Prague looks cheap, but poor exchange rates, card fees and a nightly tourist fee chip away at the savings. Prague Castle tickets, transit passes and tips add more.
Starts with a sample trip. Change any number to match yours.
Compare hotels in central Prague →The sample is 2 travelers for 4 nights. Your plan ($2,910) covers the main costs most people budget for, the ones you enter on the left. Costs people forget ($605, about 21% more for this trip) are the fees, taxes, tips and extras listed in the calculator. Prices were last checked on October 17, 2026.
Share of the $3,515 real cost. Nights and travelers multiply most of these costs, so changing either one moves the total the most.
6 of this trip's numbers link to a published price or rate. The rest are our estimates, and each one says what it is based on. You can also read how we calculate every trip.
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare per person | $900 per traveler | Our estimate for a typical round-trip economy fare to Prague from a major US airport; most routes connect in Europe. Our estimate |
| Hotel per night | $140 a night | Our estimate for a mid-range double room in or near Prague's Old Town. Our estimate |
| Food per person, per day | $55 per traveler, per day | Our estimate for cafe breakfasts, casual lunches and a sit-down dinner per person in Prague. Our estimate |
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Checked bag fees Off by default | $90 per traveler | Most economy fares to Europe include one checked bag, so this is off by default. Basic economy fares charge extra. Source |
| Passports Off by default | $165 per traveler | A new adult passport costs about $165 and can take weeks. Our estimate |
| Airport transfers | $10 for the trip | Bus 59 or 100 plus the metro costs 50 CZK on paper, so four rides for two people are about $10. Source |
| Tourist fee | $2.30 per traveler, per night | Prague's tourist fee is 50 CZK, about $2.30, per person, per night. Source |
| Transit pass | $20 per traveler | A 72-hour pass is 350 CZK, about $16; our $20 adds a few single rides for a longer stay. Source |
| Prague Castle and museum tickets | $50 per traveler | The castle's main circuit is 450 CZK, about $21; our $50 adds a tower and another museum or two. Source |
| Tips | $4 per traveler, per day | Our estimate for tipping about 10% at sit-down meals, about $4 per person a day. Our estimate |
| Exchange and ATM fees | $15 for the trip | Exchange booths and some ATMs give poor rates. Our estimate |
| Card fees | 3% of your plan | Foreign transaction fees are usually around 3% of each purchase on cards that charge them. Source |
| Phone data | $30 per traveler | An international plan or eSIM. Our estimate |
| Travel insurance | 6% of your plan | Squaremouth says a comprehensive plan averages about 6% of the trip cost, usually 4% to 10%. Source |
| Pre-trip shopping | $60 for the trip | Our estimate for travel-size toiletries, sunscreen and small things bought before a trip. Our estimate |
| Pet boarding or sitter | $50 a day, if you check Pets | Dogster puts regular kennel boarding at about $35 to $85 a night. Overnight sitters at home cost more. Source |
For 4 nights with flights, a central hotel and food, plan on about $2,900. Once you add the costs most visitors forget, like the tourist fee, Prague Castle tickets, transit passes, exchange fees and travel insurance, it's closer to $3,500. Use the calculator above to change any number to match your trip.
Prague charges 50 CZK, about $2.30, per person, per night. The rate has not changed since 2022, although the city has asked for the right to charge more. Source
City buses 59 and 100 connect to the metro, and a 90-minute ticket covers the whole trip for 50 CZK, or 46 CZK in the app. The Airport Express bus to the main train station costs 200 CZK, and regular passes are not valid on it. Source
A 24-hour pass is 150 CZK and a 72-hour pass is 350 CZK, a little less in the app. If you take more than three rides a day, a pass usually costs less than single tickets. Source
The castle grounds and courtyards are free. The main circuit ticket is 450 CZK, about $21, and covers St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica and Golden Lane. Source