Any Prague advice?

January 4, 2006 7:34 PM

I'm about to go to Prague for 3 1/2 months (one semester). I am looking for advice on a couple issues...

First, as of yet, I do not speak a word of Czech. Any advice for overcoming this language barrier for the cab ride from the airport to the school? (I do know approximately how much the ride should cost, would it be aceptable to just hand that amount I was told, in case they try to rip me off or take me on a roundabout route?)
Second, I would be greatful for any and all reccomendations on places to eat/see/experience in the area (including other nearby cities). I will be on a student budget, though, so please avoid the more lavish things.

Thank you!

posted by piratebowling to travel & transportation (16 comments total)

In answer to the first, and this is applicable everywhere, write the address on a piece of paper and hand it to the driver. If you are worried about getting ripped, write the price and a question mark on the paper after showing the address and before loading any luggage. But Prague has gotten enough tourist trade that the cabbie's might speak english.
For the second, the museum of torture was actually pretty cool.
posted by arruns at 7:44 PM on January 4, 2006

Prague is an amazing city.
Check out The Charles bridge and Kafkas house ect ect.
Also the Zizkopf (sp?) has great bars ans a couple of lovely parks with bars in.

Yes there is a culture of drinking beer all day in the Czech republic.

Dont be surprised if you are asked if you want a Pivo (Beer) with your breakfast. I just said yes and never looked back.

However. If you Must drink Absinth. Do it with friends, and dont wander off. The stuff is a mindbender!

Enjoy your time there, and if you see an English guy called Nick say hi from Greg.
posted by gergtreble at 8:02 PM on January 4, 2006

I second that Prague is amazing. Absolutely beautiful buildings everywhere. I went there over ten years ago, and don't remember the names of many places (and only stayed for a few days so I didn't go to that many places). The Charles Bridge and the nearby town square (name?) are must-sees, just follow all the tourists. The main cathedral is nearby as well.

Everything was very cheap in the mid-90s, I assume it's a bit more now but you'll probably still find it cheap. Try as many restaurants as you can--the food is wonderful. Though if you get off the tourist trails you might run into some attitude if you don't speak Czech (or German).

And if you like beer, Prague is heaven on earth. Have fun.
posted by zardoz at 8:17 PM on January 4, 2006

I went a few years ago, and English seemed to be quite common. Also, the public transportation system seemed to be pretty well-developed; I took a bus to the airport and it was not a problem at all....

Beer was excellent and quite inexpensive, and food was quite reasonable. A very nice meal would end up being $6-7 per person.

Things to do: the Don Giovanni marionette show is actually pretty cool, as is the Old Jewish quarter. Watch for pickpockets on the Charles Bridge; it was a large problem was I was there.


The Lonely Planet books on Prague (and Europe on a Shoestring) had a lot of good information, so I'd recommend checking them out. They also have a (brief) phrasebook.

As for something unusual to do, check out the ossuary at Sedlec. It's this amazing church decorated with bones from people who died of the plague, and it's really something to behold. It's a short train ride from Prague near the town of Kutna Hora, which is a UN World Heritage Site. It is a very old silver mining town, and the tour of the mine is somewhat interesting as well. It makes for a nice day trip.

I hope that helps. Prague was beautiful, and I wish I'd been able to stay for 3 1/2 months. You'll have a wonderful time.

Enjoy!
posted by JMOZ at 8:33 PM on January 4, 2006

But if you want cheap beer stay away from the tourist area.
The name of the area I spelt wron was Zizkov a couple of stops on the metro from the center. The Czechs go to hang out in the bars there. And the bar in the park at the top of the hill in Zizkov is wonderful.

Anyway Prauge is the kind of city you cant help have a good time in.

Only one problem I found was pickpockets. Got dipped a couple of times on the tram. But i had my wallet chain on. So all he did was pill me slightly! Ha! You should have seen him run!

Btw, I took a bus from the airport. It drops you at one of the metro stations and you can get into the city prety easily then. But I was a backpacker, and had little money.

Good luck
posted by gergtreble at 8:38 PM on January 4, 2006

I've been to Prague three times I think and never had any problems regarding the language. The drivers have always understood enough English. But like arruns said, if you are nervous just write your destination on a piece of paper or just ask for the taxi to go to the centre of town if you're going there and go on foot from there. Travelling is most fun when it is an adventure.

