Quick answer. PRG has CSOB, Komercni banka, and Ceska sporitelna bankomats inside both Terminal 1 (non-Schengen) and Terminal 2 (Schengen) arrivals halls, charging zero operator fee on foreign cards at the actual Visa or Mastercard interbank rate. Czech Republic has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, so BoA debit cards still pay the BoA-side 3 percent non-network surcharge, but the Czech side is free at any CSOB, KB, Ceska sporitelna, Raiffeisenbank, or UniCredit bankomat. Skip the Travelex, Eurochange, and Interchange counters in arrivals (8 to 15 percent markup) and walk past the dense Euronet units along the walking path to the bus and AE airport express pickup zone. The AE airport express bus to Praha hlavni nadrazi (main train station) accepts PID contactless tap-to-pay (any contactless Visa, Mastercard, or Amex), as does the 119 city bus to Nadrazi Veleslavin (Metro line A interchange). The fastest path to central Prague is the 119 bus plus Metro A combo in 35 to 45 minutes.
Where to get Czech koruna at PRG
PRG has the standard Czech airport mix: zero-fee CSOB, Komercni banka, and Ceska sporitelna bankomats in T1 and T2 arrivals; multiple Euronet standalone units in the walking path to the bus and AE pickup zone; and the Travelex, Eurochange, and Interchange counters in arrivals. The cost math below assumes you withdraw Kc 2,000 (about USD 90) starting from a USD account.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSOB / Komercni banka / Ceska sporitelna bankomat (PRG T1/T2 arrivals) | T1 and T2 arrivals halls | Kc 0 operator fee + interbank rate | ~Kc 2,300 + Kc 0 fee |
| CSOB / KB / Ceska sporitelna bankomat in central Prague | After 35-min 119 bus + Metro A | Kc 0 + interbank rate | ~Kc 2,300 + Kc 0 fee |
| Pre-ordered koruna (CEI) | Delivered to your US address | ~2-3% | ~Kc 2,350-2,380 |
| Exchange.cz on Kaprova Street (honest downtown smenarna exception) | Near Old Town Square in central Prague | ~1-2% over mid-market | ~Kc 2,320-2,360 |
| Travelex counter (PRG T1 and T2 arrivals) | T1 and T2 arrivals halls | 8-15% over mid-market | ~Kc 1,950-2,120 |
| Eurochange / Interchange counter (PRG arrivals) | T1 and T2 arrivals near Travelex | 8-15% | ~Kc 1,950-2,120 |
| Standalone Euronet ATM (DCC trap, bus-pickup walkway) | Between arrivals and bus/AE pickup zone | Kc 75-200 + 4-15% DCC | ~Kc 1,900-2,200 |
| '0% commission' smenarna booths in Old Town (NOT at airport) | Old Town Square, Astronomical Clock area, Charles Bridge | 10-30% baked-in spread | ~Kc 1,600-2,070 |
Where to find CSOB, KB, and Ceska sporitelna ATMs at Vaclav Havel Airport
Vaclav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) is the Czech Republic's main international gateway, handling roughly 17 million passengers a year through Terminal 1 (non-Schengen long-haul and international, serving Delta, American, Korean Air, Etihad, plus the UK, Asia, Africa, and Middle East services) and Terminal 2 (Schengen services, serving Czech Airlines and ex-Czech successor operators, Eurowings, Wizz Air, Ryanair, plus the bulk of European city-to-city traffic). The two terminals are connected by a short covered walkway with the bus and ground transportation zones in between. The CSOB, Komercni banka, and Ceska sporitelna bankomats sit inside both T1 and T2 arrivals halls landside near the customs exit, plus additional units along the walking path between the terminals and toward the AE express bus pickup zone. CSOB (Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka, a.s., owned by KBC Group of Belgium) is one of the largest Czech retail banks by branch count and the standard zero-fee option at PRG. The catch is the dense Euronet standalone presence in the walking path between baggage claim and the bus/Metro interchange, plus the Travelex and Eurochange counters in both arrivals halls.
