So, if you are a citizen of Prague, you:
1. Do you know what it means to "meet under the tail" (pod ocasem). The vast majority of Prague residents know that the meeting is scheduled at Wenceslas Square - at the statue of the bronze horse of St. Wenceslas.
2. Do not drink absinthe (never).
3. Drink beer (after all, beer in Prague is cheaper than soft drinks).
4. Wear blue jeans (Prague citizens love blue jeans and wear them everywhere: to the office, to parties and even to awards ceremony).
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5. Use public transport.
6. Know transport etiquette (give up seats to the elderly and pregnant women on the tram).
7. Tell someone that he is standing on the wrong side of the escalator (you need to stand on the right side so that everyone can freely go down on the left side).
8. On a subway train, try to get as close to the door as possible.
9. Watch or have watched the TV series Ulice (the endless story of Czech “real life”).
10. Love sarcasm (Prague residents love to make fun of themselves and their friends in a peculiar manner).
11. Do not go to parties in Lucerne and Karlovy Lazne.
12. Speak softly (Prague residents like to resent the fact that tourists speak very loudly).
13. Understand the difference between Karlak and Charles Bridge.
14. Hate those who ride segways.
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15. Avoid the main tourist streets on your route (try to walk along quiet streets or courtyards).
16. Prefer bio / vegan / healthy food (many Prague residents don't even know how to cook goulash and chops).
17. Be careful not to step into dog poop (especially in the Zizkov area).
18. Do not go to shops / cafes / clubs on Wenceslas Square (only when you need it).
19. Call a taxi by phone (Prague residents do not sit in a taxi on the street because of the inflated prices. By the way, the other day in Prague I passed over taxi drivers who inflated prices for tourists. You need to know that the maximum Prague tariff is 28 CZK per 1 km).
20. Keep your dog (Prague residents walk their dogs to keep them in good shape, or carry small dogs in their bags).
21. Read free Metro newspapers in the morning (you can get them at metro stations until 9 am).
22. Always find a reason to celebrate something (holiday, name day, birthday, divorce, wedding - it doesn't matter).
23. Do not show your emotions in public, no matter what happens (for example, you make an indifferent face if you meet a celebrity on the street).
24. Leave the waiters "for tea" less than 10% of the amount in the invoice (for example, if the invoice was brought in for 340 kroons, you will leave 350 kroons).
25. Go to Letna for a picnic (but still think it's a good place for sports).
26. Watch the matches of the Sparta or Slavia teams (you need to choose one of these teams and be confident in your choice).
27. You pay with a contactless card and wonder if this cannot be done.
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28. Take advantage of pedestrian crossings (and don't want to wait until a passing car decides to stop and let you pass).
29. Hate it if someone calls you "Eastern European" (Prague people are not Eastern Europeans, they are Central Europeans. Prague is west of Vienna).
30. Look tired / unhappy / important under all circumstances.
Now is the time that people want to see the world. The globe has become much smaller with the development of transport, and not only in a virtual sense. To get to your destination, now, as a rule, several hours in the air are enough, even if you are moving during this time to another continent. Already homebodies are removed from their seats and go on vacation to Venice, or Prague, or to some other interesting place. Numerous travel companies immediately offer their services, and they are really useful, especially for inexperienced tourists. But those who have already traveled the world, visited different countries and cities, are beginning to feel the desire to take an independent journey, without contacting intermediaries and assistants.
Such a desire is understandable, and not even only for the reason that you can spend significantly less money on organizing a trip if you concentrate everything in your hands. A forgotten feeling of freedom is what you will experience when, waking up in the morning, you realize that you do not need to have breakfast in a hurry, so as not to be late for, or have time to attend some event planned for you by a travel company. After all, this is a real rest, if, going to bed, you are not worried about what you will do in the morning, you are not burdened by any obligations. The morning of the evening is wiser, and in this case it is true, as, indeed, always.
Of course, you will designate some kind of external framework for yourself, so as not to indulge in all the serious joys and not fly out of the budget. Now the main thing is to choose a city from which to start, this is important.
The success of the experiment is guaranteed if you choose Prague, and there is every reason for this. It is not on the list of expensive cities, on the contrary, staying here is even cheaper than resting in large Ukrainian or Russian cities. It matters that the Czech language is not so difficult for us to understand, especially if you have already been to the Czech Republic. And Prague is very close to us.
