Safety

Safety in Prague

Prague has relatively little violent crime but street crime – particularly pickpocketing – is a problem, especially in major tourist areas in Prague and on public transportation.  You may be more vulnerable than local residents.  As in any major city, you should avoid being in badly lit areas by yourself at night – particularly in an unfamiliar area and if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. For information specifically targeted to young people, see the State Department’s web site.

Beware!  

  • Careful of pickpockets, especially on crowded trams, metros or in cafes
  • Taxis: don’t hail taxis in the street, use an app!  
  • Trams have the right of way, even on pedestrian crossings!
  • ATMs: don’t use Euronet cash machines – you will get a terrible exchange rate.
  • NEVER leave an unfinished drink unattended.
  • Take a taxi home at night.
  • If you jaywalk, you could be fined.

Don’t Let the Pickpockets Get You!

  • Don’t display jewelry or large quantities of cash,  credit cards, etc.  Do not carry money and credit cards together.
  • If you are at a cafe or restaurant, have your bag on your lap or at your feet – not hanging on the back of your chair – and be aware of it at all times.
  • Keep your wallet in a zippered pocket of your purse or at the bottom of your bag, not somewhere it will be easy to access. Try not to carry anything of value in a backpack.
  • Be alert in crowds or when you feel someone standing close to you.
  • Carry purses securely under your arm, place bags with long straps across the chest.
  • Keep your wallet in your front pocket.
  • Carry your money in more than one place.

Late at Night

  • Late at night, we suggest that you take an UBER or Taxi home – see numbers on the Taxis and Ride-Sharing Page and you’ll get a safe ride home.
  • Don’t travel alone at night and make sure that someone knows where you are going. It is wise to use the “buddy system” – especially at night
  • Always be alert on trams and the metro. If you are on public transportation late at night, choose a seat in a crowded carriage
  • Do not wander around dark streets, especially if you are not familiar with the area
    It is better to come home in pairs or groups.

Passports

  • Under Czech law you are required to carry a valid travel document (passport) at all times (it is rare, however, that people are checked if they have the passport on them, so use your own judgement if you want to risk losing the passport by carrying it around). 
  • When you travel, always bring your passport even in the Schengen countries. Within the Czech Republic, it is required by hotels for registration.
  • Have a photo of your passport and visa available in case they are lost or stolen
  • If you do lose your passport, call the US Embassy (or appropriate Embassy/Consulate if you are not a US citizen) to get it replaced (tel. 257 022 000).

Traveling

  • Let us know your travel plans – information can be found here. If your return will be delayed, call your friends, roommates, or the NYU Center.
  • Write down emergency numbers for your credit cards and keep them in a safe place. Make a photocopy of your passport, airplane ticket, credit cards, and all important documents.
  • Avoid driving. It is illegal for someone who is in the Czech Republic for more than 90 days to drive without a Czech driver’s license or an international driver’s license. Public transportation and transit is excellent and inexpensive.
  • If you do drive, be aware that there is zero alcohol tolerance. An International Driving Permit (IDP), available from AAA (in the United States only), must accompany a U.S. driver’s license; failure to have the IDP with a valid license may result in denial of an insurance claim after an accident.
  • It is best not to travel on a train on your own, especially on the train lines to Budapest, Berlin and Poland.
  • Carry your money in a safe place (e.g. money belt).

Breaking the Law

  • Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in the Czech Republic are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences, heavy fines and possibly expulsion from this country.
  • Avoid confrontations, particularly with the police.
  • Remember – Czech laws and regulations apply to you – be aware of local law (see below).

Safety in NYU Buildings

  • Lock ALL doors when you leave your rooms and when you go to sleep – your room doors and the apartment doors.
  • Please be responsible about access to NYU buildings and report any suspicious persons immediately. Guests to the Residence Halls MUST be signed in with NYU Prague guards and you are responsible for their behavior.

Crimes of a Sexual Nature

  • Be aware that cultural norms and expectations are different. Your assumptions based on the situation (e.g. conversation, body language, etc.) may be very different than another person’s assumptions.
  • Again, remember that alcohol + drugs impair judgment.
  • You should refrain from being alone (i.e. car, home, unpopulated place) with someone you do not know well, especially if you are not sober.
  • If you do separate from your friends while you are out for the evening, let them know where you will be and give them a contact number if possible. Make sure you contact someone to let him or her know of your whereabouts.
  • Never leave an unfinished drink unattended. There have been incidents in Europe in which drinks have been spiked with Rohypnol, the “rape drug,” which renders victims unconscious and causes memory loss for several days.

What to Do if You are Robbed or the Victim of a Burglary

If any of your possessions are lost or stolen, call an NYU staff member and we will help you report the loss to the police. Keep a copy of the police report (which must be translated into English) for insurance claims. Also report the loss of:

  • Airline tickets to the airline company or travel agent
  • Passport to the nearest US Embassy or Consulate.

Make copies of your airline ticket, passport identification page, driver’s license and credit cards and keep separately from the actual documents. Record the serial numbers of your traveler’s checks.

NYU is not responsible for lost or stolen property.

New York University handles all insurance claims for its branch sites. Should your property be stolen from an NYU Prague building, we will contact colleagues in NY who will file the insurance claim.

Lost Credit Cards

American Express phone: +44(0) 1 273 868 900
Czech phone for Visa: 800 142 121
MasterCard phone: 800-142-494

Registration/Embassy and Consulate Locations

Americans living in or visiting the Czech Republic are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in the Czech Republic and obtain updated information on travel and security within the Czech Republic. You need to bring your passport to the embassy to register. Information is also available on the Embassy’s website at http://prague. usembassy.gov. The U.S. Embassy in Prague is located at Tržiště 15, Praha 1; tel. 257 022 000.