The unit of Czech currency is the Czech Crown (CKR). Notes come in 5 000, 2 000, 1 000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 crown sizes, coins in 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, 1 crown sizes. Exchange rate is recently about USD 1 = CKR 38. Check out the other exchange rates daily at http://www.cnb.cz/en/index.html.
Banks and Exchange Offices
Absolutely do not get seduced by shady characters offering to exchange the money at a very beneficial rate on the street. Many people have walked away with discontinued crown notes or worthless Polish, Bulgarian or Yugoslav notes.
There are plenty of exchange offices, particularly in the city center. They are open from 8 am to 5 pm on weekdays and on Saturday’s morning. Closed on Sundays. Here are some places where you can change money legally and safely. You will also be able to change money directly at your hotel, usually around the clock.
- American Express, Wenceslas Square 56
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Ceska Obchodni Bank, Na prikope 14
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Komercni Bank, Na prikope 28
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Thomas Cook, Wenceslas Square 47
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Vseobecna uverova bank, Celetna 31
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Zivnostenska bank, Na prikope 20
ATM Machines
There are about 900 cash machines for Cirrus, Maestro, MasterCard, Eurocard and over 400 for VISA in the Czech Republic.
Credit Cards:
Most business establishments accept the standard credit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover, etc. The credit card company will usually provide you with very favorable exchange rate. Using credit cards is always a safe bet!
Money Emergencies
Be ware of pickpockets. However, if the worst happen take care to call your credit card company and cancel your card immediately. Here are some Prague phone numbers where you can cancel your old one and receive a new credit card.
American Express, Hybernska 38, phone 22800222
Dinners Club, phone 6731448, 24810846
Eurocard/MasterCard, phone 24423135
Visa, phone 24125353 or call collect to the USA 410-581 3836
In addition, Zivnostenska bank may let you draw emergency cash on a lost card if you have your account number and passport. You can also get emergency money from home through Western Union agents:
Sport Turist, Narodni 33, phone 24229524
Western Union, Palackeho 15, toll free phone 0800-190009
Western Union, Wenceslas Square 15, phone 24222954, fax 24222937
