Data released by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights in its Roma Survey 2024 put a number to what many already knew: one in three Roma across the surveyed EU countries reported facing discrimination within the past year. In the Czech Republic, the figure is worse. The discrimination cuts across daily life — job applications rejected, barriers in healthcare, unequal treatment on public transport, exclusion from private services and educational opportunities. The survey documents a pattern that advocates have described for years but that mainstream policy has been slow to address. The findings came into fresh focus around International Roma Day on April 8, when President Petr Pavel received around twenty Roma community leaders at Prague Castle. Pavel estimated that roughly 250,000 Roma currently live in the Czech Republic, a number he framed as a reason — not an excuse — for urgency. Full integration of this community, he said, is a condition for building a genuinely tolerant and functional society. What Czechs Think — and Where They’re Wrong Public opinion data adds another layer to the picture. A survey by the Public Opinion Research Center conducted last August found that more than half of Czech respondents believe Roma...
Prague Airport will distribute 13.3 million crowns this year among districts and municipalities affected by increased noise levels caused by the temporary shift of flight operations to its secondary runway. The move comes as the airport undergoes modernization works on its main runway, which began in late March and are scheduled to run until August 14. The funds will go toward local projects including playground renovations, community gardens, school repairs, and tree planting. The airport confirmed the figures through its spokesperson, Denisa Hejtmánková. The payments are not legal compensation — the airport operates within established noise limits and is not breaching any regulations. Instead, they take the form of voluntary donations, structured through formal donation contracts, with amounts calculated based on the population of each affected area. The distribution follows a similar initiative from last year, when the same section of the main runway was closed for modernization over the same period and the airport paid out more than ten million crowns to surrounding communities. Prague 17 will receive three million crowns for the reconstruction of a playground on Laudova Street. Prague 6 has been allocated 2.5 million crowns, which will fund a community garden in the Dědiny neighbourhood and...
A total of 1.66 million domestic and international visitors arrived in Prague during the first quarter of 2026, according to data from the Czech Statistical Office. The figure marks a year-on-year increase of roughly five percent, continuing a steady recovery in inbound tourism. City officials say the growth came despite disruptions in global air travel linked to tensions in the Middle East. Germany remained the largest source market, with 178,105 visitors, followed by the United Kingdom with 117,682 and Italy with 99,755. Czech residents accounted for about one fifth of all arrivals, maintaining a stable domestic share. City officials point to a shift in visitor profiles and spending behaviour. “We are successfully attracting a more solvent clientele to Prague, who are looking for quality services and are also increasing their spending. We also encourage visitors to explore areas beyond the historic centre,” said Tomáš Slabihoudek, Prague councillor for culture and tourism. Ireland recorded the strongest percentage growth among source markets, with 23,071 visitors and a rise of 75 percent year-on-year. Officials link this increase partly to a new direct air connection between Prague and Cork, launched in the autumn. The Irish market was also supported by a promotional campaign tied...
Prague’s own New Visions Theatre is back with its most ambitious production to date. The international theatre collective, founded in the Czech capital in 2020, has announced a stage adaptation of The Little Shop of Horrors — not the beloved 1980s musical, but the original 1960 black-and-white cult film that started it all. The show runs on June 20 and 28 at 7:30 PM at Divadlo Komedie. Written by Charles B. Griffith and directed by Roger Corman, the original film became a cult classic for its sharp wit and offbeat humour — and is perhaps best known today for featuring a young Jack Nicholson in an early role. New Visions is going back to that source material, adapting the screenplay directly for the stage while updating and expanding it for contemporary audiences. One key distinction from most adaptations: where Off-Broadway productions have typically trimmed the cast of Skid Row characters, New Visions is bringing several of them to the stage for the first time. The story follows Seymour Krelborn, a bumbling flower shop assistant working for the exasperated Gravis Mušnik. After one mishap too many, Seymour’s job is on the line — until he unveils a mysterious plant hybrid he’s...