When is the best time to go to Prague? Which season to choose?
The first question that arises before you is the choice of the time of the year, which is the most recommended for visiting. Of course, if this is not dictated by external reasons: for example, you know that you will have a vacation in November or February. And in Prague at this time - rains, slush, uncomfortable and gloomy, or sleet, and many are closed to the public. But this is exactly the time when the feeling of a kind of mysticism inherent in many historical sites and some, at first glance, ordinary houses in Prague comes to life. There are a lot of places about such places, in which the plot, time, and also the names of the participants in mythical events are reliably indicated, so that you can fully satisfy your curiosity. And then - to sit with a cup of coffee at the restaurant window and through the drops of water on the glass watch the lazy flow of the Vltava and the majesty through it. Great?
Well, if you are free to choose the timing of your trip, then try to get to Prague from late April to mid-October. If you are afraid of the heat, then do not come in July and August. And to be objective, it should be noted that Prague is beautiful at any time: in the spring, when chestnuts and lilacs bloom, and then jasmine and magnolia bloom; and in summer, when it is warm and sunny, and the lawns are filled with flowering grasses; and in the fall, with her feeling of fullness of life and tranquility. You can come to Prague for celebrations to immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere of the beautifully decorated streets and shops. And then - to move to a ski resort, it will be very appropriate.
Weather forecast for today and tomorrow in Prague
Average statistical weather by months in Prague, ° C (2013, 2014)
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | |
| day | +1 | +3 | +8 | +14 | +19 | +22 | +24 | +24 | +20 | +13 | +7 | +1 |
| night | -4 | -3 | 0 | +4 | +8 | +11 | +14 | +13 | +10 | +5 | +2 | -2 |
How to get to Prague? What to choose - bus, train or plane?
So, the time of the trip is determined, it remains to decide what transport to get to Prague on your own... There are a lot of recommendations and suggestions on this matter, both for delivery by bus and rail, and, of course, by air. Which option is the most optimal - that's what we will try to determine.
By bus to Prague
What does a bus trip promise us? Note that you will have to be in the cabin for a long time, in a sitting position, in which you cannot straighten your legs. If someone has problems with the vessels, then this option is swept aside immediately. Those who have not tried to travel in this position for a long time can, of course, try it, but it is better to seek advice from experienced travelers, for example, to browse Internet forums. There are no opposite opinions here: going to Prague by bus is torment, and there is even a risk of getting sick by the end of the journey. Neither stopping, nor walking, nor warm-up during the hike help: there is an irresistible desire to stretch out to its full length right here, under everyone's feet. Travel agencies are silent about these inconveniences, offering services such as enhanced cabin comfort, toilet, TV, air conditioning and a flight attendant. All this is good, and the fare only increases from this, but it will not help your legs. Therefore, it is better not to choose a bus, you will get to the end of the trip in a disgusting mood, exhausted and tired. You can ruin your whole journey with a bad start, but who cares?
By train to Prague
Let's see what conveniences the train will provide you. Of course, here you will sit on a shelf, the ride is incomparably more comfortable as regards body position. But for a long time, and not much cheaper, and sometimes more expensive than by plane. Long distance train travel is a rudiment in our enlightened times. If you just like traveling by rail, then it's a different matter, just keep in mind that a train ticket to Prague costs 428 euros, if you go from Moscow, and if from St. Petersburg, then 392 euros.
By plane to Prague
All other things being equal, of course, there remains one preferred option - by air. Book a ticket to Prague on your own, use, for example, our website (we provide the services of a well-known Russian Internet search engine that searches for the cheapest flights not only to Prague, but also to other cities in the world. We do not take any commissions!). Airplane, that's what you need to get to Prague with comfort and in a short time. Without getting tired and, moreover, without subjecting yourself to painful trials and inconveniences. You just need to think about the ticket early, its cost depends on it, and your confidence in the trip from the awareness of certainty in relation to tickets will only increase, and you will act further.
