What NOT to Do in Prague

Before you come to Prague, you might want to know what NOT to do in Prague! I’ve been residing in Prague for a number of years now, and I completely love how nice life is right here.

But as I put together to welcome dozens of family and friends from the US to Prague for the primary time, I’m going over what vacationers ought to REALLY know earlier than arriving right here.

So what ought to individuals really know? Prague is completely different from the stereotypes. While you get immense worth for cash right here, it’s positively not the dirt-cheap getaway it was once 20 years in the past, neither is it only a place to come back to get together.

Additionally Prague has so many cool locations outdoors town heart, and an unbelievable meals scene, however so many individuals by no means go that far, sticking to town heart and Czech dishes.

And for those who cheers with water, or pour new beer right into a half-full glass…effectively, you’re not going to draw any GOOD consideration in Prague.

So let’s have a look — what NOT to do in Prague! Consider this your Prague survival information.

(And for those who’re planning a visit to Prague, don’t miss my guides on uncommon issues to do in Prague and the 17 finest Prague eating places!)

Don’t assume Prague is an affordable getaway.

In the previous, Prague was held up as the final word low cost getaway of Europe. People got here right here to remain in grand inns for reasonable, have good meals for reasonable, and get together all night time lengthy for reasonable.

I personally fell into that class as soon as. When I first visited Prague with my research overseas roommates in 2004, we gorged ourselves on sushi as a result of it was so less expensive than in Italy!

Here’s the factor, although — whereas Prague is certainly cheaper than Paris, London, and the Nordics, it’s not the dirt-cheap getaway it was once. In the previous 20 years, Prague has gone by way of a metamorphosis, including much more high-end eating places and inns, and loads of companies now cater to rich Czechs and moneyed guests.

(This previous winter, Charlie and I traveled to Palermo, Sicily — and let me inform you, that was an affordable getaway. I used to be SHOCKED how less expensive it was than Prague! You might get an entree at a pleasant restaurant for only a few euros! Sure, Italy could be very costly in touristy areas like Florence and Venice, however much less touristy components of Italy may be extraordinarily low cost.)

And one other factor — the beer in Prague is not cheaper than water. So many vacationers like to repeat this, nevertheless it hasn’t been true for many years! (Back then they handed a regulation saying that SOMETHING must be cheaper than beer.)

The least expensive tank pilsner (a.okay.a. GOOD Czech beer) in Prague is at a pub known as U Glaubiců, the place half liter beers value 43 CZK ($2 USD). Elsewhere in Prague, tank pilsner prices 55-60 CZK ($2.50-3 USD).

Beer in Prague remains to be low cost, particularly contemplating its unbelievable high quality — I began laughing with pleasure after I purchased a spherical for me and 6 of my pals for lower than $20 — however not fairly cheaper than water.

Don’t be an obnoxious, badly behaving vacationer.

For many years, Prague has been a well-liked spot for vacationers coming to drink and get together. It is very widespread with British stag events. Where else are you able to drink beer this good for this value?

You nonetheless see these stag events. A gaggle of British males strolling down the road, one in every of them dressed up as an enormous child or a ballerina, all of them off their faces. If it’s late at night time, they may be singing on the high of their lungs.

It’s not nice for these of us who dwell right here.

But town has been cracking down on this type of vacationer conduct. Bars and golf equipment usually are not as tolerant of vile conduct as they was once. And now once you land on the airport, you’ll discover large indicators telling individuals to maintain issues quiet after 10:00 PM.

My recommendation? Remember that folks dwell right here. And for those who’re going to get together, keep on with town heart. DO NOT e book an house in a cute residential neighborhood. We dwell in these neighborhoods as a result of they’re quiet and away from the insanity.

Don’t convey your euros.

The Czech Republic really doesn’t use the euro — as an alternative, we use the Czech crown (koruna). Over the previous few years, the speed has fluctuated between 21-24 crowns to 1 US greenback.

It’s not the simplest factor to calculate in your head, so I like to recommend downloading the Currency app and opening it once you wish to double-check a value.

