Urban Abroad

Urban Planning and Travel Blog

  • Start Here
    • About
  • Destinations
    • Europe
    • United Kingdom
    • USA/Canada
    • Latin America
  • Living Abroad
  • Sustainability
  • Resources
    • Travel Gear
    • Urban Farming
Home / Travel Blog

Is Prague Safe?

Travel Blog Last Updated · Dec 6th, 2022

Is Prague safe for new and unexpecting travelers?

Welcome to Prague! Prague is the capital city of Czech Republic
Welcome to Prague! Prague is the capital city of Czech Republic

Prague. The capital of the Czech Republic with unique architecture that’s unlike anywhere else in the world.

The food here is incredible, and people visit either to get absolutely wasted or for a classic historic city break (you can do anything here).

Table of Contents

  • Is Prague Safe?
  • How Safe is Prague?
  • Prague Crime Rate
    • Is Prague Safe For Tourists?
  • Where to Stay in Prague
    • Vinohrady
    • Old Town
    • Mala Strana
  • Prague: Travel Safety Tips
    • Best Time to Visit Prague
  • Is Prague Safe? Final Words

Is Prague Safe?

When you have everything Prague has to offer plus you have direct access to pretty much the whole of central Europe at your fingertips.

A woman looking back as she walks up in a street in Prague
A woman looking back as she walks up in a street in Prague

The question is, though, is whether Prague is safe for tourism?

After traveling to the capital we’re here to give you the scoop on whether Czechia is not only safe but worth the visit for you. Let’s get stuck in!

How Safe is Prague?

Prague is very safe for tourism. On the one hand, it’s just like any other European city with petty crime problems and the highest chances of crime happening to visitors being pickpocketing.

However, it’s still seen by some visitors as a more dangerous place than the likes of Paris or Berlin which simply isn’t true!

This is mostly due to the fact that there is a lot of underground crime such as drugs and trafficking, along with the long adjustments from Socialism to Capitalism.

Tourists crowding the Charles Bridge in Prague
Tourists crowding the Charles Bridge in Prague

In our opinion, Prague is a safe city to visit! We say this mainly because of just how many tourists visit here each year without negative experiences.

You’d be surprised how many people come here to revel in all the astronomical goodness. According to Travel Safe Abroad,

“The most frequent scam is about money exchange on the street, where you might be given a better rate, but you will be fooled since the money you will get would be old Czech Crowns which are no longer acceptable.”

They tend to stand outside exchange bureaus, looking to make deals with strangers. Now you know this particular scam you can easily avoid it.

Prague Crime Rate

  • The U.S. Department of State has assessed Prague as being a LOW-threat location for crime.
  • The intentional homicide rate as of 2017 is 0.6/100k.
  • This is less than half the homicide of England!
  • According to numbeo.com, the biggest crime issue is bribery and corruption.
  • You’re 72 times more likely to be victim of violent crime in USA than in Czech Republic.

Get a FREE travel insurance quote from SafetyWing to get the right (and timely) support when it comes to protecting yourself in Bulgaria.

Is Prague Safe For Tourists?

Prague is one of the most popular tourist cities in the world, never mind Europe. It’s a city with equal amounts of history, beautiful buildings and nightlife extravaganzas with the cheapest alcohol costs.

The Old Town, the Astronomical Clock, The Absinthe Museum and the Castle are all within short walking distance. Although the transportation is fine, we recommend just losing yourself in the city and exploring.

People walking through a Charles Bridge safely
People walking through a Charles Bridge safely

When it comes to Prague however, there are pitfalls that come with a city that is so heavily catering tourists.

The city attracts sophisticated scam artists and pickpocketers, who take advantage of foreign ignorance towards the Czech Koruna (currency).

Petty crimes like pickpocketing and taxi scams are rife in certain areas, whilst some dangers come from other travellers who have had one too many to drink, making the city notorious for drunken behaviour too.

Where to Stay in Prague

See some of the incredible spots to stay when visiting Prague:

Vinohrady

What used to be a large vineyard way back in the 14th century has now become Prague’s coolest spot!

