Coming to Prague
Coming to Prague might not prove the easiest task of all, but fear not; this Wiki is here!
Sometimes, it might prove easier to fly to a nearby airport such as Budapest, Munich, Vienna etc and then secure a train/bus to Prague. If however, you manage to find a not-so-expensive flight to Prague, getting to your destination in the city is simple. You will most likely need to grab bus 119 which will take you to Metro Line A (Green) which then connects you to most parts of the city. In any case, Google Maps works perfectly with the city's transport system and you will realize yourself that every metro,bus and tram is 99% of the time...on time!
Useful Phrases & Words[edit]
You will find that Czech is a hard language but you will still be able to learn the basics.
Hi = Ahoj, Cau
Hello (but actually Good Day) = Dobry Den
Thank You = Djekuji
Thanks = Diky
Please = Prosim
Excuse me = Pardon
Goodbye = Nashledanou
One beer please = Jedno Pivo Prosim
I would like (and order the dish/drink) = Ja Si Dam
I don't speak Czech = Nemluvim Cesky
Do you speak English? = Mluvite Anglicky?
Transport Card[edit]
Buying a transport card is very cheap and practical as you just need to keep it on you, no validation required. Once you manage to get a student ID or an ISIC card from the Czech Technical University (CTU or CVUT in Czech) headquarters CTU Survival Guide, you are eligible to buy a student transport card which can be for 1,3 or 12 months. Usually, buying three trimester transport cards for the approximately 9 months you'll be there, is a bit cheaper than a year's card but that depends on your stay and travelling.
Normally, getting an ISIC card is recommended as it offers discounts in many spots and services of the city (trains and buses to other cities, great food spots, bars etc).
In order to get your Transport Card, you just need to go to a Metro Station that sells them with your student ID / ISIC card and ask for it, in the office inside the station. Mustek metro station is probably the easiest spot as it is located in the center but a list of stations that sell cards can be found online.
Accommodation[edit]
Prague has various different universities and each university has its own dormitory. Normally, by contacting your local coordinator (Jan Mlynar for the moment : mlynar@ipp.cas.cz) you can receive a list of dorms to apply for housing, but it is recommended to do so quite early during the year, favorably in the spring months before your arrival. CTU's dormitories in Masaryk are not very far from the center and are of good quality. You need to know however that in most dormitories, you will be sharing your room with someone else, unless there is a single room option and you apply early for it. Otherwise, you can arrange with a fellow Fusion-EP student to share a room.
In case you are looking to rent a room in a house with flatmates, Facebook is the place for it. Dozens of different groups for housing can be found, just by searching keywords as "Rent Flat Prague". The process is not the simplest as in any city, but fear not. If you message several people that post ads about renting a room and visit several flats per day, you will be able to find a place within a week while staying at a hostel or a cheap AirBnB. Always be careful and never agree to make money transaction without a contract or before visiting the place; like in every big city, the scammers can be plenty.