And no, you’ll be able to’t use US {dollars} right here both. (You don’t suppose this is able to have to be mentioned, however I’ve seen sufficient Americans making an attempt to pay with USD throughout Europe!)

I take advantage of my US bank cards for the overwhelming majority of my purchases in Europe. You can use bank cards in most locations in Prague, too. If they ask you which ones foreign money to cost — CZK or USD — all the time select CZK. You’ll get a markup in the event that they convert the value.

Don’t count on lemon in your lemonade.

You’ll discover lemonades (limonady) on most Czech menus, and so they make a unbelievable nonalcoholic beverage choice. In reality, a lot of eating places are all the time switching up their lemonades of the day — mango, lime, pink currant…

There’s only one factor. Lemonades within the Czech Republic don’t comprise lemon! They’re simply glowing water with fruit juice added. Unless the menu explicitly says that it comprises lemon, it doesn’t comprise lemon.

So for those who ask a server what sorts of lemonades they’ve right now and so they say, “Raspberry, passion fruit, and lemon,” solely the lemon one really comprises lemon.

Additionally, malinovka is one thing you’ll typically see in pubs — it’s a candy raspberry soda (technically a lemonade by Czech requirements!), typically obtainable on faucet.

Don’t name Prague Eastern Europe.

The Czech Republic could be very a lot a part of Central Europe. Mentioning to a Czech that you just’re in Eastern Europe will not be a great way to make pals — in truth, it is going to be taken as an insult.

Think of it this fashion: Imagine that you just make a journey to Pennsylvania. You’re hanging out in Philadelphia, sitting at a bar in Center City, making dialog together with your neighbor, and also you point out that you just got here to Philly since you all the time wished to go to New England.

See how ridiculous that sounds? That’s what it feels like once you name Prague Eastern Europe!

Oh, and positively don’t name it Czechoslovakia, both. We’ve been velvetly divorced from our japanese neighbor for 30 years now.

(For the document: Eastern Europe contains Russia, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Romania, Moldova, and Bulgaria. Central Europe contains Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, the previous Yugoslavia (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia) and Albania.)

Don’t trip public transit and not using a ticket.

Prague is a metropolis the place you don’t have to indicate your ticket when boarding transportation, and there aren’t even turnstiles to get on the subway. Instead, there are fare inspectors that hop on board sometimes and test to see that everybody has a ticket for that journey.

Because of this, a whole lot of vacationers find yourself confused and find yourself hopping on the tram with out shopping for tickets.

How typically do fare inspectors hop on board? I’d say in all probability one in each 15-20 journeys. Even so, you don’t wish to be caught and not using a ticket, as a result of the fantastic is steep. And I do know many vacationers who tried to play dumb (or, let’s be trustworthy, cry) and bought fined anyway.

You should purchase tickets on board the trams and buses when you’ve got a contactless bank card. You can even purchase tickets on the machines at entrances to the metro.

But what I like to recommend is that you just obtain the PID Litačka app earlier than you arrive in Prague. On right here you should buy single tickets for 30 or 90 minute journeys, or for twenty-four or 72 hours. Or for a month for those who’d like! This ticket is nice for tram, bus, or metro.

Keep in thoughts that YOU MUST ACTIVATE THE TICKET and IT TAKES TWO FULL MINUTES TO ACTIVATE. They do that so you’ll be able to’t simply press the activate button when the fare inspector seems.

Don’t solely eat Czech meals.

You ought to completely strive some Czech dishes whereas visiting Prague — however Czech meals can be fairly heavy, and I personally discover it powerful consuming a couple of conventional Czech meal per week.

Instead, benefit from Prague’s very good worldwide eating scene. It’s one in every of my favourite issues about residing in Prague!

I wrote a Prague restaurant information just lately, and this represents the end result of my years exploring the restaurant scene with my crew of foodie pals.

You can get pleasure from inventive high-end tapas at El Camino, Neapolitan-style pizza at Manù, fiercely recent sushi at Yamato, Georgian specialties at Sunday Terrace, and much, much more.

I particularly advocate getting your fill of Vietnamese meals whereas in Prague. We have a big and vibrant Vietnamese group right here, and it’s uncommon to discover a European metropolis with unbelievable Vietnamese eating places in each course!

