A real trip to Prague. Self-guided walking route around Prague. Train: an alternative way to travel

Background

I don’t know why, but the dream of visiting Prague appeared in my mind 15 years ago.

I may no longer really want Prague, but the desire to fulfill my dream was inviolable, and if I had not gone to this city, I would have been left with the feeling of an unfulfilled dream. And looking ahead, I will say that I really liked it in the Czech Republic, I would return there again.

1.Organization of the trip

When organizing the trip, I followed the following sequence:

1. Purchasing air tickets

2. Booking accommodation

3. Registration of medical insurance.

4. Obtaining a visa.

5. We write an application for vacation and languish in joyful anticipation of the long-awaited trip.

1. Buying air tickets.

When buying tickets there is a real chance to save a lot, but for this you should not be tied to dates or be able to vary them.

Firstly, you need to do this much in advance; we booked tickets in February for mid-April. Secondly, you can vary the departure dates. For example, if you fly out on Wednesday and return on Thursday, it will be cheaper than standard Friday-Sunday. We ordered tickets through this site . I changed either the date of departure to Prague or the date of return to Moscow. As a result, we found the best option in terms of price and dates. It was Aeroflot, a round-trip ticket cost 12,360 rubles.

We bought tickets there on 04/08. and back 14.04.

2.Reservation of accommodation.

There was no cash on the card at that moment, so we entered the card details with an empty account, the reservation was confirmed for us, but after 3 days, when we had already started to apply for a visa, we received a letter from the hotel saying that there was no money on your card and your wonderful room now it will go to someone else, Horror!!! Lack of accommodation reservation could have a significant impact on our visa. because the documents were already at the embassy. But I won’t bore you... We paid for the reservation with another card and everything went well. Looking ahead, I’ll tell you how to pay for the reserved room. The amount of the room price is frozen on the card at the time of booking and when you arrive at the hotel, you can either pay with this frozen amount or pay in cash in crowns.

3. Obtaining medical insurance.

I thought that in order to get insurance you need to go somewhere, to a special company, pay the nth amount of money, but thank goodness for the Internet and everything that is done online. When booking accommodation on Booking, an advertisement for travel insurance popped up, I followed the link, it’s very easy to fill out a sign, enter your data and dates, the amount of insurance required for a Czech visa is automatically entered, and you pay only 400 rubles for all this. from the card and they send you a contract by email. I did all this, and suddenly I read in the visa requirements that the stamp on the contract must be original, I urgently call the embassy, a girl with a Czech accent confirms this information (most likely she didn’t really understand me), I call the insurance company, they assure that everything will be ok. I decided to believe them, and they didn’t deceive me; they accepted my contract printed from the Internet without any problems.

4. Visa application.

Applying for a visa yourself will also help you save some money. The visa center charges 70 euros for a tourist visa to the Czech Republic. We paid 35 euros at the embassy. Do the math for yourself. For 35 euros. I’d rather drink beer, eat some Czech sausages and have some left over for trdeliki. The only difficulty in obtaining a visa on your own is to take time off from work, because... You will have to go to the visa center twice and all visits are by appointment.

If there are no problems with this, then there is nothing complicated further. I already wrote on this site detailed instructions about applying for a visa, but for unknown reasons this review was deleted, and due to my inexperience I did not save it anywhere (((. I won’t be able to do this the second time.

Now I’ll write more briefly, the Internet is basically full of information, if something is not clear, I’ll answer in the comments.

Read more about Prague Castle, what ticket you need to buy and the features of the route

The city of Kutna Hora is famous for a very controversial attraction called the Ossuary, a church decorated inside entirely with human bones. It even seems to me that it was the desire to see this place that gave birth to my dream of visiting Prague. I’ll say right away that the Ossuary did not disappoint me. Being there, you experience very unusual sensations. But this is not the only place you can visit in Kutno Hora. Simply stunning Gothic Cathedral of St. Barbara. Read all the details of our walk, about tickets and route in the review.

Day four. TV TOWER

Whether or not to visit this place is up to you, but the TV tower has added to the succession of Gothic castles and historical monuments. The tower itself is very unusual, I won’t say it’s beautiful, it’s strange. The Czechs themselves (as I read) say that from the tower the most best view to Prague, because the tower itself is not visible.

Day five. G. KRUMLOV.

We couldn’t choose where it was better to go to Karlovy Vary or Krumlov, so we approached the ticket office with this unresolved question. We decided to use the “help of the audience”, i.e. we asked the cashier girl and she sold us tickets to Krumlov, maybe Karlovy Vary is a more famous and more pompous city, but Krumlov is original and very cozy. About the torture museum, tickets, etc. in my separate story.

Day six. VISHEGRAD

Vysehrad is an ancient fortress (castle) and historical district of Prague. Not the most touristy place, but that's all the better. It is a park with a cathedral and a burial place of famous people in the Czech Republic (such as the Vagankovskoe cemetery in Moscow)

Transport.

In Prague, fares are paid by the hour, i.e. you buy a ticket not for the number of trips, but for a time of 30 minutes, 1 hour, etc. This has both convenience and its disadvantages. The convenience is that you don’t have to pay for each type of transport, so you can transfer from the metro to the tram and back as often as you like. But on the other hand, if the tram doesn’t go for a long time or you get lost in the metro, then your time may run out.

Tickets can be purchased from yellow machines located at bus stops in metro stations. You need to decide how long your trip will take and choose the right ticket. When entering the first transport (bus, tram or metro), you print the date and time on the ticket in a special device at the entrance. When switching to another mode of transport, you no longer need to do this.

Sometimes tickets can be purchased from the driver. Upon arrival, when leaving the airport, there were bus stops right opposite, there were also yellow machines there, but while we were sorting them out, while we were looking for small bills, a bus came and the driver gave us a ticket and also explained where to go. By the way, there was an incorrect route from the airport to the city on the Internet, so it’s better to ask the driver, the locals.

In general, it’s a very strange feeling when you enter the metro and there are no turnstiles, only small posts where you need to punch the time.

