Useful tips for the tourist

Currency exchange and settlements

 

The national currency of the Czech Republic is the Czech crown. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 kroons and coins of 1,2,5,10,20,50 kroons. A note of 5000 crowns is not common, there may be problems with its exchange. A 50 kroner coin is considered one of the most beautiful coins in the world. You can see how Czech money looks on the website of the Czech National Bank http://www.cnb.cz/cs/platidla/

 

You can change money in exchange offices, in banks, at the reception of hotels. Before the trip, check the current exchange rate on our website, and if you use the services of our company to transfer from the airport, then remember the course that will tell you our meeting guide. Remember that many exchange offices take a large, often predatory, commission. Therefore, not paying attention to the rate on the scoreboard, always before the exchange, ask how many crowns you will receive in your hands for your own, for example, 100 euros and compare the proposed amount with the real rate. It is best to change money in the so-called "Arab" exchangers. To determine them is quite simple - in the window will sit the face of Arab nationality. In such exchange puktah do not take a commission in the exchange and the course there is always the best. Most of these items are in the area of ​​Wenceslas Square and on Politických vězňů Street, which is located parallel to Wenceslas Square, one block away, to the right, if you stand with your back to the National Museum building. Please note that the exchange rate at the airport is the most unprofitable. It is not profitable to also change money in banks and hotels. Often, when exchanging more than 500 or 1000 euros in Arab exchangers, you can get an even more favorable rate if you ask an employee about the exchange rate when exchanging a large amount. Do not change money on the street, with hands, no matter how profitable the course offered to you. Usually in such cases, tourists get Hungarian forints, which are a bit like crowns, but they are significantly inferior in value.

 

Euros are accepted in large stores and restaurants, but the rate is not very profitable, so it’s better to pay in crowns or using cards.

 

Cards are accepted almost everywhere, there are many ATMs in the city. If you have a Sberbank card, then by visiting one of the branches of Sberbank in Prague (and there are quite a lot of them) you can withdraw money without commission and at a good rate.

Public transport and taxis in Prague

 

The public transport system in Prague is one.

 

It includes tram and bus routes, as well as the metro and the funicular. Hours of transport from 5:00 to midnight. From midnight until 5 am night routes are available.

 

The schedule differs on working days and weekends, is posted at each stop and is strictly adhered to.

 

Vehicles are equipped with buttons for opening doors inside and outside; do not forget to press the button to exit or enter transport, otherwise the doors will not open.

 

You can buy a transport ticket (in Czech jízdenka) at tobacco shops and newsstands, at the hotel reception, at the ticket offices at the entrance to the subway and at the vending machines.

 

Another convenient way to pay for travel in Prague is by SMS. If you have a SIM card from a local operator, then you can send an SMS to the number 90206 with the text DPT24 / DPT32 / DPT110 / DPT310, where the digits mean which ticket you want to buy. In a reply SMS in 2-3 minutes you will receive an e-ticket, which begins to operate immediately after receipt.

 

The simplest ticket costs 24 kroons and is valid 30 minutes from the moment you punch it in the validator at the entrance to the subway or in the tram / bus. During the ticket validity period, you can use all types of public transport, make transplants (when transferring a second time, you do not need to compost the ticket). A ticket for 90 minutes costs 32 CZK, for a day - 110 CZK, for 3 days - 310 CZK. Children from 6 to 15 years old and pensioners aged 65-70 enjoy a 50% discount on the ticket price. Children under 6 years old and people over 70 use transport for free; to confirm their age, have a passport or other document with your date of birth and photo. The carriage of baggage of more than 25x45x70 cm costs 16 kroons. View the schedule, choose the best route and find out the latest information on the website of the Prague transport company http://www.dpp.cz

 

The cost of a taxi to the tourist center in Prague is on average up to 300 CZK. The cost of the trip consists of several components: Price for landing is about 40 CZK, price per kilometer is about 20 CZK per kilometer and prices for waiting 5-6 CZK a minute. Prices may vary by company. The cost of a trip by taxi from Prague Airport is 500-800 kroons. Official airport taxis, which are waiting for customers on the first line, immediately in front of the airport building are quite expensive. It is more profitable to order a taxi in advance or use the transfer from our company (group - 5 euro per passenger or individual - 20 euro per car in Prague). It is not accepted to catch a taxi on the street by hand. You can order a taxi at the reception of your hotel, through an employee of a restaurant or store, use specially marked taxi ranks in the city, via the Internet or using mobile applications (such as uber).