How to dress in summer in Prague. Things you shouldn't do in the Czech Republic
The trip to the Czech Republic was my first trip to Europe. I had huge plans, but it exceeded my expectations in everything. Except... shopping!
It seemed to me that in a European capital elegant gentlemen and ladies in luxurious toilets should walk the streets. Maybe, of course, they walk somewhere, but definitely not on the streets.
Local fashion or how they dress in Prague
Unlike us, where “they meet you by their clothes”, in Prague there is no cult of materialism. Everything should be maximumsimple, convenient, sometimes even carelessly. Moreover, it is desirable inexpensive. This rule also applies to tourists. Forget evening dresses and stilettos at home, unless you have plans to visit the Prague Opera. Of course, all this is needed there. But, if you want to watch a performance called , wear 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 you are wearing will still make them take off. It doesn’t matter whether you are French or Ukrainian, in Prague everyone differs only in the language in which the excursion is conducted. By the way, the most visited city on earth is not, and not, but!
What to buy clothes in Prague
So about shopping, I really wanted to bring something made in Czech. Yes, I have! It all turned out to match the Czechs - good, strong, not very elegant But high quality and durable. Shoes of the Cebo type, if anyone remembers, are intact, lying on the shelf and waiting, probably for a rainy day, I washed the floors with a T-shirt for another five years, and I wash the bag in the machine and still wear it.
And now tips for different seasons:
- in summer: shorts-dresses-t-shirts, ladies can have it easy sundress with comfortable shoes;
- in winter: (God forbid!) fur, only short down jackets and jackets with boots and sneakers, warm up in the brewery;
- in the off-season: sweaters, vests, scarves;
- big lungs backpacks;
- umbrella for all occasions (rain, snow, sun);
- and the most important detail of the wardrobe - camera, well, what would it be like without him? Like naked.
2012-01-14 15:34:33
How to dress in Prague?
In Prague they dress the same as in other European cities. Well, maybe a little more elegant. You can feel the proximity of Italy, where wealthy fashionistas and fashionistas replenish their wardrobes. There are, of course, those who cannot afford it. But in the center of Prague the difference between rich and poor is little noticeable.Tourists from different countries merge here into one mass. Experienced travelers dress to be comfortable. There is a lot of walking in Prague, and the weather can change several times a day. It rains often, so be sure to take a windbreaker or umbrella. When planning a long walk around Prague, it is better to take something warm, as in the evening the temperature can drop significantly.
The color of the clothes doesn't matter. In the warm season, Czechs, like many Europeans, prefer neutral, light colors in clothing. But there are also exceptions.
In the cooler months, practical Czechs usually opt for darker clothing. Although there are always those who want to stand out from the crowd or emphasize their status. Therefore, when going to Prague, do not focus on the color of your clothes. It is better to take on a trip only what you feel comfortable in.
On the picture:
March
June
September
December
I will not describe the beauty of Prague in my review, you need to see it with your own eyes))) I will briefly describe those points that may be of interest to those who are just going to Prague.
About travel agencies. Let me start by saying that 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 the Fantasy Tour company; we really liked the Czech Republic-Germany tour. Well, again, we didn’t find any negative reviews about the travel agency on the Internet. True, the nice girl at the travel agency warned us that the May holidays would not end yet on May 10 and problems with the hotel might arise, but they promised to call us within 3 days and tell us everything. Nothing, as they say, foreshadowed... But 3 days passed, and we still didn’t get a call. On the fifth day we called ourselves. It turned out that there were no hotel rooms for the tour we had chosen, we agreed to any other tour, just to fly out on May 10 (I had a dream to celebrate my birthday in Prague). Another 3 days passed... And again we called, and again the Annas were told that there were chances and they were looking for options for us. As a result, we took the money, and since 10 days were wasted, we couldn’t find anything on the planned date in other travel agencies (they told us in a sympathetic voice: “If only 2 days earlier...”). But we did not despair, but postponed the vacation to a week later (and I said goodbye to the dream).
This time we went to Amigo-S, chose the Prague Fairy Tale tour, by plane with Czech Airlines, the Olshanka Hotel (there were no other options).