About ground transport:

We saw trams and buses. There are schedules and route maps at the stops; in principle, they coincide with reality. We didn't get into any traffic jams, only in the center of Prague the traffic was slow.

About the metro:

The lack of turnstiles in the metro is very tempting to go for free, but it’s better not to risk it, which is why I’ll write below.

There are only three lines in the Prague metro and they intersect in three places, but we still managed to get lost and go in the wrong direction, I already wrote about geographical cretinism)).

Metro stations, of course, differ from Moscow ones in their brevity and simplicity.

But we discovered the most unpleasant “flaw” on the very first day. As I already said, on the day of our arrival it was very cold, so we wanted to run into the subway to warm up, but it turned out to be even colder there than outside (((. We couldn’t get used to it.

In general, we used public transport very rarely, firstly, we wanted to walk more and see the surroundings and plus save money (although sometimes it was a dubious saving, since you can lose a lot in time).

Controllers:

We read about controllers. And that the fine was decent, and that, in principle, no one met with them. Therefore, one day, having once again got lost near Vysehrad, which is quite far from the center and from the metro, we decided to take a ride on the tram with hares. At every stop we looked out for potential inspectors, but we were lucky and this time we didn’t meet them. This meeting took place in the subway, when we had 10 minutes left. until the end of the ticket. We can say that we were lucky, because... We left the subway already as hares)).

It looked like this. My friend and I are standing waiting for the train, some guy in a tracksuit comes up (like the “Lyubertsy boys,” if you know what I mean), says something to us, and looks away. We thought another friend wanted to get acquainted, we told him “No, no,” get out of here))), and he poked us with some kind of ring, we took a closer look, and it turned out to be an inspector’s badge.... In general, we laughed for a long time and then without a ticket anymore didn't risk driving. By the way, it became clear why, we often see passengers running - they are running out of time!

You don’t have to buy a city map and a metro map; they are available for free in stores and in cafes and hotels. I collect maps, so I bought myself a huge map with house numbers, which, in principle, did not save us from wandering around the city in search of the right cafe or pubs.

And here local residents they are very friendly and willing to help and tell you where, what is, even when they are not asked, they just see that two tourists are standing and look at the map with desperate eyes, they come up and ask “Where do you want to go?”

We did not go to Prague for gastronomic delights, but the obligatory program, of course, should include tasting beer, trdelniki, Czech sausages and pork knuckle.

Upon arrival in the evening of the first day, we realized that, having collected a lot of information about the attractions, we were not at all prepared with the rating of hot beer spots.

We decided to turn to the Internet (free Wi-Fi in every cafe, ask the waiter for the password).

As a result, on the first day, based on reviews, we chose the U Medvedka restaurant-brewery. Since we are non-smokers, we were taken to a non-smoking room, very small and uninteresting. I then looked on the Internet, there are large and beautiful halls, but either all the seats were occupied or all these rooms were for smokers. But the beer was very tasty. If only we had looked at this restaurant in advance. then they probably would have asked us to be seated.

Address: "U Medvedku" Na Perštýně 345/7, Praha 1. We didn't find it right away. As a hint, this street will be on the right side if you walk along Wenceslas Square towards the National Museum.

The place is unusual, beautiful rooms, you can feel its own flavor and originality. The halls are densely packed with tables, so it’s noisy, but personally it gave me the feeling that I was sitting in the same hall where the ancestors of modern Czechs sat 100 years ago. Be sure to read about the U Fleků brewery on the Internet.

They serve only one type of beer, their own production, dark, it seems to cost 60 kr., but, in my opinion, it is very tasty, we drank 2 mugs each)). A guy walks between the rows with an accordion and sings songs, including Russian ones.

I want to warn you right away. As soon as you place an order, the waiter comes up to you with a whole tray of Bicherovka glasses and offers you to try, like it’s a tradition and smell how it smells, etc. He tried to persuade us for a very long time, but we are stubborn girls who did not give in to the divorce; one glass of this Bicherovka costs more than a mug of beer. It can be said that we didn’t order any food here (a plate of cheeses and cold cuts).

Address: Křemencova 1651/11, Prague 1

nearest metro stations - Karlovo namesti, Narodni Trida

This pub is very unusual, also with its own brewery. The walls of the hall where we sat were painted with comic scenes from the life of ordinary people of the old Czech Republic. All rooms are decorated differently. The beer is tasty, but it didn’t make much of an impression. Here we tried the knuckle, well, we tried it and tried it, just for show, I can’t say that I dreamed of eating it again. By the way, we ordered one for two, we barely ate it.

According to my friend’s and my tradition, we failed to find a pub the first time. Because in order to see the sign (and the sign is not over the pub, but sort of over the arch into the alley where you need to turn), you had to walk along the other side of the street. The sidewalk is narrow, you walk close to the wall and naturally you don’t lift your head to see what kind of signs are there right above your head.

For the adults we bought Bernard beer (dark - very tasty), it was better to buy it in advance, we barely shared the last bottles of dark beer with another buyer.

Naturally magnets - don’t buy them right away, you can find them cheaper, very beautiful wooden magnets for 1.5 crowns - it’s quite acceptable to find them.

For work colleagues we bought a set of wooden coasters for a glass/mug, a set of about 50 CZK - there are 5 pieces.

They sell a lot of beautiful mugs with views of Prague, the price is somewhere around 200-250 rubles.

In Krumlov we bought a witch doll like self made, very nice, but expensive (the seller somehow managed to scam us)

A friend bought a stole, beautiful and high quality, about 500 rubles.

Well, any girl will appreciate the Manufactura store, the smells there are crazy, but the prices are not low. I think that cosmetics with such scents are not particularly natural, but we couldn’t resist.

I liked the hand cream, it is not absorbed very quickly, but the skin feels pleasant after it.

Lip gloss - smells very tasty, but does not feel moisturizing.

The soap smells like fresh lemon, but doesn't foam very much.

But I still advise you to buy it for yourself or as a gift in this store. (Prices in the Paladium and in other places are the same)

They also took sausages as a souvenir from the Paladium, there is a special tent there and they let you try it. The sausage is very, very tasty, but obviously not a penny.

