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Best Safety Tips When Visiting Prague 

Are you considering visiting the famous capital of the Czech Republic, Prague? If so, you are not alone! Millions of visitors flock to the beautiful, historical, and cultural capital every single year. Instead of going to the same-old cities of London or 麻豆APP, why not try something different? After all, Prague is one of the best cities in the world for people who are looking to visit old castles, try some of the best beer in the world, and enjoy the friendly and sociable locals.

However, just like with any new place in your life, you need to be aware of the safety risks that come with visiting a big city. Even though Prague as a whole is a very safe city for men, women, and children, it can be helpful to know what to keep an eye out for. Think about it – when you visit Disney World, you want to keep an eye on your children. When you are in a foreign European city, keep an eye on your valuables, belongings, and bags. Let鈥檚 see a few of the best safety tips to keep in mind before you book your vacation.

Petty crime is common

Prague Zoo – By Miaow Miaow – Self-photographed, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=287681

Although violent crime has decreased all across the entire country – and even more so in the capital city of Prague – petty theft remains common. You can walk around without the fear of attacks or violence, but you should keep an eye on your valuables. With this in mind, make sure you follow common practices to best avoid any issues on your upcoming vacation – keep your backpack in front of you while you are standing in crowded areas, stay alert while you are walking around in pedestrian tourist areas, and know where your phone and wallet are while you are at one of the local bars or clubs. 

Avoid money exchange

Prague – by Nathan Rogers – Unsplash

Even though this may seem hard to believe, some people who are new to traveling can be overwhelmed by the number of people on the streets who are trying to sell you things, speak to tourists, and get your attention. One of the oldest scams in the book are people who claim to be able to exchange your foreign money for the local Czech currency – on the street.

Yes, you read that right – on the street. Instead of going to a money currency store, some tourists put their blind trust in this scam artist. The better solution is to get the Czech currency from your own bank at home before traveling if you want to walk around with cold hard Czech cash.

Avoid overcrowded tours

Family fun in Surf Arena Prague – by Surfarena.cz

Instead of taking long, boring, and overcrowded tours in the heart of Prague, take a more exciting and diverse tour that has smaller group sizes. Some foreigners will look to take the most 鈥減opular鈥� tours – this can result in tour groups that are too big and too crowded, causing it to be hard to hear the tour guide, boring, and unsatisfying. Not to mention, while you are paying attention to your tour guide, pickpockets can take advantage of your distracted attention. 

Explore other neighborhoods

Museum of Art in Prague – By VitVit – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=98920739

Many tourists like to head straight to the tourist traps – although these restaurants, cultural attractions, and hotels are appealing to foreigners, it typically results in higher prices, more crowds, and more opportunities for crime. Instead of heading to the city center, talk to locals and find out where THEY go. This way, you can find the insider spots that typically have better food, lower prices, and local Czech people who are interesting to talk to.

Do not bring your passport with you

Goethe Institut Prague – By By Patrick-Emil Z枚rner (Paddy), CC BY-SA 2.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=333345

While you are walking around the crowded city center, leave your passport at your hotel, AirBnB, or apartment house in a secure place or safe. If you do have your valuables stolen, at least you will have some form of identification and any visa that you require. Not only will this make it easier for you to get home, but it can make it easier for you to continue traveling, rent cars, prove your identity, and get duplicates of your credit cards or cellphone.

Report any crimes

Old Town Hall Prague By A.Savin -Wikimedia

If something does happen to you while you are on vacation – because accidents happen – make sure you report the crime to the police within 12-24 hours of it occurring. The sooner you report the crime, the sooner the Czech police can help find the perpetrator, work with you to get new copies of documents, and help with any emergency accommodation. 

Stay in the safe neighborhoods

Nerudagasse – By By Wolfgang Sauber – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10673619

When looking for a hotel or AirBnB to rent in Prague, make sure you look at the safest and the best neighborhoods for locals and tourists alike. Arguably the best neighborhoods in Prague are Vinohrady, Old Town, and Mala Strana. These are the most beautiful, contain tourist attractions, and feature beautiful buildings. Along with being some of the best spots in the city to walk around and soak in the Czech culture, you can also have better peace of mind while on a vacation solo or with your young children. 

Avoid the train station at night 

Prague main train station – By Lynx1211 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62605137

We would recommend avoiding certain areas at night – like when you are coming home from a bar, getting a late bus into the city, or getting lost on your way home. Avoid walking through or spending time around the main train station at night. Typically, the main public transportation hubs can get dangerous at night in any city – this is where some petty thefts will gather, along with taxi drivers or others who want to take advantage of lost tourists.