Prague Travel Guide

Prague's historic center is compact and best explored on foot. From Old Town Square to Prague Castle is about a 30-minute walk (including the Charles Bridge crossing), and most of what tourists want to see falls within this corridor.

The public transit system (metro, trams, buses) is excellent and cheap — a 30-minute ticket costs about 30 CZK (around €1.20) and a 24-hour pass is 120 CZK (about €5). The metro has three lines and covers the center well. Trams are useful for reaching neighborhoods beyond walking distance, like Vinohrady and Žižkov.

Taxis in Prague have improved their reputation but still use a ride-hailing app (Bolt or Liftago are the local favorites) rather than hailing on the street. Prices are low by European standards — a cross-city ride is typically 150-250 CZK (€6-10).

From the airport, the Airport Express bus to the main train station takes about 35 minutes and costs 100 CZK. Taxis to the center are around 600-800 CZK (€25-33). For groups of 3-4, the taxi is the obvious choice.

Czech cuisine is built for cold weather and beer: roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut (vepřo-knedlo-zelo), beef goulash, svíčková (beef in cream sauce), and fried cheese (smažený sýr) are the staples. It is hearty, filling, and pairs perfectly with the local pilsner.

Beer is the main event. The Czech Republic has the highest per-capita beer consumption in the world, and Prague is where you understand why. Pilsner Urquell, Staropramen, and Budvar are the big names, but every neighborhood pub (hospoda) has its own character. A half-liter draft at a local pub costs 40-60 CZK (€1.60-2.50). At a tourist-area restaurant, expect 70-100 CZK.

For groups, traditional Czech beer halls are ideal — long communal tables, huge portions, and low prices. The waiter keeps a tally on a slip of paper at your table.

Dining prices in Prague are remarkably affordable. A main course at a good local restaurant runs 180-300 CZK (€7-12). Even upscale restaurants are roughly half the price of Paris or London equivalents.

Avoid: Restaurants on Old Town Square itself — the markup is steep and quality is mediocre. Walk five minutes in any direction for dramatically better value.

Prague is one of Europe's best-value group destinations. Your budget goes further here than almost anywhere else on the continent.

Accommodation: Prague 1 (Old Town and Malá Strana) is the most convenient but priciest. Prague 2 (Vinohrady and Nové Město) offers better value and is still walkable to everything. Apartments are widely available and well-priced for groups.

Currency: Czech Republic uses the koruna (CZK), not the euro. Some tourist-facing businesses accept euros but give terrible exchange rates. Use ATMs for cash (avoid exchange booths on the street — many use misleading rates). Cards are widely accepted but carry some cash for smaller pubs and market stalls.

Scams to know: Currency exchange booths in the tourist center often advertise misleading rates with hidden commissions. Always use ATMs from real banks. Also, some restaurants in the tourist zone add sneaky charges — check your bill before paying.

Day trips: Kutná Hora (bone church and medieval silver mining town, 1 hour by train) and Český Krumlov (fairy-tale town, 2.5 hours by bus) are the most popular group day trips.

Nightlife: Prague has a reputation as a party city, and it delivers. But it also has excellent cocktail bars, jazz clubs, and wine bars for groups that want something more low-key than the pub crawl scene.