Is Prague Expensive? Honest 2026 Prices & Budget Tips
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Is Prague Expensive? An Honest Local Guide to Prices and Value
By Uliana Formina · top-category licensed Prague guide · 17 years of experience
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Is Prague expensive? It's the question every visitor asks — and the answer is more interesting than you'd expect. Prague in 2026 is essentially two cities in one. The tourist triangle — Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, Wenceslas Square — runs at prices that would feel normal in Paris or London. But step two streets in any direction, and you're in a city where a full lunch costs 150 CZK (€6), a half-litre of excellent Czech beer costs 45 CZK (€1.80), and a tram ride across town costs under 50 CZK (€2).
We've been guiding visitors through Prague for 17 years, and we've watched thousands of tourists pay three times what they should — simply because they didn't know where to look. Here is what things actually cost, where to save, and where to spend.
The Short Answer: How Much Does Prague Cost Per Day?
A realistic daily budget per person in 2026, based on what we see our guests spend:
Budget traveller — €50–70 per day. Budget hotel or hostel, lunch at a local restaurant, one or two paid attractions, public transport, evening beer at a neighbourhood pub.
Comfortable mid-range — €100–150 per day. Three-star hotel in a good location, two meals at good restaurants, several attractions, a private tour or day trip.
Premium — €200+ per day. Four or five-star hotel, dining at the best restaurants, private tours, no compromises.
For comparison: the same comfort level in Paris, London or Rome would cost 40–60% more. Prague delivers world-class architecture, history and food at Central European prices — if you know where to go.
Food and Drink: Where the Real Savings Are
Czech food is hearty, flavourful and — in the right places — remarkably affordable. The trick is knowing which places are "right."
What things actually cost at a good local restaurant (not a tourist trap):
Beer (0.5L draft Pilsner or Kozel): 45–65 CZK (€1.80–2.60). This is for excellent Czech lager — the same beer costs 90–120 CZK at tourist restaurants on Old Town Square. Want to see where Kozel is brewed? Our Kozel Brewery Tour takes you to the source — just 25 km from Prague.
Lunch special (polední menu): 150–200 CZK (€6–8). Most local restaurants offer a two-course lunch menu on weekdays between 11:00 and 14:00. Soup plus a main course, freshly cooked. This is how Czechs eat lunch — and it's one of the best deals in European dining.
Dinner for two with beer at a good Czech restaurant: 600–900 CZK (€24–36). Svíčková, goulash, roasted pork — full portions, quality ingredients, honest prices.
Dinner for two at an upscale restaurant: 1,500–3,000 CZK (€60–120). This includes places with river views, tasting menus and Michelin-recommended kitchens.
Where tourists overpay: any restaurant on Old Town Square, Karlova street or the Royal Route where someone stands outside inviting you in. These places charge double for half the quality. Read our complete guide for specific recommendations: Where to Eat in Prague.
Accommodation: What to Expect
Hotel prices in Prague vary enormously by season and location.
Budget: €40–70 per night for a clean budget hotel or well-reviewed hostel private room.
Mid-range: €80–130 per night for a three-star hotel in a good neighbourhood like Vinohrady, New Town or Lesser Town.
Premium: €150–250+ per night for a four or five-star hotel in Old Town or with castle views.
Peak season (June–August and Christmas/New Year) pushes prices up 40–60%. The best value months are January–March and November (excluding Christmas). Easter and May are in between.
Where to stay matters more than how much you spend. A €90 hotel in Vinohrady will give you a better experience than a €130 hotel squeezed into a tiny Old Town building. Read: Where to Stay in Prague.
Getting Around: Cheap and Easy
Prague's public transport is excellent — and even after a fare increase in January 2026, it remains one of the cheapest in Europe.
Single ticket (30 minutes): 39 CZK (€1.55) in paper, or 36 CZK via the Lítačka app.
Single ticket (90 minutes, includes transfers): 50 CZK (€2) in paper, or 46 CZK via the app. This is the best option for most journeys.
72-hour pass: 350 CZK (€14) in paper, 340 CZK via the app.
Download the Lítačka app before you arrive — tickets are about 10% cheaper than paper and activate instantly. No need to validate at a machine.
Trams are the best way to get around. The metro is fast for longer distances. Walking works for most of the centre — you can cross Old Town in 15 minutes on foot.
Where tourists overpay: taxis at tourist spots. Use Bolt instead — it's reliable and typically costs 150–250 CZK for a ride across the city centre. Airport to centre by Bolt: around 500–650 CZK (€20–26). By public transport: take bus or trolleybus to the nearest metro station, then ride to the centre — under 50 CZK with a 90-minute ticket. The Airport Express direct bus to the main train station costs 200 CZK.
Attractions: What's Free and What's Not
This is where Prague shines for budget travellers. Many of the city's most impressive sights cost nothing.
Free:
Walking across Charles Bridge and through Old Town — the architecture is the attraction.
