Czech Republic tourist information 2022

This material can serve as an up-to-date model for employment and living in the Czech Republic in the year 2022.

Travelling by public transport in Prague and the Czech Republic - peculiarities of the transport system in the country

As in many other EU countries, the Czech Republic has a well-developed transport system, both in large regional cities and in respect to intercity connections.

Czech Republic tourist information 2022

Intercity travel in the Czech Republic

By train

Czech Republic has the most dense network of railway lines of all the countries of the European Union! However, official sources note that, in addition to this fact, the level of digitalization of the tracks, infrastructure and passenger orientation is probably the lowest. This information from the network, but in practice...?

Buying rail tickets

"During our trip to Prague from Tabor, the main questions for us personally were:

Where is the best place to buy a ticket? You can buy it either at the ticket office just before departure or online. Features of remote purchase:
You can buy a ticket no later than 5 hours before the departure of the train. However, due to the peculiarities of train documents in the Czech Republic (we'll talk about them below) it is not so important.
Buying online is cheaper (in my case saving was 10%).
A convenient site to buy "Infobus". Personally, we used their service - very convenient and reliable! Ticket comes to the mail in a convenient format.

Is it possible to somehow carry a bicycle on Czech trains? Yes it is and it is as loyal and comfortable as possible for all passengers.

Bicycles can be carried only in special 2nd class wagons. On the door of these cars there is an appropriate marking with a bicycle sign.
These cars suggest a specially equipped vestibule with turnstiles for firm fastening of equipment. Seats are in a separate sector.
Extra charge. It exists and this information is entered into your travel document. On the website of Infobas this feature is available for 50 CZK for the price of a boarding ticket of 159 CZK.

Is it possible to buy a ticket at the last moment before departure? This question is based on train congestion. To what extent is it possible to travel impromptu? Observations on this part:

In the Czech Republic, a train ticket is valid for 24 hours. You can get on any train that corresponds to your direction. There is also no time limit for boarding (within 24 hours of document purchase). Boarding must be carried out in cars that match the class (1 or 2) prescribed in the ticket.
Our conclusion in terms of loading: there is none! Even during peak hours! In the Prague direction the trains run every 30-60 minutes, which is very convenient.

Of the interesting things that we got to know in practice, is just a MEGA disposition of the "system" to the passengers!!!! Case from life, perhaps it will be useful to you!

"In general, when boarding a train, it is important to clarify in advance what kind of train it is - regular or express! It is important that it did not happen, as it was with us! Train Tabor - Prague in our case, it turned out to be an express, but this trip for us should have been interrupted by a stop in Benešov, but... had to go to the final stop and then return back on another train. No way! The Czech Republic is unique! In this wonderful country you can order a personal stop at any station, even if your train is an "express". What is needed for that?

Make an agreement with the conductor about stopping at the necessary place.
Pay for the stop - 1000 CZK and you will even get a receipt! The interesting thing is that you will be charged exactly for the stop and it does not depend on how many people will get off at this station (you can make an agreement with a few passengers and pay at a joint.)
get your order! Voila...

The time savings are enormous! However, this would not have happened, of course, if we had clarified at the beginning of how this train moves. It is all a peculiarity and lack of information on train tickets in the Czech Republic.

Preferential fare on the railway - another interesting point!

Travel cheaper will get if:

You are a student. This status allows you to get a 50% discount on train tickets within the country - the fare is valid from April 1, 2022. The same discount applies to children and seniors.
You work in a neighboring city and regularly use rail transportation. There are subscriptions. The discount depends on the length of the pass and the number of trips you take.

By bus

There is also an opportunity to purchase travel documents online and at local bus stations, but the disadvantages of this type of travel, along with the trains, it is difficult to argue:

Fewer trips, it's important to "catch" a convenient time and not be late.
Not to travel with a bicycle, if you prefer this type of active recreation, of course.
Traffic congestion is high, which is associated with traffic jams and affects the duration of the trip.

That said, the price of a bus ticket in the Czech Republic will be somewhat cheaper than the railroad.

Intracity traffic in Prague

The beauties of the capital will be comfortably viewed from the windows of the streetcars (the most common mode of transport, after the local subway) and buses.

Prague metro - the main network of public transport

Peculiarities of the Prague metro:

45 minutes - that's how long it took us to travel by subway from one end of the city to the other.
3 minutes - the average waiting time for a train during rush hour. Our maximum for the course of the day - 10 minutes of contemplation of an empty tunnel.

In general, Prague has only three "branches" of subway, different in color and letter designation: A (green), B (yellow), C (red).

