Planning a week-long adventure in the Czech Republic meant balancing cost with experience. One of the first expenses was the flight. Round-trip airfare to Prague can vary wildly depending on your origin and season, from as low as $35 if you’re hopping over from London to around $540–$600 from New York City.
I managed to find a springtime deal from the U.S. east coast for about $550. Timing was key: we chose late April, avoiding the peak summer crush.
This shoulder season strategy saved us money and headaches. In summer (July–August), not only do flight prices spike (often $1,000+ from the US), but hotels in Prague easily double their winter rates, averaging $120–$220 per night in summer vs. just $60–$110 in winter.
In fact, a Prague hotelier told us that winter is “the best time to visit – fewer tourists, cheap flights and hotels”.
We weren’t up for freezing temperatures, but knowing the seasonal trade-offs helped shape our budget.
With flights booked and a mid-range budget in mind, we set off to experience Czechia’s cities and countryside.
Days 1–2
I arrived in Prague with a mid-range mindset – I wasn’t pinching every penny, but I wasn’t splurging on five-star luxury either. After landing at Václav Havel Airport (tired but excited), I took an affordable airport bus into the city for just 60 Kč (about $2.70).
My home for the next two nights was a comfortable 3-star hotel near Old Town, which cost around $90 per night – a clean, central room that fit my budget nicely. (Mid-range hotels in Prague generally range from about $70–$140 nightly for a double room, though prices do climb on summer weekends.)
Dropping my bags, I headed out into the cobbled streets of Prague – and immediately fell under its spell.
In Prague, many of the best experiences are delightfully low-cost or free. I spent hours wandering the Old Town alleys and crossing the famed Charles Bridge at sunset – none of which cost a thing.
My first real expense in the city was dinner: I found a local pub off the main tourist drag and ordered a plate of guláš (goulash) with dumplings and a beer. The hearty meal came to roughly 250 Kč (about $11) per person, proving you can feast on traditional Czech cuisine without overspending.
In fact, Prague is known for its affordable and delicious beer – a half-liter draft typically costs only 55–80 Kč (around $2.50–$3.50) at a pub. I cheers-ed to the start of my trip, marveling that the world’s best pilsner is also one of the cheapest.
Getting around Prague was both easy and inexpensive. The city’s public transit network of trams, buses, and metros is efficient and beloved by locals. On Day 2, I bought a 72-hour transport pass for about $14, giving me unlimited rides.
With that pass in hand, I hopped trams between neighborhoods – from the medieval Old Town Square to the hip cafes of Vinohrady – without worrying about tickets or taxi fares. (Even single tickets are cheap, around 30 Kč or $1.30 for a short ride.)
One thing I learned quickly: Prague is very walkable, but the transit pass was worth it to save time and feet, especially when venturing up to Prague Castle on the hill.
Speaking of Prague Castle, it was a highlight of my Prague stay – and one of the pricier attractions. Entry to the castle’s “Circuit B” (which includes the stunning St. Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane, and more) cost 450 Kč (around $19).
I spent half a day there, feeling the weight of history in every stone. Many other sights in Prague were cheaper: climbing the Old Town Hall Tower to see the Astronomical Clock up close was about €10 (~$11), and a combined ticket to the famous Jewish Quarter’s synagogues was around €20.
I also joined a free walking tour (tip-based) to get oriented – an excellent way to soak in stories without paying an upfront fee. After two days, my Prague expenses – aside from lodging – averaged roughly $50–$60 per day including meals, local transport, and entry fees.
Not bad for a capital city. Still, I was eager to see how costs might change once I left the tourist hubs of Prague for the provinces.
Days 3–4
Leaving Prague, I set out to explore the Bohemian countryside. I caught an early bus to Český Krumlov, a postcard-perfect town in South Bohemia. The 2.5-hour bus ride cost me only around 250 Kč (about $11) – a tiny price for a journey through lush rolling hills.
I smiled as I watched the scenery shift from cityscape to green pastures and villages. By noon, I was stepping into what felt like a fairy tale.
Český Krumlov is a small medieval town curled within a bend of the Vltava River. Despite its storybook looks (and UNESCO status), it’s refreshingly affordable compared to Prague.