Read More: 17 Best Prague Restaurants

Don’t cheers with out making eye contact!

Eye contact is crucial when making a toast in Prague. Make certain to look the individual within the eye as your glasses clink. If not, you’re doomed to seven years of dangerous intercourse!

Additionally, don’t cross arms when toasting, and positively don’t toast with water — it’s thought of dangerous luck.

If you will have a glass of water, glowing or nonetheless, simply smile and nod as individuals cheers round you. People will perceive.

Additionally, don’t pour new beer into your outdated beer. If you will have just a little little bit of beer left in your glass, end the entire thing earlier than refilling it.

Don’t be late.

Czechs are extraordinarily punctual individuals. It’s one of many issues I really like about them — and residing right here has actually made me a extra punctual individual! (What a change from New York, the final place I lived, the place everyone seems to be late on a regular basis and blames the subway.)

So be sure you’re on time to satisfy a Czech individual. People are likely to arrive precisely on time, not 5 minutes early.

Don’t ignore the remainder of the Czech Republic.

There are so many cool locations to go to within the Czech Republic — but the overwhelming majority of vacationers pop into Prague for a number of days, and that’s it. Make certain that’s not you!

So what are some good locations price visiting within the Czech Republic?

Český Krumlov is a beautiful metropolis in South Bohemia, two hours from Prague, that appears straight out of a fairy story. While many individuals go to as a day journey, I strongly advocate staying in a single day. You can see my information to Český Krumlov right here.

Karlovy Vary is a gorgeous and romantic spa city an hour and 45 minutes from Prague, full of candy-colored buildings and set within the hills. This is one other good in a single day journey.

Brno is a enjoyable little metropolis in Moravia, within the japanese a part of the nation, and makes an incredible cease between Prague and Vienna. There are a lot of cool eating places and cafes, and it’s cheaper than Prague.

And for those who solely have time for a day journey from Prague, my high choose is the city of Kutná Hora, well-known for its bone church and colourful buildings, simply 50 minutes by prepare from Prague. But for those who’re an enormous Czech beer fan, you might wish to go to Plzen to tour the Pilsner Urquell brewery!

Don’t name it Czechia.

Yes, Czechia may be the official title of the nation — however the overwhelming majority of Czechs nonetheless name the nation the Czech Republic. “Czechia” is the phrase we placed on authorities kinds. The title change solely went by way of in 2016, so it’s nonetheless a latest replace.

It’s not a tragedy for those who name it Czechia, and even some Czechs even want to make use of the time period Czechia, however you’ll slot in with the lots for those who name it Czech Republic.

Don’t drink Staropramen.

Czechs love their beer; that a lot is obvious. And you’ll see Staropramen branding all over the place — on umbrellas, in pubs — and also you may assume that that’s the nice beer.

It’s not. Staropramen is broadly acknowledged as an area beer that isn’t that nice. It’s sort of just like the Bud Light of the Czech Republic — they spend a ton on promoting, however the precise product is a far cry from high-quality beer.

So what must you drink as an alternative? Tank pilsner. Tank pilsner represents the very best Czech beer that town has to supply.

Pilsner Urquell is the gold commonplace; drink it when you’ll be able to. Únětice is one other native model price making an attempt (and visiting their brewery, simply outdoors town, is one in every of my favourite uncommon issues to do in Prague).

And don’t neglect the beautiful microbreweries that dot town! Two that I really like are Dva Kohouti in my neighborhood of Karlín (they sometimes make New England IPAs, which makes me really feel at house!), and Automat Matuška in Dejvice, a brand new “nanobrewery” that basically impressed me after my first go to.

Don’t neglect to analysis when you’ve got dietary restrictions.

Yes, you’ll be able to completely get by in Prague for those who observe a vegetarian or vegan or gluten-free weight-reduction plan. But it’s not as straightforward right here as it’s in Berlin or New York or Bangkok, for instance.

Traditional Czech eating places may be particularly difficult. Sometimes the one vegan merchandise is a bramborák (a potato pancake, typically with onions or garlic, cooked in oil). The go-to vegetarian dish in Czech delicacies is smaženy syr — fried cheese.

