Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
trains in the country (includes English instructions, sold at major
station ticket windows for 30 Kč). Although it's easy to look up a
connection on the Internet, having the printed schedule and a map
of railway lines with you gives you freedom to easily change or
make new plans as you travel.
Tickets and Tips:
Tickets within the Czech Republic are
valid for two days, and international tickets are good from three
days to two months (the shorter-term ones are often cheaper). Your
ticket is valid for travel along the entire stretch from Prague to
your destination, not just for one trip on a specific train—so take
advantage of the freedom it gives you and hop on and hop of along
the way. You'll rarely need a reservation, except for international
night trains.
If you have one or more companions traveling with you by
train, ask for a group ticket. This gets you a 50 percent discount for
every extra ticket (i.e., only the first person pays full price).
The Czech railway system has a rather complex system for dis-
counts on international tickets. If you're heading to a city near the
Czech border (such as Vienna, Bratislava, Dresden, or Nürnberg),
it sometimes pays to buy two separate tickets: one to the Czech
border, and another from the border to your destination. This
also allows you to take advantage of particular discounts in that
country, such as the group discount.
In Prague, you can buy tickets and make express or interna-
tional reservations at the Czech Railways Travel Agency, located
in the Broadway Mall between Na Příkopě and Celetná streets
(see page 153).
Railpasses:
The Czech Republic has its own railpass, but
since point-to-point tickets are so inexpensive, it's rarely worth-
while. It's also covered by a Germany-Czech railpass or a five-
country European East pass, the Eurail Global pass, and the
Eurail Selectpass. Find my free Railpass Guide online at www
.ricksteves.com/rail.
Buses
To reach many of the destinations in this topic, buses are faster
and cheaper than trains. Buses are also generally more punctual.
No reservations are needed for buses—simply buy tickets directly
from the driver (who appreciates exact change and might have
difficulty breaking big bills). You'll be required to put big bags in
the luggage compartment under the bus (12-24 Kč extra, depend-
ing on the distance), so have a small day bag ready to take on the
bus with you. Buses don't have bathrooms, nor do they stop for
bathroom breaks.
Always let the bus driver know where you want to get off.
Some stops are by request only (for example, the Small Fortress at
