What is the currency in the Czech Republic now. What money to take to the Czech Republic? Exchange offices in Prague

The exchange rate of the Czech crown is influenced by two decisive factors: the external debt of the state and the inflow of foreign capital (export, tourism, real estate).

The Czech Republic is visited by a large number of tourists, the same number of tourists come per year as there are residents in the country. They bring money with them. The inflow of capital into the country is also provided by real estate sales, the money is brought to the Czechs by those who move for permanent residence. The Czech Republic exports products - cars and spare parts, industrial equipment, electronics. All this leads to the fact that the inflow of capital exceeds the output. This factor strengthens the Czech crown.

The economy is growing - the national currency is strengthening. Czech President Milos Zeman (in the photo on the left, click on the photo to enlarge) stated that he would influence the people's bank so that it would not weaken the crown. The stability of the kroon is evidenced by the data on the exchange rate of the kroon against the euro: in 2008-2016, it was in the range of 22.97-27.121 per 1 euro. Despite the fact that in 1999 for 1 euro they gave 38.8 crowns.

Geller

The lowest monetary unit of the Czech Republic is the heller. 1 crown consists of 100 hellers. The name came from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, where the heller was the junior unit of currency to the Austro-Hungarian krone. Hellers existed in the Czech Republic for 116 years in a row, but are now out of circulation. All prices are rounded to the nearest crown.

Numismatists are "chasing" heller coins. So, one of the collectors posted at the auction 12,650 euros for 5 hellers in 1924. Who would have thought that a small metal plate would be so valuable among numismatists.

Currency exchange for Czech crowns

In almost all supermarkets, at gas stations or in large stores, you can pay in euros, and the exchange rate at retail outlets is often more profitable than at exchange offices. True, you will receive change in crowns.

How much money to take to the Czech Republic?

Banknotes and coins of Czech crowns

The design of Czech banknotes and coins is unique and is a work of art. The design of banknotes was developed by Ondzhih Kulganek, a Czech painter, who is also a forensic numismatic expert. The front side is decorated with portraits of Czech political, cultural and statesmen. On the reverse side of the banknotes there are images of heraldic symbols and stylistic collages.

Crowns are printed in Prague at the factories of the National Mint. Next, you can find a photo and description of each bill, click on the photo to enlarge.

The smallest denomination of the banknote is 100 crowns. The front side contains the image of Emperor Charles IV. We turn the banknote and see a medallion with a fabulous national motif. Its size is 140 mm x 69 mm.

The banknote of 200 CZK contains a portrait of the Czech teacher, writer and founder of scientific pedagogy Jan Amos Comenius, so it is not surprising that on the reverse side we see the hands of a child and an adult touching their fingers. Its size is 146 mm x 69 mm.

Honored to be on banknotes of the Czech currency and women. On five hundred crowns is a portrait of Bozena Nemtsova, the ancestor of modern Czech prose (takes 2nd place in our rating ""). On the reverse side, the image of a woman's face in flowers is quite logical. The banknote size is 152 mm x 69 mm.

The banknote of 1000 Czech crowns has a size of 158 mm x 74 mm. On it is a portrait of the famous historian and political figure of the Czech Republic Frantisek Palacky, it was he who wrote the current version. On the reverse side there is an image of a Gothic cathedral and the coat of arms of the Czech Republic.

Two thousand crowns measuring 164 mm x 74 mm are decorated with a portrait of Ema Destinova, an opera singer. The reverse side of the banknote depicts Euterpe (muse of lyric poetry and music) with a violin and a cello.

The largest banknote is 5000 crowns. It is the same both at face value and in size: 170 mm x 74 mm. It depicts the first president of Czechoslovakia, Tomas Massaryk, on the reverse side of the banknote shows a collage of images of Gothic cathedrals.

Coins in the country are used in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 CZK. The reverse of all coins is almost the same: the Czech lion, the name of the state on the rim in Czech and the year of minting.

The obverse is different: 1 CZK - the crown of St. Wenceslas (now you can see it in), 2 CZK - Velkomoravian decoration, 5 CZK -, 10 CZK - Petrov Cathedral in Brno - in the first version and part of the clock mechanism - in the second, 20 CZK - a statue of St. Wenceslas, 50 CZK - an image with an inscription in Czech "Prague - mother of cities".