Chocolates with views of Prague. It’s cheaper in the shopping center opposite the Palladium or at the airport (specially compared).

In general, as you understand, all our savings went towards souvenirs. . I'm joking, of course, but we spent about 3,000 thousand on souvenirs, if not more.

This is how my trip turned out; all together it cost me about 35 thousand. I received a lot of impressions and emotions. In 6 days we tried to see and get to know the Czech Republic as much as possible, but, of course, there are still many places we would like to visit. I really liked the Czech Republic and I think someday I will come again to go where I didn’t have time.

Now I am no longer afraid to organize my own trip to another country, so that a small budget does not hinder new experiences.

The capital of the Czech Republic is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and it is not surprising that many tourists are eager to visit it. Are you also planning to visit Prague? Great choice! This city offers amazing architecture, many unique sights and interesting places, friendly people, an exciting variety of entertainment, famous Czech beer and truly delicious food. Are you planning to travel to Prague on your own? Then read this article with useful information. We share tips that will be useful when traveling to Prague on your own.

How to get to Prague: tickets and visas

The capital of the Czech Republic is located in the center of Europe, and getting to Prague is quite easy. There are many airlines offering flights to Prague at affordable prices. In addition, it is possible to lay and railway route. It is more spectacular and romantic, but may turn out to be too long. You can also get to Prague by bus, but this is perhaps the least comfortable option. You need to be a well-prepared tourist so that sitting for a long time in a bus seat does not spoil the impression of an exciting trip.

Choosing transport and buying tickets is a very significant moment if you are traveling to Prague on your own. When choosing a way to get to Prague, you should proceed from your preferences, financial capabilities and take into account the starting point of departure. For example, Czech Airlines and Smart Wings fly from Moscow. Bus routes Ecoline is available with a transfer in Riga. And the train and bus route can be laid through the Ukrainian Uzhgorod. From there there is a LEO Express flight to Prague, which involves crossing the border into Slovakia by bus and then boarding a direct train to Prague.

The travel time has a big influence on the cost of tickets to Prague. Obviously, during popular periods among tourists, the cost will be higher (and the city itself, accordingly, will be more crowded). Therefore, when deciding, take into account the cost of the trip.

Check what flight options to Prague are available in this moment:

As for obtaining a visa to the Czech Republic, for tourist trip you will need a short-term Schengen visa. Before submitting your application to the embassy Czech Republic it is necessary to prepare all the documents listed on the official website: www.mzv.cz/moscow/ru. If you act strictly according to the rules of the embassy, then there will be no problems in obtaining a visa.

Where to stay in Prague?

The Czech capital offers a huge variety of hotels. There are 4-5 star hotels and luxury apartments here. A little cheaper, but still quite high level comfort, you can stay in mini-hotels.

To save as much as possible, you can stay in hostels, of which there are quite a lot in Prague. Hostels often bring together a cheerful group, where it is easy to find new friends and company for walks and entertainment in the city. However, this option is suitable only for those who are ready to sacrifice comfort for the sake of saving and prefer cheerful companies to a relaxing holiday. Calculate your strength! You can search for hostels at www.hostelsclub.com.

When choosing a hotel in Prague, you should take into account the considerable size of the city. Having settled on the outskirts, it will take you a long time to get to the center, but that’s where all the most interesting things are located! The most convenient option is housing directly in the center or at least a 15-minute walk from it. However, there are a lot of tourists there and it can be noisy. Visitors often stay in the Zizkov area or on the left bank of the Vltava River, in the Smichov area, from which public transport runs to the center. This option is quite convenient and will be optimal for those who do not want to spend unnecessarily on independent travel to Prague. When choosing a place to stay, always carefully study the reviews of other tourists - from them you can often find out important details and features of a particular hotel.

Read also:

Pick up inexpensive hotel and you can see reviews from real travelers on the popular resource booking.com. By the way, here are some of the special offers that are currently presented on it:

Transport in Prague

How to get there from the airport

Prague airport is located at a distance from the city, so after landing in the Czech Republic you will have to use local transport. Taxi drivers will be happy to take you to any area and to any hotel, but their services are not cheap. It is quite comfortable to get to the center of Prague on a special Czech Airlines bus, which departs very often. He even stops around large hotels! If you decide to plunge into real Prague life from the very start, you can leave the airport by bus No. 119, which runs to the Dejvicka metro station. This is not only cheap, but also optimal for those who do not live in the center.

If you do not want to take risks and like certainty, use the airport transfer service, which can be booked in advance, even before the trip. In this case, you will be sure that you will quickly get to the hotel, and you will know the cost of the trip in advance. Transfer options include an economical shuttle ( tourist bus), and more comfortable options for individual trips. It all depends on your preferences and on the company you are traveling with. .

How to get around the city

Prague railway station is located next to the Main Station metro station. There is also a metro station near the central Prague bus station - it is called Florenc. When you arrive in Prague on your own, you should get a map of the city with transport routes. This will protect you from unnecessary wandering and spending on taxi drivers.

If you are staying near the historical center of Prague, then it will be most pleasant to travel on foot (and our offline map will not let you get lost in the city). But if you need to use public transport, then this should not be a problem - the Prague metro (3 color-coded lines green A, yellow B and red C), trams, buses, ferries and the funicular to Petrin Hill are at your service.

Metro in Prague open daily from 5.00 to 24.00. Train intervals are 2-3 minutes, on holidays and weekends - 4-10 minutes.

Trams. This type of transport can be called a signature one in the capital of the Czech Republic; it is very pleasant to ride them. Most of the 35 active routes operate from 4.30 to midnight. There are also night trams in Prague - numbers 51 to 59. They run at intervals of 30 minutes.

Historical tram
Prague's public transport network features the so-called Historical Tram No. 91, which travels around the city center and will help you get to the main attractions of Prague.

Buses in Prague they run in the same time interval as trams. Night trips are carried out by buses with numbers 501-513. You can find timetables at Prague stops, so you will know exactly how long you will have to wait for transport.

