Wonderful Czech Republic in spring
The best birthday present is relaxation and a million impressions and positive emotions. And if this is a gift to yourself, your beloved - and even more so, you can’t imagine better.
I have long wanted to visit the fabulous city of Prague, and then the occasion appeared and the opportunity was there. Well, about everything in order.
Tour selection. Everything was quite trivial....I entered the words “Prague . . tour” into the search engine . . I pressed the Enter button and away we go... 1.580, 000 results. Yes, it's hard to figure it out. The first thing I did was to see if my favorite tour operator Pilon had such a tour (unfortunately there was no date for the dates I needed). And then I began to study all the sites in a row and carefully read the conditions, compare them and prices, in my opinion I coped with this. The choice fell on the travel agency Orion Tour (Kyiv). The travel agent quickly contacted me, gave detailed information about the tour, good advice on excursions (which ones are worth visiting and which ones you can skip - a boat trip along the Vltava). There was no time to think - I bought it.
But since I wanted to see the maximum for little money (the tour cost 140EUR), I began to prepare and plan my stay in Europe. The tour program itself was Krakow - Prague (3 nights) - Royal Brewery "Krusovice" - Karlovy Vary - "Jan Becher" factory - DRESDEN - "SINGING FOUNTAINS".
We leave....the bus "exceeded" all expectations - it was stuffy, hot, there was no hot water for tea, the toilet did not work . . (( IT STARTED. We reached Lviv with grief in half, picked up more tourists, customs (3-4 hours passed). Poland .
Krakow. We arrived at the Start 2 * + hotel, none, everyone has one desire - a shower. It was 30 minutes for the settlement and other things, then a sightseeing tour of Krakow. But after this review, I can’t say that I saw Krakow. The guide was good, and I kind of saw the sights, but 3-4 hours in the evening is not very much. Return to the hotel on your own (this, by the way, can also be a problem), the guide showed where the tram stop, where to buy a ticket, the names of the stops. In principle, everything worked out, but not everyone is comfortable. Outcome. Krakow takes 2 days.
Prague. We arrived at the Populus 3 * hotel, deja vu... For an evening review. I didn’t even try to take pictures - it didn’t work out, I just enjoyed and remembered the way to return. (Again, an independent return to the hotel).
The second day "In Prague" was the day of the excursion to Karlovy Vary. I decided at home. That I won't go with a group. Because there was another excursion on the way - the Krusovice brewery, but I was not going to visit the brewery (I don’t drink beer)). There were two options for me - to sit for an hour on the bus and wait for the group to return and we will go further to Karlovy Vary (the prospect was not very pleasing) or an independent trip and I decided why not go to the famous resort town myself. Even at home I found very detailed information on how to get to Karlovy Vary by bus from Prague, and the guide added a couple of nuances. It turned out cheaper, more comfortable, faster, I was satisfied!!
Prague - Karlovy Vary. How to get there. Suppose you decide to visit the city of Karlovy Vary by bus in a completely unfamiliar country. Around everything rustles and moves, beautiful architecture and a lot of people. The language is incomprehensible, nothing is clear (by the way, this turned out to be not a problem - probably 75 percent of the inhabitants understand Russian). Don't worry - the worst is behind you - you are in Prague.
1. Our destination is Florenc metro/bus station (the bus station is also located there).
2. Your path depends on where you will be staying, in my case, bus number 133 runs from the Populus 3 * hotel to the bus station (go 5 stops from Maleshytska to Florenc), be sure to buy a ticket (19 kroons, sold at newsstands). I bought it at the hotel, and I didn’t have time to change the money yet, but I had to go - they put it on the room’s account, paid it later))))
3. So, 14 minutes on the bus and I'm on Florenc, I crossed the road and the bus station.
4. Tickets can be bought at the box office or directly from the driver - say Karlovy Vary, and he will print out a ticket for you. These "rides" (tickets) cost 140 crowns, depending on which company the bus belongs to. I bought at the Study Agency, as the guide advised (although not all the tips of the guide should be heeded ((they promised that the exchange rate in Karlovy was better, it turned out - on the contrary)) It should be noted that buses from several companies can go to Karlovy Vary from Florence, while These firms sell only their own tickets, each firm also has its own schedule, so you need to go through the box office and see which bus will go earlier.
