Basic facts

Surface	78.864 Kmq.
Population	10.251.000 inhabitants
Density	130 inhab./Kmq.
Annual Growth	-0,01 %
Urban Population	65,5 %
IPG per head	9770 $US
Inflation	8,6 %
Capital	Prague
System	Parliamentary Republic
President	Vaclav Klaus
Main Cities	Brno, Ostrava, Plzen, Olomouc, Hradec Kralove, Liberec
Languages	Czech
Religions	Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%
Money	koruna (Kc)

Czech, a consonant-rich Slavic language, is among the world’s most complicated. It contains sounds quite difficult for English speakers to produce. However, a growing number of young people, business people, politicians and shopkeepers in Prague speak English (particularly in the city’s centre). Many, especially the older generations, also speak German. Many guidebooks to Prague use English-language names for sights around town. This is helpful, but can be confusing when maps and street signs use the Czech spellings. Here are the most common translations you'll see:

Old Town = Stare Mesto Prague Castle = Hradcany
Charles Bridge = Karluv most
National Theatre = Narodni divadlo
Main Station = Hlavni nadrazi (hl.n.)
Wenceslas Square = Vaclavske namesti
Old Town Square = Staromestske namesti
Lesser Town = Mala Strana

Most Czechs are aware that their language is a nightmare for foreigners, but a well-timed word or two might reward you with a smile if not noticeably better service, and --who knows -- it may open a few cultural doors.

English	>Czech	Pronunciation
Please	Prosim	PRO-seem
Thank you	Dekuji	D'-e-kwee-ee
Yes	Ano (or "no")	AW-no
No	Ne	neh
Hello	Dobry den	DOE-bree-den
Goodbye	Na shledanou	NA SKLE-dawn-o
Do you speak English?	Mluvite anglicky?	MLOO-vee-tay awn-GLITS-kee?
One	Jeden, Jedna, Jedno	YED-en, YED-na, YED-no
Excuse me	Prominte	Pro-MIN-tay
Where is ...?	Kde je...?	GDAY ye ... ?
Where is the metro?	Kde je metro?	GDAY ye metro?
Where is the bathroom?	Kde jsou toalety?	GDAY sow TOWA-aletty?
One beer.	Jedno pivo.	YED-no pi-vo.
please	prosim	PRO-seem
Another, please.	Jeste jedno, prosim	YESH-ty-e, YED-no, PRO-seem.
How much does it cost?	Kolik to stoji?	Koe-LEEK toe STOY yee?

People

According to the most recent census, in 1991, the Czech Republic has a population of 10.3million, or 131 per sq km.Like the Slovaks and Russians, Czechs belong to the Slavic group of peoples, which is divided into East,West and South Slavs. Poles, Czechs, Slovaks and Luatians, belong to the West Slav group. Romanies, or Gypsies one of the most conspicuous minorities, are thought to be descended from migrants from India in the 15th century. They have always experienced particular hostility in central Europe, which now seems to be on the increase. Their numbers here have increased sharply since the 1950s, both from births and from migration into the republic for work. The Communist government tried to integrate them into Czech society, with mixed success. There is a small Vietnamese minority, originally brought here as guest workers. They have also faced racism and claim to be underpaid. Their future is uncertain as the government would like to see most of them return to their homeland. The estimated 1992 population of the capital, Prague was 1 212 000. The other big cities were Brno 392 600, Ostrava 331 500 and Plzen 175 000.

Currency

The Czech unit of currency is the crown (korun or koruna, abbreviated Kc) and the heller (haler or haleru, abbreviated hl). One hundred hellers equal one crown. Banknotes come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 crowns. Coins are available in values of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 crowns, as well as 50 hellers.

While the Czech currency is floating and could increase or decrease at any time, it rarely falls below a rate of 25 Kc to one US dollar.

Changing money

What's the best way to change money? The best option is usually one of the major banks, which generally charge the lowest commissions (about 2 percent with a minimum transaction). For smaller amounts, the charge can go up dramatically. Visitors with American Express travelers cheques can redeem them at the American Express office for local currency at full value, with no commission charged. The many "exchange" outlets around Prague may be convenient, but they tend to charge higher commissions, which can sometimes be misleading or surreptitiously loaded with hidden costs (such as the city map that you thought was free). One caveat: Do not change money with strangers on the street. It is illegal and you could end up with a handful of worthless paper.

Medical information

One of the unpleasant risks travelers take is the possibility of becoming ill in a foreign country. In case of a real emergency you should call for an ambulance. Dial 155. No card or coin is needed for this number from a pay phone. If you don't speak Czech it would be a good idea to have someone who does act as an interpreter. If you don't need an ambulance but need to get to the hospital, take a taxi to Na Homolce Hospital in Prague 5. The foreigner's clinic there will be able to provide a physician who speaks English. If your medical problem isn't an emergency, Prague is now home to several clinics that cater to English-speaking clients and which, for a fee, can provide a network of services from a simple examination to accompanying a patient to the hospital. To buy even a simple aspirin, it is necessary to go a pharmacy, or lekarna. One good, convenient lekarna is at the top of Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske nam. 64, open Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to noon and 2-4 p.m.) Pharmacies that stay open 24 hours a day are listed near the front of the yellow pages phone directory under Lekarny s nepretrzitou pohotovostni sluzbou. One 24-hour pharmacy near the centre is Lekarna U Andela, Stefanikova 6, Prague 5, near the Andel metro stop (Tel. 53 70 39 or 5732 0918).

Other numbers

American Medical Center: 220 80 77 56
Canadian Medical Center: 235 360 133
First Medical Clinic: 224 923 801
Na Homolce Hospital Polyclinic for Foreigners: 257 211 111
Dental Emergencies: 224 22 76 63
Health centre Prague, s.r.o.: 224 22 00 40

Weather

Cold winters, warm summers; springs and summers are the wettest seasons, yet with somewhat more sunny days than in Western Europe.

h3>Average temperatures: Jan 24-34ºFahrenheit/ -5 to 1ºCelsius;
Feb 24-37ºF/ -5 to 3ºC;
Mar 30-47ºF/ -1 to 8ºC;
Apr 39-59ºF/ 4-15ºC;
May 47-68ºF/ 9-20ºC;
Jun 53-74ºF/ 12-23ºC;
Jul 57-77ºF/ 14-25ºC;
Aug 55-76ºF/ 13-25ºC;
Sep 49-70ºF/ 9-21ºC;
Oct 40-58ºF/ 4-14ºC;
Nov 35-45ºF/ 2-7ºC;
Dec 30-38ºF/ -1 to 3ºC.

For the weather forecast go to the Yahoo weather forecast for Prague.

National Holidays

January 1 - New Years´s Day
Easter Monday
May 1 - Labour Day
May 8 - Day of Liberation from Fascism
June 5 - Day of the Slavic Apostles Constantin and Methodius
June 6 - Jan Hus´s Day
October 28 - Independence Day
December 24 - Christmas Eve
December 25 and 26 - Christmas Holidays