The koruna is the only sensible currency to pay in - euros are accepted in central Prague at a deliberately poor rate. At every ATM and card terminal, decline the offer to be charged in your home currency; dynamic currency conversion costs 5 to 15 per cent.
- The koruna is the only sensible currency to pay in. The euro is not legal tender here, and the central Prague shops that accept it use a deliberately poor rate.
- Always decline dynamic currency conversion. Choosing "charge in CZK" and letting your own bank set the rate saves 5% to 15%.
- Use bank-owned machines inside branch premises - KB, Česká spořitelna, ČSOB, Raiffeisenbank, Air Bank - and avoid the yellow-and-blue Euronet machines on the street.
- You can undo a bad exchange. Czech law lets you reverse a currency exchange within 3 hours, up to EUR 1,000.
- Cards work almost everywhere, market stalls and public toilets included. Tipping is about 10% in table-service restaurants, told to the server before they tap your card.
Money and paying for things
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 on 15 February 2026: 1 EUR ≈ CZK 25.00, 1 USD ≈ CZK 23.00.
Withdrawing cash: the machine matters more than the bank.
- Always decline DCC. An ATM or terminal will offer to settle in your home currency at its own fixed rate - choose "Charge in CZK" / "Without conversion" and let your own bank set it. That saves 5% to 15%.
- Use bank-owned machines built into branch premises - Komerční banka (KB), Česká spořitelna, ČSOB, Raiffeisenbank, Air Bank. Travellers on r/Prague report roughly CZK 100–150 per withdrawal on a non-European card.
- Avoid the yellow-and-blue Euronet machines on the street and inside private shops. Misleading interface, defaults to high withdrawal amounts such as CZK 10,000, and aggressive fees on top of a poor DCC rate.
Cash and exchange offices:
- Never change money with individuals on the street - you risk being handed invalid or worthless foreign notes, old Belarusian roubles among them.
- Confirm the final amount before you commit at any centre exchange office. Reputable ones charge no commission (Alfa Exchange, Exchange.cz on Kaprova street).
- You can undo it. The Czech currency exchange act gives you the right to reverse an exchange within 3 hours of the transaction, up to EUR 1,000.
Card acceptance and tipping:
- Cards work almost everywhere - market stalls, restaurants, public toilets, ticket machines. Carry 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% is standard when you are happy with the service, usually by rounding up and telling the server the total before they tap your card.
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