Hi guys.. just wondering if any one had to prague before? will be stay around 7 days.. will be enough? is the country using euros? (could not check any info abt that in google) any more recommend places?
so its the best i change euro currency in sg?( which a lot told 2 do so) n change 2 czech crown in the airport itself? how abt transport? wat i read in wikitravel is all abt foreigners being cheated.. is it true?
I find there things cost higher than here e.g. 70 to 90 crown for a bottle of 200ml coke (yup, i didn't wrote wrongly. It is indeed 200ml and not 330ml). Will PM you my web album's URL.
I just came back from a 2 month study+fun trip to several European cities, and one of them was Prague.
In comparison to other places in the Czech Republic, Prague is rather expensive, but I wouldn't say that it's unreasonably so. Full meals can be under 150 crowns (SGD$10) if you eat at less popular locations. Beer (the Czech word is pivo) is insanely cheap, and often ends up being cheaper than the equivalent in bottled water or soft drinks.
I definitely agree with the other posters that Prague is a very touristy city, you pretty much can't get away from it all even if you tried pretty hard. I found that the old town, where most of the tourist attractions that the other posters have mentioned are located, is quite a bit more crowded and has less charm than the other parts of the city, especially the lesser town (mala strana) across the Vltava River.
But precisely because Prague is so full of tourists, you shouldn't have any communication issues, as the locals mostly can speak English (although to varying extents). This isn't really the case if you somehow decide to venture beyond Prague. In Brno, the second-largest city in the Czech Republic (and where my "base" was), English was very rare, and most of the time I was reduced to pointing and gesturing.
A note regarding transport: if you decide to use their public transport, remember to validate your ticket when you board (day tickets only need to be validated once and then they're valid for 24 hours). You validate the ticket by inserting it into a machine next to the entrance, and the machine prints a line of numbers on it. This is really important because their public transport works on an honour system, but their random checks are fairly frequent and the fine is huge.
haha...I still remember when I board their transport system , but din know need to validate.
Holding the ticket like a fool, thinking why should I even bother to buy a ticket, cos nobody even bother to check do I have the ticket or not?!!??!!
only the last day than I realise there is a machine in the tram or at the entrance to "chop" the date and time on the ticket. brought 4 ticket but only validate one!!
Oh, one thing must try is the night boat trip, especially if you're with wife/ gf. A bit ex, but well worth it. Comes with dinner and tour of city as well.
I just spent May in CZ for work and enjoyed it for the most part, weather was lousy, rainy and cold I was there for work so it didn't matter much. It's better now. The popular tourist areas are also where the most crime happens be cautious of pick pockets and make sure you keep your cam secured when eating in outdoor places.
If you've had enough of Prague there's some nice towns around you can check out. Kutna Hora is a popular day trip has some nice scenery a great church, medieval mines and also Sedlec Ossuary which is an interesting one of a kind place in the area (check out images on google, cool place if you've got a darker side).
Cesky Krumlov is a bit too far for a short stay (3 hour drive) but a great town in the bends of the Vltava River in Southern Czech Republic
In Prague the street performers are cool and there are some good night shot opportunities, in general good place for street photog, lots of homeless so be ready for that. If you want to relax take the funicular up Petrin Hill (mini Eiffel tower gardens etc). Beer is cheap and good, food is pretty standard meat and two veg type stuff although you can get pretty much anything in Prague. Becherovka the local liquor has an interesting flavor (cloves).
Enjoy it's a beautiful city
I just spent May in CZ for work and enjoyed it for the most part, weather was lousy, rainy and cold I was there for work so it didn't matter much. It's better now. The popular tourist areas are also where the most crime happens be cautious of pick pockets and make sure you keep your cam secured when eating in outdoor places.
If you've had enough of Prague there's some nice towns around you can check out. Kutna Hora is a popular day trip has some nice scenery a great church, medieval mines and also Sedlec Ossuary which is an interesting one of a kind place in the area (check out images on google, cool place if you've got a darker side).
Cesky Krumlov is a bit too far for a short stay (3 hour drive) but a great town in the bends of the Vltava River in Southern Czech Republic
In Prague the street performers are cool and there are some good night shot opportunities, in general good place for street photog, lots of homeless so be ready for that. If you want to relax take the funicular up Petrin Hill (mini Eiffel tower gardens etc). Beer is cheap and good, food is pretty standard meat and two veg type stuff although you can get pretty much anything in Prague. Becherovka the local liquor has an interesting flavor (cloves).
Enjoy it's a beautiful city
oh ok .. thanks 4 the info.. still remember how the transport fare is like?
oh ya.. i also read up in wikitravel tat there a lot of pickpocket in the city.. ok will take note of tat.. btw i'll b booking tru zuji.. is tat recommended?