Is Prague safe? An honest guide for visitors
Short answer
Prague is a safe city with low levels of violent crime, and most visits pass without any problem. The realistic risks are pickpocketing in crowds, overcharging in tourist restaurants and taxis, and poor-rate money exchange. Walking around the centre in the evening is normal and generally fine.
The real risks
Pickpocketing
Most common on the Charles Bridge, around the Astronomical Clock, on tram 22 to the Castle and on crowded metro and escalators. Keep bags closed and in front of you and phones out of back pockets.
Money exchange and ATMs
Street changers hand over worthless notes, and some exchange offices advertise '0% commission' with very poor rates. Use bank ATMs, decline the currency conversion and never change money on the street.
Restaurant overcharging
Some Old Town and Malá Strana restaurants add bread, nuts, sauces or a service charge you did not order. Read the bill line by line and send back anything you did not ask for.
Taxis
Taxis hailed on the street in tourist areas sometimes overcharge. Use a ride-hailing app or a taxi you have ordered, and agree the fare first at the airport.
Drinks and nightlife
In some nightclubs and bars around Wenceslas Square, bills can be inflated and drink spiking has been reported. Watch your drink and avoid bars where touts bring you in.
Trams and traffic
Trams are quiet and have priority; look both ways at tram tracks, especially in the Old Town and on Národní.
Areas and times to take care
The centre is safe day and night, but take normal care around Wenceslas Square late at night, where touts, strip-club promoters and drunk groups gather, and in the park in front of the main railway station (Hlavní nádraží), which is best crossed quickly after dark. The Charles Bridge and the Old Town Square are pickpocketing spots because of the crowds, not because of violence.
Getting around safely
Public transport is safe and runs late: the metro runs until about midnight and night trams (lines 91–99) cover the city after that, at intervals of roughly 20–30 minutes. Ride-hailing apps such as Uber, Bolt and Liftago work and show the price upfront. At the airport, use the official taxi desks with a fixed fare or an app; avoid unmarked drivers offering rides.
Solo and women travellers
Prague is generally comfortable for women travelling alone, including on public transport in the evening. Usual city precautions apply: watch your drink in busy bars and clubs, use an app taxi late at night rather than a street taxi, and avoid the station park and the top of Wenceslas Square alone in the small hours. Stag-party groups in the Old Town can be loud but are rarely threatening.
Health, water and heat
Tap water is safe to drink, and many restaurants will bring it if you ask. Summer days reach about 25–26°C, so heat is rarely a problem, but winters are cold (around 4–6°C highs, often below zero at night) and cobblestones can be icy. Wear shoes with good grip on the cobbles and steep Castle streets. Pharmacies are marked 'Lékárna'.
Official travel advice
Check your government's advice before you travel — it is updated when things change.
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Common questions
Is Prague safe at night?
Yes, the centre is generally safe at night. Take care around Wenceslas Square and the main station park late at night, and use app taxis rather than street taxis.
What are the main scams in Prague?
Street money changers, poor-rate exchange offices, overpriced Prague ham on the square, unordered items on restaurant bills and charging in euros instead of koruna.
Can I drink the tap water in Prague?
Yes, tap water in Prague is safe to drink.