Good to Know

Weather, language, currency, public holiday... and more.

Weather

Prague has a typically European continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm (sometimes wet) summers. Winters (December to February) can get quite chilly; January is the coldest month, with daytime temperatures around zero and cold winds. Summers usually bring plenty of sunshine and the average daily high temperature of 24 °C (75 °F).

The best time to visit the Czech capital might be from May to September when days are warm and nights cool. The European summer (June to September) is the tourist high season, but spring and autumn can also be rewarding times to visit, especially if you prefer to avoid the tourist crowds and to see the trees in bloom in spring or the gold- and copper-coloured foliage in autumn. In a way, every season has its benefits from a touristic point of view.  

Language

The official language in the Czech Republic is Czech. It belongs to the group of West Slavic languages, like eg. Slovak or Polish. Czech has a very rich vocabulary, many special grammatical features and some unusual sounds. At present, it is one of the official languages of the European Union.
In tourist places - hotels, restaurants, monuments, museums, galleries, but also in a number of shops and services it is possible to make oneself understood in English or German, exceptionally French.

Even though you do not speak Czech yet, everyone is pleased when they hear a foreigner trying to communicate in the language of the country they are visiting. Be it in a restaurant, on the street, in a shop or anywhere else, basic conversational phrases like „Děkuji” and „Dobrý den” will definitely come in handy.

Shopping

Prague has many modern shopping centers, department stores and shops with a variety of products. Large shopping malls are usually open every day of the week from at least 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; supermarkets generally longer.

Public holidays (January 1, Good Friday and Easter Monday, May 8, September 28, October 28, and December 24 - 26) are the exception, when by law shops larger than 200 m² must be closed. This regulation does not apply to smaller shops or monuments.

Farmers' markets with fresh vegetables, design shops, and flea markets are also very popular. The most luxurious boulevard in the metropolis is Pařížská Street, which features a wide range of shops and boutiques from prestigious world fashion brands.

Public Holiday

• 1 January - New Year, Day of Renovation of the Independent Czech State
• Good Friday
• Easter Monday
• 1 May - Labour Day
• 8 May - Liberation Day (1945)
• 5 July - Cyril and Methodius Day - the Slavic Christianity Prophets
• 6 July - Master John Hus burning at the stake (1415)
• 28 September - Day of the Czech Statehood
• 28 October - Independent Czechoslovak State Proclamation Day (1918)
• 17 November - Day of a Struggle for Liberty and Democracy
• 24 December - Christmas Eve
• 25 December - Christmas Day
• 26 December - St Stephen's Day

School Holidays
Primary and secondary school students have their summer holidays during the months of July and August, a week of spring holidays (changes yearly according to districts) during the months of February and March, and about 14 days off during the Christmas holidays.

Currency

The currency of the Czech Republic is the Czech crown (koruna) (Kč / CZK). Banknotes have a nominal value of CZK 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000. Coins have values of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 CZK

Tips

Tipping is common, especially in restaurants. If you were satisfied with the food and service, be sure to show your appreciation. The unwritten rule is to leave about 10% of the total bill.

Exchange Offices

There is a wide network of exchange offices in Prague - both in the city center and at the airport and the main bus and railway stations. The safest place to change money is at the bank - never change money with people on the street.
Exchange offices are not permitted to charge any fees and all commissions must be reflected in the offered exchange rate.

Current foreign exchange rates and a simple converter can be found on the bottom navigation bar of our website or at the Czech National Bank website.

If you later discover that the transaction was not entirely above-board, you have the right to withdraw from the exchange operation within 3 hours and request a cancellation and refund. The exchange office must re-exchange the amount (up to 1000 euros) on the basis of the submitted receipt, so always be sure to request it to prove the conditions and time of the transaction. Detailed information and advice can be found on the website of the Czech National Bank.

Payment Cards and Cash Machines in Prague

The most common international types of payment cards - especially Visa and Mastercard - are widely accepted in Prague's shops, hotels and restaurants.
There are many cash machines in the center of Prague - in banks, large shopping malls, and especially in metro stations. Most of them accept all common international cards with the Visa, Plus, Mastercard, Maestro, and Cirrus symbols. Use cash machines with a bank logo to withdraw cash.

Tax-Free Shopping

Tourists with permanent residence outside the territory of the European Union are entitled to a refund of value-added tax on purchased goods which are not of a commercial nature and whose price including tax paid to one seller in one calendar day is over CZK 2,000. Upon request, the seller will issue a proof of sale of goods. The Tax-Free form must be duly filled in and stamped by the customs office when exporting the goods (crossing the EU border). You can get a customs stamp in the airport departures hall at the Tax-Free office or at the country’s borders.

Electrical Voltage

In the Czech Republic, a voltage of 230 V at a frequency of 50 Hz is used; E-type electrical sockets (French sockets) with an earth pin are standard. 

Alcohol, Smoking, and Quiet Hours

There are laws restricting public smoking in the Czech Republic. It is forbidden to smoke in public areas such as public transport stops, train stations, airports, means of transport, cultural and medical facilities, playgrounds, sports grounds, etc. The smoking ban also applies to the indoor areas of all dining establishments.

In some localities, especially in the center of the capital city, it is forbidden to consume alcoholic beverages in public with the exception of restaurant gardens and some public events. Alcohol and tobacco products may not be sold to a person under the age of 18 under penalty of a heavy fine. There is zero tolerance for alcohol behind the wheel, on a bike or Segway, or other means of self-propelled transportation.

Those who violate the nighttime quiet hours, which in Czech Republic is defined as the period between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., also face a fine.