27-29 June, Prague, Czech Republic
venueVenue information
The conference will be held in the building of the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in the very heart of Prague, just about hundred metres from the Old Town Square.
View EGSR 2011 venue in a larger map
Travelling to Prague
Unless you are traveling from one of the neighbouring countries, air is probably your choice. Depending on the time of the day, the airport is 30-45 minutes by public transport from the Old Town Square area where EGSR 2011 will be held. One should take the bus 119 from the airport (it leaves right in front of the terminal buildings) to Dejvická station, change to Metro A (the green line) there, and go to Staroměstská or Můstek station - see the map above. At the airport, make sure to buy a public transport ticket at a vending machine before you board line 119, as no tickets are sold on the bus.
Deutsche Bahn has good train deals from Germany to Prague if you buy the ticket in advance.
Student Agency is a weird name for a great company that runs comfy and cheap coaches (even with free on-board wi-fi once you are in .cz) from a number of places in Europe.
If you are driving to Prague by car, you should make sure that your hotel has a parking place for you - there are practically no free parking spaces anywhere in the city centre. Also, expect to get stuck in a more or less severe traffic jam once you are in Prague. If you for some reason want to arrive "just in time" for a particular session, plan for substantial delays. Also, please note that it is hard to get near the venue by car, because it is within an extended pedestrian area.
Public Transportation in Prague
There is a very efficient integrated public transport system in Prague, which includes trams, buses and three underground lines (metro). At peak hours, there is a train every 3 or 7 minutes, off peak at least every 10 minutes. Also, special tram lines run all night round. The airport is connected to the city via the bus line 119, which has stops directly in front of the terminals, and ends at the terminal station (Dejvická) of the green metro line. For further information, see this page. Ticket price is 26 CZK (1.1 EUR) and is good for 75 minutes of travel time (including transfer). You can buy the tickes from vending machines at most stops, where you can also purchase a one or five day pass for the network (100 CZK or 500 CZK) - see here. There is also a three day pass, but for reasons only known to the transit authority, it costs more per day than either the single or the five day pass, and should be avoided.
One of the very few things that are somewhat sub-optimal in Prague are the taxis. Things have gotten much better over the years, but it can still happen that foreigners are charged outrageous amounts of money for a ride. If you do take a taxi, stick with the official yellow cabs, and always negotiate a price before you start your journey. A trip from the airport to the centre should not cost more than 500 to 600 CZK. But since the public transport system is excellent, and considering that EGSR takes place right in the city centre where cars are not a reasonable means of transportation anyway, you will probably not need a taxi during your stay.
Passport and Visa Requirements
Visitors from non-EU countries must possess a passport that is valid for at least the next 3 months. Participants who require a visa should apply immediately to a consular office of the Czech Republic in their country. Please note that the visa application procedure can take up to two months and it is not possible to obtain visa at Prague Airport. We assist the participants by providing an official visa support letter on request. These letters do not commit the organisers of EGSR 2011 to any financial obligations.
Insurance
The conference organisers do not accept any responsibility for loss or damage of property belonging to the participants, either during or as a result of the conference. Registration fees do not include any form of insurance. Participants are advised to arrange adequate cover for travel and health insurance before departing from their home country.
Currency, Credit Cards, Banking Facilities
The currency in the Czech Republic is the Czech Crown (CZK). In Prague, there are exchange offices available at the airport, in hotels and in most areas of the city centre. All major credit cards are accepted in most hotels, shops and restaurants (Visa, Euro/Mastercard and American Express, etc.). Opening hours for banks in Prague are usually 09.00 - 17.00. Banks are closed at weekends and on holidays, but they have cash machines. The official exchange rate for the Czech Crown can be seen on the webpages of the Czech National Bank (24.1 CZK/1EUR, 16.9 CZK/1USD on April 30th, 2011).
Electricity
The voltage in the Czech Republic is 230 V, sockets have the European standard (CEE 7/5 type E) and plugs are three-prong grounded. Participants are advised to bring the correct electrical adaptors with them.
Climate and Clothing
Czech Republic has a continental climate. June is time when temperature is normally pleasant, around 24°C. There might be an occasional rain, and therefore it is advisable to bring a sweater and umbrella. There will be a football tournament so do not forget to bring your sport shoes (if you want to play, which you do, of course).