Cappucino being served at La bohème café in Vinohrady
Cappucino being served at La bohème café in Vinohrady

It is located a few tram stops away from the New Town and Old Town, and staying in Vinohrady will allow you to have a bit more peace and quiet compared to the more central neighbourhoods.

Old Town

Old Town is the most centrally located neighbourhood in Prague and the best place to stay if you’re planning your first ever trip here.

This is where most tourists stay for a first time stay in Prague, as the area concentrates many historical sights and museums.

A street in the hilly district of Mala Strana
A street in the hilly district of Mala Strana

Mala Strana

Mala Strana is located on the other side of the river from the Old Town.

It provides a quieter environment than Old Town while still remaining in the centre (ish) of Prague and close to all the main sights.

We would recommend this spot for the sort of trip that lasts longer than a long weekend.

Prague: Travel Safety Tips

Tourists carrying backpack and being alert while crossing the street with the crowd
Tourists carrying backpack and being alert while crossing the street with the crowd

Although Prague it isn’t the most unsafe location in the world, it wouldn’t hurt to take some precautions before and during your stay to ensure that you stay safe no matter what.

Here are some tips to take with you:

  • Don’t talk to anyone offering cheaper exchange rates than bricks and mortar exchange bureaus.
  • Walking around flashing expensive items and gadgets will attract attention from unwanted petty criminals.
  • Don’t show wads of cash when paying for stuff – control how much cash you carry around and use a hotel safe. Wearing a money belt may attract attention.
  • Always ask to see the menu and price list before ordering drinks or food and check your bill carefully before settling up. Some restaurants and bars have been known to charge extortionate amounts and take tourists to cash points to demand more money.
  • Remember to get your FREE travel insurance quote from SafetyWing to receive fully comprehensive support when it comes to unforeseen travel complications.
  • Be careful with drink or drug taking if you’re a fan of the Prague nightlife and approach the nightlife scence with trusted people.
  • Keep your bag close to you at cafes/restaurants, never place your bag in a retrievable position open for passers-by to grab.
  • If you need a helping hand, you will find that Pacsafe make some amazing bags/backpacks especially for detering thieves.
  • Know the typical distraction techniques – pickpockets often work in groups and sometimes pretend to be collecting money for a charity.
  • Avoid homeless communities around large train stations – plus groups of people that sit around drinking.

Best Time to Visit Prague

Our trusted source with weather and climate is Travel US News. Here’s what they say:

“The best times to visit Prague are the spring and early fall when the weather is mild and there are fewer crowds. Because of the city’s generally chilly climate, the warmer summer months (average high temperatures hover in the low to mid-70s) see the largest influx of tourists – which means higher hotel rates.”

The trees of Prague start to change colors as the season transitions from summer to fall
The trees of Prague start to change colors as the season transitions from summer to fall

Here are some events during this time:

  • Prague Marathon (April)
  • Prague Food Festival (May)
  • Prague Proms (May)

Is Prague Safe? Final Words

Turns out, Prague is quite a safe place if you take the necessary measures.

Planning ahead will make your trip stress free, so make sure you have the best time by being prepared before making the journey.

We would recommend flying to Czech Republic and discovering everything the country has to offer… book your trip today!

Also, follow our sustainable travel tips if you’re not familiar with them, and, remember to pack warm clothes during the winter months!


This post contains affiliate links, meaning, if you click through and make a purchase or sign up for a program, we may earn a commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

Sharing is caring!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Travel Blog Tagged With: Europe

🔒 Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

🌍 Search sustainable adventures:

Thank you for reading our lifestyle blog about travel and sustainable urban living.

Recent Posts

  • Positano vs Amalfi
  • How many days in Seville?
  • Is Sorrento worth visiting?
  • is Cádiz worth visiting?

Topics

  • Living Abroad
  • Sustainability
  • Travel Blog
  • Urban Farming

Copyright© 2023 · Urban Abroad · Private Policy
Urban Abroad is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca, amazon.de. Other affiliate programs linking to other recommended products and services are also used. World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT