Prague travel cost: how expensive is the Czech Republic?

Budget your trip to the Czech Republic with this Prague travel cost guide. From accommodation and food to transportation and hidden fees!

Prague is one of the most visited European cities. Almost 7 million people choose it as a travel destination every year. It is also a quite popular destination for those doing the Interrail/Eurail, thanks to its key location in Central Europe.

One of the factors that come into play when deciding where to travel to is how expensive is the destination. Within Europe, costs vary drastically between countries. From expensive Switzerland and Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland), to the cheaper Mediterranean countries (Portugal, Spain, Greece,…); your budget can change a lot depending on your destination.

Where do the Czech Republic and its capital Prague stand in terms of travel costs? Keep reading to find it out!

This guide is divided into 3 main sections:

• The first one is a general comparison of the cost of travel in Prague compared to other European destinations.
• The second one details the average prices and costs of different category expenses.
• The third one presents a case study, a 6-day trip to Prague, with a detailed budget and expenses.

How expensive is Prague?

Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic, and as it is widely known, capitals tend to be the most expensive cities in a country. This is also the case in Prague. According to Numbeo, a quite useful tool to determine the cost of living in different cities, Prague ranks in the bottom third on a list of the cost of living in multiple European cities. Source here.

Nonetheless, this does not mean a lot without some context. However, if you look at cities that rank similar, and the countries where they are located, we can see an interesting pattern. Cities like Ljubljana, Duvroibnik, Valencia, Riga, or Bratislava are in a similar position.

However, the cost of living has nothing to do with travel costs. Of course, the overall cost of living affects how expensive a city is to visit, but other factors, such as how popular a city is, its location, and accessibility… also play an important role.

In the case of Prague, it is a very popular city and in a privileged location in Europe, accessible via train, plane, and road. This means that the travel cost is a bit higher than the cost of living.

So, is Prague expensive? Compared to most common European destinations, such as Barcelona, London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, and Amsterdam,… no, Prague is not very expensive. Yet, Prague is not an ultra-cheap city. Due to the growing tourism, the cost to travel to Prague has increased in the past years.

But don’t worry, there are ways to save money while traveling to the Czech Republic, and Prague can be a quite cheap city if you know how to find bargains. Let’s dive into its main expenses!

Prague currency: the Czech Koruna

Unlike some of its neighbors, Prague and the Czech Republic do not use the Euro, despite being part of the European Union. Like other countries such as Hungary, the Czech Republic kept its old currency, the Czech Koruna. Thus you will either need to get cash or pay using your credit card.

Almost all places accept (Visa and MasterCard) credit cards. If you decide to exchange money, be very careful with scams. There have been many reports of people getting scammed by people on the streets or by fraudulent currency exchange stands. Check the real value of your currency compared to the Czech Koruna (CZK) and look at the rates and hidden fees of the stands. Most of them are 100% reliable, but better be safe than sorry!

Prague travel cost: main expenses

There are three main categories where you will be spending money when you travel to Prague: accommodation, food, and transportation. A fourth category worth noting in Prague is tourist attractions and fees, although it will not take as much of your budget as the other three categories.

Your choices on where to eat, sleep, and how to move around will determine the overall Prague travel cost.

Accommodation

As in most European cities, Prague has a huge range of accommodation options. From cheap hostels and affordable Airbnb apartments all the way up to hotels. Although prices can get as expensive as you can imagine, it is possible to get decent accommodation for around 15-20€ per night.

Yet, consider that the prices will vary depending on the season. The summer season will be the most expensive one, together with the Christmas Market season. Traveling off-season to Prague can make your money go an extra mile.

All prices below are for the high season, but planning with some time in advance. Thus, expect the off-season prices to be similar.

Hotels (50-100€/night)

Hotels are the most common choice for tourists that visit Prague, especially those traveling with a partner or a friend. On average, you can expect to get double rooms for around 50€ per night (per person) in good hotels in good locations. Of course, you can choose way more expensive options, with luxury hotels and other pricey choices available.

For solo travelers, prices would be around 80-100€ per night, making it quite an expensive option. If you are a solo traveler that wants to save some money and don’t mind sharing a room, keep reading, the next option could be the right one for you!

Hostels (15-25€/night)

As everywhere in Europe, hostels are a good option for solo travelers and groups of people that want a more social (and cheap) experience. You can find good hostels in good locations for around 15-25€ per night on shared bedrooms.

Make sure to always check the hostel reviews, as, on a general note, there are two types of hostels; party hostels and quiet hostels. Each has its pros and cons. Hostels in Prague’s central areas tend to be party hostels, but you can also find some quiet/relaxed ones.

Traveling with a group of friends? If you like having your own personal space, then maybe the next accommodation option is for you.

Apartments (25-30€/night)

One of the cheapest accommodations in Prague can be apartments. This is especially true if you travel with 2 or more people. Not only Airbnb, although it is the main place to look for apartments, but other pages like booking.com also offer interesting options.

Prices can vary greatly, but for a 4-person apartment, there are good and well-located options for around 90-120€ per night. This means 25€ per night per person, a price comparable to a hostel, but with privacy. Moreover, the main benefit of apartments is the option to cook at your place and save money on food. This is also possible in hostels but is not as easy, and kitchens tend to be crowded.

