Perhaps a road trip could be called a special type of vacation. However, it is associated with a number of difficulties, and if you are planning to visit Prague, choosing to travel by car only for reasons of economy - better give up your idea. To enjoy a trip from Russia to the Czech Republic by car, you need to love adventure and be at least a little adventurous.
Are you one of those? Then - forward.
Prepare for difficulties and hardships along the way!
Preparation of documents
For a Schengen visa you need to contact the Czech embassy or visa center. The second option is more affordable, but will cost an extra thousand rubles. In any case, you must provide:
- Questionnaire.
- Confirmation of stay.
- Cash guarantees.
- Documents for the car.
- Passport.
You must attach two 3.5x4.5 photographs to the application form, carefully fill it out, answer all questions, and indicate which hotel you plan to stay at. Since you are traveling independently, Czechs must ensure that you will have where and at what cost to live. Therefore, you will need to book a hotel in Prague in advance and receive a fax confirmation from it; an electronic reservation notification sent by e-mail is not considered by the Czech visa center as a document.
You can also use the popfax.com service. After registration, you will be given a number to which the fax should be sent, and then you will receive a copy of it in the form of a picture by email. This copy contains all the attributes of the fax message, its printout good for proof of stay. You can book a hotel through the website booking.com or on your own if you know for sure where you want to go. The booking.com website does not charge fees for services and blocks funds on your bank card before payment (or prepayment) for your hotel stay. When if you cancel your reservation After the specified period, you will face penalties, be careful.
You must prove that you will have a place and money to live on.
To confirm your financial solvency(50 euros per person per day), take from the bank an extract from the card account or a certificate of purchase of currency, certified by a stamp. ATM checks will not work.
You will need to add to copies of your vehicle registration certificate and your driver's license. green card- it is issued at any insurance point.
Medical insurance obligatory for everyone and . Ask your insurance agent which numbers to call in Prague if you are accidentally injured or become ill.
Studying the route
A very convenient tool for plotting a route is Google maps service. In the boxes corresponding to points A and B (the beginning and end of the route), enter the names of the point of departure and point of arrival - in our case, Moscow and Prague. After this, you will be offered graphic and textual route options with detailed information, indicating sections of toll roads, route length and travel time.
Google maps suggests that you can get from Moscow to Prague by car in 21 hours 25 minutes. (click to enlarge)
There can be several routes:
- Moscow - Smolensk - Brest - Warsaw - Lodz - Wroclaw - border - highway in the Liberec area - Prague. This route is the shortest (820 km from Brest), but also the longest, since the road passes through many Polish settlements with a speed limit of up to 50 km/h. On the mountainous route the speed will be very low.
- Moscow - Smolensk - Brest - Warsaw - Katowice - border - Olomouc - Brno - Prague. You won’t be able to admire the mountains, but almost the entire route is on highways, with the exception of a small section of the road near Warsaw. This route is 140 km longer.
- You can go bypassing Belarus: Moscow - Kyiv - Lviv - Krakow - Prague, but it will take much longer.
The Belarusian section of the route runs along the M1 highway across the entire country to Brest, which is very convenient. Excellent quality road and allows you to drive at a speed of 120 km/h. The total length of the route is approximately 2000 km.
Andrey talks about how he planned a trip to Prague from Moscow by car through Belarus and Poland, how he collected documents, crossed the border and where he stopped for the night, and also warns against mistakes that he himself made on the road -
What to take with you on the road?
In general, there are enough roadside cafes on the Belarusian M1, and even more so in Poland, so the issue of food on the road depends only on the allocation of a budget item for this. However, take with you drinking water- 5-6 liters will be enough to make coffee in the car (if you bothered to purchase a special boiler from the cigarette lighter socket), wash your face or just drink. Books will not be superfluous and a collection of your favorite films on your laptop - standing in lines at the border is a tedious task. And, of course, don't forget navigator.
The easiest way to navigate is using the navigator.
Navigation
If you already have a navigator, then you just need to install it required software and download atlas of European maps. If not, don’t rush to run to the store to get it: a modern smartphone (do you have a smartphone?) will cope with the task just as well.
Perfect for Russia, Ukraine and Belarus Yandex navigator from Google play market (for Android) or application store (for Windows mobile). Unlike programs from the Navitel family, this software is free, intuitive, simple and convenient. Its only drawback is that it requires data transfer support.
For the European part of the route, the Navigon and Here maps programs are suitable, but IGO is considered the most proven. This program can be used throughout your journey and does not require an Internet connection. IGO is available for free download here: navitopsoft.com.
By the way, do not forget to take a car charger for your smartphone - in GPS navigation mode its battery runs out quite quickly.
Let's hit the road!
