The City of Prague
Prague is one of the political, cultural, and economic hubs of central Europe, with a rich history and Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia and residence of several Holy Roman Emperors, most notably Charles IV (r. 1346–1378).
It was also an important city to the Habsburg monarchy and Austro-Hungarian Empire. The city played a major role in the Bohemian and the Protestant Reformations, the Thirty Years' War and, in 20th-century history, as the capital of Czechoslovakia between the World Wars and the post-war Communist era.
Prague is home to several well-known cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence and destruction of 20th-century Europe. The main attractions include Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square with the Prague astronomical clock, the Jewish Quarter, Petřín hill and Vyšehrad. Since 1992, the historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
The city has more than 10 major museums, along with numerous theatres, galleries, cinemas, and other historical exhibits (see more below). An extensive modern public transportation system connects the city. It is home to a wide range of public and private schools, including Charles University in Prague, the oldest university in Central Europe.
Cultural Opportunities in Prague
National Museum and Its Buildings https://www.nm.cz/en
National Gallery https://www.ngprague.cz/en/about/news
Alfons Mucha Exhibition https://bit.ly/3E648sZ
National Theatre and its Buildings : https://www.narodni-divadlo.cz/en/programme
Jazz https://www.jazzrepublic.cz/?start=2022-10-01
and many other opportunities, see: https://bit.ly/3E6R2vp
Prague City Transport
The conference venue is located very close to Prague Castle (stop Malovanka), which is served by tram no. 22, 23 and 25. The tram stop is right in front of the building where the conference will be held. To get to Prague centre, use tram 22 or 23.
Within the city, the ticket price is 40 CZK/per 90 minutes or 30 CZK/per 30 minutes. There are ticket vending machines at most of the metro and tram stops (you can pay with coins, and occasionally also by contactless debit/credit card) and inside all trams (here one needs a contactless debit/credit card). Don't forget to validate your ticket using the orange/yellow machines which are located either inside the bus or tram, or at the entrance to the metro station. Alternatively, you can use the official mobile app. See the official webpage for details.
Things to Be Aware of
As Prague is a major tourist destination, it is unfortunately unavoidable that certain tourist traps exist. You can find a list of YouTube videos by the Honest Guide describing scams found in Prague. Prague is a very welcoming city, but you probably should know about the following potential traps:
- At the airport: It is advisable not to withdraw or exchange money at the airport (tickets for public transportation can be bought at a ticket machine at the bus stop, which accepts credit cards). The exchange offices at the airport often have terrible exchange rates (see also the note about exchanging money below). Many ATMs at the airport will try to fool you into withdrawing large amounts of cash by only offering huge values. Remember that 1 Euro is approximately 23 or 25 CZK, and that Prague is still quite cheap compared to other European cities (for instance, lunch prices are between 150 and 250 CZK). If you need cash, it is recommended to either exchange or withdraw money in the city (see comments below), or bring it with you. Most places in Prague will accept major credit cards though.
- Exchanging money: Especially in the very touristy old town of Prague, some exchange offices will try to offer you terrible exchange rates, for example 15 CZK for 1 Euro, while 1 Euro is worth about 25 CZK. Always check the exchange rate thoroughly: it should be at around 24 CZK for 1 Euro. Also, never exchange cash in the streets, as you will most likely receive some completely worthless currency instead of Czech crowns! We recommend eXchange, which has fair rates.
- Withdrawing money: At the airport, some ATMs only offer the option of withdrawing huge amounts of cash, which you will most likely not need (Prague is still quite cheap compared to other European cities). In the city there are some ATMs that suggest using their exchange rate instead of your bank's rate: you will get a choice between using the rate of the bank that the ATM belongs to and your bank, but the button for your bank will be colored red while the ATM's bank will be colored green to indicate that the latter is the supposedly better choice. However, this is often not the case, as the ATM's bank will have a worse rate.
- Taxis: Some taxi drivers will try to charge you horrendous rates, e.g., 5000 CZK instead of 500 CZK. It is recommended to try and avoid getting a taxi on the street (it's advisable to call one of the major Prague taxi services) and if you have to, try to negotiate the price in advance. The maximum price designated by the city council is 36 CZK per kilometer.
- Shops and restaurants: In the old town area, some restaurants and corner stores will be quite overpriced. It is recommended to always check the prices before deciding to buy something at a store or ordering at a restaurant.
Information Regarding COVID-19
Wearing A Mask
The mask mandate has been lifted in Czechia. It is no longer compulsory to wear a mask in public places, but is still recommended on public transport and in busy places. If you wish to wear a mask at CLARIN2022, please bring your own mask as we cannot provide masks for everyone.
The CLARIN2022 organising committee recommends you self-test before travelling to the conference.
Where to Get Tested?
Should you feel unwell at CLARIN2022 and would like to obtain a self-test, you can visit any of the pharmacies on Bělohorská street (location of the OREA Pyramida Hotel). The pharmacies listed below are usually open from 8:00 - 18:00 CEST.
- BENU Lékárna Praha 6, Bělohorská, Bělohorská 258, 169 00 Praha 6 · 703 462 265
- Lékárna Bělohorská, Lékárna, Bělohorská 1686/118 · 252 549 480
- Břevnovská Lékárna, Lékárna, Bělohorská 54 · 220 517 303
- BENU Lékárna Praha 6, OC Kaufland Bělohorská, Lékárna, Bělohorská 2428/205 · 703 462 208
If you prefer to get a test done, please visit one of the facilities listed below:
- PREVEDIG medical, s.r.o., Pelleova 9, Praha 6, www.prevedig.cz
- GHCPraha, Vítězné náměstí, covid-ghc.com
- Ústřední vojenská nemocnice, tel. 739 524 765, reservation through reservatic.com
For further information about the current regulations around COVID-19 in Czechia, please visit https://covid.gov.cz/en/situations/covid-19-disease. The isolation period for people having tested positive for COVID-19 is seven days.