Currency in Prague: Koruna vs Euro, Real 2026 Prices

Last looked at: May 2026

Prague has a bit of a weird reputation with UK visitors. Some people reckon it's going to be dirt cheap, while others assume that because it's in Europe, it'll cost as much as anywhere else. Then they turn up, try to pay for things in euros, and suddenly they're confused - it works a bit differently here to most other tourist places.

One of the biggest shockers for first time visitors is that Prague doesn't actually use the euro.

From looking at Simify traveller feedback, it's clear that this one common misunderstanding causes more confusion - and more unnecessary overspending - than almost anything else when people are on short breaks in the city.

After taking a closer look at customer-reported spend data from travellers in Prague over the past year, we noticed some pretty consistent trends when it comes to beer prices, getting charged incorrectly at ATMs, taxi fares, tipping, and where people accidentally end up losing money.

The good news is that Prague can still feel pretty affordable compared to all the major European capitals - especially if you get your head around how the local currency system works before you arrive.

This guide breaks down how the currency situation works in Prague, real 2026 prices from people on the ground, and the money mistakes people usually regret afterwards.

This article has been put together independently by Simify for information only.

What currency does Prague use?

Prague uses the Czech koruna. You'll usually see it written as:

• CZK
• Kč

And the important bit:

Prague doesn't officially use the euro.

This catches out a huge number of visitors because the Czech Republic is part of the EU, so a lot of people naturally assume that euros will be accepted everywhere.

Technically, some tourist businesses will take euros - but usually at terrible exchange rates.

Can you use euros in Prague?

Occasionally yes.

But from the feedback we've got, paying in euros nearly always ends up being more expensive overall.

Some tourist restaurants, souvenir shops and airport businesses might take euros for convenience, but their prices are usually rounded against the customer so you end up being overcharged. Loads of travellers later realised they had been overpaying without even realising it at the time.

The strongest advice from people who have visited before is simple: Use Czech koruna whenever you can.

Real 2026 Prague prices from travellers

We looked at customer spend reports and here are some of the most common average prices people reported across Prague in 2026.

Item	Typical Price
Pint of beer	55–90 CZK
Coffee	65–110 CZK
Casual restaurant meal	180–350 CZK
Airport transfer taxi	600–1200 CZK
Public transport ticket	30–40 CZK
Bottle of water	25–45 CZK

 

The one thing people kept on saying: Prague was still noticeably cheaper than London, Paris, Amsterdam or Copenhagen - especially when it came to food and beer.

But prices in the areas that get the most tourists had clearly gone up compared to the older "cheap Prague" prices that a lot of visitors still had in their heads.

How much will a pint of beer cost in Prague now?

Beer prices remained one of the main reasons people said Prague was "good value".

Most people reported paying:

Location Type	Pint Price
Local pubs	55–70 CZK
Central tourist areas	80–110 CZK
Airport or tourist hotspots	Higher

 

Interestingly, the best beer experiences seemed to be had slightly outside the main tourist drag rather than right in the middle of Old Town Square.

For more pricing detail: Prague beer prices guide

Should you check the exchange rate before you exchange your money?

Most seasoned travellers said no.

Instead, they recommended:

• Just using a normal bank card
• Withdrawing koruna from proper ATMs after you arrive
• Avoiding the exchange desks at the airport altogether

The current exchange rate is roughly 1 EUR to 24.2555 CZK.

The koruna can fluctuate a bit against the euro, so travellers should check the live exchange rate before converting.

Doing currency exchange at the airport got a load of negative feedback from travellers because of terrible exchange rates and sneaky commission structures.

The Prague ATM mistake that travellers kept on making

This kept on coming up in traveller reports.

Prague has loads of ATMs that are set up to offer "dynamic currency conversion".

This means the machine will ask you:

"Would you like to be charged in GBP instead?"

And from the feedback we've got, the right answer is usually:

No.

Choosing local currency (CZK) nearly always gives you a better exchange rate through your own bank.

Loads of travellers later realised they'd lost money because they accepted the ATM's suggested conversion.

Is Prague a cash-only city?

Not any more, it's not. Mostly.

Card payments are super common across Prague.

We heard people had no problem using contactless payments in:

• Restaurants
• Cafes
• Bars
• Hotels
• Supermarkets
• Public transport terminals.

However, cash is still useful for:• Small local watering holes, not that giant flashy tourist places.

• Market stalls that are actually local.
• Public loos.
• Tipping, which isnt as mad as in the States.
• And some late-night spots that arent too out of the way.

Most people found having a small stash of koruna in their pocket was a good idea, but you dont need a load of it.

How much do Prague taxis cost?

Taxi prices in Prague are all over the place, depending on how you book.

Tourist-friendly taxi experiences got pretty mixed reviews, especially near train stations or the airport.

But for those of you that use a ride hailing app, pricing was much more straightforward.

Typical airport transfer costs were:

Route	Typical Cost
Airport to Old Town	600–1200 CZK

 

But traffic made a big difference, especially at weekends and during peak tourist season.

Do you tip in Prague?

Yes you should, but not to the tune of what youd expect in the US.

People generally reported:

• Rounding up the bill a bit.
• Leaving 5-10% in restaurants.
• A small tip for good service.

Not an overly aggressive tipping culture going on here, but leaving nothing in restaurants was often seen as a bit weird.

Is Prague still a cheap destination in 2026?

Well that depends on what youre comparing it to.

People who reckoned Prague was cheap compared to London or Western Europe were usually spot on.

But those who were expecting super-cheap Eastern Europe prices were often in for a shock when they got there.

Accommodation costs in particular had gone up a lot in recent years, according to people whod been back to Prague a few times.

But food, beer, transport and public attractions were still pretty reasonably priced overall.

Staying connected while using a currency converter in Prague

Mobile data is a lifesaver in Prague, as people kept saying.

People relied on it for all sorts of things like:

• Banking apps
• Currency conversion
• Google Maps
• Ride hailing apps
• Restaurant bookings
• Public transport directions
• Translation tools

And many people said having a working phone made a huge difference when it came to navigating the city and avoiding dodgy exchange rates.

For travellers heading there: Europe eSIM plans

What surprised people most about Prague local market costs?

Well, a few things kept coming up.

First: Prague is actually not as cheap as people used to think.

Second: tourists lost way more money through poor exchange rates than they actually spent in the city.

Third: people really underestimated just how modern and card-friendly Prague had become.

And finally, beer prices were still one of the best deals in the city.

Frequently Asked Questions