Prague is a great place, and I've always had good beer there but still haven't managed to find really good food. But if you're into beer, the price drops to about 1/10th when you exit the tourist area.
posted by keijo at 10:20 PM on January 4, 2006

The Mucha Museum, really pretty stuff that might look familiar.
posted by tula at 12:12 AM on January 5, 2006

There's an official 'airport to city center' taxi company that drives anywhere into the center for a fixed price. Their cars all look the same (grey I think) and are lined up at a special taxi stand.
posted by sebas at 12:56 AM on January 5, 2006

This website might come in handy, in particular, the relocation info, and culture and lifestyle info sections. Has some good advice on life in the Czech Rep.
posted by Jase_B at 1:34 AM on January 5, 2006

The drivers should understand basic English, especially those at the airport. The advice I was given was to ask if they can provide a receipt, if they will not provide a receipt then do not travel with them.
posted by fire&wings at 5:38 AM on January 5, 2006

Eat at Country Life, either location, even if you're not vegetarian.

Enjoy some of the almost as thick as pudding hot chocolate that lots of cafes seem to offer.

The Astronomical Clock is amusing if you hit it at noon. I'd spend a day or two just walking around the entire city admiring the architecture.

Lots of people understood English, several others understood German.

Watch out for pickpockets.
posted by togdon at 8:37 AM on January 5, 2006

My favorite series of guidebooks (which I think I must mention once a month on AskMe) is the Henry Holt series. Like the rest of the series, PragueWalks is long out of print, but you can buy it used on Amazon or elsewhere. It's well worth the modest purchase price. Although the hotel and restaurant info will be a decade out of date, the walks themselves will not be, and they will take you to fascinating corners of the city and teach you interesting things about them.

No, I don't work for Henry Holt. I just really, really like their walking tour books.
posted by yankeefog at 9:15 AM on January 5, 2006

Two words: smazeny syr.
I'm sure you're familiar with the Quarter Pounder with Cheese. This is the Quarter Pounder of Cheese. A big block of fried cheese on a roll with mayo. My favorite Czech food, hands down.

Don't spend too much time at expat haunts like Bohemia Bagel or the Globe Bookstore. (Though they can be nice about a month in when you just want to be somewhere familiar and easy.)

If you can say "Dobry den. Mluvite Anglicky?" (DOH-bree den. MLOOVE-ee-tay AHN-glit-skee? -- Good day, do you speak English?), you've just made yourself infinitely more likeable than 90% of the other Americans there.

Good luck! You're going to have a great time.
I did a spring semester there a few years back, feel free to email me if you've got any specific questions.
posted by the jam at 9:20 AM on January 5, 2006

Transport wise a quick Monty Burns like "Ahoj" (hello) to the taxi driver, name of the place you are going followed with "Prosim" (means please, pronounce "proseem") will get you there. Chances are the taxi guy will be able to speak fair English anyway. Receipts are mandatory- the government occasionally employ people to pretend to be tourits and go on rides to see if they'll be ripped off, if so a hefty fine.

Loads of things to do and see so can't be of much use regarding telling you what to do without knowing tastes. English will get you by in most places, but like everywhere else a couple of simple words so you look like you are trying always goes down well.

RE pickpokets mentioned; it is a, seemingly growing, phenomenon. Not had any bother myself but ludicrous sounding tales of fake arms on the Metro while the real ones do the dip and other tales vouchsafed by mates who are reliable sources.

Stay away from the touristy places for food and drink- the price of a McD's will get you a steak and a beer at a pub not three streets away no matter where you are. My advice is if you are in tourist Prague and want to get somewhere nice and local- take a left a right and a left down a sidestreet and you'll have the choice of a couple of bars...

Bars! 3 kinds;
Herna- dodgy looking, cheap as chips, mostly locals, fruit machines and toilets unlikely to use raw silk. No food. A bit too local for me
Hospoda- pub that does food- generally of a decent quality compared to UK and great value
Restuarace- (might have spelling wrong) majors in food as you can probably guess. A step up from the Hospoda in terms of dining.

Nearby cities-;
Plzen- the home of the marvellous Pilsner Urquell lager up towards the German border is nice enough but unless you share my interest in beer probably furter south the best bet.
Karlovy Vary- Spa town very pretty (except for a monstrosity of a concrete eyesore in the middle of t that looks like the embodiment of modern town planning spite) and a pleasant place though fairly touristy so perhaps not on a student budget.
Moravia- an area rather than a city, vine yards and countryside if the hustle and bustle of Prague get you down.

Na stravi! (To health!)
posted by Gratishades at 9:25 AM on January 5, 2006

I second the smazeny syr. Its the best a 3 in the mornig when you have a belly ful of beer and little else!
posted by gergtreble at 5:55 PM on January 5, 2006

I've never been to Prague, but I did just spend a month in Krakow, which was lovely and Christmas-y and rather relaxed. Might make for a nice (cheap!) weekend or, if you can swing it, a mid-week break.
posted by mdonley at 4:58 AM on January 6, 2006