Prague: What to Know Before You Go

Short answer: stay central, walk everywhere you can, pay by card in Czech koruna, and do the famous places early in the morning. Most of what goes wrong for visitors in Prague comes from crowds, bad exchange rates and the odd overpriced taxi, and all three are easy to avoid.

How the city fits together

The Vltava runs north through the centre. On its west bank sit the castle district (Hradčany) and Malá Strana, the Lesser Town, climbing the hill toward Prague Castle. On the east bank are Staré Město, the Old Town, with the Jewish Quarter (Josefov) inside it, and Nové Město, the New Town, which despite the name was laid out in 1348 and holds Wenceslas Square. Further out, residential districts such as Vinohrady, Karlín, Letná and Vyšehrad are where locals eat and drink.

Money and cards

The Czech Republic uses the koruna (CZK). Euros are accepted in some tourist shops at poor rates, so avoid paying in them. Cards work almost everywhere, including pubs and market stalls. When a terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, refuse and choose koruna; the conversion is always worse. Skip street exchange booths advertising "0% commission", and avoid standalone ATMs in the tourist zones, which add their own fees. A cash machine inside a bank branch is safer.

In restaurants, rounding up or adding around 10 percent for table service is normal. Check the bill first, as some places in the Old Town add a service charge or bill for bread and dips you did not order.

Rules introduced for visitors

Prague has tightened its rules on noisy tourism. Organised pub crawls are banned at night (from 10pm to 6am, more in our nightlife guide), and shared rental e-scooters have been removed from the streets. Drinking alcohol is also banned in many public spaces in the centre, so a beer on the riverbank is best enjoyed at one of the licensed bars along Náplavka.

Crowds and pickpockets

Charles Bridge, the crowd under the astronomical clock and tram 22 to the castle are the main pickpocketing spots. Keep bags zipped and in front of you. Taxis hailed on the street near the main sights can overcharge heavily; use a ride app such as Uber, Bolt or Liftago instead. Public transport tickets, explained in our transport guide, must be valid before you board, and plain-clothes inspectors issue on-the-spot fines.

Language and manners

English is widely spoken in central hotels, restaurants and shops, less so in neighbourhood pubs. A few words go a long way: dobrý den (good day), děkuji (thank you) and na zdraví (cheers, said while looking the other person in the eye). In a traditional pub, a beer mat placed in front of you means you are being served, and the waiter keeps a tally on a slip of paper until you ask to pay.