When I visited Prague, I spent about $90 each day on food, accommodations, transportation, and entertainment. Honestly, I could have spent way less, but I wanted to enjoy myself trying new foods and going on some amazing tours! I believe that an extreme budget traveler could stay in Prague for less than $50 per day. Here’s what the Prague travel cost was for me, and what your options are when visiting this amazing city:
My favorite restaurants in Prague (and favorite dishes)
Paul: A bakery chain from France.
- Baguette with French salami and baby pickles – 139 CZK ($6.11)
- Broccoli and salmon quiche – 119 CZK ($5.23)
- Butter croissant – 49 CZK ($2.15)
- Lemon tartlet – 105 CZK ($4.62)
- Lime eclair – 95 CZK ($4.18)
There was a Paul bakery just up the street from the hostel I stayed at in Prague. Sometimes, as a treat, I would purchase a breakfast item and a sweet treat for later in the day. Based on how many stores from this franchise I saw around Prague, it seems very Starbucksesque. Nevertheless, everything I tried was absolutely delicious. My Prague travel costs did go up a bit, because I couldn’t help myself from trying a few of their sweets. It was worth it.
Herbivore: A vegan/vegetarian restaurant by the river.
- Thai curry (with fried tofu, cauliflower, peppers, carrots, jasmine rice and coriander – 175 CZK ($7.69)
- Soup (many varieties) – 65 CZK ($2.86)
The cost for the Thai curry truly reveals that you can eat healthy food for a relatively low cost in Prague. In truth, you can always save money by shopping for ingredients and cooking on your own, but eating a healthy restaurant meal for under $10 is hard to do in the United States. And keep in mind that there is no tax added on at payment – you pay for the price listed on the menu.
To be frank, I didn’t eat out very much in Prague. If you don’t eat out, the Prague travel cost for food can be much less. I would usually grab a breakfast item at Paul and then snack throughout the day. I would also cook using the public kitchen in my hostel. Some Hostels in Prague have kitchens, and it’s almost always cheaper to cook than to eat out.
Transportation costs
Although I walked most of the time, there were a few occasions where I needed to use the local transport in Prague. Walking is my favorite way to explore a city. However, there are some areas in Prague that are more easily reached via ferry, tram, the metro or bus.
Public Transport Costs:
- 30-minute ticket – 30 CZK ($1.32)
- 90-minute ticket – 40 CZK ($1.76)
- 24-hour ticket – 120 CZK ($5.27)
- 72-hour ticket – 330 CZK ($14.50)
- 1-month ticket – 550 CZK ($24.17)
- Funicular Railway ticket (one-way) – 60 CZK ($2.64)
Ferry: The ferries in the Vltava are limited, but really fun to use. There are six lines that you can use to shortcut your way across the river. Out of those six, only two operate year-round. When you board (if you don’t have a ticket) I recommend bringing cash to pay the fare. Many ferry captains don’t take cash or don’t appreciate having to go out of their way to take your payment another way. (If you enjoy boats and ferries you can also sign up for a river cruise, party boat event, rowboat/paddle boat rentals, or even a kayaking tour.)
Tram/Metro/Bus: The Prague travel cost for the tram, metro and bus services are all consistent. You can buy tickets that last for 30 minutes all the way up to a one-month ticket. For children under 14 years and adults over 65 years, tickets are free. The public transport in Prague is designed to be convenient and easy to use – and it is! As someone who lives in Dallas (a place with terrible public transport), I found Prague’s public transport system one of the easiest to use during my trip.
Aside from public transportation, you can also take taxis, use ride-sharing apps, or rent a car.
When it comes to long-distance travel, trains are very common. For trips such as traveling between countries or major cities, Eurail is a great option for foreign travelers. You can purchase a Eurail ticket for any length of time that fits your trip. You will also have easier access to railways across Europe. I enjoyed using the Eurail app to plan my train rides – even just a few hours before they set off. It’s extremely convenient if you are changing your travel plans often.
Entertainment costs
The Prague travel cost of entertainment can be as affordable or as expensive as you’d like. It all depends on your budget! The city has tons of entertainment options happening every single day – especially in the summertime.
You can find any tour imaginable in Prague. From foodie tours to castle walking tours, there are over 100 different options available too book online. There are a few spooky tours, which cover the medieval history and ghost legends of Prague. History buffs can enjoy WWII tours or religion-based guided adventures. My favorite tours include a unique mode of transportation – usually using segways and scooters (but also kayaks!). If you dig deep enough online, you can also find some free walking tours that rely purely on tips to profit.
Prague is famous for its relationship to classical music. Many famous composers performed and worked in Prague. The best-known composer from the Czech Republic is Antonín Dvořák. Even now, classical music thrives in this beautiful city. You can attend countless classical music events during your visit. There are recitals, matinees, concerts, and music tours going on almost every day of the week. Although Dvořák is quite famous, my favorite Czech composer is Bedřich Smetana. Smetana composed Má vlast, a set of six pieces that illustrate the beauty of the Czech landscape. Give The Moldau listen while you’re traveling down the Vltava River, and you’ll be enchanted by Smetana’s perspective of his world.
Museum lovers would do well to take advantage of the Prague Visitor Pass. The Prague Visitor Pass includes free admission to over 50 historic sights, museums, and galleries. It also includes a riverboat cruise, 3 days of free public transportation, and more. It’s around $95 per person, so make sure to research which museums and events you want to attend before you make the purchase.
Where I stayed in Prague (and other options)
Backpacker Hostels: There are quite a few backpacker hostel options in Prague, but I chose to stay at Sophie’s Hostel. When it comes to dorm rooms (sleeping with multiple people in the same room) I have a few requirements. I make sure online that there’s a good bathroom, a highly-rated community area, and convenient front desk hours. Those are my dealbreakers; you can decide what’s important for you!
I also really liked that Sophie’s hostel has huge storage lockers underneath each bed. Some dorms won’t have any storage space (or the lockers will be TINY) so you’ll have to find another way to keep your stuff safe. The locker at Sophie’s fit my entire backpacking pack (65L) so I didn’t have to worry about anyone looking through my things while I was out exploring. I also met some great people there! Sleeping in a 6-person mixed dorm in cost me about $30 per night.
Airbnb: For my first night in Prague, I was desperate for a place with a laundry machine. I also wanted my own private space so I could reset in the new city. I found a small apartment on Airbnb for my first night in Prague, and spent the rest of my nights at the hostel. The base price for one night in this apartment was $52. When you add on the cleaning and service fees, it cost me $71 to have an entire apartment (with a washing machine) all to myself. Not bad!
Hotels: Compared to staying in an Airbnb or a hostel, hotels are certainly more luxurious in many ways. Hotels will usually have a daily cleaning service and additional amenities like a swimming pool and a laundry room. If you rent a car, it is usually easier to find parking if you stay overnight at a hotel. Of course, then, the Prague travel cost for hotels is more expensive. Looking online, the cheapest hotel I could find cost $100 per night. That’s triple the price of staying in a hostel! To be fair, you can split the cost of a hotel room with friends if you travel with a group.