We arrived well, we were met at the airport and taken to our hotels. There were four of us in Olshanka, my friend and I and 2 other tourists. BUT... at the hotel it turned out that the rooms were not reserved for us. "We've arrived!" - we thought. The hotel staff contacted the travel agency themselves to clarify the circumstances. After 5 minutes we were called to the phone. The employee of the host company apologized and reassured us that everything was fine, we were replaced with a better hotel located in the center, they just didn’t have time to warn us. After another 5 minutes, the director of this company, who was nearby, came to us, apologized again, 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!” - we were happy to check into our 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 towels every day, varied breakfasts, there are few Russian tourists, the hotel staff do not speak Russian, they communicated in English.
Transport.
About the metro. We bought tickets from vending machines near the metro, keep in mind that the machines only accept small change. On weekends trains run every 8-10 minutes, on weekdays about 6 minutes. In order for the doors to open and you to enter the carriage, you need to press the button on the doors. Same thing for exit.
About trams. You can get to any part of the city by trams; they run on a minute-to-minute schedule. Prague residents prefer trams to the metro. According to our guide, if there are empty seats, the driver waits until everyone is seated and only then drives off. 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 there, Arabs exchange at a favorable rate and without commission. They exchange euros, dollars, rubles and other currencies. The rate was 60-64 crowns for 100 rubles. In Moscow, you can exchange at the same rate at the exchange office on the street. Nikolskaya 17 in the Slavic Center, rate 1 crown - 1.56 rubles.
Tax Free. The check indicated 19%; in fact, at the airport they received about 2/3 of this amount. They didn’t look at our things at the airport.
Duty Free. Beer and Becherovka are cheaper in stores. The choice of beer is very small, we only saw 2 types.
Night walks. We walked at night quite calmly, one day at one in the morning we were looking for Prague Venice (and, strangely enough, we 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’m not mistaken on Rytirska street (or parallel) next to Wenceslas Square. The market is open during the day.
Organ music. We went to an orchestra concert with an organ at St. Nicholas Cathedral on Old Town Square. A ticket for an hour-long concert cost 490 CZK. There are also orchestra concerts there without an organ, and they are cheaper. You can listen to the organ for free in the city’s churches during services. The schedule usually hangs at the entrance to the temple. Services are mainly held on Saturdays. According to our guide, many Prague residents go to churches solely to listen to the organ, which plays at the beginning and end of the service. After the organ plays, most of the people get up and leave, and only after that the service continues. Some churches also give concerts. The feeling cannot be expressed in words, the hour flew by in a flash, the sound is incomparable (I listened to the organ in the House of Music on Paveletskaya, it cannot be compared in any way).
Restaurants. We liked U certa (At the Devil), there is a statue of the devil at the entrance, the address is Nerudova 4, Praha 1 (on the Hradcan side), we went there purposefully and were not disappointed. We accidentally found the excellent restaurant Skorepka, Skorepka 1, Praha 1 (http://www.skorepka.cz/ru/). As it turns out, it’s in the guidebooks. There is a menu in Russian, the waiters understand Russian, it’s tasty and not expensive. On the first evening we ordered Khryushkino smoked knee, 1.2 kg, we barely managed to finish it. We went there more than once, tried a lot of things, everything was very tasty. I also liked the Beer House on Lipova 15, Prague 2. At lunchtime and in the evening there are queues (but we didn’t stand for more than 20 minutes) and they can seat someone at a table. They brew their own beer there. We tried 8 varieties - a pure perversion designed for tourists. But you can try it just for fun. You need to order 8 samples of beer and a glass of water, and drink water after each beer to understand the taste. As a result, my friend drank light, and I drank mixed. All 3 restaurants are about the same price category, an average dinner for two with 2-4 glasses of beer cost us from 500 to 850 rubles.
We also went to the street. Stepanska, where our hotel was located, has 2 restaurants. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the names and exact address. In the first one (the next house after the Majestic Plaza Hotel) we ate delicious pasta and drank local wine, taking a break from beer and meat. It was heartwarming. I didn’t like the second restaurant further down the street, opposite St. Stephen’s Cathedral. 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 with sour cream. It’s better to stand in line at the Beer House, which is a stone’s throw away.
