Getting around - Prague

[pavlina]

[/b]Getting there and around

"Prague has an excellent integrated public transport system that combines metro, tram and bus. It's operated by Dopravní podnik hlavního město Prahy (DPP; 296 191 817; http://www.dpp.cz), which has information desks at Ruzyně airport (7am to 10pm) and in four metro stations - Muzeum (7am to 9pm), Můstek, Anděl and Nádraží Holešovice (all 7am to 6pm) - where you can get tickets, directions, a multilingual transport-system map, a map of night services (noční provoz) and a detailed English-language guide to the whole system.

On metro trains and newer trams and buses, an electronic display shows the route number and the name of the next stop, and a recorded voice announces each station or stop. As the train, tram or bus pulls away, the announcer says 'Příští stanice…' (The next station is…) or 'Příští zastávka…' (The next stop is…), perhaps noting that it's a přestupní stanice (transfer station). At metro stations, signs point you towards the výstup (exit) or to a přestup (transfer to another line).

The metro operates from 5am to midnight. There are three lines: Line A runs from the northwestern side of the city at Dejvická to the east at Skalka; line B runs from the southwest at Zličín to the northeast at Černý Most; and line C runs from the north at Ladví to the southeast at Háje. Line A intersects line C at Muzeum, line B intersects line C at Florenc and line A intersects line B at Můstek.

After the metro closes, night trams (Nos 51 to 58) and buses (Nos 501 to 512) still rumble across the city about every 40 minutes through the night. If you're planning a late evening, find out if one of these services passes near where you're staying.


[b]Travel documents

Tickets
You need to buy a ticket before you board a bus, tram or metro. Tickets are sold from machines at metro stations and major tram stops, at newsstands, Trafiky snack shops, PNS newspaper kiosks, hotels, PIS tourist information offices, all metro station ticket offices and DPP information offices.

A transfer ticket (jízdenka) valid on tram, metro, bus and the Petřín funicular costs 20/10Kč per adult/child aged six to 15 years; kids under six ride free. You'll also need a 10Kč ticket for each large suitcase or backpack if it's larger than 25cm x 45cm x 70cm. Validate (punch) your ticket by sticking it in the little yellow machine in the metro station lobby or on the bus or tram the first time you board; this stamps the time and date on it. Once validated, transfer tickets remain valid for 75 minutes if stamped between 5am and 8pm on weekdays, and for 90 minutes at all other times. Within this time period you can make unlimited transfers between all types of public transport (you don't need to punch the ticket again).

There's also a short-hop 14/7Kč ticket, valid for 20 minutes on buses and trams, or for up to five metro stations. No transfers are allowed with these (except between metro lines), and they're not valid on the Petřín funicular or on night trams (Nos 51 to 58) or buses (Nos 501 to 512). Being caught without a valid ticket entails a 400Kč on-the-spot fine (50Kč for not having a luggage ticket). The plain-clothes inspectors travel incognito, but will show a red-and-gold metal badge when they ask for your ticket. A few may demand a higher fine from foreigners and pocket the difference, so insist on a receipt (doklad) before paying.

You can also buy tickets valid for 24 hours (80Kč) and three/seven/15 days (220/280/320Kč). Again, these must be validated on first use only; if a ticket is stamped twice, it becomes invalid. With these tickets, you don't need to pay an extra fare for your luggage."

quotation Lonely Planet http://www.lonelyplanet.com/czech-republ...ere-around