Prague

  Internal affairs

Population

Czech Republic: 10.3 million

Prague: 2 million

  Time

GMT plus one hour.

  Telephone

IDD Country Code 42

Prague 42-2

Brno 42-5

Karlovy Vary 42-17

Bratislava 42-7

International operator 135

The archaic telecommunications system is currently undergoing the slow process of being updated. However, it is generally possible to dial internationally from most domestic and office phones - even if it takes a few attempts. If you have to use the public telephone booths, then it's best to avoid the old ones by investing a telephone card, available from post offices and newsagents. To call internationally from the Czech Republic, dial 00 followed by the country code. To call anywhere inside the country (or Slovakia) dial the area code (which begins with an 0) followed by the number. Omit the area code if you are calling within the area.

  Weather

Average temperatures hover around - and often below - freezing point between December and February, climbing into T-shirt weather in May. July and August are the hottest months, with temperatures reaching the high 20s, and although rain isn't much of a problem, storms do have a habit of suddenly breaking up balmy summer evenings.

  Business hours

Banks 07:30 to 12:00, 13:30 to 15:30 Monday to Friday.

Post Offices 08:00 to 19:00 Monday to Saturday.

Shops Generally open from 08:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday and 08:00 to 13:00 on Saturday, although some supermarkets are open late and on Saturday afternoons.

Offices Generally 07:00 to 16:00, but Western companies may keep more civilised hours.

  National holidays 1996

1 Jan; 1 May; 8 May; 5-6 July; 28 October; 24-26 December

  Guides & Maps

Prague The Time Out Guide to Prague, first published last year, is one of the newest and therefore most reliable guides to the city. If you want something quicker, however, try the Eyewitness travel guide to Prague, which has the added advantage of a handy picture guide to Czech food. There is only one official map of Prague, and you'd be advised to invest in it, since the city underwent a street name-changing mania following the 1989 revolution and relying on free maps is never a good idea, particularly not if you want to find your way home at night.

Czech Republic Fodor's second edition guide to the Czech and Slovak Republics is very good.

  Tourist Information

Prague information centre

Na Prikope 20, Nové mesto, 110 00, Prague 1 Tel (02) 254 44 44.

  The Business

Number of cinema screens: 1,200

TV penetration: 3.9 million households

VCR penetration: 1.15 million (29.5 %)

Cable penetration: 200,000 (5.1%)

Satellite penetration: 750,000 (19.2%)

Cinema attendances (per head per year): 3.2

  Electric current

220AC/50 cycles

  TV Networks

Nova TV

Vladislavova 20, 113 13 Prague 1

Tel 21 100 274 Fax 21 200 568

Premiera TV

Veleztrzní palác, Dukelskych hrdinu 47, 170 17, Prague 7 Tel/fax 24 30 11 01/24 30 11 12

Czech TV

Kavcí Hory, 140 70, Prague 4 Tel +42-2-61 13 11 11 Fax 42 15 62 Sales Tel 61 21 29 45 Sales Fax 61 21 13 54

  Major Industry Events

Golden Golem International Film Festival

21-29 June

Golden Prague International TV Festival

17-21 May

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

28 June-6 July

  Publications

Two English-language newspapers exist in Prague - The Prague Post and Prognosis. Both cover news and listings. A monthly Time Out-style listings magazine also exists. Called Velvet (after Revolution and Underground) you can buy it most hotel receptions.

  The out of towners

Cesky Krumlov

Idyllically positioned on a double loop of the Vltava river, Cesky Krumlov's outstanding beauty was recognised by the outside world when UNESCO declared the tiny south Bohemian town to be second in importance only to Venice on the World Heritage list. The castle and fantastical pink renaissance tower dominate the labyrinth of tiny cobbled streets, which, like those of Prague, are best explored with some aimless wandering. Once place you should aim for, however, is the Egon Schiele Cultural Centre. Cesky Krumlov was the home town of the artist's mother and he spent some time here before 1918.

Pension U Vltavy

Parkán 107 Tel (0337) 4396

U dvou Marií

Parkán 104 Tel (0337) 5228

Karlstejn

Bohemia is full of medieval castles, and Karlstejn is the jewel in its crown, well worth a day trip and easy to get to from the Smichovské train station. Rising up out of the dense forest, it perches imperially on a limestone peak. It's almost worth climbing up for the views alone - as long as you don't suffer from vertigo - but once you're there, if you want to take a look around the inside, you have to take a guided tour. Karlstejn is the most popular excursion of all from Prague, despite the fact that its most exceptional feature, the Chapel of the Holy Cross, has been firmly closed for restoration and will continue to be until a soviet-style unspecifed time in the next few years.

  Emergency numbers

Medical 155 or 52 92 21 91

Ambulance 155

Police 158

  The x-files Tipping

To reward good service, round the bill up to the nearest multiple of 10, but on a very large tab or in American, Italian and French restaurants, leave 10%. Tip porters and room service 20Kc and while taxi drivers expect tips from foreigners, only round the fare up if the driver didn't try and cheat you.