These low-floor trams have one special quirk: you can't get on at the front door (photo: www.dpp.cz)

Summer may be peak tourist season, but it's also the time when travelers on Prague's public transport system will discover that some tram lines don't follow the route printed in their guidebooks, that some tram lines seem to have vanished, and that other tram lines have appeared seemingly out of thin air. The reason? Streetwork and track repairs often force detours. Here are some tips to staying on top of things.

First of all, check the schedules posted at each tram stop. If a line is cancelled, its number at the top of the post will be crossed out. If it is detoured, the number will be in a different color (orange or yellow). Detoured trams' schedules are printed on yellow paper, not white. So before boarding, make sure that it is indeed headed where you want to go.

The latest updates, detours, and cancellations are posted on the Prague Transport Company's website at www.dpp.cz. The website's route finder contains all the lastest changes, so all you have to do is plug in your starting and ending points and time of departure, and you're ready to go.

One additional note, especially for those travelling in the late morning or early evening. At these times (after rush hour), some trams will be headed for their depot, and they will detour slightly from their usual route to get "home". Always make sure to read the destination sign on the front or side of the train. If the destination includes the work "Vozovna" (depot), double-check (on a map, with a fellow passenger, or from the driver if possible) whether it will be heading in your direction.