I’ll never forget my trip to Prague. It was an amazing 2-week adventure that included riverboat cruises, Old Town walks, castle tours, and hour after hour journaling alone in a local pub – if only I could remember its name!
Although all Prague pubs are pretty good, so you’ll probably be fine. (Wink wink.) Prague is as ancient a city as any in the world.
According to the city’s website, “The area that is now Prague has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Archaeological excavations have revealed evidence of human habitation in the area as far back as the Paleolithic era, around 500,000 years ago.”
I think it’s fair to say, like whoa.
We’re not just talking nomads, either; it’s been permanently settled for quite a while too. “In the Neolithic era, around 4,500 BCE, the first permanent settlements were established in the area,” the above source continues.
Like much of Europe, in other words, Prague has its stories to tell and its ghosts that haunt it. In fact, there’s a tour for that! (More below.)
It is saturated in medieval architecture, boasts delicious pan-European as well as Czech fare, and offers endless opportunities to while away the hours in continental style. Want to know more and get the skinny on budgeting well? Keep reading.
Average Trip to Prague Cost in 2024
An average one-week trip to Prague for two people will cost around $3,700:
- Average Accommodation Cost: $100 per night
- Average Flight Cost: $900 per person
- Food, Drink & Activities: $75 per person, per day
- Transportation: $150 total
- Total Cost: $3,700
Prague is pretty affordable as long as you set a budget ahead of time. Prague caters to tourists, so though it’s a popular destination, it has lots of options for those who don’t have much money to spend on the trip.
The best ways to avoid bleeding unnecessary money are to book international flight and hotel reservations ahead of time, book domestic flights as close to the departure date as you feel comfortable (rather than packaging with the international flight if you don’t live in a hub), avoid eating in tourist areas, buy food from grocery stores, and check your bills at restaurants.
We will go into all of these in more detail below, and give you some rough estimates to help you start budgeting.
Prague Trip Cost: Average by Item
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Planning out a vacation requires first making an accurate budget. The variety of factors involved in trip planning complicates the attempt to set accurate estimates.
However, I’ve done my best to combine my experiences with web resources and give you an accurate, up-to-date estimate for Prague’s prices below. You can use them to begin your planning, then adjust as necessary to match your ideal vacation requirements.
Accommodation Costs
Prague hotels won’t break the bank. Several things will raise prices, though. Staying near Old Town will certainly do so, for instance.
This is the most popular attraction in Prague, a medieval fairytale city-within-a-city complete with bridges, squares, cobblestones, arches, and even a castle. You will pay between $200 and $400 a night for a room here in a nice hotel.
However, Prague overall is not a very expensive city for lodging. You can find hotels for between $50 and $150 in other parts of the city without much trouble.
Try the Karlín and Zizkov neighborhoods, which are modern, walkable, and full of lower-cost accommodations and hostels. Oddly, Google seems to have some very skewed search results when it comes to hotels in Prague.
Perhaps this is a bug that will get fixed, but for now, be wary. Some results are showing that you can get a hotel in Old Town for very little, when in reality one of the nicer hotels will cost you several hundred dollars per room, per night.
Be wary of these results and check the hotel itself for booking rates before you make a plan to stay there. Assuming you’re willing to stay in neighborhoods that require some travel to Old Town, you can budget $100 a night for your Prague lodging and be just fine.
Flight Costs
Flying from New York City to Prague costs, on average, about $700, while a flight from Los Angeles is about $800 round trip. You will want to add a few hundred to that cost if you’re not flying from an international hub, as getting there will up your ticket price.
Overall, plan to spend an average of about $900 per round-trip ticket.
The best ways to save money on a flight to Prague include booking in advance, using flexible dates when you search, booking in the morning when prices are least influenced by the competition, checking airline websites directly in addition to travel sites, and splitting your travel time.
E.g. you could fly Icelandair, which allows you to stop overnight – up to three nights – in Reykjavik for free.
Food, Drink & Activity Costs
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Food and drink aren’t that expensive in Prague. A Big Mac meal costs about $7.50 there (though why you’re buying a Big Mac in Prague, I couldn’t say).
A latte will run you about $4, a good dumplings with sauce meal about $7, a hot dog about $2, and a pint of beer even less than that. As you can see, the smart eater won’t need to spend more than $40 a day on food, if that.
If you’re up for some old-fashioned fun, try U Pavouka. It’s a five-course meal located in a medieval tavern and accompanied by traditional entertainment, including music, jesters, and belly dancing.
You’ll taste hearty Czech fare and enjoy all-you-can-drink beverages, all while immersing yourself in an age long past. The best part? It’s less than $60 per person to start.
Note that some restaurants in Prague will add spurious charges to your bill, and if you’re not careful, they’ll get away with it. When you get your bill, check that it matches what you ordered – no extra sides, “accidentally” doubled entrees or drinks, or included tips.
As in America, tipping is optional and should not be included in your bill … although servers do live off tips and you should provide one. Just make sure the restaurant isn’t double-dipping there.
