In this video, we’ll cover all you need
to know before traveling to Prague, including where are all the major attractions, the best
time to visit, where to stay and for how long, public transportation, how much things cost,
the best apps to use, the best views of the city, and other practical information. We want to thank Ceptics, a number one choice
for travel adapters on Amazon, for sponsoring this video. Don't forget to like this video, subscribe
to our channel, and enable notifications. And share your own
experience and recommendations or ask a question in the comments below. We’ve also created a mobile-friendly .pdf
document covering all the things in this video, plus the Top 20 things to do in Prague, including
maps, links, opening hours, and more. Here are 11 essential tips to know
before you visit Prague: NUMBER 11: THE MAP OF PRAGUE Prague is the capital and the largest city in
the Czech Republic and lies on both banks of the Vltava river. For orientation, let's start with the historic
Charles Bridge from the 14th century. Close to the bridge, you will find the Klementinum
complex with an impressive baroque library and the famous astronomical tower. Old Town Square is home to Old Town Hall with
the famous Astronomical Clock, Prague Meridian, Church of Our Lady before Týn,
and other attractions. If you continue towards the east, you will
find the Powder Tower, one of the original city gates, that separates the Old Town from
the New Town and Manifesto Market Florenc, an industrial-chic dining and drinking hub. The Jewish quarter is home to Old Jewish Cemetery,
Jewish Museum, Synagogues, memorial Kafka sculpture,
and other exciting attractions. Don’t miss Speculum Alchemiae
underground laboratory from the 16th century if you are
in the neighborhood. Located near the main train station is Wenceslas
Square or Václavské náměstí, home to National Museum and the site
of important public events. Don’t miss the Statue of Franz Kafka in
front of the OC Quadrio shopping center. And don’t forget to also visit the famous
architectural jewel Dancing House which was declared one of the most
prominent buildings of the 1990s. If you continue South, you will find the Botanical
Garden and Vyšehrad, a historic fort from 11th century with beautiful cemetery and a
medieval basilica situated on the Southern part of the city. If you cross one of many beautiful bridges,
you will enter Malá Strana or Little Side district one of Prague's most historic neighborhoods
with Wallenstein Palace, many impressive gardens, and other notable attractions. If you continue north, there is the largest
ancient castle in the world, Prague Castle, a castle complex from the 9th century with
impressive Golden Lane, St. Vitus Cathedral, and other impressive attractions. Don't miss Hradcany Square,
full of remarkable palaces and houses. Strahov monastery with the library is located
just below Petřín Hill. And Petřín Lookout Tower, built in 1891,
offers fantastic views of the city. And don’t forget to visit the Prage ZOO
which is said to be one of the best in Europe. All the attractions you see here and many
additional ones are covered in our travel guide, which also comes with dedicated Google maps. Václav Havel Airport is located about
10 miles or 16 kilometers from the city center. To get a better sense of the distance, a 1 mi.