Visa to Prague on your own. Visa processing in Russia and Ukraine
Let's talk about a visa, because it is also necessary. Now you will have to issue a visa to the Czech Republic on your own, without imposing this obligation on some intermediary. It is not so difficult if you familiarize yourself with the rules for preparing documents and their list, referring to the detailed description of this process on the Internet. There is no need to involve third parties, it is not necessary. Prepared documents should be submitted to specially designated institutions at the applicant's place of residence.
If we talk about Russia, then a visa can be issued in the following cities:
Moscow- Consular Section of the Embassy of the Czech Republic, Czech Visa Application Center; Website - mzv.cz/moscow/ru/vizy_i_konsulskaja/index.html
Saint Petersburg- Consulate General of the Czech Republic, Czech Visa Application Center; Website - mzv.cz/petersburg
Yekaterinburg- Consulate General of the Czech Republic, Czech Visa Application Center. Site - mzv.cz/yekaterinburg/ru/index.html
Concerning Czech Visa Application Center(Site - czechvac-ru.com), then its representative offices are available in such cities of Russia as Rostov-on-Don, Novosibirsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Murmansk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Vladivostok, Kazan, Sochi, Samara, Kaliningrad, Permian, Saratov, Khabarovsk, Ufa, Krasnodar, Omsk.
If you have any questions, you should contact the consular department or visa center directly. Best of all - after all, at the consulate, because the functions of the visa center include only receiving documents with subsequent transfer to the consular department - that's all. He is, in fact, a mediator. The advantage is the fact that you do not even need to appear in person to submit documents to the visa center, and, moreover, there is no need to make an appointment. Everything is done via the internet. The service fee paid to the applicant in favor of the visa center is 1000 rubles. And you can make an appointment with the consular department by phone or directly on the website visapoint.eu. You need to pay a consular fee of 35 euros for the fact that your documents will be considered, as well as a service fee of 1000 rubles. Documents are submitted no earlier than three months before the date of travel, and a visa can be issued within 5-10 working days.
If we talk about Ukraine, then here are the same rules: preliminary acquaintance with the peculiarities of paperwork on the Internet, filling out a visa application form, and the same procedure for communicating with employees of the consular department or the consulate itself. The prepared documents are submitted, depending on the place of residence, to the following institutions:
Kiev- Consular section of the Embassy of the Czech Republic. Website - mzv.cz/kiev/uk/index.html;
Donetsk- Consulate General of the Czech Republic. Website - mzv.cz/donetsk/uk/index.html;
Lviv- Consulate General of the Czech Republic. Site - mzv.cz/lvov/uk/index.html
As you can see, there is no visa agency in this chain, and citizens communicate directly with the consular staff. The rules are the same: go to the website visapoint.eu, register and get the date and time of visiting the consulate, pay the consular fee in the same amount, 35 euros. The deadline for submission of documents of 3 months remains, but the visa itself is issued longer, from 1 to 3 weeks - the absence of such a link as a visa agency affects.
Accommodation in Prague
So, in the end, you are in Prague, and you have to go to the hotel. By the way, you could book your room in Prague in advance, without much difficulty, because there are a lot of places on the Internet for this. We advise you to use Hotellook offers from the creators of the famous Aviasales.ru. The advantage of this service is that it searches all places for the cheapest hotel prices.
After all, in fact, Prague is not a big city, it is very compactly located, with an excellent organization, with good roads, and it is convenient to move from end to end in it. It is known that you can cross the city in 20-30 minutes. For these reasons, and also, in order to save money, you chose the hotel, not striving for it to be located in the city center, but in accordance with your tastes, somewhere in a quiet area, closer to the bus stop or. It is convenient and inexpensive, and will give you additional pleasure: it is pleasant, for example, to cross the Vltava every day, admiring from the window its picturesque banks, buildings and citizens of Prague busy with their daily activities. The choice of the hotel room itself also depends on how long you are going to stay in it. If, for example, you intend to spend all daytime exploring the city, outside the hotel, and will only come to spend the night, barely dragging your feet from fatigue, then you, except for a comfortable bed and a shower, do not need anything. Therefore, when choosing a room, you do not need to get carried away with any isms, but you should prefer cleanliness and convenience. But, if you like to live in luxury, then this is another matter, the choice is yours. We advise you to use ours.
