Czech Currency: Money, Cards & the ATM Trap

Czechia uses the Czech koruna (CZK, sometimes written Kč), not the euro — a common surprise for first-timers who assume all of the EU shares one currency. Some tourist-heavy businesses in Prague quote prices in euros too, but you'll almost always get a better deal paying in koruna.

Coins come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 CZK; notes in 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 CZK. As a rough rule, 100 CZK is about €4 / $4.50 / £3.50, though rates move, so check before you travel. Prices in koruna are written with a comma (1.250 Kč means one thousand two hundred and fifty), which can confuse visitors used to seeing commas as decimal points.

Cards are accepted almost everywhere in Prague and other tourist towns — restaurants, shops, even most market stalls. Cash still matters in smaller villages, some family-run pensions, and public toilets (which often charge 10-20 CZK). Carry some small cash for these situations, but you won't need much.

Contactless payment is the norm; you can tap for a coffee, a tram ticket, or a museum entry. If your card charges foreign transaction fees, consider one that doesn't — you'll use it constantly. Apple Pay and Google Pay work widely in Prague, less so in rural areas.

This is the single most common way tourists lose money in Czechia. Standalone ATMs branded "Euronet" or similar (common in tourist zones and airports) offer terrible exchange rates and push a "Dynamic Currency Conversion" (DCC) option — a screen asking "Would you like to be charged in your home currency instead?" Always say no and choose CZK. Better yet, use ATMs attached to actual Czech banks (Česká spořitelna, ČSOB, Komerční banka, Raiffeisenbank) — the rates are dramatically better.

DCC is marketed as a convenience, but the exchange rate includes a hidden markup of 5-10%, sometimes more. Your own bank almost always gives a fairer conversion. If an ATM shows only large denominations, that's fine — banks and larger shops will break them. Just avoid changing money at airport booths or street kiosks advertising "0% commission"; the rate is where they make their profit.

Tipping isn't mandatory but is expected for decent service. 10% is standard in restaurants; rounding up to the nearest 50 or 100 CZK is common for smaller bills. For a coffee or beer, rounding up a few crowns is enough. Taxi drivers and hotel staff appreciate a tip but won't expect a large one.

In pubs, locals often just say the amount they want to pay, including the tip, rather than leaving cash on the table. If the bill is 186 CZK, you might hand over 200 and say "dvě stě" (two hundred). Waiters usually bring the card terminal to the table, so you can add the tip before tapping or paying in cash.

When paying by card, the terminal will sometimes ask if you want to pay in CZK or your home currency (a smaller-scale version of the ATM trap). Always choose CZK — your own bank's exchange rate is virtually always better than the terminal's.

Splitting bills isn't as common as in some countries; if you're dining with a group, it's polite to sort it out between yourselves rather than asking for six separate checks. And don't be surprised if a small shop asks for a minimum card payment of around 100-200 CZK — it's legal and common.

No affiliate links on this page — just advice from a local who has watched too many visitors lose money on exchange-rate tricks.