General Information
Czech Republic
Those who would like to get acquainted with one of the most beautiful countries in Europe should not miss the Czech Republic situated in the very heart of Europe.
The number of foreign visitors to the Czech Republic has been increasing sharply over the last several years. Many come back after their first visit, to enjoy together with others all that the Czech Republic has to offer. The main advantage of the Czech Republic is the wealth, diversity and accessibility of cultural, historical and natural places of interest, all concentrated in a relatively small space that boast very serviceable standards of accommodation and dining facilities. Prague is among the most frequently visited cities in the world. Places of interest for tourists are not, however, concentrated just there - every part of Bohemia and Moravia has something to offer to its visitors. For some, it is old cathedrals and picturesque corners of historical towns, others value a silent mountain valley or the mysterious atmosphere of romantic ruins and ancient castles. The social life is rich as well – not just in Prague and other larger cities, but also in Bohemian and Moravian spas.
Complete information about Czech Republic is available at the official website of the Czech Republic at www.czech.cz.
Prague
Prague is a city of very high standards, offering both historical and modern conference venues, hotels, restaurants and places of interest. Prague - the capital of the Czech Republic situated on both banks of the Vltava River is a beautiful city with a rich history. Thanks to its location in the centre of Europe, Prague has always been an important crossroads of trade and culture. Prague, often called "Golden" or "Hundred-spired", belongs to the architecturally unique European towns, attractive for tourists from around the world. Visitors find themselves enjoying a living museum of European architecture from Romanesque time to the present.
Prague has 1,200,000 inhabitants and stretches over approximately 500 square kilometres. The dominant feature of the city is Prague Castle, which houses the gothic St. Vitus Cathedral. The castle had been the seat of Czech kings since 1087, until 1918 when it became the seat of presidents of the Czechoslovak Republic, and since 1993 it has been the seat of the president of the Czech Republic. Prague has one of the oldest universities in Europe; the Charles University which was founded in 1348.
Prague has a designated UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage area of more than 8 sq km, over 100 theatres, concert halls, galleries etc.
Numerous personalities famous world-wide have lived in Prague (e.g. Emperors Charles IV and Rudolph II, J. A. Comenius (Komenský), W. A. Mozart, Franz Kafka, A. Einstein, etc…). With a widely opened pro-market economy, stable democratic government, stable currency and well-known working skills of the people, this country provides a great opportunity to host a conference in order to meet scientists and business people from all over the world.
Complete information about Prague is available at the official website of Prague at www.cityofprague.cz.
Currency and Exchange Rates
The official currency of the Czech Republic is the Czech Crown = Česká koruna (CZK = Kč). Exchange of foreign currency is available at Prague International Airport and principal railway stations (ATM machines and exchange offices) and at most hotels, banks and exchange offices throughout the city. International credit cards are accepted as payment in hotels, restaurants and shops. Payment in cash in EUR is also possible at most restaurants and shops, please ask for details on-site.
You can find the official exchange rates on the website of the Czech National Bank at www.cnb.cz.
Electricity
The Czech Republic uses a 230 volt 50 Hz system, sockets are European standard and plugs are three-prong grounded.
Insurance
The organizers do not accept responsibility for individual medical, travel or personal insurance. All participants are strongly advised to make their own personal insurance before travelling to the congress.
Time Zone
The Czech Republic is on Central European Time – Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) plus 1 hour. From April to October it is summer time, i.e. GMT + 2 hours.
Weather
Spring weather in Prague can be quite different, temperatures range from 15°C –to 25°C. You can find the current weather at www.weather.com.
Prague Public Transportation
New tariffs are valid from July 1, 2011 more at www.dpp.cz/en/fares-in-prague
1) Metro
The Prague Metro network consists of 3 lines designated by letters and differentiated in colour:
green colour (Depo Hostivar station - Dejvicka station)
yellow colour (Cerny most station - Zlicin station)
red colour (Letnany - Haje station)
Changes are possible at Muzeum station (lines A and C), Mustek station (lines A and B) and Florenc station (lines B and C).
The metro operates daily from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. The time interval between train departures is approximately 2 - 3 minutes during the workday rush hours and 4 - 10 minutes during off-peak hours.
2) Trams
Daytime operation is from 4:30 a.m. to midnight. Night operation is from midnight to 4:30 a.m. and is provided by tram numbers 51 to 59 at an interval of 30 minutes. The central interchange station for night lines is the Lazarska stop. Tram schedules are located at individual stops.
3) Buses
The daytime and night operation of buses is similar to tram operation. The night service is provided by bus numbers 501 to 514 and 601 to 604. Bus schedules are located at individual stops.
