Paying with Euro in Czech Republic
I'm traveling to Prague and I want to know where I can pay with euros (EUR) and where I have to pay with Czech korunas (CZK). I'm going to Prague's stadium to watch a football match and I know I can buy the tickets for that with EUR, but what about freeway tolls, hostels, restaurants, public transport and museums?
Best Answer
And here is my personal experience from Prague:
- Exchange rate in the banks was between 23,5 and 24,5 Crowns for 1 Euro
- ticket machines for public transport are still not accepting Euros, but parking automats are accepting Euro coins(only 1 and 2 Euro coins), exchange rate: 1
EUR= 25CZK - in the hotel we could pay with Euros too, and the exchange rate was 1
EUR= 30CZKand it was much better to use Euros - There were some shops and restaurants accepting Euros, but only few of them have a good exchange rate and there it was better to use Czech crowns
So the best way is to exchange some money in a bank, but also to keep some money in Euro and use it where the exchange rate is about 1 EUR= 25 CZK
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Can you pay with euros in Czech?
As the official currency, the Czech crown is the best and often the only possible currency to use when paying. Although the Czech Republic is part of the European Union, the euro is not widely accepted here. Some stores, restaurants and hotels accept payments in euros but the exchange rate may not be very favorable.How do you pay in the Czech Republic?
People traveling to the Czech Republic will find that debit, credit and travel cards can be used throughout the country, especially in major cities such as Prague, Brno and Ostrava. Visa, Mastercard and American Express products can be used for purchases and at ATM machines (bancomats) for withdrawals.What is the best way to pay in Prague?
The best exchange rate in Prague is usually obtained by withdrawing Czech Crowns from the cash machine (ATM) of a bank, even accounting for any transaction fees your card issuer may levy. Cash machines in Prague accept debit and credit cards backed by Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Maestro.Is it better to exchange money in Prague?
If you come to Prague it is always good to have some cash with you. Prague is very card friendly city, however just for your personal comfort it is highly recommend to exchange at least a portion of your budget to Czech koruna (CZK). You can either use any bank branded ATM or stop at money exchange office.Why Don't The Czechs Use EURO?
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Answer 2
Most places will let you pay with Euro cash, but at an atrocious exchange rate; vending/ticket/etc. machines won't take euros or plastic (with very few exceptions).
Withdrawing CZK at an ATM will likely hit you with a foreign withdrawal fee, so this is the second least advantageous option (check with your bank/card issuer, apparently there are banks which don't charge for foreign ATM withdrawals; note also that you'll be withdrawing in a currency different from your account's currency).
If you are in a hurry, there are money exchanges in the touristy places - but take care which rate you're looking at - the CZK buy rate is what interests you here.
Exchanging money at a bank will get you the best exchange rate.
One option I don't see mentioned yet is paying with an electronic card - Visa/Mastercard is the most commonly accepted combo, and the money gets debited at current exchange rate. Of course, the further from bigger cities you get, the higher the chance that the venue would only accept cash; even in Prague, the acceptance rate is somewhere at 80%, but continually getting better with the contactless card/terminal rollout.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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