I also didn’t like Kolkovna, on the street. V Kolkovna. If a table is not reserved, you will sit near the door at high tables or at the counter. Menu in Czech and English. The hot food was brought in 15-20 minutes, we waited 40 minutes for our dessert. The dessert really turned out to be very tasty and we forgave them the 40 minutes of waiting.
Tips. We left 7-10% of the count, somewhere around 30-50 CZK (45-75 rubles), in Skorepka they thanked us 3 times for a 50 CZK tip.
What to wear when coming to this amazing country? What do Czech fashionistas like to wear and where can they buy the most stylish clothes in the Czech Republic? Prague fashion is characterized by democracy, freedom and relaxedness, which you will feel while walking the streets of ancient Czech cities.
The fashion of all major cities is individual. It is unique in its own way in Prague, albeit in one of the central, but at the same time closed from external influence, European cities. The almost absolute majority of Prague residents are not particularly interested in fashion. In this regard, two clearly defined trends in the style of dressing have appeared in the city - a democratic style and a casual style. The first is good because a person does not waste a lot of time, racking his brains thinking through his daily wardrobe.
Czechs almost never wear warm clothes, even on the coldest winter days. Even in cold weather, they feel calm in a short, light jacket with an open collar. In winter you can see women in light shoes.
A person puts on what comes to hand and goes about his business, be it work, study or a store. Democratic clothing is, first of all, jeans, bikers, regular trousers and sweaters, or any other clothing that does not pretend to be luxurious and glamorous. Simply put, this direction is a winner because it is as simple as possible and accessible to everyone. But democracy means freedom. Freedom to choose clothes, to want something, to strive for a certain appearance. Residents of Prague are free people, not dependent on the dictatorship of world fashion.
But let's talk about the second trend, which has become very relevant in Prague today. There are some things that are good in moderation, and one of them is negligence. Among Hollywood stars, a striking example of this is Keira Knightley. A young girl who has achieved a lot, but is not at all glamorous - it’s all about her. She would most likely be impressed by the manner of dressing like Prague girls.
Meanwhile, negligence borders on ordinary sloppiness, and this is clearly visible upon closer examination of the wardrobe of local teenagers.
And here are the words of Zoryana Stekhnovic, a designer by profession and the owner of two wedding clothing boutiques in the capital of the Czech Republic: “I myself am a big fan of elegance, which is more characteristic of Russians or Ukrainians than of Czechs. A bride from Russia or Ukraine will almost certainly buy a chic wedding dress from us, a French woman will ask for something sophisticated, sophisticated, but the Czechs can only be pleased with the most ordinary models with almost no decoration or decoration.”
The favorite shoes of the Czechs are “frog” slippers. They are sold in almost all stores and shopping centers. Toads are offered in all colors and styles: Czech manufacturers even produce toads... with fur!
Similar to their mentality, Czech clothing is as sporty and democratic as possible. The ideal for them is the simplest. What influenced such preferences of the residents of the Prague capital? The fact is that after the collapse of the socialist system, fashion in the Czech Republic came to a kind of crisis. After all, all the shoes and clothing that were produced in this country during Soviet times were exported to the countries of the Soviet Union. True, in our time the Czechs themselves admit that not a trace remains of the former quality. A lot of time has passed, a lot has changed. But even today, the Czech Republic, despite certain difficulties, is actively exporting to Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kyiv.
Few people did not suffer from the collapse of the socialist camp. Only true experts in their field have survived in the textile industry. Almost all Prague masters are middle-aged people; they never cease to be amazed at the young age of Russian designers. The age of fashion designers is also one of the prerequisites for Czech style. After all, a thing invented by a young designer will be fundamentally different from a thing designed by an older designer.
Therefore, the products of Prague clothing stores are special in that cotton items (jeans, knitwear, jackets) predominate here, both in pure form and cotton mixed, for example, with wool. In addition, the prices for clothes in this country are not high at all, so here you can choose and buy a fashionable wardrobe at budget prices.
Every September, Prague Fashion Weekend takes place on Prague's Hradcany Square. On the square, at the entrance to Prague Castle, there are fashion tents. Designer collections are showcased on the main catwalk and in showrooms. Fashion shows start on the square every full hour.
