Just Landed in Czechia? Your First 7 Days

Mobile coverage and 4G/5G are excellent nationwide, including on intercity trains and in most rural areas. The three main networks are Vodafone, O2 and T-Mobile, and cheaper MVNOs like Kaktus (on Vodafone) and Mobil.cz (on O2) run on the same masts for less. Prepaid SIMs are sold on a passport with no residence needed, and home fibre or cable broadband from O2, Vodafone or a local ISP is fast and affordable.

Typical cost: Around 300-500 CZK/month for a prepaid plan with unlimited calls and 10-30 GB of data; home broadband runs roughly 400-600 CZK/month.

Czechia uses the koruna (CZK), not the euro, even though many tourist spots quote euros at poor rates, so always pay in CZK. Card and contactless payment is near-universal in cities and even most pubs now take cards, but keep some cash for small hospody, farmers' markets and rural vendors. Notes come in 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 CZK, and coins run from 1 to 50 CZK.

Opening an account: Foreigner-friendly banks include ČSOB, Komerční banka, Raiffeisenbank, Air Bank and Fio banka, with Fio popular among expats for its simple English online setup. Digital options Revolut and Wise are widely used and accepted for salary and rent. You typically need a passport and proof of address, and non-EU applicants may be asked for a residence permit or a valid long-stay visa.

Cash: Cities are heavily cashless, but many traditional pubs (hospody), farmers' markets, small kiosks and rural vendors remain cash-preferred or cash-only. Always carry a few hundred koruna in notes and coins, and keep small change for bakeries and public toilets.

Tipping: Tipping is customary but modest: round up or leave about 10% in restaurants, usually by telling the server the total amount you want to pay when they bring the card machine or take cash, rather than leaving coins on the table.

Address registration is a genuine legal requirement in Czechia for non-EU nationals. If you hold a long-stay visa or residence permit you must report your place of stay to the Foreign Police (Cizinecká policie) within 3 working days of arrival, unless your accommodation provider (a hotel, or a landlord registering you) does it on your behalf, which you should confirm in writing. Every subsequent change of address must also be reported, usually within 30 days. EU citizens are not obliged to register but many do so voluntarily at the Ministry of Interior (MOI / OAMP) if staying over 30 days, as a registration certificate smooths access to some services.

Deadline: Within 3 working days of arrival for non-EU nationals

Where: Foreign Police (Cizinecká policie) for non-EU nationals; Ministry of Interior (MOI / OAMP) offices for EU citizens' voluntary residence registration.

Prague and other cities have cheap, frequent public transport combining metro, trams, buses and (in Prague) ferries under one integrated ticket (PID), where a single ticket lets you transfer between modes within its time limit. Intercity trains and coaches via RegioJet, České dráhy and FlixBus are reliable and inexpensive, often cheaper booked ahead. Contactless bank cards work directly as tickets on Prague transport, and cities are compact enough that walking and cycling cover much of daily life.

From the airport: From Václav Havel Airport Prague, take bus 119 to Nádraží Veleslavín and change to metro Line A, or the Airport Express (AE) bus straight to the main train station (Hlavní nádraží); a standard 90-minute PID ticket covering the trip costs 40 CZK. Bolt and Uber to the centre usually run about 400-700 CZK depending on demand, and licensed FIX taxis have set airport zone fares; avoid unmarked drivers touting inside arrivals.

Most newcomers rent through Sreality.cz, Bezrealitky.cz and Facebook expat groups, and using a realtor (makléř) is common and usually costs one month's rent plus VAT as commission. Competition is fierce in Prague and Brno, so have your documents, deposit and first month's rent ready to move fast, sometimes at the viewing. Read the contract carefully for notice periods and who covers service charges (poplatky) on top of the headline rent.

Typical rent: A one-bedroom flat runs roughly 18,000-30,000 CZK/month in central Prague, with Brno slightly lower and Ostrava, Plzeň and smaller towns noticeably cheaper.

Deposit norm: A deposit of one to two months' rent is standard, paid alongside the first month upfront, and often a realtor fee of one month's rent plus VAT if an agent is involved.

Czechia has a strong universal healthcare system funded through mandatory health insurance, and standards are high with modern hospitals. Employees are automatically enrolled via payroll, and the largest public insurer is VZP, followed by ZP MV ČR (211) and others. Care in city hospitals is generally good and often has English-speaking staff, though GP surgeries, receptions and smaller-town clinics may operate in Czech only.

How to access it: Register with a GP (praktický lékař) who becomes your gatekeeper for referrals to specialists and prescriptions; you choose your own and can switch. For emergencies dial 155 for an ambulance or 112 for the unified line, or go to a hospital emergency department (pohotovost / urgentní příjem). Pharmacies (lékárna) are widespread and pharmacists can advise on minor ailments.

Insurance: Employees and their registered family members receive public insurance automatically, and you should carry the insurance card. Non-EU residents not covered by the public system must buy comprehensive commercial health insurance (from PVZP, Slavia, UNIQA or Maxima) as a legal condition of their long-stay visa or permit, and the required scope of cover is set by law, so check the policy meets it.

• Remove your shoes when entering someone's home; hosts usually offer slippers (bačkory).
• Say 'dobrý den' when entering a shop, office or waiting room, and 'na shledanou' when leaving.
• Czechs are reserved and understated with strangers; small talk and loud enthusiasm can feel excessive or insincere to them.
• In pubs, share long tables, wait to be served, and settle the whole table's bill with the server rather than splitting cash.
• Learn a few Czech phrases and numbers; even imperfect attempts are appreciated and warm people up.
• Be punctual for appointments and social plans, as lateness is seen as inconsiderate.
• When toasting with beer or spirits, make eye contact, say 'na zdraví', and avoid crossing arms with others at the table.

• Bureaucracy is slow and Czech-language; bring a Czech-speaking friend or paid translator to Foreign Police and MOI appointments and book slots early.
• Beer is often cheaper than water in pubs and public drinking is normalised, but transport ticket inspectors are strict and hand out 1,000 CZK fines on the spot.
• Many offices and small businesses close early, and Sundays and public holidays see reduced shop hours, so plan errands for weekday mornings.
• Official deadlines via the datová schránka run whether or not you open the message, so check it regularly to avoid missing legal cut-offs.
• Casual anti-tourist pricing exists in the centre of Prague, so check menus and taxi rates before committing in heavily touristed areas.