How to plan a route with a van around Prague

A van route around Prague is planned differently from a car route

A van route around Prague has three pitfalls you don't deal with in a car: height, width and somewhere to stop. Your satnav will take you the shortest way, not the most passable one. Ten minutes with a map the evening before will save you reversing down a one-way street with a load.

Find out the height of the van and write it down

The most common damage happens at an underpass or on a garage ramp. Underground car parks at shopping centres often have low entrances, and a van frequently won't fit. Find out the vehicle's height in advance in our fleet and write it on a piece of paper on the dashboard. In a moment of inattention, you won't have it in your head.

Go through the route on a map

Look at both addresses at street level before you set off. You'll see the width of the street, one-way streets, bollards, trees and whether you can stop in front of the building at all. For inner courtyards and passageways, also check the clearance of the entrance.

Avoid the centre at the worst times

The historic centre is a trap for a van. Narrow streets, cobbles, pedestrians and access restrictions. If you have to go there, go early in the morning. Otherwise plan a way round on the outer roads, even if it looks longer on the map.

Watch the road signs

Some roads have restrictions based on vehicle weight or height. Read the signs bearing in mind the vehicle you're driving, not the one you usually drive. Our vans fall within category B, but in terms of size they're still big vehicles.

Have a backup route ready

Road closures and accidents change the situation in Prague from one day to the next. Look up a second route option, ideally along a different corridor. It's hard to improvise with a van in an unfamiliar district, because every turnaround means finding somewhere the van can get through and where you can reverse in.

Allow for the rear overhang

A loaded van turns differently from a car in a narrow street. Take bends in a wider arc and watch the rear wheels so they don't clip the kerb. When turning, watch out for the rear overhang, which swings out of the bend and can easily catch a bollard or a parked car.

Set the satnav before you set off

Enter your destination and stops before you pull away. Looking up an address while driving is a risk in a van, and pulling over to do it costs time. Also enter the filling station and the return location as waypoints.

Loading and parking on site

Sort out somewhere to stop in advance

Loading stands or falls on where you stop. Ideally, stop so that the rear doors face the entrance and you're not blocking anyone's way. Arrange with your neighbours to keep a space for you, or arrive early.

Blue zones

Parking in blue zones is not part of the service. In a large part of inner Prague you therefore need to sort out stopping some other way, typically with a short loading stop or a spot outside the zone. Bear this in mind when choosing your route.

Plan your reversing, don't improvise

A van has no interior rear-view mirror and the view to the rear is often zero. Reverse into dead ends and courtyards right at the start, so you don't have to reverse with a load and under time pressure. Bring someone to guide you from outside.

Getting out of the city

You don't need to buy anything extra for the motorway. The vehicles have a valid Czech motorway vignette included in the price, so it pays to go around the city on faster roads instead of driving through the centre. However, they may only be driven within the Czech Republic — you can't go abroad.

Tram tracks and cobbles

In inner Prague you often drive on the tram lane or right next to it. On wet cobbles and rails, a loaded van brakes much worse, so slow down earlier and don't leave your braking until you're in the bend. Also watch out for raised islands at tram stops and low-hanging overhead wires.

A second person comes in handy when loading

When you're loading where you can't stand for long, one person carries and the other stays with the van. If necessary, they can move it on, and at the same time they keep an eye on the open cargo area. In a busy street, that's more sensible than leaving the van wide open and unattended.

Practical little things that help

A phone holder is a must. You need to see the satnav, and manoeuvring a van with a phone in your hand is even harder than in a car.

Plan your refuelling. The vans run on diesel and are returned with a full tank to the same location as at pick-up. Find a filling station close to the location and add it to your route as the last stop.

Leave yourself some spare time. Driving through Prague can only be estimated roughly, and you go more slowly in a van. Pick-up is possible around the clock, so feel free to set off earlier. You'll find more tips on driving and loading on the blog.