🇨🇿Czechia

What to buy as soon as you land

Arriving travellers in Czechia have access to a mature telecoms network with full 4G/LTE and 5G coverage. Local law does not require prepaid SIM cards to be registered against an identity document. You can buy a SIM anonymously with cash or card and activate it immediately by inserting it or scanning an eSIM QR code.

If your phone supports eSIM, the most efficient route is to buy a profile online - the T-Mobile 15 GB eSIM package at CZK 299, for example - before you fly or over the airport Wi-Fi. Physical SIM cards are available as soon as you clear customs at the airport.

Comparison table

Prices and package specifications are current as of 15 February 2026. Conversions use 1 EUR = 25 CZK and 1 USD = 23 CZK.

Where exactly to buy

1. Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG)

• Terminal 1 (non-Schengen): Relay newsagents in the arrivals hall, stocking physical Vodafone and T-Mobile prepaid SIMs.
• Terminal 2 (Schengen): A Relay store and a Billa supermarket in the arrivals hall and the connecting corridor.
• Note: Independent airport kiosks may charge above the recommended retail price. Check the price printed on the card packaging (CZK 349 for the Vodafone Tourist SIM, for example).

2. Prague city centre

• Official operator stores:
• Vodafone: Václavské náměstí 47, Prague 1; Národní 28, Prague 1; Palladium shopping centre (náměstí Republiky).
• T-Mobile: Národní 36, Prague 1; Palladium; Vítězné náměstí 10, Prague 6 (Dejvice).
• O2: Národní 17, Prague 1; Palladium.

3. Buying online (eSIM)

• Operator websites (the T-Mobile e-shop, for instance) sell eSIM profiles. You pay with an ordinary international payment card (VISA/Mastercard) and the QR code arrives by email within minutes.

Short verdict

For a short trip of up to 7 days, the best value is the Vodafone Tourist SIM Card / eSIM (CZK 349 for unlimited data). For stays of 1 to 4 weeks, the T-Mobile Twist 15 GB eSIM at CZK 299 offers the best price-to-data ratio and can be activated entirely digitally without visiting a store.

Václav Havel Airport Prague

Prague's international airport is about 17 km west of the city centre. As of 15 February 2026 the following verified transport options are available:

1. Public transport (trolleybus 59 + metro line A)

• Route: Terminal 1 / Terminal 2 to Nádraží Veleslavín on metro line A.
• Hours: 04:20–23:45, every 3–10 minutes. The trolleybus takes 17 minutes; the onward metro ride to Můstek/Muzeum takes 10 minutes. Travellers on r/Prague report that the high-capacity trolleybus 59 plus metro A is often faster than a taxi during rush hour.
• Fare: CZK 50 for a 90-minute transfer ticket (adult). Children under 15 and seniors over 65 travel free or at a reduced fare under the PID tariff on proof of age (a passport works).
• Stop: Directly outside the Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 arrivals halls.
• Buying a ticket: Contactless card at the ticket machine on the stop or on board the trolleybus (validator by the door), or through the PID Lítačka app.

2. Public transport (bus 100 + metro line B)

• Route: Terminal 1 / Terminal 2 to Zličín on metro line B.
• Use case: Good for destinations in western and southern Prague. Same CZK 50 fare for 90 minutes.

3. Airport Express (AE) bus

• Route: Prague Airport to Prague Main Station (Hlavní nádraží), direct, no changes.
• Hours: 05:30–22:00, every 30 minutes. Journey time 30–45 minutes depending on traffic.
• Fare: CZK 200 one way. PID tickets are not valid on this line.
• Buying a ticket: From the driver (contactless or cash), at Prague Public Transit information desks, or online.

4. Official taxis and ride-hailing (Uber / Bolt)

• Uber is the contracted partner of Prague Airport.
• Where to board: At the marked ranks directly outside the arrivals halls of both terminals.
• Booking: Through the Uber app, or at the self-service kiosks in the arrivals halls.
• Fare: A guaranteed fixed price calculated before the ride. Into central Prague (Prague 1) expect CZK 400–700 depending on demand.
• Alternative: The Bolt app works the same way, from designated parking areas in front of the terminals.
• Warning: Never get into an unmarked car whose driver approaches you inside the terminal. Overcharging by several hundred percent is the norm.