Travelling by streetcar in Prague

Again, important observations:

Routes 9, 17 and 22 are the most scenic routes, which will allow to appreciate all the beauty of the capital! Separate mention should be made of streetcar No. 42, which is the main tourist route!
The interval is 6 to 10 minutes during rush hour traffic. At night, however, the traffic does not stop, but the interval increases to 30 minutes.
"Tram King" - this transport in Prague has an advantage over pedestrians, so be careful if you walk around the city on foot.

Travel by bus in Prague

During the daytime this transport runs at intervals of up to 15 minutes. And at night it does not stop, but you have to wait up to 60 minutes to "catch" your bus!

In addition to understanding the schedule and structure of urban networks, it is important to learn the rules of payment in the city! Controllers walk regularly - I personally observed a picture, when a stowaway was handed over to the police. Yes, there is such a thing!

Fare rules for public transport

All tickets must be validated before entering the public transport (bus, streetcar, metro).
The validity of the travel document. It is limited only by time. It does not matter how many crossings you make. It is also important not to re-code the ticket when you change modes of transport, otherwise it will become invalid!
In the streetcars there is an opportunity to buy a ticket at a special electronic terminal (payment by card only, no conductors, only angry men who can be fined 1000 kronor in cash for free travel).

General timings and prices in Prague:

30 minutes - 30 CZK
90 minutes - 40 CZK
24 hours - 120 CZK
72 hours - 330 CZK

There is also the concept of discounted fares. This category includes:

Children up to 14 years of age - free of charge.
Passengers over 65 years of age - free of charge.
60-65 years old (pensioners) - half price.

In Prague, you can freely travel with a pet in a special box, if it is a question of transporting the pet in public transport. Bicycles can also be transported by rail, but not on all routes (where it is allowed, there will be appropriate markings on the carriage).

You can buy tickets at press kiosks and some stores in Prague, in special ticket vending machines around the city, at metro stations and directly in streetcars (in the latter only pay by card).

Banks in Czech Republic for a foreigner. Which one is better to choose? How to open an account?

Personally, we opened a bank account in Raiffeisen Bank as quickly and easily as possible. Convenient online banking, well-developed infrastructure in all regions of the country and comfortable rates were an argument in this matter!

In fact, the banking system in the Czech Republic is well developed and allows you to open an account for a person aged 15 years and older! Prerequisite: you are a student and can document this status.

By general standards, the minimum age of the card holder should be 18 years old. What requirements and documents will be required of you at the branch:

A certificate of employment with proof of employment.
A document confirming your permanent place of residence as a citizen of another country. This information is also required for local residents.
Visa or other permit to stay in the country.
Passport information.
Local phone number - not only your account, but also your online banking account is linked to it.

If you are staying in a hotel, you can put it as your mailing address - that's fine. In our case, the plastic was made the week after filing. We took it by ourselves at the branch, but you can order the delivery of your card to the specified address (this service is paid by the bank).

ATMs in Czech Republic - peculiarities:

Prevalenc e: Maximum! ATMs are widespread throughout the country and are not only found in every shopping center, but quite often they are installed separately in the streets of cities.
Uniformity: Raiffeisen Aval allows you to withdraw money in local currency without any fees from most ATMs, irrespective of which bank line they belong to.
Automatic conversion and disbursement of funds in a convenient currency: this function is not offered by every ATM! However, where it is available, the exchange rate is not pleasant... personally, we did not do this charity! When exchanging kronor to euros, the ATM gave us an exchange rate of 27.2 kronor to 1 euro, while at a nearby exchanger it was 24.85 to 1.
Ease of use: ATMs in the Czech Republic have several language versions, including English, and you can use it even if you forgot your card at home! This system is seen in all ATMs and activate them with an electronic device thanks to the system "PayPass".

Working time in the Czech Republic - the maximum comfort!

Personally for us this comfort consists of three things:

The work of most supermarkets, pharmacies and other establishments starts at 7 am! This also applies to many entertainment venues, restaurants, etc. And the working hours within the working day for supermarkets: 22 - 23 hours, depending on the type.
There are no days off for the retail chain here, which is not the case in many other EU countries. Yes, the schedule may be reduced, but the establishment works! That's great!
"He who gets up early.... ends his working day early" is true for the Czechs! In many companies, the work day begins as early as 6 am, and the work shift can last from 8 to 12 hours, depending on conditions.

Features of active leisure in the Czech Republic

Water sports, mountaineering, skiing... the Czech Republic has a lot to offer and a lot more; this article will focus on some of them:

Fishing in the Czech Republic

This kind of recreation is widespread in the Czech Republic! This applies to almost all regions, but there are also high requirements for fishermen.