Other accommodations

While the main accommodation options are the ones described above, there are some other possibilities.

Platforms such as CouchSurfing are a great way to cut down travel costs, although not everyone fancies sleeping on a stranger’s couch. It is also a nice choice for those that want to see the real-life and culture of the city by living with locals.

Another option is to leave the city center and find a camping area in the suburbs of Prague. Although it is an option, it requires a lot of commuting to visit the city every day.

Food

Prague is known for many things, but its food usually does not rank at the top of the list. There are really good restaurants and places to eat out, but its traditional food is not the best well-known in Europe, mainly because of the few choices you have. Nonetheless, it is quite tasty, and I really enjoyed trying it. If you want to try good local restaurants, I have some options listed for you below.

Disclaimer: I have a Spanish background, so I am used to a very rich culinary culture.

When it comes to drinks, though, Pague has a lot to offer. Anyone visiting Prague will hear at some point that beer is cheaper than water there! And to be honest, it can be true. Moreover, the good thing is that beer is good and with plenty of options to choose from. But let’s talk prices.

Restaurants in Prague

Prague has lots of restaurants, with plenty of ethnic options available. Prices can vary depending on how fancy the place is, but you can have a good meal for less than 10€ in a non-luxury restaurant. A meal at a fancy restaurant can cost from 20-30€ up to infinity if you are willing to pay it.

Besides the traditional Czech Restaurants (see below), there is a huge Vietnamese community in Prague, and you can find lots of Asian options, especially in the city center and surrounding areas.

Local restaurants

There are many traditional restaurants in Prague. Nonetheless, I can strongly recommend 2 of them, as well as share prices on their menus.

Lokal

There is more than one Lokal restaurant in Prague. It is well known for its beer, but also for its traditional Czech food. A couple of beers plus a main dish cost around 10€. Highly recommended.

Havelská Koruna

If there is one restaurant where I felt like a local it was there. A sort of self-service restaurant, where you a good amount of food for less than 7-8€, beer included. The food was tasty, and it is a perfect place to try the most typical Czech dishes, such as the potato dumplings.

Supermarkets in Prague

The cheapest place to get food in the Czech Republic (and anywhere in the world) is a supermarket. You can find different grocery stores in Prague. Prices vary from retailer to retailer, but you will find prices very affordable, especially compared to restaurants or street food stands.

A good place to estimate how much you would spend on groceries in Prague is Numbeo. Nonetheless, I think that the numbers there are slightly inflated and that it is actually cheaper than what it says.

Grocery stores in Prague

These are the most common grocery stores you will find in Prague:

• Albert: A reasonably price/quality ratio, with many stores, hypermarkets, and smaller self-service shops. It sells products from its own brand as well as from other retailers.
• Tesco: the British retailer is also present in the Czech Republic. With prices similar to Albert (a bit more expensive), it is a good place to buy food, but also other goods, such as clothing (only in selected hypermarkets).
• Globus: one of the biggest hypermarkets in the country, with grocery goods, and other household products. Nonetheless, you won’t find many of them within Prague, as they are usually located outside of the city.
• Lidl: the giant german retailer is also one of the cheapest options when it comes to buying food and groceries. Besides that, they offer other goods, from textile to flowers, cosmetics…
• Kaufland: Although it is not the cheapest option, it is a retailer with good offers and promotions, so it is worth checking it if you are staying in Prague for some time.
• Billa: there are many Billa supermarkets in Prague, and when I visited them I found the prices acceptable although not the cheapest ones, around the range of Tesco.

Overall, the cheapest supermarkets in Prague are Albert and Lidl. If you need to buy food at a non-usual times, then Tesco should work, and maybe even Billa.

Transportation

One of the expenses that may help you make the decision to go to Prague is the transportation cost. In fact, many people choose their holiday destinations based on the price of flights. However, the transportation inside the city is also a variable worth considering. Overall, the Prague public transportation system is effective and cheap. But more on that below.

Getting to the Czech Republic

Getting to Prague is pretty easy. Thanks, to the location of the country, bordering Germany and Austria, there are regular flights, trains, and buses to Prague.

Flying to Prague

Flights to Prague from other European countries are affordable. However, being such a famous tourist destination, its prices are not among the cheapest in Europe, although routes are usually operated by low-cost airlines. Nonetheless, thanks to the cheapest cost of travel to Prague, the little extra money spent on flights is usually compensated by cheaper accommodations and food. Budget around 100-200€ for flights from one European capital (or big city) to Prague, unless there is an amazing offer.

Once at the airport, you will notice the main problem in the Prague public transportation system. There is not a direct connection between the city center and the Airport. Instead, you will need to take a bus to then take the metro to the old town (or your accommodation). Not difficult, but just a bit weird that a big touristic city like Prague does not have a quicker way to get to the city center. Of course, there is the option of a taxi, but it will always be more expensive.

