The Czech government will introduce stricter rules for taxi drivers from outside the EU starting in July, aiming to tighten oversight of a rapidly growing sector dominated by foreign nationals. The change comes amid concerns over safety, regulatory gaps, and the sheer number of taxis on Prague’s roads. Last year, 5,405 new taxi driver licenses were issued in Prague alone—double the figure from 2020. In total, there are now an estimated 16,000 taxis operating in the capital, though city data suggest only about 3,500 would be sufficient to meet demand. The overcapacity, driven in part by the rise of ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Bolt, has triggered a government crackdown. From July 2025, taxi drivers will need a valid driver’s license from Czechia or another EU country to operate legally. Licenses will be granted only for the duration of a driver’s permitted stay, replacing the previous five-year validity. Police will also be empowered to carry out on-the-spot checks of drivers’ documentation and vehicle registration. Crackdown on Non-EU Drivers According to Vít Hofman, spokesperson for Prague City Hall, many applicants for taxi licenses are from Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Nigeria. “The number of foreign drivers has risen sharply, particularly with the expansion...
A 12-year-old boy was fatally struck by a tram on Milady Horákové Street in Prague late Thursday morning, near the Hradčanská tram stop. Despite immediate efforts by bystanders and emergency responders, the child died at the scene. The collision occurred shortly after 10 a.m., according to police spokesperson Jan Daněk, who confirmed that resuscitation efforts began immediately after the accident. The boy, who police later confirmed was a foreign national, was trapped under the tram and had to be extricated by firefighters. “We are responding to a collision between a tram and a 12-year-old boy. Resuscitation is underway,” Daněk told Czech news outlet Novinky.cz. Eyewitnesses began lifesaving resuscitation with guidance over the phone before paramedics arrived and took over. Karel Kirs, spokesperson for the Prague Ambulance Service, stated that medical teams, including a physician and transport inspector, attempted resuscitation for 45 minutes. Despite their efforts, the child could not be revived. “Operators and witnesses began emergency resuscitation by phone, which we continued. Unfortunately, despite all efforts, the child died on the spot,” Kirs said. Criminal investigators have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. The tram driver tested negative for alcohol, according to police. Tram service...
Prague’s public transport network will operate with reduced service during the Easter holidays, as confirmed by Filip Drápal, spokesperson for ROPID. On Maundy Thursday, services will follow “half-holiday” schedules, meaning longer intervals between buses and trams, particularly during morning and afternoon rush hours. However, the metro will continue to run on its regular weekday timetable. Public transport on Good Friday will follow Saturday schedules, while on Easter Monday, services will operate according to Sunday timetables. School lines and designated school services on regional and suburban routes will be suspended throughout the Easter period. “Because the half-holiday timetables are only valid for a single day, they won’t be posted at individual stops,” said Drápal. Instead, passengers are advised to check the current schedules on the official website www.pid.cz or via mobile transit apps. The changes are standard for public holidays in the Czech capital, and commuters are encouraged to plan their routes accordingly to avoid delays. Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more
Just off Národní třída, on Prague’s Jungmannova Street, a new restaurant draws attention — but it’s the smell of smoked meat that really pulls you in. Isaac’s BBQ is the latest venture from the man who helped introduce authentic American barbecue to Prague’s street food scene. Isaac Starobin is no stranger to the grill. For the past decade, his Dirty Dog BBQ stand has served American flavors at Manifesto Market. He honed his craft while working in New York and Berlin. But Isaac’s BBQ, which opened on January 21, 2025, and seats around 50 guests, is his first brick-and-mortar restaurant — a dream realized after years of building customer loyalty at Manifesto. The first evenings were fully booked, with many familiar faces from Dirty Dog showing up to support Isaac’s new chapter. He believes Prague’s food scene still has room to grow — and his goal is to surprise and strive for perfection. The story behind the location is almost poetic. Isaac visited the space six years ago and immediately thought: this is where I want to open a restaurant. After more than a year of searching, it finally became available. The space had previously housed a minimalist Asian eatery...
