Transportation in Czech Republic
ON THE GO
Traveling by plane
CSA Czech Airlines (OK) (Internet: www.csa.cz) operates an extensive national flight network that connects Prague with, among others, Ostrava, Brno and Karlovy Vary.
On the way by car / bus
Cars: The Czech Republic has an approximately 900 km long network of motorways and expressways. Motorways connect Prague with Plzen (Pilsen), Podebrady and Brno (Brno) and with the Slovak capital Bratislava.
According to youremailverifier, the use of Czech motorways and expressways is chargeable: the vignette is sold at border crossings, post offices and larger petrol stations and is available for 10 consecutive days, for a month or for 1 year. The vignette can be purchased from ADAC before the start of the journey and is also available online (Internet: www.adac-shop.de). There is no vignette requirement for motorcycles. See for further information the website www.uamk.cz.
AADAC foreign emergency call station is set up Tel: 261 10 43 51. Internet: www.adac.de). It offers ADAC members and holders of ADAC international health and accident insurance assistance with hotels, rental cars, vehicle or patient repatriation.
The Ustrední automotoklub ÚAMK (Central Automobile Club) is a partner of the ADAC (Tel: (+420) (0261) 12 30, (around the clock); Na Strži 9, 140 02 Prague 4, Internet: www.uamk.cz). The Autoklub Bohemia Assistance is a towing service around the clock. Call on Tel: 0-12 40. The emergency and towing service can be used by any road user.
Bus:The extensive bus network connects all towns that are not connected to the rail network.
Rental cars from all well-known companies are available.
There is a modern, nationwide network of petrol stations where unleaded petrol is available, and many petrol stations are open 24 hours a day.
Documents: National driver’s license and vehicle registration. For nationals of EU and EFTA countries, the license plate is used as proof of insurance. Nevertheless, EU and EFTA citizens are recommended to use the International Green Insurance Cardtake with you in order to facilitate the recording of accidents in the event of damage and to enjoy full insurance coverage. Otherwise, the statutory minimum liability insurance cover applies.
Regulations
– Mobile phones may only be used with a hands-free system while driving.
– It is forbidden to consume alcohol before or during a car journey. 0.0 per mille applies.
– Drivers must drive with dipped headlights around the clock, all year round.
– Seat belts must remain on during the entire journey.
– Children under 12 years of age weighing less than 36 kg or less than 1.50 m tall may only travel in a child seat.
– Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists and their passengers.
– When entering a roundabout, there is no need to blink, but when leaving the roundabout and when changing lanes within the roundabout.
– Vehicles over 3.5 t with trailers are not allowed to drive on the Czech motorways and national roads on Sundays and public holidays from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., and in July and August on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
– In the Czech Republic, drivers must bring a set of replacement light bulbs for their vehicle and a safety vest for each occupant.
– From November 1 to March 31, all four-wheeled vehicles are required to have winter tires on all roads in wintry road conditions (compact layer of snow, ice cover or icing or their predictability due to weather conditions).
Speed Limits:
within built-up areas: 50 km / h;
on country roads: 90 km / h;
on expressways: 110 km / h;
on motorways: 130 km / h.
Traveling in the city
Public transportation is excellent. In Prague there are subways, trams and buses operated by Dopravni podnik (Internet: www.dpp.cz). Tickets must be purchased in advance from ticket machines, tobacconists and other stores marked “Predprodej Jizdenek”. Buses, trolleybuses and trams operate in Brno, Ostrava, Plzen and some other cities.
Most buses and trains run between 4:30 am and midnight and have standard fares; Season tickets are available. The tickets are validated by machines in the compartment. There are single and transfer tickets for the Prague metro. Anyone who does not have a valid ticket must expect a fine. Buses (lines 501-512) and trams (lines 51-58) run all night (approx. Every 30 minutes).
Taxis in major cities are metered and relatively inexpensive. There is a surcharge at night.
On the go by train
There are several daily connections of the Czech State Railways (Ceské Drahy) (Tel: (8401) 121 13. Internet: www.cd.cz) between Prague and the larger cities. The fares are based on the kilometers driven. You should reserve seats in advance on busy routes.
On the way by ship
The Labe (Elbe) and Vltava (Moldau) are partly navigable. On the Elbe between Dresden, Schöna, Hrensko and Litomerice, excursion boats operate through the idyllic landscape of Bohemian Switzerland. The most important inland ports are Prague, Kolin, Melnik, Usti nad Labem (Aussig) and Decin.