Fashion in Prague: history and modernity
It is generally accepted that a certain style of each city develops over years and even centuries. This also applies to fashion in the modern Czech Republic. The clothes of Prague residents are subject not only to recent trends. It was influenced by all the past centuries. Back in the 16th century, there is evidence of how modest the Czech woman was in her attire: “She is dressed in rough clothes made of cloth, decorated in places with silk ribbon. Over it is worn a short fur coat and a scarf. The underwear consists of wool, the skirt is gathered. Instead of shoes, she wears wooden shoes or boots. Her headdress is an ordinary, rather rough hat, from under which a white scarf peeks out, her head is wrapped in such a way that only her face is visible.
At home, ladies took off their “walking skirt,” which was a cloak worn over a dress divided into a skirt and bodice. The white insert of the shirt, which was worn underneath, was visible through the bodice. True, there were very few such shirts in Czech homes at that time. Thus, the tradeswoman Marta Peskova from Prague inherited only one shirt (16th century). Another Prague woman in 1519 boasted of three shirts. And only from the middle of the 16th century the number of shirts increased, but there were still few of them. Thus, the Czech Zikmund Freulich from Freidenfels, who died in 1582, left only 8 shirts in his rich inheritance, despite the fact that he owned four houses.
Czechs began to wear fashionable European clothes only after the resumption of ties with Western Europe. Business attire in the Czech Republic is less formal than in the West. However, the price and quality of clothing often directly depend on the employee’s official position.
True, with the Czech Republic today not everything is so transparent. The number of shopping centers per capita in this country has already reached the European average. It is planned to build 3 more large-scale shopping centers with clothes from global manufacturers at low prices, and the first one has already begun to operate.
Products will be presented in stores at a significant discount (from 30 to 70%), although it is worth noting that these will be products from somewhat outdated collections.
In everyday life, Czech men most often wear trousers with a sweater or shirt. Women dress the same or in dull dresses. If you plan to go to an expensive restaurant, then it is customary to dress as if for a formal meeting.
Some analysts believe that the Czechs are copying the American model, so popular in the 80s of the last century, when a lot of sales centers appeared everywhere in America. For the Czech Republic, such a project will come to life for the first time.
Tourist interest in Prague shopping is growing every year, and world-famous fashion houses have long seen the prospect of the Czech capital as an excellent sales market. There are those who already today take advantage of the fact that the Czech Republic is always full of tourists, and try to please them with the latest fashion trends. It turns out that Prague in the future has every chance of becoming one of the most advanced and fashionable European capitals.
Now is the time when people want to see the world. The globe has become much smaller with the development of transport, and not only in the virtual sense. To get to your destination, now, as a rule, several hours in the air are enough, even if you move to another continent during this time. Even homebodies are already leaving their place and going on vacation to Venice, or Prague, or some other interesting place. Numerous travel companies immediately offer their services, and are really useful, especially for inexperienced tourists. But those who have already traveled around the world, visited different countries and cities, are beginning to feel the desire to take an independent trip, without dealing with intermediaries and assistants.
This desire is understandable, and not 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 don’t 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 real rest if, when you go to bed, you do not worry about what you will do in the morning, and are not burdened by any obligations. The morning is wiser than the evening, and in this case this is true, as, indeed, always.
Of course, you will still set some external boundaries for yourself, so as not to go to great lengths to celebrate and not to go over the budget. Now the main thing is to choose the 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 a holiday in Ukrainian or Russian large 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? What time of year should I choose?
The first question that arises before you is the choice of the time of year that is 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 it’s raining, slushy, uncomfortable and gloomy, or it’s snowing, and many are closed to the public. But this is precisely the time when the feeling of a certain mysticism, characteristic of many historical objects and some, at first glance, ordinary houses of Prague, comes to life. There are a lot of stories about such places, in which the plot, time, and also the names of participants in mythical events are reliably indicated, so you can fully satisfy your curiosity. And then sit with a cup of coffee by the restaurant window and watch the lazy flow of the Vltava and the grandeur through it through droplets of water on the glass. Great?
Well, if you are free to choose the timing of your trip, then try to get to Prague from the end of April to mid-October. If you are afraid of the heat, then do not come in July and August. But 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 the summer, when it is warm and sunny, and the lawns are filled with flowering herbs; and in autumn, with its feeling of fullness of life and tranquility. You can come to Prague for the celebrations to immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere of beautifully decorated streets and shops. And then - go to the ski resort, it will be very appropriate.