Funicular allows you to travel from the Újezd stop to Petřín Hill. It is open from 9.00 to 23.30 from April to October and from 9.00 to 23.20 from November to March. Movement intervals are 15 minutes.

Fare

Tickets are available for one trip (30 or 90 minutes), and long-term for different types of transport. It is more convenient and profitable for tourists to buy long-term tickets for 24 or 72 hours in order to freely travel around the city. They are sold in special vending machines. When entering the metro, bus or tram, tickets must be validated.

The fine for traveling without a ticket is CZK 800.

If you decide to purchase a Prague Card, you will no longer need to worry about travel tickets, because... The card includes free travel on all types of public transport, including tram, bus, metro, Airport Express bus, Petrin funicular and ferry. The card is simply presented to the controller instead of a travel ticket along with identification documents.

Taxi in Prague

It’s nice and useful to know that Prague has officially set maximum prices for transport services in passenger taxis. Don't be fooled! The maximum cost for landing is 40 CZK, traveling 1 km is 28 CZK, waiting is 6 CZK per minute.

In popular tourist places You may come across special Fair Place taxi ranks with a yellow sign. Under the sign you can find a table with indicative prices to certain points. Taking a taxi in these places is safer, as they are rented by trusted companies.

Are you planning an active tourism program? Buy your Prague Card

Arriving in Prague on your own, you will be able to plan your days without looking at other people. If you plan to actively visit, then take advantage of the Prague Card. This will help you save significantly on entrance tickets. The guest card will allow you to visit 50 of Prague's main attractions and museums (including historical buildings and exhibitions, Old Town Hall, Petřín observation tower, National Gallery, National Museum, Jewish Museum, etc.)

In addition, the cost of the card includes free movement on public transport (metro, bus, tram, funicular) for the entire duration of the card, transfer to the airport by Airport Express bus, an information booklet and even sightseeing tour in Prague.

The card is issued for 2, 3 or 4 days and cannot be transferred to another person. You can buy the card already in the city (at one of 24 sales points) or buy in advance online, and upon arrival simply pick up the card at the airport or in the city center. You can find out more about the Prague Card guest card and order it online.

By the way, if you came to Prague for only 3 days, we offer ideas on how to spend them with benefit and pleasure: short.

Self-guided tours of Prague

If you are traveling to Prague on your own, organizing excursions and cultural program falls entirely on you. If you have a “rubber” budget, you can find personal guide and transfer the worries of organizing the excursion part of the trip to him. You can also choose group excursion, but there are some nuances here - your impressions will largely depend on the personality and qualifications of the guide, as well as on how lucky you are with the composition of the group. Not everyone likes to jostle in a noisy tourist crowd and run after a guide without having time to look at the place of interest or take enough photographs. Besides, this pleasure is also not cheap.

Some people prefer to explore the city with paper guide to Prague. This gives a certain freedom and flexibility, however, it does not always provide enough necessary information, and the available information in guidebooks, as a rule, is presented very dryly. In addition, not everyone likes to carry a rather weighty book with them when walking, which still does not guarantee that you will not get lost in the city!

What remains? “Advanced” and thrifty tourists before the trip, carefully study the city and think through independent routes in Prague. This is a great way to start your trip early and arrive in Prague already somewhat familiar with it. But this is a huge job that requires a lot of effort and a lot of time. Those who have scoured the Internet in search of the necessary information, studied guidebooks, and reviewed many resources in order to create their own route and become their own “guide” know that such preparation takes more than one day.

Where should thrifty and freedom-loving tourists go who do not want to spend money on expensive excursions, but do not have enough time or experience to create their own “guide”? And how can we make our work easier for all those who decide to organize excursions in Prague on their own? Contact a good assistant -. It is installed on your smartphone and will not leave you alone with the boring pages of a paper guidebook, will not let you get lost in the city, no matter where you wander (thanks to the offline map and GPS navigation), will help you easily find the most interesting places in the city and will tell fascinating stories about the sights of Prague. And all this is free or very inexpensive! Offline map, catalog of attractions, useful information about the city, and can be downloaded and used absolutely free, and individual audio tours cost no more than simple souvenirs! For now, the guide is only available for iPhone, but owners of other devices will soon be able to use it.

And, of course, you cannot deprive yourself of the pleasure of experiencing the culinary merits of Prague and the Czech Republic. A huge number of local “gentlemen” and pubs will offer you delicious draft beer. This is probably best places for food in Prague. It's calmer and tastier than fast food and bistros. And not as expensive as in fine restaurants.

Don’t forget to check out Prague’s many shops and souvenir shops, where you can find a lot of interesting things! You don’t want to return from a trip to Prague empty-handed, do you?

Be careful about carefully planning your stay in the Czech capital - no matter how interesting your plans may seem, be prepared to easily abandon them and spend time on what really attracts you to the city. We can say that magnificent Prague will tell you what to do on its own! Look around, walk along the streets, admire the views, communicate with people, breathe the real life of this beautiful city. The results of a trip are measured not by the number of wonders you see, but by your inner satisfaction, which should be put in first place both at the planning stage and directly during the trip!

Useful phones

Emergency numbers (calling these numbers is free):

150 – fire service
155 – emergency medical care
156 – city police
158 – police
112 – integrated emergency telephone number.

Plan independent trip to the Czech Republic! We tell you how to travel in 2019: where to go, what to see, how to save money, how to get a visa, what to try.

How to get to the Czech Republic on your own

Ticket prices are per person, round trip during high season.

The most convenient way is to fly from Russia to Prague - there are many flights. If you need to travel to other cities, it is easy to get from the capital by bus or train.

The cheapest way to fly to the Czech Republic is from Moscow - tickets cost from 10 thousand rubles with a transfer, and a direct flight - from 14 thousand. Ticket prices from St. Petersburg are higher - from 13 thousand rubles for a direct flight, but without luggage (airBaltic).

Flights from the regions are expensive. It is relatively inexpensive to fly from Kaliningrad and Kazan - from 13 thousand rubles, and also from Rostov, Yekaterinburg and Samara - from 15 thousand.

