Etiquette
- Greetings It’s customary to say dobrý den (good day) when entering a shop, cafe or pub, and to say na shledanou (goodbye) when you leave. When meeting people for the first time, a firm handshake, for both men and women, is the norm.
- Visiting If you’re invited to someone’s home, bring flowers or a small gift for your host, and remove your shoes when you enter the house.
- Manners On the tram and metro, it’s good manners to give up a seat for an elderly or infirm passenger.
- Beer Never pour the dregs of your previous glass of beer into a newly served one. This is considered to be the behaviour of barbarians.
Getting Around
Air
Czech Airlines (www.csa.cz) runs a handful of flights weekly from Prague to the eastern city of Ostrava, but the country is small enough that air travel is usually impractical. There are no flights between Prague and Brno.
Car & Motorcycle
Driving has compelling advantages. With your own wheels, you’re free to explore off-the-beaten-track destinations and small towns. Additionally, you’re no longer at the whim of capricious bus schedules and inconvenient, early-morning train departures. That said, driving in the Czech Republic is not ideal, and if you have the chance to use alternatives like the train and bus, these can be more relaxing options.
Bus
Long-haul and regional bus services are an important part of the transport system in the Czech Republic. Buses are often faster, cheaper and more convenient than trains, and are especially handy for accessing areas where train services are poor, such as Karlovy Vary and Český Krumlov.
Cycling
Cycling is an increasingly popular weekend activity in nice weather, though its full potential has yet to be realised. Southern Moravia, especially along a marked wine trail that runs between vineyards, is ideal for cycling.
Train
The Czech rail network is operated by České dráhy. Train travel is generally comfortable, reasonably priced and efficient. Trains are particularly useful for covering relatively long distances between major cities, such as between Prague and Brno, or Prague and Olomouc.
It’s always safer to buy tickets in advance. Seat reservations are usually not necessary on smaller, regional trains, but are recommended if travelling on a Friday or over the weekend when trains tend to be more crowded. Bikes can be transported for a nominal fee (35Kč to 50Kč) on trains marked with a bicycle symbol on the timetable.
