On visit to IMC

People who are about to travel to Prague and to visit the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, especially for the first time, ask often many practical questions. Whereas the issues connected closely with visiting the Prague Meetings on Macromolecules remain in that section, general questions have been moved into this document.

• Before travelling to Prague
  • Is Prague a safe city?
  • Where can I find official information for visitors to the Czech Republic?
  • What accommodation is possible to use
• Technical questions
  • I want to use my electrical appliances in Prague (computer for presentation, shaving machine in hotel etc.). What power system is used?
• What is where
  • Cash machine
  • Exchange point
  • Post office
  • Phonecards
  • Tram (Metro,bus) tickets
  • Sending letters - mail box
  • Lunch possibility
  • Groceries
  • Police station

Before travelling to Prague

Is Prague a safe city?

We regret that we cannot consider Prague an entirely safe city. You need not fear for your health or life. On the other hand, it happens often that belongings of a participant of the conference are stolen. In order to minimize the risk, please follow these rules:

• Be careful if you decide to use taxi. Some phone numbers for ordering taxi are listed on Prague's official pages.
• Avoid crowded places. Pick-pocketting occurs mostly at places of tourist's interest (Charles Bridge, Old Town), in Metro in the city (line A between Muzeum and Dejvická, line B between Florenc and Smíchovské nádraží, line C between Nádraží Holešovice and Vyšehrad) and in trams at some well known places in the city (line 9 between Anděl and Hlavní nádraží, lines 22 between Malovanka and Náměstí Míru, line 18 between Karlovo náměstí and Malostranská). Do not try to get in crowded trams, wait for the next one.
• Keep your baggage closed. In the street, remove or hide your name badge. Do not have a great amount of money on you. Do not make stealing your money or documents easy.
• Do not leave valuables or anything visible in your cars. Park your cars at places easy to survey.

Where can I find official information for visitors to the Czech Republic?

• Ministry of Interior:
  • Act on residence of aliens in the territory of the Czech Republic
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Practical information for Foreign Visitors
  • Visa information
  • List of states whose citizens are exempt from the visa requirement
• City of Prague:
  • Prague Information Service - offers both practical information (important addresses and phone numbers, transport, medical emergencies) and information about events of culture

What accommodation is available when I want to visit your Institute

During the university holidays, comparatively cheap accomodation in 1 km distant Větrník a Hvězda student dormitories is available, but many people are disappointed by their level. The guests of the Institute use often 3 km distant and with both public transport and own car well available Chaloupka pension. Good experience is reported from Kern pension in Smíchov (approx. 5 km). UBM Pension is located 200 m from the Institute, we have no direct experience with it, web reviews are contradictory.

There are many agencies arranging accommodation, an official service of City of Prague is provided by Prague Information Service.

Technical questions

I want to use my electrical appliances in Prague (computer, shaver). What power system is used?

As in most European countries, the voltage is 220 V and frequency 50 Hz. The sockets are of the same kind as e.g. in France (CEE 7/5, French type E); one is shown in the picture below. If you are coming from the country with different socket types, you are advised to take an appropriate reduction with you.

What is where

Verbal explanation is accompanied by a commented photo of Petřiny taken from the Institute building and a map of its nearest (1 km) area showing the described facilities.

Where can I find the nearest cash machine?

The nearest automated teller machine (ATM) is about 400 m eastwards from the Institute, at the entrance to the Billa supermarket. Another ATM is at the "Česká spořitelna" bank in Křenova Street No 7 (opposite the first machine). Both accept Cirrus/Maestro/MasterCard and VISA cards (see the pictures and map). Further ATM is located in Komerční banka in Křenova No 19.

Where can I find the nearest exchange point?

The exchange point in Petřiny is no more available. Nearest ones are at the airport (20 min by bus) or in Dejvice and Hradčany (9-12 min by tram and 10-15 min walk; Vítězné náměstí on working days 12 min by tram 2),

Post Office

• The post office (Praha 616) is located at the next bus stop "Větrník" (opening hours: Monday - Friday 8-18; see the picture and map).
• Nearest post offices with the Saturday service:
  • Airport - Post office Praha 67 (9-17) [20 min by bus 179],
  • Dejvice, Kafkova Str. - Post Praha 6 (9-13) [12 min by tram 1,18 to Hradčanská, then cross the railway and 10 min walk left],
  • Prague Castle - Post Praha 012 (10-18) [9 min by tram 1, 18 to Vozovna Střešovice stop, then 15 min walk right],
  • Letenské náměstí - Post Praha 7 (9-13) [15 min by tram 1 to Letenské náměstí stop located just at the post office].
• Post offices with Sunday and night service:
  • Airport - Post office Praha 67 (9-17) [20 min by bus 179],
  • Prague Castle - Post Praha 012 (10-18) [9 min by tram 1, 18 to Vozovna Střešovice stop, then 15 min walk right],
  • Jindřišská - Post office Praha 1 (2-24) [12 min by tram 1,18 to Hradčanská stop, then 5 min by Metro A to Můstek station; the post office is located approx. 50 m from the exit in Jindřišská street].

Where can I buy a phonecard?

Generally, phonecards are sold at post offices, newspaper stalls and shops labelled with the "O2" logo . Near the Institute, they are sold at the post office (the next bus stop in the direction of "Větrník")

Where can I buy a bus ticket?

Tickets for public transport are sold at special counters in some Metro stations, in some shops labelled with the "Předprodej jízdenek" logo, in slot machines, etc. For details, see the page of Prague Public Transit Co. Inc, texts Fares and Tickets Sales .

In the time of PMM meetings, basic types of tickets are available in the Registration Office. Other possibilities:

• slot machine at the tram terminus

I want to send a postcard. Where is the nearest mail box?

An orange mail box is located 50 m back from the tram terminus on the left-hand side of the main street. Collected on working days at 16:00, on Saturdays at 12:00 (see a picture). Several more pillar boxes are shown in the map. The box in front of the post office is collected daily.

Where can I have my lunch?

With the exception of the PMM weeks, it is possible to buy a lunch consisting of soup, main course (up to 5 choices available), tea and desert or fruit for ca. 70-90 CZK in the Institute refectory. The lunch has to be purchased/ordered the day before, only a limited number is available on the same day. Lunches are served from 11.30 till 14.00. During PMM events in July, the refectory is not in standard operation. More information available in Czech language.

It is also possible to buy some food in the canteen from 6:30 till 14.

Groceries

• Basic foods can be bought in the canteen in the Institute
• Shop at the tram terminus. You can pay with payment cards here.
• The Billa supermarket about 600 m from the Institute (see the picture). You can pay with payment cards as well as with Euro.

View of Petřiny from the Institute

Map of Petřiny with some important objects

Police station

The nearest police station is in Ve Střešovičkách Street No. 1990/55 (approx. 3 km from the Institute), outside the map above.

For your comfort, we offer also our guides with maps and pictures