Scheme of toll roads in the Czech Republic. I. Toll roads in the Czech Republic and throughout Europe using coupons. Traveling in Poland

For a long time I dreamed of traveling to Europe by car. I listened to the stories of acquaintances, envied their courage and did not think that I would decide on this myself.

Foreword and preparation

To fulfill the dream, it took: the best friend with the phrase "I want to go to the Czech Republic for the New Year", understanding and loving husbands, and for complete happiness - a visa center in our city of Smolensk.

We decided to go to the Czech Republic by car for the four of us during the January holidays of 2017. The issue of visas was dealt with in advance. In October 2016, we booked a hotel through the Booking.com website (the choice fell on it based on the reviews of friends). For reliability, we asked the hotel directly for a voucher for accommodation for each person personally, because. We did visas on our own for the first time.

Before the trip, we once again read the reviews of tourists and several travel reports:

Take out insurance from an insurance company. The price is 1 euro for each day of being abroad. The amount of coverage is 30,000 euros, which is just enough for Schengen. Fingerprints were handed over at the visa center in electronic form (which will allow for 5 years to apply for a visa to other EU countries without a personal presence at the embassy). Consular and service fees were paid in the same place, the application was made by ourselves. All requirements and samples are on the website of the embassy. We provided documents for the car we were going to drive, and the driver's licenses of those who would be driving (Russian licenses are suitable if there is a duplication in English). We handed over our passports and in a few weeks received all four visas.

We decided to go in a friend's car. They have Reno Laguna, there is a lot of space in the back, very comfortable. It is diesel, the engine is 1.5 liters, the fuel consumption is about 5 liters. 100 km, and winter tires are just without studs. The dates were planned as follows: departure on the night of January 1-2, overnight in Poland on the night of January 2-3, January 3 in the evening, check-in at a hotel in Prague, January 4 and 5, rest in Prague, January 6, departure from Prague, overnight in Belarus immediately after crossing the border on the night of January 6-7, in the evening of January 7 at home. We always travel using the Maps.me application - it works without the Internet, shows not only the road, but also the infrastructure (cafes, hotels, gas stations, etc.).

gas stations

Refueled with diesel fuel on the day of departure in Russia for 1791 rubles, in Belarus - for 1371 rubles, in the Czech Republic upon arrival - for 4115 rubles. There were hiking in Prague, so the car was in the parking lot. Upon return, they refueled in Poland twice for 784 rubles. and 754 rubles, and then in Belarus twice for 1221 rubles. and 381 rubles. In total, 10,417 rubles were spent on fuel. Yes, such is the accuracy in the calculations =)

When driving a diesel car in winter, remember that diesel freezes at low temperatures. Take additives with you and fill them in well in advance. European diesel fuel is not designed for cold weather - we were saved by the Belarusian fuel "Arktika" (a type of diesel fuel for temperatures up to -30 degrees approximately).

Money

They took euros with them, changed them in Prague. First, at the nearest exchange office near the hotel to pay for minor expenses. Then the main part was changed in the center. The most favorable rate in Turkish exchangers, plus it is quite reliable there. We heard stories about how, when exchanging on the street, tourists were given, instead of Czech crowns, money withdrawn from circulation or the currency of other states.

The rest we paid by card. Take MasterCard to European countries, because. currency conversion takes place according to the ruble-euro-local currency scheme. And with Visa, rubles-dollars-euro-local currency. There were no problems with paying by card. Everywhere, except for street stalls with souvenirs, there are terminals.

Road from Smolensk to the first night in Poland

Checked the availability and went to it. The car was parked in the underground parking, in the morning when paying, they presented a check for accommodation in the hostel and received a decent discount. For parking gave almost 600 rubles. Before checking into the hostel, we were asked to show the room. We were told that separate rooms are much more expensive and are located in a neighboring building (they have a chain and a second hostel called Amnezja Hostel), so we went to see what was in Absynt Hostel. The room for four was located on the top floor, we went up by elevator. We were pleasantly surprised, because the room turned out to be a two-room family room, just one room through. Clean, comfortable, English style.

For four, they gave only about 2000 rubles. (hotels cost 5-7 thousand). Next to it on the floor are two showers and two toilets. Everything is also very clean. The hostel was mostly young people, but there were few people on our floor, it was quiet and calm. On a deposit of 1 euro took large towels.

Having settled in, we went downstairs and chose a two-story cafe with a snow-white interior not far from the hostel, took mulled wine, beer and sausages. What kind of beer they took, no one remembered what they regretted in the end, because to our great surprise it was the most delicious beer for the whole trip. The guys still remember it and say that no other beer can be compared. Later it turned out that all our friends who were in the Czech Republic were disappointed in their beer. Tip: buy in Poland for the future. In the cafe we ​​gave about 2000 rubles. for everyone.

In the morning we went down to the second floor of the hostel to the kitchen, there was everything we needed to make breakfast.

There was a bakery not far from the hostel where we got fresh croissants. The sales girl, when she found out that we were from Russia, began to ask about our harsh winters. I had to explain to her that the weather we have now is about the same as theirs (at that time it was about -5 degrees). By the way, we went in warm winter clothes, which we did not regret at all, since we brought winter with us to Europe. It got colder to -10-15 degrees.

The street where Absynt Hostel is located

Wroclaw, near Absynt Hostel

While we were in Poland, we saw several times how the cars hit each other and calmly drove on (they don’t seem to take care of cars there).

Road from Poland to Prague

The road to the border with the Czech Republic is a rural path winding through the villages. We had to cross the border in the town of Mytiny, in the direction of the New World. The navigator showed that soon we would be at the border, and we were driving, driving, but she was still gone and gone. Turns out we just didn't notice. The border is absolutely conditional and passes through the village, in the middle of which there is a modest sign indicating that we are in the Czech Republic. Here is the usual board with the speed limit on their roads.

