What kind of money is better to go to the Czech Republic with? What kind of money is in the Czech Republic - the currency is the Czech crown. Holidays in the Czech Republic

The main currency is the local Czech crown. It’s not scary if you arrive in the country without it, since there are no problems with exchange offices anywhere and you can exchange any currency you bring for kroons.

At the same time, keep in mind that exchangers have a commission for conducting transactions, which you may not even be aware of, so be sure to check with the cashiers how much money you will receive in your hands.

Currently, crowns are in circulation in the form of coins (1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50) and banknotes (100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000). The most popular bills are those in denominations of 1000 crowns, so don’t be surprised that these bills are the dirtiest and most wrinkled.

If we talk about what currency in the Czech Republic is considered the second most popular, then it is probably the euro. Not because the Czech Republic is a European country, but because it is part of the Schengen zone and people often come and go from here to other countries where the euro is used. In addition, the exchange rate of the euro to the Czech crown is subject to minimal fluctuations, which also speaks in favor of the fact that you can travel here with the euro.

You can come to the Czech Republic with a minimum of cash, since at every ATM you can withdraw the required amount from your card. It is important to remember that 90% of all ATMs in the country work only with kroons, so if you want to withdraw euros or dollars, you may have problems. When cashing out money, you will be charged a commission of 0.5 to 4% of the transaction. To minimize losses when cashing out, come with a card opened in euros or dollars. This way you will reduce your losses on conversion.

What currency in the Czech Republic will not be useful to you at all is the Russian ruble. You can’t buy anything with it here, and exchange offices that exchange rubles for crowns are not available everywhere. The same applies to other less popular currencies. If you plan to pay for most of your purchases by card, then you may not need too much cash. Basically, you will need crowns to pay for travel, for entrance to museums and for purchases in small shops and cafes where cards are not accepted.

Life hack for currency exchange in Prague: everything a tourist needs to know about buying Czech crowns. The most profitable ways to exchange money in the Czech Republic.

Although it is part of the European Union, the only currency that will be accepted in shops, museums or on the market is the kroon. Therefore, the issue of currency exchange, where it is more profitable to do it and how to avoid falling for scammers is very important.

Popular excursions in Prague

The most interesting excursions are routes from local residents to Tripster. It’s always more interesting to start with (orient yourself in the Old Town and outline routes for future walks). After which you can afford anything you want - even above the city. On Tripster you have the opportunity to ask any questions to the guides before paying.

Where is it profitable to change money in Prague?

There are two types of scammers operating in Prague. The first are scammers who approach tourists at the airport or in the center. They offer a quick exchange right on the spot. Quite often, they tell some kind of heartbreaking story about why it was so urgent to reset the currency. And, of course, the exchange rate for Czech crown in this case the most profitable one is called.

Under no circumstances should you give in to temptation. The city guest receives or Hungarian forints, or an obvious fake.

The second group of scammers are official exchangers. Of course, they act exclusively within the framework of the law and masterfully use “honest methods of taking” money from tourists. But exchanging dollars and euros for crowns is not very profitable, and the ruble exchange rate is generally extortionate. In addition to the not very clear course, other delights await the client. For example, a high commission that they forget to report.

Very often different rates are used for small and large amounts; of course, the most profitable one will be posted on the door. Sometimes the selling rate is simply blatantly swapped with the buying rate.

Oddly enough, the most interesting offers for currency exchange in Prague are in Arab exchange offices. They are located in the area.

Buying Czech crowns in Russia (Moscow)

At one time it was profitable to exchange rubles for crowns in Moscow banks. But the Czech currency has always been in the First Czech-Russian Bank, whose license was revoked in 2016. Other institutions do not always have crowns. However, this does not prevent you from calling the bank in advance and asking about the possibility of exchange and the exchange rate.

Withdrawing from a bank card in the Czech Republic

The most profitable, reliable and honest option remains a bank card. Of course, only international ones will do, like Visa And Master Card. With their help, you can simply pay, and POS terminals are available in the Czech Republic in almost all stores, cafes, kiosks and even hot dog stands. You can withdraw money from an ATM. But here you need to understand that the bank will definitely take a small commission. In this case, both the bank that issued the card and the owner of the ATM. Usually everything fits into a fairly modest 1-2%.

