You don’t get the nickname “the City of a Hundred Spires” for no purpose; Prague is a gold mine of gorgeous structure. The metropolis is the hub of all issues medieval and Gothic and, unsurprisingly, is the capital of the Czech Republic. It is in central Europe and is a well-liked stop-off on the hallowed Eurorailing itinerary. Consider it an actual celebrity amongst European metropolis breaks.
You can spot the Catholic saints on high of Charles Bridge, take photographs in Old Town Square, and cruise down the Vltava River. It’s simply one of many finest cities to go to in Europe for compact city-center sightseeing.
Of course, the actual query is, “Is Prague expensive to visit?” In quick, Prague will be low-cost to go to, particularly should you examine it with different main European cities. The metropolis had a fairly drastic rise to fame within the Nineteen Eighties-90s, and with that, its vacationer costs rocketed. If you’re planning a visit to Prague, it’s an excellent thought to have a tough finances in thoughts. In this information, we’ll break down all the prices of visiting so that you will be effectively ready.
Costs of Flights to Prague
Airfare can be your greatest value, relying in your vacation spot. For the sake of this part, we’ll cut up you into two teams: North American vacationers and EU vacationers. Obviously, now we have readers exterior of this demographic. Still, US flight costs are comparatively much like these in different areas like Oceania. So we’ll preserve issues easy with simply two teams.
Flying From North America
If you’re flying from the US, yow will discover airfare at round $250 off-peak, averaging round $500-600 for return tickets. Of course, this hikes in summer time, with airfare from the West Coast rising to round $1,000.
Here are a couple of examples of various airfare prices, which fluctuate per departure vacation spot and interval:
$930 return from LAX to Prague in June (two stopovers)
$650-80 return from LAX to Prague in October or January (one stopover)
$650 return from JFK to Prague in June (two stopovers)
$540-50 return from JFK to Prague in October or January (one stopover)
If you need extra cheap costs, flying from the East Coast out of season is your finest wager. You’ll discover cheaper charges should you’re okay with altering for extra stopovers.
Flying From Europe
If you’re flying from Europe, the very first thing to think about is whether or not you need to even fly. Many international locations, together with France, have a strict coverage on short-haul flying, with some even mandating overland alternate options for brief distances.
If you might be already based mostly in Europe, contemplate touring to Prague through prepare. You can really catch a prepare for simply over $100 from London to Prague, spending an adventurous 20 hours on the rails, passing by means of stunning cities like Paris and Stuttgart. It is likely one of the straightforward choices to select. But if that isn’t possible, yow will discover flights from $30 to $150, excluding baggage charges.
Total Suggested Budget from US: $600 for return airfare.
Total Suggested Budget from EU: $100-200 for return airfare or prepare fare.
Costs of Prague Accommodation
Prague has an actual mixture of lodging, which is sweet information for folks throughout all types of budgets. You can discover a luxurious selection within the middle, use public transportation to succeed in a mid-range possibility within the fashionable suburban outskirts, or choose an inner-city dorm room.
There are a couple of selections relating to discovering locations to remain. The most sought-after vacationer areas (with the biggest value tags until you e book hostel lodging) are Stare Mesto (the Old Town) and Nove Mesto (the New Town). You may additionally keep extra off-the-beaten-track in locations like Karlin for decreased lodging charges and a much less touristy environment.
Generally talking, although, you’ve three choices: a resort, trip rental, or hostel. We’ll present some suggestions and a price breakdown for every.
Option 1: A Hotel for $80-400 a Night
Hotels are the costliest possibility when staying in Prague. To get the very best worth for cash, make advance reservations to get the very best room, search for properties with breakfast included, and test your location—e.g., is the road central or annoyingly noisy at evening? Prague is a little bit of a celebration vacation spot, so it pays to double-check these items. Remember whether or not you need to pay further to be central or use public transportation in change for cheaper charges, too.
There is an effective vary, although, for various budgets. For occasion, try these high resort selections:
1a. The Grand Mark Prague ($$$)
The Grand Mark Prague is a 5-star property stuffed with historical past with rooms for costs of round $400 an evening. You get an included breakfast, bike leases, and entry to services like a health middle on web site.
2b. Pytloun Old Armoury Hotel Prague ($$)
Pytloun Old Armoury Hotel Prague is a beautiful 4-star property with superior rooms ranging from costs of $170 per evening. Its medieval-style restaurant is the actual spotlight of this property.
