Czech Republic Country & Tourist Information

Location
Central Europe.

Area
78,866 sq km (30,450 sq miles).

Population
10.2 million (2006 estimate).

Population Density
129.3 per sq km.

Capital
Prague.
Population: 1.25 million.

Government
Republic since 1993.

Language
The official language is Czech. English and German are also spoken.

Religion
Mostly Roman Catholic and some Protestant, including churches such as the Reformed, Lutheran, Methodist, Unity of Czech Brothers and Baptist. There is a small community of Jews, mainly in Prague. According to the March 2001 national census, 60% of the population profess no religious beliefs. 

Time
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity
Generally 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Most major hotels have standard international two-pin razor plugs.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek since 2006.

Head of State
President Václav Klaus since 2003.

Telephone
Country code: 420. There are public telephone booths, including special kiosks for international calls. Surcharges can be quite high on long-distance calls from hotels. Most of the public telephone boxes take phonecards, which can be purchased at all Telecom points of sale and at newsagent and tobacconist shops.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet
There are Internet cafes in Prague and other cities.

Media
Private media in the Czech Republic mushroomed in the 1990s, and private radio and TV stations provide stiff competition for public broadcasters. Public TV broadcaster Ceska Televize (CT) operates two networks and a 24-hour news channel. Czech public radio, Cesky Rozhlas (CRo), operates three national networks as well as local services. Two major private television channels broadcast nationally and there are more than 70 private radio stations.

Post
Airmail takes up to a week to reach other European destinations.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1800.

Press
• The Prague Post and Prague Tribune (both weekly) are published in English.
• The main Czech dailies include Mladá Fronta Dnes, Právo and Lidove Noviny.

Radio
• Public broadcaster Czech Radio operates national and regional networks.
• Radio Prague has programs in a number of languages including English.
• Frekvence 1 and Radio Impuls are private national stations.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
9 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May May Day.
8 May Liberation Day.
5 Jul Day of the Apostles St Cyril and St Methodius.
6 Jul Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Jan Hus.
28 Sep Czech Statehood Day.
28 Oct Independence Day.
17 Nov Freedom and Democracy Day.
24-26 Dec Christmas.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
24 Mar Easter Monday.
1 May May Day.
8 May Liberation Day.
5 Jul Day of the Apostles St Cyril and St Methodius.
6 Jul Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Jan Hus.
28 Sep Czech Statehood Day.
28 Oct Independence Day.
17 Nov Freedom and Democracy Day.
24-26 Dec Christmas.

Contact Information:

Embassy of the Czech Republic in the UK
26-30 Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QY, UK
Tel: (020) 7243 1115 or 09069 101 060 (24-hour recorded visa information; calls cost £1 per minute).
Website: www.mzv.cz/london  
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 0830-1715; Fri 0830-1600; Mon-Fri 0900-1100 (visa application); 1315-1500 (visa collection).

Czech Tourist Authority in the UK
13 Harley Street, London W1G 9QG, UK
Tel: (020) 7631 0427 or 09063 640 641 (24-hour brochure request line; calls cost 60p per minute).
Website: www.czechtourism.com

Embassy of the Czech Republic in the USA
3900 Spring of Freedom Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 274 9100.
Website: www.mzv.cz/washington

Czech Tourist Authority in the USA
1109 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10028, USA
Tel: (212) 288 0830.
Website: www.czechtourism.com


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