Excursions in Prague
Before going to the tourist sites in Prague, you should search the Internet, find out what excursions around the city exist at the moment, compare prices in different offers, and choose the most conscientious and acceptable for you. Since you have decided on an independent trip to Prague, you will have to think about all aspects of the trip yourself, this is natural. But this is interesting, isn't it?
It is best to use the service Excursiopedia and order various excursions in Prague from guides with good reviews. Here you can be sure that your excursion will definitely take place. And the choice of excursions is simply impressive: sightseeing, thematic, as well as excursions for children. The cost of excursions, of course, varies. So, it is most profitable to book group excursions, because the price is divided by the number of people.
Car rental in Prague
The section is being supplemented ...
Save money on a guide? Easy!
If you are attracted by those who speak Russian, then know that this service is quite expensive, from 500 CZK for a walk around the city as part of a large group of tourists for 3-4 hours. If the group is small, 5-6 people, then the cost immediately jumps to 1000 kroons. But, following your intention to explore Prague on your own, it becomes clear that you can do without a guide.
Moreover, you will have other expenses, for example, for transport. Moving around the city from place to place, you spend about 110 kroons per day; if you take a taxi, remember that the fare is 23-25 kroons per kilometer; and if you rented a car, then a decent amount will be spent on gasoline, at the rate of 37-40 kroons per liter.
Prague GPS Audi Travel Guide
So, you will be an analogue of a guide! To do this, you will need to rent an audio guide with GPS -. The cost of renting such a device for one day - from 12.95 euros (depends on the date of booking). In short, this is a GPS device that determines your location and tells you about nearby places of interest. A map is also attached to this gadget.
Prague travel guide IlovePRG
You can also save on a guide with our help. It is enough to take your card with you at the airport / hotel or else. Then use the search and read the history of the specific, in front of which you are standing at the moment.
Ever.Travel website and application
With just a few clicks. Using the constructor, select the sights of Prague that you want to visit, and then the site will determine the trajectory of your route. Later download the app, log into your account and sync the route you just made on the site with your application. Then walk around Prague on your own itineraries with an off-plan map.
Eating in Prague
In terms of food, the same strategy works as in excursions, hotels, air tickets - you need to decide in advance on the choice that you should visit. There is not only a desire to save money, but also a desire to try, visit the most interesting culinary establishments. For these purposes, it is imperative to walk around the pubs, in Russian translation - around the pubs. Here you will taste real Czech beer, and you will be served real Czech cuisine, and during your meal you will feel the spirit of old Prague, chat with locals, and observe them up close.
Approximate prices for beer and food in Prague bars and restaurants:
- beer Velkopopovický Kozel - 25-35 CZK per half liter;
- beer Budějovický Budvar - 30-40 CZK per half liter;
- Svijany beer - 30-40 CZK per half liter;
- beer Plzeňský Prazdroj - 35-45 CZK per half liter;
- beer Matuška - 60-70 CZK per half liter;
- soup (polévka) - 40-60 CZK per 0.25 liter portion;
- pork ribs - 300-350 CZK per 1 kg;
- Veprevo knee baked - 270-320 CZK per 1 kg;
- espresso coffee - 34-35 CZK per cup.
The beer houses that we talked about do not seek to get to the city center, because these establishments are intended more for Prague residents than for visiting tourists. That is why the cost of lunch or dinner there is not too high. If you dine together, then for two servings of soup, one Boar knee, beer, in the amount of 3-4 glasses, you will pay 550-650 kroons, and this is taking into account the tip. Why are there two soups and one knee? Because this dish, one of the most important in Czech cuisine, is served in such a volume that even a hungry tourist cannot eat so much if he is alone.
But, of course, if you want to dine in the center of Prague, you yourself will be surprised by the difference in prices. Beer in a cafe will not cost three times more than in your pub.
Hike to museums, exhibitions, galleries and palaces. Entrance cost
Of course, while in Prague, it is a sin not to go to museums, palaces, exhibitions and galleries, and this will be a solid item of expenditure for your budget, since an entrance ticket costs from 70 to 200 CZK. And if you want to thoroughly walk around Prague Castle, then for a two-day excursion you will have to pay 700 crowns. But in Prague there are objects of remarkable beauty, architectural masterpieces and historical monuments, for the entrance to which you will not be charged money. Look on our website for information about such objects, maybe they will interest you.
