World Country Guide

Travel - International

Air
The national airline is Czech Airlines (OK) (website: www.csa.cz). There are also several small airlines. Information can be obtained from Czech Airlines, City Service Centre, V Celnici 5, 11000 Prague 1 (tel: (2) 3900 7007 (call centre); e-mail: Call.Centre@csa.cz). The airline also has an office in London (tel: (0870) 444 3747 (reservations); e-mail: lon@czechairlines.com). Other airlines include British Airways and EasyJet. From March 2005, Ryanair also offers a connection between London and Brno.

Approximate flight times
From Prague to London is two hours 15 minutes; to New York is eight hours 10 minutes.

International airports
Prague (PRG) (Ruzyne) is 20km (12 miles) northwest of the city. Transport to/from city: Airport bus (Cedaz) every 30 minutes from 0600-2100 (travel time – 30 minutes); bus 119 runs approximately every 20-40 minutes, from 0430-2330 (travel time – 30 minutes) between the north terminal and the nearest metro station, Dejvická (there are also night-buses in operation); low floor bus 100 goes from Zlicin metro terminus to Ruzyne airport and back in 15 minutes (every 15 minutes on working days, 30 minutes at week ends); it is necessary to buy a ticket from a vending machines or newsagents before boarding the bus; minibuses are available for a maximum of six people between the airport and the city centre; taxis are also available to the city centre (24-hour service, surcharge at night); big hotels operate shuttle-bus services during the summer months to the major hotels in the city. Airport facilities include duty-free shops; post office; banks/bureaux de change; restaurant and bar; car parking and car hire (Alamo, Alimex CR, Avis, Budget, CS-Czechocar, Dvorak, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt).

Departure tax
Prague (Ruzyne): Kc700

Rail
The Czech Republic forms part of the European InterCity network. The most convenient routes to the Czech Republic from Western Europe are via Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Nuremburg, Munich, Vienna, Würzburg or Zurich to Prague. The Vindobona Express is a once-daily through train that travels from Vienna to Prague (main station) and on to Berlin. Rail travel information is available from Czech Railways (tel: 412 503 113; e-mail: DCN@centrum.cd.cz; website: www.cdrail.cz).

Road
The Czech Republic can be entered via Germany, Poland, the Slovak Republic or Austria.

Bus
There is an international bus network covering most European cities. There are connections to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Munich, Vienna and other main cities from the Florenc and Zelivskeho Bus Terminals (Metro stations). Kingscourt Express runs services Monday to Saturday between London Victoria to Prague and Brno (tel: (2) 6671 3032; fax: (2) 6671 2177; website: www.eurobus.cz). Eurolines (4 Cardiff Road, Luton, Bedfordshire L41 1PP; tel: (08705) 143 219; fax: (01582) 400 694; website: www.eurolines.com or www.nationalexpress.com) also operate services between Prague and other european cities.