Gabriel Travel
Gabriel Travel
It’s easy to see how visitors who don’t speak Czech and are new to the city can miss Prague’s hidden gems — those beautiful places and unforgettable experiences tucked away in secret passages and quiet courtyards that most tourists walk right past.
Unfortunately, Prague has its share of well-rehearsed tourist traps: taxi scams, shops peddling “Czech” souvenirs made in China, currency exchanges with terrible rates, and soulless attractions built purely for the tour-bus crowd.
With 6 million tourists visiting Prague annually, currency exchange scams are big business — and many visitors lose money without realizing it.
Our advice: Tourist-area locations typically have poor rates, and airport exchanges are universally bad — avoid them completely.
Watch out: Never exchange money with someone on the street, it’s illegal. You’ll hand over real euros and get back obsolete, unusable bills.
Here’s a “legal” scam that catches almost everyone: when you use your card in Prague — at an ATM, restaurant, or shop — you’ll often be asked if you want to pay in euros instead of Czech crowns. Always say no. The conversion rate they offer is terrible compared to what your own bank charges.
Even worse: ATM Euronet machines. These bright yellow ATMs are everywhere in Prague, and they’re designed to rip you off. Between inflated exchange rates and hidden fees, you can lose 30% of your withdrawal.
How to avoid them: Euronet ATMs are usually standalone machines in hotel lobbies or storefronts. Use ATMs attached to real banks instead — look for names like UniCredit Bank, Air Bank or Moneta Bank.
One of Prague’s best-kept secrets? Its old town is huge — far bigger than Venice, Paris, or Amsterdam’s tourist centers. That means you have space to breathe and explore.
Don’t confine yourself to the jam-packed hyper-center. And please, avoid staying on Karlova Street — it’s a human traffic jam from morning to night.
The neighborhoods just outside the main tourist zone are stunning, authentic, and refreshingly calm. They’re easy to reach and absolutely worth your time. Remember this when planning your days.
Don’t limit yourself to Old Town — Prague’s best neighborhoods are just a short walk or tram ride away:
Have extra time? Add Vyšehrad’s fortress, Petřín Hill, Vítkov’s monument, or a stroll near the Dancing House.
Secret escapes: Even in the packed center, quiet streets exist. Try Petrská (right off Old Town Square) or Nový Svět (a hidden lane near the Castle) for instant calm.
You’ll see signs everywhere for torture museums, sex machine exhibits, KGB memorabilia collections, and chocolate “museums.” Here’s our take: skip them.
It’s not that they’re all bad — it’s that Prague only gives you so much time. A weekend or even three days goes fast when you’re exploring one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. Why burn an hour in a gimmicky museum when you could be discovering hidden courtyards or sipping coffee in a historic café?
Bottom line: Prague has genuinely excellent museums. Don’t waste your limited time on tourist traps.
A badly located hotel can sink your entire trip. You’ll waste time, energy, and money getting to and from the center every day.
Hotels far from the action love to say: “But the metro is so fast!” And yes, Prague’s public transport is excellent. But ask yourself: do you really want to spend your precious vacation time commuting 20 minutes each way when central hotels cost about the same?
Airbnb caution: Fake listings are a real problem. Cross-check photos, dig into reviews, and if your instincts say something’s wrong, listen to them.
Bonus resource: Honest Guide’s YouTube channel (English) is brilliant for exposing scams and sharing insider tips.
Bad neighborhoods: The areas around Jěčná and Žitná streets in the New Town (noise and pollution), Dlouhá street in the Old Town (nighttime noise), or the entire Prague 4 district (too far out and without real points of interest) should be avoided.
Hotels our visitors loved most:
In short, Prague is a city that still offers great hotel services for a reasonable price. But this may not last long.
Why booking ahead matters: Let’s be honest — accommodation always gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list. But waiting too long means paying more (especially during peak seasons like Christmas) and settling for whatever’s left. The best-located, best-value hotels book out first. You don’t want to end up 10 kilometers from the center in a lifeless neighborhood sandwiched between highway exits.
Miss Sophie’s Downtown: visitors are unanimous, this hotel is great! And rooms are under €130 in high season! There’s also Miss Sophie’s Charles Bridge or Miss Sophie’s New Town & Wellness.
Hotel Pod Věží: the charm of a building steeped in history and at the foot of Charles Bridge (which is ideal for a romantic nighttime stroll). Plus, the on-site restaurant is fantastic!
Andaz Prague | Hyatt: not budget-friendly, but arguably Prague’s most stylish hotel right now. Strong competition from Julius Prague just down the street — equally chic but more affordable.
In Prague, there are many taxis that scam tourists. But there are also cheap and reliable taxi companies. Uber and Bolt are also very present in the Czech market (Uber has had a monopoly on taxis operating from the airport since 2023). Avoiding taxi scams is simple: use reputable companies. Just know that rates vary widely, so choose wisely.
Advice: Don’t get into a taxi without prior verification, especially if you’re visiting a touristy part of the capital.
Need a cab? Here’s the deal: if you wave one down on the street, ask the price before you get in and demand a receipt. By law, drivers must provide one — and requesting it usually makes them turn on the meter instead of trying to overcharge you.
The local way: Prague residents skip street taxis entirely. They call official companies or use apps, get a confirmation text within seconds (with driver info, plate number, and price), and the car shows up in 5–10 minutes.