We will assume that your vehicle is in good working order and will be taken care of. serviced before a long journey. When setting out on the road, do not forget to equip it with a warning triangle, a set of light bulbs and fuses, reflective vests according to the number of passengers with the driver and a RUS sticker on the rear window. Failure to comply with these European standards can lead to problems at border checkpoints.
There must be such a sticker on the rear window.
Upon entering Belarus You need to pay a transit fee at the transport inspection, its building is located on the road not far from the border. The issued receipt must be kept; it will be collected when leaving the country. Since 2013, Belarusians have installed on the M1 highway electronic toll collection system BelToll. For drivers of passenger cars from the countries of the Customs Union, travel on the M1 is free, but if the weight of your car exceeds 3.5 tons, you will have to register in the BelToll system and take an on-board unit as collateral at the border service point. It will sound signals when passing checkpoints, recording the distance and deducting 0.08 euros per kilometer from your budget.
The M1 highway crosses Belarus in about 6 hours.
Belarusian gas stations good European level. Payment for fuel is accepted in national currency, dollars, euros and Russian rubles. Recently, prices for gasoline and diesel fuel there have been pegged to the dollar exchange rate, but you can still fill up cheaper in Belarus than in Poland, so in Brest fill up a full tank, and, if possible, a ten-liter canister.
Belarusian gas stations are no worse than European ones, and gasoline is cheaper.
Before the Polish border, you need to pay an environmental fee in the building behind the first barriers of the checkpoint.
Convenient in Brest have a sleepover, and in the morning, with fresh strength, go to Europe. Average cost of a double room numbers in Intourist- 850 rubles. The rooms are clean, but not made “for oneself”; there are minor hotel inconveniences everywhere: tiled edges with sharp corners along the edges of the bathtub, a toilet next to the wall, on which you can only sit sideways, low sockets.
Room in the Intourist hotel in Brest.
If you want to spend the night in comfort, it is better to book a room at the Vesta hotel.
Brest Hotel Vesta.
You can cross the Polish border at the Brest-Terespol point, or 40 km to the south, in Domachevo - there is less traffic there. In any case, don’t be lazy in the morning to open the website of the Belborder Committee and look current load of crossing points:
When crossing Polish border, if you are not bringing cigarettes and alcohol, you will be sent to the CD corridor - there are small queues there. By the way, Polish customs officers may require you to present $100 in cash or a certificate of money on the card as confirmation of your solvency. Duty-free import restrictions: up to three liters of alcohol per person, goods worth no more than 1,500 euros.
Drive on European roads- pure pleasure. However, if you choose the first route, you will move very slowly to Warsaw, since there are many settlements along the way with a speed limit of up to 50 km/h.
There is a developed network in Poland self-service car washes. You throw in the token and wash the car with shampoo and wax. It costs about 100 rubles. Keep the car clean Necessarily, in Europe you practically won’t find dirty cars.
Polish self-service car wash.
And, finally, the Czech Republic itself. The route from Poland to Prague is quite short, but requires the purchase of a vignette for 10 euros - most roads in the Czech Republic are toll roads. You can buy a vignette right on the border with Poland or at the nearest gas station.
By the way, neither Poland nor the Czech Republic want to accept euros for payment, so you need to buy zlotys and crowns in advance.
Roads in the Czech Republic are worse than in Poland. In any case, from Brno to Prague you will have to travel on a “washboard”. For large cars this is not so sensitive, but for small cars it is unpleasant.
If such a picture occurs on the road, then it will not be possible to develop high speed.
Travelers tell
“In both the Czech Republic and Poland, everything is very cheap and tasty, there are a lot of baked goods, sweets, and meat products. If you don't speak Polish or Czech, or at least Belarusian, you'll need to take a phrasebook. Few people understand English and German there. In the Czech Republic, I noticed an interesting feature: if you buy drinks in glass bottles, you need to pay a 3 crown deposit, which is returned when you return the glassware. In the center of Prague, all parking is paid; three or four stops from the metro you can park along the road.”
“About roads. In Poland, it is customary to overtake everywhere - even on corners. There are a lot of broken center lines on narrow roads, where there is a row in each direction. Usually such roads have very wide shoulders so that they can pass. No one will honk from behind, but if possible, stay to the right.”
“From Brest to Prague, I think it’s better to go around Warsaw: to Krakow, and from there in the direction of Ostrava. If you immediately move towards Krakow, there will be many settlements with speed limits and control cameras. We crossed the Polish border at 11 am, and were in Krakow only at seven in the evening. The distance is only 400 km.”
Conclusion
Getting to know new places, stopping in cities along the way and just looking around during a car trip is a most exciting activity. Road trip from Moscow to Prague will give you many new impressions. Have a nice holiday and good roads!
