P R A G U E INFORMATION PACKAGE FOR EUROMASTERS/TAM STUDENTS

Transcription

1 P R A G U E INFORMATION PACKAGE FOR EUROMASTERS/TAM STUDENTS 2013/2014

2 Content PROGRAM INFORMATION 3 CONTACTS 3 DOCUMENTS & VISAS 4 ABOUT THE CITY 4 ACCOMODATION AND DORMITORY 5 TRANSPORT 6 GENERAL WARNINGS 7 BANKS, LOCAL CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE 8 FOOD & RESTAURANTS 9 SHOPPING AND OPENING HOURS 10 LIBRARIES 10 MEDICAL FACILITIES 11 SPORT FACILITIES 13 OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION 13 2

3 PROGRAM INTORDUCTION Prague module: Prague module (teaching part): February 17, 2014 (Mon) May 8, 2014 (Thu). (You will have access to the academic premises of the Charles University, e.g. libraries, until end of June) Location: The majority of lectures (including the introductory meeting) will be held at Department of W. European Studies at Rytířská 31, Praha 1, close to Wenceslas Square and Metro station Můstek, intersection of lines A (green) and B (yellow). Some of the lectures, computers and library facilities are located at the Jinonice campus of the Faculty of Social Sciences 3 minutes from Metro station Jinonice, line B) A separate file about academic content of the program will be distributed. CONTACTS Prof. Lenka Rovná Head of the Department of West European Studies, Charles University Phone: Mobil: (emergency) rovna@fsv.cuni.cz Dr. Ivo Šlosarčík (Academic co-ordinator. Agenda: course structure, course evaluation, grading etc.) Department of West European Studies, Charles University Phone: Mobil: (emergency) slosarcik@fsv.cuni.cz Barbora Pelantová (Agenda: Administration) Foreign Relations Section, Faculty of Social Science Phone: pelantova@fsv.cuni.cz Regarding all electonic communication, please send copies of s to Ivo Slosarcik and Lenka Rovna. Address for mail communication: Department. of W. European Studies, Charles University EUROMASTERS/TAM Program Rytířská Prague 1 Czech Republic 3

4 DOCUMENTS & VISAS EU citizens must have an ID or passport when they enter the Czech Republic. Non-EU citizens need a passport (Be sure that your passport is valid for 6 months after your planned entrance into the Czech Republic). EU citizens do not need visa to enter the Czech Republic. Non-EU citizens: please see the visa regime of the Czech Republic available at the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic: Please note, that the information on the Foreign Office webpage concern primarily short-term visits (up to 90 days). Even students from non-visa states need visa if they stay in the Czech Republic (or in Schengen states in general) longer than 90 days within 180 days. For details related to the visa and residence procedure or residence regime, please contact either the EM/TAM coordinators or Lukáš Martin ( svoz@fsv.cuni.cz ) or Barbora Pelantova ( pelantova@fsv.cuni.cz) from the Foreign Relations Department of the Faculty of Social Sciences. Arter arrival to Prague, you will receive a Charles University ID Card (working e.g. for the university libraries or for some students discounts) but not ISIC. Due to our regulations, your cannot get (new) ISIC in Prague but your should arrange it in the country of your first stay in EM/TAM program, i.e. in the US or the UK (and your ISIC is recognised in the Czech Republic). ABOUT THE CITY Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic. It has over 1.2 million inhabitants and is the biggest single political, economic, and cultural centre of the country. Built over many centuries on a series of hills on both sides of the River Vltava, it enjoys spectacular views, a fascinating historical heritage and unique architectural styles. For online information, you may wish to visit: Source: 4

5 ACCOMODATION AND DORMITORY You have the possibility to stay at Charles University dormitory. Please inform us before January 31, 2014 whether you would like to stay there. Most likely, the the University Accommodation Authority (Koleje a Menzy UK) will allocate you at Hostivař Residence Centre, which is well equipped but rather far away from the centre. In 2014, the price per month is approx CZK (approx. 200 euros or 280 USD) per person for two-bed room. Private accommodation. Another possibility is to find an apartment by yourself. If you decide to do so, you may use services of the following real estate agencies or accommodation agencies. Many students from last year also found the internet version of Prague journal Prague-Post ( and its real-estate section helpful (based on fedback from students in previous years). In previous years, the majority of EM/TAM student opted for this variant of accommodation primarily due to higher flexibility and more central location of the apartments rented; the price is usually comparable with the university accommodation when more students share one apartment. Please note that Charles University is not, due to legal regulations, permitted to serve as direct mediator in any negotiation and/or conclusion of rental contracts between its students and non-university subjects. As a general recommendation, you should know that the rental contract shall be in written form to be valid and it should contain the specification of the price, location and description of the apartment concerned, length of the contract as well as the information whether the rent covers also the utilities, telephone, TV, internet connection etc. It is also helpful to keep in mind that the contract should state how many persons stay in the apartment and short-term overnight visits of other persons are permitted (to enable your visiting friends to stay at your place). The information about the insurance is not mandatory but it is helpful. Do not pay the rent before you arrive to Prague and see the place. Selected Accommodation Agencies: Prague Hotel Locator Phone: Website: City of Prague Accommodation Service Address: Divadelní 24, Prague 1 Phone: Fax: GSM: Website: Office hours: non-stop info@prague-city-apartments.cz Mary s Accommodation Service Address: Italská 31, Vinohrady, Prague 2 5

