Fast Facts

• Czech Republic's capital and largest city
• Population: 1.2 million
• Unit of currency: Czech crown (CZK)
• Conversion rate: £1 = 41.77CZK (early March 2006)
• IDD country code: +420
• Flying time from London: 2 hours

Where beauty meets industry

Prague is famed for its beauty, but it's also the biggest and most important industrial city in the Czech Republic, with a history as a leading European centre of commerce tht dates back to the 14th century. Known as 'the Hundred Spired City', Prague was capital of Czechoslovakia until the country was peacefully divided in 1993.

Prague generates more than 20% of the Czech Republic's gross domestic product, and in per capita terms, its contribution is more than double the national average. For the past century or two, the city's economy has run on its strength as a machine-building centre, textile producer, printing and wood-processing centre.

In the past couple of decades, though, there's been a huge modernising drive and the economy has been transformed. Extensive privatistion has stimulated competition, and the services sector has grown significantly while the level of manufacturing has declined. Finance, real estate, consulting, IT, advertising and retailing are now big drivers of the local economy, as is tourism, with almost 9 million people visiting the Czech Republic each year, the vast majority of whom head straight for the capital.

Traffic trouble

Traffic congestion, which has worsened within Prague since the country joined the EU in 2004 - trucks have been a particular problem - is set to ease, with the European Investment Bank funding two major road projects for the city. The EIB is giving Euro110 million for the completion of the Prague motorway ring, which will not only divert traffic from the centre but also link the capital more efficiently with Brno, the Czech Republic's second city, and with the German border towards Nuremberg. The EIB is also contributing €140 million for a four-lane motorway linking Prague with Dresden.

6.2% wage boost

Robust growth in the national economy is driving up wages. Pay packets were, on average, 6.2% bigger last year (2005), than the year before.

Prague has historically had a high elderly population, but this is changing, as older people move out of the city to nearby towns where they can find cheaper housing and a generally lower cost of living. The number of children as a proportion of the total population is also declining, as the city attracts more expatriate managers and professionals from other parts of the Czech Republic.

The city's skyline is changing as a result of the working population's greater purchasing power. New house builds last year were up by roughly 10% on 2004 levels. But it's Prague's bridges, cathedrals, domes and spires that truly dominate the view.

Architectural feast

The centre of the cobblestoned Old Town is teeming with life, and the long history of the city is evident in its rich architecture, with Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings lining the streets.

Prague sits on the River Vltava, and green islands in the river and parks around the city provide peaceful refuge from the bustle of the main streets. Prague Castle is probably Prague's best-known attraction, which is best viewed from Charles Bridge, built in 1357 and the oldest of the city's 15 bridges. From there, it's possible in one glance to see literally hundreds of years of European architecture.

Caf?ulture

Modern-day creativity in Prague thrives in its buoyant arts scene. The city is packed with theatres, concert halls, galleries and museums, and young playwrights and poets and songwriters - some writing in English - have a keen audience in the galleries, cafes and clubs.

Dining options have moved on substantially since the communist days, and just about every flavour of interntional cuisine is now available, as well as Czech classics like pork and dumplings, served, of course, with beer.

Climate and flights

June, July and August are the warmest months to visit, with daily temperatures reaching an average of 22-23 degrees. May and September are also pleasant, but temperatures drop off suddenly in October, and from December to February, the mercury struggles to get past zero at all during the day. The rainy season comes in summer, but there are frequent damp days in December and January too.

Cheap flights between the UK and Prague are run by BMI, easyJet and ThomsonFly, with direct flights from Birmingham, Bristol, Doncaster, Cardiff, Leeds Bradford, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle and Nottingham East Midlands.