Weather forecast for today and tomorrow in Prague
Average weather by month 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 travel time has been determined, all that remains is to decide How to get to Prague by yourself. There are a lot of recommendations and proposals on this matter, both for delivery by bus, and by rail, and, of course, by air. Which option is the most optimal – that’s what we’ll try to determine.
By bus to Prague
What does traveling by bus promise us? Please note that you will have to stay in the cabin for a long time, in a sitting position in which you cannot straighten your legs. If someone has problems with blood vessels, then this option is immediately rejected. Anyone who hasn’t tried driving in this position for a long time can, of course, try, but it’s better to seek advice from experienced travelers, for example, by browsing online forums. There are no opposing opinions here: traveling to Prague by bus is torture, and there is even a risk of getting sick by the end of the journey. Neither stopping, nor walking, nor warming up during a hike helps: an irresistible desire appears to stretch out to its full length right here, under everyone’s feet. Travel companies are silent about these inconveniences, offering services such as increased cabin comfort, toilet, TV, air conditioning and flight attendant. All this is good, and the cost of travel 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 entire trip with a bad start, but who needs that?
By train to Prague
Let's see what amenities the train will provide you with. Of course, here you will sit on a shelf; the ride is incomparably more comfortable in terms of body position. But it takes a long time, and it’s not much cheaper, and sometimes even more expensive, than by plane. Traveling long distances by train is a rudiment in our enlightened times. If you just like traveling by rail, then that’s a different matter, just keep in mind that a train ticket to Prague costs 428 euros if you depart from Moscow, and if from St. Petersburg, then 392 euros.
By plane to Prague
All other things being equal, of course, there remains one preferable option - by air. Book a ticket to Prague yourself, use, for example, our website (we provide the services of a well-known search engine on the Runet that looks for the cheapest air tickets not only to Prague, but also to other cities in the world. We do not charge any commissions!). An airplane is what you need to get to Prague comfortably and in a short time. Without getting tired and, especially, without exposing yourself to painful trials and inconveniences. You just need to think about the ticket early, its cost depends on this, and your confidence in the trip from the knowledge of certainty regarding tickets will only increase, and you will act further.
Visa to Prague on your own. Applying for a visa in Russia and Ukraine
Let's talk about a visa, because it is also necessary. Now you will have to apply for a visa to the Czech Republic yourself, without entrusting this responsibility to any intermediary. This is not so difficult if you familiarize yourself with the rules for preparing documents and their list, referring to a detailed description of this process on the Internet. There is no need to involve third parties; this is not necessary. The prepared documents should be submitted to specially designated institutions at the applicant’s place of residence.
If we talk about Russia, a visa can be obtained in the following cities:
Moscow— Consular Section of the Embassy of the Czech Republic, Czech Visa Center; Website - mzv.cz/moscow/ru/vizy_i_konsulskaja/index.html
Saint Petersburg— Consulate General of the Czech Republic, Czech Visa Center; Website – mzv.cz/petersburg
Ekaterinburg— Consulate General of the Czech Republic, Czech Visa Application Center. Website - mzv.cz/yekaterinburg/ru/index.html
Concerning Czech Visa Application Center(Website - czechvac-ru.com), then its representative offices are located in such Russian cities as Rostov-on-Don, Novosibirsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Murmansk, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Vladivostok, Kazan, Sochi, Samara, Kaliningrad, Permian, Saratov, Khabarovsk, Ufa, Krasnodar, Omsk.
If you have questions, you should contact the consular section or visa center directly. The best thing is to go to the consulate, because the functions of the visa center only include accepting documents with subsequent transfer to the consular section - that’s all. He is essentially a mediator. The advantage is the fact that to submit documents to the visa center you do not even need to appear in person, and, moreover, there is no need to make an appointment in advance. Everything is done using the Internet. The service fee paid by the applicant to the visa center is 1000 rubles. You can make an appointment at 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 examined, as well as a service fee of 1000 rubles. Documents must be 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 the same rules apply: preliminary familiarization with the peculiarities of processing documents 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:
Kyiv— 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. Website - mzv.cz/lvov/uk/index.html
As you can see, there is no visa agency in this chain, and citizens communicate directly with consulate employees. 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 submitting documents of 3 months remains, but the visa itself takes longer, from 1 to 3 weeks - this is due to the absence of such a link as a visa agency.