If you couldn’t find inexpensive tickets, buy a tour - sometimes it’s cheaper than traveling on your own. For example, trips to Prague for two from Moscow for 6 nights cost from 40 thousand rubles. However, the price includes tickets, accommodation, meals and transfer.

Visa to the Czech Republic

To travel to the Czech Republic you need a Schengen visa. It’s easy to get it yourself - correctly collect the standard package of documents and submit them in advance. The main thing is confirmed hotel and ticket reservations, insurance and a sufficient amount of money in the account.

Don't forget about insurance! It will save you from expenses in case of emergency. Register it on the services or. Cost - from 300 rubles per week.

Transport in the Czech Republic

Intercity transport

Trains. The Czech Republic has a dense network railways. Main center- this is Prague, there are several railway stations. From the main station (Praha Hlavní Nádraží) - trains depart to cities in the Czech Republic and to other countries. We went from there to Kutna Hora. Trains also run from Nádraží Holešovice station to European cities, and from Masarykovo nadraži - mainly to Czech ones. The cost of a ticket from Prague to Karlovy Vary is 160 CZK (second class). .

If you are interested in trips from Prague to European cities, we recommend reading, and.

You can travel independently around the Czech Republic cheaply on Student Agency and Eurolines buses. For example, a ticket from Prague to Karlovy Vary costs from 130 CZK. It can be purchased online. There is no need to print it out; you can send it to your phone and show it to the driver.

You can independently organize a trip between cities in the Czech Republic, Europe, or just around Prague. The search engine shows everything possible ways travel

Transport in Prague

The main types of transport in Prague are the metro, buses and trams.

Trams and buses run even at night - they have separate schedules on dark blue signs at the stops. Night transport runs from 0:30 to 4:30. Metro operating hours are from 5:00 to 24:00. Schemes of day and night transport routes, as well as a metro plan, can be downloaded for free in excellent quality.

You can buy tickets from vending machines at some metro stations and stops, ticket offices, newspaper and tobacco kiosks, as well as via SMS. Read more about purchasing a ticket via SMS on the website www.smsjizdenka.cz.

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An inconspicuous city hotel hidden in the narrow city streets (Photo © booking.com / Hotel Leon D´Oro)
Remember that hotels become more expensive during high season. It is better to book them 3-4 months in advance - this way you will find the best option at a good price. Peak times are summer and New Year's holidays.

View from the window of the Studio Nicolas Prague apartment (Photo © booking.com / Studio Nicolas Prague)
What to see in the Czech Republic on your own

Search interesting excursions on the Sputnik and . Individual and group, without crowds of tourists and in Russian.

So, if you are planning an independent trip to the Czech Republic, we advise you first of all to get to know Prague, which has won the love of millions of people. However, the number of attractions is off the charts in other cities of the country.

Prague

Prague is one continuous attraction. It will take more than one day to get around them all. However, when going on an independent trip to the Czech Republic, do not forget to pay attention to other cities in the country.

Old city- the most famous area. Usually tourists begin to get acquainted with the city precisely from where the monument to Jan Hus, the town hall with an astronomical clock and the Tyn Church are located. Located next door.

You will walk along the medieval Charles Bridge more than once - it connects historical districts Stare Mesto and Mala Strana. The royal road passed through it. The bridge is decorated with 30 sculptures of saints.

On the other side of the Vlatva, visit the Vysehrad fortress and admire the rooftops of the city. In the fortress there is the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul, Visegrad Cemetery and Rotunda of St. Martina. Also take a stroll, which is famous for its abundance of palaces and temples, narrow streets and colorful houses.

Nerudova street, Mala Strana
In addition, in Prague you can visit museums completely free of charge! How to do this, read this.

Prague is a city oversaturated with tourists. Most of them are in the summer and on New Year's holidays. We advise you to be mentally prepared for such a number of people.

Brno

Must see in Brno, the former capital of Moravia: the Church of St. Jacob, where the ossuary is located, the Church of St. John, the Gothic Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, the castles of Špilberk, Veveří and Slavkov, where the Battle of Austerlitz took place, the Capuchin and Augustine monastery and much more. There are many in Brno art galleries and universities.

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Note for gourmets: food in the Czech Republic

Independent travel to the Czech Republic - great opportunity arrange a gastrotour! Here's what to try on your trip:

Roasted pork knuckle, served with garnish and sauces. It is especially good with beer. The portions are large, so don't overestimate your strength.

As an alternative to knuckle - baked pork with gravy, stewed cabbage and dumplings. In general, they cook from pork in the Czech Republic great amount dishes: baked pork ribs in honey, grilled pork, pork roll, pork goulash, steak and pork schnitzel, etc. Lamb and beef are present, but in smaller quantities.

Game and poultry dishes also common: pheasant breasts, hare pate, baked partridges, foie gras, baked geese, ducks, pheasants, etc.

Beer snacks are very popular in the Czech Republic: these are the so-called drowners- spicy pickled bacon, usually consumed after a couple of glasses of beer, and hermelin- soft cheese with white mold (can be fried, baked and pickled).

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Jáchymov and Marianske Lazne are suitable for people suffering from diseases of the respiratory tract and musculoskeletal system. Jáchymov is the first medical resort in the world and in the Czech Republic in particular with radon sources. It's quiet and quiet city, helping to restore mental and physical harmony. Besides taking baths, you can look summer palace, the 16th-century palace park and glacier caves, as well as climb Mount Klínovec.

Marianske Lazne- the second most popular resort in the Czech Republic, there are about 40 healing springs. The city is also famous for the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary with 33 steps symbolizing the years of the life of Christ, the Anglican Church, the Evangelical Church and the Orthodox Church of St. Vladimir. In the vicinity of the city there are nature reserves Kladska and Smradech, through which ecological trails pass.

Frantiskovy Lazne specializes in the treatment of gynecological diseases and the genitourinary system, 21 sources come to the surface. Like other cities, there are many attractions here: the resort, despite its developed infrastructure, has retained the appearance of the city of the early twentieth century.