The shape of the coins is different: 1, 5, 10, 50 crowns are round, the rest of the coins are in the form of a regular dodecahedron. They are made of different alloys: copper and nickel, carbon steel, which is coated with copper or brass. The 50 crowns are made of carbon steel, but the rim is covered with copper and the core with brass.

Respondents participating in the survey on the adoption of the euro expressed the opinion that the Czechs lost their identity when replacing the kroon with the euro. Most of all, opponents of the transition to the euro are worried about the design of the new currency: they do not like the euro purely outwardly, they point to the disgusting appearance of banknotes, and the Czech crowns are beautiful and pleasing to the eye.

The joy of the first acquaintance with a new country can easily be overshadowed on the very first day. After all, tourist traps lie in wait for an inexperienced traveler at every step - one has only to go to a cafe, shop or currency exchange office, not knowing certain nuances. However, each scrap has its own technique. Our advice will surely help you not only save money, but also avoid becoming a victim of Prague scammers.

Trap #1. What is the first thing you do when you arrive in a new country? You change money. And here the first Prague trap lies in wait for you - one of the most important in Prague. In the exchange offices of the capital of the Czech Republic there is a hidden commission. Even if “0% commission” is written on the window, this does not guarantee you at all that you will receive as many crowns as you calculated at the indicated rate. Therefore, ask about the amount you will receive BEFORE you give the currency to the window. Because then you will not be able to do anything - the banking operation has no reverse. And neither scandals nor calling the police will help you.

You can protect yourself from the nervous procedure of currency exchange - go to the Arab exchangers. Yes, the most honest in Prague are the Arabs! There you will not be charged any commission, the employee will show you the final amount on the calculator.

Here are some addresses of Arab exchange offices in Prague:

1. Provaznická lane;

2. Panska 6;

3. Panska 4;

4. Náměstí Republiky 1 in the Palladium shopping center

Trap #2. The second trap is also related to the exchange of money. Never, under any circumstances, change money in Prague on the street, from your hands - they will slip you Hungarian forints, which are vaguely similar to Czech crowns and cost practically nothing, or Bulgarian leva.

Trap #3. Portions in Prague cafes are huge. With a few exceptions, one serving is enough for two - dishes in Prague are not only large, but also very satisfying. However, the waiters are unlikely to warn you that it is better to order a boar knee for two. Therefore, if you do not know a dish, order one first. If it's not enough for you, you can always order more. This will save you some money. If you still haven’t calculated your strength, it’s not necessary to languish over a plate like Koschey over gold - you can always take the unfinished food with you by asking the waiter to pack the food.

Trap #4. Also associated with food, cafes and waiters. And where the waiters are, there are tips. Remember: in Prague it is forbidden to include a tip in the bill. They remain at the discretion of the visitor. Therefore, if in the check you see the line “couvert” or “couverta” with a certain amount opposite, cross it out if you do not agree with the indicated amount. Some establishments may include both 15% and 20% tips in the bill. Even if they start arguing with you, call the police - you are right!

Trap #5. Controllers in public transport in Prague are not recognizable in any way - no badges, no company uniform. A man with a token in his hand will simply grow in front of you. The fine for ticketless travel in Prague is up to 1200 CZK, or €50. Therefore, if this money in your wallet is not superfluous, buy coupons!

The fare system in Prague is different from what we are used to. In the capital, there are single coupons for all types of transport, differentiated by travel time. If you do not plan to travel a lot on the metro, you can buy a ticket for 30 minutes - 24 crowns. 30 minutes is enough to take the metro from the center of Prague to a remote residential area - for example, Prague 10. If you expect to travel by metro often, buy a three-day pass or a week pass.

Important! If you plan to return to the hotel later, leave some change for the machines in the metro - the ticket office closes at 20.00 and after this time you can only buy a ticket in the machine.

Trap #6. You can pay for purchases in some shops in Prague not only in Czech crowns, but also in euros. But in this case, the seller calls you the course that he wants. Naturally, it will be beneficial to him, not to you.

Trap #7. Be careful when paying in stores and especially in taxis - instead of a coin with a face value of 50 kroons (about € 2), you can slip 10 or 20 kroons that look like it in change.

Trap #8. In Prague, unlike, for example, Krakow, entrances to almost all churches and cathedrals are paid. Yes, the Czechs do not hesitate to take money for visiting shrines, and sometimes a lot. Add this expense item to your list of expected expenses.