Prague is now home to the most modern animal hospital in Europe, a state-of-the-art wildlife rescue center capable of treating up to 10,000 injured or stray animals each year. The new facility, located in Jinonice, cost more than 400 million CZK and offers comprehensive veterinary care for a wide range of wild species. But it’s not just a hospital — it also doubles as a space for public education and school programs. Common patients include swans, owls, otters, squirrels, and even larger species such as roe deer, mouflons, fallow deer, and beavers. After recovery, most animals are released back into their natural habitat. The hospital’s Jinonice location features a surgical suite, intensive care unit, veterinary clinic, treatment aviaries, feed preparation room, isolation units, and recovery enclosures. It also includes a lecture room designed for educational programs aimed at school groups and the general public. The rescue station employs 24 specialists who care for around 1,000 animals at any given time. Currently, about 150 wild creatures, mostly birds and hedgehogs, are preparing for release. The head of the rescue station, Veronika Kraslová, says the success rate is impressive: over 60% of adult animals and nearly 90% of young ones survive thanks...
The American fast-food chain Popeyes is accelerating its expansion in the Czech Republic, announcing plans to open ten new locations across the country in 2025. While continuing to strengthen its presence in Prague, the brand will move into new territories, with branches confirmed for Brno, Pardubice, and Pilsen. “In most cases, these will be restaurants located in shopping centers. This year, we may also launch a drive-thru and a highway stop,” said Jiří Petrovič, Chief Development Officer for Popeyes in Czechia, Poland, and Romania. “I won’t disclose more details yet, as some sites are still under construction. But I believe we’ll make a lot of Louisiana chicken fans happy this year.” According to Petrovič, at least six additional branches will launch by the end of the year or in early 2026. In Prague, Popeyes currently operates three outlets. Outside the capital, fans can visit the location in Stehelčeves, near the D7 highway, and, since April 1, the chain’s latest branch in České Budějovice. Popeyes entered the Czech market in 2023 with its debut restaurant on Wenceslas Square, where it sold over 100,000 portions in its first year. That opening drew massive crowds, with some eager customers waiting up to 26...
The Easter markets have returned to Prague, filling the city’s main squares with food stalls, live music, and clusters of tourists snapping photos under blooming trees. While the markets remain a seasonal tradition for locals, many are finding them harder to enjoy — not because of the crowds, but because of the prices. What used to be an affordable afternoon out now feels more like a splurge, with even simple snacks reaching restaurant-level costs. At Old Town Square, the offerings are familiar: roasted ham, trdelník, and langoš. But the price tags have shifted. A small portion of Prague ham costs 129 CZK per 100 grams, and vendors rarely serve less than 300 grams. A basic langoš goes for 180 CZK. A trdelník costs 100 CZK plain, with versions filled with ice cream or Nutella selling for up to 160 CZK. More international fare is also on offer this year, including grilled octopus at 289 CZK per 100 grams and yuzu lemonade at 120 CZK a glass. Stalls along Wenceslas Square and Republic Square offer similarly steep prices, with burgers priced at 250 CZK, hot dogs at 200 CZK, and fries at 150 CZK. Green beer, a seasonal specialty, is poured...
Since last year, Prague City has been working on a new system to regulate shared transport. The new regulations aim to address concerns related to bikes and e-bikes in the city, ensuring that these vehicles are parked in designated spots. Importantly, e-scooters will be excluded from the system and will no longer be allowed to park in public spaces. “Anyone who does not have a contract with us cannot operate and park scooters. If they do, we will remove them,” said Petr Hájek, director of the Technical Administration of Roads. According to Deputy Mayor Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates), while operators might theoretically establish parking stations on private property, this would be complex, and the city does not anticipate such arrangements.By the end of May, the city council is expected to approve the administration’s proposal, granting the authority to issue contracts with individual bike operators.Under the new rules, operators will be required to pay 25 CZK per month for each bike or e-bike parked in designated areas. Operators who fail to comply with parking regulations will face a fine of 100 CZK, with the fine rising to 1,000 CZK if not rectified in time. If operators persist with improper disposal, the administration will...
