Prague About Prague / Basic data / Important Telephone Numbers / International Dialing Codes / Customs requirements / Tax free / Currency / Medical Emergencies / Lost and Found Office / Red-Letter Days / Embassies

About Prague Prague is the capital city of the relatively small Czech Republic which lies in the heart of Europe, neighbouring with Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Poland. Here nature and architects have created a work where the monuments often centuries from rotundas up to modern multi-storeyed buildings combine to form a unique open air gallery.The narrow lanes of the Old Town, Charles Bridge, the proud panorama of Hradèany, the palaces of the Little Quarter, a walk through Wenceslas Square, artcollections in galleries and museums and pleasant moments spent in Prague´s typical all houses and wine taverns you will gladly remember all these places and things. In 1992 the historical centre of Prague covering an area of 866 hectares was listed in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Register.
	There is a number of non-stop border crossings available with an excellent connection by car, bus, train or plane. A valid passport, which does not expire at least for six months, is required in order to enter the Czech Republic. There is no need of an entry visa for most European countries and USA.
In case of necessity you can obtain visa at the Czech Embassy in your country. Two kinds of visas are available; a tourist visa for 30 days or a transit one for 48 hours. The official language is Czech, Slovak language being understandable. Most local people have basic or possibly intermediate knowledge of English or German language. In majority of hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, historical monuments, shops and services the communication is possible in English, German or perhaps French.

Basic data
Area: 496 sqkm
Population: 1,173,000
Geographical situation: north latitude 50° 05', east longitude 14° 27', height above sea level 235 m (average)
Time: Central European (GMT+1), summer time - Central European +1 (GMT+2)
Climate: average temperature 9,0°C
summer season - July 19,0°C
winter season - January -0,9°C
The Vltava river flows through the city in the length of 30 km, its maximum width being 330 m
Parts ofthe historical centre: Hradcany, Mala Strana (Lesser Town), Stare Mesto (Old Town) including Josefov, Nove Mesto (New Town) and Vysehrad
Administrative division: 22 administrative areas
Voltage: 230 V

Important Telephone Numbers and Addresses:
Ambulance service phone 155
Police phone 158
Fire emergency phone 150
Municipal police phone 156
Emergency road service phone 1230, 1240
General information phone 12 444
Directory inquiries (Prague and the whole Czech Republic) phone 1180
Directory inquiries (international) - both telephone and fax numbers, call services and prices phone 1181
Sending wire messages by telephone 13 30 01

Notice: Renumbering of the phone stations will be made in September 2002, information in Yellow Pages 2002/2003.

International Dialing Codes
Australia 0061
Austria 0043
Belgium 0032
Canada 001
Denmark 0045
France 0033
Germany 0049
Great Britain 0044
Greece 0030
Italy 0039
Japan 0081
Netherlands 0031
Norway 0047
Poland 0048
Russia 007
Slovakia 00421
Sweden 0046
Spain 0034
Switzerland 0041
USA 001
Czech Republic 00420, Prague 004202

Customs requirements
Without permission foreign visitors are allowed to export goods from the Czech Republic for their personal use only or as a gift. If the exported goods require any special legal permission (e.g. protection of cultural monuments, objects of museum value etc.) they must be presented to customs officials on departure.

Tax free
Visitors purchasing in CR separately goods having value more than 1000 Kc, which carries out abroad within 30 days, can apply in the conventional time after presenting the confirmation of customs office for reimbursement of the value added tax.

Currency
Legal tenders - Crown (Kc) = 100 Hellers
Coins:
hellers: 10, 20, 50
Kc: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50
banknotes: Kc 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000

Medical Emergencies
Praha 1 - Palackeho 5, phone 2494 9181
Praha 2 - Sokolska 27, phone 2426 6150
Praha 3 - Konevova 205, phone 684 86 85
Praha 4 - Pacovska 31, phone 9005 7917
Praha 5 - Kartouzska 6, phone 5732 3219
Praha 6 - Pod Marjankou 12, phone 2051 3643
Praha 7 - Dukelskych hrdinu 1, phone 3337 0391
Praha 8 - Budinova 2 (the Bulovka hospital), phone 8384 2222
Praha 9 - Sokolovska 304, phone 6631 0372
Praha 10 - Nad Olsinami 4, phone 781 25 09