5. The time has come... we get on the bus. Do not push - not accepted. They come first. Who bought a ticket at the box office of the station, and then the rest. And now the best part is a trip of 2 hours and 15 minutes in a comfortable bus with leather seats, where the stewardess will offer 1 free hot drink coffee / tea, give out headphones for movies or radio... a pleasure (the toilet also works by the way))
6. We go - we go, we go - we go, we look - we look, and here it is the sign of Karlovy Vary.
7. Traveling is not tiring at all. You can buy tickets back immediately or come to the station when you walk up and buy for the next flight. According to personal experience - 2 hours were enough, just the calculation was still to return to Prague before dark. And so . . you can walk all day.
Outcome. Pros - For a tour with the whole group, you would have to pay 35 euros, and so the round-trip cost 12 euros, everything else was spent on Karlovy Vary waffles, Becherovka and souvenirs. Cons - there was no professional guide, but in principle I needed him, any historical information after 15 minutes of the story is no longer remembered.
I returned to Prague in the afternoon, calmly walked around Prague without a fuss, and again walked along the Charles Bridge. I was on the Old Town Square, and since it’s just a fair before Easter, everything is very beautiful, delicious.
The third day in Prague, again not in Prague - an excursion to Dresden. Well, here I decided without arbitrariness (another country, after all, be sure to have a passport with you, they can check). We drove for 4 hours. But it's worth it. Completely restored city after the destruction of the Second World War. This is all you need to see - the Zwinger, the Dresden Art Gallery, the Bruhl Terrace, the Catholic court church Hofkirche. A few tips - let me remind you to take euros with you, I visited the Dresden Gallery, or rather I ran in - I saw the Sistine Madonna - I ran further, the Gallery needs at least 1 full day! You can dine inexpensively in the center, if you go to the Zwinger, then to the left of it, there will be a cafe / restaurant Odessa. For 20 euros you will get so full !! ! First (soup) + Dresden sausages with garnish. m. m. m. + drink. Very tasty, inexpensive, fast, convenient.
After such a wonderful day in Dresden, there was an equally wonderful evening in Prague, we went to the Singing Fountains. What can I say... I liked it... beautiful . . but the second time I will not go in the near future. It's not that it's nothing special, it's just that the view will most likely not change, so it's better to see something else interesting.
And finally Prague! Last day. He was completely devoted to this beautiful city. I even had to abandon the excursion to the Sychrov castle. But I don't regret it. In the morning, Vyshegrad, the Prague Kremlin, St. Vitus Cathedral... and then, along such native streets, farewell to Prague, buying souvenirs, a thousandth photo near the Church of St. Mary in front of Tyn. Oh, and we were in the Novomestskaya brewery, where live beer is brewed, any guide will tell you how to get there. To return, definitely to return, the only thought before departure.
1. Be careful, especially in Prague, near the sights, especially when everyone enthusiastically shouts oh-oh-oh-oh and looks up at the next architectural marvel, keep your hand on your bag! I work professionals.
2. Change money in exchangers Exchange. Good exchangers work until 18-00, the rate depends on the amount, the larger the amount, the better the rate (cooperate with your friends).
3. It is better to buy beer in a supermarket, and not at a factory or a brewery - it is cheaper.
4. Buy souvenirs, etc. not in the center, go to different shops, the prices for the same product vary from 19 to 99 kroons.
5. Do not be lazy and print out a couple of maps of the city, metro. Of course, there will be different brochures in the hotel, but who carries with him...
Good luck and enjoy your holiday.