or 1.6 km walk from Prague Castle to Old Town Square takes about 20 minutes. It takes approximately the same amount
of time if you combine walking and public transport. It takes about 40 min if you walk from
Old Town to Vyšehrad or 20 min if you combine walking and public transport. NUMBER 10: WEATHER AND CLIMATE Prague has a humid continental climate, which
means dry and cold winters and wet and hot summers. Temperatures in winter are generally right
below or around freezing, and ranging between 30 °F and 41 °F or -1 °C and 5 °C. There’s not a lot of sunshine
and snow is common, but there's usually not a lot of it at once. In the spring, the weather is unstable and
often changes from relatively mild and pleasant to cold. The temperatures range between 35 °F
and 68 °F or 2 °C and 20 °C. The weather usually stabilizes in May. Summer is nice and warm with little rain, although random thunderstorms can occur. Temperatures range between 57 °F
and 78 °F or 14 °C and 26 °C. Weather in the fall is still pleasant in September
and part of October, but it then quickly becomes colder, rainy and sometimes snowy starting
with November. Temperatures range between 37 °F
and 68 °F or 3 °C and 20 °C. Of course, these are all just averages. The weather and temperatures can be different when you visit, so remember always to check
the weather forecast before you travel. NUMBER 9: BEST TIME TO VISIT The best time to visit Prague is in May and
June in the spring and in September and October in the fall when the weather is warm and stable,
and the summer tourist crowds are gone, and prices drop. Summer gets a lot of tourists and higher prices,
but the weather is still pleasant. The cheapest time to visit Prague is in the
winter when there are less tourists and the prices of accommodation are lower. However, be prepared for some cold weather, often below freezing,
and know that days will be shorter, and you will have less time during the day. Also, Prague is a very popular tourist destination
and crowds are common even in low season. Anyway, you'll probably have a great time
regardless of the season since Prague is full of amazing attractions and things you can
do all year long and regardless of how cold it is. And how can you figure out the best days and
hours to see the attractions? Just check Google to see how crowded a specific location is
at a particular time of day. Of course, we recommend going early
during the week and/or in the morning. Many travelers stay in Prague for three days
to see its main attractions and get the full experience If you want a more relaxed experience,
you can stay an extra day or two. NUMBER 8: WHERE TO STAY AND PRICES OF ACCOMMODATION If this is your first time in Prague, choose
to stay in the Old Town where you’ll have many of the best sights, bars, and restaurants
just minutes away. For nightlife, stay in Zizkov, close to the
Zizkov TV Tower. If you’re on a budget, stay in the New Town, near Wenceslas Square. Despite being called New Town, the area is actually
full of historic buildings. If you’re traveling with the family,
Malá Strana, on the opposite side of Vltava is a good option. A mid-range hotel double room in Prague costs
between 1,000 and 3,000 CZK per night. For budget hotels, the average is 1800. Hostels
cost around 400 CZK per night on average. Alternatively, you can rent an Airbnb apartment.
You can find a small apartment that sleeps four people for under 2,000 CZK per night. Again, these are the average prices, and the
ranges for different hotel categories are quite extensive, and, in the summer, or duringthe weekends, the accommodation can be more expensive. However, with a little research
online, you can get better deals, especially if your dates are flexible and you don’t travel
in high season. Check out our video on the best apps for booking your stay. NUMBER 7: TRANSPORTATION From and to the airport: To get to and from Václav Havel Airport Prague, you can use: buses, airport shuttle, taxis,
and car rentals. Check out our travel guide for more information. Arriving by train: You can travel to Prague
by train from numerous European cities. If you’re arriving from outside Czech Republic,
you’ll arrive at the Main railway station in Prague city center. Arriving by car: You can use Google Maps to
get driving directions to Prague. Parking in the city center is limited, especially
during the day, so it might be challenging to find a spot. Also, parking in the yellow
and blue areas is for locals only. Parking costs between 40 to 60 CZK per hour. In many open space parking places, you can only park for up to two hours. You can also park in one of the
parking garages for about 30 CZK per hour and from 200 CZK to 700 CZK per day. Alternatively, you can book one of the many
hotels in the city that offer parking. Getting around the city:
The sights in Prague are mostly close-by, so it easy to get around on foot. Of course,
don’t forget to bring comfortable shoes. But if you don't feel like walking, you can
use the following modes of transport: Metro, tram, bus, Uber or taxi, hop on hop
off bus, electric scooters, bikes, old car carriage, riverboat rides, and other forms
of transportation. If you use public transportation such as metro,
tram, or a bus, you will pay 24 CZK for 30 minutes, 32 CZK for 90 min, 110 CZK for one
day ticket, and 310 CZK for a three-day ticket. Don’t forget to validate your ticket when
you enter the metro, tram, or bus. Check our travel guide for more information
and prices. NUMBER 6: GENERAL INFORMATION Here are some other things you should know
for a pleasant and smooth experience in Prague. Prague is not cheap.
