Hello,
Let me give you some information about Prague.
I have been living in Prague for a long time and this info
only
shows my own opinion.
These are the main points for people who never visited this
city :
1. Prague is very beautiful city.
Old parts of Prague represent the world`s cultural
heritage.
The downtown Prague is very beautiful and it is worth
visiting.
Prague`s bookstores are full of different tourist guides
in many languages.I do not want to suggest any historical
points
to you.Explore Prague by yourselves.But remember there
are
many old towers that are worth visiting so that you can
see
Prague from above.
2. The downtown Prague is usually crowded with tourists.
Among them there are many pocket thiefs - mainly gypsies
from Balkan countries.They operate not only in streets
and
squares but also in trams and metro.I recommend all
tourists
to be attentive to their valuables. Do not hide your
money
and documents in your bags.Hide your money close to your
body.
Avoid large crowds of tourist.Do not show your valuables
in front
of unknown people.
3. If you do not speak well Czech you will pay terrible
amounts
of money for a taxi cab.That is the real situation.
Fortunately there is a cheap way of travelling around
Prague
using the public transport.
You can buy a day ticket for about 2 US dollars and you
can
change trams/metro/buses for 24 hours.
Metro operates till midnight.Buses and trams have daily
and night
lines.
There are many info boards and maps in
Czech/English/German on many bus
and tram stops and inside all metro stations.There are
also ticket
machines in metro stations. The ticket info is usually in
Czech/English/German.
Public transport is a very cheap way of getting around
Prague.
4. If you come to Prague`s Main Railway Station you should
know this:
The place is the main meeting point of Prague`s homeless
people and
pocket thiefs. Be very careful when you enter the hall.
Watch your valuables and hide your money.
The Main Railways Station is right in the downtown and
there is a metro
station entrance right in the hall.The main business
place in Prague
-Venceslas Square is about 5 minutes walk.There are many
banks where you
can change your money. I recommend Amex tourist cheques.
You can change
only the amount of money that you need. The rest of your
money is saved
in case of theft. Amex has the office on Venceslas
Square.
When you come to Holesovice Railway Station go to metro
station.
It's in the area of the station.
5. The people in pubs, shops and other places are sometimes
not
so helpful like people in other countries.This is a fact
that
nobody can change.
We are not rude but we do not care about the western
rules of behaviour.
But I hope you will meet good people, too.
If you do not want to get ripped off ask about the final
price before
start eating. You can eat at many McDonalds, KFC, Pizza
Huts and other
places where you can read the price on the board.There
are several
supermarkets in the downtown eg:
TESCO - Narodni street - in Tesco supermarket
JULIUS MEINL - Republic square - in Kotva supermarket
NORMA - Na Porici street - in Bila Labut supermarket
6. When you need good drinking water remember that MATTONI
is the best.
GOOD WATER is Ok, too. But MATTONI is very healthy.
It comes from the area of Carlsbad - Czech most famous
spa.
Blue caps mean that the water is not flavoured.
The water in Prague water system is not dangerous.
You can use it for making coffee and washing without any
fear.
Nothing happens when you drink it from streets fountains.
7. Some Prices (average):
Beer - 0,5 - 2 US$ -large
Gas - 0,75 US$ - 1 liter
Big Mac - 2 US$
Pizza - from 3 US$ -large
Milk - 0,5 US$ - 1 liter
Hostels - from 8 US$/night - dorm
Hotels - from 25 US$/night
8. Bus tickets:
-For less than 50 US$ you can get to:
Munich, Berlin, Budapest, Warsaw, Frankfurt
-For less than 35 US$ you can get to:
Vienna, Bratislava, Nurnberg
-For less than 10 US$ you can get to:
Brno, Cesky Krumlov, Kutna Hora and different Czech
Mountains
Bus stations and depots are always near metro stations.
9. English speaking foreigners:
There are several thousands of Americans in Prague.
They have their own pubs, cafes and bookstores.
Ask about Globe Bookstore, Little Glenn Pub, Jo's Bar
Velryba pub, U krale Jiriho, U Knihomola Bookstore etc.
There are also several Irish Pubs and Greek Tavernas.
You will find more when you get to Prague.
10.When you want to go to Czech pubs go to
neighborough of Zizkov - there are many pubs
a lot of then are open till 2 - 5 a.m.
Remember: Akropolis, U Vystreleneho Oka, Brouk,
Empire, Planeta, U sadu, Amsterdam etc.
Large beer is from 0,3 US$
There are many young foreigners in summer at Zizkov.
Pubs are almost everywhere. Some staff tries to rip off
foreigners. Always ask about prices.
Some staff are quite friendly.
11. Useful websites:
www.prague-info.cz - all about Prague
www.radiocity.cz - all about Prague
www.radio.cz - one of the best Czech info sites
www.nm.cz - National Museum
www.anet.cz/nd - National Theatre
www.culture.cz - All about culture in the Czech
Republic
www.laterna.cz - Laterna Magica Theatre
www.bei.cz - International Bus Tickets +
timetebles
www.ticketpro.cz - Tickets for almost everything in
Prague
http://idos.datis.cdrail.cz - Czech rail timetables
http://infos.eunet.cz/svt - Czech bus timetables
http://iol.telecom.cz/tlf - Chech phone directory
www.hrad.cz - Prague Castle (the main historic
landmark of Prague
the largest castle in the world
- see the Guiness Book of Records )
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And I'd like to add some info:
1) Western tourists are sometimes robbed by guys who claim
they are policemen. Remember: the police has almost the same
rights just like in EU and so do the citizens. If something
is not possible in your country (i.e a "policeman" wants to
see your wallet and all the banknotes), it is not possible
in CZ neither.
2) If you want not to be robbed by pickpockets, try to look
like a local. In the subway, it's easy to spot foreigners,
because they don't know the 'etiquette'.
- on the subway escalators, stand right. The left side is
for overtaking.
- give up your seat, if you see an older or disabled person
- give way to the people who get out of the subway car or
tram or bus.
- try to speak quietly.
- hold the pipes. If the train accelerates, you will land on
someone else's lap.
3) In the city, there's a lot of beggars. Do not give them
anything - there's a working social security system in CZ.
Any questions?
Any nice day trips other than those listed in every
guidebook there is ?
Any suggested places for accomodation ?
By the way, very informative stuff.
Well...what kind of things would you like to see? What about
Sumava/Boehmerwald/Bohemian Forest ? Nice landscape, very
few people and some pieces of the former Iron Curtain -
barbed wires and tank entaglements.
Are Black-Americans are welcome in Prague and if so where
are the Soul,R&B,Hip-Hop,and Reggeae clubs and pubs?
Also,can you tell me the areas where Blacks can avoid. I
look forward to your reply.