Customs
Travelers are not required to pay duty on an appropriate amount of items for their personal use during their visit. In addition, the following duty-free allowances apply: no more than 1 liter of liquor and 2 liters wine; and 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco.
Currency Exchange
Banks are open 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. weekdays, with some closing for lunch, and many closing an hour early on Friday. Exchange offices have extended hours seven days a week, but generally charge higher commissions than banks.
Tipping
The customary tip for waiters is 10 percent (up to 15 percent in the more expensive restaurants). For taxi tips, round up to the nearest 10 crowns. Also, it is wise to negotiate fares beforehand or make sure that the meter is running and that the correct tariff is displayed (tariff 1 for rides within Prague city limits), to guard against overcharging. Give hotel porters, bellhops and washroom attendants 20-40 crowns.
Business Hours
Museums: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Restaurants: Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 2 or 3 p.m. Dinnertime runs from 6 p.m. to 9:30 or later. Shopping: Most stores operate from 8 or 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, but stores in cities may open earlier and close later, especially on Thursdays. Food stores generally open at 6 a.m. Typical Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to noon but may stay open as late as 4 p.m. Sunday hours are increasingly common as well.
Value Added Tax
5%
