Things you shouldn't do in the Czech Republic. A trip to Prague in winter - what awaits tourists? What to wear to Prague now

Instructions

On the territory of the Czech Republic there is a sign marking the geographical center of Europe, so Prague is no different from other neighboring countries. Compared to, the air temperature in Prague will be 5-7 degrees higher when you arrive or. Summer and winter in this city are also milder than in our capital. However, natural disasters in recent years do not allow us to say anything for sure, so check the weather forecast before your trip.

On a winter trip, you should not take heavy, warm fur coats and sheepskin coats - the best option would be sports-style clothing, for example, a puffer jacket and jeans. It is simply unrealistic to freeze while walking around Prague - on every corner you will find small and very cozy restaurants and bars where you can always warm up. For your feet, bring winter sneakers or boots with low heels, low, comfortable wedges.

In general, a sporty style will be appropriate in Prague at any time of the year. Having arrived in the city center, Prague 1, you will no longer want to take any bus - you only need to move around the central part on foot, so as not to pass any of the interesting places. Do not deprive yourself of this pleasure - a walk through old Prague, and take care of comfortable shoes. In spring, summer and autumn, sneakers or comfortable low-heeled shoes will again come in handy here - after all, all the streets in the center are paved with cobblestones, and you won’t get far in heels.

Jeans and sweatpants will also be appropriate all year round, but if you are traveling in the summer, why not show off in a light colored sundress or a beautiful dress? By the way, assume that you will want to attend a performance or go to a concert. Prague is not only a geographical center, but also an arts center. Bring smart clothes with you that you can wear to the theater or to a restaurant in the evening. And this is where high-heeled shoes will come in handy.

The Czech Republic is a small European country that tourists love to visit. The mild climate, abundance of historical monuments, excellent cuisine, famous Czech beer, and even relatively good service annually attract a huge number of people here - tens of times more than the number of indigenous residents. But to make your trip enjoyable, you might want to know a little more about how to interact with the locals, what is customary here, and what you should never do.

Instructions

If you want to feel more comfortable in this country, try to learn a few of the most common Czech words before your trip and buy a small phrasebook. It will be easier for you to establish contacts with the local population, even if you are only here for a few days. But it is also very good if you can communicate in or out. By the way, many older Czechs are fluent in the language.

Czechs for the most part are polite and sociable people, although they are very reserved and may even seem distant, closed, and unsmiling to you. But they don’t know you at all and are not obliged to rush to meet you with joy! Be polite and be sure to say hello to hotel staff, guides, store clerks and bartenders. Do the same if you need to clarify your route, you get lost or are looking for something. As a rule, Czechs do not refuse help.

Try to be punctual. If you have an appointment or, be on time. Firstly, this quality is very highly valued (and not only in the Czech Republic) and, secondly, you will not need to rush. Haste, fussiness, and running around look stupid and funny in the eyes of the calm and unhurried.

Don't jostle in line or push ahead. You should also not be indignant or somehow express your dissatisfaction with the excessive waste of time. If you are so impatient, then why are you waiting in line?

If you come to visit various monuments and attractions, you will probably have to visit at least one of the many existing churches that are well visited by believers. Remember that entering the temple requires a certain style of clothing. Women should not enter in trousers or miniskirts, with bare shoulders or breasts. Take the precaution of bringing a pareo or a light scarf-cape with you, and if necessary, you can tie it around your waist or throw it over your shoulders. Men should not enter the church in shorts. It’s better to immediately put on trousers for a walk.

I will not describe the beauty of Prague in my review, you need to see it with your own eyes))) I will briefly describe those points that may be of interest to those who are just going to Prague.

About travel agencies. Let me start by saying that we chose the travel agency by chance. Initially, we planned to depart on May 10 and on April 2 we paid 50% of the cost of the tour at the Fantasy Tour company; we really liked the Czech Republic-Germany tour. Well, again, we didn’t find any negative reviews about the travel agency on the Internet. True, the nice girl at the travel agency warned us that the May holidays would not end yet on May 10 and problems with the hotel might arise, but they promised to call us within 3 days and tell us everything. Nothing, as they say, foreshadowed... But 3 days passed, and we still didn’t get a call. On the fifth day we called ourselves. It turned out that there were no hotel rooms for the tour we had chosen, we agreed to any other tour, just to fly out on May 10 (I had a dream to celebrate my birthday in Prague). Another 3 days passed... And again we called, and again the Annas were told that there were chances and they were looking for options for us. As a result, we took the money, and since 10 days were wasted, we couldn’t find anything on the planned date in other travel agencies (they told us in a sympathetic voice: “If only 2 days earlier...”). But we did not despair, but postponed the vacation to a week later (and I said goodbye to the dream).

