Hi,
I am headed to Prague in late November with a male companion but am a bit concerned about the safety issues I have heard about from friends and online. We are both young and in our late 20%26#39;s and will be arriving via train from Munich. Does anyone have any advice about where to stay or if to avoid Prague? I am very aware of my safety and don%26#39;t want to feel unsafe on our vacation. We will probably be exploring the city and heading out at night. I have heard to be aware of the taxis and price hiking in the restaurants- anything else to be aware or concerned about?
Also, I%26#39;m aware it will be cold, but is it unbearable that time of year? I%26#39;d still like to walk around the city and enjoy the sites if that will be possible. We are from Florida, so it will be a big change!
My other option is Venice. I think the weather might be better that time of year and I think a bit safer too. Any advice on which one to visit?
Any advice is greatly appreciated!!
Thank you.
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Safety - about the same, as long as you are not gullible. Some people tend to exagerate.. The weather can be unpredictable in both places; one November in the Czech Rep. it was all snow, the next time almost springlike. I have a friend in Ravenna and she confirmed that even Venice can be cold at times. Depending on time, you could do both...
There is a decent train from Prague to Venice (overnight- couchette) - saves you time %26amp; 1 night%26#39;s accommodation.
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Prague is a completely safe town; I would say that parts of for example Miami is worse.
As long as you check your bill if eating at big tourist places and agree on taxi price before getting in to taxi, you will have a marvellous time.
I would not miss Prague when first in Europe.
You said that you will be arriving from Munich by train; well Germany has a more stabile semi cold weather in November than Prague. So since you’re used to good warm Florida climate, I would be sure to bring a good thick sweater and a wind jacket.
Together whit pants, it would be good enough to keep warm, it’s not that cold in November. Some days it can be up to 15 16 Celsius.
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It`s not possible to compare the two cities. Both are must see !
If you have time try to visit both places. If not through a coin :D
My only %26quot;objection%26quot; is that Venice possibly will be dead. About a year ago i was there and a local told that in winter is completely empty.
I thing about safety issues have been discused over and over again. You are planning a trip in the center of Europe. This is not Somalia
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i live in czech and can tell you that prague is extremely safe(20 times safer than miami)
venice is also safe .
venice much more expensive but both must see citys.
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If your only %26#39;safety%26#39; issues are taxis and price hiking then you have nothing to worry about. Taxis can and should be avoided - there is virtually no need to use them, and price hiking can and should be avoided as well, if you read through some of the recent threads just advising to stay out of the tourist areas when dining - this may mean only a few blocks away or a short tram ride.
As for %26#39;real%26#39; safety issues - in Venice there is a greater danger of falling into a canal than in Prague, and in Prague there is more chance of you being run over by a tram (both of which are minimal unless you don%26#39;t watch out where you are going).
I really do not understand all these safety concerns that people from the US have about Europe - it is completely irrational, especially coming from Florida :)
As abfab said - Venice may be quiet, but in my book that makes it a hundred times better than in the summer when it is absolutely unbearable. Unfortunately recent years have not been kind to Venice as many of the inhabitants have moved out due to the exorbitant prices and it has turned into a bit of a tourist Disneyland - it is still stupendously beautiful, though, of course. The same is true to a certain extent in Prague, but only the centre.
Pay heed to the local customs (tipping, etc - plenty of recent posts about that, and it counts in Venice as well!), and you%26#39;ll be absolutely fine, as countless millions of other travellers will tell you each year.
November can be a sort of wet cold, as in most of Central Europe (Munich included), but there is no way of predicting how it will be - the advice above about clothing is quite sufficient.
Little tip for the train from Munich to Prague - it will only cost you about 20 Euros each if you buy a Bayern-Böhmen-Ticket in Munich on the day of travel which is €33 for up to five people, and is valid to Plzeň, then from Plzeň to Prague it is 215 Crowns/€8.50 for both of you if you get a group ticket (you count as a group). You can either buy this ticket whilst still on the train from the conductor when you get into the Czech Republic, or you can buy it on-line in advance here https://eshop.cd.cz/search.aspx?lang=E (no need to pay extra for a reservation, as you will already be sitting in the seats!) and just print it off at home. This is a big saving on the normal price of €60.90 each.
Hope this helps!
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%26gt; My only %26quot;objection%26quot; is that Venice possibly will be dead. About a year ago i was there and a local told that in winter is completely empty.
There is no dead season in Venice, it%26#39;s like Prague, less crowded (but still lots of people) season yes, but never dead. My visits of about 12 times in last 8 years to Venice, I was there in low seaons in Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, etc so I can tell. If a local did say that, he must have said so, I don%26#39;t know, figuratively, or for a convenience of conversation.
And as GCEK rightly said I would take a %26quot;dead%26quot;/empty Venice to overcrowded one anytime. You really should visit Venice during that time. Weather may be a concern to some but I have had lots of gorgeous days, combined with fewer tourists that%26#39;s about the best I can hope from Venice. Even with less optimal weather, I usually enjoy my stay. Misty and misterious Venice !
Safety-wise, Venice is better but I really had no problem in Prague either strolling around alone durin the nite, in different areas.
But it%26#39;s true Venice is much more expensive. I am surprised even in today%26#39;s Prague, if you know where to go and what to do, how you can do things cheap there. But that can be said in Venice too. e.g.if you want a quick and cheap drink, don%26#39;t sit and have a glass of prosecco or wine at the bar. That could cost as low as €1.- (vs €3-4 sitting at the terrace) and often you find free potatoe chips on the counter.
And if you do go in the low season, Prague or Venice, hotel rates can go as low as 2 to almost 3 times less than high season. That%26#39;s another advantage.
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In Prague you might have to pay an extra couple of dollars over the odds for a taxi, and in Venice you could fall off a gondola and drown.
Have you ever gone propeller boating in the Everglades or had a few late-night beers in Tampa?
Seriously, neither are Darfur.
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It felt a lot safer to me than when i lived in London, just make sure your wallets not hanging half way out of your back pocket, and if you are a smoker watch out for those pesky ploicemen that jump out of nowhere with their pesky fines.
I got done for smoking on a sidewalk at a bus station and it did feel a lot like being mugged.
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I agree that both cities are magical and a must. I would not worry about safety in Prague if you use common sense as you do at home. Weather for both places can be hit or miss in November so I would just go to whatever place attracts me the most. I would make sure to eventually visit both, though. Both are among my favorite cities in the world.
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Safety????? Are you stupid or never been away from %26quot;home%26quot; before. I feel at risk in the USA and in particular Miami every time I touch down. I know that 1 out of 2 Americans are carrying guns and at any second I could be the victim of a moron that decides to have his day in the sun.
Europe is infinitely safer than the USA......WHY? Because American citizens insist on their %26quot;right%26quot; to carry firearms.
I live in large city in Ukraine (about 1 million people) and feel completely safe walking the streets at any hour, on any day! I would never dream of doing that in the USA.
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