6 Phone: Fax: GSM: , Website: Selected English-Speaking Prague Real Estate Agencies: Reality 21 Address: Na Poříčí 1071/17, Prague 1 Phone: GSM: Website: info.reality21@century21.cz Svoboda & Williams. Prague Real Estate Agents Address: Na Perštýně 2, Prague 1 Phone: Fax: Weekends: Website: info@svoboda-williams.com TRANSPORT All international flights arrive at Prague Ruzyně Airport, approximately 20 km to the Northwest of the city centre. For general information on Prague Ruzyně airport, see the Czech Airport Authority website: which includes full details of transport to the airport by city bus, minibus and taxi (in English). If you travel by train or bus, most international trains arrive either at Prague Main Station ("Hlavní nádraží"), located centrally, or at Holešovice Station ("Nádraží Holešovice") to the north of the city. Both stations are on Metro line C (the red line). International buses usually arrive at a Bus Station Florenc (on Metro lines B and C). Using Taxis Unfortunately, taxi drivers have a very bad reputation in Prague, especially as regards overcharging foreigners. There is no universal price for taxi services, but drivers are required to display their prices, usually on the door (+ there is a maximum price per km set by a municipal decree). It is a good idea to ask about the approximate price before you commit to a ride, and be sure that the meter is running while you are in the taxi. When possible, order a taxi in advance by phone and require the bill which should contain the taxi number and company, the total price and the location of the start and the end of the journey (you have right to receive the receipt at the end of the journey). At present, the starting fare is about 40 CZK, approx CZK per km and 6 CZK per minute of waiting (price information should be available at car`s doors). To get the current prices you can consult the websites of reliable companies mentioned below. Three usually reliable companies whose dispatchers speak English are: - AAA Radiotaxi - tel or , 6

7 - CITY TAXI - tel , - Tick Tack Taxi (Student Agency) - tel , General information about public transport: Prague offers an integrated public transport system, which makes getting around the city relatively quick. You can travel by metro (Underground), tram, bus or railway. The travel tickets are common for all the stated means of transport and you can buy them from many news-stands and tobacconists, ticket offices in the Metro, and from automatic machines in the Metro (and at selected bus and tram stops). At present, tickets cost either 24 CZK (for 30 minutes) or 32CZK (for 90 minutes). Immediately after boarding a bus or tram, or upon entering the Metro, both kinds of tickets must be date-stamped in order to make them valid. In addition to travelling on single-ride tickets you can use a practical system of passes, which are valid for unlimited travel on any bus, tram or metro line throughout the Prague city area. They are also valid on some suburban train routes up to the city boundary. They currently cost 550 CZK for one calendar month, or CZK for three months (720 CZK for students bellow 26 years). Monthly and quarterly passes may be bought at majority of Metro station and at a many newsagents. At the first meeting at the university, we will help you to arrange the students transport passes (if you are under 26 and within limits of the municipal transport authority regulations). It is also possible to get a monthly pass for 670 CZK and 90-day (quarterly) pass for CZK. These are fixed-period tickets and may be purchased without providing personal data, i.e. they are transferable. For further information on public transport in Prague, visit where you will find comprehensive information in English (web page of Prague Municipal Transport Authority) GENERAL WARNINGS As in any world city, street crime also exists in Prague. Students should be aware that Prague has a nasty reputation for pickpockets, especially in the tourist zone. Wallets, purses, and foreign passports are desirable targets for pickpockets, so please be careful when you are out and about in places where tourists gather (such as Old Town Square, Prague Castle, and Charles Bridge). Suggestions for safety are as follows: do not carry big amounts of money and valuables, keep your money and ID in several different places; money belts that can be kept inside clothing are recommended, make photocopies of your passport and other valuable documents and keep them separate from the actual documents, never leave your luggage unattended, exchange money only at official agencies or banks never believe in an advantageous offer for exchange in the street, 7

