18 Prague Tourist Traps to Avoid in 2026 (A Local’s Honest Guide)
Practical tips by a local on how to avoid tourist traps in Prague in 2026 and how best to enjoy your visit to the Czech Republic capital, inc. eating out in the centre, changing money, getting taxi or guided tours.
Prague is a safe city, on the whole, but as with any major city, there are places or activities that are more for tourists than for the locals.
This one is really hard to write… I’m originally Czech, so how could I possibly write about Prague tourist traps and warn you off from visiting certain places or buying certain things in my favourite city?
But as much as I feel protective of my home country, even I have to admit that not everything is as it seems.
After the borders opened in 1989 and people had the chance to start running their own businesses, certain people thought it would be O.K to charge western prices, but provide substandard services or products.
Or, that it would be perfectly fine to use double prices in restaurants or tourist attractions, one written out in numbers (e.g. 150 KC) and one written out in words (e.g. padesat korun).
I bet you have no idea what the second one is! Well it says 50 KC and it’s obvious which one is aimed at tourists, isn’t it? (By the way, that was actually the entrance fee to Karlstejn Castle around the year 2000).
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Then there were people who thought that they could come up with anything that is vaguely ‘eastern European’ and they could sell it as a ‘traditional’. ‘Trdelnik’ anyone? Or ‘Honey Cake?
I know I shouldn’t use this as an excuse, but most of the tourist souvenir shops lined up around the King’s Charles Route from the main Old Town Square to the historic Charles Bridge are owned by rich foreign (mainly Russian) business owners, not by Czech people.
That is why you see a lot of Matroska’s Dolls, very colourful bright pictures or photos there (Czech photographer would never overexpose their photos like that).
But now, let me share with you my top tips on how to avoid falling into tourist traps in Prague.
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1. The Big Red “Hop-on Hop-off” Bus
I think that one of the biggest things to think twice about is the red Hop-on Hop-off tourist bus. At first, it sounds like a great idea to see the city, but in my opinion, it is a bit of a waste of money here! These tickets can cost around 800 to 1,000 Kč, which is very expensive compared to a normal travel pass.
The most important thing to know is that because Prague has so many tiny, historic streets, these big buses aren’t actually allowed to go into the heart of the Old Town or the centre. I think it’s a bit silly to pay all that money when the bus has to drop you off quite far from the actual sights! In my opinion, you are much better off using the public transport.
For just 150 Kč, you can get a day pass and hop on and off the beautiful trams (like the famous Number 22 or 42), which take you right through the most stunning parts of the city. Plus, you’ll feel much more like a local!
2. Prague Taxis
Prague taxis used to be notorious for overcharging especially if they know that you are a tourist. I have to say, that this is getting much better, but taking taxi in Prague can easily equal to the same amount of money as having a good dinner in a restaurant!
Take Prague public transport instead of a taxi if you are not in a hurry or want to save a considerable amount of money. If you want to use a taxi, check out Uber, Bolt or Liftago which operates in Prague and unlike a normal street taxi will tell you exactly how much your journey is going to be before you get into the car.
If you are taxi sharing with other people, then it will be probably a good value, otherwise, get the 40 Kc public transport ticket which is valid for any means of transport in Prague for up to 90 minutes (you’ll get everywhere for that!).
I always take a bus from the Prague Vaclav Havel Airport and it takes no longer than 40-50 minutes to get to my part of the town (which is not in the centre).
Day tickets are 120 Kc and there are even 3-day tickets are available, so you have no excuse for paying too much for your transport cost.
In comparison the taxi from the airport costs around 500 KCZ (one way) with Uber or Bolt, but much more with regular taxi.
Whilst the 500 KCZ is probably the going rate (as in nobody is trying to rip you off) I know I have the whole month Prague travel card for that!
Tourist monthly travel card is 1000 KCZ and it’s worth it even if you are staying for 2 weeks and you are thinking of doing a lot of outer Prague centre exploring).
3. Exchanging Foreign Currency
Make sure that you exchange your money in a reputable exchange place or a bank and definitely not on a street with somebody who is offering you a far too good deal!
In my experience, the best thing to do is actually not to exchange any money, but to withdraw some cash via bank cash point (check with your own bank before you travel what cost (if any) you’d incur) and pay for a large purchases by card where possible.
This way, you don’t need to worry about carrying too much money with you and your bank rates are probably going to be far better than the exchange money office in your hotel or in the street.
4. Buying souvenirs on King’s Route from Old Town Square to Prague Charles Bridge
Although the Royal Coronation route is surrounded by shops, you’ll be surprised at how little choice there is. Most of the shops look the same and have the same souvenirs. Not all of them are traditional or even Czech or made in the Czech Republic by Czech people.
