Prague Travel Guide

First Time in Prague

The practical primer for a first visit — Czech crowns and the exchange-booth trap, transit tickets and the reopened Petřín funicular, the night-time pub crawl ban, the Wenceslas Square works, closing days and tipping.

Prague is easy to love and, for the most part, easy to visit. It is safe, walkable and good value by Western European standards, and English is widely spoken in the centre. But a few local habits and traps catch out first-timers every year. Here is what to know before you go.

Money: crowns, not euros. Czechia is in the European Union but does not use the euro; the currency is the Czech crown, CZK. Some tourist places accept euros, but at poor rates, and change is given in crowns. The simplest approach is to pay by card, which is accepted almost everywhere, including in most pubs, markets and taxis. When a card terminal or an ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, always decline and choose CZK; the conversion offered is usually poor. For cash, use ATMs belonging to Czech banks, and avoid the standalone cash machines and the exchange booths in the tourist centre that advertise zero commission, many of which offer terrible rates. Never change money with people in the street.

Getting around. Prague's public transport, the PID network of trams, metro, buses and the Petřín funicular, is excellent and cheap. Buy a 24-hour or 72-hour ticket for the most convenience, or single tickets valid for 30 or 90 minutes. The PID Lítačka app sells tickets on your phone; paper tickets must be validated in the yellow machines when you first board or enter the metro. Plain-clothes inspectors check tickets often, and fines are steep. The Petřín funicular reopened on 22 September 2026 after a two-year closure, with new cars; 24-hour and 72-hour tickets are valid on it. From the airport, public buses connect to the metro, and an airport express bus runs to the main railway station; taxis and ride-hailing apps are also available, but use the official ranks or an app rather than accepting offers in the arrivals hall.

What is changing in 2026. The upper half of Wenceslas Square is a construction site, as trams return to the square for the first time in decades; the tracks are in, but passenger services are planned only for the end of June 2027, so expect fencing between the middle of the square and the National Museum. The Petřín funicular is running again, with a new rule: the cars stop at the Nebozízek midway station only on the way up. And Prague has banned organised pub crawls throughout the city from 10pm to 6am, part of a wider effort to reduce noise and nuisance in the residential centre; ordinary pubs are, of course, open as normal.

Opening days and booking. Most major sights are open daily, but there are exceptions. The Jewish Museum's synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery close on Saturdays and Jewish holidays. St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle is closed to visitors on Sunday mornings for services. Many museums close on Mondays. The castle's historic buildings close earlier in the winter months. Book ahead for the castle in busy seasons, the Old Town Hall tower, river cruises at sunset, and concerts.

Scams and nuisances. Prague's crime rate is low, but pickpockets work the crowds at the Astronomical Clock, on Charles Bridge and on the busy trams, especially line 22. Keep valuables zipped away. In restaurants on the main squares, check the menu prices and the bill; some add charges for bread, music or a cover. At night, ignore touts for clubs on Wenceslas Square. Taxis hailed in the street in the centre can overcharge; use an app or a reputable company.

Eating, drinking and tipping. Czech food is hearty: roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut, svíčková beef in cream sauce, goulash, fried cheese, and open-faced chlebíčky sandwiches. Beer is excellent and cheap, and tap water is safe to drink, but restaurants rarely serve it free. Tipping is customary but modest: round up the bill or leave around ten per cent for good service, telling the waiter the total you want to pay when you hand over your card or cash, rather than leaving coins on the table.

Etiquette. Say dobrý den, good day, when entering a shop or a small restaurant. Stand on the right on the long metro escalators. Give up your seat on trams to older passengers. In churches, dress modestly and keep quiet, and in the synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery, men should cover their heads. Do not walk in the bike lanes, and cross only at crossings.

Seasons and crowds. Prague is busy from spring to autumn and at Christmas. To beat the crowds, get up early: the castle, Charles Bridge and Old Town Square are a different world at eight in the morning. Weekdays are calmer than weekends, and January to March, outside the holidays, is the quietest time, though cold. The city tax on accommodation is a small per-person, per-night charge, usually added to your hotel bill.

Passes and cards. The official Prague Visitor Pass bundles public transport with entry to dozens of museums, towers and other attractions, and can pay off on a dense sightseeing day. Do the sums before buying: if you plan to spend most of your time walking, sitting in beer gardens and visiting free sights like Vyšehrad and Letná, a simple 72-hour transit ticket and individual entries will cost less. Whatever you choose, many timed attractions still require you to reserve a slot.

One last tip. Do not try to see everything. Pick the essentials, the castle, Charles Bridge, the Old Town and the Jewish Quarter, and leave room for wandering, a beer garden and an evening concert. Prague rewards slowness.