Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
diagrammatic mapandmakeanoteofthenumberprintedbesideit,thenfollowthetimetable
rollers through until you come to the appropriate number. Small stations may simply have a
board with a list of departures under the title
směr
(direction) followed by a town. Note that
a platform, or
nástupiště
, is usually divided into two
kolej
on either side.
By ferry and boat
The public transport system includes a handful of small summer
ferry services
(
přívoz
) on
the Vltava between the islands and the riverbanks (daily 6am-10pm; every 30min). In the
summer the PPS (
Pražská paroplavební společnost
; 224 930 017,
paroplavba.cz
)
also
runs regular
boat trips
on the River Vltava from just south of Jiráskův most on Rašínovo
nábřeží. Three or four boats a day in summer run to
Troja
in the northern suburbs.
The PPS also offers boat trips around Prague on board a 1930s paddle steamer. Another op-
tion is to hop aboard the much smaller boats run by Pražské Benátky/Prague-Venice ( 776
776 779,
prazskebenatky.cz
)
, which depart year round for a thirty-minute meander over to
the Čertovka by Kampa island. The boats leave from the north side of Charles Bridge on the
Staré Město bank.
By taxi
Taxis
come in all shapes and sizes, and, theoretically at least, are relatively cheap. However,
Prague taxi drivers have been known to overcharge and although the situation is better than
it was a decade ago, it still does happen. Officially, the initial
fare
on the meter should be
around40Kčplus28Kč/kmwithinPragueand6Kč/minwaitingtime.It'sfarcheapertohave
your hotel or pension call a taxi for you - you then qualify for a cheaper rate - than to hail
one or pick one up at the taxi ranks. The cab company with the best reputation is
AAA Taxi
( 14014,
aaataxi.cz
), which has metered taxis all over Prague.
By car
Negotiating cobbles, trams and traffic jams, and trying to find somewhere to park, makes
driving
by far the worst option for getting around Prague. If you have to drive, bear in mind
the
rules of the road
(even if no one else does). This means driving on the right (introduced
by the Nazis in 1939); sticking to the speed limit (50kph/30mph) in built-up areas; wearing a
seat belt; allowing no under-12s in the front seat; and keeping headlights on at all times from
November to March. Watch out for restricted streets (signalled by a blank circular sign with
a red border) and give way to pedestrians crossing the road when turning left or right, even
whenyou'vebeengivenagreenlight;driversarealsosupposedtogivewaytopedestriansat
zebracrossings,thoughtheyusually takesomepersuading. Youmustalsogivewaytotrams,
and, if there's no safety island at a tram stop, must stop immediately and allow passengers to
get on and off.