The next task is to buy a vignette. This is a windshield sticker that gives you the right to drive on toll roads. We tried to buy it in the first store, but the Chinese seller (if we have residents of the former CIS countries everywhere in our stores and markets, then there are Chinese everywhere in similar places) did not even know such a word. We went to the gas station, but there were no vignettes for the period we needed - we stayed either for a shorter one or for a longer one, which is more expensive.

So we gathered three cars of Russians, wandering around Czech gas stations in search of vignettes for a week. At the fourth larger gas station, a vignette was found. Price - 750 rubles. The seller specified in which cities we would be. The vignette must be filled in and stuck on the windshield according to the instructions indicated on it. The tear-off part is kept with you.

Only on the territory of the Czech Republic it became noticeable that we were abroad: beautiful architecture, sometimes even castles and ancient estates could be seen in the distance. Outside the city, the route passed through snow-capped mountains and dense forests.

Finally we got to the B&B Hotel Prague-City (Prvního pluku 29, 186 00 Prague 8), here is their website http://www.hotelbb.cz/en/portal. This is one of the most affordable hotels, but at the same time very decent, clean, fresh, with white sheets, however, without slippers and a hairdryer. For two rooms for three nights, we paid about 19,000 rubles. (in October, when booking, the choice of hotels was less, and prices are already higher)

It turned out that the hotel did not receive our request for a place in the garage (the hotel has its own underground parking for a small number of cars). So when booking, for reliability, duplicate the request for parking directly to the hotel mail. Polite staff at the reception helped solve the problem (with other questions, they were also contacted without any problems).

On the street, places near the sidewalk are separated by colored stripes. Blue - places for residents of nearby houses, white - paid. As a matter of fact, all places there are paid. There is a machine near each parking lot: you choose the language, dial the number of the car, insert coins or banknotes (it does not give change), and the terminal punches the time until which the parking is paid. It's free from 8pm to 8am, so we only paid for a few hours and in the morning we were given a garage space. For two nights we paid about 1700 rubles.

After settling in, we went to the city. We went on the navigator towards the center in search of a cafe with national dishes. Along the way, I came across only expensive places, mostly with standard cuisine (often the menu is posted on display windows or lies under glass at the entrance). On one of the streets we finally found what we were looking for. Unfortunately, they did not remember the names, but the woman who served us spoke Russian. The choice of beer in the cafe is very modest. We took Krusovice for a sample, of course, ordered a knuckle - fortunately we were persuaded to take one serving for two - and snacks. The knuckle was very big, we didn't eat it to the end. They gave her sweet warm sauerkraut and ... it turned out to be very tasty.

Beer Krusovice

Appetizing knuckle

We took some snacks with us. There is no refrigerator in the room, so I had to use my wits and send perishable food to breathe in the cold winter air outside the window.

Our makeshift fridge

In the Czech Republic, there is such a feature - often a pack of nuts or other snacks are placed on the table in a cafe when setting the table. No, this is not a compliment from the institution at all - it is paid.

First day in Prague

Breakfast at the hotel is a decent and hearty buffet. We recognized our compatriots by their multi-tiered sandwiches and large cups with a triple serving of coffee.

Hearty breakfast

We went for a walk again on foot. From the hotel to the city center 1.8 km, about 15 minutes walk (but you can use transport, there are tram and metro stops nearby).

On the right side of the Vltava River is the Old Town. Its central point is the Old Town Square (metro: Staroměstská, tram: stop: Staroměstská, during the day: 2, 17, 18; at night: 53, address: Staroměstské náměstí, Praha 1).

It was the photo of the big Christmas tree in the middle of the Christmas market that haunted me for many years. And here I am, everything is as in the picture! Spruce, tents with souvenirs and sweets, amazing atmosphere.

Souvenirs on the square are expensive, there are a large number of more budget shops on the first floors of buildings located a little further from the square and on the way to Charles Bridge. Mulled wine and fried sausages are sold on the square. Be sure to try Czech twisted buns Trdelnik. Also on the square is an impressive monument to the thinker and preacher Jan Hus.

Old Town Square: afternoon and evening

The pearl of Prague is considered to be the Astronomical clock, which is located on the square. This watch is 600 years old, it is a real miracle of technical thought. You can find out everything from them: the time of day, the zodiacal position of the Moon and the Sun, the number of days in a year, the current date, the day of the week, and even holidays. Every hour from 8 am to 8 pm you have the opportunity to see the windows open on the clock and the moving figures of saints appear. But this action did not justify our expectations, everything is very, very modest. The exclamation "Is that all?" resounded en masse in the crowd.

astronomical clock

Our next task was to get jewelry with Czech garnet. We studied the reviews and found out that in Prague there are only three branded stores from the Turnov factory, here is the site. A real Czech pomegranate can only be small in size. In these three stores, products with Czech pomegranate are given certificates. There is also the Pomegranate Museum, but this is not a museum at all, but the same store, only with higher prices (we don’t know if they give certificates).

We went through all three stores, the largest and most successful was the one located next to the square (Dlouhá 28, 110 00 Praha 1, opening hours: Mon-Sun, 9-19). My mother and mother-in-law studied the catalog of products on the Internet in advance and chose gifts for themselves. Live, of course, not everything looks as good as in the picture, but we chose two worthy sets in silver.

Everything was beautifully packaged, a single certificate was given for each box, a check was drawn up at our request in the form for Tax-free and put in an envelope from Global Blue, which returns the money (the company is large and solid, they work clearly). Then we went to the Palladium shopping center, which is located between the hotel and the center, found the Global Blue counter, gave us a passport and a check. They helped us fill it out, paid it off and gave money in local currency (about 11% of the purchase), we bought a ring with them in the second store (it was inexpensive and this amount was not enough for a Tax-free refund, so we bought it without issuing returns ).

