Central Europe. It covers an area of 78,864 km2.

Climate

The Czech Republic has a mild continental climate with four distinct seasons. In winter the weather is variable, in summer it can be very warm. The average temperature in January, the coldest winter month is -5 degrees Centigrade, in July, the warmest summer month, around +23 degrees Centigrade. All four seasons are good for travel, but the spring and fall are the most popular thanks to pleasant, not-too-cold, not-too-hot weather, relatively long days, and plenty of cultural events.

Population

The total population is 10.3 million. The structure of the population is 94% Czech (including Moravians and Silesians), 3% Slovaks, 1.3% Romany, 0.6% Polish, 0.5% Germans, 0.6% others.

Religion

The great majority of the population is Roman Catholic.

Language

Czech. Increasing knowledge of German and English.

Time Zone
Time in the Czech Republic is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Daylight Saving Time begins in late March and ends in late September

Electricity
Voltage: 220V/50Hz

National Holidays:
Jan. 1; Easter Mon., May 1, May 8, July 5+6, September 28, October 28, November 17, December 24-26

Visa

Nationals of all Western European countries can visit the Czech Republic for up to 90 days, without a visa; citizens of the UK and Irish Republic can stay for up to 180 days; and US and Canadian passport holders can stay for 30 days. Nationals of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and many other countries must obtain a visa, which is good for a stay of between 30 and 90 days, depending on your nationality.

Currency

The Czech Republic (an EU member as of 5/2004) will NOT adopt the Euro until 2008; Czech crowns (CZK) are easily obtained from any Czech ATM machine via an ATM card, from exchange offices in town centers or from non-stop exchange offices at all Czech airports and most major train station. Approximately...1€=28,50 CZK, 1$=22,50 CZK, 1£=42 CZK

Don’t change any money with people in the street !

Health

There are no health precautions for travel to the Czech Republic and no vaccinations/ inoculations are required.  Tap water is safe to drink (though the chlorination may give it an unpleasant taste), and the incidence of hepatitis is smaller than in the United States. 

In order to comply with European Union regulations, the Czech Republic has adopted a new number for emergency services. Operators will be able to speak both English and German.

New emergency number for MEDICAL, FIRE, POLICE: 112

V.A.T. Refund

Foreign visitors to the Czech Republic can apply for value added tax (VAT) reimbursement when leaving the country. The minimum price of a single item to be refunded is 2,000 CZK and visitors can ask for refunds of all purchases up to 30 days prior to their departure from the country. Foreigners must claim the refund no later than 3 months after the day of purchase. The VAT REFUND FORM, which must be validated by Czech Customs authorities upon departure, can be obtained at Financial Offices, Customs Offices, and the retailers. Refunds must be claimed with the same retailer (1) in person or (2) through a specialized collecting agency.

The process runs as follows:

1. Buy goods worth more than CZK 1,000 in one day from a retailer marked by TAX REFUND sign. Request the envelope, the VAT REFUND FORM and the receipt
2. Have the VAT REFUND FORM filled in, indicating the VAT amount, and stamped by the retailer.
3. Get your VAT REFUND FORM validated at the Czech Customs Office upon your departure from the Czech Republic
4. (a) Stop at any of the specialized collecting agency's refund office before you leave the Czech Republic and get the cash; or
   
   (b) return home and mail your forms and receipts to any of the specialized collecting agencies, requesting a refund; or
   
   (c) keep all the forms and receipts and claim the refund with the same retailer during your next trip to the Czech Republic (within 3 months from the day of purchase).

Traffic regulation

The traffic regulations for driving in the Czech Republic are essentially the same as in the rest of the EU.

You must be over 18 to drive a car in the Czech Republic and must carry your driving licence at all times, along with a vehicle registration card, and an ownership certificate or rental agreement. An international driver’s license is required.

In the city, the speed limit is 50km/h, while outside urban areas, the speed limit is 90km/h and for highways 130km/h. Seatbelts are compulsory in the front and back seats.

The Czech Republic has a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol consumption, so even a single beer before driving will potentially get you in trouble.

Driving in the Czech Republic is safe and pleasant if you follow the following advice:

• Park in guarded parking lots and garages whenever possible.
• Don't leave any items on the seats or the rear window while you are away from the car
• If you plan on street parking, preferably rent a car with Czech Republic plate numbers; foreign plate numbers automatically make the car more attractive for burglary or theft.

Highway tolls

There are no toll booths in the Czech Republic; instead, drivers are required to purchase a special highway sticker before using the country's network of high-speed roads.

