Tips on Staying Safe in Prague

Since the early 1990s, Prague has been reborn as a place that welcomes millions of travelers from all over the world every year. As the tourists stream in, others flourish. Among them, the pickpockets, thieves and "businessmen".

Pickpockets
Car Break-Ins and Car Theft
Taking a Taxi
Unsafe Areas
Police Stations

The Rough Guide to Prague
The Rough Guide to Prague (5th Edition)


Pickpockets

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.


An advertising campaign run by the City of Prague
in 2005 to try and reduce the incidence of petty theft

First of all, we have two rather contradictory pieces of advice:

1) Don't underestimate Prague pickpockets and don't think you can outsmart them. Many of them are highly skilled "professionals".

2) Don't become paranoid. Make sure you are still enjoying yourself on your trip. Although pickpocketing is a problem in Prague, just like it is a problem in many tourist destinations around the world, it doesn't mean that thieves are 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 do much to help you if you're robbed (just like the police in some other European cities), so prevention is your best protection. Here are some tips to help you avoid becoming a victim of a pickpocket:

• Don't carry large amounts of cash with you. Carry a credit card and take  money out of a cash
- machine as you go. Cash machines are plentiful in  Prague and their screens usually come with
- an English language version.
• Leave important documents in a safe deposit box 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 and subways, especially in the historical center  of Prague. Know what's
- happening around you, try not to find yourself  squeezed in a crowd of other passengers.
• Wear a money belt instead of a handbag. Although it can be a bit of a  nuisance,  we have found it to
- be a very secure place to keep our valuables.  In addition,  not having to worry about a handbag or
- wallet will free up your  mind to fully  appreciate the beauty of Prague.
• If you are carrying a handbag, always be aware of it. Keep it closed up and  hold on to it in busy
- areas.
• Don't take out your wallet or money in busy areas.
• Don't change money on the street. There are plenty of banks to choose from.

• Be especially careful in very touristy areas: on Karlova and Melantrichova Streets, on the Charles
- Bridge, on the Old Town Square, on trams 22 and 23, in busy stores.

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Car Break-Ins and Car Theft

Car break-ins are the leading type of property crime in Prague. The advice here is simple: never leave valuables in your car. Car theft is also quite common in the Czech Republic although the situation has gotten a little better in recent years. To prevent your car from being stolen or broken into, always park it in a guarded parking lot or a parking garage. Don't leave your car on the street if you don't have to. To read about parking in Prague, click here.

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Taking a Taxi

Taking a taxi in Prague can turn into one of those experiences that can ruin your day. Prague taxi drivers are known for their shameless and often rude treatment of tourists and for charging prices several times higher than what you should pay. Please read Taking a Taxi in Prague to get a few pieces of advice.

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Unsafe Areas

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 at night. There have been cases of trusting "love-seekers" being robbed of all their money. The city of Prague carried out a large cleanup operation on Wenceslas Square in 2006 and the situation is supposedly much better now.

The park around the main train station (referred to by the locals as "Sherwood" for obvious reasons) is not the safest place after dark. This should change with the planned renovation of the train station, which should be carried out in the years 2007 - 2009.

If you use common sense and follow your intuition, you should be able to stay out of harm's way.

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Police Stations

If you need to contact the police, call 158 (state police) or 156 (city police) or the Emergency Central Number 112. Below is a list of police stations in the city center:

Old Town

Bartolomějská 14, Prague 1
24-hour phone: 974 851 700

Lesser Town

Vlašská 3, Prague 1
24-hour phone: 974 851 730

New Town

Benediktská 1, Prague 1
24-hour phone: 974 851 710

Krakovská 11, Prague 1
24-hour phone: 974 851 720

Hybernská 2, Prague 1
24-hour phone: 974 851 500

Jungmannovo náměstí 9, Prague 1 (headquarters)
24-hour phone: 974 851 750

Vyšehradská 20, Prague 2
24-hour phone: 974 852 710

Vinohrady

Šafaříkova 12, Prague 2
24-hour phone: 974 852 720

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