Living in Prague

Transportation to the Faculty campus
If you travel to the Faculty from „Dejvická“ metro station in Prague 6, take a tram marked 20 or 26, get off at „Vozovna Vokovice“ tram stop. If you travel by train (international trains), you will arrive at the Main Railway Station or at Holešovice Railway station in Prague. Take the Metro to „Dejvická“ metro station. Change for a tram marked 20 or 26 and go to „Vozovna Vokovice“ tram stop.
If you intend to go to the Faculty directly from the airport, take a bus marked 119 or 179. Get off at „Divoká Šárka“ bus stop and take a 5-minute walk, or take a tram marked 20 or 26 and go for one stop.

See the map below.

Prague is easily accessible by most means of transport – do not forget to check for student discounts!
Most airlines operate direct flights to Prague International Airport, which is located very close to the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport. From the airport you can take a bus or a taxi – it will take you just 10 minutes to get to the Faculty.
When you arrive in Prague the International Student Advisor will be there to help you accommodate and answer any questions you might have.

Accommodation
CharlesUniversity in Prague offers and supports the accommodation for all accepted FTVS CU students in dormitory HVĚZDA.
Address:
Kolej Hvězda
Zvoníčkova 5
62 08 Praha 6
Phone:
+420 220 431 371
E-mail:
Kolej.Hvezda@kam.cuni.cz
Contact person:
Mrs. Dytrichová
Number of beds:
Insight:
1706
If you travel from:

Airport Ruzyně:
go by bus No.179 to Nad Markétou bus stop. The hall of residence is situated on the left, next the bus stop.
Main railway station:
a) go by subway red C line to Vltavská station, change to tram No.1 as far as Obchodní dům Petřiny tram stop. Then go on foot to the left (from the direction of the tram), through the housing estate. The hall of residence is situated c. 8 min. from the tram stop.
b) go by subway red C line to Vltavská station, change to tram No.25 as far as Vypich tram stop. Then go on foot to the right from the direction of the tram, along a sport stadium. The hall of residence is cca 5 min. from the tram stop.
Holešovice railway station:
a) go by subway red C line to Vltavská station, change to tram No.1 as far as Obchodní dům Petřiny tram stop. Then go on foot to the left (from the direction of the tram), through the housing estate. The hall of residence is situated c. 8 min. from the tram stop.
b) go by subway red C line to Vltavská station, change to tram No.25 as far as Vypich tram stop. Then go on foot to the right from the direction of the tram, along a sport stadium. The hall of residence is c. 5 min. from the tram stop.
Private Accommodation
It is not difficult to find private accommodation in our university cities. For a three-room flat (two rooms and kitchen) situated in the centre of Prague you can pay about Kč 15.000. It can be twice as cheap in Pilsen and Hradec Králové. You can go to various letting agencies. For example the real estate agency Happy House Rentals offers 20% discount for all our students in Prague. They offer accommodation all over Prague for any period of time you need. For further details see the website: www.happyhouserentals.com. You may also find it useful to visit the website of GTS International: www.gtsincoming.cz where you can find accommodation in Prague and other cities. The contact person is Yvetta Harčariková (yvetta.harcarikova@gtsint.cz). Other relevant sites are: www.czconnect.com, www.expats.cz, www.hostel.cz, www.czechhostel.cz, www.bydleni.cz/reality/index.php, www.annonce.cz/index_online_bydleni.html.

If you decide not to use the University accommodation we need you to inform us as soon as you have fixed your private accommodation

Cost of Living
The cost of living in the Czech Republic is on average comparable to that of other Central and East European countries. A single student is advised to have available approximately Kč 8 500 (cca 280 €) per month to cover food, basic transport and accommodation.
Be aware that the level of rent varies depending on which city you live in, whether you use the University dormitory or private place and if you share the flat or not. The final cost of your living, of course, depends on your personal spending habits.

Rent
Food
Transport
LeisureTime
Total per month
3 000 – 6 000 CZK
3 800 – 4 200 CZK
250 - 300 CZK
700 - 1000 CZK
7750 - 11 500 CZK
Medical care and Insurance
If you are a citizen of an EU-member country, you are supposed to be an EHIC holder. Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), form E111 or Provisional certificate has to be submitted to the attending physician. If you do not have either of these documents, the physician can insist on cash payment. In order for the doctor to ensure his or her own reimbursement from the contracting Czech health insurance fund, he or she will need to see your EHIC card, Provisional certificate, or E111 form, and will copy the information onto another specific internal form, known as "Potvrzení o nároku" (Certificate of entitlement). The doctor will also need to check your ID document (passport, ID card, drivers license).
The doctor can be found at the Faculty, appointments to see him can be made Monday to Friday. If you need a special treatment or to consult a specialist speaking English, German or Russian, you will be sent to University Hospital Motol. This hospital with highly specialised wards and centres provides top-standard medical care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year, including all public holidays.In case of an emergency call 155 and ask for a doctor. It is advisable that any prescriptions or medicine should be brought from your home pharmacy in order to keep costs down. There is also a dentist at the Faculty, who will take care of your teeth at a reasonable cost. Please remember that all medical treatments must be covered financially in the Czech Republic, therefore, health insurance is necessary to avoid a direct payment.

