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The
Czech Republic is divided into two geographic and cultural
sections, Bohemia and Moravia. Bohemian spa towns and
laid-back Moravian wine villages seem to be in a time
warp, welcoming visitors as though they are living
museums of a refined and relaxed rural lifestyle. There
are more than 100 castles dotted around the countryside,
ranging from forbidding fortresses to elegant chateaux,
all open to the public.
The
Czech countryside is also a major drawcard for hikers,
cyclists and cross-country skiers, with hundreds of
kilometres of marked trails networking the landscape |
+1
(GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday
in October).
230
volts, 50Hz. Round pin plugs with a hole for a male grounding
pin are standard. Most sockets also take the standard European
two-pin plugs.
Czech
is the official language but English and German
are also widely spoken.
The
international access code for the Czech Republic is +420. The outgoing
code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United
Kingdom). Area codes are not required. There are high surcharges on international
calls from hotels; it is cheaper to use the public telephone boxes -
phone cards can be bought from newsagents. The local mobile phone operators
use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with all major international
operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns.
Winters in the Czech Republic tend to be very cold with
snow, while summers are often mild and wet. The best time to
visit is from May to September when days are warm and nights
cool. The European summer is the tourist high season
If you like to drive and stay at hotels, lodges, bed and breakfasts, that is
fine. We offer a choice of 2
companies offering budget vehicles, new vehicles and mini-buse. If you tell us
your requirements we will happy prepare a quotation for you. See details Czech
Republic
Car Hire
You can also travel by boat. As the largest global canal boat wholesaler,
we offer you a choice of 3 self skipper companies: Amadeus, Peter Deilmann
and Viking River Cruise and Value World Travel river cruising is lots of fun.
No license
is
required
and
boats are available for 2-12 passengers. It really is a terrific bonding time
for
families or just
a
great time for a group of friends. The Luxury Ships or boats are very comfortable
and most boats have en-suites and comfortable cabins. BBQ's , fishing rods
and
outdoor
deck
furniture complete the picture.
For details, Czech
Republic River Cruising
Entry requirements for Americans: US
citizens must have a valid passport (must be valid for at least
90 days beyond period of intended stay). A visa is not required
for stays of up to three months.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: British
citizens must have a passport. No visa is required for a stay
of up to six months for travellers holding a British Passport
endorsed British Citizen or 'holder has the right of abode
in the UK' or 'holder is entitled to re-admission to the UK'.
If passport is endorsed British National (Overseas), then a
visa is not required for a stay of up to three months. In all
other cases, passports must be valid at least 90 days beyond
expiry date of the visa. A visa is required.
Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadians
must have a valid passport (must be valid for at least 90 days
beyond period of intended stay). No visa is required for a
stay of up to three months.
Entry requirements for Australians: Australian
citizens must have a valid passport (must be valid for at least
90 days beyond period of intended stay) required. A visa is
not required for a stay of up to three months.
Entry requirements for South Africans: South
Africans require a visa as well as a valid passport (must be
valid for at least 90 days beyond expiry date of the visa).
Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish
nationals must have a valid passport or a special (Emergency)
passport. No visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for New Zealand nationals: New
Zealand citizens must have a valid passport (must be valid
for at least 90 days beyond period of intended stay). No visa
is required for a stay of up to three months.
.
Passport/Visa Note: visitors
must hold an onward or return ticket and all documents required
for onward travel, and proof of sufficient funds to cover period
of intended stay. These must be produced on request at border
crossing points. Visitors must sign a border-crossing card.
Passports of all visitors must be valid at least 90 days beyond
expiry date of the visa or 90 days beyond period of intended
stay for visa exempt nationals.
Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at
short notice. Travellers are advised to check their entry
requirements with their embassy or consulate.
The Czech Republic's capital and international
showpiece, Prague is one of the most popular destinations
in Eastern Europe. Its attraction lies in the physical beauty
of the city with 600 years of architecture amazingly untouched
by war. The centre has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage
Site and it demands to be explored on foot, an entire outdoor
museum of history and a haphazard mixture of splendid architecture.
In the 14th century Prague enjoyed a reputation of being one
of the most important cities in Europe, but after the Second
World War it disappeared completely behind the Iron Curtain.
Since the 1989 Velvet Revolution and the end of Communism,
Prague has thrown off the years of repression with alacrity
and is returning to its earlier grandeur, enticing tourists
with its fairytale quality and romantic atmosphere
ATTRACTIONS
IN PRAGUE
The Castle District (Hradèany)
The Castle District
stretches across the top of the hill overlooking the city
and incorporates the best churches and museums in
Prague set around three courtyards, immaculate gardens, fortifications
and state apartments. The dominant feature is St Vitus Cathedral
occupying most of the third courtyard. The Castle was founded
in the 9th century and is still the official residence of the
president. The Old Royal Palace was home to the Kings of Bohemia
from the 11th to the 17th centuries. The Royal Apartments and
Vladislav Hall, where Bohemian knights once jousted, kings
were throned and presidents are sworn into office, can be visited,
as well as the little chapel next door. Next to the red façade
of the Romanesque Basilica of St George, lies the Benedictine
Convent, housing the National Gallery’s remarkable collection
of old Bohemian art. Behind the gallery is the picturesque
cobbled alley known as Golden Lane, a row of 16th-century tradesmen’s
cottages, brightly coloured and built into the fortifications.
Visitors can watch the Changing of the Guard on the hour every
hour, with the fanfare and flag ceremony included at noon.
Website: old.hrad.cz/index_uk.html; Transport:
Tram 22, 23 or X-A to Prazsky hrad, or metro to Hradèany;
Opening time: Interiors daily 9am to 5pm (4pm in winter).
