Transport in the Czech Republic

By plane

The largest air harbor of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel Airport, is located in Prague. Previously it was called Ruzyn Airport (Ruzyně), but in 2012 it was renamed in honor of the former president of the Czech Republic. The airport accepts about five flights a day from Moscow ("Aeroflot" and Czech Airlines) and one or two flights from St. Petersburg ("Aeroflot", Czech Airlines and Rossiya Airlines). The cost of tickets Moscow-Prague-Moscow starts from 14,500 rubles.

The average cost of a flight from the northern capital is about 22,000 rubles round trip, but if you are ready to fly with a transfer, for example, in Riga (budget airline airBaltic) tickets can be purchased for less than 15,000 rubles.

Flights from both Russian capitals are regular, so they do not depend on surges in tourist flows during peak seasons. In the off-season, the cost of tickets decreases slightly, increasing in the summer and by the Christmas holidays.

In summer, flights to Prague and from other Russian cities are being introduced: Yekaterinburg (Czech Airlines and Ural Airlines), Samara (Czech Airlines) and Krasnodar (Yakutia Airlines).

Ruzine Airport is located on the outskirts of Prague, but the connection with the center of the capital is very well established. The AE bus line (Aeroport Express) runs to Prague's main train station, which can be reached in 30 minutes. The ticket is sold directly by the bus driver. There are also a number of regular buses going to certain stations of the Prague metro, for example, Nádráží Veleslavín or Zličín.

Other international airports in the Czech Republic are located in the cities of Brno, Ostrava, Karlovy Vary and Pardubice. Twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays, you can fly from Moscow to Karlovy Vary. A direct flight will cost almost 30,000 rubles, so it may make sense to make a transfer in Prague and save half the cost. The flight from Russia to other airports in the Czech Republic will be complicated by one or even two transfers.

By train

For those who are afraid, or for some other reason do not fly by plane, there is an alternative option - the railway. Year-round non-stop communication has been established between Russia and the Czech Republic. From Moscow to Prague, the train departs on Wednesdays and Fridays, from St. Petersburg on Thursdays. The cost of one-way tickets starts from €161.

In Karlovy Vary, as well as in Prague, the train "Moscow-Cheb" departs on Wednesday and Friday. Ticket price per adult – from €174.

It is also more convenient to travel long distances across the country by train. In addition, this method is not only more comfortable, but also provides an opportunity to enjoy beautiful views from the window. The total length of railways in the Czech Republic reaches 9500 km, and the most famous carrier company is the state-owned České dráhy (Czech Railways), an analogue of Russian Railways. For the convenience of traveling in the Czech Republic, a website has been created jizdnirady.cz , which will allow not only to get acquainted with the timetable of trains and public transport (metro, bus, tram), but also helps to develop an individual combined route. For example, if you want to travel from Prague to Karlovy Vary, the site will tell you not only the distance and travel time, but also the number of the platform from which the bus or train departs and where it arrives. So, a bus trip along the specified route will take 2 hours and 15 minutes, and a trip by train will take a little more than three hours. Here, on the website, you can buy a ticket, if it is available for registration online, and set your own tourist route throughout Europe. Approximately, a train ticket on the Prague-Karlovy Vary route costs 169 kronor.

By car

One of the most comfortable ways to travel in the Czech Republic is, of course, a car. This type of travel makes it possible to stop at interesting points of the route for as long as you like, focusing solely on your own preferences, and not following the paved tourist trails. Of course, you must first familiarize yourself with the specifics of road traffic in the country.

Traffic in the Czech Republic is on the right, and the headlights must be turned on at any time of the day and at any time of the year. Driving a car in a state of even mild intoxication is strictly prohibited – the police may require you to take a sobriety test. It is also prohibited to use a mobile phone while driving, the only exception is hands-free equipment. The rules for transporting children with a body weight of up to 36 kg and a height of up to 150 cm prescribe the use of a car seat and seat belts. Also, in the period from November 1 to March 31, all Czech drivers must "change" their vehicles into winter tires. Each driver must have an identity document, a driver's license and documents for the car.

The permitted driving speed in populated areas is 50 km/h, outside of 90 km/h. The speed limit on motorways outside residential areas is 130 km/h.

In case of an accident, drivers are obliged to report the incident if there are injured or dead, when the damage is caused to a third party or if the damage caused by one of the parties exceeds CZK 100,000. In other cases, drivers can agree among themselves and not call the police. If a rented car gets into an accident, then it is necessary to call the police officers; the protocols drawn up by them will become evidence when calculating the damage.

You can rent a car directly at the airport, at the railway station, in the offices of Prague or in advance, for example, through the website Rentalcars. On average, the cost of renting a car will be about €35-40 per day. To date, this segment is not experiencing a shortage of either suppliers or users, nevertheless, it is worth giving preference to well-established market leaders - Enterprise, Budget, Sixth, Dollar, Rent Plus, Thrifty, Czechocar. All companies have approximately equal requirements for drivers: age from 21 years, the presence of an international driving license, driving experience and a voucher (provided that the rental was booked and paid in advance). When paying for a car, funds for deposit and fuel payment will be blocked on the driver's bank card.

