Tag: Prague

Prague is quickly becoming one of the most popular cities in Europe for tourists to visit, but is Prague safe for solo female travellers?

With the influx of tourists, there has been a steep increase in the number of petty crimes in Prague in recent years.

But that doesn’t mean Prague isn’t safe.

In fact, the answer to the question is Prague safe is yes!

I’ve been to Prague as a solo female traveller and at no time did I not feel safe. That doesn’t mean you can go to Prague and not have your wits about you.

You need to be aware of your surroundings and protect your personal belongings. Pick pocketing is a major issue in Prague, and when you’re packing into the crowds in Prague’s Old Town, you’re a pretty easy target.

Outside of petty theft, you don’t really have much to worry about as a solo traveller in Prague.

The risk of being a victim of violent crime is very low.

So, if you’re wondering if Prague is safe for you as a solo traveller and that is the only thing holding you back from booking the trip, you’ll be happy to know you don’t really have to worry about safety in Prague more than anywhere else you travel.

Solo travel in Prague

Is Prague Safe?

Just in case you skimmed the intro, I just want to reiterate that Prague is safe for solo female travellers.

There aren’t any major safety concerns in Prague that should make you wary of visiting the city.

As long as you take normal safety precautions while you’re there, you should be just fine!

Prague Safety Tips

Even though Prague is safe, there are still a few safety tips you should know to make sure you’re as safe as you can be while travelling in Prague.

Most of these are generic safety tips you should be following no matter where you’re travelling to.

It’s always good to have a refresher though!

Beware of Pick Pockets

As I mentioned in the intro, the biggest threat you have as a solo traveller in Prague is the risk of being pick pocketed.

Pick pocketing is on the rise in Prague, and it is something you need to be aware of. There are tons of crowds in the main tourist area of Prague, and tourists are easy pickings for pick pocketers.

The good news is that it is super easy to reduce your chances of being pick pocketed.

The most important thing you need to do is always keep your purse or bag in front of you and not hanging at the back of your hip.

Better yet, keep a hand on your purse as often as you can.

This will make it extremely difficult for pick pocketers to easily access your bag, and they’ll move onto another target.

Additionally, try to keep your wallet, phone, and passport in zipper compartments within your purse or bag to add another layer of security.

Finally, if someone distracts you, be sure to keep your hand on your bag and your bag in sight. This is sometimes a scam where multiple people are working together.

One person distracts you (by asking if you dropped something or something along those lines), and their partner picks your pocket when you’re not looking.

Tips for travelling alone for the first time

Be Internet Safe

One of the biggest threats to you when you travel is using public wifi. Not enough people talk about it, but it can seriously put you at risk.

When you travel, you rely a lot on public wifi.

You use it at your hotel, at restaurants, and when you’re out and about. The problem with public wifi is that anybody can access it, and if someone wants, they can steal your online data.

You may be thinking that you’re using public wifi safely because you’re only using wifi that has a password.

That’s not good enough.

Anybody can access the password and use the public wifi network.

The only way to protect your online information and data when you’re travelling is by installing a VPN on your devices.

A VPN puts a forcefield around your devices that makes it impossible for a hacker to access your private data and information. Even if you’re using a public wifi network.

A VPN makes using public wifi just as safe as using your home wifi where you’re the only person who knows the password.

It’s a basic safety thing you need to be doing every single time you travel. You don’t want to risk having your online information stolen from you!

My Favourite VPN

The problem with VPNs is that they’re known for slowing down your internet connection and making browsing the internet a frustrating experience.

I’ve used a number of VPNs during my years of travel and pretty much hated them all.

The only one I’ve enjoyed (and the only one I’ve renewed my subscription with) is NordVPN.

It’s the fastest VPN on the market, and it doesn’t feel like you’re using a VPN when you’re browsing the internet. And we all know how important it is to be able to use the internet to research and plan your days when you’re on the road.

The speed of NordVPN is why I love it and recommend it to my fellow travel lovers like you.

There is no other product on the market that is close to as good as NordVPN (in my opinion).

Plus you can connect and protect up to six devices with one NordVPN subscription. You can protect all your devices for one low price!

A two-year subscription to NordVPN costs less per month than a single Starbucks latte. With prices like that, you don’t have an excuse not to protect your online data when you travel.

My philosophy is that if you can afford to travel, you can afford to protect yourself with a VPN.

