Travelling
Transport Information
Flying to the Czech Republic
Prague Airport has two main terminals: Terminal 1 and 2. Terminal 2 is used for flights to countries in the Schengen area (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden).
In addition, domestic flights are operated in the Czech Republic between Prague (Prague Airport at Ruzyně), Brno (Tuřany Airport), Ostrava (Mošnov Airport) and Karlovy Vary. Detailed, up-to-date information can be found at www.csa.cz.
Some of the meeting venues are also within easy reach of the airports in Vienna (Austria) and Bratislava (Slovak Republic).
Travelling by car in the Czech Republic
As in most European countries, motorway toll stickers are required for most motorways and high-speed roads in the Czech Republic; these stickers are available for varying lengths of time and differ depending on the type of vehicle. Toll stickers for cars can be purchased for one week, one month or one year. The prices for 2009 are CZK 220, CZK 330 and CZK 1,000 respectively. Toll stickers are sold at border crossing points, petrol stations and post offices.
Transport regulations in the Czech Republic
It is particularly important to remember the following rules:
- in the Czech Republic you must drive on the right
- all car occupants must wear a seat-belt
- the maximum speeds are 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h outside towns and 130 km/h on motorways and high-speed roads
- it is illegal for drivers to consume any alcohol or take any narcotic substances before driving
- drivers must use their dipped-beam headlamps (or daytime-running lights) at all times of the day
- it is forbidden to hold a mobile phone while driving (use of mobiles is permitted with hands-free sets)
Travelling by bus and coach in the Czech Republic
Hundreds of large and small private transport operators run bus and coach services throughout the Czech Republic. Routes and services can be looked up in the National Timetable Information System at www.idos.cz.
Travelling by train in the Czech Republic
Train services in the Czech Republic are operated by České dráhy, i.e. Czech Railways (www.cd.cz). The fastest services are provided by SuperCity (SC), EuroCity (EC), InterCity (IC) and Express (Ex) trains. It is usually necessary to reserve a seat on these trains. Timetables for train, bus, coach and air services can be found at
www.idos.cz.
SC Pendolino trains offer high-speed, comfortable services linking up Prague, Pardubice, Olomouc and Ostrava. These services are operated in association with Czech Airlines, with a shuttle bus operating to and from the Prague Airport. Tickets for the SC Pendolino can be purchased online at eshop.cd.cz (seat reservations are compulsory).
Prague Integrated Transport (PID) services
Information about public transport in Prague can be found on the website of the transport company Dopravní podnik hlavního města Prahy (www.dpp.cz/en).
Transportation to informal ministerial meetings in the Czech Republic
Media representatives will be transported by Student Agency coaches to the remoter destinations of informal meetings in Luhačovice, Hluboká nad Vltavou and Mariánské Lázně a day before the meeting (from Prague Airport), returning the day after the meeting. The exact schedule of coach departures for each planned event will be posted in advance on the official Presidency website at www.eu2009.cz.
During the meetings, Student Agency will run a minibus shuttle service between hotels recommended for media representatives and the event venue. A detailed electronic timetable of minibus services will be posted on the Czech Presidency’s website at
www.eu2009.cz; printed timetables will be available at press centres.
Further information about transport to individual venues of informal ministerial meetings can be found in the Media Guide or in the section Venues in the Czech Republic.
Last update: 16.8.2011 16:03
