Money in Prague: Crowns, Euros and Exchanging Safely
Prague uses the Czech crown (CZK), not the euro. Many shops and restaurants accept euros, but change, especially in shops, comes in crowns. If an exchange office gives you a bad deal, you can cancel the exchange at the same office within three hours (counted only while it is open), for up to €1,000.
Key facts
- Currency
- Czech crown (Kč, CZK). Prices are rounded; there are no smaller coins. visitczechia.com ↗
- Paying in euros
- Many shops, restaurants and tourist centres accept euros; change, particularly in shops, is given in crowns visitczechia.com ↗
- Exchange office fees
- Not allowed. Each office may use only one exchange rate, with no special "VIP" rates. visitczechia.com ↗
- Cancelling an exchange
- Within 3 hours (counted only while the office is open), at the same office, for up to €1,000 of the amount you handed over. At an exchange machine: 3 working days. cnb.cz ↗
- Banks
- Fee around 2%, sometimes with a minimum (for example CZK 30). Closed at weekends and on public holidays. visitczechia.com ↗
- Street exchange
- Never exchange money on the street, whatever rate is offered visitczechia.com ↗
- Complaints
- Czech National Bank (supervisor) or the Financial Arbitrator cnb.cz ↗
Paying
The currency is the Czech crown (koruna, written Kč or CZK). Prices are rounded to whole crowns.
Many shops, restaurants and tourist centres take euros, but particularly in shops the change is given in crowns.
Exchanging money
Exchange offices may not charge a fee, and each office may use only one rate. Keep the receipt and check that it shows the correct date and time.
If the deal turns out to be bad, you can cancel it within three hours at the same office; the three hours count only while the office is open. You return the crowns and get your money back, or the office may instead pay you the difference to the Czech National Bank's rate for the previous day. The right covers up to €1,000 of the amount you handed over. At an exchange machine the limit is three working days.
Banks charge around 2% for exchanging cash and are closed at weekends and on public holidays. Hotels can exchange money too, but may charge a fee.
Never exchange money on the street, however good the offered rate sounds. You can check the official rate on the Czech National Bank's website.
If something goes wrong
Exchange offices are supervised by the Czech National Bank (Na Příkopě 28, Prague 1). Disputes can also go to the Financial Arbitrator (Legerova 1581/69, Prague 1).