This time we went to Amigo-S, chose the Prague Fairy Tale tour, by plane with Czech Airlines, the Olshanka Hotel (there were no other options).

We arrived well, we were met at the airport and taken to our hotels. There were four of us in Olshanka, my friend and I and 2 other tourists. BUT... at the hotel it turned out that the rooms were not reserved for us. "We've arrived!" - we thought. The hotel staff contacted the travel agency themselves to clarify the circumstances. After 5 minutes we were called to the phone. The employee of the host company apologized and reassured us that everything was fine, we were replaced with a better hotel located in the center, they just didn’t have time to warn us. After another 5 minutes, the director of this company, who was nearby, came to us, apologized again, explained everything again and put us in the minibus that returned for us. The second hotel turned out to be Majestic Plaza 4*, next to Wenceslas Square. “It happens!” - we were happy to check into our room. It turned out that it happens)))

In general, we did not have any comments about the company.

About the hotel. The Majestic Plaza hotel is a normal 4* hotel, the rooms are good, the soundproofing is excellent, they cleaned and changed towels every day, varied breakfasts, few Russian tourists, hotel staff do not speak Russian, they communicated in English.

Transport.

About the metro. We bought tickets from vending machines near the metro, keep in mind that the machines only accept small change. On weekends trains run every 8-10 minutes, on weekdays about 6 minutes. In order for the doors to open and you to enter the carriage, you need to press the button on the doors. Same thing for exit.

About trams. You can get to any part of the city by trams; they run on a minute-to-minute schedule. Prague residents prefer trams to the metro. According to our guide, if there are empty seats, the driver waits until everyone is seated and only then drives off. You need to get up only after the tram has stopped.

Money exchange. Money was changed on the street. Panska, which starts from Na Prikope street, there are several exchangers there, Arabs exchange at a favorable rate and without commission. They exchange euros, dollars, rubles and other currencies. The rate was 60-64 crowns for 100 rubles. In Moscow, you can exchange at the same rate at the exchange office on the street. Nikolskaya 17 in the Slavic Center, rate 1 crown - 1.56 rubles.

Tax Free. The check indicated 19%; in fact, at the airport they received about 2/3 of this amount. They didn’t look at our things at the airport.

Duty Free. Beer and Becherovka are cheaper in stores. The choice of beer is very small, we only saw 2 types.

Night walks. We walked at night completely calmly, one day at one in the morning we were looking for Prague Venice (and, strangely enough, we found it). The center is full of homeless people and strange-looking citizens, but no one bothers tourists.

Souvenirs. Souvenirs were bought at the souvenir market, if I’m not mistaken on Rytirska street (or parallel) next to Wenceslas Square. The market is open during the day.

Organ music. We went to an orchestra concert with an organ at St. Nicholas Cathedral on Old Town Square. A ticket for an hour-long concert cost 490 CZK. There are also orchestra concerts there without an organ, and they are cheaper. You can listen to the organ for free in the city’s churches during services. The schedule usually hangs at the entrance to the temple. Services are mainly held on Saturdays. According to our guide, many Prague residents go to churches solely to listen to the organ, which plays at the beginning and end of the service. After the organ plays, most of the people get up and leave, and only after that the service continues. Some churches also give concerts. The feeling cannot be expressed in words, the hour flew by in a flash, the sound is incomparable (I listened to the organ in the House of Music on Paveletskaya, it cannot be compared in any way).

Restaurants. We liked U certa (At the Devil), there is a statue of the devil at the entrance, the address is Nerudova 4, Praha 1 (on the Hradcan side), we went there purposefully and were not disappointed. We accidentally found the excellent restaurant Skorepka, Skorepka 1, Praha 1 (http://www.skorepka.cz/ru/). As it turns out, it’s in the guidebooks. There is a menu in Russian, the waiters understand Russian, it’s tasty and not expensive. On the first evening we ordered Khryushkino smoked knee, 1.2 kg, we barely managed to finish it. We went there more than once, tried a lot of things, everything was very tasty. I also liked the Beer House on Lipova 15, Prague 2. At lunchtime and in the evening there are queues (but we didn’t stand for more than 20 minutes) and they can seat someone at a table. They brew their own beer there. We tried 8 varieties - a pure perversion designed for tourists. But you can try it just for fun. You need to order 8 samples of beer and a glass of water, and drink water after each beer to understand the taste. As a result, my friend drank light, and I drank mixed. All 3 restaurants are about the same price category, an average dinner for two with 2-4 glasses of beer cost us from 500 to 850 rubles.

