Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Ruzyn∂ Airport
Right
Hlavní Nádra≈í central station
Getting to Prague
By Air
More than 40
international airlines fly
to Prague's Ruzyn∂
airport. The national
carrier Czech Airlines
(≥SA) is a member of the
Sky Team alliance, whose
members include Delta,
Air France and Alitalia.
Direct flights from
London are about 1.5
hours; from New York,
about 9 hours.
d
≥SA:
239 007007 • www.csa.cz
By Coach
If you're doing
Europe on a budget, you
will already know that
coaches are your best
bet for long journeys. But
these buses are often
crowded and uncom-
fortable. Two metros and
several trams stop at
Prague's main bus
terminal Florenc.
stand-by tickets from
Airhitch.
d
Go: www.
go-fly.com • Airhitch:
www.airhitch.org
Visas and
Passports
Most visitors may stay
visa-free in the Czech
Republic for up to 90
days, but it is always
wise to confirm this with
the Czech embassy in
your own country or your
travel agent for up-to-
date visa requirements.
Czech immigration
officials may request you
to be carrying at least
K≤1,100 per day for your
visit (or have a valid
credit card).
By Car
If you're going to be
driving in the Czech
Republic for more than
30 days, you'll need an
international driver's
licence. If you bring your
own car, you must carry
a vehicle registration card
and a red warning
triangle, and display a
national identification
sticker. A major motor-
way connects Prague to
the Slovak capital of
Bratislava; otherwise, it's
all A and B roads.
Ruzyn∂ Airport
Located 15 km
(9 miles) northwest of
the city centre, Ruzyn∂ is
Prague's only inter-
national airport. Until
1989, a cheery, red neon
hammer-and-sickle
greeted visitors landing
here. There are all the
modern facilities here
now, though, including
car rental offices, bureaux
de change, shops and
restaurants. Municipal
buses serve the airport,
as does a reputable
private transport service,
but their cars charge
more than taxis do.
When to Go
While there's no bad
time to visit, Prague, like
most European capitals,
is teeming with tourists
during the summer
months. Off-season rates
for hotels are usually in
effect from September to
March; check when
making your booking.
Winter is cold but
beautiful under snow.
Customs
You can bring goods
worth less than K≤3,000
into the country without
paying a duty. Two litres
or less of wine, one litre
of spirits and 250 ciga-
rettes (or their equivalent
in tobacco) can also be
brought in duty-free.
By Train
Prague is on major
European rail routes; the
Orient Express's
London-Paris-Venice
route passes through
town. International trains
to the Czech capital are
comfortable, with
couchette sleeping facili-
ties, and fast excepting
delays at the border, and
a cheap alternative to
flying if you have time.
Long Stays
If you choose to stay
longer than 90 days,
you'll need to apply for a
long-term visa, valid for a
year. For this, you'll need
proof of employment,
health insurance and
housing as well as a
clean criminal record.
This visa can be renewed
annually for eight years,
after which you can apply
for permanent residency.
Discount Deals
Travellers from
London should check
with Go, a low-cost
airline with return tickets
to Prague at very
reasonable prices. If you
can be flexible about
when you travel, look for
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