Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Lost property
The main train stations have
lost property
offices - look for the sign
ztráty a nálezy
- and
there'sacentralmunicipaloneatKarolinySvětlé5(Mon&Wed8am-5.30pm,Tues&Thurs
8am-4pm, Fri 8am-2pm; 224 235 085). If you've lost your passport, get in touch with
Mail
Outbound
post
isprettyreliable,withlettersorcardstakingaroundfiveworkingdaystoBri-
tain and Ireland, and one week to ten days to North America or Australasia. You can buy
stamps
from newsagents, tobacconists and some kiosks, as well as at post offices. Postal
charges at the time of going to print were 25Kč for postcards within Europe and 30Kč to
North America (check
ceskaposta.cz
for the latest).
The
main post office
(
hlavní pošta
) is at Jindřišská 14, Nové Město ( 221 131 111; daily
2am-midnight), just off Wenceslas Square; take a ticket and wait for your number to come
up. There's a quieter branch at Hybernská 15 (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-1pm) next to
Masarykovo train station.
Maps
The best maps of Prague are produced by Kartografie Praha, whose 1:20,000 booklet (
plán
města
) covers the whole city and includes the tram and bus routes, too. It's easy enough to
get hold of maps once you've arrived in Prague, from the tourist office, bookstores or your
hotel.
Money
The currency is the
Czech crown
or
koruna česká
(abbreviated to Kč or CZK). At the time
ofgoingtopresstherewereroughly34Kčtothepoundsterling,27Kčtotheeuroandaround
Notes
come in 100Kč, 200Kč, 500Kč, 1000Kč and 2000Kč (and less frequently 5000Kč)
denominations;
coins
as 1Kč, 2Kč, 5Kč, 10Kč, 20Kč and 50Kč. Notes of 2000Kč and
5000Kčarerarelyusedfortransactionsoflessthan200Kč.BanksareopenMondaytoFriday
from 8am to 5pm, often with a break at lunchtime. ATMs can be found across the city.
Opening hours
Though some shops are closed on Sunday, many in the centre (including main supermarkets
and department stores) remain open; it's worth noting, though, that some shops are closed
on Saturday afternoons. Traditional
pubs
tend to close by 11pm and rarely serve food after
9pm, but many
restaurants
stay open until at least 11pm or midnight. There are plenty of
late-night
bars
where you can continue drinking until the early hours.