With its stunning classical architecture, quaint cobblestoned streets, non-stop nightlife, and cheap prices, Prague is often considered the jewel in the crown for budget travelers in Europe.

Millions of tourists visit every year to experience the special blend of charm that only Prague can offer.

“The Golden City” combines one of the most dramatically beautiful cityscapes of Western Europe with the mysterious charm of Eastern Europe, giving those with wanderlust a city to be inspired by.

More tips for saving in Prague:
• Beer gardens in Prague with great city views
• The Prague Tram System: The Cheapest tour in town
• The best budget hotels in Prague

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Budget Guide to Prague

To help you get the most of your stay in Prague, as well as find even more ways to save, we’ve gathered together the following budget tips.

Getting there

By plane

Prague’s international airport (Vaclav Havel International Airport) is conveniently located just nine miles from the center of the city. Travelers can take a taxi or public transport for the short ride into the city, but be careful about hailing a taxi from the taxi line, as many tourists report being overcharged.

Getting to the city center by taxi

If you do need to take a taxi, the budget option is to order a ride via Uber or Taxify through their app at a cost of around $15-20. Or you can pay more to arrange a taxi at a fixed rate (around $30) via one of the taxi company stands inside the airport.

By public transit

You can get from the airport to the center of the city just as fast as a taxi, but at a fraction of the price, by taking public transport. Simply buy a ticket from the DPP (Prague Public Transportation) window in the airport at a cost of about $1.60 and then find Bus 119 located directly outside of Terminal 2.

From the airport, Bus 119 will take you to the Green Line metro station Veleslavin in about 15 minutes. From this metro station, you can use the same ticket you purchased at the airport to ride another 10 minutes by metro into the Prague city center (Staromestska) or switch to either the Red Line or Yellow Line.

Arriving by train or bus

If you arrive by bus, you will almost certainly be dropped off at the UAN Florenc Bus Station. This station is very small and located in the central district of Prague only a few minutes to the city center by metro or tram via the public transport station Florenc. This station is served by several budget international bus companies that can take you virtually anywhere in Europe, however, the main companies are Flixbus and Eurolines.

If you are arriving by train you will be taken to the main station Praha Hlavni Nadrazi. This station has a metro line and several tram connections to bring you to your destination. As with the airport, it’s best to avoid hailing taxis from the train station as there are many drivers who overcharge tourists.

By car

Another cheap, as well as social option, is car sharing. Check out BlaBlaCar and hitch a ride at a nice price with someone who’s headed for Prague.

Tip: To find the cheapest travel options to Prague, check out the website goeuro.com, where you can compare prices for trains, buses, and flights to any destination within Europe.

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Getting around Prague

Prague is a comparatively small city next to most major European capitals, making it ideal for traveling by foot. Most people can see the main attractions within the historical center in a day or two of casual walking. If you do want to travel using public transport, you will find Prague’s system (DPP) incredibly cheap and easy to use.

Subway fare & fines

A single fare which covers you for 90 minutes costs about $1.80, while a 30-minute ticket costs about $1. This ticket will allow you to ride across any form of public transport in Prague, including the metro, tram, bus, or even a ferry boat!

You should buy your ticket in advance of getting on the vehicle, either from an automatic ticket dispenser near the stop or from a convenience store or a shop selling tobacco and newspapers. Once on the bus, subway or tram, look for the ticket validating machine to punch your ticket.

Tip: There is a chance you will be checked by a public transport official, who will identify themselves with a badge and ask to see your ticket. These inspectors are in the most tourist-heavy transport lines, so best to get that ticket validated and avoid the fine which comes to about $35, paid on the spot!

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Things to do in Prague

Prague is absolutely packed with amazing world-class sights to see. Just pick a direction and start walking to discover the city’s many historic attractions and beautiful parks. Here are the best free and cheap things to do in Prague.

Old Town

Prague’s vast Old Town center is an architectural dream with ornate buildings, squares, and bridges spanning back centuries still preserved in their glorious original state. Start at Staromestske Namesti (Old Town Square) to begin your awe-inspiring walk back in time.