These two-part stickers should be filled out with the car's plate number. The shield-shaped portion must be affixed on the inside lower right corner of the front windshield (the corner away from the driver), while the rectangular portion must be retained as a proof of purchase and produced upon request by the police.

The stickers can be purchased at gas stations, border crossings, and some post offices. The highway stickers for regular passenger cars (weighing up to 3,500 kg) are available in the following categories:

• 15 days from date of purchase (Kc 200)
• 2 calendar months (Kc 300)
• 1 calendar year (Kc 900 for a passenger car up to 3.5 tons of weight, Kc 7,000 for SUVs/trucks/vans up to 12 tons)

All cars rented from Czech car rental companies should come with the annual sticker already affixed.

Dining

Czech cuisine is basically central European, with German, Hungarian and Polish influences. Expect lots of meat dishes served with generous portions of dumplings, potatoes or rice and thick sauces, plus heavily cooked vegetables or sauerkraut. A typical example is knedlo-zelo-vepro (dumplings, sauerkraut and roast pork).

Dining out in Prague is very different from the rest of the country; for one thing, the choice of restaurants is extremely varied; prices are much higher (though still very reasonable by EU standards), and the etiquette is more cosmopolitan. English is also widely spoken.

In the countryside and smaller cities, the range of cuisines available tends to be narrower, and Czech food is king. (Nobody has yet explained satisfactorily the bizarre popularity of Mexican and quasi-Mexican, also known as “Czex-Mex” food throughout the country.) Afraid of Czech food? Well, there is always pizza; Czech pizza tends to be quite good pretty much anywhere, but beware of slices; go for the individual, Italian-style pies instead. (However, we encourage you to try Czech food – it’s delicious and nutritious, if not “light”.)

Taking into account the following rules will help you make dining in the Czech Republic a hassle-free, enjoyable part of your trip.

Seating

Some fancier restaurants have a front-of-house host/hostess; if you don’t see one, seat yourself at any table that’s appropriately sized and looks available.

Bread and nuts

Many restaurants charge for the basket of bread on the table; the charge is usually a mere few cents, but don’t be surprised if your bill includes a charge for “pečivo” – baked goods.  Ditto for the bowl of almonds. This is not an evil ploy to cheat tourists – just a cultural difference.

Tipping

In Prague and larger cities, it is customary to tip approx. 10% of the bill.  Either round up the amount verbally, or leave change with your bill, American-style. In the countryside, tips tend to be somewhat smaller (and prices lower); however, tipping well will certainly result in pleasant service, especially if you plan to return.

Disabled

In the past, very little attention was paid to the needs of the disabled anywhere in the Czech Republic. Attitudes are slowly changing but there is still a long way to go, and the chronic shortage of funds for almost anything is not helping matters. The major problem is the transport, since buses and trams are mostly impossible for wheelchairs and trains only slighty better. If you are a disabled traveller order the guide book "Accessible Prague“, which is available from the Prague Wheelchair Association, Benediktska 6, Prague 1 Tel 2232 5831, Fax 22481 6231

Safety tips

Some taxi firms have links to organized crime, unregistered drivers are widespread and many of the horror stories about exorbitant fares are true and all too frequent. Taking a taxi off the street is best avoided at all times. Bars and restaurants are also often happy to book a taxi with a reputable firm for customers, a much better option than catching one off the street.

Officially licensed taxis are required by law to have a meter – if the driver refuses to switch it on, travelers are strongly advised to find another cab. Even then many of the meters have been tampered with or drivers may ask for dubious supplements. Passengers normally round up to the nearest 10CZK at the least. An additional amount of 8-10% of the fare could be tipped for exceptional service.

The main crime problems are petty pilfering from cars and pockets. Prague`s worst problem are the pickpockets. They concentrate in tourist areas like Wenceslas Square, Old Town Square, Charles Bridge and the Castle, also when getting on or off a tram or train in the metro. A favourite time for them are the crowded summer months. Always remember to keep your bag closed and avoid carrying your passport, wallet and valuables in your back pocket. Never leave valuables in your car. Park your car in an underground car park. When in Prague Main Station, never leave your bag unattended, even on the train. Thieves are now boarding the train while it waits in the station and stealing luggage.


Prostitution is not legal in the Czech Republic, though police generally turn a blind eye. If you walk down Wenceslas Square any time past 10pm, you will see prostitutes on the streets leading into the Old Town. Please don’t pick up any “girls” from the street and take them back to the apartment or hotel, especially if they are not native Czechs! It‘s very dangerous !

Always make sure that your hotel room/apartment is locked whenever you leave! Always keep your hotel/apartment address and important phone numbers with you.