Dozens of police officers are currently searching for a man reported to be armed and heading toward the center of Prague. The individual was last seen near Letenské Sady, prompting immediate action by law enforcement. Police officials have confirmed that security measures have been implemented as part of the search operation. “Police officers are investigating a report that a man with a gun is heading from Letenské Sady to the center of Prague. Several dozen officers are on the scene, conducting a search and verifying the credibility of the report,” stated law enforcement via the X social media platform. No additional details about the man’s identity or motive are available at this time. Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the police immediately. At the same time, people in the area received SMS messages and emails via the KISS system informing them of the intervention. “Preventive measures by the Czech Police are underway in the area around the Faculty of Law, there is no direct threat, please remain calm,” the report says. Policisté prověřují oznámení, dle kterého by měl z Letenských sadů do centra směřovat muž se zbraní. Na místě probíhá...
Prague will start 2025 without the usual New Year’s Eve fireworks or video mapping displays. City officials decided that large-scale celebrations would not be appropriate this year due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and rising economic pressures. Instead, Prague has prepared a special New Year’s gift for its residents. On Wednesday, January 1, 2025, people can visit some of the city’s most popular attractions at discounted prices: Prague Zoo: Admission will cost just 100 CZK, a fraction of the usual price, offering an affordable day out for families and individuals alike. Botanical Garden in Troja: Entry will be discounted by 50%, making this lush escape more accessible to all. Prague Public Transport Museum: Adults can explore the museum for only 60 CZK, while children’s tickets will be priced at 20 CZK. Powder Gate: Adults can visit this historic landmark for just 55 CZK, and children under 15 can enter for free. Prague Planetarium: All visitors will pay the price of a child’s ticket, offering a budget-friendly opportunity to explore the stars. Bruce Weber: My Education Exhibition: Held at the House at the Stone Bell, tickets will be sold on a “buy one, get one free” basis, allowing art enthusiasts...
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,...
This Thursday, December 19, the Prague metro will transform into an unexpected holiday concert venue, with live performances bringing festive cheer to commuters and visitors alike. Music enthusiasts can enjoy a lineup at two metro stations: Náměstí Republiky (Line B) from 10:00 to 16:00 and Vltavská (Line C) from 17:00 to 19:30. These performances are part of the “Get in the Metro for Christmas 2024” (Nalaďte se v metru také o Vánocích 2024) campaign, organized by the Prague Public Transport Company. Talented musicians, including choirs and instrumental ensembles, will perform a mix of classic Christmas carols and holiday tunes. The event is completely free. Program: Náměstí Republiky (Palladium) Big Band KJJ – 10.00 Just A Minute Band – 11.00 Botondi – 12.00 Býk stále mlád – 13.00 Syntetická dáseň – 14.00 Big Band VOŠ KJJ – 15.00 Vltavska Maranatha gospel – 17.00 Pěvecký sbor Dopravního podniku hlavního města Prahy – 19.00 Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more
For one day only, Palackého náměstí tram stop will become Prague’s “Christmas” tram stop, bringing holiday cheer to passengers. On Wednesday, December 18, Palackého náměstí will undergo a magical transformation, delighting residents and visitors alike. From 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, the tram stop will be festively adorned with a Christmas tree, toys, pine branches, and other seasonal decorations, creating a unique holiday atmosphere. Passengers passing through the stop can look forward to free-themed gifts and the chance to write their own Christmas wishes at a special information stand. After 6:00 PM, the stop will return to its standard appearance. The initiative follows the success of a similar event last year when the Strossmayerovo náměstí tram stop was beautifully decorated for the holiday season. Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more
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...
Renowned Italian composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi, celebrated for his emotive and cinematic compositions, will perform at Prague’s O2 Universum on May 29, 2025. The performance marks the live debut of his forthcoming album, The Summer Portraits, a collection inspired by the warmth of summer, family holidays, and cherished memories. Einaudi, known for scoring acclaimed films such as The Intouchables, Samba, and Nomadland, describes his new album as a tribute to “all our summers and beautiful moments.” The 13-track album, set for release on January 31, 2025, through Universal Records, blends personal nostalgia with universal themes. The sound revisits the expansive textures of his 2013 release In a Time Lapse and is enriched by a full ensemble of musicians. The concert features a lineup of talented performers, including two percussionists, a cellist, violinist, accordionist, keyboardist, and bassist. Accompanying the album are music videos for tracks like Rose Bay, Punta Bianca, and Pathos, offering glimpses into the album’s emotional depth. Einaudi’s last Prague performance in 2022 sold out in just two weeks. Tickets for the May concert will go on sale on December 19 at 10:00 AM via Ticketmaster and Ticketportal. The event is organized by the Charmenko agency. The Summer...
