Money in Czechia: Koruna, Cards, Prague Tickets and VAT Refunds

Czechia uses the Czech koruna, not the euro. Cards cover much of a Prague visit, while a small cash reserve helps with minor purchases. Public transport needs a little preparation: buying a ticket and activating it are different steps.

Prague, Czechia · Moyan Brenn · CC BY 2.0

Recognising Czech koruna prices

CZK and Kč both mean Czech koruna. Coins are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 koruna; banknotes are 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000. You do not need euros for ordinary shopping.

A business accepting euros may set its own exchange rate and give koruna change. Ask for the CZK price. Use the converter for an approximate comparison, remembering that your bank may apply fees and a different settlement rate.

Bank cards, phones and a cash reserve

Many hotels, restaurants and shops accept credit or debit cards, often including contactless payment through a phone wallet. Small traders, markets and rural stops are less predictable. Ask before ordering if you have no cash.

Carry a modest reserve in small notes and a separate backup bank card. A photograph of a card cannot replace the physical card, and a phone with an empty battery is not a useful payment backup.

Choose CZK at terminals and ATMs

A home-currency offer generally means the merchant or ATM provider is performing the conversion. Compare it with your bank terms instead of accepting the familiar currency automatically. Paying in koruna usually leaves conversion to your card provider.

Check ATM operator charges separately. At an exchange office, ask exactly how many koruna you will receive after fees before handing over money. Avoid people offering street exchanges, however attractive the displayed or spoken rate.

PID, DPP and the PID Lítačka app

PID is Prague and the surrounding region’s integrated transport system. DPP operates the metro, trams and many city buses. The PID Lítačka app plans journeys and sells tickets for the required duration and fare zones.

Within Prague, a standard adult 30-minute ticket costs CZK 36 in the app or CZK 39 on paper; 90 minutes costs CZK 46 or 50. Longer 24- and 72-hour options are available. Allow time for transfers rather than choosing a ticket that barely covers the scheduled journey.

Activate before boarding

Buying a ticket in the PID Lítačka app does not activate it. Start activation and wait the one-minute period until it becomes valid before boarding a tram or bus or entering the metro paid area. Check the active-ticket display.

Stamp an ordinary paper ticket once at the start, not at every transfer. Tickets sold already time-stamped follow their printed validity. The Airport Express bus is not included in ordinary urban tickets; confirm the actual airport service before buying.

Airport taxis and app payments

Prague Airport’s official Uber Airport service can be ordered in the Uber app or at designated airport facilities. Self-service kiosks take bank cards; the staffed counter also accepts cash. Your booking provides a PIN to give the driver.

Match the vehicle, pickup point and quoted fare before boarding. A journey set to in-app bank-card payment should not require a second cash payment. In the city, check the service category and payment method on each taxi-app booking.

Tipping without duplication

Read the bill for an existing service charge. For good service you can round up or add a chosen amount, such as around 10%; this is discretionary, not an additional tax on every transaction.

Ask to include a card-paid tip before the bill is closed. For cash payment, make your intended total clear. A restaurant percentage need not be applied automatically to a taxi ride or a quick counter purchase.

VAT and Prague accommodation tax

Czechia’s standard VAT rate is 21%, with a reduced 12% rate applying to certain categories. Retail consumer prices include VAT, so do not automatically add 21% to the shelf price.

Prague’s local accommodation levy is generally CZK 50 per chargeable person per night, with exemptions including under-18s. Check whether it is included in your booking or payable at the property. Breakfast and parking may also be separate.

Request tax-free paperwork while shopping

Residents outside the EU may qualify for a refund on eligible goods exported from the EU. The purchase must exceed CZK 2,000 from the relevant seller on the same day. Hotel stays and restaurant meals are not eligible shopping exports.

Before paying, establish whether the retailer participates and the export deadline. Bring your passport and obtain the required form and invoice. Processing fees mean the refund may be smaller than the full VAT component.

Keep purchases accessible at departure

Customs may need to inspect the goods alongside your forms, passport and flight details. Ask about the procedure before checking a bag containing those purchases. For an onward EU connection, confirm where export validation takes place for your particular baggage route.

Keep copies until reimbursement arrives. Compare complete trip costs, including transport and activity charges, and do not rely on an unapproved refund to make an otherwise unaffordable purchase worthwhile.