Dental Emergencies
Mon to Fri 7 p.m.-7 a.m., Sat + Sun non-stop
Praha 1- Palackeho 5, phone 2494 6981
Praha 4 - Pacovska 31, phone 9005 7932

Pharmacies offering non-stop service:
Praha 1 - Palackeho 5, phone 2494 6982
Praha 2 - Belgicka 37, phone 2492 0765
Praha 4 - Soukalova 3355, phone 402 16 38
Praha 5 - Stefanikova 6, phone 5732 0918
Praha 6 - Pod Marjankou 12, phone 2051 4473
Praha 7 - Milady Horakove 18, phone 3337 5599
Praha 8 - Heydukova 10, phone 6631 0899
Praha 8 - Budinova 2 (the Bulovka hospital), phone 8384 0501

Lost and Found Office
Praha 1, Karoliny Svetle 5, phone 2423 5085
Lost credit cards: - American Express - phone 2280 0111,
Visa - phone 2412 5353,
Diners Club - phone 6719 7450,
MasterCard/Eurocard - phone 6135 4649

Czech Republic Red-Letter Days
- 1 January - New Year, Day of Renovation of the Independent Czech State
- Easter Monday
- 1 May - Labour Day
- 8 May - Liberation Day (1945)
- 5 July - Cyril and Methodius Day - the Slavic Christianity Prophets
- 6 July - Master John Hus burning at the stake (1415)
- 28 September - Day of the Czech Statehood
- 28 October - Independent Czechoslovak State Proclamation Day (1918)
- 17 November - Day of a Struggle for Liberty and Democracy
- 24 December - Christmas Eve
- 25 December - Christmas Day
- 26 December - St. Stephen's Day

Embassies
- Austria - Victora Huga 10, 151 15 Praha 5, phone 5709 0511, fax 5731 6045
- Belgium - Valdstejnska 6, 118 01 Praha 1, phone 5753 3524, fax 5753 3750
- Brazil - Susicka 12, 160 41 Praha 6, phone 2432 4965, fax 2431 2901
- Canada - Mickiewiczova 6, 125 33 Praha 6, phone 7210 1800, fax 7210 1890
- Denmark - Maltezske nam. 5, 118 01 Praha 1, phone 5753 1600, fax 5753 1410
- Finland - Hellichova 1, 118 00 Praha 1, phone 5700 7130, fax 5700 7132
- France - Velkoprevorske nam. 2, 118 01 Praha 1, phone 5117 1711, fax 5117 1720
- Germany - Vlasska 19, 118 01 Praha 1, phone 5711 3111, fax 5753 4056
- Great Britain - Thunovska 14, 118 00 Praha 1, phone 5753 0278, fax 5753 0285
- Greece - Spanelska 14, 120 00 Praha 2, phone 2225 0955, fax 2225 3686
- Hungary - Ceskomalinska 20, 160 00 Praha 6, phone 3332 4454, fax 3332 2104
- Italy - Nerudova 20, 118 00 Praha 1, phone 3308 0111, fax 5753 1522
- Ireland - Trziste 13, 118 00 Praha 1, phone 5753 0061, fax 5753 1387
- Izrael - Badeniho 2, 170 01 Praha 7, phone 3309 7500, fax 3309 7519
- Japan - Maltezske nam. 6, 118 01 Praha 1, phone 5753 3546, fax 5753 2377
- Netherlands - Gotthardska 6, 160 00 Praha 6, phone 2431 2190, fax 2431 2160
- Norway - Hellichova 1, 118 00 Praha 1, phone 5732 3737, fax 5732 6827
- Poland - Valdstejska 8, 118 01 Praha 1, phone 5753 0388, fax 5753 0135
- Russia - Pod Kastany 1, 160 00 Praha 6, phone 3337 4100, fax 3337 7235
- Slovakia - Pod Hradbami 1, 160 00 Praha 6, phone 3332 1441, fax 3332 4289
- Spain - Pevnostni 9, 162 00 Praha 6, phone 2431 1441, fax 3334 1770
- Sweden - Uvoz 13, 118 01 Praha 1, phone 2031 3200, fax 2031 3240
- Switzerland - Pevnostni 7, 162 01 Praha 6, phone 2040 0611, fax 2431 1312
- Ukraine - Charlese de Gaulla 29, 160 00 Praha 6, phone 3334 2000, fax 3334 4366
- USA - Trziste 15, 118 01 Praha 1, phone 5753 0663, fax 5753 0583