Prague is also awash in fantastic activities. From boat cruises (about $50 including dinner) to Switzerland day trips ($150-$200 but well worth the cost), you’ll have your pick of the litter when it comes to enthralling adventure.
Plus, you have lots of options for both urban and nature hikes that don’t cost a dime. Do you like creep factor? Because Prague has you covered there.
The city offers ghost tours to different destinations, all sitting high on the terror scale, including Prague Castle, Old Town, and Bohnice Psychiatric Clinic on the edge of the city center.
Tours from a reputable company such as McGee’s Ghost Tours of Prague are 3 hours long and cost about $30. Overall, assuming a few tours and circumspect eating, you’ll pay about $100 a day. Doing the city on the cheap?
Travel everywhere on foot or by public transport and you can bring it down to $50. We will assume $75 per person, per day, as a nice middle ground.
Transportation Costs
Getting around Prague is affordable, but you’ll want to watch out for a few scams. Taxis are known to drive up rates when tourists hop in, for example.
Have your phone directions locked and loaded and check with the driver that they’re going to take the fastest route.
If they start winding all over town, straighten them out. Public transport in Prague is more expensive than in some places but still affordable. It’s about $3 for 30 minutes and $12 for 24 hours.
Still, comparing that to the price of a taxi, it shakes out pretty well. Don’t waste money on renting a car, either. You can get around town for about $150 for two the entire trip.
Things to Consider
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Here are a few other things to consider when planning your trip to Prague:
- Prague is an amazing city to tour on foot. You can spend endless hours checking out its medieval architecture, riverside views, arching old bridges, and cuter new neighborhoods. It’s a thriving city with tons to do without paying a cent, especially if you enjoy taking photos, plein air painting, or biking around. Just be sure to bring supportive shoes, or your dogs will be barking by bedtime.
- Prague does not accept dollars, though some places may take euros. This is not, however, the best way to stretch your money. Instead, exchange your money for the native currency, korunas, and keep enough on hand for emergencies, souvenir shopping, and eating out. Try to avoid using credit cards, as you will likely see international fees. Don’t exchange money at the airport or train station if you can help it, since that will result in a surcharge.
- Find your nearest grocery store upon arrival. Czech food is delicious, but boy is it heavy. Most meals consist of meat, winter veggies such as cabbage and potatoes, dumplings, and rolls. You’re going to enjoy yourself, but you’re also going to want a piece of fruit after all that.
- Prague consumes the most beer per capita worldwide, says iVisa. I’m not sure what that says about them as a country except that they have really great beer, especially the pilsners. If you drink, Pilsner Urquell is a must-try. If you don’t, you can try Birell, a non-alcoholic beer, while at bars with others.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Here are some frequently asked questions about budgeting your trip to Prague:
Is Prague expensive?
Happily, Prague is not particularly expensive. Food and drink are reasonably priced, and so are lodgings, assuming you don’t stay in Old Town.
Activities such as a river cruise with dinner included are only about $50, while a medieval dinner with rowdy entertainment and all-you-can-drink beer is less than $60.
How can I save money traveling to Prague?
If you want to save money, avoid changing currency at airports or train stations, where you’ll face a surcharge. Instead, go to exchanges in the city, where you’ll get more favorable rates.
You should also avoid staying in Old Town, paying for walking tours (which are easy to take on your own), and paying your bill without checking.
What are the passport and visa requirements?
It’s pretty easy to get in and out of the Czech Republic. If you are staying for less than 90 days, you will not need a visa.
The Czech Republic also belongs to the Schengen Area, the world’s largest visa-free zone, where you can move unchecked (more winking) across the borders into other European countries. If Prague is part of a bigger Euro vacation, this makes things easier.
If you’re only traveling to Prague from America and back again, all you need is a passport with two blank pages.
Do people speak English in Prague?
Yes, people typically speak some English in Prague. It’s a huge tourist destination, and as English is the international lingua franca, it makes sense that proprietors here would know the language.
However, you shouldn’t expect to find English speakers outside the big cities. If you’re going to leave the city and head to smaller towns and villages, the locals will likely speak Czech.
You may also find German and Russian. As there are no guarantees, it’s a good idea to have a translation app or phrasebook at the ready in case there’s no data or WiFi.
Is it safe in Prague?
Yes, Prague is quite safe. The most common crimes there are vandalism and car theft, neither of which apply to travelers.
Naturally, you should always keep your wits about you when traveling alone, traveling at night, or dealing in large sums of money – such as at banks and moneychangers. However, you can feel good walking around and enjoying the nightlife all you want.
Wrapping It Up: Over to You!
| 🛎️ Average Accommodation Cost | $100 per night |
| ✈️ Average Flight Cost | $900 per person |
| 🍽️ Food, Drink & Activities | $75 per person, per day |
| 🚕 Transportation | $150 total |
| 💲 Total Cost | $3,700 |
The average cost of a one-week trip to Prague is around $3,700 for two people. That’s pretty amazing for a place steeped in magic, mystery, and medieval goodness, so get trip planning today!