I won’t say that this is a simple idea, but it’s not very difficult either (much will depend on which city you are planning to set off from on such a long journey). In order to avoid any problems at the border and in the Czech Republic itself, it is necessary that you have complete order with your documents. Most often, problems with documents become the reasons for unsuccessful trips. It goes without saying that you must have your visas in order. To drive a car you will need an international driver's license (and only this, no options). To this package you need to add a registration certificate for the car, an insurance policy and a “green” card (such a card costs about 60-80 dollars per month, and you can buy it right at the border checkpoint).
Driving on Czech roads is a real pleasure. This is expressed not only in the excellent quality of the road surface, but also in the fact that there are a sufficient number of information signs everywhere (it is almost impossible to get lost). If you need to clarify some information, you can contact the local police, most of whom speak English well and can tell you everything (unlike our police). Within populated areas, the normal speed is considered to be within 50 kilometers per hour, outside the city 80, and on highways 110-130. It is better not to exceed the speed limit, as you are unlikely to go unpunished and will have to pay a hefty fine. Among the main requirements for drivers in the Czech Republic are driving with a seat belt fastened and always giving way to pedestrians. Unlike many European countries, there are practically no traffic jams in the Czech Republic. Otherwise, the traffic rules are the same as in Russia or any other European country.
Along with free roads, the Czech Republic has a system of toll highways. To drive on such highways, you need to buy a special sticker and stick it on the windshield of your car. The easiest way to buy such a sticker is at the border checkpoint. The cost depends on the validity period. Gasoline is expensive, much more expensive than in Russia, and this must be taken into account when planning a trip.
You shouldn’t leave your car anywhere, this is not Russia; in Europe it’s customary to park in specially designated areas. For violations of parking rules, you will have to pay a fine.
The car must always have low beams on; police officers and video equipment, which are installed in different locations, strictly monitor compliance with this rule. It is strictly prohibited to make a U-turn at controlled intersections.
As for the police, they don’t stop drivers unnecessarily (just like that). If you were stopped, then most likely you violated traffic rules or your car aroused some suspicion among local law enforcement officers. If you are stopped, you must present all the necessary documents. It is possible that you will be asked to take an alcohol test (you should not resist). In case of violation of traffic rules, the fine can be paid on the spot, just do not throw away the receipt.
This is approximately how the road traffic system in the Czech Republic is structured. Nothing complicated, the main thing is not to forget that you are going to a country of the European Union, where the law comes first and you shouldn’t break it, as it will result in a tidy sum for your budget (police bribes in Europe are not accepted, and if you offer them, then this will only make your situation worse).
An article about traveling by car to the Czech Republic - what you need to do before traveling, paperwork, traffic rules in the Czech Republic. At the end of the article there is a video about a road trip to the Czech Republic.
The content of the article:
The Czech Republic is very popular among Russian tourists, some of whom prefer to get there by private car. This method allows you to be independent from public transport and plan your route yourself, but it requires some preparation and a more careful study of Czech laws. What should you keep in mind when traveling to the Czech Republic in your own car?
What to do before leaving
Apply for a Schengen visa at the Czech embassy or visa center
The difference between the two organizations, by and large, is only in the monetary and time expenses of the applicant. To receive an appointment at the embassy, you must first register on the website and then stand in line at the entrance to the building. There is no need to pre-register at the visa centers; instead, service is provided on a first-come, first-served basis, and in addition to visa processing, there are also additional services such as travel insurance and delivery of completed documents. The processing time for applications at the visa center is 3 or 5 working days, depending on the price.
You can use a Schengen visa to enter any country of the agreement, but you need to obtain it from the representative office of the state where you plan to stay the longest.
However, it is worth noting that travel within the Schengen zone is free and there is no total control over tourists and the time of their stay in a particular country.
When applying for a visa from a tourist with his own car, you will most likely need a compiled itinerary, a “Green Card” - an international vehicle insurance policy, a vehicle registration certificate and a driver’s license (it is best to obtain an international one in advance). Everything else is the same as for ordinary travelers, but it is better to check by phone or on the website of the nearest visa center.
Equip the car with everything necessary to comply with Czech traffic regulations
This list includes: a first aid kit, a reflective vest for each passenger (it is unacceptable to be on the highways without this vest at any time of the day, so it must be stored in the vehicle), a warning triangle, a set of spare fuses, headlight bulbs, a jack and a wheel wrench for changing the wheel and the spare tire itself, which does not apply to cars with run-flat tires. This kit is checked by the Czech police and can impose a fine of up to 77 euros if the kit is incomplete.
You can transport up to ten liters of fuel in a canister into the Czech Republic, which is important for Russian travelers, given that the cost of gasoline in European countries is twice as high as in Russia and Belarus - 1.25 euros per liter 95 (usually the lowest octane number at Czech gas stations) as of May 2018.