One of the shops that’s very different is called ‘Manufaktura’’ or ‘Local Artists’ and unlike others, this one is owned by Czech people and sells true traditional products, fabrics, soaps and gifts.
They are all tastefully made, sourced locally in the Czech Republic and Moravia and their prices are reasonable. You’ll find their shops in the centre of Prague, in Prague Castle – Golden Lane and one shop is even at the airport.
5. Eating at restaurants in the centre of Prague
O.K here is the thing… If you want to have dinner at the Old Town Square, by all means, do it! But be prepared you’ll pay through the nose for it. And it might not even be the best meal you’ll ever eat in Prague. Walk away few streets towards Namesti Republiky and pick any restaurant there and you’ll probably half your bill!
It’s customary to tip your waiter at the end of your meal, but sometimes it’s expected even when the service or meal wasn’t up to scratch.
No matter where you choose to eat, you still need to have your wits about you. Czech restaurant menus have weird quirks which are very different from the ones in London or other western countries.
Here is what to look for:
The lunch menu is usually set menu (less choice), but it’s cheaper and worth going for if you are on the budget.
The menu is usually very long, but most foods are versions of themselves (Gordon Ramsey would have a field day!), so read the menu carefully.
Ask for an English menu (which quite often is separate book and not included in the menu on the table)
6. The Czech Restaurant menu
The main dish will be elaborately described, but won’t probably tell you much about what it is (e.g. Delicious Treat of Madam Podolska), but there is usually a description of what the food actually is (chicken with a creamy sauce).
In most cases, the main Czech food price doesn’t include a side dish (e.g. potatoes, fries, rice etc.). This is good because you can choose whatever side dish you want with your main meal, but it also means that the prices are quoted separately. All the side dishes are usually towards the end of the menu.
Drinks menu prices are per volume. Each drink price usually tells you what volume you are getting, e.g. 0.5lt Beer is 55Kc (which means you are getting a pint of beer for 55Kc).
Some drinks like wine might be listed per 100ml, so when you order a large glass of 250ml you’ll need to multiply the original price by 2.5 to get to the final price. Confusing, right?
7. There are no free or complimentary bread, water or side dishes
There is no such thing a free ‘tap water’. When you ask for a ‘water’, thinking to yourself that you are going to save a bit of money on drinks, you’ll be given spring water in a bottle and charged for it. The cost of water is nearly as much or more than a beer or soft drink, so you might as well have something tastier than plain water.
Pretzels, rolls, olives or nuts on the table. While you wait for your order to appear, you might be given a basket of rolls or other treats.
These are not free and you will be charged for them at the end of your meal. If you don’t want them, push them aside and make it obvious to the waiter that you didn’t order them. Check your bill at the end of the meal to make sure the restaurant didn’t add them to your bill automatically.
8. Stay clear of anything that claims to be typically Czech
Whether this is a restaurant, event, pastry or souvenir I find that most of the time the label ‘Traditionally or Typically Czech’ is nothing but!
This includes the ‘traditional Prague trdelnik‘ which you see everywhere in the Prague. Trdelnik is originally from Romania and was brought to Prague about 15-20 years ago.
9. The “Colourful Candy Store” Trap
I think one of the most tempting traps right now are those bright, colourful sweets shops that have popped up all over the Old Town. They look like a dream, all beautifully decorated with a different theme with tempting displays of sweets!
But in my opinion, they are a real nightmare for your wallet. These shops often have no prices on the displays, and a lot of the sweets are quite large, so even if you get one or two it can quickly add up.
The problem is that they charge by weight, and it is incredibly expensive—often 100 Kč for just 100 grams. I’ve heard of people getting to the till and finding out their bag of sweets costs £40 or more! My advice is to go to a normal supermarket in the centre of Prague, like Albert or Billa instead and buy your sweets there. You’ll get the same treats for a fifth of the price!
10. The Ban on Shared E-Scooters
As of January 2026, Prague has actually banned all shared rental e-scooters (like Lime or Bolt) because they were causing too much chaos on the pavements. I think this is a good thing for safety, but you should be careful not to fall for any old websites or people on the street still trying to “rent” them to you.
In my opinion, it is much better to stick to the official shared bikes or our wonderful trams and metro. They are much safer and, to be honest, a much more “Prague” way to get around!
11. Watch Out for Sneaky “Service Charges”
I think, this is a very cheeky one. By Czech law, the price you see on the menu must include the service. However, some restaurants in the tourist centre have started adding an extra 10% or 15% “Service Charge” to the bill anyway.
I guess, they hope you won’t notice and that you’ll add a tip on top of that! Always check your bill for the words “Service Charge” or “Gratuity.” If they’ve already added a charge, you don’t need to tip anything extra. I always tell my friends to ask for a proper receipt so they can see exactly what they are being charged for.
