Just landed - wondering what gives the better rate in Czech Republic: ATM withdrawal or airport exchange counter?
The smartest way in Czechia is to avoid airport counters and stick to ATMs from major banks in town. Budget 800-1,200 CZK daily depending on whether you dine at restaurants or stick to local pubs. Always choose to be charged in CZK at the ATM, never in your home currency, as dynamic conversion is a rip-off. Exchange a token amount at the airport if needed, but make Prague city ATMs your main source of cash.
I really regretted using the airport exchange in Prague. The rate was almost 15% worse than what ATMs gave me later. That’s basically a whole day’s worth of trams, museum entries, and dinner wasted. Even though I budgeted 1,000 CZK daily, the bad start cut into my plans. Don’t believe the “no commission” signs - the rate is where they get you. ATMs always gave me more value for my money.
I landed in Prague and exchanged €40 at the airport, which barely covered my taxi. The rate was awful. Later, I used a ČSOB ATM in the city and got way more crowns for the same euros. I was spending around 900 CZK daily on food, trams, and beers, and the ATM rate made a clear difference. My advice: skip airport counters unless you need cash right away, and withdraw in the city instead.
In the Czech Republic, ATMs offer much better rates than airport exchange counters. Prague Airport counters are notorious for poor exchange rates and hidden fees. Use ATMs linked to banks like Česká Spořitelna, Komerční Banka, or ČSOB for fair conversion. If you’re budgeting 800-1,000 CZK per day for meals, trams, and sightseeing, withdrawing cash from a bank ATM is smarter. Only exchange a tiny amount at the airport if you absolutely need cash for transport.