5. Night transport (00:00–04:30)

• Night buses 907 and 910: Direct routes linking the airport with the centre (Hlavní nádraží, I. P. Pavlova). Every 30 minutes, CZK 50.

Brno-Tuřany Airport

A regional international airport in the South Moravian region, handling charter and selected scheduled flights.

1. Public transport (buses E76 and N89)

• Daytime line E76: Brno Airport to Brno Main Station, about 20 minutes, every 30 minutes.
• Night line N89: Runs 23:00–05:00, hourly.
• Fare: Standard DPMB tariff (zones 100+101). A two-zone ticket costs CZK 25–34. Pay by contactless card at the on-board reader.

2. Taxis and ride-hailing

• Bolt and Uber both work reliably in Brno. Airport to Main Station runs CZK 250–400.

Which option suits which traveller

• Solo traveller / budget: Trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín metro. CZK 50, about 30 minutes to the centre.
• Family with children and luggage: Uber or Bolt - straight from the terminal to your hotel, no wrestling suitcases through the metro.
• Night arrival (after 23:45): Night buses 907 / 910 from Prague Airport at CZK 50, or Uber/Bolt at night rates.

Getting around the city, and which apps to install

Prague's public transport is among the most efficient in Europe. It comprises 3 metro lines (A green, B yellow, C red), a dense tram network and buses.

1. Tickets and payment

• Tickets are time-based and allow transfers across the metro, trams, buses and PID trolleybuses.
• Fares: 30 minutes = CZK 39; 90 minutes = CZK 50; 24 hours = CZK 120; 72 hours = CZK 330.
• Validating: A paper ticket must be validated in the yellow machine the moment you enter the metro's paid area or board a tram or bus. A digital ticket bought at an on-board terminal is valid immediately and needs no validation.

2. Key apps

• PID Lítačka (iOS / Android): The official transport app for Prague and the Central Bohemian region, for journey planning and buying tickets. Important: A ticket bought in the app has to be activated by tapping before you board; activation takes 2 minutes, which is an anti-fare-evasion measure.
• IDOS (iOS / Android): The comprehensive national timetable search covering every train, bus and city transport service in Czechia.
• Uber and Bolt: The main ride-hailing platforms, operating in Prague, Brno, Ostrava and other regional cities.

Money and paying for things

1. Currency and current rate

• The legal tender is the Czech koruna (CZK / Kč). The euro is not official currency; some shops and restaurants in central Prague do accept it, but at a very poor rate.
• Indicative rate (15 February 2026): 1 EUR ≈ CZK 25.00 | 1 USD ≈ CZK 23.00.

2. ATM withdrawals and the DCC risk

• DCC (dynamic currency conversion): At an ATM or a card terminal the machine will offer to settle in your card's home currency (USD or EUR, say) at that operator's own fixed rate. Always decline - choose "Charge in CZK" / "Without conversion". Declining means your own bank sets the rate, which saves 5% to 15%.
• Choosing an ATM: Use only machines belonging to established banks and built into branch premises - Komerční banka (KB), Česká spořitelna, ČSOB, Raiffeisenbank, Air Bank. Travellers on r/Prague report that some of these banks charge roughly CZK 100–150 for a withdrawal on a non-European card.
• ATMs to avoid: The yellow-and-blue non-bank Euronet machines on the street and inside private shops. They use a misleading interface, default to high withdrawal amounts (CZK 10,000, for instance) and charge aggressive fees on top of a poor DCC rate.

3. Cash and exchange offices

• Never change money with individuals on the street - you risk being handed invalid or worthless foreign notes, such as old Belarusian roubles.
• At exchange offices in the centre, always confirm the final amount before you commit. Reputable offices with fair rates (Alfa Exchange, Exchange.cz on Kaprova street) charge no commission. Under the Czech currency exchange act you have the right to reverse an exchange within 3 hours of the transaction, up to EUR 1,000.

