How much cash for Prague?

Just returned from 5 nights in Prague. Never got cash, never used any. FWIW, this was preceded by 4 nights in Budapest where we only used cash for our B and B which did not do credit cards, and 4 Vienna nights where again we never obtained cash nor needed it.
Even the little Easter stands had card readers.

I was in Prague 2 weeks ago and I needed cash.

The card reader at one of the Mucha museums was not working and it was cash only. In addition to the koruna, they would have accepted euros or USD. I also had cash to tip my tour guide. He also would have accepted euros or USD.

I don’t like to not have local currency because I always seem to run into a situation where the card readers are not working. I also needed cash in Vienna 2 weeks ago because the card reader at one of the toilets was not working.

I always get cash ahead of time so I don’t have to worry about finding an ATM, having someone watch me take out cash, or have my card eaten by a machine. I don’t care if it costs a little more. Peace of mind is priceless. :-)

I think I got the equivalent of $75 from my bank in korunas before I left. For 3 or 4 days, that’s what I would get. You can always spend it to get rid of it if you end up not needing it.

I’m adding the link to my recent trip report. You might find some of the info. helpful for your trip.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/sisters-in-vienna-and-prague-our-trip-report

Carrie said this:

You can always spend it to get rid of it if you end up not needing it.

In my mind, having some and not needing it, is better than needing it, and not having it.

And you can always get more from an ATM if you do need it.

There are us inexperienced common tourists who find ourselves wanting cash all the time and there are Seasoned Travelers who through exquisite planning and advance research have never found the need for cash to complete their mission abroad.

I am not on a mission aborad, I am on holiday, and I fall in the category of inexperienced common tourist. I just want to enjoy my holiday. For me removing any source of stress helps to add to the quality of a holiday and for that matter my daily life, holiday or not. So I carry cash. Not a lot, usually less than $50. Sometimes its useful. If i do spend it and it dips below $25 or $30, I grab some more at the next bank ATM I pass.

Yesterday I went to a tourist establishment where, even though there is no tipping in Europe, the average employee makes as much of their income off tips as in their payroll. This establishment would not allow tips on my credit card. The nearest Bank ATM was a quick 7-minute walk in each direction; although there was a dreaded EuroNet ATM 2 minutes away which would have gotten my business, except that I had some cash in my pocket.

Later in the day I stopped at a another tourist establishment for sausage and beer for lunch. I pulled out my credit card to pay; the same credit card I had used at 3 other establishments that day …. and it would not work. We tapped it, put it in the slot and tried swiping on the side. Nothing. This time the nearest ATM was a mere 5-minutes’ walk in each direction …. But alas, I did have another credit card that worked fine; or if need be I still had some cash in my pocket.

My next stop was the pharmaceutical courier service. Not all EU approved medicines are sold in the country that I live in, so I must send to Austria for one of my daily prescriptions. The courier service only accepts cash. Not that a tourist will ever run into this.

Later I stopped at a local indoor/outdoor market and bought the ingredients for tonight’s csirkehúsleves. The vendor that I chose to do business with was cash only, but if I needed to there were others that would take cards, but they were more expensive and their stuff didnt look as good.

My last stop, my favorite wine bar. Now I can put the tip on the card, but I know if I do that the bar owner will be forced to take out 27% VAT before passing the money along. When paying in cash there is no tax, VAT or Income. Since I like the guys, I always try and tip them in cash … even though there is no tipping in Europe.

What to do if you don’t spend the $50? To begin with the $50 is probably ½ of 1% of the cost of your trip. That aside, it will pay for the taxi to the airport and buy you two cups of coffee and two kalács once you get there.

As long as you use Visa you'll be ok but if you use Amex you'll find not so many people accept it and then you'll need more cash.

In my mind, having some and not needing it, is better than needing it, and not having it.

As a general rule, this is correct. But I must say that we never needed any cash in our week last summer in Prague and visiting other Czech towns. And I find little use for Czech koruna in daily life back in the States.

Bottom line: some people like to carry cash. Nothing wrong with that. Others like me avoid cash like the plague. Nothing wrong with that, either.