Useful Tips for First-timers
Money
The official currency of the Czech Republic is the Czech crown (CZK) – koruna česká (Kč) in the Czech language.
We advise always checking the official exchange rate for all the currencies on the Czech National Bank's website.
In Prague, contactless payment is accepted almost everywhere. You may need cash for payments in small private supermarkets, or when paying small amounts of money (sometimes, payment by card is only accepted if the amount is higher than 50 CZK. You will also need cash when loading money on your university card/ISIC for payments in the university canteens.
If exchanging money, we advise being extremely careful. Never ever change money with strangers on a street, you may end up with invalid money. Always exchange money in an exchange office.
Be also cautious when choosing an exchange office – some exchange offices offer 0% commission, however, their exchange rates are too low. We advise watching the Honest Guide's video to learn where it is safe to exchange money.
ATM machines in the city center will also take a large commission.
Public Transportation
The most used transport in Prague is the metro and trams. There are three metro lines: Line A (Green), Line B (Yellow), and line C (Red).
UCT Prague is stationed near metro A station “Dejvicka”. The UCT Prague dormitories are located near metro C station “Chodov”. Line A and line C intersect at the “Muzeum” station.
On every bus and tram station, there is a schedule of the bus arrivals and routes of the lines.
Buying Tickets
Tickets can be bought at the airport, inside every metro station, in vending machines on tram and bus stops or via PID Lítačka app.
Once validated, the ticket is valid on all means of transport, and you don't need to validate it again when transferring between the means of transport.
Student passes with a discount (students of age 15-26) can be bought at dedicated places when presenting an ISIC card (issued at UCT Prague). Passes are sold for: 30 days, 90 days, and 365 days.
Note that you may be issued a fine for not having a valid ticket on you when traveling on a means of public transport. Controls in public transport are frequent, so it’s best to avoid any troubles.
Find detailed information about the Prague transportation system on the official website:
Buddy Programme
Buddy is a person who provides help and information to incoming students after their arrival and during their stay in Prague. They may pick you up at the airport, show you the University and the dormitories, and help you settle in. They can provide you with “inside” information about life in Prague and studying at UCT Prague. This service is proving to be invaluable for a smooth start in a new country.
At UCT Prague, Buddy is a volunteer programme organized by Erasmus Student Network (ESN), and it is completely free.