Trap #9. Tax free in Prague in some stores can be returned on the spot - directly to the card. However, it is very easy to get into trouble here, since it is better to use this service for those who plan to fly from the Czech Republic by air. At the store, you will be given a long orange check, which you need to “redeem” at the airport and throw it into a special box. The catch is that you can ONLY pay it off at the airport. If you leave by land transport, you cannot do this at the border - it is not provided for by the procedure. Upon arrival home, the check will have to be sent back by mail. And if he does not have time to return at the right time or gets lost somewhere along the way, the money returned to you from the purchase will simply be debited from the card. Therefore, in the case of a land departure, issue a regular Tax free check in a Czech store. The minimum purchase amount must be 2000 CZK (€73) in one store on one day.

Trap #10. The norm of alcohol import into Belarus is 3 liters INCLUDING beer. Therefore, everything that is in excess of the norm, even if it is Pilsner Urquell straight from the factory in Pilsen, at the border will either have to be drunk on the spot or thrown away. There is no third.

Trap #11. Inflated prices in tourist places are commonplace. Therefore, so that you do not overpay, we offer you a certain price indicator. On it, you can determine whether prices are too high in a cafe. So, in a cafe, prices are reasonable if: a glass of Czech beer costs up to 35 CZK, and a glass of Czech wine costs up to 40 CZK.

But the famous Czech Becherovka, which many bring as a souvenir, should cost no more than 180 Czech crowns per bottle. Everything else is the machinations of greedy businessmen. By the way, it is best to buy "Becherovka" in her homeland - in Karlovy Vary, in a company store.

Trap #12. In Prague jewelry stores, Turkish gold is most often sold.

Trap #13. Recovering to walk around Prague, be sure to take your documents with you - passport, insurance. Leave photocopies of your passport at the hotel. Often, travel agency managers are advised to do the opposite, but in Prague this rule works exactly like this: bring only original documents with you.

We wish you a pleasant first acquaintance with Prague. As, in fact, the second one - be sure, you will return there again! Checked on myself.

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Currency exchange in Prague is one of the few thingswhich, along with fraudulent taxi drivers and boorish thieves-waiters of some metropolitan establishments, can upset any unlucky tourist to tears.

Once upon a time (in November 2007), the Prague "blue thieves" managed to upset me too, so I strongly recommend that youCzech crowns (Kč) in Prague approach with full responsibility.

A primitive scheme was used with me: a large poster was placed in a conspicuous place above the exchanger with a favorable exchange rate for the euro for the Czech crown. In the left corner on the glass of the exchanger was attached a small piece of paper in Czech, where a lot of things were written, and at the bottom in the smallest font, maximum 3 mm in size. it was noted that this rate applies only to exchanges over 10,000 euros.

The content of the article

Arab exchange offices in Prague on the map

Paradoxically, but true. Arabs have the best currency exchange in Prague! Arab exchangers in Prague have an excellent reputation, a good exchange rate and a commission of 0%! Who would have thought…

If you live in hotels near the streets: Panská 6, Kaprova 14 or Provaznická 1,then I recommend to look into one of the exchange stalls located next to your hotel.

Prague. Currency exchange. Well

Unfortunately, not all exchangers in Prague have their own website, and those that do do not always update it on time (sometimes doing it on purpose). Therefore, in order to find out the exchange rate of the currency we are interested in against the Czech crown, we first look at the exchange rate of the Czech crown against the US dollar on 3 sites of Arab exchangers in Prague: exchanger eXchange ; exchanger Provaznicka ; and exchanger "Alfa Prague". And then we will walk along them on foot and check the course on the spot.

• on the eXchange website — 2000.20 Kč (actually 2000.20);
• on the Provaznická website — 2000.55 Kč, (actually 2000.10);
• on the Alfa Prague website - 2000.10 Kč (actually 2000.10).

After that, I took a short walk, and of course I went to the RYM exchanger for Panská 6, which has always been famous for its good exchange rate, but unfortunately does not have its own website. As a result, it turned out to be the best rate among the exchangers participating in the competition, and without any coupons and the minimum exchange amount - 2000.55 Kč.

Alfa Prague exchanger on the map. Address, opening hours, website

If you don’t want to run around the Prague exchangers looking for the best exchange rate and you have a small amount to exchange, then it’s more convenient to change money in the Arabic exchanger “Směnárna Alfa Prague”, which is conveniently located on Republic Square in one of the largestcapital - the shopping center "Palladium" (Obchodní dům "Palladium Praha"). Here is a normal course, they won’t deceive you and you won’t have to look for an exchanger for a long time.

