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Climate
The climate of Prague, the Czech capital, is moderately continental, with cold winters, in which the temperature is often below freezing (0 °C or 32 °F), and mild or pleasantly warm summers.
Precipitation is not abundant, given that it totals 530 millimeters (21 inches), but it is well distributed over the months, with a maximum between the second part of spring and summer, and a minimum in winter, when it usually occurs in the form of snow or sleet.
Winter, from December to February, is cold: the average temperature is slightly below freezing. Due to stagnation of cold air in the lowest layers, there are many gray days, with snow typically light but quite frequent. On the other hand, cold air masses of Siberian origin can lead to intense frosts, in which the temperature can plunge below -20 °C (-4 °F).
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Currency
The official currency of the Czech Republic is the Czech crown (koruna), abbreviated as Kč, with the international abbreviation CZK. 1 crown consists of 100 hellers (haléř), abbreviated as hal. Heller coins have not been in use as of September 1, 2008, but hellers are still incorporated into merchandise prices. The final price is always rounded off to the nearest crown value.
The approximate value of 100 CZK is approximately 4 EUR/5 USD.
Coins: 1 Kč, 2 Kč, 5 Kč, 10 Kč, 20 Kč, 50 Kč
Banknotes: 100 Kč, 200 Kč, 500 Kč, 1000 Kč, 2000 Kč, 5000 Kč
Currencies Accepted
As the official currency, the Czech crown is the best and often the only possible currency to use when paying. Although the Czech Republic is part of the European Union, the euro is not widely accepted here. Some stores, restaurants and hotels accept payments in euros but the exchange rate may not be very good.
More information about the updated exchange rates can be found at the XE Website.
Electricity
Electricity in the Czech Republic is 220V and AC 50Hz. Make sure your appliances like shavers, hairdryers, camera chargers, laptops, etc. have a switch to change the voltage to 220. All sockets have two round female contacts (live left) and round blanking/grounding protecting pin in the middle of the top. If you don’t have an adapter you can often purchase one at the airport when you arrive (plugs and adapters are hard to find in Prague shops, so be prepared and buy it at the airport or before you arrive). If you are visiting from North America you will need a transformer as North America works on 110V and 50 cycles and Europe works on 220V.
Useful Phone numbers
Country Code: +420
International Call Prefix: 00
Seville area prefix:+420-3
Emergency Telephone Numbers
- European Emergency Number: 112
- Medical Emergency (Ambulance/First Aid): 155
- Fire: 150
- Prague City Police: 156
- Police Department: 158
24-Hour Pharmacies
The pharmacy (lékárna) is generally open Monday–Friday 8.00–17.00 / 18.00. However, there are several 24-hour pharmacies, many of which are provided by hospitals:
- Prague 1, Palackého 5 +420 224 946 982
- Prague 2, Belgická 37 +420 222 519 731
- Prague 4, Thomayerova hospital, Vídeňská 800 +420 261 084 001
- Prague 5, Štefánikova 6 +420 257 320 918
- Prague 5, Hospital Motol, V Úvalu 84 +420 224 435 736
- Prague 8, Bulovka Hospital, Budínova 2 +420 266 082 017
24-Hour Doctors/First Aid
- Prague 1 & 2 (children) - (+420) 224 947 717
- Prague 1 & 2 (adults) - (+420) 224 949 181
- Prague 3 (children) - (+420) 284 861 979
- Prague 3 (adults) - (+420) 284 862 149
- Prague 4, 11, & 12 (children) - (+420) 241 733 916
- Prague 4, 11, & 12 (adults) - (+420) 241 733 917
- Prague 5 (children) - (+420) 224 433 654
- Prague 5 (adults) - (+420) 224 438 590
Hospitals
- Nemocnice na Homolce (Prague 5) +420 257 271 111
- Nemocnice na Františku (Prague 1) +420 222 801 111
- Poliklinika Palackého (Prague 1) +420 222 928 111
- Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice v Praze (Prague 2) +420 224 961 111
- Fakultní Thomayerova nemocnice s poliklinikou (Prague 4) +420 261 081 111
- Nemocnice Podolí gynekologie a porodnice (gynecology and childbirth services; Prague 4) +420 296 511 111
- Fakultní nemocnice v Motole s poliklinikou (Prague 5) +420 224 431 111
- Fakultní nemocnice Královské Vinohrady (Prague 10) +420 267 161 111
Dental Emergencies
The following dental offices offer services from 19:00–7:00 on Monday–Friday, and are open 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday:
- Dental Clinic (Zubní), Prague 1, Palackého 5 +420 224 946 981
- Dental Clinic (Zubní), Prague 4, Pacovská 31 +420 241 733 918
Repair Services
Should there be a problem with gas, water, electricity, etc., use one of the following numbers to report it, and hopefully have it repaired:
- Problems with the (O2) phone line +420 800 184 084
- Urgent gas leak 1239
- Problems with water, pipes, or sewer system +420 840 111 112
- Problems with electricity +420 224 915 151
- Problems with roads +420 224 231 856
- Problems with street lighting +420 244 470 800
Information
O2 offers several over-the-phone information services for a fee. Note that many of the services are offered only in Czech:
- Info Line: Czech Number Directory 1180
- Info Line: Foreign Number Directory 1181
- Operator for changed numbers (re-numbering) 141 11
- Information on air quality 141 10
- Exact time 141 12
- Weather 141 16
- Medical Information 141 20
- Operator for international phone calls 133 003
Lost or Stolen Credit Cards
Did you lose, or got your credit card stolen? Call one of the following services to take care of it:
Visa +420 224 125 353
American Express +420 222 800 111
MasterCard/Eurocard +420 222 412 230
Diners Club +420 222 316 675
Language
Some Useful expressions in Czech:
Basic Czech Words/Phrases Yes = Ano (ano)
No = Ne (ne)
Please = Prosím (proseem)
Thank You = Děkuju (dyeh-kooyoo)
Good Morning = Dobré Ráno (dobrye rano)
Good Afternoon = Dobré Odpoledne (dobrye odpoledne)
Good evening = Dobry vecer (dobree vecher)
Good Night = Dobrou Noc (dobroh nots)
Good Day/Hello = Dobry' Den (dobree den)
Goodbye = Na Shledanou (nas-khledanow)
I´m sorry = Lituji (lituyi)
Excuse me = Prominte (promintey)
What is Your Name? = Jak Se Jmenujete? (yak se menooyete)
My Name is... = Jmenuji Se... (menooyi se)
How Are You? = Jak Se Máte? (jak se mahte )
Fine Thanks, and You? = Devkuji Dobrve, A Vy? (dyekooyi dobrzhe, a vi)
I Understand. = Rozumím (rozoomeem)
I Don't Understand = Nerozumím (nerozoomeem)
Do You Speak English? = Mluvíte Anglicky? (mlooveete anglitskee)
I Don't Speak Czech = Nemluvím Cvesky (nemlooveem chehskee)
Nice to Meet You = Těší Mě. (tyeh-sheee mnyeh)
Please, write it down = Prosim napiste to (proseem napishte to)
Where is (a bank) = Kde je (kde ye) banka (banka)
Currency exchange = Smenarna (smnyenahrna)
Bathroom = Toaleta, Zachod (toaleta, zahkod)
Men = Muzi, Pani (muzhi, pahnyi)
Women = Zeny, Damy (zheny, dahmy)
How much does it cost? = Kolik to stoji (kolik to stoyee)
Waiter! = Pane vrchni! (pane vrkhnyee)
One beer, please = Jedno pivo prosim (yedno pivo proseem)
Waitress! = Slecno! (slechno)
The check, please! = Platit, prosim (platyit proseem.)
Other Useful Czech Phrases Z technických důvodů zavřeno. = Closed due to technical reasons.
Volané číslo neexistuje = The number you are calling does not exist.
Ukončete výstup a nástup, dveře se zavírají! = Stop getting off or getting on, the doors are closing! (Prague subway announcement)
Příští zastávka: Náměstí Republiky = Next stop: Náměstí Republiky
Máte přání? = May I help you?
Dám si jedno pivo prosím. = I'll have a beer please.
Kolik to stojí? = How much does it cost?
Zaplatíme. = We're ready to pay. (asking for the bill at a restaurant)
Je tu obsazeno? = Is this seat taken?
Smím prosit? = Would you like to dance?
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