The Czech Republic operates the integrated emergency number 112 for all services, which functions in English and German in addition to Czech. The number 155 connects specifically to emergency medical services, while 158 reaches police and 150 summons fire services. These numbers work from any phone without requiring a SIM card or credit. Prague maintains a dedicated tourist police service at Jungmannovo náměstí 9, open daily, with officers speaking multiple languages and handling crimes specifically affecting visitors. The General Health Insurance Company operates a 24-hour foreign patient line at +420 222 075 454 for clarification of coverage matters before treatment.
The Czech koruna remains the sole legal tender, with no official euro acceptance obligation despite European Union membership. The National Bank of the Czech Republic sets exchange policy independently, with conversion rates fluctuating between 22 and 25 korunas per euro in recent years. Currency exchanges labeled "směnárna" operate throughout Prague city center, but rates vary substantially. The exchange office at Praha hlavní nádraží train station historically charges margins exceeding ten percent, while Ebury and Exchange rates on Kaprova street near Old Town Square publish margins around two percent. ATMs dispense korunas at wholesale interbank rates plus cardholder bank fees, typically totaling under three percent. Many ATMs present a screen offering conversion at "guaranteed rates" or "dynamic currency conversion"—declining this and accepting charges in korunas rather than home currency reduces total fees by approximately four to seven percent on average transactions.
Credit cards function widely in Prague, Brno, and Plzeň but face limited acceptance in villages under 2,000 population. Contactless payment infrastructure covers approximately 85 percent of terminals in cities over 50,000 residents according to 2023 Czech Banking Association data. Restaurants legally must issue receipts, printed with a unique fiscal identification code and business tax number. Establishments occasionally claim card terminals are broken—this represents tax evasion, and the Finance Ministry operates a reporting line at 296 331 111. Cash remains necessary for market purchases, rural guesthouses, and church entrance donations.
Tipping follows the rounding convention rather than percentage calculation. A 120 koruna lunch bill receives 130 or 140 korunas depending on service perception, rather than calculating fifteen percent to reach 138. Restaurant service staff expect approximately ten percent via this rounding method. Taxi drivers receive no tip if the meter runs correctly; rounding up 20 korunas on a 280 koruna airport ride suffices. Hotel porters receive 20-40 korunas per bag. Tour guides working full-day programs traditionally receive 100-200 korunas per participant. Leaving coins on the table rather than handing money directly to servers occurs, but stating the total amount when paying prevents servers from returning with full change that must then be handed back.
Tap water throughout the Czech Republic meets European Union directive 98/83/EC standards for direct consumption. Prague's supply originates from Želivka reservoir, 90 kilometers southeast of the city, with treatment managed by Veolia. Hardness levels measure 2.5-3.5 mmol/L in Prague, 1.8-2.8 mmol/L in Brno. Restaurants must provide free tap water if requested, per Ministry of Health decree 108/2001, though some establishments resist. Bottled water sales persist through preference rather than necessity. Public fountains marked "pitná voda" provide potable water; those marked "nepitná" do not.
The Czech healthcare system splits between state insurance and private supplemental coverage. EU citizens present the European Health Insurance Card for treatment at state facilities at Czech resident rates. The card covers necessary care but excludes repatriation. Visitors from outside the EU require either private travel insurance or payment guarantees before non-emergency treatment. Státní zdravotní ústav—the Public Health Institute—requires proof of insurance covering 30,000 euros minimum for long-term visa applications. Canadian Medical Care clinic at Veleslavínská 30 in Prague 6 operates with English-speaking physicians across general practice and specialist fields. The facility accepts direct billing from international insurers. Na Homolce Hospital at Roentgenova 2 maintains a private international patient unit with English intake services, requiring either insurance guarantees or credit card deposits before admission for non-emergencies.
Pharmacies display green cross symbols and carry the designation "lékárna." The Lékárna Palackého at Palackého 5 in Prague 1 operates 24 hours without closure. Most pharmaceuticals requiring prescriptions in North America or Western Europe maintain identical prescription requirements in the Czech Republic. Codeine-based medications require prescriptions. Pharmacists cannot alter prescriptions written by foreign physicians, but general practitioners at walk-in clinics will often transcribe foreign prescriptions to Czech format for a consultation fee of 400-600 korunas. Prescription medications cost substantially less than in the United States; atorvastatin 20mg packages of 30 tablets retail around 60-90 korunas compared to $15-30 in the US for identical dosages.
Voltage runs at 230V with 50Hz frequency through type E outlets—the two-pin format with a protruding ground pin in the socket. Devices designed for North American 110V require voltage converters unless labeled "100-240V," which covers most phone chargers and laptop power supplies. Adapters without conversion capability cost 50-80 korunas at electronics retailers like Datart or Alza. Hair dryers and heating devices often lack dual voltage capability and will burn out on 230V without conversion.
Czech rail and bus services permit luggage without weight restrictions on standard tickets. ČD trains provide overhead racks and floor space near doors for suitcases. RegioJet and FlixBus coaches include baggage holds beneath the cabin, with one checked bag and one carry-on permitted per ticket. Additional bags incur fees of 20-50 korunas depending on carrier. Prague's metro lacks elevators at 37 of its 61 stations as of 2024, with accessibility limited to newer Line C stations and select older stations retrofitted with lifts. Dragging luggage up staircases becomes necessary at Můstek, Muzeum, and Malostranská stations on common tourist routes.
Public restrooms charge 10-20 korunas for access, collected by attendants or turnstiles. Prague's main train station restrooms cost 15 korunas with attended facilities cleaned continuously. Shopping centers including Palladium and Nový Smíchov provide free restrooms to customers, though guards sometimes check shopping bags. McDonald's locations allow restroom use without purchase, unlike in some neighboring countries where codes appear on receipts. Facilities maintain soap and toilet paper consistently in paid locations; free public toilets in parks may lack both.
The Czech language belongs to the West Slavic group alongside Polish and Slovak. Most Czechs under 40 in Prague, Brno, and tourist areas speak functional English, learned as the primary foreign language in schools since the 1990s. Older residents more commonly speak German or Russian, reflecting Cold War education policy. Basic courtesies gain response—"dobrý den" (good day) when entering shops, "na shledanou" (goodbye) when leaving. Czechs do not expect foreign visitors to speak Czech beyond these basics, unlike some cultures where language attempts carry social weight. Restaurant menus in Prague city center appear in Czech, English, and often German or Russian. Handwritten daily specials posted on boards remain Czech-only, requiring translation requests to staff.
Banking hours typically run 09:00-17:00 Monday through Friday, with many branches closing 12:00-13:00 for lunch. Weekend banking access remains limited to airport exchange offices and select downtown Prague branches. Česká spořitelna operates Saturday hours at selected Prague locations including Rytířská 29 in Old Town. International wire transfers require in-person verification at Czech banks for anti-money-laundering compliance, consuming 30-60 minutes even for straightforward transfers.
Post offices identified by orange Česká pošta signage handle mail, package shipping, and occasional banking services. The main Prague post office at Jindřišská 14 operates 02:00-midnight daily. Standard European mail weighing under 50 grams costs 23 korunas domestically, 48 korunas to European destinations, 58 korunas intercontinentally as of 2024 rates. DHL, UPS, and FedEx maintain Prague offices with pickup services, though costs exceed North American rates by 20-40 percent for equivalent service levels.