About Prague

Prague is the "Jewel in the Crown" of Central Europe and tourism is a major force.

Prague's Most Beautiful Views

Situated on the hillside, Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral Tower present fine views over the whole of Prague. This is Prague's number one tourist attraction.

There are also excellent views to be enjoyed from the following sights: Old Town Hall Tower, Old Town Bridge Tower, Mala Strana Bridge Tower, Petrin Observation Tower & Vysehrad.

As tourism is a major force in Prague, several pubs & restaurants have outside terraces with splendid views over the city: pubs with views, restaurants with views.

For further information on Prague, please visit Czech Tourism >

Geographical Situation

Prague is the Capital City of the Czech Republic, which is a landlocked country in Central Europe, surrounded by hills and mountain ranges. It borders with Germany to the west, Poland to the north, Slovakia to the east and Austria to the south.

Language

The official language. English, German and Russian may be spoken, but not everywhere.

Climate

The local climate is of intermediate character between oceanic and continental, with cold and humid winters and warm summers. The average temperature in summer is 24 °C (74 °F), although temperatures can rise to 30 °C (92 °F). At night, temperatures fall to 15 °C (46 °F). Spring and summer tend to be the sunniest months, with the period between May and August being the rainiest.

Visa Requirements and Passport Information

As the Czech Republic is a member of the European Union (E.U.), most tourists do not require a visa to visit Prague. A valid passport is of course still necessary.
To check if you need a visa, please click here.

Currency
The Czech Republic is a member of the E.U., but the currency in Prague is still the Czech Crown (czk). Banknotes come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 & 5000czk.

The Czech Republic is expected to join the Euro monetary union in 2009. Some establishments may accept Euros.

For tourist exchange rates, click here.

Credit Cards
Use of Credit Cards in Prague is widespread; you can pay by Cards in hotels, restaurants, shops and other places. In Prague there are dense net of cash dispensers where you can draw cash 24 hours.

Travel Cheques
The main advantage is protection against theft, but in Czech Republic they are not popular and their use is limited. They are not accepted in shops or restaurants but can be exchanged for cash in banks and exchange offices.

Approximate Rate of Exchange:
1 EUR = 28,00 CZK; 1 USD = 22 CZK

VAT and Tax Refunds

Every shop in the country will charge up to 22% VAT on all purchases. Goods purchased in the Czech Republic and taken overseas are eligible for a tax refund. The main tax refund office is located at Jindrisska 7, close to the main post office in Prague. The office can also be contacted by the toll free number 800 174 953.

Opening Hours

Most museums and shops are open daily from 9am to 6pm and closed Sunday. Banks operate similar hours, but remain closed on Saturday afternoons.

Electrical Current

The standard electricity supply in the Czech Republic is 230 volts (50/60 cycles). Visitors may require a transformer and a plug adaptor.