You should also remember that the use of “radar detectors” is prohibited, so if you have such a device, you need to turn it off or leave it at home, while the rules for using radar detectors are not yet enshrined in the country’s legislation.
Prepare for winter if you travel to the Czech Republic at this time of year
Studded tires are prohibited by Czech traffic regulations, so the car must be equipped with winter wheels marked with the “M.S” / “M+S” sign and a tread depth of at least 4 millimeters. This is necessary for all vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tons from November to March inclusive when there is ice or a layer of snow on the road.
If the weather is good and the asphalt is not covered with ice and snow, then the Czech police will not fine the driver for summer tires.
Between Moscow and Prague there are a little less than 2000 kilometers, that is, you will have to travel for at least a day, not taking into account stops and passage across the border. Let's consider the option of crossing the minimum number of borders, that is, the route through Belarus and Poland.
In general, the process of passing through a border checkpoint should not take more than an hour, especially if you are not transporting alcohol and tobacco products, which, in large quantities, are subject to duty on the border with Poland and the Czech Republic.
Belarus can be crossed along the M1 highway, which will take about six or seven hours. When crossing the border, you must pay a transport fee, after which you will be issued a receipt, which will be collected when leaving the country. The fee can be paid at the transport inspection building located near the border. Tolls on the highway must be paid only if the vehicle weighs more than 3.5 tons and/or is registered outside the EAEU countries (including Kazakhstan, Russia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Belarus). To pay for travel, use the website beltoll.by.
The fee, only environmental, will have to be paid at the Polish border - this can be done behind the barrier at the exit from the border checkpoint. It should be said right away that Poland, like Hungary and the Czech Republic, refused to switch to using the single European currency, so it is best to think in advance about exchanging money for Polish zloty and Czech crowns (they can be purchased, for example, in Moscow) or look for exchange offices inside the countries themselves.
Toll roads
When entering the Czech Republic, you need to purchase a vignette, which is necessary to pay for highway tolls.(which are marked with the corresponding “motorway” and “road for cars” signs). This is a sticker that needs to be placed on the windshield after indicating the number of your vehicle in the appropriate field.
According to the rules, it must be placed in the lower right corner, be clearly visible outside the car and not interfere with the driver’s view. The cost varies depending on the period for which the vignette is purchased - about 12 euros for 10 days and about 17 euros for 30 days.
The vignette consists of two parts, one of them is a control coupon, which Czech law requires to be kept throughout the entire trip within the country. You can buy it at most gas stations, at special points near the border or at post offices.
Parking
Parking is quite expensive in the Czech Republic, so in large cities it makes sense to leave your car at intercept parking lots (usually located near bus stops or metro stations, called P+R parking) and explore the city on foot and by public transport.
When paying, you can also purchase a subscription for the metro and other public transport for a day or a round trip. In Prague, the cost of parking in such parking lots until 01:00 is 0.7 euros, overnight – 3.9 euros, which is definitely cheaper than parking on city roads in the center. There it can reach up to 1.5 euros per hour. Near bus stops and metro stations there are K+R parking lots intended for dropping off and picking up passengers, but you cannot leave your car there.
Closer to the outskirts of the city you can also find free parking. You can park your car for free on weekends or holidays, as well as at night, from 20:00 to 08:00 (applies to all parking zones).
It is important to know about the three parking zones present in Prague:
- Blue- for city residents with parking cards or official vehicles, you can find such a place by the blue stripe on the road surface.
- Orange- for all other drivers, limited to three hours of vehicle idle time, indicated by a white stripe on the road and a road sign.
- Purple– mixed parking, which is marked with a white dotted stripe and a sign with a purple line; you can leave your car in such a parking space for a day, but only after payment.
Parking on yellow lines is prohibited - this color indicates spaces for taxis, public transport, etc. The fine for parking in disabled spaces can be up to 80 euros; you will have to pay extra for tow truck services. The “cost” of incorrect parking in other places is three times lower – up to 32 euros.
Parking is paid through the appropriate machines, which can be found throughout the city, and it is also possible to pay for parking online. Payment is verified using the vehicle registration number.
Unfortunately, parking systems differ in different Czech cities, so when entering a new city (or in advance when planning a route), you should look on the Internet for information about a specific locality. On the websites of large cities you can also find a map of parking lots with data on their congestion in real time. You can also use the parkme.com service, which allows you to find and book parking spaces online in many European cities.
Traffic Laws
In addition to all of the above, it is worth mentioning the permitted speed - 50 km/h inside populated areas and 90 km/h between them, unless otherwise dictated by road signs.