When leaving Poland, a customs stamp must be affixed to the check. Purchases cannot be unpacked, they can check. In theory, there should be a box at the customs where you can drop the envelope (free of charge without additional stamps), but we didn’t find the Global Blue box, but we were afraid to drop it in the usual one (although now I think it was possible). At home, we made copies of the documents and sent the entire bundle via regular mail by registered mail to the address on the envelope, indicating our data in Russian and English. Shipping cost is about 160 rubles. The track number was used to ensure that the letter arrived on time (the check must be returned within about a month)

There is a second way to return, our parents tested it in the summer. You take a check and an envelope, stamp it at customs, send a letter from Russia indicating on the check that a refund is required on the card. We decided that the card number on the check would not be enough and took a sheet from the bank with the details of our card to receive money from abroad. The money came to the card in 3-4 weeks, also from Global Blue.

In the morning, on the way to the center, we reached the local old bar (it was chosen based on reviews) "Prague Beer Museum" and booked a table for the evening. On Friday and Saturday after 20:00, reservations are not possible, otherwise you can book a table by phone: +420 777 679 767. Website: praguebeermuseum.com, opening hours: 12:00 - 03:00. I read that in the spring the bar moved to Smetanovo nábřeží 205/22 (I hope the room has become larger). This bar has the largest selection of beer, about 30 types (Matushka, Zatec, Krakonosh, Demon, Ferdinand, Rogozec, Cherna Gora, Rykhtar and others). We took tasting kits, tried almost all varieties and were a little upset - everything was not right. But it's worth a visit if only for the atmosphere and grilled cheese.

Second day in Prague

In the morning we again walked to the center, and then along the narrow streets with beautiful architecture to Charles Bridge (just a few minutes from the Old Town Square).

But next to the bridge there are three tram stops: Karlovy lázně - 2, 17, 18, 53 tram. (Stare Mesto, right bank), Staroměstská - 2, 17, 18, 53 tram. (Stare Mesto, right bank), Malostranské náměstí - 1, 12, 15, 20, 22, 25, 57 tram. (Mala Strana, left bank) and Staroměstská metro station (line A) on one side of the river, and Malostranská metro station (line A) on the other side.

Stop and square near Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge is over 600 years old. There are a lot of people at any time of the year. The bridge offers a view of the left bank of the Vltava River: St. Vitus Cathedral is to the right of the opposite end of the bridge, and Petřín Hill is to the left. On the bridge, people make wishes at numerous statues.

Charles Bridge: afternoon and evening

On the other side begins the second part of Prague - the Small side. You can feed the swans near the shore. Unfortunately, we did not have time and immediately went to the Museum of Ghosts and Legends (address: Mostecká 46/18, Praha1, site muzeumpovesti.cz, opening hours: 10:00 - 22:00), expecting to see the mystical past of Prague. But the museum turned out to be not scary at all, it is rather designed for children. Entrance costs about 400 rubles. for adults.

The street where the museum is located

Museum of Ghosts and Legends - Exhibit

After the museum, up the street, we went to the Prague Castle (the residence of the kings).

Inside there is an ensemble of a large number of attractions. The ticket price depends on the set of places you want to visit (there are turnstiles at the entrances and they read the ticket barcode). We bought tickets for the small circle B, the price is about 700 rubles. It includes major attractions such as the Cathedral of St. Vita, Old Royal Palace, Basilica of St. George, Golden Lane and Daliborka Tower.

St. Vitus Cathedral is a majestic building, it is definitely worth a visit. The whole complex is worth seeing. There is also an observation deck with a beautiful view of the city.

Square inside Prague Castle

Then we went on foot to the Ferdinand cafe, which we again chose based on the reviews. They also have an amazing animated site http://www.ferdinanda.cz. Tram stop - Hellichova (No. 12, 20, 22) and then walk up or Malostranské náměstí (No. 12,20,22-) and then walk down.

This place is highly appreciated by locals and tourists for the opportunity to taste national dishes. The menu is quite varied, the prices are reasonable, the beer is exclusively branded - Ferdinand. It's wonderful, especially the dark one. None of us like dark beer, but this was divine - the best we've had in the Czech Republic.

Here we bought beautifully packaged beer gift sets of three small bottles of different varieties (they make sets only from light beer). They also took dumplings to try - something similar to bread, only it is boiled and eaten with meat and sauce. In principle, it is worth trying, a very interesting dish. In my opinion, Ferdinand is one of the best cafes in Prague, especially given the value for money.

We decided to finish our last day in Prague by climbing Petřín Hill by funicular. It is more entertainment than transportation, although residents use it with regular travel tickets. We bought them by going downstairs at one of the metro stations we passed by. We couldn't handle the ticket machines, so we bought them at the newsstand. Tickets were taken uniform for all transport for a day. Funicular opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 22:20 (November-March). Timeslot: in winter (October to April) departs every 15 minutes.

Funicular

The funicular makes only one stop. I read that in the summer you can walk through the beautiful gardens there. But it was already dark, and we drove to the top of the hill, admiring the night city from the windows. On the hill there is a prototype of the Eiffel Tower 60 m high, they only call it the Petrin Tower.

We returned back by public transport, tickets were bought in front of the funicular. We got on the tram at the nearest stop, crossed the bridge on it, then transferred to the metro. Everything was dealt with without difficulty. The MAPS.ME app did not disappoint.

Homecoming

In the morning we had breakfast, bought edible treats in the store (Czech sausage, Camembert cheese and beer), packed everything, checked out of the hotel and hit the road. The way back seemed much faster. By evening we reached the Polish border, this time we passed it through the Terespol-Brest post. The employees of the Polish service checked our trunk without much predilection, they were of little interest in the exported products. We also noted the Tax free check there.

