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Transportation:
Getting Around Prague
By
Metro:
With three lines
and fairly good signage, Prague's metro system is easy to navigate and
is the fastest way to get around. Czechs usually refer to the lines by
letter (green A, yellow B, red C), while expatriates generally call them
by color. In the center, stops are fairly close together; in the outskirts,
they spread out and the metro takes on more of a computer-rail character.
Stamp your ticket
upon entering the metro. Ceiling signs at the ends of the platforms indicate
the train directions, expressed in relation to the ends of the line. Another
ceiling sign near the center of the platform shows you where you are in
relation to the transfer station.
Public transfer
maps are posted in yellow-bordered board on the platforms of most stations;
they can also be purchased. Important signs:
přestup -
Transfer, Výstup - Exit, Směr - Toward, Nádraží -
Railwaz station, Stanice - Metro station, Náměstí - Square.
By
tram:
in conjunction
with the metro, trams are the quickest, cheapest and most efficient way
to get around the center. To those unaccustomed to trams, the system may
seem a bit intimidating, but it's really not as bad as it looks.
-
Stamp your ticket.
You need a valid stamped ticket or pass. Tickets may be stamped on the trams.
-
Be sure to stand
in the right place. Some large intersections have multiple stops for different
directions; make sure you're standing at the right one. Consult the tram
schedules at each stop to be sure you're standing on the right side of
the street. Tram stops on the schedule are listed, top to bottom, from
the first below the stop you're standing at ; it's behind you; cross the
street and wait for the tram in the other direction.
By Bus
Bus routes link
metro stations with outer destinations and areas not covered by tram lines.
Major city bus terminals are located adjacent to the above-listed stations
as well as - Českomoravská, - Dejvická, - Nové Butovice, - Opatov, -
Palmovka, -Pankarac and Skalka.
By
Taxi
Prague cabbies
are notorious for trying to bilk tourists. Be sure about the price per
kilometer before entering any taxi. When possible, call for your taxi
rather than hailing one on the street. Some reputable companies are listed
below. If calling is not possible, prefer taxis which are not waiting at
a stand. The Mercedes cars charge Mercedes prices. Sometimes an old taxi
with an old man who drives for himself(as opposed to a taxi cartel) is
best. The taxis waiting in groups on Wenceslas Square or any similar central
location are the predators. Avoid them at all cost, if you want to avoid
their cost at all.
Selected cab
companies:
-
AAA tel. 14 014
-
HALO TAXI tel.
71 73 52 04
-
CITY TAXI 33 10
33 10
By Car
Driving in Prague
is not recommended. Czech drivers are ruthlessly aggressive, the one-way
streets are labyrinthine, parking is a nightmare, and driving can be difficullt(and
dangerous) if you are not accustomed to trams. The center is so compact
and the public transit is so good that a car is almost more hassle than
it's worth. Save money by parking at an outer metro station and just riding
the metro into the center.
Local transport
Prague has an
extensive and efficient underground system and a network of trams and buses.
Operation
of Public Transit in Prague
1/ M E T
R O is the quickest kind of public transport. It is safe, reliable
and clean
Prague Metro
consists of three lines:
A - Skalka
® Dejvická
B - Černý
Most ® Zličín
C - Nádraží
Holešovice ® Háje
possibility
to change at stations:
1/ Muzeum lines
A x C
2/ Můstek lines
A x B
3/ Florenc
lines B x C
Metro operates
daily from 5am to 12pm.
The headway
of the trains leaving the stations is 2-3 min. mduring the peaks on working days, 4-10min. in the remaining
time.
Metro provides
transport connection to following large Prague stations : Florenc Bus Station
Main Railway
Station
Masarykovo Railway
station
Prague - Smíchov
Prague - Holešovice
2/ T R A
M S
Daily trams
operate from 4.30am to 0.15 am.
Most tram routes
operate in the average headway of 8 min. and afternoon peaks on working
days, 10 min. in the morning hours and 7.5-15 min. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Night trams
operate from 0.15am to 4.30 am with a uniform headway 30 min.
The central
point of change of the night routes , designated by No. 51 - 58
, is called Lazarská . Data concerning the transport connection are written
in the time-tables placed at individual stops.
On weekends
and national holidays between April and October vintage tram cars
are used on a special sightseeing route.
Historic
Tram Tour
If you send
a fax with details several days ahead, the city transport department will
arrange a private tour using one of the turn - of - the - century wooden
tram cars that actually travelled on regular lines through Prague. Up to
24 people can fit in one car, which sport wooden - planked floors, cast
- iron conductors' levers, and the " ching - ching " of a proper tram bell.
Up to 60 people can fit into a double car for about 4.000,- CZK per hour.
You can also order a cold smor - gasbord with coffee, beer, champagne,
a waiter to serve, and an accordion player if you wish.
And you can choose the route
the tram takes. Tours begin and finish at Střešovice ( Metro line A - Hradčanská
, Trams: 1, 8, 18 ) .
3/ B U S
E S
Day and night
operation has a similar time extent with trams.
Most buses routes
operate in the headway of 5-15 min. in the morning and afternoon peaks
on working days, 10-20 min. in the morning hours, 15-30 min. in the evening
and 10-30 min on Saturdays and Sundays.
The night operation
is provided by the routes No. 501-512. A uniform headway of 30 min.
is valid for buses as well except of the routes No. 502, 506 .
Data concerning
the transport connection are written in the time-tables placed at individual
stops.
4/ F U N
I C U L A R
The Petřín funicular operates
daily from 9.15 am to 8.45pm
The funicular to Petřín hill
is linked to the tram transport at the stop Újezd and is lead along the
line Újezd - Nebozízek - Petřín.
Data concerning
the transport connection are written in the time-tables placed at individual
stops.
The headway
of the funicular is 15 min. during then winter season ( Oct - Apr ) and
10 min. during the summer season ( Apr - Oct ).
Prices of
tickets:
Single tickets:
single change:
person over 15 years, student .......................................................
20,- CZK
( 60 min. )
pensioner and child from reached 6 years to completed 15 years of age........
6,- CZK
single ( 15
min. )
no change: person
over 15 years, student .... 14,- CZK
pensioner and
child from reached 6 years to completed 15 years of age........ 4,- CZK
luggage ....................................6,-
CZK
Short - term
single tickets:
change ticket
for 24 hours ................... 70,- CZK
change ticket
for 3 days ................... 200,- CZK
change ticket
for 7 days ................... 250,- CZK
change ticket
for 15 days ................... 280,- CZK
The tickets
is valid 24 hours from the moment it has been stamped or 3,7 or 15 calendar
days including the day it has been stamped exclusively within the Prague
Capital.
TRANSPORT
INFORMATION CENTERS :
1/ M u z
e u m - subway of the station Muzeum ( line A and C ), open Mon-Sun
, 7am-9pm
( tel. 22 62
37 77 )
2/ M ů s
t e k - subway of the station Můstek ( line B ) beneath Jungmannovo
Square , open
Mon-Sun , 7am-9pm
( tel. 22 64 63 58 )
3/ N á d
r a ž í H o l e š o v i c e - subway of the station Holešovice ( line
C ) , exit to Plynární street, open Mon-Fri , 7am to 6 pm ( tel. 80 67
90 )
4/ Anděl - open Mo - Fri 7 am - 6 pm, (tel. 22 64 60 55)
5/ Č e r
n ý M o s t - located at the northern side of the station Černý Most
( line B ) open Mon- Fri , 7am to 6pm ( tel. 22 64 74 50 )
All
your accommodations in the Czech republic you can find at
www.bed.cz
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