8 nobody, not even a police officer, has the right to check the validity of your money in the street, be careful of crowds, which is where pickpockets can most often be found this means especially in the city centre, public transport and shopping centres, always have some form of identity card with you (ID or passport), it is de facto mandatory. BANKS, LOCAL CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE Here is the list of the major banks in the Czech Republic: ČSOB Czechoslovak Commercial Bank (Československá obchodní banka, ČSOB) Address: Na Příkopě 18, Prague 1 Phone: Fax: info.pra-na-prikope@csob.cz Website: KB Commercial Bank (Komerční banka) Address: Na Příkopě 33, Prague 1 P.O. BOX 839, Czech Republic Infoline: or (paid phone line, when calling from abroad) Fax: Website: Czech Savings Bank (Česká spořitelna), part of Erste Group Address: Olbrachtova 1929/62, Prague 4 Infoline: Website: csas@csas.cz Warning: Do not change money on the street! NEVER. The Czech Crown (CZK, Kč in Czech) is the local currency unit, divided into 100 Hellers (which are virtually not used in practice). Notes come in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 or 5000 Crowns. Coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Crowns. In order to get information about the Czech bank system see the website of the Czech National bank available at and find the Czech banknotes below: 8

9 Money can be changed at a huge number of exchange offices in the tourist zone, but be aware that the rates of exchange and commission vary enormously. When using smaller exchange offices, especially those in areas with a lot of tourists, always check on their charges before you use them. Many of them charge very high commissions (up to 9%) and have hidden costs. Avoid product pitches and "special" offers (for example, city maps you thought were free). Automatic teller machines/atm ("bankomat" in Czech) located throughout the city are an excellent alternative to changing money as you can use credit or debit cards to get cash without a commission. Most ATM transactions and credit card purchases will give you an exact exchange rate, but cash advance fees may apply. Check with your bank. MasterCard, Visa and American Express are widely accepted. We advise you to contact your bank at home to get the information about charges for the withdrawal of money from tellers abroad. FOOD & RESTAURANTS Czech cuisine is typically central European, with German, Austrian, Polish and Hungarian influences. During recent years, one could observe a boom in restaurants serving more exotic cuisine so the selection is large but constantly changing. There are some good restaurants and a lot of local pubs full of delicious food, world famous Czech beer and good cheer in the whole Czech Republic. We recommend you discover the great atmosphere of the local pubs and quaint restaurants. See the selection list below. Restaurant Perla Address: Perlova St., Prague 1 Cuisine: pizzas and pasta Havelská koruna Address: Havelská St., Prague 1 Cuisine: very typical Czech cuisine, very cheep, self-help, only Czech menu Café Louvre 9

10 Address: Národní 22, Prague 1 Czech Cuisine Mlejnice Address: Kožná St. Cuisine: good, some typical Czech great soups And for coffee lovers/addicts: ANGELATO Café (excellent coffee and ice-cream), STARBUCKS and COSTA COFFEE are located within 5 min from our building). SHOPPING AND OPENING HOURS Shopping in Prague is now much easier than it used to be. Although smaller shops may still have restricted hours at weekends, major supermarkets, shopping centres and department stores are almost always open on Saturdays and Sundays. Many also have extended opening hours on weekday evenings. Depending on where you live, you will probably end up doing your regular grocery shopping in a modern supermarket, in small "corner" shops in an old city neighbourhood, or at an open air-market. Please note that with the exception of shopping centres and chain stores, the Czech Republic is cash-based economy, so be prepared to pay in cash. Grocery stores are typically open from 7.00 or 8.00 a.m. till 6.00 p.m. Closing time is earlier on Saturdays (sometimes as early as a.m.), and on Sundays smaller stores may not open at all. Larger stores in the city centre typically open later, but also stay open later. Banking hours are typically 9.00 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Some branches stay open till 6.00 p.m. Almost no banks are open on Saturday or Sunday. Office hours are very variable, with many offices being open to the public only part of the week. Office hours for the public ("úřední hodiny") will usually be displayed by the office door. LIBRARIES In addition to the university library system (there will be a specific library orientation at the beginning of the module), you might find helpful following libraries during your study visit. 1. Masaryk Library of Social Sciences Social Sciences oriented library under the auspices of the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Humanities of Charles University. It is situated in the premises of Jinonice Campus. A Library orientation in this library will be organized for EM/TAM students in the first week of their stay in Prague. 2. Institute of International Relations Library Address: Nerudova 3, Praha 1 Malá Strana Phone: study room documentation inter-library co-operation 10