But with the entrance to the territory of Belarus it was more difficult. As far as we read, it has recently been impossible to import pork meat products into Belarus (fortunately, our sausage was made from beef). There was no ban on cheese. They knew for sure that there were severe restrictions on the import of alcohol, even beer (no more than 3 liters per person). And we just brought beer to all our friends for testing. He was examined, we were let through. Everything was within the norm.

Once in Belarus, we began to look for an overnight stay. The hotel was not booked in advance due to customs, so we faced the problem that all the nearest hotels were occupied by those who, like us, decided to cross the border at night so that there were fewer people. We were tired and wanted to sleep. With difficulty, we found a free room in about the fifth hotel, gave 10 euros for each (the room was shared). In the morning we had breakfast in their cafe, left and by the evening we were already at home.

From the trip left a large number of memories, photos and emotions. It was a wonderful holiday, very eventful and New Year's fabulous.

The length of the Czech public road network is 130.671 km. All of them are hard coated. The length of highways and roads is 1,250 km.

Toll roads

For the passage of motor vehicles on some motorways of the Czech Republic, a fee (vignette) is provided. The amount of the fee depends on the category of the vehicle and the duration of motorway use.

Toll road sections are marked with signs "Motorway" and "Road for cars". Free sections of the road are marked with the same signs, but with the inscription " BEZ POPLATKU ".

Fine for driving on motorways with an invalid or incorrectly affixed vignette from CZK 5,000 (€ 193) when paid on the spot and up to CZK 100,000 (€ 3,868) when litigated in court.

Vignette price

The cost of a vignette for cars weighing up to 3.5 tons (regardless of the weight of the trailer) for 2019 is:

Motorcycles released from paying roads in the Czech Republic.

Cars with a total mass of more than 3.5 tons pay for roads using special electronic devices.

Map of toll road sections

Where to buy a vignette in the Czech Republic?

Vignettes can be purchased at almost any gas station, post office or special sales points at the border crossing, which are open 24 hours a day. Places where vignettes are sold are marked with a corresponding sign.

Other resellers who sell vignettes at recreational sites may charge an additional fee as a commission or for currency conversion.

What should I do if I immediately enter a toll section of the road in the Czech Republic?

If you look at the map of toll sections, you can see that some motorways are tolled immediately after crossing the Czech border. These are motorways D2 (entry from Slovakia), D5 (entry from Germany) and D8 (entry from Germany).

In fact, you can safely drive to the nearest recreation site and purchase a vignette there. Despite the fact that they are marked on the map as paid sites, they become such only after these recreation areas.

• D2 - recreation area Lanžhot (Google Maps) 5 km from the border of Slovakia;
• D5 - recreation site Rozvadov (Google Maps) 1 km from the German border;
• D8 - recreation area Varvažov (Google Maps) 14 km from the German border.

The toll section of the D48 road (entry from Poland) starts about 5 km from the border (Google Maps, Google Earth). As a guide, you can use the European route E75, which leaves to the side before the start of the toll section.

In the video below you can see this route in the Czech Republic from the border with Poland to the border with Slovakia. A vignette is not required for this route.

Vignette validity period

10 day vignette - gives the right to travel on motorways for ten consecutive calendar days, starting from the marked date.

1 month vignette - gives the right to travel on motorways until the end of the day with the same number of the next month. And if there is no such day in the next month, then until the last day of the month.

1 year vignette - gives the right to travel on motorways for 14 months, from December 1 of the previous year to January 31 of the next year.

An unattached vignette is considered invalid!

Basic traffic rules of the Czech Republic

Speed ​​Limit

Standard speed limits in the Czech Republic (unless otherwise indicated on the signs).

• in built-up area - 50 km/h
• outside the settlement - 90 km/h
• on a motorway or motorway within a built-up area - 80 km/h
• on a motorway or motorway outside a built-up area - 130 km/h

• in built-up area - 50 km/h
• outside the settlement - 80 km/h
• on the road - 80 km/h
• on the motorway - 80 km/h

Vehicles whose maximum design speed does not exceed 80 km/h are prohibited from driving on motorways.

The last 50 m of the journey before crossing the railway tracks, the speed should not exceed 30 km/h.

For vehicles equipped with snow chains, the maximum permitted speed is 50 km/h.

Alcohol

Maximum legal blood alcohol level 0.0‰.

If the level of alcohol in the blood exceeds the allowed limit, then the fine will be from CZK 2,500 to 20,000 (€ 97-774) and deprivation of the right to drive a vehicle from 6 months to 1 year.

Failure to pass a medical examination for intoxication entails a fine of CZK 2,500 to 50,000 (€ 97-1,934) and deprivation of the right to drive a vehicle from 1 to 2 years.

dipped beam

Dipped beam is required 24 hours a day all year round. Fog lights should only be used when there is fog or poor visibility.

Fine - up to CZK 2,000 (€ 77).

Transportation of children

Children under 12 years of age and shorter than 150 cm are not allowed to ride in the front seats. They can only travel in the rear seats of a car in special child restraint systems.

Fine - up to CZK 2,000 (€ 77).

Seat belts

Use of seat belts Necessarily for front and rear passengers.

Fine - up to CZK 2,000 (€ 77).

Talking on the phone

It is forbidden to use, while the vehicle is in motion, a telephone communication device that is not equipped with a technical device that allows hands-free negotiations.

Fine - up to CZK 1,000 (€ 39).

Toning

The degree of light transmission of the windshield should be at least 75%, and the front side windows should be at least 70%.

For rear windows, the degree of light transmission is not regulated.

Non-compliance with light transmission standards falls under the article on the operation of a vehicle that threatens road safety.

With this violation, the operation of the vehicle is prohibited until the cause is eliminated.

fines

Fines up to CZK 5,000 (€193) can be paid on the spot directly to the police officer who issued the receipt. In the event that a larger fine is imposed for the violation, the driver's license may be withdrawn as a guarantee of appearance in court.