For motorways, the threshold is set at 130 km/h (highways inside populated areas - 80 km/h), the speed is recorded by automatic devices located along all types of roads.
Another important point is the speed at which a vehicle can drive closer than 50 meters to a railway crossing - 30 km/h. Also, every car must have low beams on while driving at any time of the day; the same requirement exists in Poland.
In the Czech Republic, you cannot turn around at an intersection with a traffic light - the fine for such a maneuver will be about 20 euros. It is also prohibited to contain any amount of alcohol in the blood; the punishment if it is detected will depend on the size of the ppm - if it is less than 0.3, then you can only get by with a fine of 96 euros, but there is the possibility of deprivation of rights for any amount of alcohol.
Of course, it is also prohibited to use the phone while driving; the driver and passengers (including those in the rear seats) must be wearing seat belts. The permissible percentage of light transmission for the windshield and side windows is 75% and 70%, respectively; there are no restrictions on tinting the rear windows of a car in the Czech Republic.
Payment of the fine, as a rule, is made on the spot to police officers, but if the violation is so serious that the driver’s license is confiscated and the vehicle is sent to the impound lot, then you will have to pay through the court.
Conclusion
The Czech Republic is a fairly comfortable country for traveling by private car, with clear navigation on the roads, developed infrastructure, including intercepting parking lots, online payment services, etc.
Gasoline in the country is inexpensive, compared to its western neighbors, although compared to Russia it costs twice as much.
Violation of traffic rules is punishable by fairly large fines, but preliminary familiarization with them (the main differences were listed above) will greatly reduce the likelihood of receiving them. We wish you a pleasant trip!
Video about traveling by car to the Czech Republic:
Traveling by car to the EU countries is a special type of vacation. If you are adventurous and have a thirst for adventure, then this trip is exactly what you need. It will bring you complete satisfaction and joy from your journey. Of course, for a trip to be successful, you need to carefully prepare for it, like for any important event. If you plan to travel the Moscow-Prague route by car, it is worth collecting as much material as possible about the cities and countries you will be traveling through. Find out what rules, procedures, customs and traditions are established there so that no unforeseen situations arise. Before the trip, you need to carefully prepare your car, documents, and think through your route inside and out.
Preparation of documents
If you are planning a trip by car to Prague from Moscow, then, first of all, you need to contact the Czech embassy to obtain a Schengen visa. Another option is to visit a visa center. In order for the Czechs to be calm that you will not be left in the country without a roof over your head, they will definitely require fax confirmation from you that a room in any of the hotels has been booked. By the way, confirmation by email will not suit them, so book a room in advance and wait for confirmation of the operation from there. This is quite easy to do on any of the sites, then contact the hotel and discuss the timing of receiving the fax. Your account statements will also be required. You must prove your solvency; at least 50 euros per person per day.
To travel the Moscow - Prague route by car, you also need the following documents:
- International passports.
- Technical passport for the vehicle.
- Driver's license - better, of course, international.
- Issued green card.
- Car insurance.
- Insurance for all passengers, covering at least 30 thousand euros for each.
Preparing the car
Before starting a trip Moscow - Prague by car, you must take care of the technical condition of your vehicle. Go through parts, electricians, refit your car according to the season. Check the expiration dates of all medications in the first aid kit and whether the fire extinguisher is in order. It is mandatory to have emergency stop signs and a tow rope; repair kits and additional splitter cords may be needed. The spare wheel must be in good working order. Reflective vests and a RUS sticker will come in handy.
Route selection
Be aware that if you choose the Moscow - Prague route, the distance by car will in any case have to be covered through Belarus and Poland. Many people use the Google maps service when preparing their route. Once the starting and ending points are included in the route selection, and this is Moscow - Prague, the service will offer you several routes to choose from. How long does it take to travel from Moscow to Prague by car? If you don’t stop to rest in Poland, you can cover the route in about a day.
So, you can choose two ways:
- Moscow - Brest - Warsaw - Wroclaw - Prague. This route is about 1950 kilometers, but in fact it takes longer to get there, since the road is laid through many settlements, where the speed limit is 50 km/h, and even less in the mountainous section.
- Moscow - Brest - Warsaw - Katowice - Brno - Prague. If you decide to take this route, there is only one minus - you will not admire the beauty of the mountain landscapes. In general, this road is longer, the distance will be two thousand kilometers. But throughout the entire journey you can drive at an average speed of 100 km/h, and at an ideal speed. Many sections of the road here are toll.
So, before deciding on the route, study which cities you will be moving through, what interesting things you can see there, where to relax and eat.