The biggest Baroque celebrations on the water at Charles Bridge in Prague following a three-hundred-year tradition. The NAVALIS Saint John’s Celebrations are a commemoration of the best-known Czech saint and Prague native, Saint John of Nepomuk, patron of all people of the water. A mass is held with a procession and a Baroque water concert on the Vltava River beside Charles Bridge on the evening before the holy day of Saint John of Nepomuk (so-called vigilia). Every year there are numerous special events, such as a folklore festival, a regatta of historical and dragon boats, markets, lectures and exhibitions. Venetian gondoliers regularly take part in the event and amaze visitors with their captivating songs. John of Nepomuk, the patron saint of Bohemia, is revered among the Catholic faithful as a protector from floods and drowning. Legend has it that King Wenceslas IV had him tortured, killed and thrown into the Vltava River because he refused to divulge the queen’s secrets, told to him in confession. Statues of John of Nepomuk, such as the one installed in 1683 on the north side of the Charles Bridge in Prague, were erected long before he became a saint, notes historian Jiří Louda. “At the beginning of the 18th...
Angela Merkel, Germany’s longest-serving chancellor, will visit Prague for a rare public appearance and her first-ever live interview in the Czech Republic. She will speak with Czech journalist Tomáš Lindner about her memoir Freedom and reflect on the state of democracy in Germany and Europe. For sixteen years, Merkel led Europe’s most powerful country through an extraordinary period marked by financial crashes, the refugee crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine. Her newly released autobiography offers a behind-the-scenes look at how key decisions were made during her time in office — decisions that helped define modern Europe. In the book, Merkel also examines her East German upbringing and how life under communism shaped her worldview. In the Respekt-hosted interview, she is expected to expand on these themes and provide new insights into the complex realities of political leadership. The discussion will continue the narrative laid out in Freedom, now available in Czech thanks to Práh Publishing, which is also partnering on the event. Since its release, the Czech edition of Merkel’s memoir has gone into its third printing, underlining the strong interest in her legacy. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the venue. Event...
Known for its handcrafted bread and pastries made with locally-sourced ingredients and no additives, Joy Bakery continues to grow while staying true to its philosophy of quality, authenticity… and joy. The original shop in Vršovice was described by the co-owner Liudmila as “a small baby” that grew into “a nice teenager saying, ‘I want to be free and go out.'” This growth prompted the search for a new location. Two real estate agents and six months of searching later, Liudmila found the perfect spot in Karlín (Urxova 436/10): a former bakery that felt right from the start. “We didn’t even advertise,” she recalls. “We just opened the doors and said, ‘Hello, we’re here!’ People came back and brought more people.” Her partner, Peter, originally from Denmark, explains that the decision to expand was driven by both demand and practicality: “Since we reached our production limit at our original location, we either needed to move production to get more space or stay where we were. Customers kept asking if we’d open in Karlín, so we decided to find a place where we could expand production and open a second store.” Despite expanding, Joy Bakery remains committed to using high-quality ingredients such...
By renovating and expanding the historic workshop halls near Prague’s Masaryk Railway Station, the National Technical Museum plans to open a Museum of Railways and Electrical Engineering by 2030. The updated cost of the project has now risen to 1.89 billion CZK, including VAT, up from the originally projected 1.69 billion. The new museum will stand on the site of the former workshops along Husitská Street, featuring a newly constructed building and a covered track area. “These buildings are officially recognized cultural landmarks,” said Karel Ksandr, director of the NTM. “They commemorate the arrival of the first train to Prague, which took place 180 years ago this year.” The historic moment occurred on August 4, 1845, when the first train pulled into what is now Masaryk Station. The first official ceremonial train was greeted at the Gate of Glory on August 20 of the same year. An architectural study is already complete, and the museum has acquired additional land next to the site. In collaboration with the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Czech Technical University (CTU), the team is working on solutions to reduce energy consumption in the historic halls. According to Ksandr, the concept was inspired by the railway museum...
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