We also went to the street. Stepanska, where our hotel was located, has 2 restaurants. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the names and exact address. In the first one (the next house after the Majestic Plaza Hotel) we ate delicious pasta and drank local wine, taking a break from beer and meat. It was heartwarming. I didn’t like the second restaurant further down the street, opposite St. Stephen’s Cathedral. At the entrance there is a menu in Russian, in the restaurant itself for some reason only in Czech and English, the portions are small, the prices are high. Instead of pasta with creamy sauce, they brought pasta with sour cream. It’s better to stand in line at the Beer House, which is a stone’s throw away.

I also didn’t like Kolkovna, on the street. V Kolkovna. If a table is not reserved, you will sit near the door at high tables or at the counter. Menu in Czech and English. The hot food was brought in 15-20 minutes, we waited 40 minutes for our dessert. The dessert really turned out to be very tasty and we forgave them the 40 minutes of waiting.

Tips. We left 7-10% of the count, somewhere around 30-50 CZK (45-75 rubles), in Skorepka they thanked us 3 times for a 50 CZK tip.

In October, Prague is almost completely free of the numerous tourists who fill the main historical streets and squares of the city during the high season. Seeing the main attractions becomes much more enjoyable due to the lack of queues and crowds, and cool weather and many exciting events in the life of the modern Czech capital make October a very attractive month for traveling to Prague.

The capital of the Czech Republic at the end of October

Weather in Prague in October

October in Prague is already real. During the day, when the sun is at its zenith, it is still quite warm, but the nights are already cold, and in the mornings and evenings it is almost always cool, even when the sky is clear. Daytime air temperatures usually rise to 14 – 15°C, and at night drop to 4 – 5°C.

Many travelers are also attracted to October in Prague because the autumn coolness is accompanied by clear sunny days and little precipitation, because October is one of the driest months in the capital of the Czech Republic.

Air temperature in Prague in October for the last 4 years

How to dress in October in Prague

In October in Prague you will definitely need a jacket or coat. Autumn winds can already feel winter-chill, so if you get cold or cold easily, bring a warm but lightweight scarf or stole that will help keep you warm if needed and can easily be stowed away in your bag if the temperature suddenly gets warmer than expected.

In October, especially at the beginning of the month, summer-like warm days are possible, when the temperature rises to 20°C, keep this in mind when packing your suitcases. Pay attention to long-sleeved T-shirts, jumpers and sweaters that can be worn at the same time, putting one item on top of another. A wardrobe selected according to the principle of multi-layering will help you not to depend on fluctuations in air temperature both during the day and throughout your stay in Prague in October.

Boots, ankle boots, sneakers and any other footwear comfortable for walking on paving stones are a must. If you don’t usually think through the contents of your vacation suitcases, you don’t have to do this now - you’ll find everything you need in.

View of the city from Uvoz street

What to do in Prague in October

If you start to freeze during a walk or on an excursion, do not rush to return to the hotel or go to the hospital for medicine; the most popular thing in the cold season - a glass of tart hot mulled wine and sweet trdelnik - will help you quickly warm up. You can buy them right on the street, without leaving your intended route.

Petrin Hill in autumn

Cold days are the best time to discover hearty Czech cuisine. Traditional Czech dishes such as may seem a bit heavy in the summer months, but in autumn weather they can warm and energize even the most fanatical tourist. On the menu of Prague cafes and restaurants you will find warming soups, stews and meat dishes, usually accompanied by potato or bread, and, of course, the real thing.

When choosing a restaurant or cafe where you would like to have a snack, pay attention to the outdoor terraces. Many have outdoor heaters, which will keep the atmosphere cozy in cooler weather and allow you to enjoy autumn in Prague while you enjoy lunch or dinner.

On rainy days or a chilly winter day, head to the galleries or see Czech art, history and culture. Another equally successful activity in bad weather can be choosing gifts and wonderful souvenirs for friends and family.

In October, you can still quite comfortably make a one-day trip from Prague to nearby Czech cities and to some European cities. You can choose an interesting direction for yourself from already proven excursion tours - or, or you can independently go explore the sights of cities such as, Vienna or. When choosing independent day trips outside of Prague, be sure to pay attention to the opening hours of historical sites; many of them are closed for the winter or operate on reduced hours.