At least our second hottest delicacies is Vietnamese, which gives much more to select from for those who don’t eat meat, cheese, or gluten!

That being mentioned, the Czech Republic is a part of the EU, so there’s allergen labeling on menus. That makes it loads simpler to know for those who can eat one thing.

Either means, when you’ve got dietary restrictions, I like to recommend doing a little bit of analysis on eating places with good vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free choices. It’s good to have a number of prepared behind your pocket in case you might want to select a spot rapidly.

Don’t count on the very best Christmas markets in Europe.

This one is a bit controversial. I do know lots of people who’ve come to Prague particularly for the Christmas markets, that are lovely, festive, and far nicer than something you’ll discover in America.

However…I’ve been to a LOT of Christmas markets in Europe, and Prague isn’t one of many higher ones. They’re fantastic, however they pale compared to what another cities have to supply.

In my opinion, among the finest Christmas markets are literally fairly near Prague — Vienna (4.5 hours by prepare), Dresden (2 hours by prepare), Munich (5 hours by prepare), and Nuremberg (4 hours by bus) are in all probability my 4 favourite Christmas market cities in Europe. I haven’t been to the Berlin Christmas markets but, however I hear they’re additionally nice (4.5 hours by prepare).

Does that imply it is best to keep away from Prague at Christmas? Not in any respect! The finest solution to plan a Christmas market journey in Europe is to have an itinerary taking you thru a number of cities by prepare or bus, permitting you to see how a lot of completely different locations have fun the vacation.

So maybe plan a Christmas journey that takes you from Berlin to Vienna, or Munich to Budapest, stopping in Prague alongside the best way and permitting you to get a very good cross-section of Christmas markets.

Don’t select a trdelnik for a Czech deal with.

Throughout the Old Town in Prague, you’ll see trdelnik stands all over the place. Trdelniky are chimney muffins — roasted over coals, lined with sugar and cinnamon, typically full of ice cream, typically obtainable in a lot of different flavors.

There’s only one drawback — they’re not really Czech! They’re Hungarian! Someone began making them in Prague and so they actually caught on!

Instead, go for a vetrnik — a Czech caramel cream puff. These are my favourite Czech pastries and you’ll find them all over the place!

I particularly love the one at Gardens Restaurant, one in every of my favourite uncommon issues to do in Prague. Mysak, Eska (solely at lunch) and Cafe Savoy have notable ones, too.

Don’t use Euronet ATMs.

These are among the commonest ATMs you’ll see across the metropolis heart. If you’re utilizing a overseas card to withdraw money, you’ll be charged a a lot increased price.

Instead, select an ATM hooked up to an actual financial institution. Three of the frequent banks you’ll see in Prague are CSOB, Raffeisen, and Unicredit. Those ATMs are fantastic to make use of.

(In reality, it’s a very good behavior to solely use ATMs hooked up to banks once you journey. If your card will get eaten at a financial institution ATM, it may be recovered. If it’s eaten by a comfort retailer ATM, you’ll by no means see it once more!)

Don’t neglect to tip when paying for meals.

Here within the Czech Republic, it’s commonplace to supply an additional 10% or so on high of the price of your meals. If a invoice involves 500 crowns, for instance, simply say, “Five hundred and fifty,” and the server will thanks, then scan your card.

If it’s a small buy, like a espresso, it’s frequent to tip with a number of cash. Just just a little one thing additional.

Don’t simply go to town heart.

I discover it curious that the overwhelming majority of holiday makers to Prague solely go to town heart — the Old Town and the New Town — and by no means enterprise past it. That’s an enormous distinction from different European cities.

So what must you do? Go exploring! Four cool native neighborhoods with enjoyable eating places, cafes, parks and extra are Vinohrady, Dejvice, Karlín (my neighborhood!), and Letná. And a whole lot of them have structure as fairly as it’s within the Old Town, however have a decidedly much less touristy environment.

Enjoy your hipster goals. These locations may be the spotlight of your Prague go to.

More on the Czech Republic:

More on What NOT to Do:

Have you been to Prague? What else would you add to this checklist?