Money in Czechia

Czechia's koruna (symbol Kč, currency code CZK) is usually called ‘crowns’ by Czechs speaking English. There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 koruna and banknotes of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000Kč.

Payments

Both cards and cash are usually accepted in Czech supermarkets. In Prague and large cities such as Brno and Plžen, payment by card dominates in cafes and restaurants and is usually possible for public transport tickets. Kartou means a payment card.

It is always good practice to carry some cash for use in small businesses or for small payments.

Visitors should always pay in local currency. Paying in a home or other currency exposes travellers to a currency conversion fee.

The mark-up for a such a dynamic currency conversion is often more than 12%.

Travellers should know the exchange rate and do their sums on a smartphone calculator.

Carrying a little cash in most places is worthwhile. Coins will likely still be needed at places such as public toilets and laundromats.

Street vendors, cafes, small restaurants (especially in small destinations) and small accommodation houses might also demand cash.

Outside Prague, especially in small Czech towns such as Mikulov, Telč and Znojmo, cash is often preferred. The words pouze hotově, jen hotovost or simply hotovost indicate that cash only is accepted.

A good rule of thumb is to carry enough cash to cover the next transaction.

It's possible to pay in euros in some parts of Prague, but this should also be avoided. Again, the conversion rate will likely be unfavourable. The early 2026 conversion rate was about 25Kč to €1.

Halers (haléřů), one-hundredth of a koruna, are redundant. Payments are usually rounded up or down to the nearest koruna.

Using cards for payment

Using cards to pay is easiest in Prague and other big cities. Pay in local currency, even in a card transaction.

Aim to pay with a debit or credit card that does not charge foreign transaction fees.

For contactless payments of more than 500Kč, the user will have to enter a PIN code. Payment using digital wallets is becoming more common in big cities.

Withdrawing cash

Withdrawing cash also costs money. Costs for withdrawing cash from ATMs (bankomaty) can be high, especially where a flat fee is charged for a small withdrawal. There are three types of fees:

● The fee imposed at the ATM where you are withdrawing (a machine that is not part of a network allied to the issuing bank (a flat fee, up to 3% of withdrawal value, or both)
● The currency conversion fee (commonly 1-3%, but others carry charges higher than 3%)
● Your home bank’s fee

Not all necessarily apply. Some cards do not charge such currency conversion fees. The home bank’s fee, if any, depends on the account you are using.

But bank-operated ATMs are preferable to others and should be the first option. Prefer to withdraw at ATMs operated by Czech banks such as ČSOB, Česká spořitelna, KB or UniCredit or Austrian banks such as Raiffeisen. These might charge up to 170Kč for withdrawals by foreign cardholders.

Flat fees at many ATMs range up to 240Kč, which make withdrawing small sums uneconomical. A warning will usually appear on the ATM screen, so at least you have the choice of whether to cancel the transaction and try elsewhere.

The principle of using local currency also applies to paying any withdrawal fees at an ATM. If an option to pay in Czech or a home currency appears on the screen of the payment terminal, opt for Czech currency.

Beware of the commercial non-bank terminals that are scattered conveniently around transport hubs and high-traffic areas of city streets. These operators base their business on withdrawal charges and exchange rates and should be avoided. The Euronet and ATM brands are two, but independent and unbranded ATMs in general should be avoided.

But bank ATM withdrawals are not automatically cheap. Sometimes your home bank can supply information about international bank affiliations that can reduce the cost to you.

When withdrawing cash by card:

● Limit the number of cash withdrawals and carry as much cash as you feel you might need and are comfortable with.
● Withdraw at a bank terminal whenever you can. It’s likely – not certain – to offer lower fees. If there are no alternatives to a non-bank terminal when you need cash, apply the previous rule with caution and check the exchange rate and withdrawal charge first. You can cancel the transaction before committing yourself.
● Use a debit card, not a credit card. Credit card cash advances incur higher interest rates than standard purchases and interest costs on the transaction usually start immediately. A credit fee (often 3%) goes on top.

Raven Guides, in an experiment, once tried to withdraw 800Kč (about €33) at a bank-operated ATM in Czechia and received an on-screen warning that the account would be charged 169Kč – almost €7, more than 21% of the transaction amount.

That's uneconomical for a small withdrawal. Normal charges for a cash withdrawal at an ATM in neighbouring Austria is €4-5.

There are three options for travellers in a similar position:

● Accept the big impost on a small transaction
● Cancel and try withdrawing a larger amount to test whether this is a fixed charge (allowing you to spread the cost over a larger amount)
● Cancel altogether and make card transactions only.

Travellers should always bear in mind large cash withdrawals are not necessary in many parts of Czechia frequented by tourists.

Currency exchange

It’s important to know the current official mid-rate, check the rate on offer and be able to spot a bad deal.

It’s against the law for Czech currency-exchange businesses to charge commission. Avoid the many exchange outlets advertising ‘zero commission’ or ‘0% commission’ on exchanges. The pay-off for an exchange shop will be concealed in the poor exchange rate on offer. Other efforts to mask poor rates might often show the selling rate much more prominently than the buying rate. The unwary can find themselves getting almost 30% below the official rate.

Bank commissions on currency exchange are typically in the 1-3% range.

It’s also the law that an exchange receipt should be issued. Visitors should keep the receipt. The Czech government act covering foreign exchange allows customers up to three hours to cancel a suspect currency exchange transaction and get their money back. It’s also a good comparison tool for later transactions.

Visitors should always know what authentic local banknotes look like.

Never take part in black-market street exchanges. Refuse offers to exchange money privately, which usually end badly for the visitor. The entrepreneur here might offer Hungarian forints (trading in a recent range of 15 or 16 to the koruna), outdated koruna notes or old notes from a third country. Fake notes are often in circulation.

Banks

Major Czech-branded retail banks are ČSOB, Česká spořitelna, Komerční banka (KB) and UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Slovakia. Large European banks have Prague branches.

Bank branches typically open Monday to Friday and common opening hours are 9.00-16.00 or 17.00. At major city branches or in shopping centres these might be extended and occasional branches like these open Saturday mornings. Small branches often close for lunch.

The Visit Czechia website also has a guide to prices and payments.