Oktyabrsky Dresden

Where to go in Prague in October 2019

Prague is famous for opera, ballet and concerts. Throughout October, Prague hosts performances in magnificent, stunning concert halls, as well as in many historical churches. Tickets usually sell out quickly, so if you want to attend the Prague Opera or a classical music concert, we recommend pre-booking your tickets: Connoisseurs of modern theatrical art should attend a performance, one of the most popular forms of urban recreation among travelers coming to Prague.

From October 10 to 13, 2019, Prague will host the SIGNAL Light Festival, an open-air celebration of light. On the most famous historical buildings in Prague, everyone will be able to see magnificent light projections created using modern building lighting technologies and video projections. To enjoy the light show, you just need to walk around or at night. Official website of the festival:

So, if you are a Prague resident, you:

1. Do you know what it means to “meet under the tail” (pod ocasem). The vast majority of Prague residents know that the meeting is scheduled on Wenceslas Square - at the statue of the bronze horse of St. Vaclav.

2. Don't drink absinthe (ever).

3. Drink beer (after all, beer in Prague is cheaper than soft drinks).

4. Wear blue jeans (Prague residents love blue jeans and wear them everywhere: to the office, to parties and even to award ceremonies).

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5. Use public transport.

6. You know transport etiquette (give way to elderly people and pregnant women on the tram).

7. Tell someone that they are standing on the wrong side of the escalator (you need to stand on the right side so that everyone can freely go down on the left side).

8. On a metro train, try to get as close to the door as possible.

9. Watch or have watched the TV series Ulice (a never-ending story about Czech “real life”).

10. Love sarcasm (Prague residents love to joke about themselves and their friends in a peculiar manner).

11. Don't go to parties in Lucerne and Karlovy Lazne.

12. Speak quietly (Prague residents like to be indignant that tourists speak very loudly).

13. Understand the difference between Karlak and Charles Bridge.

14. Hate people who ride Segways.

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15. Avoid the main tourist streets on your route (try to walk along quiet streets or courtyards).

16. Prefer bio/vegan/healthy food (many Prague residents don’t even know how to cook goulash and chops).

17. Be careful not to step into dog poop (especially in the Zizkov area).

18. Do not go to shops/cafes/clubs on Wenceslas Square (only if absolutely necessary).

19. Call a taxi by phone (Prague residents do not get into taxis on the street because of inflated prices. By the way, the other day in Prague I passed over taxi drivers who were inflating prices for tourists. You need to know that the maximum Prague tariff is 28 CZK per 1 km).

20. Keep a dog (Prague residents walk dogs to keep themselves in good shape, or carry small dogs in their bags).

21. Read free Metro newspapers in the morning (you can pick them up at metro stations until 9 am).

22. Always find a reason to celebrate something (holiday, name day, birthday, divorce, wedding - it doesn’t matter).

23. Do not show your emotions in public, no matter what happens (for example, you make an indifferent face if you meet a celebrity on the street).

24. You leave a tip to the waiters less than 10% of the amount on the bill (for example, if the bill was brought for 340 CZK, you will leave 350 CZK).

25. Go to Letna for a picnic (but still think it’s a good place for sports).

26. Watch matches of the Sparta or Slavia teams (you need to choose one of these teams and be confident in your choice).

27. You pay with a contactless card and are surprised if you can’t do it.

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28. Taking advantage at pedestrian crossings (and not wanting to wait until a passing car decides to stop and let you pass).

29. Hate it if someone calls you an “Eastern European” (Prague people are not Eastern Europeans, they are Central Europeans. Prague is further west than Vienna).

30. Look tired / unhappy / important under any circumstances.

Now is the time when people want to see the world. The globe has become much smaller with the development of transport, and not only in the virtual sense. To get to your destination, now, as a rule, several hours in the air are enough, even if you move to another continent during this time. Even homebodies are already leaving their place and going on vacation to Venice, or Prague, or some other interesting place. Numerous travel companies immediately offer their services, and are really useful, especially for inexperienced tourists. But those who have already traveled around the world, visited different countries and cities, are beginning to feel the desire to take an independent trip, without dealing with intermediaries and assistants.

This desire is understandable, and not only for the reason that you can spend significantly less money on organizing a trip if you concentrate everything in your hands. A forgotten feeling of freedom is what you will experience when, waking up in the morning, you realize that you don’t need to have breakfast in a hurry so as not to be late for, or have time to attend some event planned for you by a travel company. After all, this is real rest if, when you go to bed, you do not worry about what you will do in the morning, and are not burdened by any obligations. The morning is wiser than the evening, and in this case this is true, as, indeed, always.

