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Please plan the first evening in Prague

Hello! Everyone
Am reaching Prague from Munich by Flix Bus on 28th of May, 2017. Around 12 noon.
Will be staying 3 nights before moving on to Vienna.
Please could you help me plan the time after I check in on the 28th at around 3:30 pm.
Am staying at the Charles Hotel.
Also I neither speak German or Czech.
Thanks so much

Posted by
4637 posts

No language problem. Everybody in tourist business speak good English plus all young people speak at least some since it is a mandatory language at school. Take it easy first day, just walk around neighborhood maybe cross the Charles Bridge into Old Town, get to Visitor Center in Old Town Square, get maps and ideas there. And then, not too far from your hotel there is a typical Czech pub called U hrocha. Tourists did not discover it yet, despite that is so close to the Castle. IMHO one of the best if not the best beer in Prague. Rick Steves book: Prague & the Czech Republic will be very helpful.

Posted by
24 posts

I am asking a rather silly question....
But still asks ng.
How does one change from the green line to red line at the Muzeum Metro station?
Are they well marked?
Thanks for being patient n taking my silly questions. It's just that I have read so much about the beauty of Prague & also of the fact that it's not safe for tourists ... so would want to do my homework. However I also know that a place so thronged by tourists must also have markings in English.
Thanks

Posted by
4637 posts

Metro in Prague is efficient, clean and well marked. There are 3 lines. Green A, yellow B and red C. There are 3 stations where you can change from one line to another: Museum, Mustek and Florenc. When you arrive to Muzeum on line A follow the arrows with big red C and you get to the station Museum on line C. From there you go either direction to Haje or direction to Letnany. If you know the name of your stop you can easily find which direction you should go.
Yes, there are pickpockets in Prague. But I think that Paris in this aspect is worse, not to mention Rome or Barcelona. I was in Prague many times. Never been pick-pocketed, not even attempt. In Rome - several attempts, fortunately unsuccessful.
There are many tourists in Prague. But only in certain places. My strategy to avoid crowds - visit these places early morning. Prague is actually less crowded than let's say Venice or Rome.

Posted by
8094 posts

When we hit a city, the first thing we do is take a "Free Walking Tour" where licensed tourguides work for tips. You can find them online.
The same organization will also have a nightlife tour (for a fee) where they take you to great restaurants, beer halls and night clubs--some of which are off the beaten path.
We took the nightlife tour in Prague and had a ball. After that night, we knew where the big beer halls were, and where some good, reasonably priced restaurants are.
In Prague, the best priced things are the beer.

Posted by
356 posts

Take a so-called "free tour" if you like, but at least be informed about how they actually work before you do so:

  • Firstly, the tours are not free. They are tip-based. You are expected
    to pay for the tour.

  • Secondly, the business model that these companies use is extremely

    exploitative. The tour guide is not paid by the company. Instead

    the tour guide pays the company for the privilege of working for

    them
    .

At the start of each tour, the group (usually about 35 people) will
be photographed "for Facebook". In fact, this photograph is used to
calculate the fee that the guide has to pay per head to the
company. For example, this provision currently stands at €4 per
person in Berlin and 80czk per person in Prague. Therefore, a guide
in Berlin with 30 people in his group will already be €120 down the
moment he starts the tour. Of course, given the nature of these large
groups, there is a certain rate of attrition; it is not uncommon for
a group to suddenly shrink in the moments before the guide does his
"please tip me" spiel.

However, the fee is calculated on the group size at the start of the
tour, so if let's say, ten people don't tip (or thinking-it's-free
toss him whatever loose coins they have) come the end of the tour,
then the guide is effectively down €4 x10. Accordingly, the company's
fee has effectively increased to €6 per head for the remaining 20
people. So in the case that you tip the guide €10, he gets to keep
only €4 - the rest goes to the company. The system is set up in such
a way so that the guide bears all of the liability, whereas the company is
guaranteed a substantial return.

I know one tour guide in Prague who ended up owing a significant sum
to the company after a rain shower hit her mid-tour and the majority
of her group scarpered without paying; she ended up both in shock and in tears after
finding herself in debt to the company for the shift she worked that
day.
- Thirdly, these guides are not licensed. In fact, as they work for
the company but they are not employed by the company, the company
does not provide any health of social insurance for the guides. Thus
the company benefits from the skills of the guides, without offering
any of the employee benefits that are guaranteed in European law.

In the interests of full disclosure, I own a walking tour company in Prague and I am also a member of an independent tour guides' association, so I have an intimate knowledge of the operation of the guided tour industry.

Posted by
24 posts

Hi! Once again
Since I have 2 complete days in Prague- will it be possible to squeeze in Cesky Krumlov the 2 nd day? Or will it make my day 1 too rushed. I like to do things at my own pace and soak it in rather than just hurry through places. Please suggest
Thanks

Posted by
786 posts

We just spent four full days in Prague and never ran out of things to see or do, so with only two days you will be rushed. I would not take any time away from there to visit Cesky Krumlov. I found CK to be highly over-rated. Lots of souvenir shops, mediocre restaurants and unless you are there in the evening it is jam packed with day trippers. Prague is a beautiful city with warm and welcoming people, we never felt unsafe, and loved every minute of our visit so take the time to truly enjoy it!

Posted by
24 posts

Thanks Travelbug....
You've made things so much simpler now. Was in a huge dilemma ....
Thanks loads

Posted by
4637 posts

If you have more than 3 days in Prague then you can think for going for a day trip. Cesky Krumlov is not good for a day trip. At least three hours one way. It is good for overnight. Day trippers leave and then it is magical and quiet. And it is indeed one of the most beautiful small towns I have been to.