Guide to electrical sockets, plugs and adapters in Czech Republic

When you visit Prague and the Czech Republic you will need to use a special European electrical plug convertor (type E) to plug your phone, tablet, kindle or laptop charger in. You might also need a voltage reduction adapter, depending on which country you are coming from.

I know that this topic looks a bit technical, but don’t worry. If you forget to buy or work out what you need before you travel to Prague, you can buy everything you need when you arrive.

Czech Republic electrical sockets

The most common type of sockets in Czech Republic (and Prague) is so-called type E or French type electrical socket.

These sockets have 2 holes and 1 pin and the plugs (from Czech electrical devices) look like they have 2 prongs (and one hole). The pins & holes are all round.

Unlike UK sockets, Czech sockets don’t have an individual switch on and off next to the socket. You just plug your device in, and it will start charging.

There are also electrical goods, that have a type C plug and they fit into the Czech style F sockets.

These plugs essentially have only 2 prongs. They do look very similar to UK plugs for electrical shavers, but they are slightly wider (so your UK shaver still won’t fit, unfortunately).

PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO PRAGUE

The electrical voltage in the Czech Republic

The voltage in each Czech socket is standard 230 V and 50 Hz frequency.

Do I need a voltage reduction adapter for Czech Republic?

The Czech Republic standard voltage might be different to your country, especially if you are coming from Japan, the Philippines or North America (where the voltage is much lower – typically 120 V with 60Hz frequency).

Your electronic devices shouldn’t be harmed by being charged with higher voltage, but they will charge much quicker.

I know that sometimes, electrical goods manufacturers don’t advise charging a product that’s built for one type of voltage with a different one, but on the whole, you should not have problems with smaller electrical devices such as electrical toothbrushes, mobile phones, kindle readers or tablets. If in doubt, but voltage reduction converter plug (see below for more info).

As a rule of thumb, you can use your own electrical devices in Czech Republic if your own country uses 220 – 240 voltage.

This is for example Europe, UK, Australia, some parts of Asia and Africa. It’s best to check this before you travel to Czech Republic, just in case your country uses different voltage.

Countries such as USA, Canada, Japan, Philippines, some parts of Asia, and countries in South American continent have significantly lower voltages (100-127 V).

This means that if you are coming from these countries, you should get a voltage converter as well as E-type power plug adapter to make sure that you won’t potentially damage your electrical devices.

To save on space, have a look for a voltage converter and E-type power plug adapter in one, as it will be lighter to carry with you.

If you are visiting from UK the voltage frequency is the same as in the Czech Republic (230 V with 50 Hz frequency), but since UK has a socket/plugs type G, you will need to get a plug convertor.

The laptop or mobile phone C-charger is the same as in UK, and the sockets (on some trains, buses and the Prague airport) are the same.

What countries have the same electrical sockets as the Czech Republic?

The Czech republic has the same type of socket that’s also being used in France, Belgium, the Slovak Republic and Poland.

If you are travelling from these countries, then you don’t need to worry about any electrical convertors, and you will be able to charge your phone or laptop without any extra adaptors or plug in your hairdryer without any problem.

If you are visiting from other European countries and your plug is type C (two thicker round prongs) you should also be fine as plug C fits into Czech E sockets.

Electrical adapter/plug

You will need at least one adapter for you or your group, but if you have more electrical devices you might like to either bring an extra adapter or buy an adapter with multiple sides.

You can buy the adapter before you travel as you are packing for your trip to Prague, or you can buy the adapter at the airport (probably more expensive) or when you arrive in Prague.

Where to buy electrical plug adaptor in Prague

Any electrical store will be able to help you and if you are not sure which adapter you need, bring your charge cable with you, so that they store staff can find the one that you need.

There are electrical shops, such as Datart (or Alza or Euronics) in any large shopping centre in Prague – the most central one is in Palladium (The Republic Square, Underground B-Line – very close to the Powder Tower and the start to the King’s Route through the centre of Prague).

Charging your phone or laptop around Prague

It’s best to charge your phone overnight in your hotel or accommodation, but if you forget or need to charge your phone again during the day, then here is how to do this.

The best solution I found so far is to bring a little power bank, which I keep charged up at all times. I bought a fairly small (but powerful one) that’s about 10 cm long and fits easily into my shoulder bag. To charge my phone I also need to bring with me the actual C-charger cable.

If I’m going somewhere for a day trip, I sometimes also use the sockets on the train or bus to charge my phone (and sometimes my laptop if I’m working).

Some buses and trains (I find that these are usually the more modern train carriages and buses) have only laptop/phone C-sockets, which are suitable for smaller portable devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, kindle readers and some laptops (if you have the C-plug charger).

The older versions of train carriages and buses (usually the long distant ones) have the traditional plug (like you see in your hotel or your Prague accommodation) and you will need to bring with you the whole cable with plug and European – Czech socket plug – convertor.

Travelling back to your country

Here is a little tip, I painfully learned the other day!

When you travel back home from the Prague’s Vaclav Havel airport, bring the plug adaptor with you.

It might be tempting to leave it behind in the hotel, since you might be thinking you don’t need it anymore as you are not planning to visit other countries using the same type of plug.

Well, I thought I was being clever to leave my convertor plug behind for next time I visit, until there was 4 hour delay at the airport and I was stuck there without a way of charging my laptop or phone and I couldn’t work!

All my devices have UK plugs, so now I carry the plug converter with me all the time in case I still need to charge my laptop whilst I’m waiting in Prague’s airport for my flight to London.

PIN TO KEEP FOR LATER