Of course, you will still set some external boundaries for yourself, so as not to go to great lengths to celebrate and not to go over the budget. Now the main thing is to choose the city from which to start, this is important.

The success of the experiment is guaranteed if you choose Prague, and there is every reason for this. It is not on the list of expensive cities; on the contrary, staying here is even cheaper than a holiday in Ukrainian or Russian large cities. It matters that the Czech language is not so difficult for us to understand, especially if you have already been to the Czech Republic. And Prague is very close to us.

When is the best time to go to Prague? What time of year should I choose?

The first question that arises before you is the choice of the time of year that is most recommended for visiting. Of course, if this is not dictated by external reasons: for example, you know that you will have a vacation in November or February. And in Prague at this time it is raining, slushy, uncomfortable and gloomy, or it is snowing, and many are closed to the public. But this is precisely the time when the feeling of a certain mysticism, characteristic of many historical objects and some, at first glance, ordinary houses of Prague, comes to life. There are a lot of stories about such places, in which the plot, time, and also the names of participants in mythical events are reliably indicated, so you can fully satisfy your curiosity. And then sit with a cup of coffee by the restaurant window and watch the lazy flow of the Vltava and the grandeur through it through droplets of water on the glass. Great?

Well, if you are free to choose the timing of your trip, then try to get to Prague from the end of April to mid-October. If you are afraid of the heat, then do not come in July and August. But to be objective, it should be noted that Prague is beautiful at any time: in the spring, when chestnuts and lilacs bloom, and then jasmine and magnolia bloom; and in the summer, when it is warm and sunny, and the lawns are filled with flowering herbs; and in autumn, with its feeling of fullness of life and tranquility. You can come to Prague for the celebrations to immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere of beautifully decorated streets and shops. And then - go to the ski resort, it will be very appropriate.

Weather forecast for today and tomorrow in Prague

Average weather by month in Prague, °C (2013, 2014)

How to get to Prague? What to choose - bus, train or plane?

So, the travel time has been determined, all that remains is to decide How to get to Prague by yourself. There are a lot of recommendations and proposals on this matter, both for delivery by bus, and by rail, and, of course, by air. Which option is the most optimal – that’s what we’ll try to determine.

By bus to Prague

What does traveling by bus promise us? Please note that you will have to stay in the cabin for a long time, in a sitting position in which you cannot straighten your legs. If someone has problems with blood vessels, then this option is immediately rejected. Anyone who hasn’t tried driving in this position for a long time can, of course, try, but it’s better to seek advice from experienced travelers, for example, by browsing online forums. There are no opposing opinions here: traveling to Prague by bus is torture, and there is even a risk of getting sick by the end of the journey. Neither stopping, nor walking, nor warming up during a hike helps: an irresistible desire appears to stretch out to its full length right here, under everyone’s feet. Travel companies are silent about these inconveniences, offering services such as increased cabin comfort, toilet, TV, air conditioning and flight attendant. All this is good, and the cost of travel only increases from this, but it will not help your legs. Therefore, it is better not to choose a bus; you will get to the end of the trip in a disgusting mood, exhausted and tired. You can ruin your entire trip with a bad start, but who needs that?

By train to Prague

Let's see what amenities the train will provide you with. Of course, here you will sit on a shelf; the ride is incomparably more comfortable in terms of body position. But it takes a long time, and it’s not much cheaper, and sometimes even more expensive, than by plane. Traveling long distances by train is a rudiment in our enlightened times. If you just like traveling by rail, then that’s a different matter, just keep in mind that a train ticket to Prague costs 428 euros if you depart from Moscow, and if from St. Petersburg, then 392 euros.

By plane to Prague

All other things being equal, of course, there remains one preferable option - by air. Book a ticket to Prague yourself, use, for example, our website (we provide the services of a well-known search engine on the Runet that looks for the cheapest air tickets not only to Prague, but also to other cities in the world. We do not charge any commissions!). An airplane is what you need to get to Prague comfortably and in a short time. Without getting tired and, especially, without exposing yourself to painful trials and inconveniences. You just need to think about the ticket early, its cost depends on this, and your confidence in the trip from the consciousness of certainty regarding tickets will only increase, and you will act further.

