_ There will be a time or twelve when you wonder, “Where the @^&* am
I…???”. Whether this is asked on sober or questionable terms, it is
essential to understand key elements about getting around Prague, a city
that seems designed to test your travel savvy. Sufficient lighting is
an anomaly, even on the main streets. Czech street signs are a
hodgepodge of consonants that hide on dark corners. The constant threat
of secret police on the trams and subway is also pretty disconcerting
after a night out. Master the following guidelines and your directional
worries will be over. Trust us, many, many mistakes went into
understanding Vltavská vs. Zastávka and all its Czech kamarádi.
_
Top 12 (or so) Things to Keep in Mind
1. The website www.idos.cz will be your best friend. Wherever you need to go via tram, metro or bus, idos.cz gives you minute-by-minute timing, transfers and which mode of transportation is fastest. This is the Czech equivalent to mapquest. With that in mind, proceed as follows:
• Scroll down under the ad on the right and click the English flag.
• After you’ve selected “Prague Public Transport” in the Timetable line, type in your departure and destination points (Náměstí Republiky, Národní třída).
• Set the date and time you want to travel.
• Hit “Search,” and you’re ready to roll. If you take note of the departures, it will save precious time waiting at the stop. This is particularly essential for those of you with a 9 a.m. class and post-party delirium.
2. Trams are the hot spot for Open Card and (occasionally) passport checks, especially the heavily traveled tourist lines 9 and 22. On the metro, the transit police usually wait at the exits — they get you as you try to escape – although occasionally they venture into the subway cars.
3. Don’t be caught off-guard if a plainclothes transit cop ever so subtly glides over to you and flashes his badge without a whisper. Even if you have your card, PLEASE take a long time to find it. That way, others on the tram who don’t will have a chance to escape. Why do we care about them? Karmic retribution, guys! Help out your fellow Czech neighbors and the same could happen to you later on.
4. Tram schedules sometimes change due to construction, special events or sudden repairs. Stay alert at the stop and check for signs that announce time and route changes...even though they will be in Czech.
5. Always push the green button. It opens the doors on both the metro and tram. Seems pretty self-explanatory, no? But you’ll quickly find that your iPod serves as the worst distraction. Forgetting to press the button will bring looks of disgust from veteran passengers as they shove past you.
6. Addendum to #5: Your iPod will be the best and worst of you. Yes, blasting M83 or Explosions in the Sky completes your “I’m in Prague. OMGGGGG” movie moment. However, it also is a grave contributor to tram mishaps. Our parents taught us to look both ways before crossing the street, yet for some reason many of us abandon this advice in favor of near-death debacles. Tram drivers can be pretty wild by American standards. Be alert to avoid a hospital stay (or worse) during your time abroad.
7. Keep your bags in front of you. Pick-pocketing is very frequent on the tram and metro. Pickpockets sometimes work in gangs, so be alert.
8. The locals are typically quiet on Prague public transportation. Think of the stark contrast between your beloved ape-shit crazy L train and terribly subdued A train. To avoid unwanted attention from the Open Card Gestapo, try for the same (despite your New York predisposition). Talking loud in English and laughing with friends makes you a prime target.
9. Once drunken tourists and students come out at night, disregard rule #8.
10. RENEW YOUR OPEN CARD. After the first month, NYU stops paying and you must refill it yourself for three months. Do it, or you’ll pay the equivalent (or more) in fines. The Muzeum metro stop close to campus sells cards.
11. The metro stops running around 12:10 a.m.
12. The trams stop running around 12:15 a.m. Then the night trams kick in, though not nearly as often. If you take a look at the 2 – 5 a.m. schedule before you go out, it will save you some serious lag time at KFC.
What the hell is the night tram?
You’ve just left KFC after a Radost-induced hunger attack. You find the tram stop after your 11:45 nightly pre-game went a bit too late. BAM. Nothing is coming Now you’re frantic: “What do I doooooooooooo?????”
Our answer: 53 or 54 that shit.
Trams numbered in the 50s run after midnight. They function just the same as day trams, but on slightly different routes and a much sparser schedule. Just look at the posted schedule, and remember that whatever stops are under the bold stop is the direction the tram is running. If the stop you need is above the bold stop, move to the other side of the street. If you don’t see a tram stop there, look for the nearest gleaming yellow sign jutting into the air.
How to get to NYU Center:
From Osadní: Take tram 5 from Dělnická to Náměstí Republiky (11 minutes)
From Máchova: Take the Metro Green line from Náměstí Míru to Staroměstská (5 minutes)
From Slezska: Take the Metro Green line from Jiřího z Poděbrad to Staroměstská (7 minutes)
From Jaurisova: Take tram 11 from Pod Jezerkou to Muzeum, then the Metro Green line to Staroměstská (21 minutes)
Cabs
Avoid hailing a passing cab on the street. They will take you for all you’re worth. The yellow card that NYU gives you at orientation is actually helpful for remembering phone numbers. AAA taxi (222-333-222) is honest and will quote you the price before it comes. City Taxi (233-103-310) is another good alternative.