Accommodation in Prague
So, in the end, you are in Prague, and you need to go to the hotel. By the way, you could book your own room in Prague in advance, without much difficulty, because there are plenty of places on the Internet for this. We recommend using 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 essence, Prague is not a very big city, very compactly located, with excellent organization, good roads, and it is convenient to move from end to end. It is known that you can cross the city in 20-30 minutes. For these reasons, as well as in order to save money, you chose the hotel, not trying to ensure that it was located in the city center, but in accordance with your tastes, somewhere in a quiet area, closer to a 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 Prague residents busy with everyday affairs. 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 the entire daytime exploring the city, outside the hotel, and will only come to spend the night, barely dragging your feet from fatigue, then you don’t need anything other than a comfortable bed and a shower. Therefore, when choosing a room, you don’t need to get carried away by any isms, but should prefer cleanliness and convenience. But, if you like to live in luxury, then this is a different matter, the choice is yours. We advise you to use ours.
Excursions in Prague
Before you go to the tourist sites of Prague, you should scour the Internet, find out what excursions around the city currently exist, compare prices in different offers, and choose the most conscientious and acceptable for you. Since you have decided to travel to Prague on your own, 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 will be sure that your excursion will definitely take place. And the choice of excursions is simply impressive: sightseeing, thematic, and excursions for children. The cost of excursions, of course, varies. So, it is most profitable to book group excursions, because the price is distributed according to the number of people.
Car rental in Prague
The section is being updated...
Save money on a guide? Easily!
If you are attracted to people 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 CZK. But, following your intention to explore Prague on your own, it becomes clear that you can completely do without a guide.
Moreover, you will have other expenses, for example, transportation. Moving around the city from place to place, you spend about 110 crowns per day; if you take a taxi, remember that the tariff is 23-25 CZK per kilometer; and if you rented a car, then you will spend a decent amount on gasoline, at the rate of 37-40 crowns per liter.
Prague GPS audio guide
So, you will be the equivalent 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 is from 12.95 euros (depending on the date of booking). In short, this is a GPS device that determines your location and tells you about nearby places of interest. This gadget also comes with a map.
Prague Guide IlovePRG
You can also save on a tour guide using ours. It is enough to take the card with you at the airport/hotel or. Next, use the search and read the history of the specific ones you are facing at the moment.
Ever.Travel website and application
With help in 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. After download the application, log into your account and sync the route you just made on the website with your app. Next, walk around Prague on your own routes with an offline map.
Food in Prague
In terms of food, the same strategy applies as in excursions, hotels, and air tickets - you need to decide in advance which ones you should visit. There is not only a desire to save money, but also a desire to try and visit the most interesting culinary establishments. For these purposes, it is imperative to visit pubs, or, translated into Russian, 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, communicate with local residents, and observe them up close.
Approximate prices for beer and food in Prague bars and restaurants:
— Velkopopovický Kozel beer — 25-35 CZK per half liter;
— Budějovický Budvar beer – 30-40 CZK per half liter;
— Svijany beer – 30-40 Czech crowns per half liter;
— Plzeňský Prazdroj beer — 35-45 CZK per half liter;
— Matuška beer – 60-70 CZK per half liter;
— soup (polévka) – 40-60 Czech crowns per 0.25 liter portion;
— pork ribs – 300-350 CZK per 1 kg;
— baked boar knee — 270-320 CZK per 1 kg;
— espresso coffee – 34-35 Czech crowns per cup.
The pubs we talked about do not tend to get into 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 excessively high. If you are dining together, then for two servings of soup, one Boar’s knee, beer, in the amount of 3-4 glasses, you will pay 550-650 crowns, and this includes tips. Why are there two soups, but one knee? Yes, because this dish, one of the main ones in Czech cuisine, is served in such quantities that even a hungry tourist, if he is alone, cannot eat so much.
But, of course, if you want to dine in the center of Prague, you will be surprised at the difference in prices. Beer in a cafe will not cost three times more than in your pub.
