No — Prague runs on the Czech koruna, and the euro is not legal tender. Here's where euros are tolerated, why they cost you money, and how to pay like a local.
Cover image: a panoramic view of Prague's Old Town Square with the Tyn Church — photo by A.Savin, FAL, via Wikimedia Commons.
No — you cannot rely on euros in Prague. The Czech koruna (CZK, also written Kč) is the only legal tender in the Czech Republic, and despite two decades of EU membership the country has no date for adopting the euro. A handful of tourist-facing shops and restaurants near Old Town Square will accept euro notes as a courtesy, but at exchange rates well off the market level, and your change comes back in koruna. Practical answer: pay by card in koruna or withdraw some cash, and treat any euro notes in your wallet as an emergency fallback only.
For scale, the European Central Bank's reference rate stood at about €1 = 24.1 koruna in late August 2026 — roughly £1 ≈ 20.7 Kč and $1 ≈ 28.2 Kč.
Does Prague use euros?
Prague is the capital of an EU member state, but the Czech Republic is not in the eurozone and shows no sign of joining soon. On joining the EU in 2004 it committed in principle to adopt the euro, yet the Czech National Bank and the Finance Ministry have jointly advised the government not to set a target date, and the CNB notes the country met only two of the four Maastricht convergence criteria in 2024. Politically, adoption has stalled too. So unlike Croatia, which switched to the euro in 2023, or Hungary and Poland, which are also outside the eurozone, the Czech Republic sits firmly in the "own currency" camp — and that will not change for a trip booked this year or next.
Where euros are accepted in Prague (and where they are not)
- Usually accepted, badly priced: souvenir shops, exchange-adjacent boutiques and some restaurants in the Old Town and around Charles Bridge. Expect a rounded, unfavourable rate and change in koruna.
- Sometimes: larger hotels and tour operators serving international clientele may quote in euros on request.
- Rarely or never: neighbourhood pubs, cafés, supermarkets, pharmacies, public transport and markets. Street food stalls and farmers' markets are koruna-only in practice.
The same pattern holds across the country: in Brno, Karlovy Vary or any small town, euro acceptance drops to near zero. If you are road-tripping or rail-tripping beyond the capital, carry koruna.
How to pay in Prague: your options ranked
| Method | Accepted? | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Card / phone, charged in CZK | Almost everywhere | The best option — contactless is standard |
| Card, charged in EUR/GBP/USD | Terminal offers it | Decline it. Dynamic currency conversion pads the rate 3–8% |
| Koruna cash | Everywhere | Handy for markets, tips and small cafés |
| Euro notes | Tourist zones only | Poor rate, change given in koruna |
| Airport / "0% commission" exchanges | — | Worst rates in the city; check the small print |
| Koruna bought at home before travel | — | Convenient but usually pricier than a Prague bank ATM |
Getting koruna: ATMs and exchange offices
Cards work nearly everywhere in Prague, but a modest cash buffer still earns its keep — market stalls, small pubs, tips. Two rules keep that buffer cheap. First, use ATMs attached to actual banks and decline any on-screen offer to convert to your home currency; standalone machines in tourist corridors are the ones with eye-watering margins. Second, if you must use an exchange office, ignore the "0% commission" banners and look at the spread: compare the board rate against the ECB reference of about 24.1 koruna per euro. A quick conversion table:
| Amount | ≈ Czech koruna (Aug 2026) |
|---|---|
| €5 / £5 / $5 | ≈ 121 Kč / 103 Kč / 141 Kč |
| €10 / £10 / $10 | ≈ 241 Kč / 207 Kč / 282 Kč |
| €50 / £50 / $50 | ≈ 1,206 Kč / 1,033 Kč / 1,411 Kč |
One more reason not to over-stock cash: if you are flying on to another country, leftover koruna is a nuisance to convert back. Withdraw what you need as you go. And if your trip is part of a wider European loop, our guides to Europe's 2026 Christmas markets (Prague's are among the best), autumn hotel price drops across Europe and how much cash you can legally fly with cover the rest of the money logistics.
So, should you bring euros to Prague at all?
Only if they are already in your pocket. A €20 note will get you out of a jam in a tourist-shop pinch, but every transaction in euros costs you money versus paying in koruna. The efficient 2026 Prague wallet is: a card or phone set to tap, a small amount of koruna cash, and the discipline to always choose CZK when a terminal asks which currency to charge.
Frequently asked questions
Do Prague taxis take euros?
Reputable metered taxis and ride-hailing apps take cards in koruna. If a street-hailed driver offers a euro price, treat it as a red flag to agree the fare in koruna first — or book an app ride instead.
Is Prague expensive for tourists?
Less than most Western European capitals. A pub dinner with beer routinely costs less than the equivalent in Paris or Amsterdam, though Old Town restaurants charge a visible premium over neighbourhood prices a few metro stops out.
Can I use a Revolut, Wise or multi-currency card in Prague?
Yes — they are among the cheapest ways to pay, provided you always select the koruna option at the terminal and use them at bank ATMs rather than standalone machines.
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