I checked into a family-run guesthouse just outside the historic center, where my charming attic room cost 1,300 Kč per night (~$60). Immediately, I noticed that prices here were gentler – proof of the common wisdom that “the country remains affordable, especially when you get outside Prague”.
For example, a cappuccino on the town square was 60 Kč instead of Prague’s 80–100 Kč, and my delicious lunch of roast pork with dumplings at a local tavern came to just 180 Kč (under $8). My wallet was definitely happier in the countryside.
Over two days, I let myself slow down and savor Krumlov’s delights. I spent an afternoon hiking up to Český Krumlov Castle, which looms above the town’s orange rooftops.
In summer months the castle’s tower is open to visitors for a small fee (under $5), though I was content admiring the view from the gardens for free. I did pay 150 Kč ($6) to tour the Castle Museum, which gave a great overview of the noble families who once lived there.
Wandering the cobbled lanes afterward, I splurged on a sweet treat – the famous Czech chimney cake trdelník – for 70 Kč (about $3). If Prague dazzled with grand monuments, Krumlov charmed me with simple pleasures that barely dented my budget.
Evenings in Český Krumlov were wonderfully low-key. I joined fellow travelers at a cozy cellar pub, sampling local South Bohemian beer (a steal at 50 Kč a pint). We traded stories by candlelight.
One traveler had visited in winter and mentioned having the town nearly to himself – plus snagging a nice hotel for half the summer price. Indeed, visiting off-season can yield huge savings; many Czech towns offer deep discounts in the cold months to attract visitors.
As I strolled back to my guesthouse under the old streetlamps, I reflected that so far my mid-range budget was more than sufficient. By staying in a smaller town for a couple of nights, I was balancing out the pricier days in Prague. And the best part?
The experiences – watching sunrise from a quiet bridge, hearing church bells echo – were priceless.
Days 5–6
Next, I traded Bohemia for Moravia – the eastern region of Czechia – to see a different side of the country. On Day 5, I traveled from Český Krumlov to Brno, Moravia’s largest city.
This leg required a bit of backtracking (a bus to České Budějovice, then a train to Brno), costing roughly 500 Kč (~$22) in total fares. The train was comfortable and I splurged on a coffee and sandwich from the dining car, feeling very European as the Moravian countryside sped by.
Brno greeted me with a blend of historic charm and modern student energy. I checked into a mid-range hotel in Brno’s center for about 1,800 Kč/night ($80).
Notably, accommodation in Brno was slightly cheaper than an equivalent in Prague, and I easily could have found a nice room for even less if I’d stayed farther from downtown. After settling in, I set out to explore.
Brno doesn’t have the tourist crowds of Prague, which meant shorter lines and sometimes lower prices. For instance, I visited the Špilberk Castle (a fortress-turned-museum) for 150 Kč ($6) entry, and I practically had the ramparts to myself.
The Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, Brno’s iconic church, was free to enter – I only paid a voluntary donation and a few dollars to climb the bell tower for panoramic views.
One thing that delighted me in Moravia was the wine. This region is wine country, and local wine tastings or a glass of Moravian Riesling cost me about 80–100 Kč (under $5) in a wine bar – a great deal compared to Western Europe. For dinner, I tried a trendy bistro recommended by a local friend.
Two courses and a glass of wine set me back around 400 Kč (~$18), a bit more than a pub meal but well worth it for the farm-to-table flavors. Brno’s food scene surprised me; from food trucks to microbreweries, you can eat very well on a moderate budget.
A casual restaurant meal in Czechia generally runs around $10–$15 per person, and even a nicer restaurant might only be $20 each – these held true in Brno. Of course, I couldn’t resist one more Czech classic: in a no-frills diner, I grabbed smažák (fried cheese) with fries for the equivalent of $6, just to relive my student days!
Transportation within Brno was as cheap as Prague – I bought a 2-day transit pass for about 200 Kč (~$9) and used trams to zip around the city’s neighborhoods. On Day 6, I even took a day trip to the Moravian countryside: a local train (50 Kč, or $2) brought me to a village where I hiked among vineyards and visited a family-run cellar.