How to dress in Prague? What things should I take with me?
What things from your wardrobe will you need in Prague? It depends on what time of year your trip falls in. Here you, as an experienced traveler, will not experience difficulties. The only thing worth paying attention to is the selection of comfortable shoes. If you intend to take long walks around the city, then your legs should be comfortable, otherwise you will not walk for a long time. Yes, and the change of shoes should be, you never know what, rubbed your leg or some strap tore. Make sure you don't have to buy a pair on the spot unscheduled. If you have a companion, do not take her for a walk; if she has high heels, you will suffer. For women, in this case, low-speed shoes are prescribed. Knowledgeable people also advise to have a foot cream with you to help relieve fatigue.
How much money should I take with me to Prague?
And now - a very serious question: how much money should you have with you? There is information that the average tourist needs about 1500 kroons per day, provided that he paid for the hotel immediately upon arrival or in advance. They also say that you won't be able to live a day in Prague for less than 1000 kroons. Here are the boundary numbers, but this is so, the average temperature in the hospital. You know yourself better, you know where you can restrain yourself in spending, and where you can be carried away. Think, count, determine the cost of living in Prague yourself.
Money in Prague. What currency to take with you: dollars or euros?
Now ask on the Internet what currency is circulating in Prague, in addition to Czech crowns. According to the results of the consultations, it is clear that it is not recommended to take dollars there, it is possible and necessary - euros. You should have enough crowns with you when you enter Prague, in sufficient quantity to get to the hotel, get settled and get to a reliable exchange office in order to exchange euros for local money. Do not change anywhere, look around on the spot. Of course, in all major tourist sites you will be accepted in euros, but they will be recalculated at a rate that is not favorable for you, so you'd better exchange currency yourself, so as not to lose money.
Shopping in Prague
No matter how you spend your time in Prague, it will turn out that you will certainly find time for a walk through Prague shops, shopping centers and outlets. Maybe you will find yourself on a seasonal sale, then there is a chance to replenish your wardrobe without resorting to serious expenses, because the amount of discounts at this time reaches 50-90 percent. If you come for Christmas, it will be the peak of the Christmas sales. Celebrate in festively decorated stores, enjoy good shopping. If you are in Prague in the summer, in July-August, then replenish your summer wardrobe for little money. Yes, at any time in the shops of Prague you will find something interesting, and if you are interested in designer clothes at high prices, then take a walk along (Parisian)... Things at more reasonable prices you can find (On Prsikop), and in the presented goods for the mass buyer, but of course, not only.
There are also outlets in Prague, for example, F, which is visited mainly by local residents, and visitors often do not even know about it. And this is in vain, because the quality and assortment of goods here are at the proper level, and prices are lower than in the main shopping centers and well-known stores. True, it is located on the outskirts, in Prague-10, it is not easy to get to it, but you like to walk around the city, wander around unfamiliar places. So go, only in such places and it is worth shopping, and not jostling on several streets in the center.
But if you like the crowd, you can go to Palladium shopping center, it is very popular with visitors to the city. It is right in the center, not far from Wenceslas and Old Town squares, a large five-storey building filled with all kinds of boutiques. There are also such large shopping centers in the city as: the famous department store - trading house Kotva, has an underground garage, trade is carried out on two floors of a large building; newly built shopping and entertainment center Palace flora with a grocery supermarket, cafes, restaurants and entertainment; next to the Andel metro station you will find Novy Smichov- a shopping center with underground parking and three floors of boutiques and shops. There are many objects in Prague where you can successfully spend money.
Refund Tax free in Prague
Do not forget, in the process of spending, that if the cost of your purchase has exceeded 2500 kroons, and this is about 80 euros, then you have the right to use the Tax free refund system. Goods purchased during your stay must be taken out of the country within 3 months, otherwise you will lose your right to a refund.
Tax-free rules are well-known for tourists who often visit European countries: You buy some goods and receive, in addition to the main one, a second check-form, which you need to fill out; further, at the customs office, when leaving the country, you confirm the fact of the export of the goods - in the form of a stamp that the customs officer puts on this second check-questionnaire; and this guarantees you a refund of a certain amount, from 10 to 20 percent of the original purchase price, depending on the group of goods. You can get this amount in cash right there, at the airport, or ask to transfer money to your card, or, in extreme cases, you have the opportunity to make a request for a refund already at home, within no more than 5 months from the date of purchase.