• Address: náměstí Republiky, 1079/1a, Praha 1, Nové Město;
• How : the Náměstí Republiky metro station is currently being renovated, and therefore the exit to the city from the station to náměstí Republiky is closed. Therefore, now it is better to go to Republic Square on tram routes: No. 5; No. 6; No. 7; No. 8; No. 13; No. 15; No. 26. A separate entrance to the currency exchange "Směnárna Alfa Prague" is located to the left of the main entrance to the shopping center, if you stand facing the main entrance of the department store;
• Location on Mapy.cz map:Shopping center "Palladium"
• Location of the exchanger in the shopping center "Palladium":"Směnárna Alfa Prague"
• Opening hours: Sun-Wed 09:00-21:00, Thu-Sat 09:00-22:00;
• Website: http://www.alfaprague.cz/

On the Směnárna Alfa Prague website, you can get acquainted with the current exchange rate for buying (Nákup) and selling (Prodej), both the Czech crown and other currencies of the world, including rubles, dollars, euros and even the Croatian kuna.

It is worth noting that any client of the company, regardless of the amount of exchange, can exchange money at the VIP rate, which is indicated on the main page of the Alfa Prague website in the right column of the exchange rate. To buy / sell currency at the VIP rate, you must print and present at any of the exchange stalls of Alfa Prague (in the Pansky Passage or in the Palladium shopping center) thiscoupon.

Unfortunately, blog reader Anatoly left a comment on 04/24/18 that the coupon was not accepted in the exchanger. So it makes sense to think about whether to spend time on this coupon or consider only the usual exchange rate in Alpha Prague.

For those who still decide to print the coupon, keep in mind that it is not always possible to do this on the Alpha Prague website (for example, it does not work). In this case, just print the photo of the coupon presented above - I did it myself a couple of times, there were no problems. By the way, after making a currency transaction in the amount of more than 1,000 US dollars, customers are usually issued a VIP card, which can be used for all subsequent money exchanges. It is worth noting that this coupon from Alfa Prague entitles you to receive various discounts in all storesPansky Passage at Na Příkopě 957/23.

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Currency exchange in Prague. Rules

1. Before traveling to Prague, I recommend that you exchange rubles for Czech crowns in one of. In St. Petersburg, you can buy the Czech crown at the exchange center in Ligovsky lane (although the exchange rate in St. Petersburg is so-so). In Perm and Izhevsk, this can be done at Sberbank branches. In our opinion, it makes sense to exchange about 25% of the budget of your trip. Thus, you will be spared the need to look for currency exchange offices immediately upon arrival or buy Czech crowns at an unfavorable rate somewhere at the Prague airport, at the Main Station of the Czech capital or near the main Prague. Living in Prague is relatively inexpensive, so base on your needs. Travel ticket for 24 hours in public the capital will cost 110 Kč (330 rubles), soup in a restaurant on average 30-60 Kč, second course 80-200 Kč; complex lunches 120-16 0 Kč ; a glass of beer 25-50 Kč, taxi from the hotel 600-900 Kč;
2. In Prague, even at currency exchange offices recommended by other tourists, change only a small amount for the first time, about 20-50 €. Even if something does not go according to plan, you will not be so upset. First, look at the rate on the sign in front of the currency exchange office. Then show the cashier the banknote you want to exchange. The cashier of the exchanger will show on the calculator how much you will receive in kroons. You can write the amount you want to exchange on a piece of paper or ask on anyMira: "How much does it cost?" (Kolik to stoji? How much is it?). Compare the result with the sign in front of the stall. If the sums match, then we change a small amount for the first time. In exchange offices in Prague, I recommend exchanging, as necessary, about 25-30% of the budget of your trip;
3. I recommend bringing a third of the budget of our trip (about 45-50%) to the Czech Republic on a bank card and paying with it. Thus, we lay our eggs in three different baskets, and in case of unforeseen situations, we will protect ourselves both from the loss of cash and from the extortionate rate if we suddenly run out of cash.

Buying Czech crowns for rubles in Moscow and Prague. Where is the best course?

We go to website"Směnárna Alfa Prague" and find out the ruble purchase rate in Prague. You can also go to any of the sites of Prague exchangers, which have already been mentioned earlier in the article.