Check Your Restaurant Bills Closely

Unfortunately, some restaurants (especially in touristy areas) try to get a little bit of extra money out of tourists, so you need to read your bill closely before paying.

Some restaurants include a tip or service charge in the bill and make a note at the bottom of the bill about the suggested tip amount.

People who aren’t reading their bill properly will see the suggested tip amount and pay it without realizing that the tip was already included in the price of the bill.

In fact, tipping isn’t necessarily customary or expected in Prague.

It’s becoming more expected as more tourists flock in, but if you’re outside the touristy areas, tips aren’t expected.

If you do tip, round up to the nearest 100 Koruna or tip between 5% and 10%.

But, if there is a service charge or tip included in the price of your bill, you don’t need to tip on top of that.

Technically, the restaurants aren’t doing anything illegal, but it can be very misleading to tourists.

The moral of the story is to read your bill carefully before paying it!

What I wish I knew before backpacking Europe alone

Be Careful Walking Home in the Dark

Just like any city in the world, walking home alone in the dark can put women on edge.

Prague is a party city, and it’s easy to stay out late and then have to find your way home in the dark.

Your best option is to just catch a taxi, but if you choose to walk, be extra careful and aware of your surroundings.

Walk on main streets with lots of light, walk quickly, keep your head on a swivel, and keep your bag close.

Basic safety precautions like that will help you feel safer walking home alone and get home safely.

Don’t Overindulge in Alcohol

As I mentioned, Prague is a party city, and it’s easy to get caught up in the fun, but please don’t drink too much.

Especially as a solo traveller.

You’re 100% responsible for your safety and getting back to your hotel safely. You don’t have a friend watching out for you.

My rule of thumb is to have two drinks maximum and then stick to water. You can still have fun, but it’s much safer for you.

You know your own limits.

Your solo trip to Prague is not the time or place to test them.

Unmissable Prague Attractions

Conclusion

I hope this post answers the question is Prague safe?

I’ve been to Prague as a solo female traveller and felt safe the entire time, and I hope you feel safe in Prague as well.

As more and more tourists flock to Prague, petty crime will continue to increase, but (hopefully) there won’t be a rise in violent crime.

It’s up to you to make sure you’re aware of your surroundings and not putting yourself at risk of being robbed (or something worse).

As long as you follow basic safety precautions that you should be following everywhere you travel, you shouldn’t have an issue in Prague.

So, is Prague safe for solo female travellers?

I’m happy to report that it is!

Prague is quickly becoming one of the hottest destinations in Europe, but there are a few things you need to know before you start to solo travel in Prague.

The good news is that I’ve travelled to Prague alone, and I’m sharing all my top tips and tricks for solo travel in Prague with you!

Hopefully these tips and tricks will help you plan the perfect trip to Prague!

And help you not make sure of the mistakes I made when I was visiting Prague alone!

Tips for planning your first solo trip

1. Book Your Accommodation Early

This is the biggest mistake I made when I was travelling alone in Prague!

I was on a multi-month European trip and was in the habit of booking accommodation a few days before I showed up in a particular city.

That works in a lot of cities, but it bit me in the butt when I was partaking in my solo travel in Prague.

All the decent places were completely booked, and I was stuck in a hostel on the outskirts of Prague. It was a decent place, but I hate hostels and was not happy about having to stay in one.

Definitely my mistake though, but I want you to avoid it at all costs!

I highly recommend you book your accommodation in Prague at least two to three weeks before you arrive in Prague.

The earlier the better!

You don’t want to be booking accommodation that is out of your price range and also don’t want to be stuck staying someplace you’re not too keen on.

Especially when you consider you’re on the hook for the entire bill and can’t split it with a friend or family member if it is a little bit more expensive than you would like.

PS- my favourite place to book accommodation is through Hotels.com. It has an amazing loyalty program that rewards you free hotel nights!

2. Visit Terezín Concentration Camp

This probably seems like a dark thing to do on your solo trip to Prague, but I think it is extremely important that we as tourists take the time to visit sights like this and see the horrors with our own eyes.

Terezín Concentration Camp is a short train ride from Prague.

During the time Terezín was in operation, it held over 150,000 Jewish people while they waited to be taken to other concentration camps such as Auschwitz.

It wasn’t an extermination camp, so there are no gas chambers or anything like that, but tens of thousands of people did die in Terezín.

