Prague Travel Forum

I will be in Berlin in August and then realized I could visit Prague as well. It is one of the places I wanted to go for a long time.

Anyway, I checked the travel advisories. It turned out there are lot of passport theft, and other crime issue. Since I will be alone, I am not sure now..

Can anyone living in Prague advice on the crime issue? Losing passport in foreign capital could be big hassel....

Someone in Prague please advise.

I don't live in Prague, but a visitor's point of view is likely to be equally useful. I have visited Prague, and many other European cities/towns, alone. I am female. I have never had any problems.

I did not feel any more in danger in Prague than anywhere else I have visited. It is a very popular tourist destination now, especially for UK visitors: this would not be the case if it was a dangerous place!

Use your common sense: keep valuables safely distributed around your body (use a moneybelt or neck purse if you prefer). Make a photocopy of your passport, and carry this with you whilst visiting: leave your passport/spare cash/cards etc in the hotel safe. Keep your eyes open and stay alert for pickpockets, especially in crowded places. Don't make eye contact with beggars/people who try to attract your attention and just keep walking. Avoid badly-lit places at night. That's what one does in any large European city.

If you did lose your passport then having a photocopy would help greatly in getting a replacement. People lose/mislay their passports everywhere, so embassies are well-used to sorting out replacements.

Take normal precautions and just enjoy your visit to Prague without getting over-stressed about safety: it's a lovely city.

Thanks a lot. I really appreciate your input.

I will be arriving in the afternoon as mentioned and will catch an evening flight. What would you recommend I do in this short period?

Any guided city tour you recommend?

What time will you be arriving, and when must you check-in for your onward flight? You may find that your time is too limited for a visit to the city.

2pm arriving.

Leaving 8 PM.

I grew up looking at the picture of Charles street. For some reason I never manged to go there two times I went to Europe. This time I am visiting a client in Denmark and only have weekend free. So I decided to do this:

Copenhagen to Berlin (by train). Stayed Berlin Overnight
Morning Train to Prague (arriving 2 pm)

And then take a 7 pm plane back to Copenhagen.

I know its very short time but I think its worth taking the travel to see Prague even for two hours.

It's a bit tight really. If your bags are being checked through you'll save a little time.

If not you probably won't be out of the airport and in the city much before 15:30. You'll need to be back around 18:00 (so you'll be travelling back at a busy time).

I'd just focus on getting into the Old Town and having a walk round, to be honest. Unless you take a taxi, the easiest way is to get the bus and then the Metro:

http://www.myczechrepublic.com/prague/airport_transportation.html

That's better.......you can get from the railway station to Charles Bridge and the Old Town easily enough.

Just allow yourself plenty of time to get to the airport.

I will be arriving at Holešovice Station (from Berlin). I believe Charles Bridge is within walking distance from the station....??

I think it's a bit of a trek, to be honest. From my map, Holosivice station is quite a way out from the centre.

I think you can get the Metro Line C to Muzeum from Holosivice, then change to line A for Staromestka (nearest Metro station to Charles Bridge)

The main railway station is Prague Hlavní Nádraží, and that is about 5 minutes walk from Wenceslas Square (bit further to the Old Town/Charles Bridge)

we have used the Holosevice station to board a train from Berlin. It is much too far to walk to the Old Town. If you get off the A train one stop before Staromeska which is closest to the bridge as described above, at the Mustek station, you can add a walk through the Old Town Square to your itinerary which will not add that much more time ( and this walk is, as I recall, a more direct route ).

I am bit confused about what you said on getting off a station before. Can you please explain

I am bit confused about what you said on getting off a station before. Can you please explain

after you transfer from the C to the A Staromeska is the second station. Go only one station and exit there and you will be further from the bridge but with the Old Town Square directly on your route.

In other words, take the C to Muzeum. Get off, and transfer to the A metro line (it will be signed and you need 'direction Dejvicka'). Get off at station Mustek (one stop) rather than Starometska (2 stops).

Or you could get off at Starometska, see the Charles Bridge area and then walk back through the Old Town.

Your choice.

Yes, if you are in Berlin, you can visit Prague, Dresden, Pottsdam, western Poland, and all of those good places. I would venture to say that out of all of those places, Berlin probably has far and away the most crime. People just enjoy making up crap about crime in central Europe.