Favorable exchange rates in Prague - Wenceslas Square

By the way, there is a subsidiary bank of Sberbank in Prague, there are several branches and ATMs. They accept Russian Sberbank cards without additional commission. The only disadvantage of a bank card is that it is difficult to find out the exchange rate in advance. Some people advise withdrawing a small amount first and going from there. This is not entirely correct; in most banks, up to a certain minimum level, most often up to three thousand rubles, they charge a fixed amount as a commission.

The only option is to look at internal systems courses on the Internet Visa And Master Card. Usually banks use them without any fuss, or at least get their bearings.

How to get there
- overview of operators
- short guide

What currency is best to travel to the Czech Republic? The national currency of the Czech Republic is the crown. You can buy it outside the Czech Republic without any problems only in neighboring countries. I’ll give you some tips on what money to take to Prague, and you choose a convenient way to take your finances abroad.

About the Czech crown with respect

Many visitors from the CIS countries to the Czech Republic are surprised by the fact that here all prices are overwhelmingly expressed in local crowns. For example, you won't find an ATM that dispenses any foreign money. Once upon a time, it was also unusual and inconvenient for me to constantly recalculate the cost of apartments or cars in Prague from crowns to euros or American dollars. Then I got used to it. I’m so used to it that you can determine it even from my notes; I more often operate with the Czech crown than with the dollar or euro that is familiar to readers from the CIS countries.

It would seem that pure mathematics, the euro is more convenient for various reasons. But here on the website you can always see the current exchange rate of the crown to the currencies of interest to us according to the CNB - the Czech National Bank. It changes every weekday around noon. And respect for the Czech Republic will most likely increase from the fact that it forces itself to be respected, albeit through currency.

This does not mean that other money is not recognized in the Czech Republic. There are dozens of different currencies in circulation here, especially in Prague. It is easy to open an account in banks in several major world currencies, even in Russian rubles.

It is most profitable to travel to the Czech Republic with plastic money

My personal experience shows that it is most convenient to travel to the Czech Republic with by bank card. The prevalence of terminals and ATMs in the Czech Republic is impressive.

Check with your bank in advance about the conversion rules and fees for withdrawing cash from supporter bank ATMs. The total “losses” of a cardholder can average from 0.5% of the transaction amount when purchasing goods and services to 1.5-3% for withdrawing cash from ATMs. This money will be distributed between the payment system and the bank that issued the card for you. The commission includes the costs of currency conversion and maintenance of the card business and the income of interested organizations.

For some time now, Czech banks have taken an example of being cunning with conversions. When you request to withdraw cash, a proposal appears on the terminal screen to withdraw money with the conversion of your currency into euros and then into Czech crowns at the bank’s rate, which mother, don’t worry, is so shameless. I recommend choosing the option without this “tempting” offer.

Sometimes a bank in the Czech Republic may charge you a commission when asking for the remaining balance on your card account (not all types of cards support this option). But he is obliged to notify you about this on the ATM screen.

Commissions for bank card transactions

They are regulated by the bank that issued the plastic card for its client. When choosing a bank, carefully study its tariffs and conditions (conversion, fees for depositing funds in cash and non-cash, withdrawing cash from ATMs of your own and third-party networks, etc.)

Look for a bank that doesn’t hide these payments, doesn’t hide them with microscopic text, doesn’t change them depending on the time of day (there are some) and wind direction, and isn’t greedy.

Be sure to follow what is written on the ATM screen.

It is somewhat more profitable to take euros to the Czech Republic in cash

There are many reasons why tourists travel to Prague with cash. For example, you have earnings in foreign currency. Or you don't trust banks. Or you categorically do not accept the use of a bank card for various reasons.

My observations show that the fluctuations of this currency against the crown are smoother than those of other currencies. And, accordingly, the exchange rates between the euro and the crown are more favorable, since the “money changers” put less risk into this currency. Another argument in favor of the euro: many travelers take advantage of the moment by leaving Prague for other European countries, which may in turn be included in the euro area.

Of course, if it is possible to come with a crown, then this is best. All that remains is to find it at an acceptable rate, which is not so easy abroad.

You can change dozens of currencies in Prague

But you shouldn’t expect a good rate from exchanging a slow-moving currency. When exchanging cash Russian rubles or Ukrainian hryvnia, be prepared to lose 5-10% on conversion. You can exchange rubles for kroons at a more favorable rate, but to do this you need to find, for example, a resident of the Czech Republic who is going on a trip to Russia. But, you see, it’s problematic for a tourist to do this on his own.