3c. Elysee Hotel ($)
You can bag rooms on the Elysee Hotel for nightly costs underneath $100, sneaking it into our finances class in your journey. The 4-star resort has comfy room selections with useful facilities like kettles.
Option 2: A Holiday Rental For $120-600 a Night
Going self-catered is unbelievable typically. You simply get that further independence and the possibility to cook dinner pasta in your PJs once you don’t fairly really feel like eating out. Whether you need consolation or grocery payments slightly than costly restaurant tabs, Prague has many rental selections. And an condominium could be extra appropriate than a room should you journey in a gaggle.
Just try a few of these in your journey:
2a. Apartment with Roof Terrace ($$$)
This four-bedroom condominium sleeps 12 visitors and has its personal rooftop overlooking Prague. At a value of $430 per day, it’s an excellent luxurious possibility.
2b. Cozy Prague Apartment ($$)
This property is a good looking place to base your self when visiting. For nightly costs of almost $120, you get a one-bedroom condominium simply 5 minutes on foot from the central points of interest.
Option 3: A Hostel For $20 a Night
If you actually need to preserve the value low, a hostel is a good selection. In shared services, you’ll be able to cook dinner breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a low value utilizing groceries.
3a. White Wolf House Hostel & Apartments ($)
White Wolf House Hostel & Apartments is nice for finances journey. It gives a shared kitchen and dorm rooms beginning at simply over $20.
Costs of Food in Prague
Food is modestly priced in Prague. An informal meal prices round $10, and a sit-down meal for 2 prices $50. Groceries are even cheaper: a greenback for a pint of milk, $8.50 for 1kg of hen, and round $2.50 for eggs.
If you do fancy partying, you need to spend underneath $3 for a beer and $6 for the standard bottle of wine. Here’s a tough breakdown of important meals prices, although:
Luxury: $50 per particular person
If you eat out at a sit-down restaurant for each meal, finances round $50 per particular person. Add an additional 10% for an elective service cost. I doubt you’d do that day-after-day, however you’ll be able to have it inside your finances.
Mid-Range: $35 per particular person
If you might be joyful to seize grocery meals for breakfast and lunch and simply eat out for dinner, that value will drop to $35. This is often what we do. It saves a bit of cash and provides in just a little selection.
Budget: $15 per particular person
If you propose to make use of groceries at self-catered lodging, you’ll be able to spend as little as $15 a day. Just be sure to have lodging that permits you to cook dinner your individual meals.
Total Suggested Budget: $15 to $50 per particular person per day, relying on whether or not you’re planning to go self-catered or eat out each meal.
Costs of Things To Do in Prague
Prague is gorgeous, even should you simply stroll round, and you may take pleasure in many free issues. In at some point, you might simply spend nothing on sightseeing in Prague simply due to all its stunning (and free) structure. You can go to the next wonderful points of interest completely freed from cost:
Old Town Square
Prague Astronomical Clock
Charles Bridge
Statue of King Wenceslas
Statue of Franz Kafka
Lennon Wall
Some of the finest issues to do in Prague are free, and you will get an excellent style of its structure and historical past in your journey with out spending a greenback. If you’re visiting Prague for the primary time, these are all nice issues to tick off your record.
However, in case you are prepared to splash a bit of money, we’ve bought lots extra issues so that you can expertise. Why not select a couple of from each lists?
Prague’s paid points of interest embody Prague Castle, the Museum of Communism, the National Museum, the Museum of Senses, and particular actions like sightseeing cruises, medieval experiences, and beer spas. The costs fluctuate per exercise, however right here’s a tough abstract of what you might spend:
Total Suggested Budget: A value of $0-120 per day, relying in your pursuits.
Costs of Transportation in Prague
If you might be staying centrally in Prague, you gained’t want to fret in regards to the value of public transportation. You simply gained’t spend something on transport as you might be inside strolling distance of all the primary points of interest. The solely transportation value for this situation is your airport switch, which is as low-cost as $5.
If you might be staying on the outskirts, you could have to consider a transport value. Remember that many lodging supply complimentary very low-cost bike leases. But if not, you’ll be able to take Prague’s bus or Metro methods for a price as little as $1.50 a trip.
Consider a automobile rental solely in case you are planning main day journeys. Even then, Prague is so effectively linked that you simply’ll doubtless simply take public transportation or a guided tour—like a tour to Saxon and Bohemian Switzerland through group coach.
Total Suggested Budget: An common of $3 per particular person when taking no day journeys, plus the $10 whole value of airport transfers.