It is 43.10 Czech crowns (Kč) per 100 Russian rubles (data as of 04/08/2017).Now we will find out the selling rate of the Czech crown in Moscow, for example, atsite"J&T Bank" (note that Moscow banks often use schemes similar to the "Prague blue thieves", so we recommend that you read the article on our website: "Where to buy Czech crowns in").

The exchange rate is 23.5 rubles for 10 Czech crowns, that is, for 100 rubles. we will get in Moscow 42.55 Kč.

Outcome: when buying Czech crowns in Prague in the amount of 10,000 rubles. we would have received 4 310 Kč. In Moscow for 10,000 rubles. we would have purchased 4 255 Kč.

Difference between the purchase of Czech crowns in the amount of 10,000 rubles in Moscow and Prague on 04/08/2017 would be 55 Kč, that is, 129 rubles.

Buying Czech crowns for euros in Moscow and Prague. Where is the best course?

We go to the Směnárna Alfa Prague website and find out the VIP-course for buying euros in Prague. It is 26.50 Kč for 1 euro (€). Data as of 04/09/2017 are given.

After we find out on the site http://www.exocur.ru the best exchange rate for euros for rubles in Moscow banks. As of 04/09/2017, the RFI bank offered the best euro selling rate: 1 € = 60.7 rubles.

Outcome: when buying Czech crowns in Prague in the amount of 165 euros (this is 10,000 rubles at the rate of the Central Bank of Russia 1 € = 60.57 rubles. on 04/09/2017) we would have received 4 372.5 Kč. In Moscow, for 165 € at the best purchase rate in the NS Bank, we would receive 9,957.75 rubles. and would have bought 4 237 Kč with them.

Difference between the purchase of Czech crowns in the amount of 165 euros (10,000 rubles) in Moscow and Prague on 04/09/2017 would be 125 Kč, that is, 317 rubles.

Conclusion

Of course, it is up to you to decide where and how to change your hard-earned money, whether in Moscow, in Prague, or, in general, pay in the Czech Republic only with a bank card. I, in turn, recommend doing what I do - to divide the money into three equal parts. In my opinion, it's more reliable!

We dealt with the "paper" issues. It's time to move on to something more pleasant - the study of everyday issues and the "cultural program". There are a few key points that I prefer to deal with at home, so that during the trip I need to bother with them as little as possible. I'll tell you about everything in order.

In what currency should I bring money to Prague?

To bring money to the Czech Republic in rubles, euros, dollars, kroons or on a bank card is a question that sooner or later confronts everyone. This time I immersed myself in it very carefully, and now I have something to say. :)))

On past trips, when the kroon exchange rate was more humane, and the First Czech-Russian Bank had not yet been deprived of its license, we bought kroons in Moscow and did not worry about anything. It was more convenient and eliminated the need for unnecessary body movements. Now we have decided to be more responsible.

As a result, through simple manipulations, we calculated several options for converting rubles into crowns:
1) buying dollars in Moscow - their exchange in Prague for crowns;
2) buying euros in Moscow -> their exchange in Prague for crowns;
3) purchase of crowns in Moscow;
4) purchase of crowns for rubles in Prague.

Result: it is most profitable to buy dollars in Moscow, and then exchange them in Prague for crowns.

This is also confirmed by the calculations made by one young lady on a travel forum, which can be viewed. In the same message you will find links to Arab exchangers where you can exchange money at the most favorable rate. I recommend visiting only them, because in other unverified places you can be knocked over by a very non-sour amount.

As for bank cards, the information on them is very muddy. Many write that it is quite profitable to pay with them in taverns or shops, but if you need to withdraw cash from an ATM, then options are possible. Conversions, exchange rate differences, withdrawing money from the card account not immediately at the time of withdrawing cash from an ATM, but 2-3 days after that ... In general, they took the card with them, but purely as a last resort.

In addition, do not forget that after you arrive, you will need to get to the city. In this case, we bought 500 crowns so that we could buy tickets for public transport and get to the center. Well, grab a beer on the way to the exchanger... 🙂

How much money to take with you to Prague?