If you want to pay a high commission for currency exchange, then this is especially easy to do at Prague Airport. Compared to the center of Prague, you will lose 10-15% on exchange. Change currency in the city center or in places recommended to you by locals you trust. And, if you can bargain even on my website, do not be afraid to bargain at numerous Arab exchange offices if you intend to change a decent amount. Maybe you'll get lucky?

Do not sign documents at exchange offices if you do not understand the meaning of the text. Do not hesitate to once again clarify the presence or absence of commissions, as well as the final amount you will receive from the cashier.

Bank transfers to the Czech Republic

It’s hard to imagine how a tourist can use this type of money transfer to the Czech Republic. At a minimum, you can open a bank account in the Czech Republic using the Assistant in the Czech Republic. But I will pay attention to this method in this note. After all, I have already said that in a broad sense, tourism is the beginning of emigration. Sooner or later you may need to transfer money to the Czech Republic through a bank.

So, almost all major banks in the Czech Republic accept transfers from abroad. Including in non-convertible currencies. Banks charge a commission for depositing money. Very often it is calculated as a percentage of the incoming amount, but a minimum and maximum commission is established. In this case, the larger the transfer amount, the lower, in fact, the amount of the bank commission relative to the amount of the entire transfer. If an account in the Czech Republic is opened in a currency that does not correspond to the transfer currency, then be prepared to pay the bank a conversion fee. You also need to know how much the bank will want for withdrawing cash from your account.

Many of my Russian clients are surprised that they can transfer rubles from Russia to the Czech Republic with very small losses when converting them into Czech crowns. In this case, the payer converts the ruble into the kroon once, bypassing the intermediate transfer currency, usually the dollar or euro. Many Czech banks are currently opening ruble accounts.

It is very important to approach this issue thoughtfully, since banks willingly charge fees for opening accounts and are stingy with interest rates. The amount will also melt over the years due to inflation. And then there may also be problems with closing the account with the help of a trusted person; banks are reluctant to do this, delaying the closure of the account by nitpicking the documents.

In the Czech Republic, you can open an account for a foreign legal entity. True, the likelihood of a positive decision by the bank is an interesting topic to get acquainted with.

conclusions

In the Czech Republic, the circulation of foreign money is limited, the local currency dominates retail, and only it can be withdrawn from ATMs, no matter what bank card is used. In large stores, restaurants, and gas stations, you can often pay in foreign currency; they will most readily accept euros from you. But the exchange rate for converting eurocurrencies into Czech crowns will not always be adequate. There is no point in constantly monitoring this exchange rate, so for cash payments I recommend having cash kroons.

The Czech Republic's ATM supply is very good, and card payments are often cost-effective. If you want to withdraw cash kroons from an ATM, the profitability of this operation greatly depends on the conditions of the particular bank that provided you with this card!

In the Czech Republic, especially in Prague, you can change all convertible currencies at an acceptable rate. Some non-convertible currencies can also be exchanged, but finding favorable rates for such exchange will not be easy.

It is better to change currency in places recommended by trusted locals. Never hesitate to ask the cashier directly how much crowns you will get for your money. For large amounts, you can try to ask for an increase. Quite adequate latest recommendations on currency exchange in the Czech Republic can be obtained on online forums.

You can also use a bank transfer to the Czech Republic, but for this you need to open an account in a Czech bank in your name in advance, or it is better to use the account of friends or relatives who, for some reason, already have such an account, and you trust them infinitely. Much more often, this type of funds transfer is used to pay for services received in the Czech Republic.

Currency of the Czech Republic- Czech Koruna (CZK, Kč)

You can pay in Czech Republic in CZK and Euro. Euros are accepted almost everywhere, but at an unfavorable rate, so it is always better to pay in CZK. Bank cards are accepted everywhere in the Czech Republic.

How much money to take to the Czech Republic

When traveling to most European countries, it is convenient to calculate 50 € for 1 day. Of course, you can spend less or more, but this amount will generally be enough. For a guide, look at the approximate prices.

Portions in Czech restaurants are quite large, usually one is enough for two.

