Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Nam∂stí Republiky, starting point for guided bus tours
Right
Wallenstein Garden
Prague for the Disabled
Public Transport
Prague has only
recently begun to think
about the transportation
needs of the disabled.
Many of the newer
metro stations have lifts
and auditory beacons for
the blind, but older
stations in the centre
remain largely inacces-
sible. Most wheelchairs
won't fit in the city's
trams and the city's
cobbled streets can be
hard-going.
Bus Routes
Prague has only two
buses dedicated to
wheelchair-users.
Carrying passengers
from far-flung housing
developments to a few
central locations, they're
not much use to tourists.
Many other buses have
low platforms, but again,
they mainly serve
outlying areas.
Discounted
Tickets
Hearing impaired visitors
will be happy to learn
that most sights offer
discounted entry.
Hotels
Most of the newer
hotels are accessible to
wheelchair-users,
although the number of
barrier-free rooms is
small. Hats off to the
Hilton, where there are
no fewer than 15 barrier-
free rooms
(see p139)
.
The Prague Association
of Wheelchair-Users will
also be able to supply a
list of accessible places
to stay.
Bus Tours
Those visitors who
have trouble walking can
get an overview of the
city by taking an open-
topped bus tour around
town. Pre-recorded
narration in several
languages plays during
the trip. Look for the
buses on Old Town
Square
(see pp14-17)
and Nám∂stí Republiky.
Barrier-Free
Prague'
This free brochure
outlines four sightseeing
routes, with easy-to-read
maps and brief informa-
tive texts, for wheelchair-
users. The guide also
lists barrier-free galleries,
monuments, restaurants,
public bathrooms and
shops along the route.
Pick it up at the Prague
Association of
Wheelchair Users.
Helper Dogs
Canine assistants to
the visually impaired are
permitted in banks,
official buildings and
historic monuments as
well as on public
transport. Be aware that
not all members of
Prague's thriving dog
population are as well-
trained - avoiding dog
mess is a problem for
the sighted too.
Accessible Sights
As may now be clear,
Prague isn't the most
disabled-friendly of the
world's capital cities. The
following sights are at
least partly accessible to
wheelchair-users,
although getting to them
is sometimes a problem:
St Vitus's Cathedral
(see
pp12-13)
, the Old Royal
Palace
(see pp8-11)
, the
Old Town Hall
(see
pp16-17)
, the National
Theatre
(see p64)
,
Wallenstein Garden
(see
p40)
, Franciscan Garden
(see p105)
, the Municipal
House
(see p72)
, the
Church of St James
(see
p74)
and the Estates
Theatre
(see p65)
.
Prague
Association of
Wheelchair-Users
In addition to publishing
the above brochure, this
group lobbies for the
rights of the disabled.
You can pick up the
brochure and get advice
about various other
disability issues at their
office near Nám∂stí
Republiky. Some of their
staff speak English.
d
Prague Association of
Wheelchair Users: Bene-
diktská 6 • Map N2 • 224
827210 • www.pov.cz.
Other Resources
Other organizations
in the city that are a
good source of informa-
tion for disabled travel-
lers are listed below.
d
Czech Union of the Deaf:
Havlí≤kova 4; Map G2; 224
816559 • United Organi-
zation of the Blind and
Visually Impaired: Krakovská
21; Map G5; 221 462146;
www.braillnet.cz
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