Visiting museums, exhibitions, galleries and palaces. Entry fee
Of course, while in Prague, it would be a sin not to visit museums, palaces, exhibitions and galleries, and this will be a significant expense item for your budget, since an entrance ticket costs from 70 to 200 CZK. And if you want to thoroughly explore Prague Castle, then you will have to pay 700 CZK for a two-day excursion. But in Prague there are also objects of remarkable beauty, architectural masterpieces and historical monuments, for which they will not charge you money for entry. Look on our website for information about such objects, maybe they will interest you.
How to dress in Prague? What things to take with you?
What items from your wardrobe will you need in Prague? It depends on what time of year your trip falls. Here you, as an experienced traveler, will not experience any 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 won’t be able to walk for a long time. Yes, and you have to change your shoes, you never know, your foot rubs or some strap breaks. Make sure you don't have to unplannedly buy a pair on the spot. If you have a companion, do not take her for a walk; if she wears high heels, you will suffer. In this case, low-top shoes are prescribed for women. Knowledgeable people also advise having a foot cream with you that helps relieve fatigue.
How much money to take with you 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 1,500 crowns per day, provided that he paid for the hotel immediately upon arrival or in advance. They also say that you cannot live a day in Prague for less than 1000 CZK. Here are the limiting figures, but this is true, the average temperature in the hospital. You know yourself better, you know where you can restrain yourself in spending, and where you can get carried away. Think, calculate, determine the cost of living in Prague yourself.
Money in Prague. What currency should you take with you: dollars or euros?
Now look on the Internet what currency is in use in Prague, in addition to the Czech crowns. Based on the results of the consultations, it is clear that it is not recommended to take dollars there; euros are possible and necessary. You should have enough crowns with you when you enter Prague to get to your hotel, get settled and get to a reliable currency exchange office to exchange euros for local money. Don’t change anywhere, look around on the spot. Of course, in all major tourist sites they will accept euros from you, but they will recalculate them at an unfavorable rate for you, so you’d better exchange the 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 make time for a walk through Prague’s 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 discounts at this time reach 50-90 percent. If you come at Christmas, it will be the peak of Christmas sales. You'll hang out in the festively decorated shops and enjoy your successful purchases. If you are in Prague in the summer, in July-August, you can replenish your summer wardrobe for little money. Yes, at any time you will find something interesting in the shops of Prague, and if you are interested in designer clothes at high prices, then take a stroll through (Parisian). You can find things at more reasonable prices (On Přikop), and products for the mass buyer are presented, but of course, not only.
There are also outlets in Prague, for example, F, which is visited mainly by local residents, and visitors often have no idea about it. And this is in vain, because the quality and range of goods here are at the proper level, and prices are lower than in major shopping centers and well-known stores. True, it is located on the outskirts, in Prague 10, and it is not easy to get to, but you love to walk around the city, wander through unfamiliar places. So go ahead, it’s only in places like these that it’s worth shopping, and not crowding around on several streets in the center.
But if you like a crowd, you can go to Palladium shopping center, it is very popular among city guests. It is right in the center, not far from Wenceslas and Old Town Squares, a large five-story building filled with all kinds of boutiques. The city also has such large shopping centers 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 places in Prague where you can successfully spend your money.
Tax free refund in Prague
Do not forget, while spending, that if the cost of your purchase exceeds 2500 CZK, which is about 80 euros, then you have the right to use the Tax free return 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 purchase some goods and receive, in addition to the main one, a second check form that you need to fill out; further, at customs, when leaving the country, you confirm the fact of export of goods - in the form of a stamp that the customs officer places on this second check form; and this guarantees you a refund of a certain amount, from 10 to 20 percent of the original purchase price, depending on the product group. You can receive this amount in cash right there at the airport, or ask for the money to be transferred to your card, or, as a last resort, you have the opportunity to request a refund at home, within no more than 5 months from the date of purchase.
Your reviews about your independent trip to Prague on our website!
When your trip is over, you will be able to evaluate how successful your independent holiday in Prague was. Are you satisfied with yourself? Have you made many mistakes? Maybe it’s worth going to a forum on the Internet, finding like-minded people and exchanging 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 issues. Apparently, people are tired of the fact that someone is trying to decide for them, manage them, create burdensome benefits for them that they do not need, and, at the same time, settle their problems. But you and I have to pay for everything!