Passing the border and customs
So, having set off along the Moscow - Prague route by car, you need to get out and boldly drive straight ahead. The track is quite good, and in some places it is simply excellent. After leaving Moscow, about five hours later you will arrive at the border with the Republic of Belarus. You must pay the transport fee and keep the receipt until the end of the journey. Travel around the territory of the republic for about 600 km; by evening you will find yourself in Brest. It’s better to stay overnight here and cross the border with Poland in the morning. From here it's a five-minute walk.
Before crossing the Polish border, you must pay. The move is carried out either at the Brest - Terespol point, or further south, to Domachevo. The car must be changed to any studless shoes, even in winter. Under no circumstances take radar detectors with you, they are prohibited in the European Union! If they are discovered, serious problems can arise. Goods are allowed to be transported in an amount not exceeding one and a half thousand euros. If there is no problem with this, then you will be directed to the CD corridor, the line there moves quickly.
Traveling around Poland
The route from the Polish border to Prague will be no more than three hundred kilometers. You definitely need to purchase a vignette; it gives you the right to move freely on local highways. You will no longer see any border post; only signs will tell you that you are already in the Czech Republic. When driving through Poland, do not miss the opportunity to visit local attractions, because this country is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe. When planning a trip Moscow - Prague by car, include Warsaw in the route. The hotel room can be booked in advance via the Internet. Take a day and visit the most interesting places here.
Sights of Warsaw
Warsaw has been the capital of Poland since 1596. Many compare the city to the Phoenix bird, because after the defeat by the Nazis there was practically nothing valuable left here. But through the efforts of the people, the main historical architectural monuments were restored using the surviving drawings, fragments, drawings. Now Warsaw is one of the ten most beautiful European cities.
The Old Town is considered a historical place here - locals call it Stare Miasto. Each house here has its own pedigree. On Castle Square you can take a unique photo near the column. This king ruled the country for 44 years. All coronations took place in St. John's Cathedral. The Royal Castle was restored until 1970; even today, art historians are buying up valuables that were taken from it during the war. Nowe Miasto, located to the north, presents a whole string of palaces that compete with each other in beauty. The Presidential Palace is located in Krakow Przedmieście, which connects the Center and the Old Town. It has been in operation since the seventeenth century. Nearby you can admire the Church of St. Anne and the Basilica of the Holy Cross.
Czech
We return to the route Moscow - Prague. The distance by car from Warsaw can be covered in just a few hours. You will only know that you are already in the Czech Republic, in Prague, by reading the signs. Czech is spoken in the country, and young people speak English quite well. The quality of the roads here varies, there are places with ideal coverage, and there are also emergency ones. Don’t forget to buy a vignette; there is a toll on highways here. The vignette must be properly attached to the windshield, otherwise you may receive a fine. At gas stations you can quickly pay with a card, only after you have filled up with gasoline.
Parking
So, we covered all the kilometers from Moscow to Prague by car, and we ended up in the city. How is parking here? Parking spaces are quite expensive, but violating them will be even more expensive. The cost per seat varies depending on the zone. There are several of them, they differ in color. The blue zone is especially for city residents, the green zone is 6-hour, the orange zone is 2-hour. We saw a parking sign and a white line - there was a parking meter nearby. Read the parking conditions carefully; very often it is free. It is much more difficult to park in the center, so many people choose places near hotels or shopping centers. If you come to Prague for a long time, it is better to leave your car in the P+R parking lot and travel by public transport.
Main telephone numbers in Prague
In case of emergency, you should call the telephone numbers below, be sure to save them before your trip.
- Police - 158.
- Ambulance - 155.
- Firefighters - 150.
- Emergency technical assistance - 1230 or 124.
- Russian Embassy - (2) 333-741-00 or 333-715-48 or 333-715-49.
Traffic rules in the Czech Republic
- At all pedestrian crossings, the pedestrian has the right of way, so be extremely careful.
- Speed. In a populated area, the speed limit is 50 km/h, outside - 90 km/h; if you are on the highway, the speed limit is 130 km/h. There are radars installed everywhere, invisible to the eye, so if after speeding you suddenly find a car overtaking you with the sign “follow me”, expect a fine.
- Alcohol is strictly prohibited.
- Low beam is required both at night and during the day. Fog lights are allowed only in poor visibility and fog.
- Seat belts must be fastened, including in the rear seats. Children under 12 years of age and persons shorter than 150 centimeters in height are prohibited from sitting in the front.
- It is prohibited to use mobile phones without a Handsfree device.
- Payment of the fine can be made directly from the police; almost any card is accepted.
The main attractions of Prague
What did those who traveled by car to Prague from Moscow remember? 2016 is coming to an end, everyone who visited there this year received a lot of indelible impressions and dreams of returning here again next year. What places do tourists most like to visit in Prague?