Terminal 1 (non-Schengen international long-haul)
Delta, American Airlines (via codeshare), Korean Air, Emirates, Etihad, Turkish Airlines, plus UK / Russia / Asia / Middle East services. The standard terminal for US travelers arriving on the (limited) direct services or connecting via Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam
From T1 arrivals, the CSOB bankomat is on the wall directly after the customs exit on the right side, with Komercni banka further along the same wall and Ceska sporitelna in the meeting-point area. A standalone Euronet unit sits in the visible walking path between the T1 arrivals exit and the bus and AE express pickup zone outside; walk past it to reach the bank-branded units inside the terminal.
Terminal 2 (Schengen services, European city-to-city traffic)
Czech Airlines successor operators (Smartwings, the Czech regional carriers), Eurowings, Wizz Air, Ryanair, KLM, Lufthansa, Austrian, Brussels, plus most other Schengen-zone services. T2 sees the highest passenger volume because of the European city-to-city density
T2 arrivals exit into a long concourse with the CSOB bankomat near the customs exit and Komercni banka units near the bus and Metro interchange exit. Ceska sporitelna ATM sits in the meeting-point area. Walk past the dense Euronet cluster along the walking path between T2 arrivals and the 119 bus stop on the curbside outside.
Do you actually need cash at Vaclav Havel Airport?
Almost never. The 119 bus to Metro A, the AE airport express bus to Praha hlavni nadrazi, every PID Metro and tram in central Prague via contactless tap, every Uber and Bolt and Liftago, and every Prague taxi accept contactless tap-to-pay. Even airport vending machines and the WHSmith, Starbucks, and Costa outlets at PRG take contactless. The first cash-only situation you are likely to hit (a Zizkov pivnice that intentionally stays cash-only as part of the atmosphere, a Naplavka farmers' market produce stall, a public toilet coin slot at hlavni nadrazi) is in central Prague where bankomat density is much higher. Here is what works on tap:
119 bus + Metro line A interchange (PRG curbside to Staromestska or Mustek) (Kc 40 with PID contactless): Bus runs every 10 to 15 minutes from PRG curbside; the 119 takes 18 minutes to Nadrazi Veleslavin, then Metro A takes 15 to 20 minutes to Staromestska or Mustek. Direct contactless tap on bus reader and metro turnstile..
AE Airport Express bus (PRG to Praha hlavni nadrazi) (Kc 100 with PID contactless or cash): Every 30 minutes, 35 to 45 minutes direct to the main train station. Useful for travelers continuing by train to Brno, Vienna, Berlin, or Munich..
100 bus to Zlicin (Metro line B) (Kc 40 with PID contactless): Every 15 to 20 minutes, 15 minutes to the western terminus of Metro line B. Useful for travelers staying in Andel or Smichov..
Uber / Bolt / Liftago app (Kc 500-900 to central Prague): Card-only via the app. Pickup from the dedicated rideshare zones at T1 and T2 curbside. Liftago is the Czech-native option with stronger PRG coverage..
Prague taxi (AAA Radiotaxi, Tick Tack Taxi, official airport-licensed) (Kc 600-1,200 to central Prague): Pre-book or use the rank at T1 and T2 curbside. Card readers in every vehicle. Avoid unmarked street taxis at the airport (overcharging is documented)..
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Vaclav Havel Airport to Prague?
No. 119 bus + Metro line A interchange (PRG curbside to Staromestska or Mustek) accepts contactless. Most taxis accept cards. Uber and other apps are card-only.
Can I order Czech koruna before flying?
Yes. CEI Currency Exchange ships physical Czech koruna to your US address in 2-5 days at rates well below airport counters. Order 50-100 Czech koruna for taxis and tips on day one.
Which Czech bank bankomat is best at PRG arrivals?
The CSOB, Komercni banka, and Ceska sporitelna bankomats inside T1 and T2 arrivals are functionally identical: same zero operator fee on foreign cards, same Visa/Mastercard interbank rate. Either is fine. If you can wait until central Prague (35-45 minutes by 119 bus plus Metro A), the same banks have flagship branches at Wenceslas Square, on Na Prikope, and in Vinohrady, where you can withdraw the same way.
