General information on Prague

General information on Prague

It's normal to have some questions when visiting Prague: what is the official currency? Do Czechs usually speak English? What kind of plug do they use?

Travel Advice

Documents, passport and visas you need to travel to Prague and other parts of the Czech Republic.

Climate

Prague has a temperate continental climate with very cold winters and warm summers. Find out when the best season to visit Prague is.

Language

The official language in Prague is Czech. Here is a list of useful expressions in Czech to get by.

Currency

The official currency of the Czech Republic is the koruna (CZK). Find out where to exchange money, the bank opening times and the exchange rates in Prague.

Public Holidays

Find out when Prague celebrates its public holidays before traveling to the city.

Prices

Prices in Prague are relatively low compared to other European cities. Find how much things cost and prepare your budget before traveling to Prague.

Neighbourhoods

Staré Město

Staré Město

Staré Město, the Old Town is in the heart of Prague and the most charming part of the city to discover and find accommodation
Malá Strana

Malá Strana

Malá Strana is one of the oldest districts in Prague. Located near Prague Castle, it houses major monuments and buildings

Hradčany

Hradčany

During the ninth century, Bořivoj, the Duke of Bohemia, commissioned the construction of the Prague Castle, founding the city of Prague. Centuries later, Hradčany was established just outside the Castle.
Josefov

Josefov

Josefov was established when two Jewish communities that lived in the region during the Middle Ages merged gradually. Formerly the Jewish ghetto, it became part of Prague in 1850.

The New Town was established and designed by Charles IV in 1348. This part of Prague has witnessed the most important historic events of the twentieth century.

Vyšehrad was one of the six independent towns in Prague. It is one of the lesser-known parts of the city.
History

History

The history of Prague from its foundation by the Boii, a Celtic tribe, through to the 1948 Czechoslovak coup d’état, the Velvet Revolution, and up until the present day.
Read more
Prague Card

Prague Card

The tourist card, Prague Card, allows free access to over 50 monuments and top attractions in Prague. It’s the best way of saving money in Prague.
Read more

Further Information

Prague facts & figures

Prague has over 1,5 million inhabitants, of which 81% are Czech; the female population is higher than the male. Prague is 662 ft (202m) above sea level.

Opening hours

The majority of stores in Prague are open from Monday – Friday from 9 am to 6 pm and on Saturdays from 9 am until midday, and close on Sundays. However, the larger shops are open until 8 pm every day. Shopping centres are normally open seven days a week until 9 pm. Banks are open 5 days a week from 9 am – 6 pm.

Electricity, plugs and sockets

In the Czech Republic, the plug socket used is type C (Europlug used in most European countries), with two round holes and one round pin. It has a voltage of 230 V and frequency of 50 Hz.  If the plugs are different in your country, we recommend you get a universal charger or you can borrow one in your hotel.

Healthcare

Just as in the rest of Europe, if you are an EU citizen and would like free healthcare in Prague you will need the European Health Insurance Card. If you are from the UK you can apply by clicking on this link.

Helpful telephone numbers

  • Emergency calls: 112
  • Police: 158
  • Ambulance: 155
  • Prague area code: 02
  • Czech Republic area code: +42

You may also be interested in