Scam Alert? What’s Wrong with Prague Main Train Station

0:00 Crossing a 6-lane highway
0:33 Why do tourists risk their lives here?
2:17 Problem with a taxi at the train station
4:15 Why to avoid exchange offices or ATMs
6:13 Airport Express is a scam?
7:24 Fantova kavárna
8:51 Czech Word

Thank you for your support!
Janek Rubeš & Honza Mikulka, Prague based journalists
#HonestGuide

[HMJonesy]

We used public transport to get to the airport from that station on Friday. The lady in the ticket office was awesome. Sold us a 90 minute ticket for 40czk and gave us a slip of paper with what metro and trolley bus (the 59) we needed to catch. Was so easy and cheap at £1.34. Also, we saw you getting into an old car on Friday. We didn't approach you though as you seemed busy. Hope its for another video :)

[RaveDave]

I only visited Prague once, but I feel that I know much more about your city than mine. It's not only interesting things that you guys tell, it's more the way you film these videos that makes it entertaining and educational at the same time! You guys do such a great job!

[desaturated-firefox]

You forgot the additional problems "The sketchy drug dealer exit" and "There are no signs pointing you to the tram station".

[Meaxis]

As someone who's been in Hlavak a ton of times and never illegally crossed but just... dealt with it, I didn't even know they had escalators to cross there, I thought these were service buildings. This is insane!

[classicfightsboxingph]

As a Filipino working in Czech Republic thank you for the guide Janek

[tiniselles]

I visited Prague a few months ago for the first time. I exited the station at the old town side and had no problems whatsoever. I probably walked a mile to my hotel, but the pavements were great for my luggage. I would visit again anytime, but for summer when it’s too hot for me. Oh, I never needed cash, I did everything on my debit card.

[yoavbarnea]

I literally crossed this highway with a 60 Liter bagpack and almost died because I couldn't find the stairs up and my flixbus was about to leave the station. Ah and because you can't see the cars coming from a certain road that combines with the highway about 50 meters away from where you crossed.

[jenskleiner]

@HonestGuide

Hello Janek, first of all thank you for your super interesting videos and tips for Prague. We were in Prague 2 weeks ago and received a "scam" service at the main train station on our return journey. We didn't immediately find our train or track. After we couldn't find any information, a “nice and helpful” guy offered to help us and took us to the train. When my wife had already gotten on the train, he then charged me 500 CZK for his service and only let me get on after paying. He took advantage of the time pressure regarding the departure.
Otherwise we had a great week thanks to your great tips 🙂

[ericatlas]

I had the exact same issue and didnt know about the underground tunnel through that lift at the time. I just walked around and from the front of the nearby museum to the train station instead. with my two suitcases!

[hellterminator]

Just FYI, for the purposes of legally crossing a street, an underpass counts as a crosswalk, so crossing where you did was illegal because that elevator was right where you entered the street.

[arushiagrawal]

@HonestGuide Another problem in main entrance of train station is NO TOILET and NO ELEVATOR for reduced mobility passenger. In May-2024, I booked assistance and taxi dropped me at the main entrance at 4.30 AM. Left parent in wheelchair in hall, used escalator to go down to find info section then show them my booked assistamce request. So someone travelling alone on wheelchair will not get assistance because way from main entrance to info hall at lower grouns floor is NOT ACCESSIBLE

[itamarshoshan]

I live in prague, this entrance with a stroller is a nightmare, takes alot more than 2.5 minutes. It's like they dont want kids inside the station 😂

[Der_Korki]

We were in Prague last weekend. Thank you so much! You saved us a lot of stress and money!

[jakoleneolivier]

Our young family of 3 had THE BEST holiday in Prague due to your videos.

[Digger]

For tourists, I usually enter the train station on the lower level. It's accessed by the road Opletalova Much safer! The little cafe there on the right side is decent. Good svickova and Pilzen 😁

[tkitchaixankul]

Just left the station travel to another country. Please beware of a person who seems to be overly eager to help you with your bags. I was travelled with elderly and someone just took our bag to help carry up the platform, which there is an elevator on the north end of each platform ( S = north). Then, when I asked, he pointed to his jacket and said he was a railway staff and then at the end asked me to pay 30 Euro a suitcase to help carry. I mean, I had a super pleasant trip to this beautiful country and beautiful, nice people just the end this happens. Thank you, Honest guide for all the tips.❤

[pluki]

2:48 I love the phrase "Kdyby vas neco napadlo..." in your lovely language.
I'm Polish and don't speak Czech but my brain somehow remembered from a song years ago:
"[...] Na Jožina z bažin, KOHO BY TO NAPADLO
Platí jen a pouze práškovací letadlo." 🤣
It makes perfect sense for the mayer of Prague to use it since:
"[...] Řádí tam to strašidlo, vystupuje z bažin
Žere hlavně Pražáky, jmenuje se Jožin.'" 😉

[luistorres]

I just have to thank you for the tips. I was in the Czech Republic last week and the videos on this channel were undoubtedly a great help. Thanks.

[marcflaps]

Had a brilliant time in Prague thanks to the knowledghe you shared, and my friends loved hearing about all the scams you've highlighted. The map on the patreon gave some genuinely lovely places too. And the stereotype that people in prague are grumpy couldn't be further from the truth - everyone was lovely including the service staff - maybe it's just that we treated them with respect and expected nothing of them they were more pleasant with us.

[paulminshall]

Most banks now offer a global bank account, which allows you to load it up with most European currencies from your main current account.
This comes with a debit card, which then operates as though it were a local card, using the local currency.
This could be a better way of managing your money when abroad, with the added benefit of keeping your main current account insulated from fraud.