Here are some facts about the country, the opportunities for transportation, museums, galleries etc.
General Information
- Extension: 78,864 km²
- Population: 10.5 million inhabitants
- Capital: Prague (1.2 million inhabitants)
- Extension of Prague: 497 km²
- Official language: Czech
- Currency: Czech koruna
- Time zone: GMT+1 GMT+2 (April to September)
- Neighbouring countries: Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovakia
- Other czech major cities: Brno, Ostrava, Plzen, Olomouc, Ceske Budějovice
- Climate: Continental, average annual temperature is 10°C, 20°C in summer, in winter - 5°C
- Insurance: It is recommended that visitors should insure themselves before traveling to the Czech Republic. Czech companies do not ensure visitors.
- Passport: You must have a passport valid for another 90 days.
Official currency of the Czech Republic. Exchange Offices in Prague
The official currency of the Czech Republic is the Czech crown, eg. CZK. Although a member of the European Union since 1 May 2004, the Czech Republic has not yet entered the Euro Zone and the date of its entry into the monetary union is not known. You can exchange your money or pay in CZK directly with euros, dollars, either with cash or credit card.
Exchange Offices in Prague
You can exchange your money at banks, but you have to take into account that they charge a fee on the amount exchanged. There are also private exchange offices, but before exchanging, it is always good to ask the emloyee how much money you will receive for a value you want to change. It is necessary to distinguish between the indication WE BUY and WE SELL. WE BUY – that's what interests the visitor, it is the point of view of the bank or the exchange office, not the point of view of the tourist! Many visitors are wrong in interpreting these indications. You can, of course, change at the airport, in hotels, but you must take into account that you will receive less for your money than in the city centre where the competition is greater.
Attention: Do not exchange your money in the street! You could receive fake money!
ATMs and credit cards
In the Czech Republic, there is a dense network of electronic exchange machines or multi-bank type machines. These machines accept all types of common international cards (Visa, Master Card, Plus, Maestro, Cirrus, and others). Most stores and restaurants accept credit cards as payment.
Safety in Prague
You could say that Prague and the Czech Republic, in general, have a very high security level. The country is safe. There is, fortunately, no armed robbery, or kidnapping or other violence against anyone. On the other hand, it is necessary to say that, in some places, the pickpockets may sometimes appear. So it's good to guard your money or documents (passport, airline tickets, credit cards, cash etc.) on a pretty safe place (on your body) that is of difficult access.
Tip
Leave it normally on the table and it is about 10% of the amount spent. It depends on you how much you want to give as a tip. If you say "Thank you", while the employee is returning the exchange, he'll understand that he can have the rest.
Embassy of Great Britain in Prague
Consular department: Thunovská 180/14, 118 00 Prague 1
Tel: (+420) 257 402 111
The consular department functions daily from 08,30 hours to 17.00 hours.
Useful addresses:
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http: www.ukinczechrepublic.fco.gov.uk/cs
Communications, Prague
International telephone codes
Czech Republic 00420 or +420
Cell Phones
You can buy a chip for mobile devices in many stores in Prague, getting a prepaid card.
Useful telephone numbers in Prague
Emergencies (European common number) 112
First Aid - Ambulance 155
Czech Police 158
Fire fighters 150
Prague police 156
Information – about phone numbers in other countries 1181
Information – about telephone numbers in the Czech Republic 1180
Tourist Emergency 1222
Passport and visa
To travel to the Czech Republic travelers need a valid passport. List of countries whose citizens do NOT need a visa to travel to the Czech Republic for periods less than 90 days: ANDORRA, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, ARGENTINA, AUSTRALIA, BAHAMAS, BARBADOS, BRAZIL, BRUNEI, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, CHILE, CROATIA, ISRAEL, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, CANADA, COSTA RICA, MALAYSIA, MAURITIUS, MEXICO, MONACO, NICARAGUA, NEW ZEALAND, PANAMA, PARAGUAY, EL SALVADOR, SAN MARINO, SEYCHELLES, SINGAPORE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA), SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS, URUGUAY, VATICAN, VENEZUELA.
Typical products and souvenirs
Bohemian crystal, ceramics, jewelry with Czech garnets, Moravian wines, beer, round biscuits, liquor Becherovka, among others. For more information about typical czech products see the article Typical czech products.
Post Office
The Main Post Office operates daily from 2:00 a.m. to 24:00 in the street Jindřišská 14 - Prague 1, http://www.cpost.cz
Telephone: 00 420 221-131-111.
Voltage: 220 V
For more information please visit our Information section.