Approximate prices in the Czech Republic

Room price in Prague 4*, 2 people, week - 25,000 CZK / 40,000 RUR
Average lunch - 250 CZK / 400 RUR
Business lunch / fast food - 100 CZK / 150 RUR
Bottle of water - 20 CZK / 30 RUR
Beer 0.5 l - 25 CZK / 40 RUR
Entrance to the cathedral / museum - about 100 CZK / 150 RUR

Currency exchange in the Czech Republic

Please read this section carefully, because... Currency fraud is very common in the Czech Republic

You can exchange money for crowns in Russia or the Czech Republic. It is much more profitable to exchange money in the Czech Republic.

To exchange for crowns in the Czech Republic, € and $ are suitable; rubles can also be exchanged, but they are not in use and you will have to look for a suitable exchange office.

You can exchange money at the airport, in the city or in a hotel; usually the rate in the city is a little more favorable.

The rate indicated at the exchange office often does not correspond
in fact, it should be clarified. In addition, in the Czech Republic they charge a commission for exchanging money, which can be very large. You can write on paper how many crowns you expect to receive for a certain amount of € and show it to the cashier.

Money should only be exchanged at official banks or electronic exchangers, which can be found at the airport or hotel.

Never exchange currency by hand, currency fraud is very common in the Czech Republic! They may slip you old-style currency, which is similar to new banknotes, but is no longer in circulation.

Never take from exchange offices or shops 50 kroner banknote, it was discontinued and replaced by coins. This banknote is invalid and it is impossible to buy anything with it.

To exchange money at a bank you will need a passport.

Tipping in the Czech Republic

In Czechs it is customary to leave a tip of 5-10% of the order value. Often the tip is already included in the bill, in which case you can leave nothing or leave an additional 3-5% if you really liked everything.

It is customary to tip the hotel for assistance in carrying luggage, and also leave a small amount for the maid (usually 1-2 € / 20-40 CZK).

Of course, taxi drivers are always happy to tip.

Let's sum it up

It is profitable to exchange money in the Czech Republic, from € to crowns
Always ask for the rate verbally before exchanging money
Never exchange money in the Czech Republic by hand
Spend all the crowns because... exchanging them back is difficult and not profitable
Bank cards are accepted almost everywhere, but cash is preferred

Largest banks in the Czech Republic

Banking hours in the Czech Republic: 08:00-18:00

Ceska sporitelna - the largest savings bank in the Czech Republic

CSOB (Ceskoslovenska Obchodni Banka) is one of the most reliable banks in the Czech Republic and Europe

Czech National Bank (CNB) is the central bank of the Czech Republic.

Komercni banka is one of the main banks in the Czech Republic.

Raiffeisenbank (Czech Republic) is a division of the Austrian banking group.

Volksbank CZ has been present on the Czech market since 1993 and is a division of the Austrian banking group.

Zivnostenska Banka is the oldest Czech bank, part of the Italian UniCredit Group.

The Czech Republic is included in the list of European Union countries, but the national currency used on its territory is not the euro, but the national currency - the Czech crown.

Historically, one crown is equal to 100 hellers, but in reality they no longer use small coins, rounding up amounts to 1 crown.

What currency is best to bring to the Czech Republic?

In the Czech Republic you can change many currencies; there are exchange offices where they even accept Russian rubles. But the course will not be very profitable.

It is optimal to bring euros to the Czech Republic (the exchange rate of this currency is most favorable when exchanging against crowns) or purchase crowns.

Where to change currency in the Czech Republic

Most bank exchange offices charge very high fees for currency exchange. Tourists often complain that they are attracted by the favorable rate on the information board, and then have to pay a high commission. To avoid such a misunderstanding, you should ask the seller in advance how much you will receive for 100 euros.

The most profitable place to change currency in Prague is on the streets between the Powder Gate and the Central Station. There are many Arab exchangers located here, where they offer you the optimal rate and a complete absence of commission.

Where are the Arab exchange offices located?

Do they accept euros for payment in the Czech Republic?

Euros can also be used to pay for your purchases in many shopping centers, outlets and even large supermarkets. But it is worth keeping in mind that the course leaves much to be desired.

Bank cards

You can easily pay for purchases in the Czech Republic with a bank card. Typically, commission amounts range from 0.5 to 3%, depending on the policy of your bank.