Visa to Prague on your own. Applying for a visa in Russia and Ukraine

Let's talk about a visa, because it is also necessary. Now you will have to apply for a visa to the Czech Republic yourself, without entrusting this responsibility to any intermediary. This is not so difficult if you familiarize yourself with the rules for preparing documents and their list, referring to a detailed description of this process on the Internet. There is no need to involve third parties; this is not necessary. The prepared documents should be submitted to specially designated institutions at the applicant’s place of residence.

If we talk about Russia, a visa can be obtained in the following cities:
Moscow— Consular Section of the Embassy of the Czech Republic, Czech Visa Center; Website - mzv.cz/moscow/ru/vizy_i_konsulskaja/index.html
Saint Petersburg— Consulate General of the Czech Republic, Czech Visa Center; Website – mzv.cz/petersburg
Ekaterinburg— Consulate General of the Czech Republic, Czech Visa Application Center. Website - mzv.cz/yekaterinburg/ru/index.html

Concerning Czech Visa Application Center(Website - czechvac-ru.com), then its representative offices are located in such Russian cities as Rostov-on-Don, Novosibirsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Murmansk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Vladivostok, Kazan, Sochi, Samara, Kaliningrad, Permian, Saratov, Khabarovsk, Ufa, Krasnodar, Omsk.

If you have questions, you should contact the consular section or visa center directly. The best thing is to go to the consulate, because the functions of the visa center only include accepting documents with subsequent transfer to the consular section - that’s all. He is essentially a mediator. The advantage is the fact that to submit documents to the visa center you do not even need to appear in person, and, moreover, there is no need to make an appointment in advance. Everything is done using the Internet. The service fee paid by the applicant to the visa center is 1000 rubles. You can make an appointment at the consular department by phone, or directly on the website visapoint.eu. You need to pay a consular fee of 35 euros for the fact that your documents will be examined, as well as a service fee of 1000 rubles. Documents must be submitted no earlier than three months before the date of travel, and a visa can be issued within 5-10 working days.

If we talk about Ukraine, then the same rules apply: preliminary familiarization with the peculiarities of processing documents on the Internet, filling out a visa application form, and the same procedure for communicating with employees of the consular department or the consulate itself. The prepared documents are submitted, depending on the place of residence, to the following institutions:

Kyiv— Consular Section of the Embassy of the Czech Republic. Website - mzv.cz/kiev/uk/index.html;
Donetsk— Consulate General of the Czech Republic. Website - mzv.cz/donetsk/uk/index.html;
Lviv— Consulate General of the Czech Republic. Website - mzv.cz/lvov/uk/index.html

As you can see, there is no visa agency in this chain, and citizens communicate directly with consulate employees. The rules are the same: go to the website visapoint.eu, register and get the date and time of visiting the consulate, pay the consular fee in the same amount, 35 euros. The deadline for submitting documents of 3 months remains, but the visa itself takes longer, from 1 to 3 weeks - this is due to the absence of such a link as a visa agency.

Accommodation in Prague

So, in the end, you are in Prague, and you need to go to the hotel. By the way, you could book your own room in Prague in advance, without much difficulty, because there are plenty of places on the Internet for this. We recommend using Hotellook offers from the creators of the famous Aviasales.ru. The advantage of this service is that it searches for the cheapest hotel prices in all places.

After all, in essence, Prague is not a very big city, very compactly located, with excellent organization, good roads, and it is convenient to move from end to end. It is known that you can cross the city in 20-30 minutes. For these reasons, as well as in order to save money, you chose the hotel, not trying to ensure that it was located in the city center, but in accordance with your tastes, somewhere in a quiet area, closer to a bus stop or. It is convenient and inexpensive, and will give you additional pleasure: it is pleasant, for example, to cross the Vltava every day, admiring from the window its picturesque banks, buildings and Prague residents busy with everyday affairs. The choice of the hotel room itself also depends on how long you are going to stay in it. If, for example, you intend to spend the entire daytime exploring the city, outside the hotel, and will only come to spend the night, barely dragging your feet from fatigue, then you don’t need anything other than a comfortable bed and a shower. Therefore, when choosing a room, you don’t need to get carried away by any isms, but should prefer cleanliness and convenience. But, if you like to live in luxury, then this is a different matter, the choice is yours. We advise you to use ours.

Excursions in Prague

Before you go to the tourist sites of Prague, you should scour the Internet, find out what excursions around the city currently exist, compare prices in different offers, and choose the most conscientious and acceptable for you. Since you have decided to travel to Prague on your own, you will have to think about all aspects of the trip yourself, this is natural. But this is interesting, isn’t it?