What are the obstacles in this matter you may encounter:

A fishing ticket is compulsory for fishing in public waters. In addition, it is necessary to pay for a fishing license. Nothing complicated and expensive here, even for a foreigner, but still a certain procedure exists.
The price of the fishing license depends on whether you will fish the waters with trout or not) Yes, in the Czech Republic fishing environments are divided into 2 types according to this criterion!
2 rods - maximum per fisherman.
Allowed fishing time (yes, and there is such a thing...) - from 4 am to 24 hours. This applies to all reservoirs that do not have Trout!
There are also size requirements for fish that can be taken! The figures differ depending on the type of fish. For example, Trout - a minimum of 25 cm. Salmon - 50 cm. Therefore, in addition to the bout on a fishing trip should also take a tape measure!
7 kg - the maximum catch per day for one fisherman. The rest of the catch will have to be released.
All fish you intend to take with you should be written on the license card with the size, the date of catch and the number of the body of water.

Alternative option!? It's out there and it's become more attractive! Fishing in private reservoirs! By the rules here, too, you need the above-mentioned documents, but in fact, they are usually not asked. And the license can be purchased directly on the place of fishing (for 1 day).

Do you want to fish without documents? You can do it, but it's more expensive) the fine for complete absence of documents is 30.000 CZK (over 1000 EUR); if you have documents but don't bring them with you - 1500 CZK (about 60 EUR).

Cycling in the Czech Republic

It is important that your iron horse should be properly equipped, unless, of course, you do not express a great desire to get a fine). After reading the rules we read another important point: bicycle helmet is compulsory only for the users of such vehicles who are under 18 years old.

What else is important:

A headlight front (white) and rear (red), serviceable brakes, and mudguards are the must-have items that your bike must be equipped with!
Riding a bike under the influence of alcohol can result in a fine for you!
Cycling zones are clearly defined and properly marked. Bicycle lane signs are marked with a yellow background.
Bicycles can be transported by public transport (streetcars and subways) as well as by intercity transport (trains). However, such transport must be properly labeled, which indicates that such cars are equipped accordingly.

In Prague and other cities actively developed car sharing at affordable prices, so bike holidays are available in the Czech Republic, even if you do not have with you a bicycle!

You will love the Czech Republic if you are a mushroom picker, if you like to relax in nature and if you like to travel!

Go to the Czech Republic with pets

This can be a problem if you don't have your own accommodation in the Czech Republic.

Of course, in this matter, as in many others, the amount you are willing to pay for the apartment is decisive. When considering a long-term lease, few landlords are willing to rent their living space for tenants with pets. Although in general the Czech Republic is a country where everything is maximally adapted for living with pets, but not in the case of rental housing.

Some tips in the matter:

Personally, we used the app "buking. com" for short-term rentals. Yes, this option will cost a bit more and in many cases an extra charge will be required for your pet, but many hotels and vacation homes have lodging options!
Going away and you don't have a pet to leave it with? "Pet Friendly hotels are a great solution! There are many options for specialized hotels in Prague, which will take care of your four-legged friend! For the average price of 20-25 c.u. per day you can be sure that your pet (in our case, the dog) will get the best care!

Long-term rentals are also possible, but the "stumbling block" may be the language ... not many people here speak even the same English! You will have to overpay the realtors and have patience.

The climate in the Czech Republic

With a summer maximum of 35 degrees Celsius (average up to 27), in winter the temperature in the country does not fall below -10 degrees. For winter the temperature minimum is fixed in January and February.

Features of the warm season in the country:

July and August are the hottest months. 30-35 is exactly what the thermometer demonstrates here during this period.
Traveling through the Czech Republic during the period "June-July" we can note the active rainy season! How it will be, we will see! But judging by the information from the network, the increased "humidity" here is a normal phenomenon.
Winter in the Czech Republic starts at the end of December, when the temperature drops to "zero". It is soft and humid here. -The temperature minimum of -10 is registered in the country in the mountain regions. On average, the country keeps the temperature at -4 in winter.
Spring in the Czech Republic begins in February when the thermometer shows positive values.

The end of spring and the beginning of summer is the best time of the year to spend time in the Czech Republic!

Getting a medical prescription in the Czech Republic for a foreigner

Let's say at once: "It is possible! And even absolutely free" and we could end here and say how loyal the local medical system is to the patient, but there is a big "But..."!

The procedure to get a prescription from a doctor is free! What is necessary for this? Features of the Czech medical system in practice. It should be noted that only those foreigners who are somehow registered in the country, have official employment and are registered with the local police can get the necessary document for free. This is probably the case in most countries and there is nothing surprising.