Your feedback on an independent trip to Prague on our website!
When your trip is over, you will be able to assess how successful your independent vacation in Prague was. Are you satisfied with yourself? Have you made a lot of mistakes? Maybe you should go to the forum on the Internet, find like-minded people and exchange impressions with them, and at the same time - experience. Or you can leave your impressions in the comments to the article, it will be interesting to compare the reviews of different site visitors.
In any case, there is a fairly large audience of travelers who are interested in such questions. Apparently, people are tired of the fact that someone is trying to solve for them, to lead them, to create burdensome benefits for them that they do not need, and along the way - to settle their problems. But you and I have to pay for everything!
- the time is very beautiful. It is filled with bright colors of the paintings of the outgoing summer and bewitches the imagination with unprecedented power! Today we will present you 10 things you must do in Prague in order to experience this city and fall in love with it completely!
- Put on your windbreaker and walk across the Charles Bridge
It is difficult to name the exact number of bridges in Prague ... It is believed that there are 18 of them. Each bridge has a history and a legend. Each is marked with a specific architecture. Therefore, wandering across the bridges of Prague is like a free excursion to explore the past! Charles Bridge is the most famous and oldest bridge in Prague, its symbol and visiting card! Of course, it is impossible to see all the bridges of Prague, but you should definitely visit the Charles Bridge!
- Stop and listen to street musicians
They gather every day at the Charles Bridge. There are also many souvenir merchants and artists. You can just walk and feel the atmosphere of tourist Prague.
- Slow down and walk along the Old Town Square
Here is the famous Old Town Hall with an astronomical clock dating back to 1338, the Church of St. Mikulas, the Jan Hus monument, the Kinsky Palace, the Tyn Church and the House by the Stone Bell.
- Drink mulled wine to keep warm
The tradition of leisurely drinking mulled wine and warming up with this drink, even in the autumn coolness, has been preserved in the Czech Republic for many years. In Prague, this drink is made in a particularly tasty and aromatic way. This happens only here!
- Discover the secrets of the Old City
The inhabitants of Prague assure: it is best to come here in the evening, when it is consecrated with fires and when there is some special mysticism here ...
- Get enough air in the parks
They say that Prague is an open-air museum with a large number of parks. They are all well-groomed and cozy. We recommend taking a walk through the Prague Castle gardens, on the island of Kampa and Petřín. Wallenstein Gardens will not leave anyone indifferent!
- View the autumn Prague from above
To do this, it is worth going to Petřín Hill. If you don't like walking, you can get there by funicular. But it's better to walk along the orchards ... At the top of Petřín there is a copy of the Eiffel Tower, from where the most beautiful views of the city open up! Until October, you can still see the blooming of roses in the rose garden.
- Feel the luxury of palaces and castles
In Prague itself and its surroundings, there are many beautiful castles, each of which has its own destiny and history. Undoubtedly, the Prague Castle, located in the very capital of the Czech Republic, is incomparably beautiful.
Křivoklát Castle is another ancient castle located near Prague.
Also, if you have the opportunity, visit Mnisek pod Brdy - this estate is famous for its black beer.
Louceni is the most popular baroque castle, which even got into the Guinness Book of Records for its labyrinths.
- Spend an evening in a cozy restaurant
Prague is also famous for its restaurants serving traditional food and fine wines. It is advisable to choose an institution with beautiful views of the city and be sure to book a table by the window. Sample traditional Czech food and enjoy a glass of wine or beer.
It is simply impossible to describe Prague in one article! Tell about all its attractions too! Yes, and in general, it is better to see once. See and fall in love: once and for all.
I will not describe the beauty of Prague in my review, you must see it with your own eyes))) I will briefly describe those moments that may be of interest to those who are just going to Prague.