A few must-visit locations in the city center include the famed Astronomical Clock, which plays its medieval animatronic show on the hour every hour, and the Old-New Synagogue (admission: $9), which was originally completed in the year 1270 and is said to be home to the famous Golem monster.

After crossing the world-famous Charles Bridge, which has captivated visitors since its completion in 1402, one can find Malostranske Namesti (Malastrana Square), where a traveler can feel like they’ve gone back to the renaissance due to the majestic 17th-century buildings and churches that surround.

Museums and parks

For art and history, one can enjoy the 15th-century Lobkowicz Palace (museum admission: $12), which houses several paintings, suits of armor, musical instruments, offers daily classical music concerts, and provides an unforgettable panoramic view of the city.

Prague has numerous parks worth visiting, but one to focus on is Kampa Park, located on the river just on the other side of the Charles Bridge. This park has a number of attractions including the Franz Kafka Museum (admission: $9), the infamous baby sculptures by David Cerny, and a wealth of cozy spots to sit down and enjoy a picnic.

A must-see in Prague: The Prague Castle complex which features St Vitus Cathedral, The Golden Lane, and of course the Prague Castle should be on your list. There are a number of sites to experience at this expansive area, with paid ticket options based on what you want to see or the free garden areas that give you a taste of relaxation and natural beauty as the Bohemian royals enjoyed it.

The best views

Prague is a hillier city than many might expect, which affords it a number of vantage points for great views that won’t cost you a dime. The best places to catch a wonderful vista of the city include Letna Park, Riegrovy Sady, and Vysehrad. As an added bonus, each of these places is also home to their own huge beer garden which can get you in touch with the locals while tasting Prague’s most famous adult beverage.

Free walking tours

For budget travelers with a thirst for history, there’s nothing more welcome than coming to a city that offers a free walking tour, and Prague certainly obliges by offering a number to choose from. Find, compare, and select which tour suits you best through this handy website.

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Cheap eats in Prague

Prague’s eating culture has always been notoriously affordable. Although Czech food, with its hefty portions of meat, cabbage, and dumplings, has never been known as one of Europe’s more fine and delicate cuisines. This has all changed in the last several years as more and more international restaurants and a refining of Czech cooking to include better ingredients and preparation, has made it an eating destination.

So whether you want a simple Czech goulash, fresh, delicious Vietnamese food, or some of the best burgers in Europe, Prague has a great variety for budget travelers looking for a good bite to eat.

Here are some of our local favorites to eat and drink for less in Prague:

Lokal Dlouha
Dlouhá 33

Known for its amazing Pilsner Urquell beer, this popular and sometimes raucous beer hall in the center of Prague’s most bustling nightlife district gives its diners high-quality Czech specialties at a reasonable price. Great for groups or people on their own who want to grab a beer at the bar or eat standing up at one of the high tables without chairs.

Vinohradsky Parlament
Korunni 1

This two-story beauty of a restaurant lies in the heart of Prague’s famous eating district in Vinohrady, located just a couple metro or tram stops from the center of Prague. Offering fabulous Czech food prepared in a more modern way, one can get a hearty soup for under $3 or a big dinner for under $9. Come before 3 pm to take advantage of the daily lunch specials which cost between $6-8.

Havelska Koruna
Havelska 21 and 23

For lovers of the old school, this no-frills cafeteria located in the Old Town center offers a number of super cheap eating options which will bring you back to the days of communism. The food is simple but delicious, with big plates of savory stewed meat and the obligatory dumplings to soak up all the sauce. You can easily fill your belly for less than $6.

Remember Vietnamese Restaurant
Biskupska 5

For a break from the big, heavy tastes of Czech food, come to this quaint Vietnamese restaurant which offers huge, delicious bowls of Pho soup, grilled pork with noodles, and a number of vegetarian options for $5-7.