4. Card acceptance and tipping

• Card acceptance is very high - market stalls, restaurants, public toilets and ticket machines all take cards. Carry a small amount of cash (CZK 500–1,000 in 100/200 notes) only for rural areas and small stalls.
• Tipping: Not legally required, but expected in table-service restaurants. 10% of the bill is standard when you are happy with the service. It is usually done by rounding up and telling the server the total before they tap your card.

Accommodation

1. Recommended neighbourhoods for your first nights (Prague)

• Prague 1 (Old Town, Lesser Town, New Town):
• Good for: Visitors who want to walk to the main sights.
• Price bracket: High (luxury hotels CZK 3,500–10,000+ per night).
• Practicalities: Cobbled streets (hard work with a wheeled suitcase), noisier at night.
• Prague 2 (Vinohrady, Vyšehrad):
• Good for: Digital nomads, couples, café-goers, anyone wanting somewhere calmer.
• Price bracket: Mid to upper (CZK 2,000–4,500 per night).
• Practicalities: Excellent metro A and C connections, plenty of good restaurants.
• Prague 3 (Žižkov):
• Good for: Younger travellers, backpackers, budget trips.
• Price bracket: Affordable to mid (CZK 1,200–3,000 per night).
• Practicalities: Lively nightlife, good tram links to the centre (trams 9, 15, 26).
• Prague 5 (Smíchov / Anděl) and Prague 6 (Dejvice):
• Good for: Families, business travellers, quick airport access.
• Price bracket: Mid (CZK 1,800–3,500 per night).
• Practicalities: Smíchov is a major interchange (metro B, trams); Dejvice has the direct trolleybus 59 to the airport and metro A into the centre.

2. Accommodation practices and the legal side

• Documents: At check-in you must present a valid passport or ID card. The provider records your details in the guest register.
• Local accommodation fee: Cities levy a tourist charge - in Prague CZK 50 per person per night for guests over 18. It is often billed separately at reception on arrival.
• Deposit: Higher-category hotels pre-authorise a credit or debit card at check-in to cover minibar consumption.

Local rules and cultural differences

1. Travelling without a ticket

• Entering the metro's paid area or boarding a vehicle without a valid, properly validated ticket carries a fine of CZK 1,500. Paid on the spot or within 15 days, it drops to CZK 1,000.

2. Drinking alcohol in public

• A municipal ordinance bans drinking in public in central Prague and at selected public spaces - within 100 metres of metro stations, transport stops, schools and playgrounds. The municipal police issue on-the-spot fines of up to CZK 2,000.

3. Night-time quiet hours

• Statutory quiet hours run strictly from 22:00 to 06:00. Noise on the street or in flats and Airbnbs during this window can bring the police and a fine.

4. Drone rules

• Drones are regulated by EASA and the Czech Civil Aviation Authority (ÚCL). The whole of wider central Prague is protected airspace, with flying strictly prohibited without a special permit.

5. Escalator etiquette in the metro

• A firmly established unwritten rule: stand on the right, leaving the left side clear for people walking past.

Everyday practicalities

• Power sockets: 230 V, 50 Hz. Type E plugs (two pins with an earth socket, compatible with types C and F / Schuko).
• Time zone: Central European Time - CET (UTC+1) in winter; CEST (UTC+2) from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.
• Shop opening hours:

• Supermarkets (Billa, Albert, Lidl): typically 07:00–21:00/22:00.
• Ordinary shops: 09:00–19:00.
• Public holiday closures: Shops with a sales floor over 200 m² are required by law to close on selected public holidays (1 January, Easter Monday, 8 May, 28 September, 28 October, 25 and 26 December).

• Public toilets: Usually charge CZK 10–20. Most metro toilet turnstiles accept contactless cards.
• Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi is standard in restaurants and cafés, at Prague Airport, and on selected public transport vehicles (marked with a Wi-Fi icon).