Prague

Prague is the kind of city that looks like it was designed by a film set decorator working with an unlimited budget. Gothic towers, Baroque palaces, Art Nouveau cafés, and one very strange dancing building from 1996 that has no business looking that good. It sits on both banks of the Vltava River, with Prague Castle watching over everything from the hill above Malá Strana.

But here's the thing: the city has a dual personality. The historic core (roughly Prague 1) is extremely touristic, extremely expensive by Czech standards, and genuinely crowded from April through October. Walk ten minutes in almost any direction and the vibe completely changes. Locals actually eat, drink, and live in neighborhoods like Vinohrady, Žižkov, and Karlín. That gap between tourist Prague and real Prague is wide, and knowing it exists will save you money and give you better meals.

Czech culture tends toward reserve first, warmth second. Locals are not unfriendly, but they don't default to the kind of performative cheerfulness you might find elsewhere. Greet people properly ("Dobrý den" when entering any shop or café) and the temperature shifts noticeably. Czechs are extremely proud of their beer, their architecture, and their dark humor. They've been invaded, occupied, and "liberated" enough times that a certain wry stoicism runs through the culture. Don't mistake quietness for coldness.

Always greet when entering any shop, café, or small restaurant with 'Dobrý den.' Skipping it is genuinely noticed and not appreciated. This is non-negotiable Czech social etiquette..

Tipping: 10% is the standard for good service in restaurants. Round up to the nearest convenient amount. Hand the tip directly to your server — don't leave cash on the table.

Saying the total including your tip when paying cash is the correct method (e.g., bill is 280 CZK, hand over 300 and say nothing; they keep the difference)..

Don't tip American-style (20%+). It's unnecessary and can confuse or even slightly embarrass staff. 10% is correct; a bit more for exceptional service at a fine dining place is fine..

Always make eye contact and clink glasses individually when toasting with 'Na zdraví.' Not making eye contact during the toast is considered bad luck — Czechs take this seriously.. Prague officially banned pub crawls.

The city made organized large-group crawls illegal to curb excessive noise and anti-social behavior. Don't look for them.. On public transport, offer your seat to elderly passengers and pregnant women.

Loud conversations and phone calls are considered inconsiderate. Trams and metro are quiet spaces by social norm.. Validate your transport ticket before boarding or immediately when entering.

Plainclothes inspectors do spot checks. Fines are 1,500 CZK — about 10x the ticket price. No warnings..

Burning of Witches (Pálení čarodějnic) on April 30: Bonfires across the city, including a big one on Petřín Hill, mark the farewell to winter. A genuinely local celebration, not a tourist event.. Czech people tend to be reserved with strangers but warm with people they know.

Don't mistake the initial reserve for unfriendliness. Persistence in small gestures of politeness pays off.

Prague is genuinely safe. Violent crime against tourists is extremely rare. The Czech Republic ranks 7th in the Global Peace Index (2025) and Prague has a crime index significantly lower than Paris or Barcelona. That said, there are specific things to know.

The main risks are financial, not physical. Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, Wenceslas Square, and the nightlife zone on Dlouhá Street are where most tourist-targeted scams operate.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE: The single most common trap. Exchange offices near tourist sites charge 10–15% hidden commissions by manipulating displayed rates. Use ATMs at bank branches (marked 'Bankomat'). Never use standalone Euronet machines at tourist spots — they charge flat fees and poor rates. Prague is nearly cashless; cards work at almost everything, including small cafés.

BAR SCAMS: A well-documented, organized scam. Someone (often a woman) approaches men traveling in groups near Old Town and suggests a specific bar. Menus show no prices or prices that change dramatically on the bill — documented amounts range into the hundreds or thousands of euros. Bouncers prevent you from leaving. Rule: never enter a bar at a stranger's direct suggestion. Choose your own venues. Stick to bars in Vinohrady, Žižkov, or Holešovice for normal local pricing.

TAXIS: Street taxis hailed in tourist areas have a long history of overcharging. Use Bolt, Uber, or Liftago apps exclusively — fixed price, GPS-tracked, driver identity on record. For the airport, Bus 119 to Nádraží Veleslavín (then Metro A to Old Town) costs 40 CZK and takes about 35 minutes. The Airport Express (AE) bus goes directly to the main station for 100 CZK.

PICKPOCKETS: Work the crowds at Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, and trams 22 and 23 to the Castle. Crossbody bag, zipper facing forward. Don't keep anything in back pockets.

FAKE CHARITY PETITIONS: Clipboard-wielding people near major tourist sites asking you to sign petitions for 'deaf children' or similar causes, then demanding cash donations. Walk past. Don't engage.

NIGHT SAFETY: Most areas are safe at night. The lower end of Wenceslas Square gets rowdy on weekends (stag party tourism). Avoid strip club touts there entirely — those establishments use manipulative pricing and bouncers to prevent customers from leaving without paying. Night trams (lines 91–94) run every 30 minutes until dawn and are safe to use.

Emergency number: 112 (EU-wide, English operators available).

Prague's public transport system is one of the better ones in Europe. Three metro lines (A/green, B/yellow, C/red), an extensive tram network, and buses cover the entire city. The system runs 5am to midnight, with night trams after hours.

TICKETS: A 90-minute transfer ticket costs 40 CZK (€1.60) and works on metro, tram, and bus. A 24-hour pass is 120 CZK (€4.80). Buy tickets at yellow machines in metro stations, via the PID Lítačka app (recommended — you can buy and activate tickets in the app, see routes, and even check which metro exit to use), or via SMS. Validate paper tickets in yellow stamping machines before boarding. Plainclothes inspectors do spot checks. Fine is 1,500 CZK. No warnings.

TRAMS: The backbone of the city. Tram 22 passes many major landmarks and is genuinely scenic — locals call it the tourist tram, but it's also legitimately useful. Note: As of March 21 through July 17, 2026, the Pražský Hrad and Královský Letohrádek stops on tram 22/23 are closed for track repairs. Alight at Prašný Most for Prague Castle (13-minute uphill walk) or Pohořelec and walk down.

NEW IN 2026: The Dvorecký Bridge, a 338-meter tram and pedestrian bridge over the Vltava in the southern part of the city, opened April 17, 2026. It links tram lines 20 and 21 and includes dedicated cycling lanes. Also: the Petřín funicular, closed for repairs, has reopened in spring 2026.

METRO LINE D: A KC30 billion contract was signed in 2026 to extend the much-anticipated Metro Line D. Construction is underway; not relevant for current visitors but a sign the city is investing seriously in transit.

APPS: PID Lítačka for tickets and routing. Bolt or Uber for ride-hailing (always use these over street taxis).