You can and should take a half day tour from Prague to Terezín.

It is important you go with a guide, so you can learn about the significance of Terezín and the history of the city both before, during, and after WWII.

I know it is a heavy thing to do, but, again, I think it is important.

3. Prague is Extremely Affordable

One of the best things about solo travel in Prague is that it is extremely affordable!

It is the perfect destination for people who want to get a taste of Europe without breaking the bank in places like London or Paris.

Your money goes a lot further in Prague than many of the other most popular cities in Europe.

This is a huge plus for people planning to do some solo travel in Prague! It is a great destination to college students, retirees, or anybody who doesn’t have a large budget.

You don’t have to sacrifice any of the experiences you want to have in Prague just because the cost is prohibative!

This goes for food too!

Don’t be afraid to eat out while in Prague. The food in delicious and very affordable.

Top tips for eating alone at restaurants

4. Public Wifi Isn’t Readily Available

Unfortunately, public wifi isn’t readily available in Prague. 🙁

You have to either rely on restaurants providing complimentary wifi when you visit or bring your own pocket wifi device.

You can either rent a pocket wifi device for your time in Prague or if you’re an avid traveller purchase your own Skyroam pocket wifi device that works pretty much anywhere in the world!

Complete Skyroam review

Or you can just go the old fashioned way and rely on public wifi. But do know you won’t have a ton of access to the internet while you’re out and about during the day.

If you need reliable access to the internet, then you need a plan on how you’re going to get access to it during your solo trip to Prague.

If you’re just an average tourist, then you can most likely live without having a pocket wifi device with you while in Prague.

The important thing to know is that public wifi isn’t the easiest to find so you may have to go back to your hotel if you desperately need to access the internet.

Or just visit a McDonald’s. They always have free wifi!

Be Internet Safe

No matter what your plans are for accessing the internet while on your solo trip to Prague, you need to be internet safe.

You will be relying on public wifi one way or another, and that puts you and your personal information at risk of being stolen and sold.

Yes. Wifi networks with a password are still considered public and put you at risk. Everybody and anybody can get those passwords!

The only way you can been you and your private information safe while using a public wifi network is by installing a VPN on your phone, laptop, and tablet.

A VPN essentially puts a forcefield around your devices that keeps prying eyes out (including those dang Google bots).

It makes using public wifi just as safe and secure as using your personal home wifi where you’re the only one who knows the wifi password.

My Favourite VPN

As you can image, I’ve used a ton of different VPNs over my many years of solo travel.

And hated them all!

Until I discovered NordVPN that is!

I started using them in 2018 and have never looked back! They are the only VPN I enjoy using and the only one I recommend to my friends and family.

They are the fastest VPN on the market, which is so important for travellers.

It is painfully annoying when you have a VPN on your devices that slows your internet down to a snail’s pace.

I normally end up turning off my VPN and just leaving myself exposed because most VPNs are so slow.

But that’s not the case with NordVPN!

They are the fastest VPN on the network, and I hardly notice any slowdown in the internet speed when I have it turned on.

Plus it allows you to cloak your location. You can appear to be in another country than you actually are, which allows you to access Netflix and the like for another country!

You never have to worry about running out of things to watch and can discover a bunch of new, amazing Netflix libraries. I highly recommend checking out South Korea’s Netflix catalogue. It is the bomb!

My philosophy is that if you can afford to travel, you can afford to install a VPN on your devices.

It costs less than the price of a single latte for a month’s subscription, so there is no excuse!

5. The Prague Castle Circuit Ticket is Worth the Splurge

I know I said solo travel in Prague is inexpensive, but if there is one thing you should splurge on it is the Prague Castle Circuit ticket.

Prague Castle is without a doubt a must visit for everybody who visits the city, and you want to get the full experience!

The Prague Castle Circuit ticket allows you to visit every part of the castle including the cathedral, which is spectacular.

I suggest spending at least half a day at the castle to get the full experience and visit everything you ticket entitles you to.

As of May 2021, the cost of a Prague Castle Circuit ticket is 250 Czech Koruna. That is approximately $12.50 USD.

So, it isn’t that much of a splurge, but if you’re on a tight budget, that price can definitely make you wonder if it is worth it.

Let me tell you that it is!

As an extra tip, make sure you visit the cathedral early in the morning to avoid a long line and don’t visit on a Sunday as you’ll have to wait until the morning service is complete.