In the Czech Republic, the following error applies when measuring speed with a radar:

• at speeds up to 100 km/h - 3 km/h
• at speeds over 100 km/h - 3%

This means that at a speed limit of 50 km/h, an excess will be recorded when the radar shows a speed of at least 54 km/h. And with a permitted speed of 130 km / h - at least 135 km / h.

Winter tires must be marked "M+S", "M.S." or "M&S" and have a minimum tread depth of 4mm. All wheels must be equipped with winter tires. Roads where winter tires are mandatory are marked with the appropriate sign.

It is recommended to use winter tires when the air temperature drops below 4°C. In the absence of winter tires - a fine from CZK 1,500 to 2,500 (€ 58-97).

Studded tires

Use of studded tires forbidden.

Anti-skid chains

Anti-skid chains can be used if there is an appropriate road sign. The maximum speed is 50 km/h.

The navigation software feature that indicates the location of fixed speed cameras should be disabled.

Currently, the use of radar detectors in the Czech Republic is not restricted by any law, decree or regulation.

Excerpt from the traffic rules of the Czech Republic (§ 3 p. 4):

Nikdo nesmí používat technické prostředky a zařízení, které znemožňují nebo ovlivňují funkci technických prostředků používaných při dohledu na bezpečnost provozu na pozemních unikacích (komdále") jen.

It states that no devices can be used that prevent or affect the functioning of the technical means used in monitoring road safety.

Use of anti-radar forbidden. Fine up to CZK 1,000 (€39) if paid locally. In court proceedings, the amount of the fine will be between € 5,000 and 10,000.

An article about a trip by car to the Czech Republic - what you need to do before traveling, paperwork, traffic rules in the Czech Republic. At the end of the article - a video about a road trip to the Czech Republic.

What to do before leaving

Apply for a Schengen visa at a Czech embassy or visa center

The difference between the two organizations, by and large, is only in the monetary and time costs of the applicant. To receive an appointment at the embassy, ​​you must first sign up on the website, and then stand in line at the entrance to the building. There is no need to pre-register at the Visa Application Centers, instead, the service is carried out on a first come, first served basis, and in addition to visa processing, there are also additional services, such as travel insurance and delivery of ready-made documents. The term for consideration of applications at the visa center is 3 or 5 working days, depending on the price.

You can use a Schengen visa to enter any country of the agreement, but you need to get it at the representation of the state where you plan to stay for the most time.

When applying for a visa from a tourist in your own car, you will most likely need a compiled route, a Green Card - an international vehicle insurance policy, a vehicle registration certificate and a driver's license (it is best to get an international one in advance). Everything else is the same as for ordinary travelers, but it is better to check by phone or on the website of the nearest visa center.

Equip the car with everything that is necessary to comply with Czech traffic rules

This list includes: a first aid kit, a reflective vest for each of the passengers (it is unacceptable to be on the tracks without this vest at any time of the day, so you need to store it in the vehicle), an emergency stop sign, a set of spare fuses, headlight bulbs, jack and wheel wrench for changing the wheel and the spare tire itself, which does not apply to cars with run-flat tires. This kit is checked by the Czech police and can charge a fine of up to 77 euros if the kit is incomplete.

You can bring up to ten liters of fuel in a canister to the Czech Republic, which is important for Russian travelers, given that the cost of gasoline in Europe is twice as high as in Russia and Belarus - 1.25 euros per liter 95 (usually the lowest octane number at Czech filling stations) as of May 2018.

Prepare for winter if you travel to the Czech Republic at this time of the year

Studded tires are prohibited by the traffic rules of the Czech Republic, so the car must be equipped with winter wheels marked with the sign "M.S" / "M + S" and a tread depth of at least 4 millimeters. This is necessary for all vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tons from November to March, inclusive, with ice or a layer of snow on the road.

If the weather is good, the asphalt does not cover ice and snow, then the Czech police will not fine the driver for summer tires.

In general, the process of passing through a checkpoint at the border should not take more than an hour, especially if you do not bring alcohol and tobacco products, which, if large, are subject to duty at the border with Poland and the Czech Republic.

Belarus can be crossed along the M1 highway, which will take about six or seven hours. When crossing the border, you must pay a transport fee, after which a receipt will be issued, which will be confiscated when leaving the country. The fee can be paid at the transport inspection building located near the border. Tolls on the motorway need to be paid only if the vehicle has a mass of more than 3.5 tons and / or is registered outside the EAEU countries (these include Kazakhstan, Russia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus). The site beltoll.by is used to pay for the fare.

The collection, only ecological, will have to be paid at the Polish border - this can be done behind the barrier at the exit from the border point. It should be said right away that Poland, like Hungary and the Czech Republic, refused to switch to using the single European currency, so it’s best to think in advance about exchanging money for the Polish zloty and the Czech crown (they can be purchased, for example, in Moscow) or look for exchange points inside the countries themselves.

Toll roads

When entering the Czech Republic, you need to purchase a vignette required to pay for tolls on motorways(which are marked with the corresponding signs "motorway" and "road for cars"). This is a sticker that must be placed on the windshield, after indicating the number of your vehicle in the appropriate field.

According to the rules, it should be placed in the lower right corner, be clearly visible outside the car and not interfere with the driver's view. The cost varies depending on the period for which the vignette is purchased - about 12 euros for 10 days and about 17 euros for 30 days.

The vignette consists of two parts, one of them is the control coupon, which is required by Czech law to be kept throughout the entire journey through the country. You can buy it at most gas stations, at special points near the border or at post offices.

parking

When paying, it is also possible to purchase a subscription for travel in the metro and other public transport for the day or round trip. In Prague, the cost of parking in such parking lots until 01:00 is 0.7 euros, overnight - 3.9 euros, which is definitely cheaper than parking on city roads in the center. There it can reach up to 1.5 euros per hour. Near bus stops and metro stations there are K + R parking lots designed for dropping off and picking up passengers, but you cannot leave your car there.