An amazing city where modernity combines with history. In the distant 8th century, the construction of the Vysehrad and Prague Castle fortresses began here. The latter is still the main relic of Prague. Everyone who arrives in the city must visit this place.
This main fortress ensemble houses the residences of kings, former emperors and modern presidents. The guard of honor is posted at the main gate, which is located on the side of Hradcan Square. The shift changes hourly, and hundreds of tourists gather at this time to look at this magnificent spectacle.
Inside the fortress ensemble there are Prague Castle, a gorgeous fountain, the “Court of Honor”, the Church of All Saints, the Church of St. George, and St. Peter’s Chapel. Where once there were stables, an art gallery has now been built, where the rarest exhibits of fine art are located. The singing fountain adorns the entrance to the Royal Palace.
A special attraction here is the Cathedral of St. Vitus. Its construction began back in 1344, continued intermittently for several centuries, and was completed only in 1929. Now the Archbishop of Prague resides here. The palace gardens, located on the slopes, are also an attractive attraction.
Features of the trip
Considering the route Moscow - Prague, how long it takes to travel by car, we found out. About a day, if without overnight rest, the distance is approximately 2000 km. What features of this trip would you like to note?
- Complete independence and freedom of movement.
- Excellent quality of European roads.
- Be careful, follow traffic rules, otherwise you will not avoid fines!
- Don’t forget to purchase a vignette in the Czech Republic.
- Along the route you can see many beautiful places and stop at any point.
- You can spend a day in Poland and enjoy its architecture.
Moscow - Prague by car (2016): traveler reviews
Prague fascinates all lovers of antiquity with its unique architecture, which is why hundreds of people flock here. Some fly by plane, others travel by train. Those who have traveled the route Moscow - Prague by car leave the most enthusiastic reviews.
Newlyweds who go on their honeymoon in their car spend their time like in a fairy tale. They settle in hotels whose windows overlook the ancient castle; they will tell their children and grandchildren about their impressions.
Young families with children who visited Prague dream of returning here again, because not only adults, but also children of any age can find a lot of entertainment here. Many cafes are equipped with children's playrooms, there are animators, this gives parents the opportunity to relax and the kids to have fun at the same time.
Active pensioners also find a lot of surprising and fascinating things to see in Prague and, when returning home, they advise all their friends to visit this historical center.
The Czech Republic is a unique country with its own foundations, traditions, history, architecture and roads.
Introduction
The idea to visit the Czech Republic by car came spontaneously when the guide could not get the riotous tourists onto the bus. We lost 40 minutes just like that, although we could have run around the small town and taken hundreds of photos of the neat houses on the main square. It was then that we promised ourselves that we would definitely come to the Czech Republic again, only in our own car, to visit all the interesting places that were left out of our tour.
Of course, there were objective difficulties: poor knowledge of English and no attempts to remember at least a couple of phrases in Czech, fear of traveling so far - almost 2000 km, in your own car, questions about crossing the border, spending the night, gas stations, traffic rules and fines... You can list the obstacles ad infinitum, but the desire to see our Czech Republic eventually overpowered us and we began to prepare for the trip. Or rather, we practically did not prepare, there is no need to draw up a strict schedule, but rely on your condition and the general situation - the first commandment of a road traveler. Looking ahead, I will say that this was a wise idea, which is why the trip went smoothly.
It is most logical to tell the story by key blocks: what the costs were, crossing the border, Czech roads, attractions, our conclusions and moments that we were unaware of, rather than telling in detail by days and kilometers. Moreover, Belarus and Poland, the countries that we had to cross, are waiting for their turn; we will visit them purposefully.
Preparation
The purpose of the trip was to visit the Czech Republic - to travel through Czech towns and villages as much as possible and spend several days in Prague. Of the two-week vacation (alas, the spouse is not allowed to leave for a long time), 10 days were allocated for the trip itself, which, according to our estimates, was quite enough.
- Travel time is August 2016 (from August 10 to 19).
- The goal is tourism, all attention is only to the Czech Republic.
- Car: Volkswagen Touareg, diesel.
- Money is on the card in rubles (the plan is to pay for gas stations and hotels by card, and withdraw from an ATM in crowns for other needs).
Castle in Hluboká nad Vltavou (3D panorama)
Empty square in the Czech Republic
Czech village looks like an elite village in a Russian province
It is impossible to single out just one must-see, it will be so difficult to understand and see the Czech Republic, you have to travel around it, stop in many places, look at it, learn about history and legends. From my own experience, I can say that you can spend two days in Krumlov, while in Hluboká nad Vltavou you only need to visit for half a day, so it’s good that we didn’t book hotels in advance: there are a lot of free places everywhere, and we have freedom in actions.
