← Part of the Czechia money guide
Czechiachecked Jul 2026Do I need cash in Czechia, or can I use cards?
Short answer: cards work well, especially in Prague, but the currency is the koruna, not the euro, so do not pay in euros. Carry a little koruna for small shops and pubs. Here is how to handle it.
At a glance
Currency
Koruna (CZK), not euros
Cards
Card-friendly, contactless common
Cash for
Small shops, pubs, small towns
On a card
Choose koruna, avoid Euronet
Cards, mostly. Czechia is card-friendly, especially in Prague, where contactless is common in shops, restaurants and transit. The currency is the Czech koruna, not the euro, so ignore euro prices and do not pay in euros (poor rate). Keep some koruna cash for small shops, pubs outside the center, markets and small towns. Choose koruna, not euros or dollars, on any card or ATM, and avoid standalone Euronet ATMs, which charge high fees.
Card-friendly, and it is koruna
Czechia is card-friendly, especially in Prague, where contactless, Apple Pay and Google Pay work in shops, restaurants and on transit, and Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted.
The currency is the Czech koruna, not the euro. Some tourist spots quote or accept euros, but at a poor rate, so pay in koruna. Keep some koruna cash for small shops, pubs outside the center, markets and small towns.
Choose koruna, avoid Euronet
When a card terminal or ATM asks whether to charge in euros, dollars or koruna, always choose koruna. Foreign currency triggers dynamic currency conversion at a rate about 3 to 8% worse than your own bank's. Decline it every time.
For cash, use an ATM attached to a real bank, not a standalone Euronet kiosk, which charges high fees and pushes the dollar conversion. Use a debit card to avoid cash-advance fees.
Cash for small spots
A card covers most spending in Prague and larger towns. Keep a little koruna cash for small shops, neighborhood pubs, markets and small towns, where cards are less certain.
For tipping norms, see tipping in Czechia, and for the wider picture, the Czechia money guide.
Common questions
Quick answers.
Do I need cash in Czechia?
A little. Czechia is card-friendly, especially in Prague, with contactless common, so a card covers most spending. Keep some koruna for small shops, neighborhood pubs, markets and small towns.
Should I pay in koruna or euros in Czechia?
Always koruna. Czechia uses the koruna, not the euro, and places that accept euros give a poor rate. On a card, choose koruna, not euros or dollars, to avoid the 3 to 8% conversion.
Are Euronet ATMs a good idea in Czechia?
No. Standalone Euronet kiosks charge high fees and push the dollar conversion. Use an ATM attached to a real bank instead, and always choose to be charged in koruna.
Does Czechia use the euro?
No. The currency is the Czech koruna. Some tourist spots quote or accept euros, but at a poor rate, so pay in koruna for the best value.
More on Czechia
The little money things nobody warns you about.
- Tipping in CzechiaCzechia tips a little more than Western Europe: about 10% at a restaurant, told to the server rather than left on the table. Here is what you actually owe.
- Prague taxis, the apps, and the airport scam to skipPrague's taxis had a bad name for years, but apps have quietly fixed most of it. Here is which one to install, the airport trick that still catches people, and how to get into the city cheaply.
- Bringing your dog or cat to Czechia.Czechia runs on the single EU pet-entry process for a US-origin dog or cat: microchip, rabies in the right order, and an EU health certificate on a 10-day clock. No quarantine, no rabies titer. Here is what that means for Czechia, and the local parts worth knowing.
Sources, and how this was checked
Last checkedJul 2026
- Czech National Bankofficial exchange rate information
- US State DepartmentCzechia country information
Our own readCzechia is card-friendly but uses the koruna, not the euro, and the Euronet ATM fee trap is well documented. The koruna rate moves, and the firm rule is to decline foreign-currency conversion. Checked July 2026.