Tips on Staying Safe in Prague
Prague welcomes millions of travelers from all over
the world every year. As the tourists stream in,
others flourish. Among them, the pickpockets, thieves,
and con artists.
Useful phone numbers (free of charge)
Czech police: 158
Czech city police: 156
European emergency phone number: 112 |
Pickpocketing is one of Prague's most common
crimes. We
are sad every time we hear stories about someone getting
their money, documents, camera or cell phone stolen.
First
of all, we have two rather contradictory pieces of
advice for you:
1) Don't
underestimate Prague pickpockets. Many
of them are very skilled.
2) Don't
be paranoid. Make sure you are enjoying yourself on your trip.
Although pickpocketing has been a problem in Prague, just like it is a problem in many tourist destinations around the world, thieves are not waiting for you at every corner. We have been robbed in other European cities, but never in Prague - knock on wood.
Czech police probably won't be able to do much
to help you if you're robbed, so prevention is your best
protection. Here are some tips
to help you avoid becoming the victim of a pickpocket:
• Don't
carry large amounts of cash with you. Carry a credit
card and take money
out of an ATM as you go. ATMs are plentiful in Prague
and their screens come with an English language version.
• Leave
important documents at your hotel. You should carry
your passport with you,
but leave a copy of it at your hotel in case the original
gets lost. Making copies of your important documents
is always a good idea
when traveling.
• Be
careful on crowded trams (especially tram 22) and subways, mainly in
the historical center of
Prague. Know what's happening
around you and try not to find yourself squeezed
in a crowd of other passengers with your wallet or phone accessible.
• Keep money and your passport in a money belt instead of a handbag or backpack. Although it can be a
bit of a nuisance, we have found it to be a very secure place to keep our valuables when traveling.
• If you are carrying a handbag or backpack, always be aware of it. Keep it closed up and pay attention to it in busy areas.
• Don't take out your wallet or money in busy areas.
• Don't change money on the street or in small money changing offices. There are plenty of banks to choose from - or get Czech crowns from an ATM.
• Be especially careful in very touristy areas: on Karlova and Melantrichova Streets, on the Charles Bridge, on Old Town Square, on tram 22, and in busy stores.
Car break-ins are another common type of property crime in Prague. The advice here
is simple: never leave valuables in your car.
Car theft has also been a problem in the Czech Republic
although the situation
has
gotten
better in recent years. To prevent your car from
being stolen or broken into, park in a parking garage instead of leaving
your
car on the street.
Aside from property crime, Prague
is a relatively safe city. The rate of violent crime is
low and most areas of Prague are safe to walk around even
after dark.
Be careful on Wenceslas
Square. It is usually packed with tourists and the crowds make things easy for pickpockets. There have also been cases of trusting "love-seekers"
being robbed of all
their money at night.
The park around the
main train station, referred to by the locals as "Sherwood", is not a place to be at night.
It is a popular hangout of the homeless and drug addicts who beg for money and can be pushy about it. If you need to get to or from the train station at night, take the metro, which has a station inside the building, rather than the tram where you have to walk through the park to get to/from the tram stop.
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