WHAT YOU MIGHT NEED TO KNOW

Practical Informations

The Czech Republic

is a landlocked state in the heart of central Europe in the historical lands of Bohemia, Moravia and parts of Silesia. It borders Poland to the north, Germany to the north-west, Austria to the south and Slovakia to the east.

Area: 78,864 km2

Inhabitants: 10,681,161 (2019 Census)

Capital: Prague – 1,308,632 inhabitants (2019 Census)

Administrative division: 14 regions

Official language: Czech

Political system: parliamentary republic

Time zone: UTC+01:00 (CET)

Central European Summer time UTC+2:00

Voltage: 230 V/50 Hz (same as in Europe)

The Czech Republic joinedNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO) in 1999. On 1 May 2004, it became one of the member states of the European Union, and since 2007, it has been a part of the Schengen zone.

Weather and Climate

Up-to-date Weather Forecast

The Czech Republic lies in a temperate climate zone; its climate is a mixture of ocean and continental influences with four seasons. The highest summer temperatures usually reach around 30°C, and the strongest frosts depend on geographic location – from -10°C to -35°C.

The total annual precipitation is light; however, it is not distributed evenly. In winter, precipitation is usually more frequent; in summer, it is stronger.

Currency

Although the Czech Republic is a member of the European Union, it is not a part of the eurozone and euros are not an official currency here. However, it is possible to exchange euros for Czech currency without any problem.

The official currency is the Czech Crown.

The Czech symbol for it is ‘Kč’;

the international initialism is ‘CZK’.

Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 CZK

Banknotes: 100; 200; 500; 1,000; 2,000; 5,000 CZK

Exchange offices are available at the airport, in banks and in most hotels throughout the city. The main international payment cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops. Cash payment in euros is also possible for some taxi services, restaurants and shops, but the change will be refunded in CZK. Do not change your money on the street!

There are quite big differences between exchange offices. Some of them do not charge a fee for the exchange but have worse exchange rates. Some of them have an exceptional exchange rate, but they usually charge higher fees. As there can be charges for the exchange, always ask for a list of the provided services or ask to be orally informed on the office’s charges. In most exchange offices, you are entitled to claim the exchange within approximately three hours without giving a reason, but it is necessary to become acquainted with the conditions of the specific exchange office. Official exchange rates can be found on the Czech National Bank’s website:

Czech National Bank

Visa

Short-term non-profit stays in the Czech Republic can usually be made visa-free. The list of countries whose citizens are subjected to visa requirements can be found on the website of theMinistry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Entrance Formalities

Vaccination & Insurance

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

There is no need for any specific vaccination prior to entry to the Czech Republic. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) ensures you will receive any necessary health care during your stay in the Czech Republic.

Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, there may be specific conditions for entry to the Czech Republic.

Up-to-date information for visitors from abroad can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, or it will be communicated to you by the conference secretariat.

The organiser of the conference does not ensure any individual health, travel or property insurance. Each conference participant must procure these insurances on their own.

Travelling

With its 9,568 km, the Czech Republic has one of the densest railway networks in Europe. Rail and road transport are the backbones of the national transport system and transit traffic. With respect to the size of the Czech Republic, the road network is also very dense (55 737 km in 2015). Most of the big cities are interconnected by highways or motorways which have been undergoing thorough modernisation for the past several years. On highways, the speed limit is 130 km/h; on the speedways it is 110 km/h. There is a maximum speed limit in towns and villages of 50 km/h; outside of these areas, it is 90 km/h. In the Czech Republic, we drive on the right.

Transport

According to the 2010 rating of the International Automobile Federation, Prague is fourth in highest-quality urban transport in Europe (after Munich, Helsinki and Vienna). Metros, trams and buses are used by two-thirds of Prague’s population and cover most of the city and its suburbs. Metro makes travelling around the city a piece of cake, since it allows you to overcome long distances in several minutes. Most of the bus and tram lines are interconnected with subway lines.

Tickets

You can choose from several types of short-term tickets for travel around Prague. All of them can be used in any type of public transport many times and for as many transfers as you wish in the period in which they are valid. To mark the beginning of the ride, you insert the ticket/coupon into one of the validators, which are located by the entrances to every metro station and in trams and buses. Short-term, yellow tickets are available mainly in vending machines (in English), at ticket offices located at many metro stations, in shops, newspaper stands and tourist information centers.

Prague's Tickets