The Czech Republic is a beautiful European country. When travelling abroad you should dedicate some time for walking down the streets of famous Czech cities, and the most important thing is to visit the capital. Namely in Prague the most famous sights which are described in detail on our website, are located. It is better to plan the trip in advance in order to have time for thinking through of all the details and save some money.

What is the Czech currency

When deciding to visit one of the Czech cities a tourist should know all the information about the country including what is the Czech currency. You are wrong if you are thinking that the euro is a main currency in the Czech Republic since it’s the member of the European Union. There is a completely different situation. Crisis in the country and budget deficiency are the main reasons why euro can’t be a common currency and Czech money are continue to function in old czk currency. But it’s all the matter of time and experienced economists foresee the fast currency change, which will significantly make tourists’ lives easier.

Nowadays euros can be found in Prague, but it is not even accepted by all hotels and restaurants of the capital. Czk currency is always main (or almost the only one) in the Czech Republic. When planning your trip it’s better to check the Czech exchange rate of the czk.  Before your trip you should find out where it’s better to exchange czk, which currency exchanger to choose and what to do to avoid scams. You should be ready to encounter on the territory of the European country not the most profitable exchange rates of usd to czk and czk to eur.

Czech currency peculiarities

Czech money, namely the Czech crown, is one of the oldest currencies in the world which is valid to the present day. The crowns have already appeared in 1882 in the times of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

There are six bills of the country. The Czech currency was designed by famous Czech painter Ondzhih Kulganek. Money illustrations include pictures of famous writers, historicists, politicians, philosophers and others. Also, national symbolic and architectural monuments weren’t overlooked. There are bills with the following denomination:

100 czk; 200 czk; 500 czk;

1000 czk; 2000 czk; 5000 czk.

Small bills of 20 and 50 czk are no longer in use.

Coins are mostly made from steel and contain the denomination picture with different illustrations (chapel, crown, Charles’ Bridge and others). There is a Czech lion pictured outside. Coin denominations are standard – 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50. Czech hellers (coins) are no longer in use. Modern coins are introduced in three colors: silver, gold and copper.

Czech currency exchange

When travelling to the foreign country every person makes sure to have enough money. On the territory of the Czech Republic you are definitely won’t need dollars, but the euros are in use. We do recommend taking with you Czech crowns. Concerning the currency exchange it’s hard to predict which option will be more profitable. You can buy euros which, as a consequence, you will exchange for czk, or you may buy Czech crowns in your country in advance. It all depends on the current Czech exchange rate.

Czech currency exchangers – what’s the catch?

If, for some reasons you couldn’t exchange money in advance, then you will have to use Czech currency exchangers. Be careful and pay attention! Czk currency rate may be very different. It’s better to deal with a real Arabic currency exchangers. The distinctive feature of such exchangers would be presence of an oval sign. They will offer you more or less stable czk to euro exchange rate and the minimal commission, which is no the case with the other exchangers. In most currency exchangers the information about the commission is written with a tiny letters in the bottom of the sign.  The tourists who are always in a rush simply don’t notice it and then amaze from the stated amount.

Save your money on the credit card!

Presence of the credit card will definitely help you out. You won’t worry about the Czech currency.  First of all, it will free you from having huge amount of cash and the second of all it will save your time from exchanging money. There will be a lower percent if you pay with the card in a store or a restaurant (around 0,5%), and if you withdraw money using ATM the commission is 3-5%. It is a good idea to check conversion details with your bank in advance: like what is the commission for crediting funds in different ways, withdrawal commission in the European ATM. You may be offered a double conversion (first in euro, then in crowns), but you should never accept such offer. This is a guarantee that you will loose much money. Remember, that banal account checking will also cost you. Read carefully all the information stated on the screen.

Another trick is several different currency exchange rates. The currency exchange rate stated on the entrance sign in the Czech Republic may be valid only for big amounts (from 1000 dollars). Pay attention.

Czk currency exchange rate

You can say many things about the Czech currency but the most important thing is to follow the exchange rate on the web pages of the banks. Since, without this knowledge it’s very hard to plan all the possible expenses and your budget as well. It’s necessary to check rates of the Czech products and services in advance. In order to find out the czk to rub or czk to euro rates in the Czech Republic we recommend using special online calculators.

By the end of the 2016 national Czech exchange rate to the popular world currencies comprise:

• average czk to eur exchange rate – 1 euro = 27,06 crowns;
• average czk to rub exchange rate – 1 rub = 0,40 crowns;
• average usd to czk exchange rate – 1 usd = 25,47 crowns;
• average czk to uah exchange rate – 1 uah = 0,99 crowns.

Czech currency – useful tips for tourists

Experienced travelers should know how, where and when they can save money. Before the trip in the Czech Republic you should learn the information about the Czech currency and advices on where it’s better to exchange money.