Martin Dvořák, Minister for European Affairs, believes that the Czech Republic’s adoption of the euro could depend on a shift in financial transactions. “My vision of qualifying for the UEFA Euro in 2028 while simultaneously adopting the euro isn’t going exactly as planned,” Dvořák remarked at a press conference. He emphasized that a significant rise in euro-based financial transactions could render the Czech koruna obsolete. Drawing parallels with Croatia, Dvořák explained: “It’s somewhat similar to what happened there. When euro transactions dominate, maintaining a separate currency becomes economically impractical.” At a recent cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura of the ODS party stressed the importance of building both political and public consensus for euro adoption. “We need either widespread political agreement or overwhelming public support—ideally both,” he said. Analysis Highlights Barriers to Euro Adoption Dvořák expressed surprise at the findings of a National Economic Council (NERV) analysis, which identified a lack of political and public backing as the main hurdles to adopting the euro. “It’s not strictly an economic issue,” he said, referencing the analysis discussed at a recent government meeting. STAN had proposed appointing a national euro coordinator, but the government ultimately rejected the idea. Dvořák emphasized that such...
Archaeological rescue research along the planned route of the Prague Ring Road has revealed significant finds spanning from the Neolithic era to the High Middle Ages. Among the most remarkable discoveries are eight long columnar structures dating to the late Neolithic and early Eneolithic periods. Experts from the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic estimate their age at approximately 7,000 years. Additionally, archaeologists uncovered remains of settlement storage pits and a prehistoric stone-processing workshop at the site. This area has yielded further treasures beyond the prehistoric era. Archaeologists have identified part of a village from the late Hallstatt period (5th century BC), uncovering ten semi-subterranean pits, settlement pits, gutters, and remains of above-ground structures. The artifacts found include both coarse kitchen ceramics and more refined items, such as ceramic vessels with stamp decoration and glass beads. A particularly intriguing find is the handle of a kylix—a popular wine-drinking vessel from the Adriatic region. Along with the glass beads, this discovery points to contact between the local population and the Mediterranean. In another section of the site, archaeologists uncovered deep pits ranging from 2 to 5 meters in diameter. Due to their depth, some had...
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...
On Monday, representatives of Prague and Czech Railways signed a purchase agreement for the Žižkov freight station and surrounding land, paving the way for the creation of a new district. The purchase, valued at 1.43 billion crowns, was approved last week by Prague councillors and city representatives. The planned district will include a new tram line, Olšanská-Habrová, and is expected to provide housing for almost 20,000 people. The project also incorporates key civic amenities such as schools, kindergartens, and parks. Deputy Mayor for Spatial Development Petr Hlaváček (STAN) highlighted that this is Prague’s second-largest brownfield site, spanning an area roughly three times the size of the development zone around the Smíchov railway station. Construction on the site is already underway, with further work set to begin following an expected change to the zoning plan at the start of next year. Several developers, including Central Group, Sekyra Group, Finep, and Penta, are involved in the area’s redevelopment. The functionalist freight station building, dating back to 1936, is set to be transformed into a social and cultural centre that will include a campus. Hlaváček emphasized the building’s significance, noting that it is the longest structure in the city, with a length equivalent...
Parking fees in Prague will be reduced during the Christmas period, offering drivers more affordable options from December 23 until January 3. This temporary price reduction applies to mixed and visitor parking zones, where an hourly rate will be charged for all-day parking. The new rates will be in effect from Monday, December 23, to Friday, January 3, in purple and orange zones, which are commonly used by non-residents. The price reduction applies only to sections where parking does not operate in the all-week mode. These are typically areas where parking is free on weekends, so drivers can expect significant savings during the Christmas period. Depending on the location, drivers will pay between 20 and 80 CZK per day to park. To check the parking zone of a specific area, drivers can use mapy.cz. Electric Cars Lose Their Parking Benefits Starting at the turn of the year, two changes will be implemented, following a decision made by Prague city councilors months ago. The first is the end of the special parking privileges for electric cars, which have previously been allowed to park without paying fees. Zdeněk Hřib, Deputy Mayor of Prague, advocated for ending this benefit, arguing that electric cars...
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