Travel tips before getting to Prague

For European citizens, since 2004 all you need to enter the Czech Republic is an identity card, provided it is valid for travel abroad.
EU citizens do not need a visa, but for stays of more than 30 days you must register with the border police.

Goods whose value does not exceed 3000 Kc may be brought in without paying tax. 2 litres of wine, 1 litre of spirits and 250 cigarettes per person are not subject to customs penalties.

Foreign tourists may freely export from the Czech Republic goods that do not have a commercial character and according to their type and quantity are intended to satisfy the traveller’s personal needs or to be delivered as gifts.
Tax Free: citizens residing outside the EU who purchase goods worth more than CZK 1,000 and export them within 60 days from the date of purchase may ask the shopkeeper for a tax free cheque and, with the certificate issued by the customs, may apply for a VAT refund.

Medical care in Prague is public and private. Emergency care is always free of charge, but all other care is chargeable.
It is advisable to leave with insurance to cover medical treatment and with enough money to pay for it. Always ask for a receipt for reimbursement.

• 112 – General emergency number
• 158 – Police
• 156 – Municipal Police
• 155 – Ambulance
• 150 – Fire Brigade
• 1180 – Information regarding phone numbers in the Czech Republic
• 1181 – Information Concerning Telephone Numbers Abroad
• 12 444 – Prague Information Service – Tourist Information by Telephone (in Czech, English and German)
• 2494 6981 – Dental Emergencies

For each type of medicine you need to enter a lékárna.
There are several in the city, one open 24 hours a day in Palackého and one also open on weekends inside the Kotva department store.

Pharmacies open H24

A law restricting smoking is in force in Prague and throughout the Czech Republic. In public spaces, on means of transport, at stations, airports, health facilities, smoking is completely prohibited, while in restaurants smoking is restricted, but not banned.

There are few places where smoking is prohibited, so be prepared to experience a lot of second-hand smoke, especially in winter. Generally, smoking and non-smoking areas are signposted.

Facilities for the disabled are rather poor in the city, although the situation is slowly changing. The biggest problem concerns public transport: only the newest metro stations have lifts and guides for the blind, while the remaining stations and trams are inaccessible to wheelchairs. A few buses are equipped with low platforms, but only two lines with such equipment connect the suburbs to the centre, the others only serve the suburbs and are, therefore, of little use to tourists.
As for hotels, the newest are barrier-free, but the number of wheelchair-accessible rooms is small. The best is the Hilton Hotel.

Guide dogs for the blind are allowed on public transport, in banks, public buildings and historical monuments.

In Prague there are many tourist information offices as well as private agencies that can help you during your holiday in the Czech capital. Usually the staff speak several languages: in the office on the Old Town Square you can find help, however English is provided.

Prague City Tourism

This is the official body of the city of Prague, the main point in the city to get any necessary information about Prague on culture, entertainment, transport, catering, shops and services, nature, sports, important addresses, etc. You can also get additional tourist information on the entire Czech Republic (historical monuments, castles, museums, etc.)
Also on sale are tickets for concerts, theatres and other cultural events, tourist tickets for public transport, phone cards and free brochures with basic information about Prague in foreign languages and various printed guides and city maps.

The information point is located in the Staroméstské Námestí, in the City Hall building.

Cedok

This is the state tourism office, with branches all over the city, providing tourist information on hotels, cultural events, sightseeing tours, entertainment and restaurants. It has free multilingual material available.