(photo © Yael Gripich / flickr.com)

Ski resorts in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic in winter is no less interesting for tourists than at other times of the year. Ski resorts in the Czech Republic - worthy alternative Western European, despite the medium-altitude mountains. Their undoubted advantage is their location: many centers are located near or in protected areas.

Some of the most popular ski resorts in the Czech Republic are located in Krkonoše, where Mount Snezka is located with a height of 1602 meters - the highest point in the country. These are resorts such as Pec pod Snezkou, Spindleruv Mlyn, Janske Lazne, Harrachov, Karpacz, Szklarska Poreba and others. The resorts are very picturesque: the slopes of the mountain range are covered with pine and spruce forests, from here the Elbe River originates. Snow lies here from November to May.

Second largest mountain Jeseníky massif not inferior in popularity to the Giant Mountains. Despite the mottled tourist routes And ski slopes, there are also unexplored corners here - for example, the Richleb Mountains do not have a developed tourism infrastructure. The highest point is Praded (1491 m).

In general, the Jeseniky region is considered one of the most promising regions: here you can get treatment, which will cost much less than in Karlovy Vary, and do active species sports, be it skiing, cycling or trekking. The massif is also not deprived of attractions and natural beauty - it is clearly worth going here not as part of a tourist group. If you are traveling around the Czech Republic on your own, we definitely recommend visiting Jeseniky.

(photo © CzechR / flickr.com)

Sumava Mountains With highest point 1378 m (Mount Plekhi) is also not offended by the attention of travelers. As in Jeseniky, recreation here is varied, and the nature is gorgeous.

Moravian-Silesian Beskids- a colorful massif with the highest point Lysaya Gora (1323 m). Developed infrastructure, good service. Places favored by tourists are Pustevny, Yavorovy, Bila, Solan. Lovers winter species Biel's sport will delight you with ideal trails and slopes of varying degrees of difficulty.

Ore Mountains with the peak of Klinovec (1244 m) are not so popular among tourists, but they also have a lot to offer: ski resorts (Bozi Dar and Klinovec), and thermal springs, and attractions.

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Introductory image source: © @notnixon / flickr.com.

Trip to Prague

In this article we will tell you how to prepare for a trip to Prague on your own: how and where to buy air tickets, choose and book a hotel, what to see, we will offer ready-made walking routes and walks around Prague, we will tell you what to try, where to go shopping and many others advice.

An ancient legend says that the Czech princess Libuše, standing one day on the banks of the Vltava River, said: “I see a high city, its glory will rise to the stars!” It was on this site that Prague soon grew - a city deservedly considered one of the most beautiful in Europe. There really is something to see here: ancient castles, colorful streets, majestic churches, houses of famous citizens...

But not only amazing architecture and rich story become a reason to travel to Prague: local beer is considered almost the standard of taste, and the portion sizes served National dishes, allow you to divide them into two or even three people. It seems that the capital of the Czech Republic is always waiting for guests - and that’s why you want to come back here again and again.

How to get to Prague

How to get to Prague and where to buy air tickets, read ours. In addition to the plane, you can go to Prague by train or bus, as well as by your own car. If you have not yet prepared documents for a trip to the Czech Republic, see.

Select and book a hotel

Choosing a hotel in Prague is not so easy, because there are hundreds of them. We have prepared an article for you “”. We recommend that you first decide in which area of the city you want to live, and then book a hotel.

Except traditional hotels There are many hostels and apartments in Prague where prices are more affordable. On Booking you will find about 2 thousand offers for every taste and budget!

Every time you book hotels on Booking.com through our website, you help us describe another place, create another route or develop another city. Thank you for that!

How to get from the airport to the city

Are you flying to Prague for the first time? Read the article "". Public transport, taxi or rented car - choose what suits you best.

What to see in Prague

The streets of Prague are so beautiful, but so confusing! So they strive to confuse the tourist, tire him, and, in the end, take him to one of the Prague taverns for a couple of glasses of beer. Czech beer is undoubtedly excellent, but memories of only it and boar's knee are not exactly what people come to Prague for.

There is an even more convenient option for preparing for a trip to Prague - use one of ready-made routes for walks:

mobile connection and Internet in the Czech Republic

Finding a free wireless Internet access point in Prague is not difficult: they are available in cafes, restaurants, shopping centers and libraries. Those who want to always be in touch should use the services of one of the local telecom operators. For example, for 90 CZK you can buy an O2 SIM card with free SMS and 250 MB of traffic, for 200 CZK - T-mobile or Vodafone cards with included call minutes at competitive rates.

Shopping in Prague

In Prague, as in any city in Europe, there are shops of popular brands (Na Prikope street) and designer boutiques (Parizska street), supermarkets and large shopping centers. However, of greater interest are local brand stores selling quality shoes, Jewelry and costume jewelry, crystal, glass and porcelain products and, of course, national foods and drinks. As souvenirs you can buy beer mugs, puppets and reproductions of Alphonse Mucha's works.

Normal store opening hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays. Large supermarkets are open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sales take place every season: January, April, July and October.

Czech cuisine

Czech cuisine, simple and hearty, is based on the masterful preparation of meat different types- from beef, pork and chicken to hare, venison, goose or duck. The most famous dish is Vepřové knee– pork knuckle with a side dish of potatoes, stewed cabbage or porridge. Roasted goose with red cabbage is considered a delicacy. It is worth trying the “Utopenki” sausages, dumplings made from flour or potato dough with thick sauces, original soups and stews, and, of course, wash down the treats with excellent Czech beer.

Tips in Czech are called spropitné and usually amount to 5-10% of the bill. Look carefully at the receipt: if it contains the lines služby, přirážka, přirážka k ceně, then the tip is already included in the bill.