It is best to use the service Excursiopedia and order various excursions in Prague from guides with good reviews. Here you will be sure that your excursion will definitely take place. And the choice of excursions is simply impressive: sightseeing, thematic, and excursions for children. The cost of excursions, of course, varies. So, it is most profitable to book group excursions, because the price is distributed according to the number of people.

Car rental in Prague

The section is being updated...

Save money on a guide? Easily!

If you are attracted to people who speak Russian, then know that this service is quite expensive, from 500 CZK for a walk around the city as part of a large group of tourists for 3-4 hours. If the group is small, 5-6 people, then the cost immediately jumps to 1000 CZK. But, following your intention to explore Prague on your own, it becomes clear that you can completely do without a guide.

Moreover, you will have other expenses, for example, transportation. Moving around the city from place to place, you spend about 110 crowns per day; if you take a taxi, remember that the tariff is 23-25 ​​CZK per kilometer; and if you rented a car, then you will spend a decent amount on gasoline, at the rate of 37-40 crowns per liter.

Prague GPS audio guide

So, you will be the equivalent of a guide! To do this, you will need to rent an audio guide with GPS -. The cost of renting such a device for one day is from 12.95 euros (depending on the date of booking). In short, this is a GPS device that determines your location and tells you about nearby places of interest. This gadget also comes with a map.

Prague Guide IlovePRG

You can also save on a tour guide using ours. It is enough to take the card with you at the airport/hotel or. Next, use the search and read the history of the specific ones you are facing at the moment.

Ever.Travel website and application

With help in a few clicks. Using the designer, select the sights of Prague that you want to visit, and then the site will determine the trajectory of your route. After download the application, log into your account and sync the route you just made on the website with your app. Next, walk around Prague on your own routes with an offline map.

Food in Prague

In terms of food, the same strategy applies as in excursions, hotels, and air tickets - you need to decide in advance which ones you should visit. There is not only a desire to save money, but also a desire to try and visit the most interesting culinary establishments. For these purposes, it is imperative to visit pubs, or, translated into Russian, pubs. Here you will taste real Czech beer, and you will be served real Czech cuisine, and during your meal you will feel the spirit of old Prague, communicate with local residents, and observe them up close.

Approximate prices for beer and food in Prague bars and restaurants:
— Velkopopovický Kozel beer — 25-35 CZK per half liter;
— Budějovický Budvar beer – 30-40 CZK per half liter;
— Svijany beer – 30-40 Czech crowns per half liter;
— Plzeňský Prazdroj beer — 35-45 CZK per half liter;
— Matuška beer – 60-70 CZK per half liter;
— soup (polévka) – 40-60 Czech crowns per 0.25 liter portion;
— pork ribs – 300-350 CZK per 1 kg;
— baked boar knee — 270-320 CZK per 1 kg;
— espresso coffee – 34-35 Czech crowns per cup.

The pubs we talked about do not tend to get into the city center, because these establishments are intended more for Prague residents than for visiting tourists. That is why the cost of lunch or dinner there is not excessively high. If you are dining together, then for two servings of soup, one Boar’s knee, beer, in the amount of 3-4 glasses, you will pay 550-650 crowns, and this includes tips. Why are there two soups, but one knee? Yes, because this dish, one of the main ones in Czech cuisine, is served in such quantities that even a hungry tourist, if he is alone, cannot eat so much.

But, of course, if you want to dine in the center of Prague, you will be surprised at the difference in prices. Beer in a cafe will not cost three times more than in your pub.

Visiting museums, exhibitions, galleries and palaces. Entry fee

Of course, while in Prague, it would be a sin not to visit museums, palaces, exhibitions and galleries, and this will be a significant expense item for your budget, since an entrance ticket costs from 70 to 200 CZK. And if you want to thoroughly explore Prague Castle, then you will have to pay 700 CZK for a two-day excursion. But in Prague there are also objects of remarkable beauty, architectural masterpieces and historical monuments, for which they will not charge you money for entry. Look on our website for information about such objects, maybe they will interest you.

How to dress in Prague? What things to take with you?

What items from your wardrobe will you need in Prague? It depends on what time of year your trip falls. Here you, as an experienced traveler, will not experience any difficulties. The only thing worth paying attention to is the selection of comfortable shoes. If you intend to take long walks around the city, then your legs should be comfortable, otherwise you won’t be able to walk for a long time. Yes, and you have to change your shoes, you never know, your foot rubs or some strap breaks. Make sure you don't have to unplannedly buy a pair on the spot. If you have a companion, do not take her for a walk; if she wears high heels, you will suffer. In this case, low-top shoes are prescribed for women. Knowledgeable people also advise having a foot cream with you that helps relieve fatigue.

