How to roll in Prague like a local

As Prague becomes one of the most beautiful cities in the world I see this as much needed tips if you head there.

Basic characteristics

In Prague, there is only the historical center worth being seen, the suburb is generally just a handful of tall panel buildings and a couple of same-looking factories. Besides, the place where locals usually call it home. So if you stay in Prague, the best quarters are Prague 1 and 2.

September is not that rainy as August is, late summer nights are still okay in a light sweatshirt or long-sleeved shirts. Do NOT forget a raincoat though, you never know when it strikes. Sunglasses - essential. Then there comes freaking winter which lasts from October till early April, take out your warmest clothes.

Wall plug: Food expenses/person:

Lunch 120-170CZK

Fruits 10-15CZK/piece

Coffee 120CZK in Starbucks/ 60-80CZK anywhere else

Tea 40-60CZK

Bubble-tea 100-150CZK

Beer 25CZK / 50CZK at fancy places

Coke 35-40CZK

+ additional info about water: The 1,5l-2l bottled water costs 10-15CZK, however in restaurants the habit of getting water for free is not that often yet so you have to pay 35-40CZK for even smaller bottle (still or sparkling). Anyway water in the Czech republic is drinkable so if you ask for tap water it should be fine. I mostly do that.

Restaurants (tips) vs. supermarkets

It is a general fact that restaurants are much more expensive. For no reason mostly. However it is nice to be served on vacation so go ahead. Waiters and waitresses are not smiley faces as Americans so brace yourselves. Usually you are the ones who have to give them possitive energy. Usually what I've seen they are sour faces, badly slept or whatever and you feel you should be aware if they tend to spill water all over you. And they still expect tips. Tips are not that often here, like at all, but if you leave like 20-30CZK per person it is nice. In case of other shops, if you are given silver coins back (1, 2 or 5CZK), leave it there, it is nice and they do not worth much. Anyway, if the person behaves bad, do not give him/her anything at all. At least they have a moment to think something was probably wrong. It is not a shame not to give tips.

If you want to cut your vacation budget a little tighter, there are our awesome all-over-the-place supermarkets like:

and many teeny-tiny vietnamese self-service shops where you can find cheap but tasty fruit and vegetable, biscuits and musli bars, beverages, milk products (kefirs, flavoured milk, yoghurts). Those shops are usually labeled like this:

!!!WARNING!!!

There are many people out there who would like to cheat on you because they see you are a foreigner. That is a loooong scale from taxi drivers to money-exchangers.

There's a link of a short video for instance:

https://www.stream.cz/honest-guide/10017148-rulickari-nejhorsi-podvodnici-z-prazskych-ulic-pristizeni-primo-pred-kamerou

- the beginning is in Czech but then it starts in English. I think it can help you much.

The best rated exchange offices are here, see the red dots (3):

Transportation

From PRG Airport to the historical center the taxi usually costs around 500CZK. A van cca 700CZK. Do not go over 1000CZK. Those are cheaters and there are many other polite taxi drivers.

If you prefer to take the public transport it is fine to buy the 30-minute ticket/person for 24CZK on metro stations at the desk or at the yellow boxes, at bus-driver's cabin (NOT in trams!!, just buses). You can use the tickets for all means of public transport which is bus, tram, metro and funicular on Ujezd station leading uphill.

The metro goes every 3 minutes in rush hours, then after 6PM every 5, from 8PM to 10 minutes not more.

The last metro goes around 0:15AM but it depends on what direction you need it. I recommend the app Pubtrain, when you install it download the Prague package and easily search. Trams and metros are always on time but buses not always. Seach for WiFi in restaurants or shopping malls.

Food

Rohlik /roh'leek/ - the cheapest Czech snack 2CZK/piece Beer rohlik (the original is the best though)

(both of them at supermarkets - bakery aisle)