This Saturday, December 21, Prague will commemorate the first anniversary of the tragic mass shooting at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University. On that day last year, a student at Prague’s Charles University shot and killed 14 people and injured 25 others, before being found dead. To honor the victims, several memorial events will take place across the city, drawing public figures, politicians, and citizens. Czech President Petr Pavel is expected to attend. Key Events on Saturday, December 21 At 3:00 PM, a commemorative concert titled “A Year Later” (Rok poté) will be held in the Academic Parish Church of St. Salvator (Kostel Nejsvětějšího Salvátora). While the event will be broadcast live by Czech Television and Czech Radio, attendance is restricted to invited guests and media representatives. Following the concert, a procession will begin at the church, moving along Křižovnická Street to Jan Palach Square. At 5:00 PM, a memorial ceremony will take place at the monument in front of the Faculty of Arts. At 6:00 PM, St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle will host a mass in memory of the victims. At 7:30 PM, the Evangelical Church of the Czech Brethren will hold an evening prayer service, including a...
The Czech Republic faces significant challenges in creating a supportive environment for businesses, ranking as the sixth worst among EU member states. The primary issues include soaring energy costs and limited access to financing, as revealed by the Prosperity and Financial Health Index. This marks a drop of two places compared to last year. Energy Prices as a Major Burden Rising electricity prices remain the most pressing concern for businesses. According to Milan Mařík, an analyst for the Europe in Data project, electricity costs for companies consuming between 500 and 1,999 megawatt hours more than doubled between 2021 and 2023. Businesses now pay the EU’s 13th highest rates for electricity, nearing the European average but with a sharper price increase compared to other nations. This energy burden makes it difficult for local businesses to compete, with costs hindering profitability and growth. By contrast, countries like Finland, which boasts the EU’s best business conditions, offer significantly lower electricity costs and other advantages, such as a thriving startup culture and low corporate taxes. Tax Increases Add to Struggles Corporate income tax in the Czech Republic rose from 19% to 21% this year, aligning with the EU average but further straining businesses. Historically,...
According to Eurostat data, the number of accommodated tourists last year was 0.2% higher than in 2019 – specifically, 22 million tourists were accommodated, of which fewer than 7.5 million stayed in Prague. This year, the numbers continue to grow by low double-digit percentages year-on-year. However, the short-term rental market remains subdued – now at approximately three-fifths of pre-Covid volumes. With the planned introduction of the online information system eTurista, no major recovery is anticipated. Prague now has approximately 7,500 active shared accommodation offers, compared to 13,000 pre-Covid, according to the Czech Association of Landlords and Private Accommodation Providers (ČAPUS). Last year, a total of 8.9 million overnight stays were booked through platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia Group, and Tripadvisor. Nearly three-quarters of these bookings were made by international tourists, while the remaining 28% were domestic residents. Prague Collected CZK 800 Million in Tourist Fees Last year, 4.7 million overnight stays were booked in Prague via accommodation platforms, used by almost 1.5 million tourists. Private accommodation accounted for nearly 22% of the total number of overnight stays in the capital. The average length of tourist stays has also returned to pre-pandemic levels. In collective accommodation facilities, the average stay...
With the Christmas holidays fast approaching, shopping fever is at its peak. This year stores exceeding 200 square meters will be closed for three days as part of the national holidays and will not open again until Thursday, December 27. For those last-minute gifts, select stores might extend hours until 11 p.m. on December 22-23. On Dec. 24, larger stores can stay open until noon. However, specific opening hours vary among supermarkets. The opening hours of shops on public holidays are governed by the law on sales hours in retail and wholesale trade. It has been in effect in the Czech Republic since October 2016. According to this law, shops over 200 square meters must be closed on certain public holidays. Shops for Christmas 2024 December 24 – shops over 200 meters must close by 12:00 December 25 – all shops are closed December 26 – all shops are closed Only a limited number of restaurants are open, but even these have limited opening hours. Most restaurants book out in advance, so we advise making reservations. However, exemptions apply to pharmacies, gas stations, and shops in the airport and railway stations (including Prague’s Hlavní nádraží) and hospitals. On Christmas Eve...