4) The Funicular
The Funicular to Petrin Hill operates along the route Újezd - Nebozizek - Petrin. The Funicular operates daily from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (April - September) and from 9 a.m. to 11:20 p.m. (October - March) with traffic intervals between 10 and 15 minutes.
Prague City Transport Fares
Travelling by city transport is possible only with a valid ticket. Passengers have to obtain their tickets before boarding a vehicle or entering the Metro system. The ticket is valid only if marked in the validation appliance (a yellow ticket stamping machine found near the door of trams or at the entrance to metro stations). Tickets can be bought at selected Metro stations or in Dopravni podnik Information Centers, hotels, at news stands, travel bureaus, department stores, etc. Single tickets can also be bought from ticket machines located at Metro stations or near some bus and tram stops.
Fares
Transfer ticket 32,- CZK
Discounted (children 6 to 15 years) 16,- CZK
- the ticket is valid for 75 minutes after validation. During off-peak hours, i.e. 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. on working days and all day on Saturdays and Sundays ticket validity is prolonged to 90 minutes.
Ticket with limited transfer options 24,- CZK
Discounted (children 6 to 15 years) 12,- CZK
- in trams and buses a non-transfer ticket is valid for 20 minutes after validation and does not allow changing of lines. In the underground the non-transfer ticket is valid for 5 stations after validation (excluding the starting station) and allows transfers between underground lines. The time validity of the non-transfer ticket in the underground is limited to 30 minutes.
- Non-transfer tickets are not valid on night trams and buses or for the Petrin Funicular
Prices may increase during the year.
Freight
- luggage, prams without babies 16,- CZK
- dogs 26,- CZK
Tourist Tickets
- for 24 hours 110,- CZK, children (6 - 15 years) 55,- CZK
- for 3 days (72 hours) 310,- CZK (+ 1 child 6 to 15 free of charge)
These tickets are valid for all the city transport facilities and allow for changes.
Ticket Inspection
The validity of tickets can be checked by the ticket inspectors of Dopravni podnik at any time during travel or waiting in the Metro system. The ticket inspector is entitled to ask a passenger to produce his or her valid ticket, to confiscate invalid tickets, and to collect a penalty (950 CZK, 700 CZK if paid at once) in the case of travel without a valid ticket. In the case of unpaid freight the penalty is 200 CZK, which is reduced to 100 CZK, if it is paid on the spot or in an excess fare ticket office of Dopravni podnik. To prove their identity, inspectors produce yellow-and-red badges. They issue receipts for the penalty amounts.
Information for Disabled Persons
Barrierless access in Metro:
A-line - stations Dejvická, Muzeum, Strasnická, Skalka, Depo Hostivar
B-line - stations Zlicín, Stodulky, Luka, Luziny, Hurka, Nové Butovice, Smichovské nádrazí, Vysocanská, Kolbenova, Hloubetín, Rajská zahrada, Cerny Most
C-line - stations Letnany, Prosek, Strizkov, Ládví, Kobylisy, Nádrazí Holesovice, Vltavská, Florenc, Hlavní nádrazí, Muzeum, Vysehrad, Pankrác, Budejovická, Roztyly, Chodov, Opatov, Háje
Special bus lines № 1 and № 3 providing transport of disabled persons in wheelchairs connect the suburbs Cerny Most II, Jizní Mesto II, Repy, Sídliste Dáblice with the centre of Prague (Metro station Florenc) where a change of lines is possible. These lines are in service during the working days only.
Line № 291 connects the health facilities in the area of I. P. Pavlova Square - Charles Square - I. P. Pavlova Square.
Taxi
The maximum prices for taxi services in the district of the capital city of Prague:
- ride in the district of the capital city of Prague 28,- CZK/1 km
- boarding fee 40,- CZK
- waiting 6,- CZK/1min.
The prices can rise during the year.
The maximum prices are valid for all vehicles offering taxi services in the district of Prague. The price for waiting includes waiting in a traffic jam (slow traffic) as well as waiting on the customer's request. Fare outside the district of Prague is not limited.
- Each taxi has to be equipped with a permanently installed roof lamp with the TAXI sign.
- The registration number, company name and price list including the basic rate, kilometer rate and one-minute-waiting rate must be displayed on both front doors of the taxi. These prices must correspond with the prices set on the taximeters in the taxi.
- Customers are recommended to order a taxi by means of nonstop dispatching offices, where information on fares is available in advance.
- When the journey is completed, the driver is obliged to issue an orderly and fully filled receipt for the payment. The receipt must be issued by the taxameter printer.