12. Fake green leaves Shops
You’ll see a lot of shops with green leaves in the windows that look like they are selling “special” brownies or cookies. In my opinion, these are almost always a tourist trap. Most of these shops sell “industrial version of the same plant” which has no effect at all, but they charge huge prices as if it’s the real thing.
I think these shops are purely there to catch tourists who don’t know the local laws. Honestly, I think it’s best to just walk past them. Most locals wouldn’t dream of going inside, and you’ll save yourself a lot of money!
13. Organised Day trips from Prague
One of my ‘favourite’ things is to check how much I’m saving by working out my own train or bus timetables travelling on my own to Karlstejn, Kutna Hora, Terezin or Cesky Krumlov.
Some of these organised day trips are easily 1000-1500 KCZ and whilst it might be nice to have a day arranged for you and not have to worry about the public transport connections, I do worry about the value of these trips.
Czech public transport is on the whole very easy to navigate, just buy a train ticket from one of the three main train stations in Prague and travel to the main towns of Czech Republic with ease.
As an example, it’s so easy to get to Karlstejn Castle, which is only 45 minutes by train from the Main Train Station. The Main Train station is only a 5 minutes walk from the top of Wenceslas Square and, when you get of at Karlstejn, it’s about 30 minutes walk up the hill surrounded by seasonal gift stalls, cafes and restaurants.
The main tour castle ticket is 250 KCZ and the train ticket is about 120 KCZ (return ticket). It’s a fair bit of difference from 1000 KCZ isn’t it?
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14. The “Must-See Everything” Trap
What other tourist traps should you look for in Prague? Well, in my opinion, the biggest one doesn’t involve money at all.
I think the biggest mistake people make is thinking they have to visit every single main attraction or they’ll miss the “real” Prague. Honestly, I think it’s the opposite! If you spend your whole trip ticking boxes and standing in long queues at the Prague Castle you might miss the soul of the city.
In my opinion, you’ll probably enjoy your visit even more if you don’t follow the crowd. Well, guess what? The “real” Prague is found in that quiet little cafe around the corner, or in a park where families are having a picnic. Don’t feel pressured to see it all—sometimes the best memories happen when you just stop and look around!
15. The “Prague Ham” Market Trap
In my opinion, one of the sneakiest things you’ll see involves the food stalls in the big squares, including Prague Ham, sausages or other street food made in a frying pan. You’ll smell that lovely Prague Ham roasting over an open fire and think, “Ooh, I must have a bit of that!”
But I think this is a bit of a classic trap. You see, the price is usually written as “125 Kč,” but if you look closely, that’s only for 100 grams. When you order, the staff might carve you a massive, thick slab that weighs a lot more than 100 grams!
Suddenly, you’re being asked for 500 Kč for a paper plate of meat. If you really want a taste, my advice is to be very firm and tell them exactly how many grams you want—or how much you want to spend—before they start cutting.
16. Watch Out for “Fake Police”
I also want to warn you about something that really upsets me—fake police. It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes men in plain clothes might come up to you and claim they are “tourist police” looking for fake money or drugs. They might ask to see your wallet, and while they “check” it, they use clever hand tricks to nick a few of your banknotes.
Honestly, I think the best thing to do is remember that real Czech police will always be in a proper, smart uniform. They won’t just ask to look in your purse or wallet on the street for no reason. If you feel unsure, just offer to walk with them to the nearest official police station, and you’ll find they usually give up and leave you alone!
17. The “Helpful” Airport Assistants
Another thing I’ve noticed lately is people at the airport who look like they work there, but they’re actually just “chasers” for unlicensed taxis.
They might be wearing a high-vis vest to look official, but in my opinion, you should just walk straight past them. They’ll try to lead you to a private car that will charge you triple what a normal Uber or Bolt would cost.
I always tell my friends to just ignore anyone who approaches them in the arrivals hall and stick to the official taxi desk, use their phone app, or jump on the public transport instead.
18. Public Transport Ticket Inspectors
Speaking of transport, I think you should be really careful with ticket inspectors on the trams and metro. Most of them are just doing their jobs, but it can feel like a trap if you aren’t prepared!
Even if you’ve bought a ticket, you must validate it in the little yellow machine to get a time stamp. If you don’t, and an official inspector shows you their little metal badge, they will fine you over 1,200 Kč on the spot—and they don’t accept “I’m a tourist” as an excuse! It’s such a shame to lose your holiday money on a simple mistake, so please, remember to “click” your ticket the moment you get on.
This blog post was originally written on 1 June 2019 and last updated on 7 January 2026