While many people traveling to Prague expect low Eastern-European prices, Prague is anything but cheap. So, remember to always check what the price for what you’re paying is in your
home currency, which you can easily do on your phone in real time. Drinking water:
It is perfectly safe to drink tap water in Prague There are also some drinking fountains
available throughout the city. Toilets:
While there are many public toilets in Prague, most of them charge a fee of 10 CZK to use it. If you can't find a public restroom near you, you can use a restroom of a bar or a
restaurant, but you will sometimes need to pay there too anyway. So make sure always
to have sufficient amount of coins ready. If you want to see where public toilets are
located, you can use an app on your phone. More about that later. Free WiFi:
You can get free Wi-Fi at plenty of outdoor and indoor hotspots all over the city, including
restaurants, fast food places, cafés, bars, and hotels. We’ll cover apps for finding
free WiFi later. Crowds & lines:
Prague is a popular destination, so be prepared to wait in line, especially in the summer
months and around big tourist attractions. And there will be tourists there regardless
of the seasons. The same goes for restaurants
and other public places. Even if you can't avoid all the crowds, you
can do some things to make your trip to Prague a more pleasant experience. You can for example
avoid peak seasons, avoid traveling during rush hours, get up early in the morning to
explore the city without the crowds, explore the suburbs once you’ve visited the must-see
attractions at the city center. Safety & Scams:
Prague is generally a very safe place for tourists. A few areas are better avoided by
night, but they are usually not located near tourist attractions. Typical for all major cities around the world,
beware of pickpockets, especially around major attractions and in big public squares like
on the Wenceslas Square. Watch your valuables and use common sense. Also, watch out for scams aimed at tourist,
which are, unfortunately quite common in Prague. For emergency services, dial 112. NUMBER 5: FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS Travel Adapters: If you’re coming from outside
Europe or from the UK, you will probably need a special European travel adapter to charge
your phone and other devices. This is what Czech power plugs look like. We recommend purchasing
a travel adapter before traveling to Prague. In fact, it is worth buying a universal
adapter so you can use it in other countries too. This video is sponsored by Ceptics, the number
one choice for international travelers to and from the US when it comes to travel adapters. Did you know that different adapters charge your phone, laptop, and other devices at different speeds? Sometimes charging goes nowhere, and
when you're traveling, you need your devices ready to go fast. Ceptics just released a
brand-new travel adapter designed to charge your devices more quickly. We've used it on our trip to Prague. With multiple attachments, it allows us to charge up to four devices at once, which is convenient, considering most hotel rooms only have a few outlets. Also, we can just bring the right attachment in a pouch. Visit Ceptics’s user-friendly website to
find adapters that fit your needs. We’ve also made a video about travel adapters
and outlet types around the world. The link is in the description. Currency:
Prague uses Czech Crowns. One CZK equals approximately $0.04 or 0.04 EUR. $10 equals approximately 230 CZK,
and 10 EUR is about 255 CZK. 1,000 CZK equals approximately 44 USD or 40 EUR. Some places like restaurants and bars also
accept Euros – the currency used in most other European countries - the exchange rate
not is great, of course. And naturally, you will get your change back in CZK. While most hotels, stores, and restaurants
in the city accept major credit cards like Visa or MasterCard, it is always wise to have
some Crowns in your wallet especially if you plan to visit outdoor markets
and other similar places. Also, always check the exchange rate
before traveling. Language:
Language spoken in Prague is Czech. However, many people also speak English, especially
at tourist attractions, bars, and restaurant. ATMs and Money Exchange:
In the Czech Republic, ATMs, as well as sale terminals in stores, typically ask if you
want to be charged in Czech Crowns or your home currency. For better exchange rates and
smaller fees, always choose to be billed in Crowns and if asked, always decline the conversion. Avoid stand-alone ATMs which are popular all
over Europe as you might pay a significant transaction fee on top of already bad exchange
rate. Such ATMs also typically only display the option to withdraw large amounts of money
so always check how much you want to withdraw. You can choose to exchange your foreign cash
at currency exchange offices, but commission and exchange rates vary a lot, so always compare
the exchange rate on your phone to the board displayed in the exchange office. Prague has been known for exchange offices that charge as much as a 40% commission. Access the internet:
You can purchase a prepaid SIM card to access the Internet on your phone. Some options provided
by local carriers are Vodafone, T-Mobile, and O2. You can buy a travel plan that includes
the internet at any of their stores in Prague. At Vodafone, for example, you can get a 30-day
10 Gb plan for 800 CZK. Alternatively, you can consider renting a
mobile hotspot. If you’re from the US and travel a lot,
consider using Google Fi. NUMBER 4: BEST APPS TO USE IN PRAGUE Here is a list of useful apps: Mapy.cz - great for hiking and exploring Prague on foot,
TripAdvisor and Yelp for reviews of restaurants, hotels, museums, tours, etc.
