Capital: Prague
Location:
Central Europe, southeast of Germany.
Language:
Czech
Currency:
CZK
Czech koruna (CZK)
koruny per US dollar - 21.018 (March 2007), 37.425 (January 2001), 38.598 (2000), 34.569 (1999), 32.281 (1998), 31.698 (1997), 27.145 (1996)
Population:
10,264,212
Religion:
atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%
Medical:
Medical facilities are available, but they may be limited, particularly in remote areas. Doctors and hospitals often expect cash payment for health services. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars or more.
U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties. Check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation. Ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death. Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure "Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page.
Traffic Safety:
While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning the Czech Republic is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Good
Safety of Public Transportation:
Good
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance:
Good
First-class roads in the Czech Republic generally meet western European standards. However, on side roads drivers should be prepared to encounter uneven surfaces, irregular lane markings, and sign placements which are not clear. Roads are often under construction. Streets in towns are not always in good condition. U.S. drivers should pay special attention to driving on cobblestone and among streetcars in historic city centers. Speed limits are 50 km/h in towns and on highways 110 km/h.
Persons driving into the Czech Republic should be aware that a road usage tax sticker is required to drive legally on several major highways, including the E-50 motorway. Signs stating this requirement are posted near the border, but they are in Czech only and are easy to miss. The stickers are available at gasoline stations on the highways. The fine for failing to display a motorways toll sticker is 2,000 Czech crowns (about $70) if assessed on the spot.
Taxi fares in Prague are deregulated. There is no fixed charge. Passengers should determine the fare to be charged and agree on it before beginning a taxi ride. Taxis operating from stands in the most common tourist areas charge significantly higher fees than many taxi services which are radio dispatched.