Closer to the outskirts of the city you can also find free parking lots. You can park your car free of charge on weekends or public holidays, as well as at night, from 20:00 to 08:00 (applies to all parking zones).

1. Blue- for residents of the city with parking cards or official vehicles, you can find such a place by the blue stripe on the road surface.
2. orange- for all other drivers, limited to three hours of vehicle downtime, indicated by a white stripe on the road and a traffic sign.
3. purple- mixed parking, which is marked with a white dashed strip and a purple line, you can leave the car in such a parking space for a day, but only after payment.

Parking on the yellow lines is prohibited - this color indicates places for taxis, public transport, etc. The fine for parking in places for the disabled can be up to 80 euros, you will have to pay extra for the services of a tow truck. The "cost" of incorrect parking in other places is three times lower - up to 32 euros.

Parking is paid through the appropriate machines, which can be found throughout the city, it is also possible to pay for parking online. Verification of payment is carried out according to the registration number of the car.

Unfortunately, in different Czech cities, parking systems differ from each other, so when entering a new city (or in advance when planning a route), you should look on the Internet for information about a particular locality. On the websites of major cities, you can also find a map of parking lots with real-time traffic data. You can also use the parkme.com service, which allows you to find and book parking spaces online in many European cities.

Traffic Laws

For highways, the threshold is set at 130 km/h (motorways inside built-up areas - 80 km/h), the speed is recorded by automatic devices located along all types of roads.

In the Czech Republic, you cannot turn around at an intersection with a traffic light - a fine for such a maneuver will be about 20 euros. The content of any amount of alcohol in the blood is also prohibited, the punishment, if it is detected, will depend on the size of the ppm - if it is less than 0.3, then you can only get by with a fine of 96 euros, but there is a possibility of deprivation of rights with any amount of alcohol.

Of course, it is also forbidden to use the phone while driving, the driver and passengers (including those in the rear seats) must be fastened. The permissible percentage of light transmission by the windshield and side windows is 75% and 70%, respectively, there are no restrictions on tinting the rear windows of a car in the Czech Republic.

Payment of the fine, as a rule, is carried out on the spot to police officers, but if the violation is so serious that the driver’s license is withdrawn and the vehicle is sent to the impound lot, then you will have to pay through the court.

Conclusion

The Czech Republic is a fairly comfortable country for traveling by private car, with clear road navigation, developed infrastructure, including park and ride, online payment services, etc.

Gasoline in the country is inexpensive, compared to its Western neighbors, even if compared to Russia it costs twice as much.

Violation of traffic rules is punishable by fairly large fines, but a preliminary acquaintance with them (the main differences were listed above) will greatly reduce the likelihood of receiving them. We wish you a pleasant journey!

Video about traveling by car to the Czech Republic:

Austria

Coupons (Vignette) mandatory for motorcycles and cars weighing up to 3.5 tons. The current prices from January 1, 2019 are as follows: travel by motorcycle for 10 days, 2 months and the year will cost 5.30, 13.40 and 35.50 euros. Cars for the same dates at 9.20, 26.80 and 89.20 euros. Annual stamps are valid from December 1 to January 31 of the following year. Penalties for the absence or manipulation of the stamp 120 - 240 euros (on the spot). Unlike the Czech Republic, it is not easy to travel long distances in Austria on secondary roads. Use the official website of the Austrian autobahns.

Bulgaria

In this country, tolls apply not only to motorways, but also to ordinary roads of lower categories. Therefore, it is legally almost impossible to drive around Bulgaria without paying for roads. There are three tariffs for cars weighing up to 3.5 tons, up to 12 tons and over 12 tons (see table). The vignette system is electronic. Of the features - the presence of a weekend coupon, free travel on motorcycles. More information on the site bgtoll.bg

Hungary

In this country, an electronic coupon is used with the designation "e-Vigneta" at the point of sale. Nothing to glue on the windshield or anywhere else is not necessary, because there is nothing. The vehicle is entered into the database. Payments are monitored using electronic monitoring tools. The list of categories of payers is wider. Vehicles are divided into 4 groups. We bring cars up to 3.5 tons.

It should be noted that category D1 includes motorcycles and cars without trailers and with trailers with up to 7 seats, including the driver, with a permitted gross weight of up to 3.5 tons. From 8 seats - this is category D2.

Payment is charged for 10 days, month and year. The amount of payment for category D1: 13.26, 18.11 and 162.8 euros. For category D2: 26.52, 36.21, and 162.8 euros. The annual stamp is valid from January 1 for 13 months. The fine for traveling without payment is 50-250 euros. You can buy a Hungarian vignette in advance on the intermediary website virpay.hu or autopalyamatrica.hu

There is one trick though. On non-Hungarian versions of intermediary seller sites, you can only pay in euros at the obscene euro-forint exchange rate. It is better to buy from those intermediaries who can sell a HUF coupon by going through the purchase procedure in Hungarian. An intermediary fee of 200-300 forints is added to the amount of payment.

Moldova

On November 1, 2011, Moldova introduced a road tax. From this day on, all cars that are not registered in the territory of the republic are subject to "compulsory" wrapping with a vignette, which will be attached to the windshield. You can buy a coupon at border crossings and at large regional customs of Moldova.

Cars with Transnistrian license plates will be subject to tolls if the driver of such a car does not have a Transnistrian residence permit.

Romania

Romanian roads have a very sophisticated toll system. But at the same time, this system is quite fair. For example, there is a floating rate of payment. The annual coupon is valid from the moment of payment and for 12 months, while in other countries of this payment category the coupon is valid for a calendar year. I will give in the table the cost of coupons for June 2016, and you can study the material in depth on the roviniete.ro website. Fear not, the information is presented in several languages. Penalty for failure to pay 4500 lei.

