Do I need cash in Czechia, or can I use cards?

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.

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.

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

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