About travel agencies. To begin with, we chose the travel agency by chance. Initially, we planned to depart on May 10 and on April 2, we paid 50% of the cost of the tour at Fantasy Tour, we really liked the Czech-Germany tour. Well, again, we did not find negative reviews on the travel agency on the Internet. True, a nice girl in the travel agency warned us that the May holidays will not end on May 10 and there may be problems with the hotel, but within 3 days they promised to call us and tell everything. Nothing, as they say, foreshadowed ... But 3 days passed, and we never got a call. On the fifth day, we called ourselves. It turned out that there were no places in the hotels for the selected tour, we agreed to any other tour, just to fly away on May 10 (I had a dream to celebrate my birthday in Prague). Another 3 days passed ... And again we called, and in dreams Annam was told that there was a chance and they were looking for options for us. As a result, we took the money, and since 10 days were wasted, we did not find anything at the planned date in other travel agencies (they said to us in a sympathetic voice: "If only 2 days earlier ..."). But we did not despair, and postponed the vacation a week later (and I said goodbye to my dream).
This time we went to the Amigo-S, chose the Prague Fairy Tale tour, by plane with Czech Airlines, the Olshanka hotel (there were no other options).
We flew well, at the airport we were met and taken to hotels. There were four of us in Olshanka, my friend and I and 2 more tourists. BUT ... at the hotel it turned out that the rooms were not booked for us. "We've arrived!" - we thought. The hotel staff themselves contacted the travel agency to clarify the circumstances. After 5 minutes we were called to the phone. An employee of the host company apologized, reassured us that everything was in order, we changed the hotel to a better one located in the center, they just did not have time to warn us. After another 5 minutes, the director of this company, who was nearby, came to us, once again apologized, explained everything again and put us in the minibus that returned for us. The second hotel turned out to be Majestic Plaza 4 *, next to Wenceslas Square. "It happens the same!" - we were delighted, having settled in the room. It turned out that it happens)))
In general, we did not have any comments about the company.
About the hotel. The Majestic Plaza hotel is a normal 4 * hotel, the rooms are good, the soundproofing is excellent, they cleaned and changed the towels every day, the breakfasts are varied, there are few Russian tourists, the hotel staff do not speak Russian, they spoke English.
Transport.
About the metro. We bought tickets from vending machines near the metro, keep in mind that vending machines only accept change. On weekends, trains run at intervals of 8-10 minutes, on weekdays about 6 minutes. To open the doors and you enter the car, you need to press the button on the doors. For the exit, the same thing.
About trams. You can get to any part of the city by trams, they run on a minute-by-minute schedule. Prague residents prefer trams to the metro. According to our guide, if there are free seats, the driver waits for everyone to sit down, and only then drives. You need to get up only after the tram has stopped.
Money exchange. Money was changed on the street. Panska, which starts from Na Prikope street, there are several exchangers, Arabs change at a favorable rate and no commission. They exchange euros, dollars, rubles and other currencies. The course was for 100 rubles 60-64 kroons. In Moscow, you can exchange at the same rate in the exchanger on the street. Nikolskaya, 17 in the Slavic Center, rate of 1 crown - 1.56 rubles.
Tax Free. The check indicates 19% actually at the airport received about 2/3 of this amount. We did not look at our things at the airport.
Duty Free. Beer and becherovka are cheaper in stores. The selection of beer is very small, we only saw 2 types.
Night walks. We walked quite calmly at night, once at one in the morning we were looking for Prague Venice (and oddly enough they found it). The center is full of homeless people and strange-looking citizens, but no one bothers tourists.
Souvenirs. Souvenirs were bought at the souvenir market, if I am not mistaken on Rytirska Street (or on a parallel one) next to Wenceslas Square. The market is open during the day.
Organ music. We went to the concert of the orchestra with organ in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas on the Old Town Square. A ticket for an hour-long concert cost 490 crowns. There are also concerts of the orchestra without organ, they are cheaper. You can listen to the organ free of charge in the temples of the city during the service. The schedule hangs, as a rule, at the entrance to the temple. Services are generally held on Saturdays. According to our guide, many Prague residents go to churches exclusively to listen to the organ, which is played at the beginning and at the end of the service. After the organ has played, most of the people get up and leave, and only after that the service continues. Some temples also give concerts. Words cannot convey the feeling, the hour flew by like one instant, the sound was incomparable (I listened to the organ in the House of Music on Paveletskaya, no comparison).
