Transportation & Communication
Transportation in Prague
Prague is an extremely easy city to get around in. There is an extensive network of metros, trams, and buses that take you wherever you need to go. Most teachers purchase a monthly pass for 550 crowns (28 USD). This pass allows you to travel freely around the city on any form of transportation. As a teacher you can expect to be on the public transport system several times a day making the monthly pass worth the expense. Individual tickets can also be purchased for single uses. The cost of an individual ticket varies depending on where you are going, but is usually about 18 – 26 crowns (more than a dollar). Individual tickets can be purchased at every metro station. Find out more information in the section transportation among our links here.
To validate one of these tickets simply insert it into a yellow box at the top of the metro station. The yellow validation boxes are also found on trams and buses. If you do decide to purchase a monthly pass you do not have to validate it or show it to anyone unless you are asked. Unlike other cities there are no turn styles or other obstacles you must pass to enter metro station. Prague enforces purchased tickets by placing ticket inspectors at random locations. You can find these inspectors on all forms of transportation. These men, and occasionally women, will show you a badge and ask to see your ticket or pass. If you do not have a ticket or pass they will ask you to pay a penalty of 500 crowns to them directly (25 USD). Make sure to get a receipt to ensure they are not scam artists.
Metros stop running at 12:00am, which can pose a problem when trying to get home late. Prague does offer night trams; however, they are often full and take awhile to get home. Taxis can be found throughout the city. Calling for a taxi is significantly cheaper than jumping in the first one you see. City Taxi and AAA Taxi are the least expensive companies (its website among our links here)
Travelling outside of Prague
Traveling outside of Prague within the Czech Republic is extremely cheap. Trains and buses are constantly leaving Prague going to many different locations within the country. To travel to most cities within the Czech Republic it is no more than 300 crowns (15 USD). Traveling outside the Czech Republic can be a bit more expensive and the price of a ticket depends on where you are going (for more information check out the links in our section transportation here).
Communication
Communication is definitely a must as a teacher. Vodafone, T-Mobile, and O2 are the three major service providers in Prague. All three allow you to pay as you go without signing a contract. Most teachers tend to use Vodafone. If you bring a mobile phone from home you will probably need to have it unlocked before it will work. If you need to buy a phone you have two options. You can buy a new phone from any of the service providers’ stores or you can buy a used phone at a bazaar. There are many bazaars near the Tesco in the center.
Once you find a flat in Prague you will be able to request Internet access.
If you have a computer you can use a program called Skype to call your friends and family. Skype is free as long as the person you are calling has it as well. You can also use Skype to call landlines or mobile phones. The price to call the United States or Great Britain is about three Euro cents per minute. If you do not have a computer you can use one at many of the Internet cafes. Most Internet cafes cost around 25 crowns (more than a dollar) per 15 minutes. Many of the cafes also have Skype available to use.
It is very easy to get around in Prague using public transportation and thanks to the Internet it is very cheap to keep in touch with family and friends back home.
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written by Luke Bodenschatz, TEFL graduate
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