This is a question that does not and cannot have a clear answer. Someone likes to drink beer more, someone eats more, someone walks and eats exclusively food from supermarkets. And then there are museums, excursions, shopping ... If you don’t take the payment for the hotel that I booked in advance on Booking, then according to my personal feelings, it’s quite a comfortable amount to go to eat and drink in taverns a couple of times a day, and go to a couple of places purely for beer, buy some souvenirs, visit a couple of museums, is in the region of 2 thousand crowns per person per day.

As for excursions, then again, everything is very individual - you can buy a group tour, you can take a personal guide, or you can plan the route yourself and take the train or bus somewhere in Olomouc or Brno, as we did. The amounts will be completely different, so here again it is difficult to advise something.

The only advice is to try to plan everything in advance as much as possible, and take money, if possible, with a margin and change it to crowns in parts. If you don't need it, bring it home and exchange it back for rubles. This is much better than counting every penny throughout the rest.

Transport in Prague

The first logistical question that will arise in front of you after arrival is how to get to the center? Everything is pretty simple here.

Taxi— much more expensive, but a little more comfortable. I can’t tell you the prices because I prefer public transport.

Public transport— in my opinion, the best option. Depending on where your hotel is located, you have three bus options to take from the airport:
- 119 - goes to the metro Nadrazi Veleslavin (line A) about 17 minutes;
- 100 - goes to the Zlicin metro (line B) about 18 minutes;
- 225 - goes to the metro Nove Butovice (line B) about 53 minutes.

There is another airport express bus, but I never used it.

After we got to the metro by bus, we transfer and get to the desired station. The metro there is simple and clear, do not get lost.

Tickets can be bought at a special counter in the airport building from an uncle in a white shirt (if you have no change, but only paper money) or in a special machine. Do not miscalculate with time. If you do not go very far, then take a ticket for 30 minutes for 24 crowns, if you think that the bus + metro will take more than half an hour, then take a ticket for 90 minutes for 32 crowns. If you plan to drive a lot around Prague, then it will probably be more profitable to immediately take a travel card for a day or three days.

Someone will recommend not to buy tickets at all, since meeting the controllers is a great “luck”. In 5 trips to Prague, we met them only once in the metro. In general, this is at your own peril and risk, but I prefer to do without all this. :)))))

You validate the ticket once in a special piece at the entrance to the bus, putting the ticket into it with an arrow. The start time of the trip will be stamped there and the countdown of the time during which the ticket is valid will start. When transferring to the subway, you do not need to punch it a second time.

You can also move around the city by buses, trams and metro. Tickets for all these modes of transport are the same, you can buy at metro stations and in some tobacco / newsstands. Transport is very convenient, it runs strictly on schedule, there are also night trams for those who like to walk until late. Detailed information can be found, for example,.

How to navigate in Prague?

So you have reached Prague. How to navigate in the city? Ideally, have a navigator with local maps. This time I used the service (the Czech analogue of our Yandex.Maps), which is also available as a mobile application. It is possible to download offline maps and use it without an internet connection.

For orientation and laying routes by public transport, you can install the Pubtran application.

Where to eat in Prague early in the morning?

Prague has an epic number of establishments where you can eat and drink everyone and enjoy the most diverse cuisine. However, if you arrive early in the morning, this can be a problem. Having studied a fairly large number of taverns, I realized that some of them open from 10-11 in the morning, and many in general from 16-00. In addition, there are features of the work schedule on Sundays - many establishments are closed, and those that work open later.

If you arrived early, but you already want to eat, study in advance the availability of bars or cafes near the hotel or in the center, which are open from early morning. In addition, sausages that are sold on Wenceslas Square can be a good option to kill a worm. Very suitable and satisfying in the format of hot dogs - they come in perfectly in the morning. You can also try burgers and fried cheese there, but I would still choose sausages.

The key at this point is that you need to work out the issue in advance in order to avoid headaches on the spot with finding a place to eat. So, having arrived on January 1, we went around 5 or 6 establishments that were on my list to visit, killed a couple of hours for this, and eventually sat down to eat at the first establishment that came across, where it was not super tasty and slightly more expensive than it could be.

For today, perhaps, enough information. :)))

Although Prague is the territory of the Schengen Agreement and the Czech Republic is in the European Union, the euro is not particularly used there. And go Czech crowns. No, taxi drivers will gladly take euros from you, but at a rather extortionate rate. What costs in kroons (in terms of) 7 euros will be rounded up when paying in euros - up to 10. Rounding will be very free. Even 5 euros in kroons can easily turn into 10 - in euros. The same story, and in a cafe, and generally everywhere. Therefore, it is advisable to go with euros (you can also with dollars). And already in the Czech Republic to change the currency to crowns.