Top 12 (or so) Things to Keep in Mind
1. The website www.idos.cz will be your best friend. Wherever you need to go via tram, metro or bus, idos.cz gives you minute-by-minute timing, transfers and which mode of transportation is fastest. This is the Czech equivalent to mapquest. With that in mind, proceed as follows:
• Scroll down under the ad on the right and click the English flag.
• After you’ve selected “Prague Public Transport” in the Timetable line, type in your departure and destination points (Náměstí Republiky, Národní třída).
• Set the date and time you want to travel.
• Hit “Search,” and you’re ready to roll. If you take note of the departures, it will save precious time waiting at the stop. This is particularly essential for those of you with a 9 a.m. class and post-party delirium.
2. Trams are the hot spot for Open Card and (occasionally) passport checks, especially the heavily traveled tourist lines 9 and 22. On the metro, the transit police usually wait at the exits — they get you as you try to escape – although occasionally they venture into the subway cars.
3. Don’t be caught off-guard if a plainclothes transit cop ever so subtly glides over to you and flashes his badge without a whisper. Even if you have your card, PLEASE take a long time to find it. That way, others on the tram who don’t will have a chance to escape. Why do we care about them? Karmic retribution, guys! Help out your fellow Czech neighbors and the same could happen to you later on.
4. Tram schedules sometimes change due to construction, special events or sudden repairs. Stay alert at the stop and check for signs that announce time and route changes...even though they will be in Czech.
5. Always push the green button. It opens the doors on both the metro and tram. Seems pretty self-explanatory, no? But you’ll quickly find that your iPod serves as the worst distraction. Forgetting to press the button will bring looks of disgust from veteran passengers as they shove past you.
6. Addendum to #5: Your iPod will be the best and worst of you. Yes, blasting M83 or Explosions in the Sky completes your “I’m in Prague. OMGGGGG” movie moment. However, it also is a grave contributor to tram mishaps. Our parents taught us to look both ways before crossing the street, yet for some reason many of us abandon this advice in favor of near-death debacles. Tram drivers can be pretty wild by American standards. Be alert to avoid a hospital stay (or worse) during your time abroad.
7. Keep your bags in front of you. Pick-pocketing is very frequent on the tram and metro. Pickpockets sometimes work in gangs, so be alert.
8. The locals are typically quiet on Prague public transportation. Think of the stark contrast between your beloved ape-shit crazy L train and terribly subdued A train. To avoid unwanted attention from the Open Card Gestapo, try for the same (despite your New York predisposition). Talking loud in English and laughing with friends makes you a prime target.
9. Once drunken tourists and students come out at night, disregard rule #8.
10. RENEW YOUR OPEN CARD. After the first month, NYU stops paying and you must refill it yourself for three months. Do it, or you’ll pay the equivalent (or more) in fines. The Muzeum metro stop close to campus sells cards.
11. The metro stops running around 12:10 a.m.
12. The trams stop running around 12:15 a.m. Then the night trams kick in, though not nearly as often. If you take a look at the 2 – 5 a.m. schedule before you go out, it will save you some serious lag time at KFC.
What the hell is the night tram?
You’ve just left KFC after a Radost-induced hunger attack. You find the tram stop after your 11:45 nightly pre-game went a bit too late. BAM. Nothing is coming Now you’re frantic: “What do I doooooooooooo?????”
Our answer: 53 or 54 that shit.
Trams numbered in the 50s run after midnight. They function just the same as day trams, but on slightly different routes and a much sparser schedule. Just look at the posted schedule, and remember that whatever stops are under the bold stop is the direction the tram is running. If the stop you need is above the bold stop, move to the other side of the street. If you don’t see a tram stop there, look for the nearest gleaming yellow sign jutting into the air.
How to get to NYU Center:
From Osadní: Take tram 5 from Dělnická to Náměstí Republiky (11 minutes)
From Máchova: Take the Metro Green line from Náměstí Míru to Staroměstská (5 minutes)
From Slezska: Take the Metro Green line from Jiřího z Poděbrad to Staroměstská (7 minutes)
From Jaurisova: Take tram 11 from Pod Jezerkou to Muzeum, then the Metro Green line to Staroměstská (21 minutes)
Cabs
Avoid hailing a passing cab on the street. They will take you for all you’re worth. The yellow card that NYU gives you at orientation is actually helpful for remembering phone numbers. AAA taxi (222-333-222) is honest and will quote you the price before it comes. City Taxi (233-103-310) is another good alternative.