Yes, and don't forget that bridges across the Danube also paid. Price list from 6 to 11 euros per piece for passenger cars.

Slovakia

From January 1, 2016, Slovakia switched to an electronic system. When buying a coupon, the driver receives a confirmation of payment, and now nothing needs to be glued to the glass. For passenger cars, no device is required. Vignettes are sold for 10 days, 30 days and annual, which is actually valid until January 31 of the year following the year of purchase. For cars weighing up to 3.5 tons, there are coupons of 10, 14 and 50 euros, respectively. Penalty for absence up to ten times the value of the coupon. Check the current information on the website of the joint-stock company SkyToll. Coupon can be purchased in advance in the online store.

Travel between Slovakia and Austria is carried out through the Karavanke toll tunnel. For cars, the fare is 6.5 euros.

Slovenia

The toll road system in Slovenia is similar to the Czech one. The fine for traveling without a coupon is 300-800 euros. Data for 2017. Motorcyclists (group 1) are also required to pay a weekly (7.5 euros), semi-annual (30 euros) and annual (55 euros) fare. The annual coupon is valid for 14 months, as in the Czech Republic. Slovenians are constantly experimenting, so it's always best to update your knowledge before you travel. Since December 1, 2015, divided into two categories depending on the height of the car.

Category 2A vehicles require the purchase of coupons for 15, 30 and 110 euros respectively. For driving a car above 1.3 meters, you will need to pay a weekly coupon of 30 euros, a month will cost 60 euros, and a year - 220 euros.

Drivers traveling towards Montenegro or Croatia have a cheaper alternative to transit through Hungary (the difference in the summer of 2017 is one and a half times in favor of Hungary). Slovenian services may not collect the planned amount. Not in vain, probably, for category 2B at the end of 2015, prices were slightly reduced. In my opinion, the payment for 528 km of the Slovenian autobahn is significantly overpriced even for cars, not to mention minibuses.

Switzerland

The most disadvantageous country in the use of highways. It is extremely inconvenient to go around them, and payment is charged only for annual coupons. They are valid from December 1 of the previous year to January 31 of the next payment year, that is, 14 months. But the highways in Switzerland are of very high quality, so the fare is quite justified.

The coupon is attached to the windshield near the rear-view mirror or on the left side of the glass. The cost of the annual coupon is 835 kroons. CHF 200 fine plus coupon payment. I was very pleased with Swiss roads, you can read about my trip to Switzerland from the Czech Republic by car in December 2011.

Everything you need to know about driving in the Czech Republic. In the article I will talk about paying for roads in the Czech Republic, where to buy a vignette, how to stick it correctly, about the configuration of the car, traffic rules in the Czech Republic, the cost of gasoline, places to rest on the way. I will share my experience of buying a vignette. This knowledge and our practical advice will help you successfully travel by car in the Czech Republic.

Payment of roads in the Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, only motorways are paid. To pay for the roads of the Czech Republic, you need to buy a vignette and stick it on the glass.

Map of toll roads of the Czech Republic

Czech vignette price

For vehicles up to 3.5 t

10 days - 310 kroons (approximately 12 euros),

Monthly - 440 kroons (17 euros)

Annual - 1500 crowns (59 euros)

Motorcycles are exempt. Cars weighing over 3.5 pay the road with the help of special electronic devices.

Vignette validity period

10 day - valid for 10 days after the marked date.

Monthly - valid until the end of the day with the same number of the next month. If such a number is not possible, then until the last day of the next month.

Annual - valid for almost 14 months. from December of the previous year to January 31 of the next.

Fine for driving on motorways with an invalid or incorrectly attached vignette from 5,000 kroons (185 euros) when paid on the spot. If through the court, the fine can increase to 100,000 crowns (3,700 euros).

Where to buy a Czech vignette. How to pay for roads.

***An important nuance that we encountered on the trip:

When entering the Czech Republic, you can immediately get on the toll road. This is a section of the autobahn from Bratislava (D2) and Germany (D5 and D8 from Dresden). You start to worry that the road was not paid for and there was nowhere to buy a vignette to the border, because the fines are large. But! According to the rules, the autobahn becomes paid only after the first place for rest, where it is just possible to pay for the road.

A sign on such a section of the Czech motorway informs that it will soon be possible to buy a vignette.

Czech vignette for sale in almost all gas stations, post offices or special points (working around the clock) with the inscription “Vignette”. Through the Internet, payment for roads in the Czech Republic is not currently provided.

You can also buy a Czech vignette when leaving neighboring countries. Here, for example, is such a point at a gas station in Hungary, not far from the border with Slovakia. Although Hungary does not have a common border with the Czech Republic, you can buy a vignette. In Slovakia, we did not see points of sale of Czech vignettes.

Czech vignette selling point at a gas station in Hungary.

Here is one of the vignette sale points. It is located at the entrance to the Czech Republic from Slovakia. This is a large parking lot for trucks and cars. The first after crossing the border. Right at the entrance there is a special kiosk selling Czech vignette.

*** Practical tip: at such parking lots on the border of the Czech Republic and Slovakia very unfavorable exchange rate. Much lower than banking. Therefore, it is better to pay for the vignette with a bank card.

Our experience of buying a Czech vignette- we hope you will not repeat it))) Although we are experienced travelers, we sometimes make mistakes. We were somehow confused, tired on a long road (or maybe for the joys that we were already in the Czech Republic))) - we bought a vignette, having exchanged cash euros for kroons at this point. Therefore, the vignette cost us not 11 euros, but as much as 17 euros. Unpleasant. When we left the parking lot, we saw on it a little further the same booths selling vignettes. Near them - signs with large inscriptions "Vignette - only 13 euros." Officially, it costs 310 crowns for 10 days, but the price here increases due to the unfavorable exchange rate for euro cash exchange. This is the situation when buying a Czech vignette for cash at the first parking lot of the autobahn.