Trains and buses to Prague

If you are visiting more than one country in Europe, this is probably the best option for you to get to Prague. The interrail/Eurail is cheap, easy to use, and affordable. Moreover, compared to Prague airport, getting to the city center is pretty easy, as the train station is almost at the heart of Prague.

A similar thing happens with Buses. There are many FlixBus (one of the main European long-distance bus companies) routes that go through Prague at a very affordable price. Moreover, trains or buses are more sustainable means of travel!

Prague public transportation

Prague has a good public transportation system, with quite affordable prices, and good coverage. Metro, trams, and buses are the three main ways to move around. The metro and tram, though, are probably the most efficient, as do not compete with cars.

The metro frequency varies during the day, with trains running every 2 minutes at rush hour, and between 4-10 minutes during off-peak. However, the metro does not run 24h a day, but from 5 am until 12 am (midnight).

There are 3 metro lines in Prague:

• Green (Line A): the one you can use to get to the Airport (with a bus ride included). It has stops close to the old town square, the Jewish quarter, and Wenceslas Square.
• Yellow (Line B): connects the central bus station with the old town, as well as the Wenceslas Square and the Prague airport (with another bus involved)
• Red (Line C): connects the central bus station (again) with Wenceslas square, and Vysehrad, one of the best viewpoints over the city of Prague.

To plan your routes, besides the always reliable google maps, you can also check the official webpage, where there is a route planner, always updated with the official timetables.

Prague metro fares

The cost of taking the Prague metro is not very high. A single ticket for a 30′ ride for an adult costs 30CZK, a bit more than 1€. A 90′ ride costs 40CZK, around 1,5€.

Nonetheless, if you are planning to use the metro a lot, there are 24h tickets for 120CZK (4,9€) and 72h tickets for 330CZK (13,30CZK). Of course, these tickets are not valid only for the metro, but for all the public transportation systems in Prague (tram, bus, metro). For updated fares and more information, check the official webpage here.

Cheapest Prague transportation method

As cliche as it may sound, the cheapest way to move around Prague is on foot. I spent 5-6 days in Prague, and I took the metro three times. Two of them were to get from the airport to the city center and vice-versa.

Prague is not a big town, or a least not one where the main tourist attractions are very distant one from the other. Thus, it makes sense to walk almost everywhere. Besides, this is probably the best way to explore and discover the city. If you can, walk around and get lost a bit. Not only it will be cheap and reduce your Prague travel cost, but also allow you to feel and see more of the city.

Prague tourist attractions cost

Prague is a city full of history, thus, plenty of buildings that are worth visiting. Nonetheless, most of them come with an entrance fee. Being tourist sites, the prices are a bit disconnected from the reality of the city. Most of the famous sites, such as churches/cathedrals and viewpoints (like the Charles Bridge or Old Town Towers) will cost you around 10€ each.

However, there are ways to get cheaper deals.

One is to buy a Prague travel Card, known as Coolpass. Prices range from 76€ for 2 days to 94€ for 4 days and include almost all the famous attractions and museums. It also covers river cruises, a bus tour… More info here! (non-affiliated link)

If your plan is not to visit all the main attractions in Prague, there is another option, one that I used: wake up early. Most tourist sites have a 50% discount during the first hour after opening. Thus, you get a huge discount and an almost tourist-free experience. 100% recommended! For exact and updated prices visit the official Prague tourism site.

On average, if you are not that into museums, expect to pay 10-20€ a day on entrance fees, although it is possible to see almost all the city for free.

Case study: one-week travel cost in Prague, Czech Republic

In these articles, I usually share my expenses during my trip to the city or country that I visited. However, in this case, it would be cheating. A very good friend of mine lives in downtown Prague, and I stayed with him, at his place and paid nothing for accommodation, and very little for food (except when eating out).

Yet, on a hypothetical 1 week in Prague, sleeping in a hostel or Airbnb, visiting the most common sites, and eating out once a day, it is possible to spend around 60€ daily (flight excluded). If you include the flights, it gets to 85€ per day approx

Total budget per day: 62€

Let’s dive into this budget:

• Flights: 200€. It is possible to fly cheaper to Prague. nonetheless, if you also include checked-in baggage, this is a reasonable price to consider.
• Accommodation: 140€. around 20€ per night, shared accommodation, both for a solo traveler in a hostel or for friends sharing an apartment.
• Food: 175€. This includes a generous budget of 25€ per day, with an extra beer and some good eating out. You can definitely reduce this daily cost by preparing your own food.
• In-city transportation: 20€. Including the bus and metro from the airport, and occasional metros.
• Tourist attractions: 100€. This budget would allow visiting all the famous sites, as well as some museums or non-typical attractions. Again, easy to reduce by either visiting fewer spots or using the 50% early bird entrance in most places.

Total Prague travel cost: 635€ / Total Prague travel cost without flights: 435€.

Daily budget with flights: 90€ / Daily budget without flights: 62€.

As you can see, it is possible to travel to Prague on a budget, almost at a 50€ per day cost, and still, fully enjoy the city.

This has been the Prague travel cost guide. I hope it helped you in budgeting your trip to the Czech Republic. Got any questions? Feel free to send me a DM on Instagram (@aniolvisuals), and follow me for more travel vibes!