The Czech Republic can expect a slight break from the winter chill as temperatures rise to as high as 10°C this week. However, cloudy skies and intermittent rain will dominate the forecast, with occasional snow in higher altitudes and mountain areas. Monday: A Gloomy Start to the Week The week begins with widespread rain, at times mixed with snow or freezing precipitation. Daytime temperatures will range between 5°C and 10°C, while nighttime temperatures remain above freezing. Meteorologists caution that snowdrifts may form in mountainous regions. Tuesday: Windy with Limited Snowfall Tuesday will remain overcast, with snow only expected at elevations above 1,100 meters. Temperatures will once again approach 10°C during the day. A fresh westerly wind is forecast, reaching speeds of 4–8 m/s, with gusts of up to 15 m/s in lower areas and as strong as 20 m/s (70 km/h) in the mountains. Midweek: Fog and Light Rain Wednesday brings dense fog, accompanied by occasional light rain or drizzle. A minor drop in temperatures is expected, with daytime highs closer to 4°C in some locations. Thursday will mirror Wednesday’s conditions, though snowfall is forecast for the northwest above 800 meters. In eastern areas, particularly Silesia, temperatures could climb to...
The Czech Republic ranks as one of the most expensive countries in Europe for mobile internet. Recent data reveals that the country is second only to Latvia in terms of high internet costs within the European Union. Globally, the situation isn’t much better, as Czechia ranks 193rd out of 237 countries evaluated for mobile data affordability. According to the British server Cable.co.uk, the average price for 1 GB of mobile data in Czechia was a staggering 70.95 CZK last year. By comparison, Austria offers the same data for as little as 0.47 euros (around 12 CZK), while Italy provides a gigabyte for a mere 0.08 euros (about 2 CZK). A History of High Prices “Expensive data has been a long-standing issue in the Czech Republic,” says Martin Thienel from Kalkulátor.cz, an online price comparison platform. “When compared to neighboring Austria or even popular holiday destinations like Italy, where mobile internet is significantly cheaper, the situation here is disheartening.” The most recent analysis covered over 5,600 tariffs worldwide between June and September 2023. It revealed that the cheapest gigabyte in Czechia costs 19.97 CZK, while the most expensive reaches an eye-watering 349 CZK. For context, the global average price is $0.46...
The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has forecast a chilly and cloudy weekend for the Czech Republic, with frosty temperatures and occasional snowfall. However, a significant warming trend is expected as the new week begins, bringing milder conditions to much of the country. Friday, December 13: The day will be mostly cloudy, with snow expected in some areas. Snowfall is likely not only in mountainous regions but also in lower-lying areas. Daytime temperatures will range from -2°C to +2°C. Saturday, December 14: Similar weather will continue, with cloudy skies dominating throughout the day. Overnight, temperatures may drop as low as -6°C, while daytime highs will range from -1°C to +3°C. Snowfall is expected, particularly in the western and northwestern parts of the country. Sunday, December 15: The weather will remain overcast, with occasional snow in some regions. In areas below 300 meters above sea level, precipitation may fall as rain or a mix of rain and snow. Daytime temperatures will slightly rise, reaching between 1°C and 5°C. Weather outlook from Monday to Thursday: The weather from Monday to Thursday will be predominantly cloudy, with some regions experiencing partial cloud cover. In the early days of the week, isolated rain showers are expected,...
As of late November 2024, 154,500 Ukrainian citizens with temporary protection visas were officially employed in the Czech Republic. An additional 15,990 refugees were registered with the Labor Office, actively seeking employment. They represent 5.5% of all job seekers registered in the country, regardless of nationality. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs released these figures on Monday, December 9. The highest numbers of employed Ukrainian refugees are concentrated in Prague (27,660 people), the Central Bohemia region (27,479), and the Pilsen region (20,478). Many are working in sectors such as assembly line production, construction, manufacturing, and transportation. A significant proportion of these workers are women—62%, or 95,619 individuals, according to the data. Since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, a total of 62,265 Ukrainians with temporary protection visas have registered as job seekers with the Czech Labor Exchange. Addressing Workforce Shortages but Not Fully Tapping Potential The Ministry of Labor notes that while Ukrainian refugees have alleviated staffing shortages in some industries, their full potential remains underutilized, particularly in skilled professions. One of the primary challenges is the language barrier, which limits access to qualified positions. To tackle this issue, the Czech Labor Exchange offers free Czech...