11 Fax: (when ordering materials for access in the study room) Website: Access to books, periodicals, and document collections can only be obtained in the study room of the library. Publications of the IIR since the year 1990, professional reference books as well as the newest yearbooks, the latest publications from the past month, current issues of 90 selected periodicals, and past week s issues of newspapers are permanently available in the study room. In the study room there is also access to on-line databases as well as to materials and databases that are on CD-ROM. Books and back numbers of periodicals and newspapers are made available by the next day, while documentation materials take one to three days. Orders and reservations of information materials for use in the study room can be made in person, by telephone, or via . Services are made available only to holders of the library card. Photocopies of books, journals and part of document collections can be made directly in the study room. 3. National Library of the Czech Republic Address: Klementinum 190, , Prague 1 Old Town Phone: public.services@nkp.cz (Library Services Department) Website: Metro: Staroměstská station (Line A) MEDICAL FACILITIES The system of health care has changed after the accession of the Czech Republic into the EU and is rather complicated. A brief guide is available at the following link: We strongly recommend you contact your home medical insurance authority and to check how your insurance works in Prague (or not) and which medical services are covered (or not). In last years, our EM/TAM students had good experiences with the following medical centres with English speaking staff (N.B. you might be required to pay extra fee for preferential and/or English service): 1. Private Health Centre Santé Address: Pštrossova 24, Prague 1 Phone: Website: Phone hotline: Health Centre Prague Address: Vodičkova 28, Prague 1 Phone: Fax: Metro: Můstek (lines A & B) Tram: 3, 9, 14, 24 (stop: Vaclavské Naměsti) 11

12 Website: Dental Services: (Note: there can be an extra pay for dental services) 1. European Dental Center Address: Václavské Náměstí 33, Prague 1 Phone: edc@quick.cz Website: 2. American Dental Associates Address: V Celnici 4, Prague 1 Phone: info@americandental.cz Website: 3. Dental Emergencies Address: Palackého 5, Nove Mesto, Prague 1 Phone: General emergency Services: Emergency Service (Lékařská služba první pomoci) Doctors/First Aid: Prague 1 & 2 (adults) Prague 3 (adults) Prague 4, 11, & 12 (adults) Prague 5 (adults) Hospitals: Nemocnice Na Holmolce (Prague 5) Nemocnice na Františku (Prague 1) Workplace: Poliklinika Palackého (Prague 1) Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice v Praze (Prague 2) Fakutní Thomayerova nemocnice s poliklinikou (Prague 4) Fakultní nemocnice v Motole s poliklinikou (Prague 5) Fakultní nemocnice Královské Vinohrady (Prague 10) 24 Hour Pharmacies Even over-the-counter medication needs to be purchased at a pharmacy (lekarna). In case of urgent need, certain pharmacies are open 24-hours: Prague 1, Palackého Prague 2, Belgická Thomayerova hospital, Prague 4, Vídeňská Prague 5, Štefánikova Hospital Motol, Prague 5, V Úvalu Bulovka Hospital, Prague 8, Budínova 2 12

13 SPORT FACILITIES For sport facilities in Prague see websites listed below available in English: Fitness centres: Sport centres, bowling centres etc: Fitness, swimming pool, tennis: All about sport activities: Sport/Fitness Centres and Gyms: entres&pcat=&pcatname=play OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION Mobiles and public telephones: Three mobile telephone networks operate in the Czech Republic: T-Mobile, 02 and Vodafone. Most of EM/Tam students arrange short-term cards from one of the operators and use them during their stay in Prague. It is usually cheaper than using your US, British or other foreign telephone number in the Czech Republic, particularly for local calls. T-Mobile: O2: Vodafone: Calls can be also made from public telephone boxes operating on coins and cards. Call boxes on the street are usually glass structures with yellow roofs, and may be found all over the city. Phones are also located at Metro stations and major post offices. Most call boxes now operate on phone cards (available at newsagents, tobacconists, post offices, department stores, etc.). Emergency Calls (these are free): Ambulance 155 City Police 156 Fire Brigade 150 Police 158 The EU emergency number 112 also works in the Czech Republic. Post Office (Česká pošta): The Main Post Office is at Jindřišská 14, Praha 1. It is open Mon.-Sun. 7:00 a.m p.m. You can find English instructions on the board at the entrance to the main hall. A telephone room is to the right of the entrance hall. You can make international calls by paying a deposit to one of the clerks. 13