Prague - Prepare

Bring a comfortable pair of shoes to negotiate those cobbled lanes, a thirst for Bohemian champagne, and a mind ready to be teased by good old Prague surrealism.

See the bonfires and merry-making at the Pálení čarodejnic (witch burning) festival in April. In May, treat your eyes to the classical music of the prestigious Prague Spring Festival. The Prague Proms fill July to August, and the Italian Opera Festival August to September. Celebrate the wine harvest at Vinobraní in late September, and browse the winter wonderland at December’s Christmas Market.

New Year’s Day (1 Jan), Easter Monday (Mar/Apr), Labour Day (1 May), Liberation Day (8 May), Saints Cyril and Methodius Day (5 Jul), Jan Hus Day – remembering the Bohemian protestant writer who was burned at the stake in 1415 (6 Jul), Czech Statehood Day (28 Sep), Independence Day (28 Oct), Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day (17 Nov), Christmas (25 & 26 Dec).

The months between November and February are the coldest, when the temperature can dip below freezing, though some say Prague is prettiest when the snow is deep and crisp and even. May and September are pleasant times to visit, with cool to warm weather (10-18°C). The summers – June to August – are hot (20-25°C) and can be stormy.

220V AC, 50 Hz, two-pin plugs are standard.

+420 (national) + 9-figure number (Prague). There are no area codes in the Czech Republic.

Czech Koruna (Kč) is the currency.

GMT +1.

Prague Information Service website

Most Praguers prefer a casual look. If you want to really blend in, ditch the shorts and baseball cap and don understated designer wear for an evening out in Staré Mesto or Vinohrady. Go grungy in Zizkov and, if heading to the opera or theatre, dress smart.