It is important to know:

Official language - Czech.
City area- 496 sq. km. The districts that make up Prague today (Stare Mesto, New Mesto, Hradcany, Lesser Town, Vysehrad) used to be separate, independent, competing cities.
Population- 1.3 million people.
Visa- Shegen, cost - 35 euros.
Currency- Czech crown
Time difference with Moscow:-2 hours in summer, -3 hours in winter.
Climate mild, winters are moderately cold, summers are warm. The best time The best time to visit is the end of spring and the beginning of autumn.

Traveling to the Czech Republic for recreational purposes is accessible to almost everyone. And modern technologies allow us to organize our leisure time without turning to professional guides and travel agencies. In this case, it is important to calculate all the advantages and disadvantages of such a vacation and roughly calculate the budget.

The Czech Republic is a country with an interesting culture and history that has been formed over thousands of years. Having come here once, you will want to come back more than once, since every corner will arouse interest. And you won’t be able to fully explore this country in just a few days.

Experienced tourists are advised to book plane tickets and book a hotel room in advance. It is better to do this through special services. It is worth not only paying attention to the photo of the hotel, but also the reviews and their number. There is no need to risk booking rooms in hotels that have a large number of negative reviews, so as not to spoil your vacation. The same applies to the overall rating of the hotel on the service.

If you want a relaxing and cheap holiday, it is better to go on holiday not during a period of active influx of tourists. There is no need to neglect rented transport if more than 2-3 people or a family with children are traveling.

Those who already know what a trip to the Czech Republic is say that this is a country that you need to visit at all times of the year.

What you need for the trip: tickets, visas and other documents

The Czech Republic belongs to the Schengen zone and is part of the European Union, which means that for Russian tourists the mandatory documents for crossing the border of the Czech Republic will be: a foreign passport, a visa and health insurance. If you have a passport and visa, be sure to ensure that they are not expired. Medical insurance You can actually buy it in a few minutes. If a tourist chooses a trip to the Czech Republic, it is better to find out information in advance about what the minimum amount should be in the vacationer’s account.

Of course, there must be tickets. You can find them and order them on special services. In addition, they have the opportunity to monitor cheaper options. The most affordable options in terms of tickets can be obtained in February or November, September (up to 10,000 rubles). Tickets for August and during the New Year and Christmas holidays will be more expensive, but here you can find a way out - book them 5-6 months earlier.

When is the best time to go?

The advantage of Prague over many others tourist cities the fact that it is beautiful in its own way at any time of the year. Have a wonderful trip The climate also contributes: in winter there is no unbearable frost, and in summer there is no unbearable heat. Therefore, everyone decides for themselves what time of year to visit here. Many people tailor their trips around vacations or wait until train or plane tickets drop in price a little.

Travel to Prague is most popular from early May to mid-September. Helps you enjoy your vacation good weather, practically no rain and the fact that during this period there are no attractions closed for viewing. It doesn’t even stop us that the prices for renting rooms in hotels and hostels are significantly different from those offered in the off-season.

The second peak in the influx of vacationers is considered to be Christmas and New Year's holidays (December-January). There are many people who want to see the New Year's fairy tale, because Prague at this time is especially interesting and beautiful.

What to see in the Czech Republic on your own

A trip to the Czech Republic on your own can be no worse than with a professional guide. In addition, such a vacation has several advantages: you don’t need to have time to “run” after the guide and the rest of the group, you can take plenty of photographs and calmly walk, stay longer in the places you liked the most.

Independent travel to the Czech Republic allows you to use paper maps of the country, city or more modern version– online maps.

Those who value their time study and think through the route at home, but this requires patience and effort, because you need to get to know the country in absentia.

You can download or purchase for a small fee an audio guide around the city. It and the mobile map app will give you the opportunity to explore the city on your own just as well as with a group.

As for the cost of visiting attractions, this entertainment is available to everyone. The average weekly expenditure for visiting museums, castles, cathedrals and other interesting places will cost up to 1,800 rubles. Many sights, squares, bridges can be seen completely free of charge.

Housing

On average, when choosing a trip to Prague, a tourist should expect 40-50 euros for a room for two. If you want to order breakfast, you will have to pay another 15-20 euros. The cost will depend on the location and number of stars the hotel has.

Most often, rooms are booked in advance through special services. If you catch the moment, you can get a discount on your first room booking of up to 45%. Thus, sometimes in the center you can stay in 4 or 5* hotels for a purely symbolic amount. Usually this opportunity is provided when the influx of tourists is over.

It is not necessary to choose rooms in large hotels. Mini-hotels and hostels also offer good, comfortable rooms for reasonable price. Although hostels will be most relevant for students and young people who decided to relax with a large group.

Most tourists go on holiday to the Czech Republic in the summer or for the New Year holidays. At this time, the cost of even the cheapest housing will skyrocket several times. To get an affordable room during the holidays, experienced tourists Book places 3-4 months before the intended vacation.

Transport

Local residents and tourists use such services as trams, buses, and metro. The first two options are ready to deliver passengers at night, however, according to a separate schedule, which is better to clarify in advance. Getting to any part of Prague at any time of the day is not a problem, because night transport operates until 04.30, and the metro begins to accept its first passengers at 05.00. You can find out a detailed schedule of public transport on the website of the Prague transport company.

It is advantageous that, depending on the cost of the ticket, you can use it for 30 minutes, 1.5 hours, a day or three. The validity of the ticket begins from the moment it is first validated. Buying a ticket will not be a problem. This can be done at ticket offices, kiosks with cigarettes and newspapers, at any metro station, and even via SMS.

Tourists most often choose tram trips No. 22 and 91. The first of them travels through National Theater and heads towards Prague Castle and the Belvedere. You have the opportunity to ride such routes from 12 noon to 6 pm.

Prague is famous for its well-developed transport system. Public transport runs strictly on schedule. Even if the departure time is not suitable for the tourist, there is always the opportunity to use transfer services or.

Sights, entertainment, excursions

In Prague, almost every corner is some kind of attraction. It’s not realistic to see them all in one day, much less on your own. The first place every tourist goes is the Old Town. Here is located the monument to J. Hus, the Tyn Church, and the town hall. You should not bypass and. The square is a special attraction, which is additionally decorated with sculptures of 30 saints. He himself connects Small country Prague and Old Town.