Why is the euro better? Because from Prague you can go on an excursion to Dresden, or to Vienna, and euros go there. But with cash rubles - better not. It will not work to change them at an adequate rate. Since even for the euro / kroons the exchange rate is extortionate almost everywhere (except for a couple of places, which I will talk about below). That about rubles - in general it is not necessary to speak.

A more or less normal kroon / ruble exchange rate will be only in one case - if you pay with a ruble card and the bank deducts rubles from you, recalculating the purchased goods / services in kroons at the rate. But all the same - at some compound rate, rather all the same through the euro.

Therefore, personally, if I go, I take some cash in euros + bank cards in euros.

2. Where is it more profitable to change currency in Prague.

In Prague, there is a currency exchange at every turn. There are especially many of them on the "tourist trails", for example, on Wenceslas Square.

But, if you turn from Wenceslas Square onto Opletalova street and then immediately to the left (on Politických Vězňů street), then on your left hand there will be 2-3 so-called "Arab exchange offices". These are the most common currency exchanges, but Arabs hold them and Arabs sit at the counter. And these same Arabs in Prague usually give the most favorable rates for cash exchange (in the screenshot from Google maps, the exchanger in which I changed - everything seemed to be ok).

If on Wenceslas, say, the best rate is 23.2 (still look), then the Arabs will give higher - 23.8. It is quite safe to change them. But out of caution, it is always and everywhere better to change 50 euros at a time. If everything went well, you can immediately change another 50-100 euros. But more than 100 - I still would not risk it, neither with the Arabs, nor with the Czechs.

And below I will write how to get by in Prague with a minimum of exchanges. And now - a little about deceit.

3. Cheating when exchanging

On the same Wenceslas (and in other places popular with tourists) there are many exchangers who write a good rate, say 23, but really change it at 18. Usually they are cunning like this: somewhere in small letters it will be indicated that that is a good rate which you calculate - it occurs only when exchanging from 2000 or 10.000 euros. True, you will find out this already AFTER the exchange, when it will not work to unscrew the deal back.

Another way to cheat is when the rate is good, but an additional commission is taken.

They also like to lure: you come and want to change 50 euros, and they say, they say, from 100 euros - the rate will be better (yes, it will be, but they will modestly keep silent about the commission, say, 10 euros from each operation).

(By the way, exchange commissions are still preserved, for example, in some places in Riga, in Vilnius. But there, even at the railway exchange office, this is all very clearly marked and posted in large letters, but in Prague - often not).

Therefore, BEFORE the exchange, be sure to specify in plain text (or even better, demand - let them write to you on a piece of paper) how many crowns I will receive for so many euros? And then divide the crowns into euros on your phone and compare whether the exchange rate is the same or not. And once again specify - "no commission?" And then just change.

Yes, it's all very similar to Russia in the 90s. But such is the currency exchange in Prague, oddly enough.

Another sign of a normal bank is that after the exchange you are given a receipt, where it is written how much and what you changed, how much and what you received.

4. Cards in euro

In view of the foregoing, it is better to communicate with exchangers as little as possible. By the way, why do you need cash Czech crowns at all? Well, leave a tip. Well, buy tickets for a tram or for a pleasure boat. Or by taxi. (Although in Prague taxis are trash, in terms of cheating, even taxis often accept cards).

In general, cash crowns are really needed only for some small things. Or where cards are not accepted (and they are accepted almost everywhere).

It turns out cash crowns need approximately:

• for public transport for 5 days, say, 30 euros for two.
• for souvenirs - the same amount (although I bought souvenirs on the card without any problems).
• for tips (for 5 days, two people will eat 20-30 times, if 1 euro tip = 30 euros).

Therefore, for 5 days it makes sense to exchange for kroons - 100-120 euros, and for the rest - pay with a bank card in euros. And that's why. On the map - the most favorable rate is obtained. Even more profitable than the Arabs. The Arabs, let's say conditionally - 23.8, and the debit card will be charged at 24.3 kroons / euro. And this course will be as close as possible to the official one.

It turns out, why withdraw cash from the card at an ATM (and lose on commissions for withdrawing abroad), and then change this cash (and lose again at the worst rate or exchange commission). It's easier to pay by card.