How to stick a Czech vignette correctly

I find the most inconvenient use of the vignette in the Czech Republic. And there is something to compare with - in Hungary, Romania, Slovakia they are electronic, in Bulgaria, Austria - you need to buy and stick on the glass of a car.

And in the Czech Republic you need to buy a vignette. It consists of two parts: a tear-off coupon and a part that is glued to the glass. Fill in the tear-off coupon yourself (enter the car number), tear it off the vignette and keep the entire period of the vignette. And stick the vignette itself to the lower right corner windshield. But this is not enough Without a tear-off coupon, the vignette is considered invalid!

In the photo - my vignette on glass and below I hold a tear-off coupon for it.

Czech traffic rules

The Czech traffic police met only once on the way. At the first parking lot at the entrance to the Czech Republic, our visas were checked.

On the border of the Czech Republic - an information sign with elementary traffic rules.

• Speed ​​limits on the roads.

It is fundamentally no different, for example, from or.

The permitted maximum speed within the city is 50 km/h. On highways - 110 km / h. On highways (autobahns - toll roads) - 130 km / h.

For exceeding the speed limit up to 19 km / h, a fine is 1000 kroons (approximately 38 euros)

for speeding from 20 to 29 km/h fine - 2500 crowns (approximately 92 euros)

• Alcohol

The maximum allowable alcohol level is 0‰. If it is exceeded, then the fine is from 2,500 kroons (about 92 euros) to 20,000 kroons (740 euros)

• dipped headlights

Mandatory around the clock and all year round. Fine - 2000 crowns (74 euros)

• Transportation of children

Children under 12 years of age and shorter than 150 cm are not allowed to travel in the front seat. Only in the rear using special child restraint systems. Penalty for violation - 2000 crowns (74 euros)

• Seat belts

The use of seat belts is mandatory for passengers in the front and rear seats. Fine - 2000 crowns (74 euros)

• Talking on the phone

While driving, do not use a phone that is not equipped with a device that allows you to use the phone without using your hands. Fine-1000 crowns (37 euros)

• Winter tires

From November 1 to March 31, the use of winter tires is mandatory. The use of studded tires is prohibited.

Vehicle equipment, mandatory equipment

1. First aid kit.
2. Emergency stop sign, if you have a trailer, you need to have two signs. Not required for motorcycles.
3. Reflective vest. Needed by every person who steps out of their car during a stop on the freeway.
4. Spare wheel
5. Spare bulbs - one of each type.
6. A set of spare fuses.

The cost of gasoline in the Czech Republic

In our trips around Europe, such a pattern was noticed in the pricing policy for gasoline. It also operates in the Czech Republic. The most expensive gasoline is at autobahn gas stations, the cheapest is on rural roads.

Average petrol prices:

Natural 95 - 1.06 euros

Natural 98 - 1.12 euros

Disel – 1.00 euro

LPG (gas) – 0.43 euro

Gas stations are posted infrequently. Every 30-50 km.

How to refuel. The system is the same as in Hungary - first, gasoline is poured, and then paid at the checkout.

Parking in Prague

Parking in the center of Prague is paid. It is divided into three zones. They are color coded: orange , green And blue zones.

orange zone located in the historical center of Prague. The maximum parking time is up to two hours. Sometimes it is paid on Saturdays and Sundays. Costs up to 40 crowns per hour.

Green Zone provides for parking up to 6 hours. On weekdays from 18:00 to 08:00 and weekends (Saturday, Sunday, holidays) parking is free. Costs up to 30 crowns per hour.

blue zone marked with a blue line on the road. Only local residents can park here with a special parking card with a car number. This is a long term stop. You can park for free behind the blue line from 18-00 to 8-00. During other hours, the maximum parking time is up to 3 minutes.

In Prague and most cities in the Czech Republic, parking machines (parkovacími automaty) are installed. Payment in these machines is carried out with coins. After payment, the received parking ticket must be placed under the windshield of the car so that it can be clearly seen from the outside.

The cost of parking in Prague depends on the location and its distance from the center. And it varies from 10 to 40 crowns per hour. The price, maximum duration and working hours of the parking are indicated on the scoreboard at the entrance to it or on the parking meter. Unless otherwise stated, parking is free from 18:00 to 08:00 on weekdays, as well as on weekends and public holidays. Also in the cities there is a well-developed network of underground parking lots.

In the center of Prague there is always a problem with the availability of parking spaces. Sometimes you need to “wind” a few circles to find an empty spot.

On the outskirts of Prague car park network P + R (Park & ​​Ride= park and drive). Near these parking lots there are always public transport stops. This is an opportunity to leave your car in an inexpensive guarded parking lot and continue your trip to the city center by public transport. P + R parking costs from 100 kroons (3-4 euros) per day and from 10 kroons per hour.

How to get to the parking lot is indicated by a sign with the mark P + R. Here is such a sign at the entrance to Prague.

Places for rest on the autobahns.

There is no familiar system of places to rest on the autobahns, such as in Hungary, Austria. Places to rest are only at gas stations. Most often, toilets at gas stations are paid. The price is 10 crowns.

We liked the place to stay at the gas station near Brno. The view of the city from here is beautiful.

The quality of roads in the Czech Republic

The level of the roads is quite high. But in July 2016, the coverage on the Brno-Prague section was not of very good quality. The road seems to be smooth, but it shakes, as if you were driving on a washboard. But there is an intensive repair of the highway.

From Germany to Prague - the road is excellent. Picturesque surroundings. There are such original bridges.

Not far from the border with Germany, a tunnel. Travel on it is free.

Country roads in the Czech Republic. We are driving from Prague towards Germany. The surroundings are amazingly beautiful.

It is a pleasure to travel on such roads.

Happy travels!