Hi. I have quite a lively personality and am an open and honest type of gal. I enjoy experincing lif...
Hi. I have quite a lively personality and am an open and honest type of gal. I enjoy experincing life (there's so much to see and do), and enjoying the company of good friends (and good wine!).
Member since:04.04.2004
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I've just spent a week in Prague (feb 2007) & I am impressed with their public transport system - easy, efficient & best of all cheap!
If you're flying in then you start straight away getting the bus from the aiprort to the centre.
Inside the arrivals hall (Terminal 1 for uk flights) on the right hand side of the exit are some kiosks. Get your transport system tickets here (combined cover for bus, tram & metro on multi trip / multi day tickets) - and pick up a free map of the tram & metro systems while you are at it . You'll definately need this - stops are usually announced on bus, tram & metro but if your czech is the same standard as ours, it means nothing! so the map is very usefully for counting
stops etc!
Tickets range from single trip (really cant see the point of that) to multi-day passes. We got a 7 day pass for 280Kr, about £7 - a 3 day pass was 200Kr (£5).
To get into the centre you need the 119 bus (you can get a taxi or the airport express both of which are dearer & believe me the bus is simple).
Go out of the arrivals hall & just across the road infront of you are the bus bays - the 119 is (with your back to arrivals) last one on right hand side. Its the Dejvicka / 119 bus that you want. On boarding the bus, stamp your ticket in the machine (grey & yellow with a big arrow on it) & thats your ticket validated for its length of use - you dont stamp it again anywhere (bus, tram or metro) but you do need to carry it on you in case of checks (not that i saw anyone having their ticket checked in the week i was there).
The 119 takes about 25 minutes into the centre. Dejvicka is the last stop & they even play in english a 'please get of the bus now' so you will know when you are there.
Dejvicka is the start of metro line A - the green line. There are 3 metro lines running across Prague - A - green, B - yellow, C - red. Entrances to metro stations are identified by a square sign in either green, yellow or red with the corresponding letter, A, B, C & a big arrow pointing down to the entrance. Decision for direction is made on the platform. Signs over hang the central walkway, with the station name circled & then all the stopping stations either side of that listed with an arrow pointing to either platform 1 or 2 depending on direction. (hard to describe but easy when you see it.). Metros run frequently although on the platforms you only get to see how long since the last train NOT how long til the next train!?
Trams - trams skirt around & through the city & again are very simple & convienient (we used trams & metro all the time & only the bus to & from the airport) + you get to see where you're going which is nice when you cross the river (Vltava). Tram stops look a bit like our bus stops. A pole with a rectangle board on top with a picture / schematic of a tram. The signs also have the timetables - the stop you are at is highlighted in bold and the direction is towards the stops listed below the bold one. If that's not the direction you want cross over to the other side & that one will be! Trams seem to stop at every stop anyway but to be on the safe side there is a little green button ususally on a pole nearest the doors & if you push that after the stop before yours the tram will definately stop. Trams run roughly every 10 minutes.
night time - things change around 11.30 / midnight for trams & buses (not sure re the metro) & then you get night service so if you are planning to be in the centre late & your staying outside of the centre it is worth making sure you know how you're going to get back.
Warning - we didnt have any trouble at all, but residents & tourists talk of serious pickpocketing going on, particularily on trams & metros & i can see that in the busy summer months with loads of people squashed in then it could easily be a problem.
Taxis - Both Brits & Czechs that we met just said taxis are a NO - if you really need to, then get your hotel to book one for you & you're less like ly to be ripped offf. We never actually needed one - seriously their transport system is simple & cheap & did everything we needed of it.
So, I hope this has helped you & I wish you an enjoyable stay.
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Advantages: Trams and the underground are regular, reliable and CHEAP! Taxis have improved as well. Disadvantages: You've just got to watch out for pickpockets and cowboy taxi drivers...
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