Prague

By taxi

Try to avoid getting taxi on the street public transportation is always the better option in Prague and if you have to, try to negotiate the price in advance. If you take taxi on the street, you should know that maximum price designated by city council per kilometre is 28 CZK/km approx 1,3€.It's advisable to call one of the major Prague Taxi services:

AAA Radiotaxi

+420 222 333 222 (http://www.aaa-taxi.cz). 26 CZK/km

City Taxi

+420 257 257 257 (http://www.citytaxi.cz). 24 CZK/km

Halo Taxi

+420 244 114 411 (http://www.halotaxi.cz/). 24 CZK/km

Kuryr Taxi

+420 241 090 090 (http://www.kuryr-taxi.cz/). 26 CZK/km

Modrý anděl

+420 737 222 333 (http://www.modryandel.cz/.19) CZK/km

PAT Taxi

+420 800 870 888 (http://www.prague-airport...)

PRG Taxi

+420 773 066 880 (http://www.bohemia-prague...)

Profi Taxi

+420 844 700 800 (http://www.profitaxi.cz/). 26 CZK/km

Sedop

+420 841 666 333 (http://www.sedop.cz/). 23 CZK/km

Speedcars

+420 224 234 234 (http://www.speedcars.cz). 19 CZK/km

Taxi Praha

+420 222 111 000 (http://taxi-praha.cz/). 24 CZK/km

Taxi Premier

+420 777 092 045 (http://www.taxipremier.com/)

Deceptive taxi drivers are another trap that can badly surprise a tourist. Mostly they charge more than they should. The municipal council has been trying to solve this problem since the Prague mayor dressed up as an Italian tourist and was repeatedly overcharged. The most frequent cases of cheating happen between the railway station or airport and hotel. If you must take a taxi, and cannot call one directly or call your hotel for a referral, the best way to find a reputable one may be to look for a hotel and ask them to call a taxi. Most hotels in Prague have a "deal" with taxi services or they have their own "hotel taxi" which usually charges you 50% or more than the taxi companies listed above.

Taxi drivers at the railway station may show you a printed card that details the "fixed fares" for travel within the city. This is completely false. Don't fall for it.

Always insist on having the taxi-meter turned on and ask for a printed receipt once you leave the taxi. The receipt should have the driver's name, address and tax identification number included. Even though you ask for a receipt the taxi-meter could be tampered with using the so called "turbo", which will cause the taxi-meter price to go sky high.

If you decide to flag down a taxi on the street make sure you stop a car with the logo of one of the major companies. It's not a bullet proof solution, but at least you have some chance to get some satisfaction from the taxi dispatching company.

About two years ago, an information desk was set up on most taxi stands in the city, with orientation prices to most popular destinations from that stand. But there is a flaw in the local law, which actually allows some of the taxi companies renting the taxi stands specifically around Old Town square to charge VERY high prices about 99CZK/Km. There is an ongoing law suit regarding this, however the practice still hasn't stopped. The most infamous company in this regard is a recently created AAA Taxi s.r.o. deliberately creating its name to resemble regulated and popular AAA Radiotaxi Praha, however AAA Taxi cabs charge up to four times more for a ride, they even do not provide services to Czech customers (http://www.praguepost.com...). Visitors are advised to use the services of proved phone-order taxis, as they are even reports of robberies with street cruising taxis (http://www.sedazona.cz/20...).

If you don't speak Czech, then be prepared: There is about a 50% chance you will be cheated by the driver, if you hail a taxi in the city center. So be always on watch as that is a standard warning in any guide book about Prague.

If you are convinced you got overcharged by the taxi driver, mark the car ID numbers license plate, taxi license number on the car door, driver name, etc. and contact the company which the driver is working for if any or police. The problem is that you have to testify against the driver, which is kind of hard when you're on the other side of the world. Try to avoid suspicious taxis and when in doubt, walk away and catch another taxi.

Another alternative is to use some of the chauffeured services companies like Prague Airport Transfers s.r.o. (http://www.prague-airport...) or FEBA Trade Limousine Car Service (http://www.febatrade.cz/) or even cheaper but as reliable HFS s.r.o. - 123-Prague-Airport-Transfer.com (http://www.123-Prague-Air...), or Transfer-Prague.com (http://www.transfer-pragu...).

Some hotels offer taxi services. Make sure to compare the price with other companies. Some hotel taxis are cheap but others are more than twice the price and the car is not always identified as being a taxi. Most of hotels in Prague have "deal" with taxi services or they have own "hotel taxi" and usually charge you by 50% or more then companies written above

Shuttle

Shared minibus airport service is cheaper alternative to regular door-to-door private transfers. One can find easy-to-follow website at various websites.

On foot

Prague is renowned as a very "walkable" city. For those who enjoy seeing the old and new city by foot, one can easily walk from Wenceslas Square to the Old Town Square, or from the Old Town to Charles Bridge and the Castle District. However almost all of the streets are cobbled, rendering it very difficult for disabled or elderly travellers to get around effectively. Also, pedestrians should enter crosswalks carefully in Prague, as drivers are not as likely to yield as they are in other European cities.

Remember that in the Czech Republic, it is illegal to cross at a pedestrian crossing on a red man, and if caught this incurs a fine of 1000CZK.