Despite headline inflation holding below two percent at the start of 2025, Czech households are feeling a very different reality. A new survey by Ipsos found that nearly two-thirds of households — 65% — are spending more each month than they were a year ago, with food prices and a broad rise in the cost of goods leading the way. The findings point to a growing divide along income lines. Among households earning up to 30,000 Czech crowns per month, nearly one in three respondents — 29% — reported a significant jump in expenses. In households earning above 70,000 crowns, that figure drops to just 8%. “Most households are dealing with rising costs, but the pressure is hitting those with lower incomes hardest,” said Jaroslav Ondrůšek, chief analyst at Home Credit. Women and people between the ages of 45 and 53 are also among those reporting the steepest increases. Where the Money Is Going Respondents were clear about what is driving their costs up. Nearly two-thirds pointed to food as the primary factor. Around 42% cited a general rise in the price of goods, while 40% named higher energy, transportation, and service costs as the main pressure on their budgets....
A bar is opening in Prague where you will not find a single drop of alcohol. Not a craft IPA, not a glass of wine, not a shot of anything. Just well-made drinks — and according to the people behind it, that is entirely the point. Sober Bar is set to open in the coming weeks on Italská Street, a short walk from Náměstí Míru. The concept has been seven years in the making, driven by co-owner Tobiáš Pikart, who has previously co-owned well-known Prague venues including Boothill and Midgard Bar. At the bar, guests will find a four-tap ramp serving non-alcoholic ciders — primarily French imports — alongside Prager Cider, a seasonal Bernard (grapefruit in spring and summer, plum in winter), and rotating foreign specials. The selection changes as the kegs do. Canned options and limited editions will also be available, giving regulars a reason to return. Cocktails — or mocktails, as the category is now widely known — will be prepared using dealcoholized spirits from Sober Spirits, a French producer based in Grasse. Their lineup includes non-alcoholic interpretations of rum, gin, and whiskey, each designed to replicate the complexity and ritual of the original without the alcohol content....
Starting this month, residents over 70 in Prague 14 have access to a subsidized taxi service designed to make daily life more manageable. For 50 Czech crowns per ride, seniors can travel to doctors’ offices, government institutions, shops, cultural venues and banks — without relying on public transport or family members. The scheme, called Senior Taxi, went live on May 4, 2026. It is available to anyone aged 70 or older with permanent residence in the district, with one exception — residents of Dolní Počernice are not included in the program. Each participant is entitled to up to 50 trips per year. Those who sign up mid-year receive a proportionally reduced allowance. A return journey counts as two separate trips. One accompanying person travels free of charge. The service runs Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where the Taxi Can Take You Within Prague 14, the taxi covers trips to medical facilities, social services, post offices, banks, pharmacies and shops. Travel outside the district is also permitted in specific cases — including journeys to Královské Vinohrady University Hospital, Bulovka University Hospital, polyclinics in Vysočany and Prosek, and Employment Office branches in Prague 9. “We see Senior Taxi...
City districts across Prague are stepping up efforts to curb the growing pigeon population, with officials now weighing a range of methods, from traditional dovecotes to predators — and, in one district, even contraception. The debate has intensified in recent months as complaints mount over pollution in public areas, particularly near the Budějovická metro station in Prague 4. Local authorities say the number of pigeons in the area has risen sharply over the past half year, bringing visible hygiene issues and renewed pressure to act. While some districts rely on established approaches, Prague 4 is exploring a less common solution. Councillor Tomáš Hrdinka has proposed distributing specially treated grain designed to prevent reproduction. The method, inspired by projects abroad, would work by introducing a substance that stops fertilized eggs from developing. According to Hrdinka, similar systems have shown results in cities such as Vienna. He argues the measure would target urban pigeons without harming other bird species, as these birds are already competing for food sources in dense city environments. At the same time, the district is preparing more immediate steps around Budějovická. Plans include installing ultrasonic deterrents and modifying surfaces where pigeons gather, making them less suitable for roosting....