1. Try to exchange money only in the bank cash desks or use credit cards during your trip. In the big Czech cities you will always find several ATMs (in Prague there are lots of them).
2. Always be careful when you deal with the Czech money in the country and especially with the currency exchangers. Here people can make money on your lack of knowledge and attention. Czech exchange rate to the world currency is very unfavorable. With the lack of language knowledge you can overpay huge amounts of money for the commission. Do not be afraid that people wouldn’t understand you, just show the currency and try to ask with the help of gestures how many crowns you will get in return.
3. Never trust street vendors which offer currency exchange. Their main task is not helping you but stealing money from you.
4. Don’t have too much cash with you. There are many pickpockets everywhere, especially in famous tourist places. There will be no problems in Prague if you’ll want to pay with the credit card.
5. Download on your Smartphone or print a little list which gives you equivalents of different sums in the Czech crowns and your native currency. It will help you a lot in the restaurants or stores when you will need to convert a sum of money from one currency to another without the access to the internet.

How much money can you save with a Prague Guest Card?

There is so called Prague Guest Card is valid in Prague territory. An early card purchase will free you from pocket and sightseeing expenses, as a result you won’t be attached to the czk to euro currency exchange rate. Starting from 1990s due to Prague Card travelers prefer to make purchases, eat and visiting sights on special prices (sometimes for free). There are several cards with different prices which include various package services. We can help you purchasing the card taking into account the discounts (student and child). The Prague Card will cost you on average from 33 to 65 euro and will give you the following benefits:

• Free entrance to the 50 main city objects;
• Discounts for the rest of the museums;
• Review bus tour (2 hours)
• Tours and shows discounts;
• Free transportation (if your type of the Card allows).

Having a Prague Card is beneficial for the tourists. You wouldn’t have to worry about the czk to euro, rub and usd exchange rates in the Czech Republic. The credit card will help you paying in the restaurants and hotels while the Prague Card saves you from pocket money expenses of the Czech currency.

How not to get embarrassed with the tips?

Here are some words about the tips. In this country it’s customary to leave “spare” money almost everywhere: in the restaurants, a hairdressers or a taxi. An average salary of the Czechs is small, that’s why their main source of an income is tips. In the restaurants the amount of the tips ranges between 10 and 15% of the total order amount. If you got a handwritten check you can make a complaint to the administrator. Most likely, the desired tips have been already included in the total order amount.

Now you know about the Czech currency and main money exchanging rules. But when going to conquer the heart of the Europe you should rely on the professionals to organize your trip. We know how to make your Czech trip fascinating and unforgettable. We will also share the secrets of how to save the maximum amount of money during your trip, help you with booking hotels and tickets and tell you all about the climate and sights. Also we will give you advices on where to find the most favorable czk to euro exchange rate in the Czech Republic.

Travel safely and with pleasure! And remember, that Czech Republic Guide is your reliable friend and advisor!

Banknotes of the Czech Republic

Date	Value	Description	Obverse*	Reverse*
1993	50 Kč	Obverse: Saint Agnes of Bohemia and the Sacred Heart Reverse: St. Salvator’s Church ceiling (part of Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia in Prague) and ornamental letter A			withdrawn from circulation
1993	100 Kč	Obverse: Charles IV Reverse: Seal of Charles University
1993	200 Kč	Obverse: John Amos Comenius Reverse: Orbis Pictus, an adult’s hand passing to a child’s hand
1993	500 Kč	Obverse: Božena Němcová and rose Reverse: Laureate woman symbolizing all woman characters in Němcová’s books
1994	20 Kč	Obverse: Přemysl Otakar I and his seal Reverse: Crown			withdrawn from circulation
1994	50 Kč	Obverse: Saint Agnes of Bohemia and the Sacred Heart Reverse: St. Salvator’s Church ceiling (part of Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia in Prague) and ornamental letter A			withdrawn from circulation
1995	100 Kč	Obverse: Charles IV Reverse: Seal of Charles University
1996	200 Kč	Obverse: John Amos Comenius Reverse: Orbis Pictus, an adult’s hand passing to a child’s hand
1995	500 Kč	Obverse: Božena Němcová and rose Reverse: Laureate woman symbolizing all woman characters in Němcová’s books
1996	1000 Kč	Obverse: František Palacký, uprooted tree Reverse: Eagle spread its wings over the Archbishop’s Castle in Kroměříž, where a constitution preparing parliament of Austrian Empire was held in 1848
1996	2000 Kč	Obverse: Emmy Destinn Reverse: Euterpe and musical motifs like violin
1997	50 Kč	Obverse: Saint Agnes of Bohemia and the Sacred Heart Reverse: St. Salvator’s Church ceiling (part of Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia in Prague) and ornamental letter A			withdrawn from circulation
1997	100 Kč	Obverse: Charles IV Reverse: Seal of Charles University
1998	200 Kč	Obverse: John Amos Comenius Reverse: Orbis Pictus, an adult’s hand passing to a child’s hand
1997	500 Kč	Obverse: Božena Němcová and rose Reverse: Laureate woman symbolizing all woman characters in Němcová’s books
1999	2000 Kč	Obverse: Emmy Destinn Reverse: Euterpe and musical motifs like violin
1999	5000 Kč	Obverse: Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk Reverse: Gothic and Baroque buildings in Prague, in centre dominating St. Vitus Cathedral

*Will’s Online World Paper Money Gallery