Should I use the Travelex or Eurochange counters at Vaclav Havel Airport?
No. The Travelex, Eurochange, and Interchange counters in PRG T1 and T2 arrivals post Czech koruna at 8 to 15 percent off the interbank rate plus fixed transaction fees, which is closer to the 10-30 percent markup at the downtown smenarna booths than to a fair bank rate. A real CSOB or Komercni banka bankomat is 60 to 90 seconds further along the arrivals concourse and will save you roughly Kc 200 on a typical Kc 2,000 withdrawal.
What about the Euronet machines near the bus pickup zone?
Walk past them. Prague has one of the most aggressive Euronet ATM ecosystems in Europe. Inside PRG, multiple Euronet units sit in the visible walking path between baggage claim, the customs exit, and the bus and AE express pickup zone. They charge a Kc 75 to 200 surcharge per withdrawal plus stage a hard DCC pitch ("charge in USD" at 8-15 percent over mid-market) on top of an already-bad rate. If the machine does not carry one of the five Czech bank logos in their corporate colors (CSOB blue, KB orange and grey, Ceska sporitelna red, Raiffeisenbank yellow-and-green, UniCredit red), walk to the next corner.
Are the airport currency-exchange counters as bad as the smenarna booths in Old Town?
Close, but slightly better. The downtown smenarna booths around Old Town Square, the Astronomical Clock, and along Charles Bridge bake spreads of 10-30 percent into the rate; the airport counters typically run 8-15 percent. Both are worse than a Czech bank bankomat (which is interbank rate plus zero operator fee). The Czech Republic's 2019 consumer protection reform gives tourists a three-hour right to cancel any smenarna transaction, but most travelers do not know about it and the booths bank on that. At the airport, the better play is always the CSOB or KB bankomat 60 to 90 seconds further along the concourse.
Can I leave PRG with zero Czech koruna?
Yes. The PID public transit system (the 119 bus from PRG curbside to Nadrazi Veleslavin where it connects to Metro line A, plus the AE airport express bus from PRG curbside to Praha hlavni nadrazi) accepts direct contactless tap-to-pay via any contactless Visa, Mastercard, or Amex card. Daily and 24-hour fare-capping applies automatically. Uber and Bolt both operate in Prague and are card-only via the app. Prague taxis (AAA Radiotaxi, Liftago app) accept contactless via in-car terminal. If you have a no-FX-fee card you can land at PRG, tap onto the 119 bus, ride Metro A to Mustek or Staromestska, and withdraw at any CSOB or Komercni banka bankomat in central Prague for the same zero operator-fee structure.
How do I get from PRG to central Prague?
Three good options. The 119 bus plus Metro A interchange from PRG curbside to Nadrazi Veleslavin and then Metro line A to Staromestska (Old Town), Mustek (Wenceslas Square), or Muzeum runs every 10 to 15 minutes, takes 35 to 45 minutes total, and costs Kc 40 with PID contactless tap-to-pay. The AE Airport Express bus from PRG curbside direct to Praha hlavni nadrazi (the main train station) runs every 30 minutes, takes 35 to 45 minutes, and costs Kc 100 with PID contactless or cash. Uber, Bolt, or Liftago app taxis from the curbside run Kc 500-900 to central Prague depending on destination and traffic, accepting contactless via in-car terminal or card-only via the app.
Can I order Czech koruna before flying to Prague?
Yes, and Prague is one of the smarter pre-order destinations in Europe because the downtown smenarna booth and Euronet ecosystem is so aggressive that many travelers get burned at exactly the moment they need their first kc. CEI Currency Exchange ships physical Czech koruna to your US address in 2 to 5 days at rates roughly 2 to 3 percent over interbank. A small Kc 2,000 to 3,000 (USD 90 to 130) pre-order covers the first night, a pub round in Zizkov, and a Mala Strana dinner without needing to navigate the tourist-core currency trap on day one.