Castle grounds
daily 5am to midnight (April to October) and 6am to 11pm (November
to March). Gardens daily from 10am to 6pm, but are closed along
with the tower of St Vitus Cathedral, in winter; Admission:
220 Kc (200 Kc in winter); includes St Vitus's Cathedral, the
Old Royal Palace, the Basilica of St George, the Powder Tower
and the Golden Land /Dalibor Tower. Grounds are free
St Vitus Cathedral
Situated
within the Castle Complex, the spires of St Vitus Cathedral,
an elegant
but domineering French Gothic structure,
soar above the ramparts. It is the county’s largest church
containing numerous side chapels, frescoes, tombstones and
beautiful stained glass windows and it literally sparkles with
all the finery inside. The most ornate chapel contains the
tomb of St Wenceslas, the ‘Good King Wenceslas’ of
the Christmas carol, which has become something of a pilgrimage
site. The Coronation Chamber houses the Bohemian Crown Jewels
and the Crypt is where most of the Kings and Queens of Bohemia
have their final place of rest. The southern entrance to the
cathedral, the Golden Gate, is decorated with a richly gilded
coloured mosaic representing the Last Judgement, dated from
1370, and it is one of the artistic treasures found in the
Castle District. It is possible to climb the 287 steps of the
tower for magnificent views over the city.
Address:
Castle District (Hradèany); Transport: Tram
22 or 23 to Prazsky Hrad; Opening time: Daily 9am to 5pm (April
to October), 9am to 4pm (November to March); Admission: 220
Kc (200 Kc in winter); part of a package that also includes
the Old Royal Palace, the Basilica of St George, the Powder
Tower and the Golden Land /Dalibor Tower
This small medieval town in Southern Bohemia
is one of the most picturesque in the country, nestled in the
S-bend of the River Vltava and dominated by the fairytale Chateau
on the ridge overlooking the town. Its appearance has remained
unchanged since the 18th century and it is a delight to wander
through the traffic-free old town with its cobbled lanes, ramshackle
red-tiled roofs and lopsided colourful houses providing many
picture postcard opportunities. The Castle on the hill, greatly
enriched by the Italian Renaissance style, has fine views of
the town setting with covered walkways, courtyards and terraced
gardens where theatre and music productions are held. Since
the town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992,
the summer months have become somewhat crowded. It is no longer
a sleepy secret but a buzzing tourist haven.
The town of Karlovy Vary, also known as Karlsbad, is the Queen
of the Czech republic's many spa resort towns. It is a pretty
Victorian place with elegant boulevards, elaborate colonnades
and brightly coloured buildings lining the picturesque river
valley, and the surrounding forested hillsides are a peaceful
and therapeutic place in which to walk. The main focus of
the town is one's health, and at the centre of attention
are the 12 hot springs containing a mineral content rich
in restorative and healing properties. The mineral drinking
fountains in the colonnades were once the haunt of the European
aristocracy, and today the local people gather to fill their
quaint little drinking cups, sipping and strolling in the
fresh air, encouraging the water to work its magic on their
digestive tracts or metabolic disorders. If that doesn't
work the locally made Becherovka liqueur is hailed as the
13th spring. Although most of the spa pools and sanatoriums
are reserved for people undergoing treatment, visitors can
still swim in the heated pool above the Thermal Sanatorium.
There is plenty of excellent accommodation, unique souvenirs
from the area and a myriad of relaxing opportunities to be
found.
Lastly and I hope you don't need it, but should
you require consular help - here are the details
Czech Tourist Authority, Prague: +420 221 580 111 or
www.czechtourism.com
Embassy of the Czech Republic, Washington DC, United States:
+1 202 274 9100.
Embassy of the Czech Republic, London, United Kingdom: +44
(0)20 7243 1115.
Embassy of the Czech Republic, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 562 3875.
Embassy of the Czech Republic, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2
6290 1386.
Embassy of the Czech Republic, Pretoria, South Africa: +27
(0)12 431 2380.
Embassy of the Czech Republic, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 668
1135.
Consulate of the Czech Republic, Auckland, New Zealand: +64
(0)9 522 8736.
United States Embassy, Prague: +420 257 022 000.
British Embassy, Prague: +420 257 402 111.
Canadian Embassy, Prague: +420 272 101 800.
Australian Consulate, Prague: +420 296 578 350.
South African Embassy, Prague: +420 267 311 114.
Irish Embassy, Prague: +420 257 530 061.
New Zealand Embassy, Berlin, Germany (also responsible for
Czech Republic): +49 (0)30 206 210.
Emergencies: 158 (Police); 155 (Ambulance)
:
Prague Ruzyne International Airport (PRG)
Location:
The airport is situated 10 miles (16km) north west of Prague.
Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 from last Sunday in March to
last Sunday in October). Contacts: Tel: +420 220 113 314. Transfer
to the city: Cedaz minibus shuttles leave regularly for the
city centre; they can drop passengers off at hotels throughout
the city. The Airport Express provides the quickest transport
to train stations. Public buses have regular services to all
areas of Prague, however they are only advised for those who
know the city well. Taxis are also available from outside Arrivals. Car rental: All
the major car rental companies are represented at the airport,
including Avis, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt. Facilities: There
are a number of shops, bars, cafeterias and restaurants in
the main terminal. Bureaux de change, ATMs and a bank are
also available; the Travelex in the transit section is open
24 hours. Mobile phones can be rented from the Arrivals hall
of Terminal North 1. Conference and meeting rooms can also
be hired, and wireless Internet access is available in both
terminals. Disabled facilities include wheelchairs and a transit
car; passengers with special needs should contact their airline
in advance. Parking: There
are abundant short and long-term parking facilities at the
airport. Short-term parking is available
in front of the north terminal, and there are more than 3,000
long-term parking bays. Departure tax: None. Website: www.prg.aero
