Tips on Staying Safe in Prague
 In
the early 1990s, Prague was 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
• Unsafe Areas
• Police Stations
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:
1) Don't
underestimate Prague pickpockets. Many
of them are skilled "professionals".
2) Don't
be paranoid. Make sure you are still 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 a 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 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 and 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 when traveling. 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 Old Town Square, on tram 22, and in busy stores.
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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, try to park in a parking garage instead of leaving
your
car on the street. A list of Prague public garages and guraded parking lots is available on our Parking in Prague page.
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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 city of Prague carried out a large cleanup
operation on Wenceslas Square in 2006, which helped the situation some, but you still need to watch your bags and pockets as you stroll along.
The park around the
main train station (referred to by the locals as "Sherwood") is not the safest place after dark.
The major renovation of the
train station has resulted in much improved security inside the station, but you should still be careful in the park immediately outside the station after dark, or avoid it altogether.
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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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