Liberation Day is a national holiday celebrated in the Czech Republic on 8 May each year. This is the same date as the celebration known as V-E Day, VE Day or Victory in Europe Day that is celebrated across much of Europe. As the names suggest, the day signifies the victory of the Allied forces against the Axis forces at the end of World War II in 1945. In particular, the Czech Republic celebrates Liberation Day as the day its people were freed from Nazi rule. The day was originally celebrated on 9 May, but this was changed in 1989 to 8 May. Some people call the holiday Liberation from Fascism Day. On May 8, with Allied troops approaching from west and east, the Czechs negotiated a cease-fire with the Germans. The situation was now critical; the Czechs lacked the machinery and the weaponry to continue fighting the Germans, and the city’s Old Town was in flames. Part of the cease-fire was a guarantee, from the Germans, that the city would not be harmed further. The Czechs knew that, with help on the way, the cease-fire would be far more beneficial to them than it seemed on the surface. “To...
Railway stations are increasingly being judged not only as transport infrastructure but also as public spaces shaping the start and end of many journeys. A new international ranking has now placed Prague Main Station among the world’s most luxurious. The study was carried out by the British travel insurance company Allclear and published by the Daily Mail. It assessed 20 major stations worldwide based on waiting room quality, availability of shops and restaurants, nearby hotel options, and passenger reviews. Prague Main Station shared 12th to 14th place with London St Pancras International and Antwerp Central, scoring 61 out of 100 points. Passengers highlighted the contrast between the historic exterior and the modern interior. One visitor described it as “an old-style exterior with a modern interior worth seeing when in Prague.” European and global leaders The ranking was topped by Zurich Hauptbahnhof, which scored 83 points. The station is one of Switzerland’s busiest transport hubs and dates back to 1847. It was praised for its wide range of services, high number of shops, quality lounges, and strong user ratings. Its central location with direct tram and bus connections was also highlighted. Other Swiss and Japanese stations followed closely in the upper...
It’s a daily struggle: will there still be a spot? The question concerns finding an open parking space at park-and-ride (P+R) facilities on the outer edge of Prague. The fact that parking in the centre of Prague on a weekday is almost impossible is nothing new; the city administration has long been urging commuting drivers to leave their cars on the edge of the capital and use public transport. The goal is to take pressure off both central parking areas and the city’s congested roads. However, lately even the capacity at P+R lots and garages has started to run short. Every day, tens of thousands of vehicles pour into the city, but park-and-ride sites have capacity for only around 4,500 vehicles. For many drivers, the situation is becoming a growing source of stress. A large number of drivers, not only from Central Bohemia but also from a wide surrounding area, arrive via the D10 and D11 motorways and use this parking garage. Most spaces in the surrounding area are managed by shopping centres, making it nearly impossible to find parking anywhere near Černý Most. Occasionally, a free spot appears in the remote lot next to the garage. Driving further offers...
The Czech Republic is often presented as the country with the lowest level of poverty in the European Union. According to data from Eurostat, around 11.5 percent of people were at risk of poverty or social exclusion last year, compared to an EU average of 20.9 percent. This places the country ahead of neighbors such as Germany, Austria and Poland. In Germany, the share stood at 21.2 percent, while Austria reported 18.8 percent and Poland 15 percent. Slovakia recorded 16.7 percent. At first glance, the figures suggest a strong position. The Czech Republic has ranked near the top of this indicator for years, reinforcing the image of a country with relatively low inequality. Yet economists and social analysts say the data does not fully capture how people actually live. The Eurostat indicator defines poverty as earning less than 60 percent of the national median income. In practical terms, that threshold was about 19,090 crowns per month for an individual in the Czech Republic last year, and 24,817 crowns for a single parent with a young child. The measure also considers whether households can afford basic needs such as heating, holidays or unexpected expenses. But critics argue the method focuses too...
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