Page 243 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

GE T TING AROUND PR A GUE  241

Cycling
One of the greenest and best
ways of getting around Prague
is by bike. First-timers will benefit
from taking a tour first to get
the lay of the land since bike
lanes are rare. Renting a
bike is easy, and most rental
places, such as Praha Bike,
also arrange good tours. Bike
paths line both sides of the
Vltava, and there is a series
of biking/hiking trails linking
Prague to Vienna (www.
pragueviennagreenways.org). A boat tour on the Vltava run by Prague Venice Boats
Better yet, park at one of the Town, the New Town and the
Driving
guarded car parks (look for Jewish Quarter. This service runs
Most visitors are better off not the “P+R” symbol) at the edge from Easter to the middle of
driving around the centre of of the city and use public November every weekend and
Prague. The city’s complex web transport to get in. public holiday. Tickets can be
of one-way streets, the If you are towed, call bought on board. Tram 22
pedestrianized areas the police (Tel 156) to will take you from the city
around the historic core locate your car. The up to the castle.
of the city and a severe maximum fine is Kč1,300 Sightseeing tours in horse-
shortage of parking (Kč850 if you stop them drawn carriages are run from
spaces make driving very in the process), plus the Old Town Square. Walking
difficult. Prague’s public Kč150 parking fee, and bike tours give a level of
transport system is a and Kč200 for each detail to Prague unseen from
much more efficient subsequent day. If speedier modes of transport,
way of travelling you get clamped, a while boat tours (see pp56–9)
around the city. sticker lists the number allow for fantastic views of
If you do decide to to call to have the major sights.
drive, be aware that clamp removed.
on-the-spot fines for DIRECTORY
traffic violations are Sightseeing
common. You must One-way traffic and No Sightseeing Tour
drive on the right, stopping except for deliveries Tours Operators
and the law states Many firms offer Martin Tour Praha
that both driver and front- trips around Prague’s major Main Office: Štěpánská 61.
and back-seat passengers sights, as well as outings to Map 5 C1. Tel 777 318 198.
should wear seat belts. The castles such as Karlštejn and ∑ martintour.cz
speed limit in the city is Konopiště (see p169). Tours
50 km/h (31 mph) unless usually start from Náměstí Prague Walking Tours
Dlouhá 37. Map 4 D2.
a sign indicates otherwise. Republiky (Republic Square) Tel 608 200 912.
Parking spaces in the centre and from the upper part of ∑ praguer.com
are scarce, and the penalties Wenceslas Square. These trips
for illegal parking are harsh. can be expensive, but prices Praha Bike
Meter parking from 8am to vary, so check what’s on offer Dlouhá 24. Map 3 C3.
6pm costs Kč30–40 per hour. before you make a booking. Tel 732 388 880.
Orange zones allow parking for The Jewish Museum (see p87) ∑ prahabike.cz
2 hours and green zones for organizes trips around the Jewish Precious Legacy
6; blue zones are reserved for Quarter. For those on a tight Kaprova 13. Map 3 B3.
residents. To use the meter, budget, the PIS (see p225) offers Tel 222 321 954.
insert coins for the amount some of the cheapest tours in ∑ legacytours.net
of time you need and display town. Tours can also be booked Premiant City Tour
your receipt prominently on through Čedok (see p225). Na Příkopě 23. Map 4 D4.
the dashboard. A trip on tram 91, run by Tel 606 600 123 (24 hours).
Unfortunately, car theft is the Museum of Municipal ∑ premiant.cz
rife, and expensive Western Mass Transport, is one of the
cars are a favourite target. Try cheapest and best city-centre Private Prague Guide
Blanická 25.
to park in an official – preferably tours. It starts off at the Map 6 F2. Tel 773 103 102.
underground – car park (see the Exhibition Ground (see pp178–9) ∑ private-prague-guide.com
Street Finder maps pp244–55). and travels around the Old

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