Go, but pay attention.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Czechia
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go, but pay attention.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Taxi overcharging
Prague taxi drivers may take the longest possible route to increase the fare. Negotiate the price before starting the trip or use reputable companies like Liftago or Uber.
Pickpocket gangs
Groups of overweight individuals or teams of 3-5 use size or distraction to steal from tourists on trams, metros, and crowded areas. Keep wallets secure, separate money, and avoid challenging them.
Underage pickpockets
Pickpocket groups in Prague use children to steal because they are not liable under Czech criminal law. Keep backpacks secure and do not wear cameras openly in tourist areas.
Professional beggars
Many beggars at top tourist attractions and transport hubs are not truly homeless. Do not show your money or valuables to anyone in these areas.
Drink spiking
Drink spiking followed by robbery has been reported in areas where sex work is common. Avoid these areas to mitigate the risk of being targeted.
Sleeper train theft
Bag robberies are increasing on sleeper trains between major stations. Keep your belongings secure and stay alert while traveling.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Underage criminal liability
Children are not liable for crimes under Czech criminal law, which leads to their use in pickpocketing operations. This status prevents standard prosecution for these specific offenders.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Tap water safe to drink: Yes
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Measles, Rabies, Tick-borne Encephalitis
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
The visa policy of the Schengen Area is a component within the wider area of freedom, security and justice policy of the European Union. It applies to the Schengen Area and Cyprus, but not to EU member state Ireland. The visa policy allows nationals of certain countries to enter the Schengen Area via air, land or sea without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Nationals of certain other countries are required to have a visa to enter and, in some cases, transit through the Schenge
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Terrorist attacks in Czechia cannot be ruled out. You should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public places, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex relationships and civil partnerships are legal in Czechia, but same-sex marriages are not recognised in Czech law. Registered same-sex partnerships are awaiting presidential approval. Same-sex couples showing affection in public could receive unwanted attention. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •The Czech Republic is a safe country. Violent crime is very rare, but scams and pickpocketing are rampant in touristy areas, particularly during the high season.
- •In case of an emergency, you may dial 112, the standard EU emergency number. You may also dial 150 for the fire brigade, 155 in a medical emergency or 158 for the police.
- •Some other things of note: Taxi drivers: negotiate the price before you use taxi or use a reputable company (e.g.
Staying healthy
- •Grocery stores do not sell over-the-counter drugs, such as aspirin.
- •Tap water is safe to drink. It's especially good in Prague although in small towns, the amount of chlorine added can be quite strong. Of course, mineral water from Karlovy Vary tastes great!
- •A reputable hospital in Prague is Nemocnice na Homolce, Address: Roentgenova 37/2, Prague 5 (tel 257 272 350).
- •Central Europe and parts of the Czech Republic have ticks (Ixodes ricinus) which can carry Encephalitis or Lyme Borreliosis.
- •Ticks like to cling to any soft, warm, well-perfused areas of your body (undersides of knees and elbows, skin around ankles, groins, neck area, behind your ears, etc.) and if not removed, they'll suck your blood until they grow about 1 cm big.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Right now
In the news the last few days
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / E · 230V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 112 or 158 / ambulance: 112 or 155 / fire: 112 or 150
Tipping
Although it is customary to tip in the Czech Republic, it has very little to do with the size of the bill, and more to do with a sign of appreciation. It is common to round up the bill by a few crowns to make it even. Away from places regularly visited by foreigners, leaving a "tip" on a table after a meal at a restaurant is not the usual practice; locals may even object to it.
Cash vs. Card
The currency of the Czech republic is the koruna (crown), plural koruny or korun, denoted by the symbol "Kč" (ISO code: CZK). The ISO code is often used internationally and locally, but the local symbol is Kč (for Koruna česká). However, you will more often see amounts just chalked up like "37,-" without "Kč" added at all.
Zoom in
2 Czechia cities on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (8 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09