One of the most beautiful and affordable destination to travel.
Some rough information
Language - Czech, English and German
Time Zone - GMT +2, (IST - 3.30 hrs. in day light saving i.e. last Sunday of March to last Sunday of Oct, IST – 4.30 hrs. when day light saving is off i.e. in last Sunday of Oct to last Sunday of March)
Climate – minimum -2*C in winter (Dec to Feb), 20*C in Summer ( June to Aug)
Country Code- +420
Sim Card- You can do international recharge from India and for European Union you can use Libara sim card.
From India to Prague approx. cost will be 80000-100000 for PP
Airfare – Approx. 40000- 50000 INR
Visa - Schengen Visa.
Visa cost- 7000-8000 INR
Accommodation – Hotel- 4000-5000 INR
Public transport – 2000-3000 INR
Sightseeing – 5000 INR
Food and Drinks – 5000 INR
Things to know before visit
Best Time to Visit
How to Reach (International / European Union)
Places we visited/Nearby places to visit
Where to Stay
Currency and Exchange
Transport
Food
Best time to Visit
A visit to Prague is enjoyable round the year but the best time is the early fall or spring months (second half of May as well as June and September). Apart from that, the Christmas season is also a popular time for Czech Republic.
How to reach
From European Union –
Bus - You can go to Prague by Flix Bus or Bla Bla bus (As Prague is a main city of Czech republic). Buses takes long time to reach and of course it depends on from where you want to go. It takes almost 15-20 hours from Amsterdam. This is cheaper way to go.
Train - There is no direct train from Amsterdam to Prague, The rail journey can be done during the daytime with stops in Hannover and Berlin (Germany) and this takes around 10 hours 30 minutes to 14 hours.
Car - You can hire a car on a rent, and can go by road but you have to follow the traffic rules strictly. If you cross the speed limit by 1-2mph only then also you have to pay 200-400 euro fine
Flight - This is easier way and slight costlier than others. Flight time from Amsterdam to Prague is 1 hour 25 minutes. Distance from Amsterdam to Prague is approximately 700 kilometers.
International –
There are no direct flight from India to Czech (Prague), you have to choose connecting flight from Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore as per your location. It will take approx. 11-15 hours to reach. Vaclav Havel Airport Prague is the primary international airport of the Czech Republic. Located 17km north of the city
We went to Prague from Amsterdam by flight. Prague airport is located about 15 km away from city center. It takes approximate 25-30min to reach the center. Outside the airport there is bus station with ticket machines. You can buy a ticket from machine and then need to validate with machine which are on station/bus stop or in bus. Tickets are usually valid for 90 minutes from the time when you validate in the machine. By bus no. 111 or 119 you can go to metro station (Green Metro Line A) (Please use Google map). In order to get to the city center of Prague you will have to take the metro and stop either at Musket or Muzeum station. From city center you can buy a ticket for a certain time or a day pass. We preferred to walk to visit places.
Places we visited
Old Town –
Old town is an historic square in the Old Town quarter of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. Beautiful place to visit. We visited to Prague in Christmas time, old town square and all roads were well decorated with lights and Christmas trees. Near old town square there are lots of local shops.
Prague Castle -
Prague is one of those places that seems like it was pulled straight from a fairy tale. Head to Prague Castle, specifically, and you'll see what I mean. That makes it the largest ancient castle in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
One of the most beautiful thing about castle is, you can watch adorable view of Prague city from the castle.
Charles Bridge –
Charles Bridge is a historic bridge that crosses the Vltava River. Charles Bridge was the most important connection between Prague Castle and the city's Old Town. This 500 meters long bridge no vehicle allowed it’s only for pedestrians all day and night long.
The Vltava is the longest river within the Czech Republic. So many swan can be seen on the river bank near this bridge.
Rotating Head –
Head of Franz Kafka, Located in a busy shopping center in Prague, this twisting and reflective sculpture depicting the head of writer Franz Kafka is the latest kinetic artwork by controversial Czech artist David Cerny. Installed in 2014, the kinetic sculpture is 11 meters tall and made of 42 rotating panels. Each layer is mechanized and rotates individually.
End of the day, we returned to Hotel. As we checked in immediate when we came to Prague.
Day 2-
Next morning we went for Kutna Hora, which is small city near Prague. You have to buy separate train ticket as it is out of Prague.
Kutna Hora is a historical city in the Central Bohemia, famous for its historical center and monuments like the church/cathedral of Saint Barbara, and Sedlec Ossuary a.k.a. the “Bone Church”. Due to its medieval charm, it is listed as one of the 12 UNESCO Heritage Sites in the Czech Republic. Kutna Hora was originally a mining town. Rich veins of silver ore run through it, which were discovered in the late 13th century.
It takes roughly 1 hour as its 80 kilometers to get there by car, bus or train.
Church of Saint Barbara -
Saint Barbara's Church is a Roman Catholic Church in Kutná Hora in the style of a cathedral, and is sometimes referred to as the Cathedral of St Barbara. Its unique design with a three-tent roof and intricate flying buttresses make it an unmistakable Kutná Hora landmark and the town's most significant monument. Most beautiful church exactly life fairy tale. It opens by 10 am till 5 pm. Yes, this cathedral has entry fee and you can buy combine ticket for 3 churches which are located in Kunta Hora.
Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and Saint John the Baptist-
The Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and Saint John the Baptist is a Gothic and Baroque Gothic church north-east of Kutná Hora in the Czech Republic and is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List together with the Church of St. Barbara and other monuments in Kutná Hora.
Sedlec Ossuary-
This is small Roman Catholic chapel, located at lower layer of the cemetery Church of all saint. Ossuary contain the skeleton of between 40000 to 70000 people, whose bones have, in many cases, been artistically arranged to form decorations and furnishings for the chapel .Bones of human bodies are arranged so nicely.
After visiting all church we went for snacks cum lunch in dačický restaurant, which is Old Bohemian dining at its best, long and dark wood tables, nicely decorated in ancient style.
You can try Czech’s authentic food here, with beer. Prague’s beer is most famous and cheaper than water. Lots of types of beer are available there. Try the fiery Dačický goulash with lard dumplings or roast turkey breast with red cabbage and potato dumplings with plum jam in this restaurant. Roasted chicken and potato fries are also available for chicken lover and vegetarian.
End of the day we returned to Prague and started our return journey.
Some more places to visit in Prague -
1. The John Lenon Wall - Once a normal wall, since the 1980s it has been filled with John Lennon-inspired graffiti and pieces of lyrics from Beatles’ songs
2. Brno Astronomical Clock - The Brno Astronomical Clock is a black stone monument in Brno, Czech Republic. Every day at 11:00 it releases a glass marble, which the spectators can catch from one of four openings in the monument and they can take it with them as a souvenir
3. The sex museum - If you like it kinky, Prague has a Sex Machines Museum equipped with a collection of sex devices
4. Beer Spa - Prague also offers the unusually calming ‘beer spa’. Great for your skin’s rejuvenation and probably the famous trend in Prague in today’s time
5. Dinner Cruise - Looking for a romantic dinner with bae? Take her or him out on a river cruise and enjoy a candle lit dinner by the streaming water. The ambiance would be perfect to pop the question or celebrate an anniversary. .
Where to stay
• Prague is a main city and capital of Czech Republic. In the city there are lots of Hotels, where you can stay. Try to stay in city center as we can move out to major tourist attractions easily. Hotel are quite expensive but try to book hotel earlier. You have to pay extra charges as a city tax in hotel.
• Hostels are also good option
• Please ensure about check in and check out time
Currency and Exchange
• We can use euro in Czech but they charges extra as a commission.
• Avoid money exchange on railway station or airport
• Exchange Shops - There are lots of Foreign exchange shops, please check all terms and conditions of shop. As they claim full amount but there are hidden charges (commission from 10 % to 28 %). E.g. if 1 euro is 27 KC then after exchange you will get only 20 KC because of commission. Even some shops has board of 0 % commission but they give you 15 KC for 1 Euro. So be careful. Keep in the mind - Read and Ask. I would like to recommend exchange shop which is in front of Franz Kafka Square and of the street Kaprova
• ATM - Do not use ATM for currency exchange
• Never ever try to exchange money on street as they do not offer KC but some other currency and it’s useless
Transport
Travel to Prague from Airport- There is No Metro station at Prague Airport. So public transport is requires to travel into city. You have to go by bus then Metro. Transport and overall Prague is a cheaper country than any other European Country.
For more info click on link - https://www.pragueexperience.com/travel/public-transport.asp
Food
Prague is well-known for its beautiful architecture and beer, but there is so much more to this well-loved city. Such as the potato soup, traditional roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut, fruit dumplings and apple strudel.
1. Trdelník -
A traditional Slovak rolled pastry. Usually served warm and topped with a dusting of sugar, nuts or cinnamon. This delectable treat is made by wrapping the pastry dough around a wooden or metal stick, roasting it over an open flame and coated with sugar or cinnamon. Do not forget to try this
2. Guláš (GOULASH) -
The Czech guláš is prepared with fewer vegetables and contains greater portions of meat. Beef is typically used, and chicken or pork are sometimes used as alternative ingredients to prepare the dish. The meat is stewed, topped with a generous portion of gravy and served alongside with bread dumplings – a substantial treat that will satisfy meat lovers!
3. Smažený Sýr -
A dish of deep-fried cheese served with fries, salad or a bread roll.
4. Knedlíky-
A traditional side dish in Czech cuisine, the knedlíky are dumplings served along with a meat dish or other oft-eaten mains, such as gulás. This versatile dish serves well as a dessert when prepared with sweet fillings such as fruit or jam.
5. Grilované Klobásy-
Consists of grilled sausages tucked into a roll and served with a variety of tasty sauces. If you don’t want to try Czech cuisine, you can go for Mc Donald’s, KFC. But I will recommend to try Czech cuisine at least once. You will definitely like it.
Few things which I want to highlight
Use Google Map always included Google translator. Czech people hardly know English language.
Use warm jacket, and which can help you in winter and rainy season too. In Europe no actual season for rain. Be careful.
Use comfortable sport shoes
Be aware of pickpockets
Be careful while exchanging money.
Try Czech pastry, hot wine, Czech beer and Czech cuisine.
Czech has really beautiful, ancient, fairy tale like architectures and amazing cuisine. Worth to try once.
Happy journey Friends.
Please visit below link for my Switzerland Blog -
https://www.tripoto.com/switzerland/trips/switzerland-paradise-on-the-earth-5e3bf5b82efea