Living in Prague: districts flat hunting and authorities
Arriving in Prague
Prague for newcomers: which district suits you?
Living on the Vltava
Anyone moving to Prague first chooses a district: late 19th-century buildings in Vinohrady, new builds and offices in Karlín, quiet streets in Dejvice or pubs in Žižkov. The city is divided into numbered districts such as Praha 1 or Praha 10, and flat hunting often runs via portals or estate agents, quite often only in Czech. For old buildings with narrow staircases, we plan the floor and access as early as the survey. You can find more about our services under Private move.
As Czechia is an EU member, no customs duty applies to your move to Prague. What matters is the ‘zábor’, the permit for the space in front of the building, which in Praha 1 needs around a month's notice. We are based in Berlin, give you a fixed price after the survey and are liable for your belongings under the German Commercial Code (HGB); additional insurance is possible. Details on routes and destinations can be found under Locations and Long-distance moves.
Request a fixed price for your move to Prague
Survey first, then the binding price
Enquire early, because the zábor for the parking space in Prague takes weeks depending on the city district. Call us on 01625978461: we survey your flat, then give you a fixed price and coordinate the date with your flat handover in Prague. That leaves time for dealing with the authorities in your new city.
Offers available individually, depending on effort, scheduling and the scope of services required.
What we clarify for you
Access, floor and parking space
On a move to Prague, the address often determines the effort involved: late 19th-century buildings in Vinohrady have narrow staircases, access is restricted in the Old Town, and the space in front of the building requires a zábor. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and check these points before the date. The easiest way to communicate with property managers in Prague is in English or Czech. We are liable for your belongings under the HGB, so you can concentrate on what matters: your fresh start in Prague.
Packing service
Office move
Senior moves
Furniture transport
Art, pianos and antiques
Valuable items such as art, pianos or antiques need special protection on a move to Prague. We pad and secure them properly; for their value we recommend additional insurance beyond our liability under the HGB.
Good planning before the move
Carefully packed
Fixed contact person
Date based on your handover
Storage if needed
Liability under the HGB
Few household goods? Part load!
What
you should clarify in Prague
There are a few things to clarify around your move to Prague: the choice of district, the flat search and registration with the foreigners' police if you stay longer than 30 days. Moving day requires a zábor from the road authority of the city district; in the Old Town and in late 19th-century buildings in Vinohrady, narrow staircases are an added factor. A car that you take with you permanently should also be registered in Czechia.
Districts and flat hunting
Staircase, zábor, access
Offices, art and special cases
Frequently asked questions about living in Prague
The best districts for your move to Prague
With its Art Nouveau architecture and green Riegrovy Park, Vinohrady is considered one of the most popular districts for international newcomers, and flats here are correspondingly in demand. Karlín has changed from a former industrial district into a tech hub, with numerous start-ups based right on the banks of the Vltava. Dejvice scores with its proximity to the ČVUT technical university, many embassies and quiet, green streets – ideal for families and students.
Smíchov is developing rapidly with new office complexes around Anděl and good metro connections. Žižkov remains authentically bohemian, with a lively pub scene and comparatively lower rents. Holešovice attracts with galleries such as DOX, the exhibition grounds and a growing number of young families who appreciate being close to the river.
Housing market, employers and quality of life in Prague
Rents in Prague are highest in central districts such as Praha 1, 2 and Vinohrady; cheaper offers can be found in outer districts such as Praha 9 or Praha 10. Many listings appear only in Czech, and estate agents often handle the letting. The housing market is dynamic, so it pays to start looking for a flat early, before the actual moving date.
Prague is home to major employers such as the energy group ČEZ, branches of IBM and the software company Avast (now Gen Digital); Škoda Auto is headquartered in nearby Mladá Boleslav. International corporations also like to settle here because of the central location in Europe. Students appreciate Charles University and the technical university ČVUT, both with a long academic tradition. Quality of life benefits from a dense public transport network, a high level of safety and a rich cultural offering between the castle, the Vltava and the historic Old Town.
Starting prices for your move to Prague
| Number of rooms | Starting price |
| 1 room | €369 |
| 2 rooms | €594 |
| 3 rooms | €889 |
| 4 rooms | €1,344 |
| House/villa | individual quote |
| Long-distance move | from €4.15/km |
All figures are starting prices. For a personal quote, book a free survey.
What goes into the price for Prague
The calculation takes into account the volume, the distance (from €4.15/km), the floor and any lift. Instead of a parking restriction zone (Halteverbotszone), Prague requires a zábor. We also offer a part load.
Our service for Prague
From planning to the last box – we are your reliable partner.
- Private move: all-round support for your private move. Private move
- Furniture transport: for single pieces of furniture, fast and safe. Furniture transport
- House clearance: we dispose of what is no longer needed. House clearance
- Part load: the affordable alternative to a full move. Part load
- Company relocation: we plan your office move down to the last detail. Company relocation
- Move with assembly: everything from a single source – including furniture assembly. Move with assembly
From Berlin across Germany and abroad
We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and carry out moves across Germany and abroad, including to Czechia. Details can be found under Long-distance moves, and destinations with their own page in the locations overview.
Parking restrictions in Prague: applying for a zábor for moving day
In Prague you need an official permit for the removal van on the road or pavement, the so-called ‘zábor’. According to the Praha 1 city district, a zábor for moving requires a decision (‘rozhodnutí’). There, two applications with attachments must be submitted: one to the district office (Úřad městské části Praha 1, Vodičkova 18) and one to the Technická správa komunikací (TSK) in Praha 7. According to the district, issuing the decision takes about a month; the figures given are 40 Kč per square metre per day plus a fee for putting up the traffic signs. This information dates from July 2023, so check the current amounts.
TSK describes the process for moves as follows: the application is made online, by form, via the data box or in person. The road administration authority (‘silniční správní úřad’) of the relevant city district grants use of the road; for first-class roads it is the Magistrát. TSK usually processes applications without public notice within 10 working days, and those with public notice mostly within 25 working days. The rental agreement for the space only takes effect after the decision.
You must enclose a dimensioned site plan of the desired area; companies also need a commercial register extract no more than three months old. According to TSK, the temporary signage is the applicant's responsibility, and this includes a traffic measure (‘DIO’). So plan early. Read more about the route in our article Long-distance move to Prague and about space in front of the building under Parking restriction zone.
After moving to Prague: residence certificate, vehicle and paperwork
For EU citizens there is an optional certificate in Czechia: the ‘osvědčení o registraci občana EU’. According to the Czech government portal, you can apply for it if you intend to stay longer than three months. It is not a requirement for residence, there is no application deadline, and according to the portal the certificate is free of charge and valid for ten years. The responsible office is the Ministry of the Interior's Department for Asylum and Migration Policy office for your district of residence.
According to the portal, you need, among other things:
- a passport or identity card,
- a photo,
- proof of your accommodation in Czechia,
- proof of health insurance (not if you are employed),
- documents on the purpose of your stay, such as work or study.
Most documents should not be older than 180 days. If you take your car with you permanently, according to the EU portal you should register it in the new country; each country sets its own deadlines.
For the move itself, Prague is like many old buildings: staircases, floor and access differ from house to house. In Vinohrady and Karlín we therefore clarify before collection how close the van can get and whether an external lift is needed. This belongs in the zábor application. You can find planning advice under international move and long-distance move.
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