Prague Castle courtyards, gardens (April–October) and St. Vitus Cathedral (nave).
Vyšehrad fortress — the views alone are worth the visit.
Petřín Hill — walk up or take the funicular (check availability before your visit) and walk down through gardens and orchards.
Lennon Wall, Kampa Island, Wallenstein Garden.
Most churches, including St. Nicholas in Old Town and the Church of Our Lady before Týn.
Paid but worth it:
Prague Castle interior circuit: from 250 CZK (€10).
Jewish Quarter museums and synagogues: around 600 CZK (€24) for the full ticket, 250 CZK for the Old-New Synagogue.
Petřín Tower: 150 CZK (€6) for the panoramic view.
Old Town Hall Tower: 250 CZK (€10) for the best view in Prague.
Prices change — always check before your visit. Or ask us, we're happy to give you the latest information.
Day Trips: Great Value Outside Prague
Some of the most memorable experiences near Prague are surprisingly affordable to reach on your own — but dramatically better with a guide who knows the stories behind what you're seeing.
Train to Karlštejn Castle: about 60 CZK each way (€2.40), 40 minutes.
Train to Kutná Hora: about 120 CZK each way (€4.80), one hour.
Bus to Karlovy Vary: about 200 CZK each way (€8), two hours.
Český Krumlov, Hluboká Castle, Terezín Memorial — all reachable by public transport, but a private tour with guide and car means no transfers, no timetables and stories that bring the places to life.
For a special evening, our Medieval Dinner Show at U Pavouka offers a 16th-century tavern experience with sword fights, fire shows, dancers and a feast of traditional Czech food with unlimited beer and wine. Two sittings: afternoon at 16:30 or evening at 20:00.
Money Traps to Avoid
After 17 years of guiding, here are the things we see tourists lose money on most often:
Currency exchange booths in the centre. The rates look good on the sign, but hidden commissions can take 10–15% of your money. Use a bank ATM instead — Česká spořitelna, Komerční banka or ČSOB are everywhere. Or better yet, use a card with no foreign transaction fees.
Paying in euros instead of Czech crowns. Some restaurants and shops offer to charge you in euros — this always comes with a terrible exchange rate. Always pay in CZK, whether by card or cash.
Euronet ATMs. The branded ATMs with bright blue and yellow screens charge high fees and offer poor exchange rates. Walk past them — find a bank-branded ATM instead.
Restaurants with hawkers outside. If someone is standing on the street trying to pull you into a restaurant, that restaurant doesn't need to be good — it just needs to be full. Walk past and find a place where locals eat. Check our restaurant guide for specific recommendations.
Overpriced taxis at tourist spots. Always use Bolt. Never get into an unmarked car.
Is Prague Good Value?
Yes — emphatically. Prague offers world-class architecture, a thousand years of history, one of Europe's best beer cultures, and food that fills you up and makes you happy — all at prices that feel like a pleasant surprise compared to Western Europe.
The key is knowing where to go. A €6 lunch at a local restaurant is better than a €18 lunch on Old Town Square — not just cheaper, but actually better food. A €90 hotel in Vinohrady is more comfortable and more interesting than a €130 hotel in a converted Old Town cellar. And a walk through Prague with someone who knows every story behind every stone is worth more than any amount saved on a free walking tour.
That's what we do. We show people the Prague that locals know — not just the landmarks, but the restaurants, the shortcuts, the views and the stories that make this city extraordinary.
Is Prague expensive compared to other European cities? No. Prague is significantly more affordable than Paris, London, Rome or Amsterdam. Daily costs are roughly 40–60% lower for comparable comfort. It's similar in price to Budapest and slightly more expensive than Kraków. For the quality of architecture, food and cultural experiences, Prague offers exceptional value.
How much money do I need per day in Prague? A comfortable daily budget is €100–150 per person — this covers a good hotel, two meals at quality restaurants, a couple of attractions and public transport. Budget travellers can manage on €50–70. Premium travellers should plan for €200+.
Is beer really that cheap in Prague? At local pubs and restaurants, a half-litre of excellent Czech draft beer costs 45–65 CZK (€1.80–2.60). At tourist restaurants in the centre, the same beer can cost 90–120 CZK. The beer is the same — the location is different.
Should I exchange money before arriving? No. Use a bank-branded ATM in Prague for the best rate. Avoid currency exchange booths in the centre and Euronet ATMs. If paying by card, always choose to pay in CZK, not euros.
Is public transport in Prague affordable? Very. A 24-hour pass costs 120 CZK (€4.80) and covers unlimited trams, buses and metro. Download the Lítačka app for discounted fares — about 10% cheaper than paper tickets.
Are private tours worth the money in Prague? A private tour costs more than a free walking tour — but you get a licensed guide, your own pace, your own group and a completely different level of experience. For couples, families or anyone who values depth over crowds, the difference is significant. Read our honest comparison: Private Tours vs Group Tours. Browse our private tours to see options and pricing.
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