Students from outside non-EU countries are not covered by the EU’s E111 form, and they therefore musthave a valid international medical insurance plan, or they must expect to pay cash for all medical care. In case of emergency or an accident use any hospital or health clinic. If your medical problem isn't an emergency, Prague has several clinics that cater to English-speaking clients that can provide a network of services from basic examination to accompanying a patient to the hospital. Please note, however, that these are usually commercial operations that may charge a high fee.
Have a look at your insurance before you leave, as you may have to take out additional, or a different insurance. You can also arrange the insurance in Prague. The insurance offered by an insurance company called Všeobecná zdravotní pojišťovna includes coverage for medical treatment and accident insurance. The cost of this insurance is approx. 19.000 CZK per one year.
If you need to visit a general practitioner, gynaecologist or dentist, you can go to one of the following health centres:

Nemocnice na Homolce Hospital
http://www.homolka.cz/en/
Phone:+420 257 272 144 or 257 272 146
Praha 5, Roentgenova 2
Motol University Hospital
http://www.fnmotol.cz/foreigners-department/html/
Foreigners' Department
Phone: +420 224 433 681 or 224 433 684
V úvalu 84, Praha 5, 150 06
Transportation in Prague
The network of municipal buses, trams and subway (called METRO) has a wide and regular coverage. Prague integrated transport (PIT) consists of public transport services in Prague (Metro, trams, funicular to Petřín, city buses), suburban bus service (lines of series 300 and 400) and railway service (only 2nd class passenger and fast trains and selected express trains - specified in timetables of the Czech Railways) in Prague and suburban regions http://www.dpp.cz/en/.

Prague Public Transport
The Metro is the quickest way to travel long distances across the city. It has three lines: A (green), B (yellow) and C (red). It closes down for the night shortly after midnight and reopens at 5.00 a.m. Trams and buses connect the Metro system to outlying areas, and are also a handy way to make short journeys in the city centre. The most efficient form of night transport is the network of night trams that runs from about midnight until the Metro reopens. Night trams run very precisely with a 30-minute interval, and rendezvous with each other at selected stations to facilitate passenger transfers. All night routes begin with the number "5". For further information on public transport in Prague (fares, list of routes and timetables),
visit http://www.dp-praha.cz, where you will find comprehensive information in English.

Travel Passes
If you use local transport regularly, you can save money and time by purchasing season tickets. Passes are valid for unlimited travel on any bus, tram or (in Prague) metro line throughout the city area. They are also valid on some suburban train routes up to the city boundary. They currently cost CZK 230 for
one calendar month, or CZK 630 for three months in Prague. In other cities it is about half of the price.

Ticket Inspection
Tickets are not inspected as passengers get on or off public transport. However, plain-clothes ticket officers travel widely around the system, and frequently ask passengers to show their tickets or passes. Passengers who are travelling without a valid pass or ticket are subject to a fine of CZK 500, which must be paid on the spot. All officers carry both a metal badge and a photo-ID card ("průkaz"), which are numbered. The number on the two forms of ID should be identical. Always insist on getting a receipt.

Discounted ticket for university students: Monthly 230,- CZK or Quarterly 630,- CZK
As a student you obtain a discounted transportation card if you are 26.
Short-term tickets: 24-hour ticket 70,- CZK, 3-day ticket (72 hours) 200,- CZK, 7-day ticket (168 hours) 250,- CZK,15-day ticket (360 hours) 280,- CZK.
Taking a taxi in Prague is quite expensive.

Internet and e-mail

There is a “Computer Suite” at the Faculty with PCs for your use. The computers equipped with common word-processing are windows-operated and have a free internet and e-mail access. You will receive your own personal e-mail account and a password that allows you to use the Faculty computers. You can use PCs during the day and in the evening during the semester-time.

Library
The Library has comfortable study space for 70 students, collection space for 300000 volumes and access to all electronic resources on the Internet and elsewhere. Curricural needs come first, then research needs and finally some leisure oriented materials and periodicals. Suggestions from students are also considered. The Library strives to reflect multiple viewpoints while respecting the main Faculty’s mission.

Bank
We recommend you to open a Czech bank account to enable you to transfer money from your home bank account and avoid high fees. Remember that you must bring your passport when you want to open an account.

Telephone
Students that have mobile phones can buy a pre-paid sim-card, which can be refilled with calling credits at a low cost.

Sport and recreation
A broad program in physical education and sport provides students with the opportunity to participate at various levels of physical activity, encouraging students to develop both mind and body.
Whether you are a finely-tuned fitness freak in peak physical condition, or just looking for the occasional spot of exercise to atone for persistent over-indulgence, there is sure to be something for you. There is a facility on campus for fitness classes ranging from aerobic exercises to circuit training in a weight room.
The outdoor facilities consist of two multi-purpose courts, football practice field and athletic six-lane all-weather track with the sectors for field events.
The indoor facility provides a multigym, where all ball ballgames can be played.
Department of Outdoor Sports offers free skiing courses, and, adrenaline sport fans are provided with courses of sky diving, rock-climbing and paragliding offered by Department of Technical Sports.
Adjacent to the main Faculty building, there is a Squash Centre providing non-guided squash, wall-climbing and aerobics classes.