A new study has ranked Italy’s Trenitalia as Europe’s best rail operator, with Eurostar coming in last. Germany’s Deutsche Bahn came last for reliability. Italy’s Trenitalia claimed the top spot in a ranking of rail operators in Europe, according to a new study released on Monday. The ranking was published by the European NGO Transport & Environment (T&E). Trenitalia was followed by Swiss operator SBB and Czech company RegioJet. Austria’s ÖBB came in fourth, ahead of France’s SCNF. “Trenitalia stands out for its travel experience, SBB is the most punctual operator in Europe and RegioJet has some of the most affordable tickets,” T&E said in the report. RegioJet is also the top private carrier, excelling in fares and passenger comfort but scoring lowest for bicycle transport, which contributes just five percent to the overall rating. The ranking is based on eight indicators, with fares accounting for 25 percent. Other factors include discount programs, punctuality, ticket-buying experience, passenger comfort, night services, and compensation for delays or cancellations. Eurostar performs the worst On the other hand, expensive and unreliable service put Eurostar, which links France, Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, at the bottom of the T&E ranking. Eurostar “charge nearly twice the European average price per kilometer” but...
The Czech Republic is set to experience a chilly and overcast week, with temperatures dipping significantly, especially during nighttime. The weather will be characterized by persistent clouds, occasional snow showers, and rain in some areas. Monday: Overcast with Mixed Precipitation Monday brings cloudy to overcast skies across the country. In southwestern Bohemia and parts of Silesia, light snowfall or snow showers are expected, turning into mixed precipitation, including rain, as the day progresses. Night temperatures will fall to minus one degree Celsius, while daytime highs will range between 1°C and 4°C. Tuesday and Wednesday: Snow Showers in Mountain Areas On Tuesday, snow showers will occur on the windward sides of the mountains, while the rest of the country can expect cloudy skies with intermittent rain or showers. This pattern is likely to persist into Wednesday. Temperatures at night will hover between minus two and two degrees Celsius, climbing to around 4°C during the day. Second Half of the Week: Further Cooling The gloomy weather continues into the latter half of the week. Light snowfall is forecast in mountainous areas, while lower elevations will see a mix of snow and rain showers. Daytime temperatures will remain consistent with earlier in the...
As the year-end approaches, shops across the Czech Republic are stocking up on fireworks. Yet, many sellers report that public interest in pyrotechnics has declined in recent years. A proposed amendment to the law could bring even stricter regulations to the sale of fireworks. Approved by the government, the amendment is now pending review in the Chamber of Deputies. Despite current regulations, illegal sales remain a problem. Authorities have discovered unauthorized explosives, particularly in markets. For instance, in Prague’s SAPA market, inspectors uncovered 1,080 kilograms of explosive substances, far exceeding the legal limit of 80 kilograms. “The inspection revealed serious violations,” said František Kotrba, spokesperson for the Czech Trade Inspection Authority. Stricter Rules for High-Risk Fireworks The proposed amendment seeks to ban the sale of category F3 fireworks without a license. This means that New Year’s Eve 2024 could be the last opportunity for individuals to purchase F3 products freely. In the future, market stalls and street vendors will be restricted to selling only sparklers or the lowest-risk category, F1. “The amendment aims to restrict pyrotechnics sales to brick-and-mortar stores, except for category F1 items. High-risk fireworks in categories F3 and F4 will require a license,” explained Lukáš Trsek from...
Massive snowfall is set to blanket the Czech Republic, with the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI) issuing a severe weather warning. The alert applies to a significant portion of the country, including the regions of Liberec, Pardubice, Hradec Králové, and Olomouc, as well as parts of Moravia and northern Bohemia. The storm is expected to cause disruptions in transportation, energy supplies, and daily activities. Up to 25 cm of Snow in Just 12 Hours According to CHMI, 10 to 25 centimeters of snow could accumulate within 12 hours, particularly in mountainous areas. The warning is valid from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2024. Meteorologists highlight the possibility of widespread road closures, reduced visibility, and major challenges for infrastructure and essential services. Critical Areas: Moravia and Northern Bohemia The most severe impacts are forecasted for Moravia and northern Bohemia, while additional warnings for heavy snowfall have been issued for the Moravian-Silesian, Zlín, South Moravian, and Vysočina regions. This alert is effective from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the same day. CHMI experts caution: “Roads may become impassable, and visibility will likely be reduced.” Residents are urged to avoid unnecessary travel and adjust their driving behavior if traveling is...
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