U Kurelu
Chalova 1

For those missing the taste of a good old bacon cheeseburger, Southern-fried chicken poppers, and service with a smile, this roomy restaurant/bar is a must visit. Located in Prague’s action-packed Zizkov area, you may come for the food, but as the night picks up, you will stay for the craft beer and good company.

Beas Dhaba
Numerous locations (including Vladislavova 24 in Prague 1)

Beas is a brightly decorated, budget-conscious buffet restaurant for vegetarians seeking a refuge from the carnivorous restaurant scene that is the Czech Republic. Choose from a variety of curries, lentils, fresh salads, and desserts, then pay according to the weight of the food, usually around $5-6 depending on your hunger. A good tip for those looking to save: come during the last hour the restaurant is open to get massive discounts (around 7 pm).

Still hungry? Check out our 6 tips for dining out in Prague

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Affordable nightlife in Prague

There’s not much more that can be said about Prague’s nightlife which you haven’t heard before, but we can confirm the good news: the beer is amazing, the number of bars is astounding, and the parties go all night. Most importantly for budget travelers, everything is super, super cheap.

We’d tell you to be sure to get out there and enjoy the nightlife, but due to its sheer abundance, it’s basically impossible not to. To help you get started, here are some of the more fun, local places to enjoy yourself while on a budget.

Naplavka
Rasinovo Nabrezi

During the temperate evenings of spring, summer, and early fall, Prague locals flock to the riverbank hangout Naplavka to get their night going. It’s a great place to listen to music, dangle your legs over the Vltava River, and drink a cold beverage as the night steadily picks up steam. You can self-cater or buy food and drink for a bargain from the many bars and boats lining the water.

Beer Geek
Vinohradska 62

Beer Geek is hands down the place to go for the discerning beer drinker in Prague. Featuring 30 unique and ever-changing microbrews on tap, you’ll be able to find an IPA, Brown Ale, Stout, or cider that suits your fancy as you rub elbows with a full house of fellow beer lovers. Most beers cost between $2-3 for a half-liter, and they tend to pack a punch. Don’t skip on the delicious chicken wings, veggies, and fries ($6 for all) with 15 different sauces, if and when you get the beer munchies.

Palac Akropolis
Kubelikova 27

Combining a rowdy beer bar, underground nightclub, late night restaurant, and famous concert hall, Palac Akropolis is an edgy one-stop venue for partiers looking to cap off an exciting night out. Set in Prague’s most notorious nightlife neighborhood known as Zizkov, Akropolis offers a place to dance until the sun comes up after bar hopping your way through the countless cheap pubs the area has to offer.

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Cheap hotels in Prague

Staying in Prague might not be the huge bargain that it was a few decades ago, but you can still find plenty of splurge-worthy hotel rooms for under $100 per night. Read our Prague hotel advice for tips on saving.

If you don’t mind a hostel, Prague has tons of options with prices as low as $30 per night, and mid-range stays hover around $50-60 per night.

Related: Our favorite budget hotels in Prague and New hotel additions to our Prague guide

Staying in Old Town

If you want to stay where the action is for most tourists, then booking a room in Old Town will place you in the center of it all. U Lillie Pension is an affordable hotel with a lovely courtyard. It’s only a five-minute walk from Old Town Square where you can see the Astronomical Clock. Hotel King George offers charming rooms with historic wooden beams (ask when booking) and is just a few steps from the St. Charles Bridge. Traveller’s Hostel Praha has simple but super cheap rooms in the heart of the nightlife district.

A Cheapo splurge

The Golden Star House
This 4-star hotel is located in a building that dates back to the 14th century and is a treat for Cheapos who don’t mind a little splurge. A few rooms have beautiful views of the city and boast lovely furnishings. There is a restaurant on the ground floor that serves breakfast and has an outdoor patio. Rates are available for around $80 if you book a few months in advance.

Search all of our Prague budget hotels

Your Prague tips

Have you been to Prague? Tell us your best tips for visiting in the comments section below.