Foreign visitors

Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic, which lies in the heart of Europe and borders on Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Austria. It is the political, economic, and cultural centre of the country. The president, government and parliament have their seat in Prague. Prague is also an important European transport hub.

Entering the Czech Republic

There is visa-free entry for citizens of most European countries, Australia, Canada and the United States. If necessary, visas are issued by diplomatic missions of the Czech Republic in a given country. The Czech Republic is a member of the Schengen area. Inhabitants of contractual states are allowed to cross borders between states within this area without undergoing border controls. Still, inhabitants of these states have the obligation to carry a passport or identity card with them.

More information: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Language

The official language is Czech. The majority of inhabitants have a basic, or possibly higher level of fluency in English and German. In hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, places of historical interest and many shops and services it is possible to make oneself understood in English or German and exceptionally also in French.

Vocabulary

Even though you do not speak Czech yet, everyone is pleased when they hear a foreigner trying to communicate in the language of the country they are visiting. Be it in a restaurant, on the street, in a shop or anywhere else, basic conversational phrases like „Děkuji” and „Dobrý den” will definitely come in handy.

Climate

The Czech Republic has a temperate continental climate with four seasons. Winters are quite mild (the average temperature in January is -0.9 °C) and summers are not too hot (the average temperature in July is 19 °C).

Current weather

Important telephone numbers

The most important institutions have three-digit telephone numbers that you can reach even without a SIM card inserted in your mobile phone. The service is free.

The Czech Republic’s country code: +420

More in Useful links

Tourist information

The Prague Information Service provides tourist information and assistance to tourists.

How not to get lost

Customs regulations

Foreign visitors to the Czech Republic are allowed to export non-commercial goods without permission and the character and quantity of which indicate that such goods are for personal use or gifts. If special generally binding regulations apply to the exported goods (e.g. regulations on protection of cultural monuments, objects of museum value and the like), customs officials require export permission.

More information at: Customs Administration of the Czech Republic

Currency

Legal tender – crown (Kč), international abbreviation CZK

• Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 Kč
• Banknotes: 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 Kč

Current exchange rates

ATMs and payment cards

There is a dense network of ATMs in Prague that accept all common types of international payment cards. It is also possible to pay with credit cards in the majority of shops, restaurants and accommodation facilities.

Reporting the loss of a payment card

• American Express – tel. 222 800 222
• Visa and Eurocard/Mastercard - tel. 272 771 111
• Diners Club – tel. 267 197 450

Exchange offices

• Advice and recommendations to Exchange offices clients
• Exchange offices in the City centre

Post office

The main post office – Praha 1, Jindřišská 14, tel. 221 131 445, open daily except for a break from midnight till 2 a.m. Regular opening hours for post offices in the Czech Republic are Mon-Fri 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Czech Post information, including postage rates: http://www.ceskaposta.cz/en/

Holidays and work-free days

State offices and banks are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and on state holidays. On Sundays and state holidays, regular shops are closed as well, while supermarkets and hypermarkets often operate without restrictions.

1 January - New Year, Day of Renovation of the Independent Czech State 
Easter Monday
1 May - Labour Day
8 May - Liberation Day (1945)
5 July - Cyril and Methodius Day - the Slavic Christianity Prophets
6 July - Master John Hus burning at the stake (1415)
28 September - Day of the Czech Statehood
28 October - Independent Czechoslovak State Proclamation Day (1918)
17 November - Day of a Struggle for Liberty and Democracy
24 December - Christmas Eve
25 December - Christmas Day
26 December - St Stephen's Day

Health care

Providers of health care in the EU accept patients with European health insurance cards. It is recommended that non-EU citizens purchase commercial health insurance in their home country before arriving in the Czech Republic. In case of acute illness or injury, the patient will be provided treatment in any hospital, emergency facility or the department for foreign patients in the Na Homolce and Motol hospitals.

• Emergency
• Foreign Medical Clinic
• Hospitals

Tipping

If you are satisfied with a service in the restaurant, you can leave tips. The waiter has in no way the right to require that. If you choose to provide it, its amount is usually 10% of the cost.

Smoking

A law restricting smoking is in force in the Czech Republic. A smoking ban applies to public spaces (public transportation platforms – stops, railway and bus stations, means of public transport, cultural facilities, health care facilities). Smoking is limited in restaurants, although it is not strictly prohibited. Smoking and non-smoking areas are usually designated and separate.

Electrical voltage

The electrical network in the Czech Republic has the voltage of 230V.

Embassies

Assistance in a difficult situation can be obtained at the embassy of your country.

List of embassies