Money, Safety & eSIM in the Czech Republic
The currency is the Czech koruna (CZK) — the country hasn't adopted the euro despite EU membership, so budget in koruna. Cards are widely accepted; carry some cash for small pubs and markets. Prague is very safe from violent crime; the real risks are currency-exchange rip-offs and inflated taxi fares, both easily avoided. eSIM or a local SIM (Vodafone, T-Mobile, O2) both work well.
The unglamorous but genuinely useful section: what money to use (spoiler — it's not euros), the two real scams to know about (both avoidable, neither dangerous), and how to get online the moment your plane lands.
Money and ATMs
The Czech koruna (CZK, sometimes written Kč) is the currency everywhere — despite EU membership and the euro symbols on some souvenir-shop signage, the Czech Republic has not adopted the euro, and prices in euros at tourist spots are almost always worse value than paying in koruna. As a rough planning anchor, $1 has recently traded at roughly 21–22 CZK (check a live rate before you go, since it moves). Use a bank-branded ATM (Česká spořitelna, ČSOB, Komerční banka, Moneta) for the best rates — avoid the branded 'Euronet' style ATMs clustered around tourist areas, which post noticeably worse exchange rates and higher fees.
| Payment method | Where it works best |
|---|---|
| Card (chip & contactless) | Hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, most shops — very widely accepted |
| Cash (koruna) | Small pubs, markets, public toilets, some smaller guesthouses |
| Mobile payment (Apple Pay / Google Pay) | Increasingly common, works the same as at home |
The two scams actually worth knowing about
1) Currency exchange: booths right on Old Town Square or near the Astronomical Clock often advertise '0% commission' while quietly building their markup directly into a worse exchange rate — the number on the sign is not what you'll actually receive. Exchange only at a reputable office (or better, just withdraw from a bank ATM) and always confirm the exact amount you'll get before handing over cash. 2) Taxis: street-hailed taxis near tourist sites have a history of meter tampering and inflated 'flat rate' quotes, sometimes 2–4x the normal fare. Use Bolt, Uber, or Liftago instead — all show the price upfront before you accept the ride.
Beyond those two, Prague is genuinely very safe — violent crime against tourists is rare, and the city center is comfortable to walk at night. Standard pickpocket precautions (a closed bag, awareness on crowded trams and around Old Town Square) cover the rest.
eSIM and staying connected
eSIM is the easiest option if your phone supports it — Airalo, Holafly, and similar providers sell EU-wide or Czech-specific data plans from roughly $5–20 for a week or two, activated before you even land. A physical local SIM from Vodafone, T-Mobile, or O2 (available at the airport or in any city-center shop) is similarly priced and gives full local rates, including calls if you need them.
Practical safety basics
- Tap water in Prague and across the Czech Republic is safe to drink straight from the tap — no need to buy bottled water for that reason (though sparkling mineral water is a local favorite worth trying anyway).
- Keep your passport in your hotel safe and carry a photo of it on your phone instead, especially in crowded tourist areas.
- Emergency number: 112 works across the EU (including the Czech Republic) for police, fire, or medical emergencies, with English-speaking operators available.
Public holidays worth knowing about
The Czech Republic has 13 official public holidays, and by law, large stores (over 200 square meters) must close on seven of them — a detail that occasionally derails a traveler's grocery run or last-minute souvenir plan. Restaurants, museums, and most attractions stay open as normal; it's specifically supermarkets and shopping malls that shut.
| Holiday | Date | Large stores |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 | Closed |
| Easter Monday | Varies (moveable) | Closed |
| Liberation Day | May 8 | Closed |
| Czech Statehood Day | September 28 | Closed |
| Independent Czechoslovak State Day | October 28 | Closed |
| Freedom and Democracy Day | November 17 | Closed |
| Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, St. Stephen's Day | December 24–26 | Closed (Dec 24 shuts at noon) |
Small minimarkets under 200 square meters, pharmacies, gas stations, and shops inside train stations (including Prague's main station, Hlavní nádraží) and the airport stay open on these dates regardless — so you're never actually stuck, just limited to smaller shops. Christmas Eve is the one to plan around most carefully: most Czechs treat it as the main event of the holiday, and even restaurants can be harder to find open from midday onward.