Have you ever arrived in a country and panicked because you haven’t had time to do any research?
This happened to me on a few occasions, resulting in making some costly mistakes. I’m all for winging it when it comes to travel- this can lead to the best experiences rather than having everything planned out perfectly.
However, it’s always a good idea to come equipped with basic knowledge about an area so you can save money and stress less!
I’ve done the hard work for you and compiled 33 helpful travel tips for Prague.
I’ve included tips on how to save money, the best things you can see and do in Prague, Czech cuisine and general things you should know to make your trip run as smoothly as possible.
Table of Contents
33 Helpful Travel Tips for Prague
1. The currency in Prague is Czech koruna [pronounced ‘check ka-runa’]. It’s sometimes referred to as the Czech crown or Czech krone. Officially, it’s called the koruna česká.
2. The time zone is Central European Time (GMT +1) or Central European Summer Time +1 (GMT +2).
3. One of my best travel tips for Prague includes learning how to say common phrases, such as:
- hello = ahoj [pronounced ‘ahoy’]
- thank you = děkuji [pronounced ‘di-kway’]
4. Prague is actually known as ‘Praha’ in the Czech Republic.
5. These are the average temperatures in Prague for each season:
- During winter the temperature ranges between -1 and 5 degrees [30-41 fahrenheit]
- During spring the temperature is between 2 and 20 degrees [35-68 fahrenheit]
- During summer the temperature is between 14 and 26 degrees [57-78 fahrenheit]
- During autumn/fall the temperature is between 3 and 20 degrees [37-68 fahrenheit]
6. The rainiest month is June, with an average of 9 days of rain. The least rainiest months are in winter, with an average of 4-5 days of rain per month.
One of the best things to do in Prague is simply to wander the streets
Transport Tips
7. If you’re staying in or near the centre of Prague it takes 30 minutes by bus from the airport. The cheapest way is via bus [which costs roughly £1/$1.30 USD]. You can also grab a taxi. FIX TAXI and Taxi Praha are the official airport partners. Sales counters of taxi service providers are located at the arrival halls of terminals 1 and 2.
8. Heading back to the airport? There is also the Airport Express Bus that leaves from near the city centre, next to the Hlavní nádraží underground station. It takes around 30 minutes and costs £2/$2.60 USD. Tickets can be purchased from the bus driver or inside the station.
9. I found Google maps to be pretty reliable when navigating the city. If you’re using the bus and you’re unsure what stop to get off at, type your destination into Google Maps and you can follow your progress.
10. Prague is a great city to explore on foot. Myself and the Haggis walked everywhere, and because of this often discovered monuments and interesting areas that aren’t shown on the first page of Google or in guidebooks!
11. Uber is also available in Prague. There is also a Czech version of Uber called ‘Liftago’ which is even cheaper than Uber.
Prague Budgeting Tips
12. If you live in the UK like I do, I recommend creating an account with Monzo. Monzo is an online bank that doesn’t charge any fees when you travel- you can even withdraw cash from ATMs for free! It’s honestly brilliant and I use it as my day to day bank account and whenever I travel. You can monitor your spending very easily via their app- every time you purchase something you get a notification on your phone. This is super handy to track your spending and if your card is stolen you can mute spending via the app.
13. There are a few currency exchange scams in Prague. Some currency exchange businesses claim they offer zero commission, however they actually charge a large ‘exchange fee.’ Always check the exchange rate on XE to ensure you’re not getting ripped off.
14. If you want to buy souvenirs, stay away from the city centre as souvenirs will double in price! They are particularly expensive in the area surrounding Prague Castle.
Exploring the Old Town Square in Prague
15. The Prague Card is not worth purchasing. To make it worth the money, you’d have to do every activity which means you’d be rushing around so much you won’t get a chance to enjoy what’s in front of you! There are so many free activities in Prague anyway, so you really don’t need this card.
16. Accommodation in Prague is definitely affordable. We found an apartment £35 per night! It was a 20 minute walk from the city centre, however, I recommend staying 15-20 minutes walking distance from the city centre because not only were bars, cafes and souvenir shops a lot cheaper, but we got to experience parts of Prague where the locals hang out that many tourists don’t see.
Things to do in Prague
17. Did you know Prague Castle is the biggest castle in the world? Entrance to the castle is free, however you need to pay to see inside the buildings, including the St. Vitus Cathedral. If you only have time to visit one building or if you’re on a budget I recommend visiting the Cathedral.