This impromptu excursion became one of my favorite memories, and cost almost nothing. It struck me that outside the major tourist zones, the Czech Republic can be incredibly budget-friendly.
Even activities like museum visits in smaller towns ranged from free to just a couple of dollars. My only significant expense that day was buying a bottle of wine direct from a winemaker (300 Kč, about $13) to bring home as a souvenir.
By the end of Day 6, I tallied my spending in Moravia and found it quite reasonable. Brno had cost me about $100 per day including lodging, food, and fun – slightly less than Prague.
The mix of free experiences (churches, street art, walks in parks) and affordable paid ones (castle tickets, wine tastings) made it easy to keep to my mid-range budget.
Day 7
All too soon, Day 7 arrived – time to head back to Prague to catch my flight home. I took an early RegioJet bus from Brno to Prague for 230 Kč ($10), a final reminder of how efficient and cheap Czech transport can be. Arriving back in Prague, I had a few hours before my flight, so I stored my bags and went for a farewell stroll across the Vltava River.
I treated myself to a last Czech lunch – a hearty plate of svíčková (creamy beef roast) with cranberry sauce, and of course one more beer. This meal in a local neighborhood eatery cost 300 Kč ($13), a fitting and affordable finale.
Before heading to the airport, I made sure to pick up some souvenirs. I couldn’t resist buying a few Czech garnet earrings and a hand-painted marionette (Czech puppets are famous!) as gifts.
These miscellaneous expenses added around $50 to my total trip cost – a small price for memories that will last. I also had set aside a little cushion in my budget for surprises or emergencies, but luckily didn’t need to use much of it beyond a last-minute Uber ride (when my feet were too tired to walk to the hotel one night).
A 4-km Uber in Prague came to about 220 Kč (~$10), which felt worth it after a day full of walking tours.
On the flight home, I finally crunched the numbers. So, what did a week in the Czech Republic actually cost me? Here’s the approximate rundown for a solo traveler on a mid-range budget:
- Flights (round-trip): $550 (will vary by origin and season – could be $600–$1,200 from North America, or much less within Europe)
- Accommodation (7 nights): $600 (mix of Prague hotel at ~$90/night and cheaper stays around $60–$80 elsewhere)
- Food & Drinks: ~$280 (about $40 per day for a mix of restaurant meals, street food, and beers – quite reasonable given the quality)
- Local Transportation: ~$50 (Prague and Brno transit passes, plus a couple of Ubers/taxis and incidental trams; public transport is a bargain)
- Intercity Travel: ~$40 (buses/trains between cities – eg. Prague–Krumlov–Brno–Prague routes)
- Attractions & Activities: ~$100 (castle and museum admissions, tours, tower climbs, etc. – many sights are inexpensive or free, with major attractions typically $5–$20 each)
- Miscellaneous: ~$80 (souvenirs, SIM card, tips, and an emergency buffer)
Total for one week: approximately $1,700 including flights. If you exclude the flight cost, on-the-ground expenses came to around $1,100 for the week. This aligns closely with reported averages – many travelers spend about $1,000 for a week in Czechia per person on a mid-range itinerary.
Of course, two people traveling together could split some costs like accommodations and maybe do it a bit cheaper per person. And if you’re more budget-conscious (taking dorm beds or cooking some meals), you could spend far less. Conversely, luxury travelers could easily spend much more.
Final Thoughts
My one-week journey through the Czech Republic was not only rich in culture and fun, but also excellent value. Czechia proved to be moderately priced on the global scale, not as dirt-cheap as it once was, yet still easier on the wallet than Western Europe.
Mid-range travel in the Czech Republic means you can enjoy modern comforts and authentic experiences for roughly $110–$150 per day, all in.
I never felt like I was depriving myself: I slept in cozy rooms, ate great food, drank world-class beer, and saw everything I hoped to see.
From the Gothic skyline of Prague to the medieval lanes of Český Krumlov and the café culture of Brno, each destination offered something unique without requiring a king’s ransom.
As I flew out of Prague, watching the city of a hundred spires recede below, I knew I’d gotten my money’s worth and then some.
The Czech Republic had shown me its best – and at a price that made me eager to return. Na shledanou, until next time!