WithLocals or Eatwith for food and other experiences with local guides,
Viator or Get Your Guide for reserving a tour in Prague, XE Currency or a similar
currency converter app to always know how much you’re spending,
Uber for getting around the city, Liftago for getting a taxi,
Google Maps or Apple Maps for walking, public transportation, driving, etc. Google Maps
also lets you download maps, which is an excellent option if you don't want to use roaming.
SitOrSquat or Flush for finding public restrooms, WiFi Map or WiFi Finder, which helps you find
WiFi throughout Prague. Check out our travel guide for links to download
these apps on iOS and Android and for more app suggestions. We also created a video on
best travel apps. The link is in the description. NUMBER 3: FOOD AND PRICES Prague has plenty of dining options and offers
a great variety of international and traditional Czech dining. We suggest using Yelp or TripAdviso
to find nearby places with good reviews. Try to avoid restaurants at
or next to major tourist sites as you'll often get a much higher price-quality ratio at local
places away from the main attractions. An inexpensive to mid-range restaurant meal
ranges are from 100 to 400 CZK. A three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant
is about 700 CZK. A full traditional Czech dish like Vepřo
knedlo is around 140 CZK, and a traditional soup such as Kulajda is about 50 CZK. As for drinks in bars, coffee costs from
around 40 CZK, a bottle of water about 40 CZK, a bottle of soda beer about 45, a pint of beer
about 50 CZK, a glass of wine costs about 60 CZK and cocktail about 150 CZK. Of course, prices are higher in front
of the famous tourist places. And just a quick note: drinking on the street
in Prague is illegal. You can drink and party in a bar or a club but
avoid drinking outside or you might be fined. The typical Czech chimney cake, or Trdlo,
will cost you about 60 CZK. There are plenty of great cheap eats in Prague. Check out our guide for maps
with the best cheap eats. Tipping:
Tipping is not mandatory in Prague. However, if you want, you can leave 5-10%
if you liked the service. NUMBER 2: CITY PASSES & GUIDED TOURS If you want to save on attractions, you can
choose from either Prague City Pass or Prague Card. Both options offer free entry to some
top attractions, various kinds of discounts, free river cruise, and more. A great way to discover Prague, is by a walking
tour, organized by professional guides who know a great deal about the city's rich history.
Some providers even offer free walking tours. However, at the end of the tour, it is recommended
to make a donation. See our travel guide for links to websites
of free guided tours and other exciting tours of Prague. Another great way to discover the city is
by a Hop-On Hop-Off bus, a boat tour, or an old car tour. There are plenty of options
to choose from. Check out our travel guide for the list of providers and links. NUMBER 1: BEST VIEWS OF THE CITY You can enjoy amazing views of Prague from
one of the following places: Old Town Hall,
Charles bridge, Lesser Town Bridge Tower,
Prague Castle, St. Wenceslas Vineyard,
The prospect – Letna, National Monument on Vítkov,
Žižkov Television Tower, Vyšehrad, Petřín Hill Tower,
and many others. Check out our travel guide for more places
with free and paid amazing views of the city and maps to quickly locate them. Our travel guide is a mobile-friendly .pdf
document that you can store on your phone for offline use. It covers the top 10 things
to do in Prague, plus ten additional attractions, maps, links, opening hours, and other information
that will help make your trip to Prague stress-free. By purchasing our travel guide, you are also
helping us sustain this channel. So a big thank you for that.