Also in the Czech Republic there is a popular car-sharing service - the possibility of a minute-by-minute or hourly car rental. The first such association in the Czech Republic has been operating since 2003 and is called Autonapul. On her on the website you can fill out a registration form to take a car on arrival in the Czech Republic in exchange for a deposit (5000 kronor). To date, the service is available in the seven largest cities of the Republic of Brno, Prague, Liberec, Pilsen, Ostrava, Pardubice and Hradec Kralove, however, in the near future the organizers promise to link all major settlements of the country.

You can get acquainted with the map of highways of the Czech Republic on the website Motorway.cz . It's worth noting right away that most of the high-quality highways are paid. A convenient map of toll roads is available on the website Mytocz.eu , and for the convenience of calculating the payment, drivers can use a specially developed by the toll calculator. After paying for travel on a paid section of road, it is necessary to paste the appropriate sticker on the windshield of the car.

Public transport

The public transport system is very well developed in the Czech Republic, especially in large cities, where you can choose from several means of transportation: bus, metro, tram and even funicular.

Prague is the only city in the Czech Republic that has a metro, and this is probably the most popular transport in the capital, since Prague is rightly considered not the friendliest city for motorists. There are three metro lines here: green line A, yellow line B and red line C. The metro is open daily from 5 am to midnight.

When the metro is already closed, a great way to get around Prague at night is by bus or tram. At night, public transport runs every 30 minutes, and the numbers of night buses and trams in Prague start with the number 5. Key bus stationsFlorenc  and Černý most are considered, with Florenc station being the starting point connecting Prague with European capitals. In particular, it is a transport hub for the passenger company Eurolines, which carries out bus transportation in European cities. In addition to Prague, buses of this company can leave the Czech cities of Brno, Pilsen, Ust-nad-Labem and Hradec Kralove. RegioJet is considered to be the largest and at the same time the most budget company in the Czech Republic engaged in passenger transportation. Its buses can be reached from Prague to Karlovy Vary in just 6.1 euros. On the official on the carrier's website you can not only to find a suitable route and buy tickets, but also to choose a seat on the bus yourself.

Tickets for public transport in Prague and other major cities of the Czech Republic give the right to travel on all available types of public transport (except, of course, taxis). Travel or one-time tickets can be purchased at newsstands, metro stations, in some hotels, tourist centers and transport and travel agencies. When buying a ticket, you need to choose from several options: a limited ticket for 24 crowns (valid for 30 minutes), a basic ticket for 32 crowns (90 minutes on all types of transport with an unlimited number of transfers), a one-day ticket for 110 crowns or a three-day ticket for 310 crowns. Exact information about the current cost of tickets can always be found on the website Transport company of Prague.

To buy a metro ticket, you can send an SMS to the number 90206 with the text DPT24, DPT32 (depending on the ticket price). The e-ticket will be sent to the mobile phone within two minutes maximum.

Part of Prague's urban transport is also such a seemingly exotic form of transportation as a funicular. The cable car connects the left bank of the Vltava River with the Petrshin Hill (Petřín), where there is a tower that many consider to be a replica of the Eiffel Tower. The funicular operates daily from 9 am to midnight, and runs at intervals of 15 minutes. Having a single ticket for public transport in Prague, you do not need to purchase an additional ticket.

Taxi

The average price of a taxi ride is 20 kronor per 1 km of travel. The final amount depends on the city, and the highest tariffs, as a rule, are in the capital. The cost of a trip from the city center to Prague Airport ranges from 500 CZK to 700 CZK.

Of course, there are unscrupulous taxi drivers everywhere, but in the Czech Republic their number is reduced to a minimum – it is only necessary to exercise elementary vigilance: do not catch a taxi on the street, do not get into cars that do not have taxi company identification marks, and ask in advance the price of the trip to the destination. Some taxis in the Czech Republic can be ordered by sending an SMS.

Alternative to traditional taxi – application UBER. In the Czech Republic, it is very popular and developed, works quickly and costs much cheaper than local taxis.

Modern technologies to help travelers

Nowadays it is already difficult to plan a trip without the help of the World Wide Web, and if modern technologies have stepped so far, travelers should use them effectively. Here are some useful applications that can be useful when traveling in the Czech Republic:

– The already mentioned application Jízdní řády, which will help you plot your travel route and select the optimal modes of transport. The disadvantage of this application is the need for an internet connection;

A paid application with similar functions, but available offline,   CG Transit;

– Mapy.cz – detailed map of the Czech Republic, works offline;

– SMS Jízdenka – to purchase tickets for public transport in Prague via SMS;

– Travel guide and offline map of Prague for iOS;

– Akční ceny is an application for tracking discounts, promotions, bonuses and special offers in Czech stores for those who like to save money on trips.

Portal HomesOverseas.ru thanks Ekaterina Andreeva and Olga Startseva for their help in preparing the article (GARTAL Corporate Group/MIEL), Anna Shalygina (VK Real s.r.o.), Evgenia Rusnaka (Prosto Real s.r.o.) and Liliana Chebotar (My-house.cz ).

_{photocredits: flickr}

Olga Shoshina