APLL-15 - Olomouc information

Olomouc information

How to get to Olomouc?

The best way to arrive to Olomouc from abroad is to fly to Prague or Vienna. However, there are also other nearby airports. See below for a list of names and their distances.

Praha – Václav Havel Airport Ruzyně (280 km)
Vienna – Vienna International Airport (260 km)
Ostrava – Leoš Janáček Airport in Mošnov (80 km)
Krakow – Kraków-Balice (265 km)
Bratislava – M. R. Štefánik Airport (210 km)
Brno – Airport Tuřany (70 km)
Katowice – Katowice-Pyrzowice (210 km)

From Prague to Olomouc:

The easiest way to get from Václav Havel Airport Prague to the main train station (Praha, hlavní nádraží, sometimes abbreviated to Praha, hl. n.) is to take the Airport Express (AE) bus (which departs from Terminal 1). More info here. The bus journey is about 30 mins and tickets can be purchased on the bus, using card or cash (Czech currency). From the Prague main train station, you can then take a train to Olomouc hl.n. (Olomouc main train station), which takes about 2.5 hours.

There are several Czech train companies to choose from and you can get tickets online or from a teller at Prague main station. A universal site to book tickets from several different companies is:

https://idos.idnes.cz/en/vlakyautobusymhdvse/spojeni/

The websites of individual train companies are listed here:

https://www.regiojet.cz/

https://www.cd.cz/en/nase-vlaky/default.htm

https://www.leoexpress.com/en

There are also coaches going from Prague to Olomouc. More info at https://global.flixbus.com/bus/olomouc.

From Vienna to Olomouc:

We recommend taking the Student Agency coach which goes directly to Olomouc (3 times daily). See the company website, or call: +420 542 424 242 or +420 800 100 300, or of course, you can also take the train.

Getting from Olomouc main train station to the city centre:

Once you get off the train station, there are a lot of trams just outside which will take you to the city centre (e.g., 4, 6). It is less than 10 mins away by tram to the city centre. You can get a one-time ticket off the yellow machines by the stop, or you can get the ticket at the ticket counter inside the station, you will need to stamp the ticket on the tram and the ticket is valid for 30 mins.

There is also a taxi-stand (in a public carpark) next to the train station (on the right, same side as the train station). It might not look like a taxi-stand, but if you see a taxi there, you can hop-on. There are often a few taxies waiting. The price is about 100-120 Kc to anywhere in Olomouc.

Travelling within Olomouc

You can use trams and busses to travel within Olomouc. See the following links for information about:

Tickets can be purchased from ticket machines at tram stops and bus stops, in City Public Transport (MHD) information centres / ticket offices, and at newsstands. Additionally, you can also purchase your ticket via a mobile phone with a Czech number or directly from the driver, but a small surcharge applies. Please remember to validate your ticket upon boarding the bus or tram.

The closest tram/bus stop to the conference venue is Tržnice. The stop in front of the main railway station is called Hlavní nádraží.

What kind of city is Olomouc?

Olomouc is the historical capital of Moravia and the administrative centre of the Olomouc Region. With its population of about 100,000 inhabitants, the city ranks as the sixth largest in the Czech Republic. Lonely Planet included it in its list of “Ten hidden gems of Europe” and called it “arguably the Czech Republic’s most beautiful town”. Olomouc is known for its 6 baroque fountains and the 18th-century Holy Trinity Column, a monument adorned with religious sculptures (which is included in the UNESCO list). About 1/4 of its 100,000 residents are students so the town is filled with funky cafes, restaurants and fun activities. There is a lot of ice-cream and beer to be had everywhere in the summer.

Please check the information brochures for more information about the city. For some beautiful pictures of Olomouc, check out these pages:

https://www.mywanderlust.pl/visit-olomouc-czech-republic/

https://www.boboandchichi.com/2017/09/12-reasons-love-olomouc-czech-republic/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFEkqBibUPQ

If you are planning more travel before or after the conference, check out the official Czech tourism portal for comprehensive overview. Do ask us for tips if you need more information: https://www.visitczechrepublic.com/en-US/

Other practical matters

Weather:

August is a good time to visit because it is warm (around 25°C during the day and 13°C in the night).

Money:

The Czech koruna (CZK or Kč) is the official currency in the Czech Republic. The approximate exchange rate is about 25 Kč to a Euro and 22 Kč to a US Dollar. Exchange rates for all major currencies are available here. Credit cards are accepted in most places.

It will be handy to have some Czech Koruna with you (for the airport bus and tram tickets in Olomouc). You can change money in Olomouc if needed. There is one in Galerie Moritz (8. května 465/24, 779 00 Olomouc), which is right in the centre of town. It is called směnárna.

Accommodation:

Accommodation in Olomouc is very affordable and there is a big range of options, catering for different budgets and needs. Here are some options (from economical to luxurious):

http://www.longstoryshort.cz/

http://www.hotelpalac.cz/

http://www.penzionnahrade.cz/

http://www.hotelflora.cz/

https://miss-sophies.com/olomouc/

https://www.arigone.cz/cz/index/o-hotelu

https://www.hotel-trinity.cz/

https://www.theresian.cz/en/

Restaurants:

Olomouc has a wide and interesting range of restaurants to offer. These are close to the conference venue and thus possible choices for lunch:

5-10 mins walk from workshop venue:

https://konviktolomouc.cz/