Saving Money in Prague: 5 Top Tips to Save Money
This finances doesn’t must be set in stone once you go to Prague. You can simply reduce the price of a visit to Prague by simply being savvy throughout your keep. The metropolis has tons of free issues to do and low-cost room choices. And even should you don’t need to compromise on actions and lodging, there are methods to restrict your spending whereas out and about. Here’s what you should know.
1. Get Used to European Tipping
No matter what you might be doing in Prague, be it leaping on a tour, consuming at a restaurant or taking a taxi, it pays to know the European customary for tipping. As a typical rule, a tip of 10% is ok at a sit-down restaurant. Don’t count on to tip should you seize a takeout breakfast or groceries. Similarly, even an informal lunch doesn’t essentially mandate a tip. It is sort of a change from the US method to tipping and lowers your general value.
Keep tipping for extra formal environments, like sit-down dinners. Also, all the time be certain to tip your information in case you are on a tour. Just understanding tipping etiquette can prevent numerous cash whereas visiting Prague.
2. Research Tourist Traps Beforehand
Prague has so many vacationer traps, from polka music CDs to beer and rituals like touching statues. Research beforehand to know that the points of interest and actions you’re paying for are value their salt, and test cancel insurance policies. And equally, use your widespread sense – do you actually need to pay for the trinket or queue to the touch some shiny steel? If you’re feeling just a little pushed for time to analysis your self, simply try the vacationer traps we dodged the toughest right here.
3. Consider Travel Times
What time of 12 months you journey to Prague can massively influence its value. You may go to in the course of summer time, when costs are hiked. Or you might go to out of season, from January till May. These months supply extra budget-friendly experiences, with cheaper lodging charges and actions. March onwards is especially good since you get the sunnier climate, too.
4. Get Your Walking Shoes On
We’ve clearly established that public transportation in Prague is reasonable once you’re savvy. However, strolling remains to be a way more reasonably priced different. Get these strolling footwear on and take to town streets with gusto. Given how compact the Old Town is, you’ll be able to see a lot on foot in Prague, regardless of your age or health stage. Don’t spend cash on public transportation should you can assist it.
5. Bring a Reusable Water Bottle
There are many international locations the place you need to issue bottled water prices into your finances. Prague shouldn’t be certainly one of these; water is secure to drink in Prague. Just deliver a correct water bottle so you’ll be able to refill it at your lodging. And voila—you’ve saved your self loads of petty money whereas visiting Prague. Better but, you’ll be a lot better hydrated and far much less prone to fall foul of heatstroke in summer time. It’s a win-win.
The Price of Visiting Prague: FAQs
Are you feeling extra ready to go to Prague? Budgeting is a unbelievable solution to method a brand new metropolis. And with all this info, you’ll get probably the most out of town with none nasty surprises in your checking account. Whether you employ public transportation, keep in a 5-star room, or take luxurious personal excursions, these tips will see you thru.
What about some extra sensible recommendation earlier than you go to Prague? In this part, we’ll go over some essential FAQs.
How a lot does a meal value in Prague?
You can get an informal sit-down dinner for underneath $10 or a three-course meal for 2 at a mid-range restaurant for $50.
Is Prague an costly metropolis for vacationers?
Accommodation in Prague’s metropolis middle and consuming out within the previous city will be dear for vacationers. However, with some advance planning, Prague isn’t massively costly.
Is $100 a day sufficient for Prague?
Definitely, $100 is sufficient for mid-range lodging, informal meals, and one paid exercise. Budget extra if you wish to keep in one of many extra central or luxurious lodges in Prague metropolis middle.
How a lot ought to I finances per day in Prague?
Budget between $50 and $75 a day to take pleasure in Prague, not together with lodging. Accommodation in Prague ranges from $20 in a hostel to $60 for a mid-range resort within the outskirts and $150+ for luxurious central lodging.
So, Is Prague Expensive?
No, comparatively talking, Prague shouldn’t be costly subsequent to different main European cities. You can simply get by on $100 a day in a mid-range resort or $50 in a hostel. While there are “expensive” selections like high-brow central lodges and Old Town fancy eating places, you’ll discover loads of alternatives to save cash. It is all about planning a finances earlier than your vacation in Prague; this fashion, you know the way to chop your journey value.
Are you interested by visiting extra of the Czech Republic? Here’s our full journey information. The nation is solely gorgeous, with a tradition and nature that impressed the likes of William Shakespeare. There’s hundreds to see, so why not add some further time to see the remainder of the Czech Republic after visiting Prague?