6. Get Lost in the Old City

The old city in Prague is stunning!

It is full of narrow alleys, winding streets, small shops, and has a fantastic vibe.

You can (and should) spend hours wandering around and getting lost exploring the old city.

You never know what you’ll stumble upon, and that is what makes it so much fun!

You’ll most likely get lost with all the twists and turns you take, but that’s part of the fun. I promise you’ll always eventually find you way back to the main square!

If you really want to get a sense of the history of Prague and the old town, you should take a free guided tour.

They take place every morning and last for about two hours. Your guide takes you through the old town and shares some of the hidden history you’d never know about if you didn’t take the tour.

Just be sure to give your guide a tip at the end of the tour as a thank you!

Learn why Prague is one of the most overrated cities in Europe

7. But Don’t Forget to Get Outside the Old City

There is so much more to Prague than just the old city.

Unfortunately, so many people miss out on the other side of Prague because they never get outside the old city and the most popular tourist attractions.

Don’t be that person!

There are 280 museums in Prague. Find one you’re interested in and check it out.

You can visit a Jewish cemetery, a Synagogue, a cathedral, the second ugliest building in the world.

The possibilities are practically endless!

Just be sure to get outside the main tourist area and see a different side of Prague. It is well worth the effort, and you’ll leave with a better understanding of the city.

8. It is a Safe City- Even for Solo Female Travellers

One of the best parts of solo travel in Prague is that it is super safe.

Even for solo female travellers!

You don’t feel on edge, uncomfortable, or like you need to be on the lookout. You can enjoy the city freely and feel comfortable as a solo traveller!

Of course, you still need to be aware of your surroundings and be aware of local scams.

But, in general, you are 100% safe in Prague as a solo female traveller!

Even at night after enjoying the famous Prague nightlife scene (if that is something that interests you).

The city is definitely a great choice for people who are new to solo travel and want to feel safe, secure, and be able to enjoy the city freely.

Things nobody tells you about solo travel

9. Make Time for a Day Trip

This may be the best tip I can give you for your solo trip to Prague!

Prague is a great city, but there are a bunch of great towns and cities just an hour or two away from Prague that deserve to be explored.

They show you a different side of Czechia that you don’t get in Prague. A more laid back side of the country.

My personal favourite day trip from Prague is Karlovy Vary.

It is about 90 minutes from Prague by bus and is my favourite town in Czechia (that I’ve been to so far!).

It is a small town, and the main tourist attraction is the hot springs. They are all over the town!

And by hot springs I mean thermal drinking fountains not thermal bathing fountains.

You can buy a special mug from one of the many kiosks in the town and drink as much thermal water as you want!

It is super fun wandering through the city and finding all the thermal fountains.

The city itself is beautiful. It is surrounding by hills that you can go hiking through it you want, and the architecture of all the buildings inside the town is unbeatable.

If thermal fountains aren’t your thing, Brno, Cesky Krumlov, and Olomouc are some of the most popular day trips from Prague.

No matter where you choose, you should take the time to get outside of Prague for at least a day and explore another part of Czechia!

10. Public Transportation is a Dream

If you haven’t gathered by now, solo travel in Prague is very easy! You can definitely go on a solo trip to Prague without being an experienced solo traveller!

And the transportation system in Prague makes you solo trip even easier!

There is an extensive transportation network throughout the city, and you can quickly and easily get anywhere and everywhere you want to go.

There are buses, trams, and an underground metro for you to choose from!

Plus the city is very walkable!

I love walking when I travel, and you can easily walk anywhere you want to go in Prague without much issue.

There are some hills in Prague though.

If you have mobility issues, you’ll want to stick to using public transportation rather than walking everywhere.

All of the public transportation in Prague is easy to navigate and has English options.

Solo Travel Myths You Probably Believe But Shouldn’t

Conclusion

So, are you convinced that you should take a solo trip to Prague?!

If it is on your bucket list, you should get there before it becomes even more popular and crowded!

I highly recommend you visit Prague during off-peak times and avoid the summer holiday season if at all possible!

You’ll never be able to experience Prague with no crowds, but if you can avoid it when it is busiest, your trip to Prague will be that much more enjoyable.

I hope this post showed you that solo travel in Prague is very easy and anybody can enjoy a solo trip to Prague.

It has great tourism infrastructure and in very affordable.

You won’t regret booking that solo trip to Prague!

I promise.