Prague

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic with around 1.3 million inhabitants. Prague is also the centre of politics, international relations, education, culture and the economy of the country. The historic center of Prague has been listed as a World Heritage Site. It is a popular tourist destination in Europe, where tourists enjoy not only historical sights and a variety of interesting places, but also plenty of restaurants offering both traditional Czech cuisine and international gastronomy. 
Prague offers a number of historical monuments and sights worth a visit. The list of the top sights usually consists of: (1) Prague Castle with the St. Vitus Cathedral, (2) Gothic Charles Bridge founded in 1357, with a number of statues from different ages, (3) the Old Town Square with the Astronomical Clock, (4) Wenceslas Square with the National Museum building, (5) the Old Jewish Cemetery and the Gothic Old-New Synagogue, (6) Lesser town with St. Nicholas church, (7) the Petřín view tower (a miniature copy of the Tour Eiffel :-) ) accessible by a funicular, (8) the Strahov Monastery (where the conference dinner will take place).
Prague has one of the oldest universities in Central Europe, Charles University, which was founded in 1348.

Botanical gardens in Prague also have a long tradition. The oldest recorded botanical garden was founded as early as in the 14th century during the rule of Charles IV. in the New Town. Currently, there are two botanical gardens in Prague. The older one (founded in 1898) belongs to the Faculty of Science of the Charles University and is located in the city centre (This is the place where our welcome party will take place). The botanical garden of the city of Prague (founded in 1969) located in Prague suburb - Troja has a large outdoor exhibition, but its visitors are attracted mostly by the large greenhouse complex (named Fata Morgana).

The city has a temperate climate with warm summers and cold winters. 
For further information about Prague, please visit:
www.czechtourism.com/a/prague
www.pis.cz/en
www.praha.eu
honest.blog/cs/ 

 

General information

Currency & Banking
The Czech koruna (CZK) is the official currency of the Czech Republic. Exchange of foreign currency is available at the Prague International Airport and at most hotels, banks and exchange offices throughout the city. (Never change money on the street.)
International credit cards are accepted for payments in hotels, restaurants and shops and by the dense network of ATMs throughout the city. 
Payment in cash in EUR is also available in some restaurants and shops, please ask for details on-site. The official exchange rates are available on the website of the Czech National Bank (https://www.cnb.cz/en/financial-markets/foreign-exchange-market/central-bank-exchange-rate-fixing/central-bank-exchange-rate-fixing/).

Time Zone
The Czech Republic is on Central European Time – Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) plus 1 hour. Daylight saving time, i.e. GMT + 2 hours, is in effect from April to October.

Important Telephone Numbers
150: Fire Department
155: Emergency Medical Service (Ambulance)
156: Prague Municipal Police
158: State Police
112: General Emergency