Formerly known as one of Europe’s best travel bargains, Prague is still amazing but it’s more of a mid-priced destination now. Thanks partly to the rise in the value of the Czech currency in recent years, it’s now only slightly cheaper than Berlin, except for the excellent beer which continues to be a bargain.
Easily one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Prague definitely lives up to the hype as long as you can handle being with some crowds. The architecture here is as varied as it is stunning, with interesting surprises often around the next corner.
Prague is also an extremely fun city since it is famous for excellent (and reasonably priced) beer and a very welcoming nightlife scene.
| Population | 1,300,000 |
| Area | 1,900,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+1 |
| Currency | Czech koruna |
| Airports | Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) |
Old Town Square in the heart of Prague should be near the top of your list to at least see the Astronomical Clock and enjoy the street food.
The Charles Bridge is lined with impressive statues and it’s going to be one of your favorite photo opportunities.
On the other side of the Charles Bridge you reach the bottom of Prague Castle, which should be seen for at least a couple hours.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 11.73 - 39.18 |
| 16.45 - 76.96 |
| 21.51 - 170.71 |
| 32.25 - 200.74 |
| 118.22 - 362.35 |
Central Station Studios Doubles from €52/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central 3-star hotel in Prague |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 7.55 - 19.42 |
Czech Inn Beds from €10/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central hostel in Prague |
Food can still be found at bargain prices if you go for fast food or street carts, but if you go for a sit-down meal with an English menu then it’s not all that cheap. Beer, however, continues to be a relative bargain in spite of the high quality.
| Budget breakfast | Many hotels include breakfast in the price. If not you can get hot dogs and other local items for cheap. | $4.53 - $9.06 |
| Budget lunch | For Czechs lunch is the big meal of the day, though most places have the same menu for dinner. Portions tend to be large and filling. | $6.57 - $11.32 |
| Budget dinner | Restaurants with tourist menus in Prague are notorious for rip-off schemes, so eat with locals or check the bill closely. | $9.96 - $15.85 |
| Beer (.5l glass) | Some of the world's finest lager isn't as cheap as it used to be, but still a great deal compared to elsewhere. | $2.04 - $3.40 |
| Hot dog from a stand | Delicious local hot dogs are served all day and night at stands all over. Large ones can be meal size. | $1.00 - $2.04 |
| Beer (can, retail) | If the beer in bars isn't cheap enough for you, it's even cheaper in stores. | $1.00 - $1.36 |
| Cup of coffee | Proper cafes will cost even more, so take-away coffee is a better deal. | $1.27 - $2.26 |
You can take one of many free (tips-based) walking tours around Prague, and they are highly recommended because so much of the city can be appreciated on foot.
Bus tours are also available, but they don’t cover many of the most interesting places because the streets aren’t large enough.
You can and should tour Prague Castle, with a few different options available.
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35 | 26 | 0.9 |
| February | 37 | 26 | 0.9 |
| March | 46 | 32 | 1.1 |
| April | 57 | 38 | 1.5 |
| May | 66 | 47 | 3.0 |
| June | 72 | 54 | 2.9 |
| July | 76 | 58 | 2.6 |
| August | 76 | 57 | 2.8 |
| September | 67 | 50 | 1.6 |
| October | 58 | 43 | 1.3 |
| November | 44 | 36 | 1.2 |
| December | 36 | 29 | 1.0 |
Prague has a fairly pleasant climate for most of the year. Summers are usually warm but rarely scorchingly hot, and evenings continue to get nicely cool. Spring and fall also usually offer good weather, without much threat of consistent rainfall. Winters are cool and there is snow, but it’s rare that it accumulates enough to cause problems.
| 21 Mar | 6:04am | 6:17pm |
| 21 Jun | 4:53am | 9:16pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:47am | 7:03pm |
| 21 Dec | 7:59am | 4:02pm |
It used to be that hotels were the only things that were expensive, but at least prices for those haven’t gone up too dramatically. Prague hotels can be found at decent prices outside of the main summer tourist season, and if you don’t mind staying a tram ride outside the city center then you can get good quality at a good price. Hostels in Prague are still a pretty good bargain, though the best ones fill up well in advance. Check our list of recommended Prague hotels for great locations and value at top-rated properties.
Hotels in Prague are usually jam-packed and at their most expensive from June through August, and generally high season lasts from April through October. The price of hotel rooms in the city varies drastically depending on neighborhood, so it’s important to see where a place is located before declaring it a bargain. During off season Prague hotels of 3 stars and above can become quite cheap. Hostels in Prague are always reasonably priced, and they stay about the same all year round at most places.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 11.73 - 39.18 |
| 16.45 - 76.96 |
| 21.51 - 170.71 |
| 32.25 - 200.74 |
| 118.22 - 362.35 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 7.55 - 19.42 |
Prague has a large airport just outside of the city, but fares from outside of Europe are usually kind of high so most coming from longer distances will fly into another city and then visit Prague by train.
Berlin, Salzburg, and Vienna are the three closest and most popular major destinations with good train service into Prague.
Czechia has slowish trains so most residents take the long-distance buses from city to city, and you should consider that as well. Fares are usually lower and there are more departures to choose from as well. The bus to or from Czesky Krumlov is a better option than the train.
The main tourist zone around the river is mostly walkable, but many of the more affordable hotels are a zone or two away. Prague has an efficient tram system that is very affordable and it is less intimidating after the first time you try it.
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to city center | 19.02 - 33.97 |
| Airport Express bus to city center | 2.08 - 2.72 |
| Public bus from airport to city center | 1.81 |
| 3km taxi ride in Prague | 3.80 - 7.70 |
| Metro or tram ride in Prague | 1.09 - 1.45 |
| 24-hour tram/metro pass | 4.98 |