Besides the Obvious

Prague is an amazing city to visit and one of the favorite places in Europe for tourists.While most people in Prague are honest and welcoming to tourists, it’s still important to be aware of common scams to protect yourself. Here are some tourist traps and some scams in Prague that you can face and how to solve them to guarantee the best of the experiences. 

The overpriced Staré Město

Once you are in Prague you will realize that the touristy area of Staré Město is very busy with tourists. Therefore the prices are very high compared with some close neighborhoods where food is better and cheaper. No surprise on that, neither a revelation. 

Solution: Nové Město in Prague is the solution to the overpriced touristy old town. Prague is full  of tourists but they make a concrete tourist most of the time. Therefore, you can find Venice level crowded streets and empty ones just next to them. Nové Město is  easy to reach and its vibe is very local and the prices fair accordingly. 

Public transport and ticket controllers 

The public transport tickets in Prague are by time. You can use the net of transports for a concrete period of time since you validate the ticket. The tickets don’t count rides. You have individual tickets for 30  or 90 minutes, 24 or 72 hours. You can find the updated prices on the official website of the public transport in Prague, The controllers are merciless since they get an extra payment per fine they issue. We never saw any of those controllers behaving badly but there are some terrible stories about them. They are very frequent on weekends specially on the tourist trams and on those ones where the validating machines don’t work on board.

Solution: Make sure you validate your ticket. Try to do that the first thing and if the machine doesn’t work just get out of the vehicle as soon as possible. Don’t use the app since  it can take some minutes as they update your validation on the system and you can be caught meanwhile and you would get your ticket anyway. If you need to deal with the controllers, never give them your passport or id, just showing it must be more than enough and they will understand that you know the tricks and you are not an easy target. We can tell the clear majority of the controllers are honest, they just do their job.   

Currency exchange scams

Be cautious when exchanging money. Some exchange offices offer rates that seem favorable, but they have hidden fees and commissions. It’s best to exchange money at reputable exchange offices or use ATMs from established banks.

Solution: Change your money always in banks or trustworthy money changers and never use the black market. That is not a good idea in Czech Republic. 

Fake police or officials

Some scammers may pose as police officers or officials, asking to see your identification or passports. This scam belongs to the old times and it is currently disappearing but there are still  some stories about expats and tourists.   

Solution: Always ask for proper identification, and if you are in doubt, go to a legitimate police station or embassy. 

Pickpocketing

Pickpocketing can be an issue in crowded tourist areas, such as Charles Bridge and Old Town Square. Keep a close eye on your belongings and use anti-theft measures like money belts or concealed pouches. Nevertheless, Prague is a very safe city and crime is low compared to other European capitals. 

Solution: Use the front pockets of your trousers. Never leave your wallet in a bag or in your jacket pocket. Don’t show valuable objects or money in public. 

Overcharging in restaurants and bars

Some restaurants or bars may overcharge tourists for meals and drinks. This is a classic in some places of Prague where the tourist is part of a business. It is kind of frequent and as expats we have seen it many times as one of the most popular scams in prague.  

Solution: Always check the menu prices before ordering, and ask for a receipt to verify the charges. There is nothing rude in Prague about asking twice about the prices  even after ordering. 

Fake taxis

Unlicensed taxis may overcharge you for rides is one of the scams in Prague, especially at the airport or train station. That includes legal drivers of some  platforms who can offer extra official services.

Solution: Use reputable taxi services or ridesharing apps like Uber or Bolt to avoid this issue. Don’t accept special offers or deals. Rides are affordable in Prague since the public transport is excellent. 

Street vendors and scams

Be cautious of street vendors selling souvenirs, as some may sell low-quality or overpriced items. Also, be wary of street performers who may demand money after taking photos with them. Those scams in prague are not very frequent but can still happen.  

Solution: Don’t feed those who are disturbing you or taking your time with unwanted services or offers. 

Shortchanging

You will never know if that is one more  of the scams in Prague or just an innocent mistake. But in Prague or anywhere else in the world when someone makes a mistake with the change uses to be in  his favor,

Solution: Be vigilant when receiving change from purchases, as some cashiers may try to shortchange you.

Credit Card Scams in Prague

Unfortunately in the Czech Republic there are some issues about scams with credit cards. They can copy or catch your data on-line when you pay or book something. The variety of cases makes it hard to establish a pattern of scam but you need to know that happens and be vigilant. 

Solution: Check regularly your on-line banking and control your expenses on it. Don’t show your pin code to anybody and try to cover your hand while inserting it. Don’t book services on-line from non trustworthy WI-FI networks. If anything happens just call your bank immediately and follow their instructions for safety. 

Flat Scams

This is more for expats but it can happen as well with some tourists that want a long stay on an apartment in Prague. The real estate market in Prague is very stressed  and the prices are higher than other capitals in the neighboring countries. Since the reasonably priced flats fly quickly one of the scams in Prague is to ask for a payment in advance. Afterwards, you would never hear about the one who received the money even if the flat is real and someone else is trying to rent it out honestly. 

Solution: Don’t pay never ever to a person or a non trustworthy website before being yourself in the flat for checking. 

Enjoy our discounts in Prague

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