After Arrival in Prague

• How to get from the airport?

  Arrival by airplane

  All international flights arrive at Václav Havel Airport. There are several ways you can get from the airport to the dormitory or the city center:

  Taxi

  This is undoubtedly the most comfortable way to travel but also the most expensive. Prices for a taxi journey from the airport into town range from 200 CZK to 1000 CZK, depending on your precise destination. You can use the airport’s partner taxi companies - FIX TAXI and TAXI PRAHA. Find the contact information here. Alternatively, you can order Uber, Bolt or Liftago taxis via their respective apps.

  Shuttle van

  The shuttle van can take you directly to your dormitory. It is cheaper than taking a taxi, however, it is also slower, since the van will have up to seven passengers, and will have to visit up to seven different addresses. Find more information here.

  Public transport

  From the airport, you can get to the center by public transport buses, which leave every couple of minutes directly from both terminals: line 100 in the direction of Zličín (metro line B, yellow line), line 119 in the direction of Nádraží Veleslavín (metro line A, green line) or line 191 in the direction of Anděl (metro line B). If you are traveling to the main train station, you can use the special Airport Express bus line. You can find more information about transport on Prague public transport website

  Arrival by train or bus

  Most international trains arrive either at the Prague Main Station ("Hlavní nádraží") or at the Holešovice Station ("Nádraží Holešovice"). Both stations are directly on the metro line C (red line). International coaches usually arrive at the Florenc coach station (metro lines B and C, yellow and red line) or at the Želivského coach station (metro line A, green line).

   

• Prague's public transport

  Prague public transport system, constituted by metro, buses and trams, is one of the densest and most reliable in the world. You can get the idea by looking at the maps. For more information and updates, check the Prague Public Transport website. To search for connections and plan your journey, use the official Prague Public Transport app called Lítačka.

  Tickets

  Tickets are widely available in the airport lounge, in the hall of Holešovice Station and Prague Main Station, at news-stands and kiosks and from ticket machines at the entrance to the metro. You can also buy tickets and coupons via the Lítačka app. Last but not least, there is a ticket machine that accepts contactless credit/debit cards in the middle of every tram vehicle. Details can be found here.

  Do not forget to date-stamp your ticket

  You must validate the ticket by date-stamping it before starting your journey. Look out for the little yellow boxes with a green arrow which are available at the entrance to the metro and on all trams and buses. You will be fined if you are caught travelling with an unstamped ticket. Be sure you are holding the ticket the right way up when you are stamping it. Some ticket inspectors can be uncompromising about this!

  How many tickets should you stamp? 

  In most cases, one 40 CZK ticket should be enough to cover your whole journey. Please note that there is a time limit of 90 minutes (or 30 minutes if you buy a 30 CZK ticket). If you are running short of time, date-stamp a second ticket. You do not have to date-stamp your ticket again (i.e. second time) when you transfer between bus and tram or metro.

  Season tickets

  By purchasing season tickets (monthly, quarterly, 5-month or annual), you will save money and you won’t have to think about buying and stamping your tickets every single journey. The price list is here. You will need to get the Lítačka card for that but then you can use the Lítačka app to store your season tickets.

  Finding your stop

  Throughout the Prague public transport system, the names of each stop are announced in the public address system before the doors open. At each stop, the PA will first give the name of the stop where you have arrived and then say what the next stop is (in Czech, of course). In more modern trams, buses and metro trains, there is also a computer display which gives information about the stop that you have reached. 

  Other means of transport

  Walking

  The centre of Prague is rather small, therefore you will find walking the most efficient means of transport sometimes. It provides a bit of exercise and stunning views. Just be careful when crossing the streets: trams have right of way even on pedestrian crossings!

  Biking

  If you like biking but don’t want to purchase your own bicycle for your Prague stay, you can rent one! Look for bright pink bicycles called Rekola. Currently, the price is ca 1 EUR per 30 minutes. There is no deposit required, you just need to install an app.

• Finish your visa process

  Your post-arrival steps depend on two factors: Which type of visa you have and where you are staying. Based on those, here’s what you need to do:

  Note: Airbnb does not count as a hotel and will not register you. Only traditional hotels with reception will do that.

  1. You have a long-term visa and you are staying in the dorms/hotel
     Congratulations! You are all set and don’t need to do anything. The dormitories/hotel have registered you with the foreign police.
  2. You have a long-term residence permit and you are staying in the dorms/hotel
     You need to get to the Ministry of Interior office within 30 days after arrival to give your biometrics and have a residence permit card issued. See step 8 here for details on where to go and what to bring.
  3. You have a long-term visa and you are staying at a private residence.
     You need to go to a Foreign police office within 3 days after arrival to register your address. More on how and where to go here.
  4. You have a long-term residence permit and you are staying at a private residence
     You need to get to the Ministry of Interior office within 30 days after arrival to give your biometrics and have a residence permit card issued. See step 8 here for details on where to go and what to bring.

• Register in-person for the first year

  Now that you are in Prague, we need to finalize your enrollment. Our Registration Guide will help you figure out exactly what to do.

  You will need to make an appointment and come in person to meet us at the International Degree programs office. Don’t forget to bring your previous education documents for nostrification!

  This is a crucial step and we need to do it before the semester starts, so please make sure to complete it.

• Get your student ID card (ISIC)

  The most important thing you need to do after you enrol at Charles University is to get your student ID card. You will be using it throughout the study for:

  • Proof of your student status and relation to university
  • Access to libraries, cafeterias, lab rooms, etc.
  • Uploading money to pay for the printing in the libraries or for the lunches at the cafeterias/canteens.
  • It helps you to get a Public transport discount
  • Various student discounts (cinema, museums, theatres, etc.)

  In order to be able to use the card for printing and copying and also in the cafeterias, you have to put credit on your student card. Please note, the card basically operates with two different accounts and thus you need to put in credit separately for printing and for the use in cafeterias. Find out more here.

  When you enrol at Charles University, you choose between two types of student identity cards:

  • regular CU Student Card - valid in CZE, free of charge
  • CU ISIC Student Card: this is the only internationally recognized student identity card. Its holder gains access to a wide range of benefits and discounts. As a CU student, you have the attractive option of getting a CU Student Card that is merged with the ISIC card, thus enabling you to use all standard CU services and also benefits from ISIC-related discounts. There is a small annual fee (around 13 EUR).

  

  Find detailed information on CU cards here.

  Where to get them?

  The ID cards are issued by card service centres whose location, contact information and office hours can be found here. 

   

• Choose your medical care provider

  Charles University is partnered with healthcare provider AGEL, who is available to provide medical services to all full-time degree students of CU. 

  If you fall ill, you will be able to go there without an appointment and receive medical care with your health insurance. AGEL also provides OB/GYN, dentist and psychiatrist services.

  You can find more information about medical care in Czechia here. 

   

• Update your Czech address and get a Czech bank account

  Once you have a Czech address at the dormitory or at a private accommodation, please don’t forget that you are obligated to update this information in the SIS!

  Opening a Czech bank account is not mandatory, but you may want to do it, especially if you are going to spend a few years in Czechia. As private companies, different banks may have varying policies on opening accounts for citizens of different countries. Most banks offer a student account if you are under 26. You may be asked for a confirmation of study to prove the reason for your stay in the country.

   

• Get to know more about working while studying 

  Whether you are a non-visa student or a student visa/permit holder, you have free access to the Czech job market. This means that you can apply for a part-time or even a full-time job without limitations, as long as you are able to make it work with your classes.
  It is fairly common for students in Czechia to work part-time. The most common type of contract for this kind of work is called “DPP” or “DPČ”. You can read more about the work conditions in here.

  The Faculty also offers the services of a career counsellor, who can help you with the decisions related to your future career.

• Follow FSV UK Circle

  Finding friends and becoming a part of our international student community is a lot easier thanks to our amazing student club FSV UK Circle. Follow them on social media to learn more about their events, tips and more.

   

• Join our Facebook group

  Join our Facebook group for Degree programs students for news, tips and community!