In addition, a not very pleasant discovery awaited us - many provincial towns simply die out on the weekends, nothing works there and no one is there, only elegant and beautiful houses please the eye. Hence fourth commandment– take into account the days of the week and holidays when traveling around Europe. It’s a shame to book a hotel for a couple of days in Český Budejovice, plan everything and suddenly find out that nothing is working around you.
The Czech Republic is not crowded on weekends and holidays
Is it worth going to the Czech Republic by car?
It’s difficult to give advice when you don’t know the person, but nevertheless, after driving around the Czech Republic for a little over a week, we came to the following conclusions.
You should definitely go to the Czech Republic by car, this is the only way to see everything around you that tourists usually pass by on buses. Good roads, high-quality gasoline, developed infrastructure - everything contributes to road travel. But there are a couple of points that can greatly stress a person who is accustomed to value his property and money. We will, of course, talk about parking and differences in traffic rules.
Fifth Commandment– be sure to think of a good parking place. If you are not able to quickly navigate the traffic and have time to understand where the parking is, then you simply do not need to drive so far into the city.
Such parking signs can be found in the Czech Republic
We realized that sometimes it’s easier to leave the car at the entrance to the city and walk to the center, especially since the cities in the Czech Republic are more than modest in size. In addition, in the center there may really be nowhere to stand; all the spaces are occupied even in paid parking lots.
All parking spaces are occupied
Even in paid parking lots in the city
Another problem common across Europe is that people treat scratches and abrasions very simply. In the parking lot, you can easily get hurt and not even apologize for it.
Sixth Commandment– know the differences in traffic rules and driving features. There are not many of them: there is a difference in speed limits; the Czechs pay a lot of attention to markings and driving in lanes. The car must be fully equipped in accordance with the traffic rules, for example, it would never even occur to me to change the light bulbs in the headlights myself, but I am obliged to have spare ones in the car.
Lessons we learned from our road trip
On our next trip we will take a more competent approach to organizing the entire event.
1. A car is not needed everywhere
We definitely won’t drive around Prague in our own car, but will find a hotel with free parking, while in other cities hotels just have parking. In Český Budejovice we had to face a situation: you can’t stand near the hotel for even a couple of minutes to take out your suitcase, not to mention talking about the reservation, cost and location of the parking lot in a foreign language.
And driving a car in such places is a dubious pleasure: narrow, bricks, one-way traffic, improperly parked cars - it’s very inconvenient if you’re not used to it.
Brick sign in the Czech Republic
2. More travel time
It’s better to stay overnight and see cities in Poland and the Republic of Belarus than to drive for 10-12 hours at the limit of your capabilities. Let us remind you that after the border crossing you will hardly have enough strength to go further.
In addition, what seems to be a quick 50-100 kilometers on the map turns out to be long and exhausting. Czechs' favorite road signs are turns. Driving in such loops takes too much time.
3. Wardrobe
The Czech Republic greeted us with cold rains; at times it seemed like autumn had arrived. Shoes, dresses and suits, of course, were not useful; the most in demand were sneakers, a jacket, and jeans.
Results of the trip to Prague
We don’t regret at all that we went to the Czech Republic by car, many of the difficulties turned out to be far-fetched, and everything else can be easily solved on the spot, you just need to approach them wisely and be sure to take into account the experience of other road travelers.
In numbers, more than 150 thousand rubles were spent, of which:
30 thousand rubles for fuel (3 tanks for the road and 1 in the Czech Republic, at prices of 1.1 euros per liter there and 37 here), the average consumption was small, but we always filled only with good diesel;
30 thousand rubles for accommodation (the average cost of hotels was about 3 thousand rubles);
55 thousand for food (the average bill is about 1000 crowns, that’s 2,700 rubles)
1200 rubles – long-distance sign for 440 CZK – vignette for toll roads
5-6 thousand rubles for parking (60 euros in Prague for three days, in cities 20-40 crowns for a couple of hours)
Everything else was spent on souvenirs and gifts. We didn’t have to spend any more money in the Czech Republic, we didn’t go on excursions, we didn’t buy tickets to castles – we looked at everything from the outside.
Of course, being tourists on a plane ticket on our first trip, we spent significantly less, but, as it turned out, we saw quite a bit. Now we have not studied the whole of the Czech Republic, but we have become completely imbued with its spirit, we understand how and how the locals live, how our unscrupulous compatriots make money from tourists. Most importantly, the Czech Republic showed us a completely different side: respectable, very traditional, open and friendly. We have a lot to learn from the Czechs, there are things that amaze and surprise - our countries are different in terms of income levels and the attitude of the state to the population, but we are similar in mentality and attitude to life.
Will we drive our car to the Czech Republic again? Definitely yes! Let’s just approach this issue in a more European and thoughtful way.
Anastasia Litinskaya.