The steps you have to take:

Registration. You can get a prescription in any medical institution, applying to the registrar and providing the insurance policy in the Czech Republic, your passport data, phone number, a permanent address in the country. We had all this, but before all this information was received, we were kicked like a ball from one department to another, they said, "Apply there", and "those" were sent to "over there", and "over there" - back!
Waiting. Waiting...... Perhaps, of course, it depends on the particular medical facility and you will be more lucky, but the line to the doctor of 3 people moved 1.5 hours!
Examination by a doctor. This is a mandatory step to get a free prescription! To come and say: "but write me this medicine, because I need it" - will not pass! Not even for a "chocolate bar". By the way the doctor refused the candy).
Conclusion. One prescription - one drug (maximum two). This is according to the local legislation. In our case, we needed three different drugs of different spectrums. After all, the first drug prescription was written and the question about the second drug was raised, the doctor said that more tests were needed and it could be done, but not today. So there you go... tormented by migraines, for example, or bothered by stomach pains? - Today we treat only the head, and tomorrow, if we are lucky, the stomach too) Fun!

In our case, there was one more thing: the permanent address of residence and place of work were in one city, and the prescription was obtained in another. Well it's okay... in the end, the girls got a little crooked, complained and "turned a blind eye". Is it worth all this way the brand "free" to decide of course to each individual, but the result of 3 hours was to get 1/3 of what is necessary ... and the next visit, of course, will not be.

The format of the prescription provided

The doctor wrote a prescription sheet with the results of the examination, a description of the condition, stamp and his signature, and issued a form with the prescription itself, consisting of 2 drugs. The prescription form also has a QR code and date of issue.

Validity of a prescription for medication

There are 2 formats of prescriptions in the Czech Republic - electronic and paper. Both have the same validity period! If the document does not have an additional doctor's requirement for an expiry date, its value is lost on the 15th day after it has been issued. As of 2020, prescriptions cannot be valid for more than 1 year, even if requested by the doctor.

Получение медицинского рецепта в Чехии для иностранца

Сразу скажем: «Это возможно! И даже абсолютно бесплатно» и можно было бы на этом закончить и сказать как же лояльна местная медицинская система к пациенту, но есть большое «Но…»!

Процедура получения рецепта у врача бесплатно! Что для этого нужно? Особенности медицинской системы Чехии на практике. Надо отметить, что бесплатно получить необходимый документ могут лишь те иностранцы, которые как-то оформлены в стране, имеют официальное трудоустройство и состоят на учёте в местной полиции. Пожалуй, это касается большинства стран и нет тут ничего удивительного.

Шаги, которые Вам придется пройти:

Оформление. Получить рецепт Вы можете в любом медицинском учреждении, обратившись в регистратуру и предоставив страховой полис в Чехии, свои паспортные данные, номер телефона, постоянный адрес проживания в стране. Все это у нас было, вот только прежде, чем вся эта информация была принята нас пинали как мяч из одного отделения в другое, мол «Обратитесь туда», а «те» отправляли к «вон тем», а «вон те» - обратно!
Ожидание. Ожидание…… Возможно, конечно, это зависит от конкретного мед. учреждения и Вам повезет больше, но очередь ко врачу из 3 человек двигалась 1.5 часа!
Обследование у врача. Это обязательный этап для получения бесплатного рецепта! Прийти и сказать: «а выпишите мне вот такое лекарство, потому что мне надо» - не пройдет! Даже за «шоколадку». От шоколадки, кстати, врач отказался)
Заключение. Один рецепт – один препарат (максимум два). Это согласно местного законодательства. В нашем же случае необходимо было 3 препарата разного спектра действия. После того, как был выписан, все-таки рецепт на первый препарат и стал вопрос о втором, врач сказал, что нужны дополнительные обследования и это можно сделать, но уже не сегодня. Вот так вот… мучают мигрени, например, или беспокоят боли в животе? – сегодня лечим только голову, а завтра, если повезёт, и живот) Весело!

В нашем случае был и ещё один момент: постоянный адрес проживания и место работы были в одном городе, а получение рецепта осуществлялось в другом. Ну это ладно… девочки в итоге покривились немного, повозмущались и «закрыли глаза». Стоит ли весь этот путь марки «бесплатно» решать конечно каждому индивидуально, но итогом 3 часов было получение 1/3 того, что нужно… и следующего визита, конечно, уже не будет.

Формат предоставляемого рецепта на лекарство

Врач выписал лист назначения с результатами обследования, описанием состояния, печатью и своей подписью, а также выдал бланк с самим рецептом, состоящий из 2 препаратов. На бланке рецепта также присутствует QR код и дата выдачи.

Сроки действия рецепта на лекарства

В Чехии существует 2 формата рецептов – электронные и бумажные. И те, и другие имеют одинаковый срок действия! Если на документе отсутствуют дополнительное требование врача по срокам, то ценность его теряется на 15 й день после выписки. С 2020 же года срок действия рецептов не может превышать 1 год, даже по требованию врача.

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