Paying in Prague: when your card works, and when you need coins

You tap your phone for a flat white, tap again for a tram ticket, and feel thoroughly modern. Then you reach a station toilet, or a sausage stand, and the only thing that works is a coin. Prague is nearly cashless, and the exceptions are what catch people out.

The answers below cover what is accepted where, how to get cash without being fleeced, and the one screen prompt that quietly costs people money.

Do I need Czech crowns?

Yes, a few. Czechia is in the EU but not the eurozone, so the currency is the Czech crown (koruna, written CZK or Kč). Some tourist shops will take euros, but they give you a poor rate and hand back change in crowns. Crowns, or a card, are almost always better.

Are cards widely accepted?

Mostly, yes. Contactless payment by card, phone or watch is normal in supermarkets, restaurants, cafés, many pubs, museums and larger shops. Small purchases rarely need a PIN, though a terminal may ask for one.

It's the exceptions that catch people out. Some small pubs, market stalls, food stands and independent shops prefer cash or take nothing else. Public toilets in stations and elsewhere often want coins. Look for a card sticker on the door, or ask before you order.

Can I pay for public transport by card?

Tickets are sold through the PID app, at ticket machines and at selected points. Station machines take coins and often cards, but they differ from machine to machine. PID has changed how it handles contactless bank-card payments for fares in the past, so check pid.cz before you travel (as of 2026; check the official source). Don't board without a valid ticket. Inspectors do check.

What about tipping?

Tipping is customary in restaurants and pubs, usually by rounding up or adding around 10 per cent. Say the total you want to pay as you hand over the money, as described in our guide to how a Czech pub works. If you're paying by card, mention the tip before the terminal comes out, because adding it afterwards is awkward. Cash is easiest for tips, so keep some small notes and coins.

Where should I get cash?

An ATM attached to a bank branch is generally the safest choice. Free-standing machines on busy tourist streets can charge higher fees and offer weak exchange rates. Check the fees on screen before you confirm, and ask your own bank what it charges for foreign withdrawals.

Exchange offices are everywhere and vary hugely. Compare buy and sell rates, ignore "no commission" signs and walk a few streets from the main sights (more in our guide to tourist traps and scams). For most visitors the simplest plan is a modest withdrawal from a bank ATM on arrival, then cards for the rest.

What is dynamic currency conversion?

When you pay by card or withdraw cash abroad, the terminal or ATM may ask whether you want to be charged in your home currency or in CZK. Choose CZK. The home-currency option mainly suits the merchant, and the rate behind it is generally worse than your own bank's. If in doubt, press the CZK option and move on.

What should I carry?

• A contactless card, plus a spare kept in a different place in case one is blocked or lost.
• A little cash in crowns: enough for a coffee, a tip, a toilet or a stall.
• Your phone with a wallet app, if you use one. Many terminals accept it, but batteries and signal fail, so don't rely on it alone.

A day of paying, in order

Land, and take a modest amount of crowns out of a bank ATM. Buy a transport ticket in the PID app before you board. Pay for breakfast and lunch by tapping. Keep a few coins for the toilet at the station. In the evening, a pub tab is settled at the table and the tip is easiest in cash. Nothing in that day needs a currency exchange booth.

If your card is declined for no obvious reason, the likely cause is your own bank's fraud check on an unfamiliar country. Tell your bank before you travel, and keep its phone number somewhere other than your phone.

Is it safe to use my card in Prague?

As safe as in most European cities. Keep the card in sight when you pay, cover the PIN pad and check the amount on the terminal before you tap. If a card goes missing, call your bank at once, and keep its emergency number somewhere other than your phone.

What if I run out of cash on a Sunday?

Banks are closed on Sundays, but ATMs aren't. Many shops in the centre open on Sundays, and supermarkets, pharmacies and petrol stations take cards.

Small things

Prices in shops and on menus are shown in crowns and include value-added tax. A service charge, if there is one, should be stated on the menu. Shops are required to give you a receipt, so expect one.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay in euros in Prague?

Some tourist shops take euros, but the rate is poor and change comes back in crowns. A card or crowns are almost always better.

Which ATM should I use?

One attached to a bank branch. Free-standing machines on tourist streets can charge higher fees and offer weak exchange rates.

Should I choose CZK or my home currency at the terminal?

Choose CZK. The home-currency option mainly suits the merchant, and its rate is generally worse than your own bank's.

Do I need cash for the toilet?

Often, yes. Public toilets in stations and elsewhere frequently want coins.

Before you fly, tell your bank you are travelling, load a wallet app and pack a handful of coins. Everything else you can fix on arrival.