Summer is getting closer and you are maybe planning to explore our country. Since trains are an affordable and comfortable way of travelling around the Czech Republic, in today's intermediate 5-minute Czech, you'll learn how to buy the right train ticket to your next adventure!

5-minute Czech - Intermediate

There are several ways we call a ticket: 

 - jízdní doklad – a formal way of calling either a ticket, or any document that allows you to use a transport, 

 - jízdenka – a transport ticket, 

 - lístek (lit: a piece of paper) – a general colloquial term for any ticket (lístek na koncert). 

To buy a ticket, you need to find a ticket counter, and sometimes choose between „vnitrostátní jízdenky“ (domestic) and „mezinárodní jízdenky“ (international). Then you ask: 

 „Prosím, jeden (dva / tři …) krát do /destinace/.“

One (two, three...) ticket to /your destination/, please. 

You need to specify whether you want „jednosměrná“ or „zpáteční“ – single or return ticket. Unless you ask for „první třída“ (1st class), your ticket will be to „druhá třída“ (2nd class). You may also want a „místenka“ (seat reservation), or prefer a „tichý oddíl“ (quiet zone) or „oddíl pro rodiny s dětmi“ (family zone). 

To express a preference regarding the seat type, you can ask for a seat „po směru jízdy“ (forward facing) or „proti směru jízdy“ (backward facing). Maybe you also prefer a „sedadlo u okna“ (window seat) or „sedadlo v uličce“ (aisle seat). 

 If you have a „průkaz na slevu“, you qualify for „zlevněná jízdenka“ (discount ticket). In that case, you need to say: 

„Jsem student. Mám průkaz ISIC.“                        I’m a student, I have an ISIC card. 

„Jsem důchodce.“                                                      I am retired. 

 If there are more of you travelling, you can also get a „skupinová sleva“ (group discount). 

 Other words that can be useful when buying a ticket are: „zavazadlo“ (baggage), „pes“ (dog), „kolo“ (bicycle) a „kočárek“ (stroller). 

 Tak šťastnou cestu!