Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is situated on the River Vltava in the very heart of Europe. It is an incredibly beautiful city with a wealth of architecture, ranging from Gothic churches and Baroque palaces to Art Nouveau cafés and Cubist villas. Prague, which has survived wars and revolutions almost unscathed, has a medieval centre of winding cobblestone streets through which you can wander and discover palaces, churches, museums, bridges, squares and backstreet pubs. The Czechs are very friendly and hospitable people, if a little reserved. Czech, however, is not an easy language, a simple survival vocabulary of everyday Czech will get the learner through most situations and your effort to communicate in the local language will be greatly appreciated. Being located in Central Europe winters can be cold and the summers hot. Advice on what clothes you should bring for the duration of the course can be obtained from the centre.

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Transport in Prague is excellent. From the airport you can easily get a taxi, which will cost around 700kc (€25), but it is also possible to get a bus/metro into the centre for just 20kc (€0.7). The trams and metros in Prague are regular, efficient, and simple to use although as both the school and our accommodation are so central, you may not even have to deal with this. If you do want to buy a monthly pass which covers all city transport, this costs just 420kc (€15).

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Things to do

There is a wide variety of cultural and sporting attractions in Prague all of which is available on a limited budget. The city is famous for its music and art. Concert halls stand cheek by jowl with jazz clubs, art galleries with museums and theatres with cinemas. Ice-hockey and football are the most popular sports across the countryThe beer is world famous and world class. Travelling within the republic is inexpensive and easily managed. The rolling countryside of Bohemia is studded with well-preserved medieval towns, and there are a number of fascinating places to visit within easy reach of the capital including the medieval towns of Kutná Hora, Tábor, Karlštejn and Ceský Krumlov. Also the unspoilt countryside provides for quality skiing in the winter and walking in the spring and summer.

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Eating out can be managed at quite reasonable prices (even in the centre). Pubs are the best bet for affordable food and things have moved on from the days of meat and dumplings. Within 5 minutes walk of the school, there is a wide choice of food available covering all tastes, diets and budgets. You can find plenty of options for lunch between 80-200kc (€3-7) and grab a hot dog for just 15kc (€0.5). Czech beer is definitely a star attraction, and for some locals accompanies all three meals of the day. Pace yourself!!

For more information about living and working in the Czech Republic try these links:
The Prague Post
Lonely Planet - Prague
Expats
Czech News
Prague Information Service
Radio Prague

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Visas/Work permits
European Union and US citizens do not need a visa to enter the country. If asked the purpose of your visit, you should state, “tourism”. US citizens should make a trip accross the border and back after 3 months (Dresden in Germany for example is only a few hours away). This enables you to renew and get another 3 months. EU citizens are allowed 3 months as tourists. Those wishing to remain in Prague to seek work will need to apply for a working visa. Bring your passport and birth certificate. Leave copies of these documents with your family in case of loss.

The following thread is useful for US and other non-EU citizens. Read the posting by Fledermaus.

Health Insurance
EU citizens are covered and do not need separate medical insurance for up to three months.

US citizens will need to be insured.You are required to be covered for overseas medical insurance. You have several options. First, check with any insurance policy you already have and see if they have an overseas provision, or rider that you can purchase. Your family might also have a general policy that provides this. There are also companies that specialize in overseas policies, for both short-term and longer stays. The rates are reasonable and the service might actually be better than an add-on to an existing policy. You can find these on the web under "overseas insurance" or "travelers insurance." We are told that Patriot is a popular company to use. Once you are employed and your work/residency papers processed, you will automatically receive full medical coverage by the Czech government.

Citizens of other countries may need a visa to enter the country. Please consult your local Czech consulate or embassy or try www.embassyworld.com/embassy/czech_republic1

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Try the following for cheap airfares to Prague.

From the U.S. : Airfare Hotline of America - DiscountAirfare.com

From the U.K. : Easyjet.com or bmibaby.com are good discount airlines.

Find discounted airfares from any country ...
www.whichbudget.com lists budget airlines which fly to Prague from around Europe
www.sta-travel.com
www.travelocity.com

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