18. I also recommend you explore Golden Lane inside Prague Castle, where famous writer Franz Kafka once lived, and St George’s Basilica, the oldest surviving church which was founded in 920.
The house that famous writer Franz Kafka once lived in on Golden Lane
19. Prague has some interesting architecture, and the Dancing House is one of the most famous examples. For a drink with a view, there is a bar at the top of the building which looks out onto the Vltava river and the city.
20. One of the coolest examples of street art in Prague is the John Lennon Wall. The wall was started in the 1980s after John Lennon was murdered, and is filled with Lennon-inspired graffiti, song lyrics from The Beatles, and cause-art. The wall is ever changing with new graffiti and slogans being added to it, and is a great example of freedom of speech artwork.
21. The two main town squares in Prague are Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square. There are a range of shops, bars and restaurants, as well as popular global fast-food and coffee brands mixed into the old-style buildings.
22. Charles Bridge is the name of the famous bridge you’ll see in many photographs of Prague. It is especially enchanting at night and has a great view of Prague Castle when it’s lit up.
23. Exploring the Jewish Quarter makes for a lovely walk. Prague avoided attack during World War II largely because Hitler wanted to retire there. He also wanted to preserve the Jewish Quarter as a live museum. I recommend taking a stroll through the Jewish Quarter and visiting the Jewish Cemetery there.
24. The Astronomical Clock is said to be one of the most overrated tourist attractions in Europe, however that didn’t stop me from finding it incredibly fascinating. According to legend, the maker of the clock was blinded because the town Councillors didn’t want him to recreate anything like it. There is an exact replica of the clock in South Korea however! You can view the clock for free from the Old Town Square, or pay for a tour to go inside the Old Town Hall and see the inner mechanism of the clock. There are also great views of the city from the tower gallery here.
25. A great evening activity in Prague is UV mini golf. After dinner on our walk home we stopped in for a game. They also have a licensed bar. Allow one hour for this activity.
The Dancing House
Eating and drinking in Prague
26. Did you know that Prague consumes the most beer in the world? You can even take a Beer Bath in Prague! Pilsner beer takes its name from the Czech city of Pilsen where it was first produced in the 19th century. Make sure you try Pilsner Urquell, the world’s first blond lager which is produced in the Czech Republic. Dark beer is also very popular in Prague- make sure you try some!
27. Czechs love foam on their beer, so if you order a beer don’t be surprised if your drink is 40% foam and 60% beer. If you’re in a touristy area they might be more generous however.
28. It’s often said that Prague is known more for its beer than for its cuisine. As a result, a lot of dishes are paired with beer! There are lots of yummy starter options at ‘beer restaurants’ that pairs a type of beer with food.
29. If you’re visiting Prague in winter, you’ve got to try hot wine! Many cafes sell takeaway hot wine for less than £2/$2.60 USD. It’s delicious, but make sure you bring your reusable coffee cup because you’ll be wanting more than one glass.
Trying hot wine from a street vendor
30. Prague cuisine is hearty, and most dishes consist of meat paired with bread. Traditional Czech dishes you should try include roast duck, beef goulash, mushroom and potato soup [Kulajda], sausages, and pork knuckle [Koleno]. Common side dishes include dumplings [which are nothing like traditional dumplings- they’re basically pieces of bread with meat baked into them], fruit dumplings, potato pancakes, and fried cheese [Smažený sýr]. You’ll also find cabbage is mixed into many dishes [there is such a thing as a ‘cabbage donut’].
31. If you have a sweet tooth you have to try chimney cake [Trdelník]. Trdelník is actually from Slovakia, but you’ll see it being sold by vendors everywhere in Prague. We loved the ice cream trdelník at Good Food Cafe and Bakery!
32. It’s customary to leave a 10% tip at restaurants for good service or 15% for great service.
33. Do you love chocolate as much as I do? Prague has a Chocolate Museum complete with a chocolate tasting at the end. The chocolate in the store is very expensive, so maybe hold off from buying it here if you’re on a budget!
Brynn
Monday 9th of January 2023
Good article and recommendations! I would suggest just one edit:
The greeting in your article is actually reserved for friends or family, in Czech they would actually say Dobrý den (dob-ree den) to strangers or customers, and it’s what you would say in return. It’s how they say hello, or good afternoon.
Denise
Thursday 20th of February 2020
Thanks some good tips! going on 3/4 looking forward to it....