Easiest choice: Uber, Bolt, or Liftago. The price is clear before you book, and there’s zero room for “misunderstandings.”
To get around: Walking and trams are also two excellent ways to get around and discover everything Prague has to offer.
Prague’s historic center is tiny. You can walk everywhere that matters. Trams are handy if you want to explore outer neighborhoods like Vinohrady or Žižkov, but even then, you’ll only use them a handful of times.
Horse-drawn carriages circling Old Town Square? Pure tourist spectacle. Panoramic bus tours? Pointless when the best views come from simply walking the streets.
A note on “vintage” cars: They look charming in photos, but they’re usually knockoffs operating illegally. Not worth it.
River cruises are another story. These can actually be enjoyable:
Real talk: You won’t find Prague locals sipping coffee at Old Town Square. The terraces are overpriced tourist zones where a cappuccino costs what a full meal should.
That said, two spots are actually worth it — for the views:
Looking for authentic local dining? Mincovna is right on the square but somehow avoids the tourist trap vibe. Good food, reasonable prices, and you’ll actually see Prague residents eating there.
Prague’s dining paradox: You can pay €30 for a terrible meal or €8 for an excellent one — it all depends on knowing where to go. Traditional Czech breweries serve hearty, delicious food at prices that feel almost too good to be true. The trade-off? Service can be a bit gruff, but that’s part of the charm.
Warning: Don’t eat near Charles Bridge or Old Town Square if you don’t know a good address (like Mincovna, for example!)
Everything translated into English and Russian
Neon signs with prices in euros
20% service fee at checkout
If the service fee was not printed on the menu or visibly displayed, you don’t have to pay anything. Remember, Czechs don’t really have a tipping culture, they just round up to a convenient number and leave it at that.
Tip scam alert: Some restaurants add a 10% “service charge” to the bill and present it as mandatory. It’s not. Tips in Prague are voluntary — if service was bad, leave nothing.
Avoid the Royal Route restaurants: Tourists pack these places daily on their walk from Old Town Square to Charles Bridge to the Castle. Prague residents wouldn’t eat there if you paid them.
Set aside your wine expectations — Prague is beer territory. Czech beer is phenomenally good and absurdly cheap (even with inflation, it’s still Europe’s best deal). Light, crisp blondes in 0.3L or 0.5L glasses pair with everything and cost less than most soft drinks.
What about wine? Restaurant wine is forgettable at best. Order a glass and the waiter will ask: “Red or white?” That’s the extent of the conversation. What arrives is lukewarm and unremarkable. Wine lists look impressive but deliver disappointing quality at inflated prices.
Craving good Czech wine? Visit dedicated wine bars where quality actually matters:
Czech desserts are substantial but, honestly, not particularly exciting — especially at traditional restaurants. The strudel is often dry, the pancakes invariably too thick and heavy. Nothing about Czech restaurant desserts screams “order me.”
Portion wisdom: Czech mains are generous. One well-chosen dish is typically plenty. If you’re still peckish, go for a soup or starter instead — they’re far more satisfying than the dessert menu.
Trendy tip: Rather than a restaurant dessert, eat a trdelník on the street — you’ll find stands selling this cylindrical cake everywhere in the city, which gives you energy, especially when visiting Prague in winter. And know that fine Czech pastry exists too… In short, no dessert at restaurants but elsewhere, yes!
In Prague, don’t waste your time in stores of major international chains (Zara, H&M, Mango, electronics, phones, etc.) It’ll be a waste of time when there are much better things to do! Although the Czech Republic is perceived as an Eastern European country (Czechs prefer to say Central Europe), you’ll find the same products and the same prices as anywhere in Europe (it will often even be more expensive!)
Despite lower purchasing power, prices are the same for Czechs. Don’t enter chain stores you already know hoping to find bargain prices.
The good deals: Prague’s really low prices concern local beers (€2–€3 on average for half a liter!), traditional dishes in restaurants frequented by locals (€6–€10 at lunch, €10–€15 at dinner — about 60% cheaper than in EU).
Tourist demand has spawned souvenir shops selling everything under the sun — including items with zero connection to Czech culture. Russian nesting dolls (matryoshkas), fur hats (chapkas), tiny green bottles labeled “absinthe” — none of it is Czech. And those neon-green absinthe bottles? Mostly novelty junk with little (if any) real absinthe inside.
Czech alternatives:
Want real absinthe? Absintherie has two central locations, though be prepared for a very touristy crowd.
Where are the best souvenirs?
Something odd happens in Prague: visitors bypass Czech restaurants for McDonald’s, skip historic cafés for Starbucks, then book Thai foot massages. It’s a pattern that makes you wonder.
Cobblestones are tough on feet — absolutely. But the answer is comfortable shoes, not a massage parlor identical to ones in a thousand other cities. These places add nothing to your Prague experience except visual clutter.
They’ve proliferated everywhere: Wenceslas Square, Old Town Square, even inside historic buildings. And those fish pedicure storefronts where people sit with their feet in tanks while tourists gawk from the sidewalk? It’s as awkward as it sounds.
If you want relaxation that’s actually *Prague*:
Even Prague’s government is pushing back. The mayor has stated clearly: “Prague is not Disneyland.” There’s now an active effort to reduce these generic businesses and attract visitors who want authentic experiences, not cheap novelty and mass-market thrills.
