Practical informations
The Czech Republic is a member of the European Union.Citizens of EU countries, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland may stay temporarily within the territory of the Czech Republic without any permit whatsoever on the basis of a travel document or ID card.
Although the Czech Republic is a member of the EU, it is not so far a member of the Eurozone and for this reason, the euro is not the official currency here (yet despite this it is possible to exchange euro for Czech crowns without any problems).
The official language in the Czech Republic is Czech, which is a Slavonic language (the same as Slovak, Polish, Serbian, Russian, Croatian or Bulgarian). It is sometimes possible to make yourself understood in English or Russian. German is a little less widespread.
The largest and main Czech airport is Prague-Ruzyně. Domestic flights run from Moravia to Bohemia (e.g. from Ostrava to Prague), although most flights are international. Prague-Ruzyně Airport meets all European standards and is made up of three terminals.
The Czech Republic has one of the densest rail networks in Europe and an elaborate system of public bus transportation with a great density of connections.
Important telephone numbers: 112 emergency calls (this number works throughout the whole of Europe and includes universal medical aid, the police and the fire brigade – but it need not necessarily work on older mobile telephones without SIM cards)
Telephoning: The GSM network works on frequencies of 900 MHz and 1800 MHz. If you are taking your mobile phone with you, make sure that it is able to work on these frequencies.
The international dialling code for the Czech Republic is +420 (00420).
Shops: In smaller towns or smaller shops, opening hours are usually Monday to Friday from 8 or 9 am until 6 pm. Shops are usually only open in the morning on Saturday. In larger cities, shops are usually open later, for example until 8 or 9 pm. The smallest shops very rarely have a break for lunch and if so, usually around 12 noon to 1 pm.
Sudden illness, accidents and similar can be resolved using the emergency services. These are open as special departments in hospitals. In very serious cases, it is possible to call the rescue service on the emergency number 112.
The Czech Republic is a safe European country, but despite this, it is advisable to be cautious just like in any other large European city. Being careful and sticking to certain safety principles are all part of a pleasantly spent holiday.
Accommodation in the Czech Republic corresponds to the standards of European countries. It is possible here to find cheap accommodation for students on their travels and also top-quality luxury accommodation in hotel suites. Those who love adventure can make use of the camp sites here or for example spend the night on a barge.