Those who will be near the Vltava River should definitely visit.

Travel agencies offer the following general sightseeing tours:

Excursion for a group to Cesky Krumlov – 28 euros per tourist. A personal excursion here will cost 250 euros (there should be no more than 4 people in the group).
Watch the sunrise in the capital of the Czech Republic and capture it all in a photo shoot - up to 290 euros.
Walking tour (in a group of up to 6 people) – 150 euros.
Sightseeing tour of the city (in a group of up to 4 people) – 105 euros.

Those who came to Prague on their own and do not want to limit themselves only to this city, but want to visit or fully relax at a resort, can choose health resorts:

Marianske Lazne - the resort will be relevant for those who suffer from diseases of the musculoskeletal system or respiratory tract. Similar diseases are treated in the Jáchymov resort. There are radon springs on its territory. It is possible to combine treatment with sightseeing.
Karlovy Vary. Most famous resort Czech Republic. There are 12 hot springs on the territory. Here they treat gastrointestinal diseases, improve metabolism and eliminate problems in the functioning of the musculoskeletal system.
Frantiskovy Lazne. Eliminate diseases of the genitourinary system and gynecological diseases. There are more than 20 mineral springs on the territory.

In winter, when traveling to the Czech Republic, they offer not only to visit, but also to visit areas that are promising in terms of development ski resorts. These are the Giant Mountains, the Jeseniky massif, the Moravian-Silesian Beskids, the Sumava Mountain region, and the Ore Mountains.

Food in the Czech Republic: how much it costs and what to try

The Czech Republic is a paradise for gourmets. Many tourists combine visits to local attractions and at the same time arrange a gastrotour. Those who have already appreciated all the delights of local cuisine recommend not passing by such dishes in cafes or restaurants:

Poultry and game dishes: foie gras, cooked partridge, hare pate, pheasant breasts, several types of baked poultry with sauce.
Very tasty and spicy utopentsi - marinated pork chops. Cheese with white mold of various types of preparation does not lag behind in taste and popularity. These are one of the most popular beer snacks.
Dumplings. Specially boiled potato or dough products. They are served either separately or with a special filling or sauce. Sometimes they are thrown into soup or used as an addition to a side dish.
Voles - several types of soups: based on onions, potatoes, with garlic, vegetables, mushrooms. They also offer more exotic liquid dishes - soup in bread or beer-based soup.
Baked pork knuckle with sauce or side dish is an ideal snack for beer. The servings are huge. An alternative to this dish is baked pork with gravy. Dumplings and stewed cabbage are often added to the dish. In general, Czechs love pork, beef and lamb dishes and prepare them in different ways.
The most popular desserts here are pancakes and strudels, ice cream, cakes and waffles, rolls and traditional trdlo - vanilla-flavored dough in sugar.
The most popular drink is, of course, beer.

Will food be expensive?

Sitting in a cafe or restaurant will not cost much more than it would in Russia. It's possible to sit in a restaurant for two people for up to $20. For this money you can order two vegetable salads, a large knuckle (or 2 traditional dishes) and, of course, a glass of Czech beer.

There is no need to be afraid to enjoy street food. A bun with sausage will cost 80 CZK, mulled wine can be bought for 50 CZK, kebab with vegetables and chicken can be purchased for 120 CZK, potato pancakes - 22 per piece, tridelniki - 60-110 CZK (depending on whether they are filled or not).

What to bring from the Czech Republic: shopping and souvenirs as gifts

Choosing a gift or souvenir sometimes takes a lot of time, because you want to choose something special and original for your family. Traditional Czech souvenirs include garnet jewelry, Bohemian crystal and jewelry, handicrafts by Czech craftsmen, hats from the famous local company Tonak, Carlsbad waffles, beer, cosmetics made from natural ingredients, smoking pipes, porcelain, antiques, souvenirs with images of Czech heroes cartoons.

The capital of the Czech Republic has not only wide choose souvenirs, but also an ideal place for shopping. The quality of the items is excellent, and the prices are much lower than in the world's famous shopping capitals. It is important to know that you need to keep an eye on discounts and for this it is better to choose a certain season, the period of the New Year and Christmas holidays, for example. If you choose the right shopping period, you can save up to 40%.

Shopping centers in Prague are good, but you shouldn’t ignore the markets. In addition to the fact that here you can buy something at a ridiculous price, there is also the opportunity to bargain. It should be taken into account that sellers in markets really love and respect tourists who know their language at least a little.

Money: how much and in what currency to take

It is advisable that tourists stock up on crowns and euros in advance. It won't hurt either credit card. The amount of money you will need depends on the needs of the vacationer. Alternatively, it could be 6,000 CZK and 300 EUR, plus a bank card. With the latter option, you need to be careful and find out in advance whether the card is suitable for use in the Czech Republic.

In order to at least roughly understand what amount to take, it is advisable to plan approximate purchases and expenses at home and, of course, have a financial reserve.

It is not necessary to exchange all your money for crowns in your home country. You need to do this only partially, for the first time. If necessary, it is much more profitable to do this in the Czech Republic, only in reliable places. Read more about the currency of the Czech Republic.

Let's sum it up

Getting to the Czech Republic on your own will not be difficult. This can be done by personal car, plane or train. You definitely need to decide for yourself how to go: either book a tour or a personal guide in advance, or travel on your own and look for adventure.

How long to go? Everyone decides for themselves in terms of time and finances. Of course, it would be nice to visit here for at least 5-7 days. The advantage of such a trip is that you can visit the sights at a more relaxed pace, and you will have the opportunity to enjoy the special Czech atmosphere.

What period should I go? The country is beautiful at any time of the year. But most of all tourists are attracted by the country in summer period and on the eve New Year's holidays. But it would be a good idea to relax during the so-called “low season”, since this way you can walk more calmly and more affordable in terms of finances.

We must not forget that the cost of living will depend on the area in which you rent housing and for what period. It will cost the most tourist centre. Everything will be at hand, but accommodation can cost several times more than on the outskirts or in the middle area.

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