Restaurants. We liked U certa (at the devil), there is a statue of the devil at the entrance, address Nerudova 4, Praha 1 (on the side of Hradčany), we went there purposefully and were not disappointed. Themselves accidentally found an excellent restaurant Skorepka, Skorepka 1, Praha 1 (http://www.skorepka.cz/ru/). As it turned out, there is in the guidebooks. There is a menu in Russian, the waiters understand Russian, delicious and not expensive. On the very first evening, Khryushkino ordered a smoked knee, 1.2 kg, barely mastered. We went there more than once, tried a lot of things, everything is very tasty. I also liked the Beer House on Lipova 15, Praha 2. At lunchtime and in the evening there are queues (but we didn’t stand for more than 20 minutes) and they could take someone at a table. They brew their beer there. We tried 8 varieties - a clean water perversion aimed at tourists. But you can try for fun. It is necessary to order 8 samples of beer and a glass of water, and after each beer drink water in order to understand the taste. As a result, my friend drank light, and I drank mixed. All 3 restaurants are about the same price range, an average dinner for two with 2-4 glasses of beer cost us from 500 to 850 rubles.
We also went to st. Stepanska, where our hotel was located, in 2 restaurants. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the names and the exact address. In the first one (the next house behind the Majestic Plaza hotel) they ate delicious pasta and drank local wine, took a break from beer and meat. It was sincere. The second restaurant further down the street, opposite St. Stephen's Cathedral, did not like it at all. At the entrance there is a menu in Russian, in the restaurant itself, for some reason, only in Czech and English, the portions are small, the prices are high. Instead of pasta with creamy sauce, they brought pasta and sour cream. Better to stand in line at the Beer House, which is a stone's throw away.
Still did not like it in Kolkovna, on the street. V Kolkovna. If a table is not booked, you will sit at the door at high tables or at the counter. Menu in Czech and English. Hot brought in 15-20 minutes, we waited for our dessert 40 minutes. The dessert really turned out to be very tasty and we forgave them 40 minutes of waiting.
Tips. We left 7-10% of the countdown, somewhere around 30-50 kroons (45-75 rubles), in Skorepka we were thanked for 50 kroons of tip 3 times.
The trip to the Czech Republic was my first trip to Europe. I had huge plans, but exceeded all my expectations in everything. Except ... shopping!
It seemed to me that elegant gentlemen and ladies in luxurious toilets should walk the streets in a European capital. Maybe, of course, they walk somewhere, but definitely not along the streets.
Local fashion or how to dress in Prague
Unlike us, where they are "greeted by their clothes" in Prague no cult of materialism... Everything should be maximallysimple, convenient, sometimes even casually... In addition, it is desirable inexpensive... This rule is also fully applicable to tourists. Forget evening dresses and stilettos at home, unless you have plans to visit the Prague Opera. There, of course, all this is necessary. But, if you want to watch a performance called, put on jeans-shorts, T-shirts- sweatshirts, sneakers, low-soled flip flopswithout heel and go to the show.
Where the paving stones are the city
The main attraction of Prague is its historical center: the lower old town with squares and cathedrals, the Upper town with monasteries, gardens, steep slopes and the Charles Bridge connecting these two parts, decorated with many statues and majestic towers. Attention! A shame! All this is paved with paving stones! No matter how beautiful the shoes are on you, it will still make them take off... It doesn't matter if you are French or Ukrainian, in Prague everyone differs only in the language of the excursion. By the way, the most visited city on earth is not, and not, but!
What to buy from clothes in Prague
So about shopping, I really wanted to bring something of Czech production. Yes, I have! It all turned out to match the Czechs - solid, strong, not very elegant but high quality and durable... Shoes of the "Tsebo" type, if anyone remembers, are intact, lie on the shelf and wait, probably, for a rainy day, wash the floors with a T-shirt for another five years, and wash my bag in a typewriter and still wear it.
And now tips for different seasons:
- summer: shorts-dresses-t-shirts, ladies can be light sundress with comfortable shoes;
- in winter: (God forbid!) fur, only short down coats and jackets with boots and sneakers, bask in the brewery;
- in the off-season: sweaters, vests, scarves;
- large lungs backpack bags;
- umbrella for all occasions (rain, snow, sun);
- and the most important wardrobe detail - camera, well, how without him? How naked.
