My gf and her friend are backpacking through europe in a few weeks. I'm not very familiar with 2 of the countries they are staying in. Are there any areas of Praug or Budapest that they should avoid in this trip for personal safety reasons? Or am I just being nervous?

Thanks all for the help!

I went solo to both earlier this year and never felt out of place or unsafe.
Prague, especially, was very touristy. There were people holding maps everywhere I went.

Budapest, I found safe enough no problemms, can't vouch for Prague.

been to both recently...Absolutely no safety concerns...Well perhaps the south side of Pest (around the Ramada hotel) is a bit shabby but I'd say in a non-threatening way.
Just one small caveat emptor: NEVER pick a taxi up in the street. Even if it's nothing dodgy with an overcharging driver, all taxis in every CEE country I've been in are significantly cheaper if called over the phone....
Taxi companies I've been satisfied with:
PRG: Profi taxi 844 700800
BUD: Citytaxi 211 1111 (not 100% sure but this must be the one)

Just returned from Prague.

I felt everywhere was safe. Area around Wenceslas Square, and Old Town Square known for pickpockets, but otherwise OK. Lots of people out at all hours. Of course they were celebrating as Czechs won a series of hockey World Cup games. This was he first time I'd been able to spend significant time in Prague - quickly coming p in my list of favorite cities!

Budapest is a bit rougher, but still OK. There is an actual "blacklist" of bad establishments in BP put out by the US Embassy there, but I doubt they are the type of establishments your GF might be frequenting.

Good BP site - http://www.budapesthotels.com/systempages/info.asp

The Czech Embassy in Washington D.C. provides an interesting link to: http://www.prague2001.com/guide.htm which is written and edited by a Prague Local... An excerpt from the web site RE: Crime follows...

CRIME. Is Prague a safe city? Yes. It is not like we do not have crime here but if you know what to do and where not to go you are fine and safe. In the center it is OK, even in the night. I would just not recommend to go to Perlova (that is a street) and to the park around Main railroad station (which we call Sherwood). There is one thing you should pay attention to and that is pocket stealing. Here in Prague there are organized groups of Romanian and Gipsy kids, even a few groups of adults and they specialize in stealing valuables from the tourists. How? Usually they choose a very crowded place (like public transportation- tram#22), get behind you and steel your purse or something else. How can you protect from these people? It is very easy. Do not take with you a lot of cash, do not put your purse into your back pocket and if you have handbag than put a hand on it. I hope you won't have any troubles.

I've been to Prague a number of times, and will be traveling there with my family for an extended stay of almost 3 weeks next month. I think that the web site mentioned has many worthy things within that should be copied for reference. ^

most of the cab drivers are crooks in Prague. negotiate a specific fare or tell them to forget it.

In general, Budapest is a safe city. I've lived here ten years and been out and about all times of day and night in all parts of the city without any problems. That said, sometimes things do happen, but usually the worst is some kind of pickpocketing. As long as you stay away from strip clubs and avoid overly-friendly strange ladies on Vaci utca who know a 'special' place where you can take them for a drink, you should be just fine. What are you looking to do while you're here? I'm happy to offer advice or suggestions..
Have Fun!

With all due respect, this "advice" is about as misleading as you can get.
Most cab drivers in prague are nice, friendly people who make an honest living.
Negotiating a fare is an utterly pointless thing to do when fares are metered and affordable, which is the case 100% of the time you call Profi or any other decent-sized taxi company.

As far as Prague goes, the Taxi's being a ripoff is good advice. I lived there in the past, and this is the truth.

One night, going from near Wilsonova (close to Hlavni Nadrazi) to Zizkov (near Chmlenice tram stop) a taxi that should have cost $5 was going to cost $50. Of course, we didn't pay that fare, gave him the normal appropriate fare, and walked off to his cries of Policia!!

As far as "areas" to avoid.... Only thing I can think of, and it has cleaned up a lot in recent years, is Hlavni Nadrazi, the main train station. Not to "Avoid" it, but be aware that there are some impressivly talented pickpockets there. When I was a study abroad student there, I lost a camera out of a locked backpack walking through there...and no it didn't fall out, as the lock was busted off. Impressive...

It's gotten MUCH better in recent years though, which is odd.

Also, the Tram # 9 and Tram # 22 have their share of pickpockets. I had my wallet snatched on Tram # 9 near Vaclavske Namesti again, but managed to feel it happening (lord knows how) and slapped the wrist of the girl taking it. This caused her to drop it, a nice older gentlman to hand it to me, and the tram driver to come out of his booth, grab the woman who was a gypsy by the arm and forcefully thrust her off his tram.

But all in all, it's an amazingly safe city. But hey, I come from Chicago, isn't this the murder capital of the world or something....

-A

For the third and final time: They're perfectly fine AS LONG AS YOU CALL THEM AND DON'T HAIL THEM ON THE STREET.

Thanks all for the information. I will pass ALL of this info/opinions along as I said in my first post that my girl is going there for a few weeks along with one of her friends. I myself am heading to London from the US in 2 days for a vacation and to catch an England rugby game.

thanks again,
db

Do you live in PRG?

Have you had experience calling all the major cab companies & are you prepared to report that they ALL charge the correct amount?

Did you happen to see the, (prague post, i believe) article a bit back where the MAYOR OF PRAGUE was overcharged. Yes, yes, I know you'll jump at me and tell me that he prob. hailed his cab on the street....but in reality...

ISNT THAT WHAT MOST PEOPLE DO!! Do you really want to always have to call a cab, esp. if you are a tourist in a city, when in all likelihood, you don't have a phone on you at all times?

-A

No but I visit on a regular basis...As in 5+ times a year.

I've used three or four of them, and have never had any problems. There is no "correct amount" per se, each company has the freedom to set their own rates as long as they are displayed on their taxis (probably this is subject to a maximum, but I don't think I've ever paid close to the max, apart from one time that I had to get a cab on the street).


Yes. It indeed was in the Post.

As far as I remember, he did.


Most of the people nowadays have mobile phones, most of which have roaming. Those who don't could easily equip themselves with a CT card, public phones in PRG are plentiful.
I don't have a problem calling if it means I'll get 40% off the normal (fully legitimate) from-street price and at the same time eliminate the likelihood of getting into a messy situation with one of the less scrupulous cabbies.
That's why I gave the "caveat emptor" in the first place.