Prague Scams to Avoid in 2026 (Czech Republic)
Prague is notorious for currency exchange scams, overpriced bars and restaurants in the Old Town Square, taxi overcharging, and fake police officers targeting tourists.
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Last updated: April 2, 2026
Currency Exchange Robbery
Exchange offices in the Old Town Square and near tourist sites advertise excellent rates on large boards. Once tourists hand over foreign currency, the cashier performs calculations quickly and returns far fewer crowns than the advertised rate would indicate.
📍Fraudulent exchange offices are concentrated on Staroměstské náměstí itself and on the high-footfall stretch of Karlova Street running from Old Town toward Charles Bridge. These storefronts are designed to look official but are not affiliated with regulated banks or post offices.
How to avoid: Always calculate the expected amount before handing over any money. Use ATMs or Česká spořitelna bank for fair rates. Avoid any exchange office with a commission or "0% commission but bad rate" sign near the main tourist areas.
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Prague · Czech Republic · Europe
Open map →📍Where These Scams Are Most Active in Prague
Specific areas and landmarks with the highest concentration of documented incidents.
Currency Exchange Robbery
Fraudulent exchange offices are concentrated on Staroměstské náměstí itself and on the high-footfall stretch of Karlova Street running from Old Town toward Charles Bridge. These storefronts are designed to look official but are not affiliated with regulated banks or post offices.
Currency Exchange Bad Rate Bureau
Exchange bureaus using this tactic are densely clustered around Staroměstské náměstí (Old Town Square) and along the Na Příkopě shopping boulevard connecting it to Wenceslas Square. The storefronts typically display large illuminated rate boards visible from the pavement.
Overpriced Bar Tab in Old Town
Venues running this scam are clustered on the side streets off Wenceslas Square — particularly Vodičkova and Štěpánská — and on Dlouhá Street in Old Town. Establishments are often marked by touts standing outside actively recruiting passersby rather than standard signage.
Taxi Overcharging (especially from airport)
Unlicensed and overcharging drivers wait in the unmarked bays directly outside Václav Havel Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 arrivals, intercepting passengers before they reach official taxi stands. The same operators also solicit fares on the street outside Hlavní nádraží (main train station).
Wenceslas Square Taxi Overcharge
Unofficial taxis line up along both sides of Václavské náměstí (Wenceslas Square), particularly near the bottom of the square close to Můstek metro. Drivers also solicit outside the major tourist hotels on Jindřišská and Štěpánská streets nearby.
Metro and Tram Pickpocket Relay
Tram lines 22 and 17 between Namesti Miru and Malostranske namesti; metro stations Muzeum, Mustek, and Florenc interchange
These areas are safe to visit — knowing the setups in advance makes them far easier to recognize and avoid.
Street-level scams are most common in Prague
3 documented street scams target tourists near major attractions. Unsolicited approaches, "free" gifts, and distraction techniques are the main patterns — confidence and pace help.
How it works
Exchange offices in the Old Town Square and near tourist sites advertise excellent rates on large boards. Once tourists hand over foreign currency, the cashier performs calculations quickly and returns far fewer crowns than the advertised rate would indicate.
How it works
Exchange bureaus on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square advertise "0% commission, best rates" but apply a buy/sell spread that costs tourists up to 20% more than a bank ATM rate.
How it works
Bars and strip clubs on Wenceslas Square and surrounding streets present tourists with inflated drink bills. Attractive staff encourage rounds of drinks, and the bill at the end bears no relation to any menu. Bouncers prevent departure until paid.
How it works
Prague taxis from Václav Havel Airport and Wenceslas Square are notorious for overcharging foreigners. A fair trip from the airport to the center should cost 500–700 CZK — scam taxis charge 2,000–4,000 CZK.
How it works
Taxis waiting near Wenceslas Square frequently overcharge tourists, running meters at the highest tariff or using unofficial vehicles entirely. Fares from the Square to Old Town (5 min drive) have been charged at €40+.
How it works
On Prague's crowded trams (particularly lines 22 and 17 along the tourist corridor from Vinohrady through Mala Strana) and at busy metro interchange stations like Muzeum and Mustek, coordinated teams of 2-3 operate a relay method: one member creates a distraction or jostles the target at the doors, a second lifts the wallet or phone, and a third takes the item off the vehicle before the victim realizes anything is missing. The exchanges are practiced and take under 10 seconds. Peak risk is during rush hour and when tourist-heavy trams are standing-room-only.
How it works
Men claiming to be plainclothes police approach tourists near Old Town Square, claiming to be checking for counterfeit money or drugs. They inspect wallets, note currency amounts, and may take money claiming it is "suspicious."
How it works
Attractive women near Old Town Square invite tourists to nearby strip clubs. Tourists' drinks are sometimes spiked to increase intoxication and compliance. Bills of thousands of Czech Koruna appear, with guards preventing exit.
How it works
Men posing as plainclothes police flash unofficial-looking ID badges and demand to inspect your wallet for counterfeit currency, using the opportunity to steal cash or note your PIN for later ATM fraud.
How it works
In beer halls and tourist pubs, waiters bring unrequested rounds of drinks and add them to your tab without asking. This is particularly common in Old Town and at beer hall style establishments during tourist season.
How it works
Search results for Prague Castle tickets, Kafka Museum tickets, and Prague concert tickets surface cloned or lookalike websites that mimic official booking pages with near-identical URLs and design. These sites charge the full admission price — sometimes adding a fabricated booking fee of 100-200 CZK — and either send no confirmation at all or generate a PDF that is rejected at the venue entrance. Victims typically discover the fraud only on arrival and must pay again at the door.
How it works
Self-styled free walking tours depart from Old Town Square multiple times daily, advertised with colorful umbrellas and enthusiastic guides. The tours are genuinely free to join but conclude with aggressive tip-solicitation where guides publicly shame those who give less than 200-300 CZK per person. Guides also steer groups to specific restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops where they collect referral commissions, meaning advertised local recommendations are paid placements rather than genuine picks.
Prague Safety — Frequently Asked Questions
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If you're visiting more than one destination
Similar scam patterns are active across the Europe region. Before visiting Krakow, Berlin, and Madrid, review each city's guide — tactics vary and local setups differ even for the same scam type.
Editorial note: Scam warnings for Prague are compiled from government travel advisories (US State Dept, UK FCDO, Australian DFAT), verified news sources, travel community reports, and traveler-submitted incidents. All entries are reviewed for accuracy and local specificity before publication. Read our full methodology →