How much money to take with you to Prague?

And now – a very serious question: how much money should you have with you? There is information that the average tourist needs about 1,500 crowns per day, provided that he paid for the hotel immediately upon arrival or in advance. They also say that you cannot live a day in Prague for less than 1000 crowns. Here are the limiting figures, but this is true, the average temperature in the hospital. You know yourself better, you know where you can restrain yourself in spending, and where you can get carried away. Think, calculate, determine the cost of living in Prague yourself.

Money in Prague. What currency should you take with you: dollars or euros?

Now look on the Internet what currency is in use in Prague, in addition to the Czech crowns. Based on the results of the consultations, it is clear that it is not recommended to take dollars there; euros are possible and necessary. You should have enough crowns with you when you enter Prague to get to your hotel, get settled and get to a reliable currency exchange office to exchange euros for local money. Don’t change anywhere, look around on the spot. Of course, in all major tourist sites they will accept euros from you, but they will recalculate them at an unfavorable rate for you, so you’d better exchange the currency yourself so as not to lose money.

Shopping in Prague

No matter how you spend your time in Prague, it will turn out that you will certainly make time for a walk through Prague’s shops, shopping centers and outlets. Maybe you will find yourself on a seasonal sale, then there is a chance to replenish your wardrobe without resorting to serious expenses, because the discounts at this time reach 50-90 percent. If you come at Christmas, it will be the peak of Christmas sales. You'll hang out in the festively decorated shops and enjoy your successful purchases. If you are in Prague in the summer, in July-August, you can replenish your summer wardrobe for little money. Yes, at any time you will find something interesting in the shops of Prague, and if you are interested in designer clothes at high prices, then take a stroll through (Parisian). You can find things at more reasonable prices (On Přikop), and the products are presented for the mass buyer, but of course, not only.

There are also outlets in Prague, for example, F, which is visited mainly by local residents, and visitors often have no idea about it. And this is in vain, because the quality and range of goods here are at the proper level, and prices are lower than in major shopping centers and well-known stores. True, it is located on the outskirts, in Prague 10, and it is not easy to get to, but you love to walk around the city, wander through unfamiliar places. So go ahead, it’s only in places like these that it’s worth shopping, and not crowding around on several streets in the center.

But if you like a crowd, you can go to Palladium shopping center, it is very popular among city guests. It is right in the center, not far from Wenceslas and Old Town Squares, a large five-story building filled with all kinds of boutiques. The city also has such large shopping centers as: the famous department store - trading house Kotva, has an underground garage, trade is carried out on two floors of a large building; newly built shopping and entertainment center Palace Flora with a grocery supermarket, cafes, restaurants and entertainment; next to the Andel metro station you will find Novy Smichov– a shopping center with underground parking and three floors of boutiques and shops. There are many places in Prague where you can successfully spend your money.

Tax free refund in Prague

Do not forget, while spending, that if the cost of your purchase exceeds 2500 CZK, which is about 80 euros, then you have the right to use the Tax free return system. Goods purchased during your stay must be taken out of the country within 3 months, otherwise you will lose your right to a refund.

Tax free rules are well known for tourists who often visit European countries: you purchase some goods and receive, in addition to the main one, a second check form that you need to fill out; further, at customs, when leaving the country, you confirm the fact of export of goods - in the form of a stamp that the customs officer places on this second check form; and this guarantees you a refund of a certain amount, from 10 to 20 percent of the original purchase price, depending on the product group. You can receive this amount in cash right there at the airport, or ask for the money to be transferred to your card, or, as a last resort, you have the opportunity to request a refund at home, within no more than 5 months from the date of purchase.

Your reviews about your independent trip to Prague on our website!

When your trip is over, you will be able to evaluate how successful your independent holiday in Prague was. Are you satisfied with yourself? Have you made many mistakes? Maybe it’s worth going to a forum on the Internet, finding like-minded people and exchanging impressions with them, and at the same time, experience. Or you can leave your impressions in the comments to the article; it will be interesting to compare reviews from different site visitors.

In any case, there is a fairly large audience of travelers who are interested in such issues. Apparently, people are tired of the fact that someone is trying to decide for them, manage them, create burdensome benefits for them that they do not need, and, at the same time, settle their problems. But you and I have to pay for everything!