Czech Dos and Don'ts
These dos and don’ts have mostly been compiled by foreigners living in the Czech Republic. You can register to add new dos and don'ts. You can also use comments to add your perspective.
| Health • Medicine • Hospitals | In Lékárna (pharmacy) you have to ask for everything over counter. There are two different counters - prescription counter and the regular counter. | View full |
| Restaurants • Food • Eating Habits | Raise glass in toast before drinking (touch all glasses). | View full |
| Cultural Life | The theater season is from October to May. There are no performances during the summer. | View full |
| Health • Medicine • Hospitals | It is normal to miss work for illness. | View full |
| Post Office and Telephoning | Expect to go to customs to send packages to U.S. | View full |
| Traveling | You are expected to offer your seat to older people, pregnant women and women with little children. Seats for disabled people are marked. | View full |
| Visiting People’s Homes | Beverages - the only excuse for not drinking when you are going to drive or using antibiotics. One way how to avoid drinking too much is to keep your glass full, because your host will refill your glass immediately when it is empty as a sign of politeness. | View full |
| Visiting People’s Homes | It is normal for people to only wear underwear at home but not when there are guests. | View full |
| Visiting People’s Homes | It is normal for people to only wear underwear at home but not when there are guests. | View full |
| Traveling | You are expected to offer your seat to older people, pregnant women and women with little children. Seats for disabled people are marked. | View full |
| Restaurants • Food • Eating Habits | When entering a bar, man goes in first. | View full |
| Cultural Life | When passing in front of people to move to your seat in a row, face them. It is very impolite to show them your back. Say “Dovolíte?” - “Děkuju” or bow your head slightly. | View full |
| Tipping | Do not press the tip into the waiter’s hand - tell the waiter the total sum you want to pay including the tip, and he will give you change accordingly. Leaving the tip on the table is not common but possible. Leaving no tip is not common but possible. | View full |
| Restaurants • Food • Eating Habits | At restaurant expect to sit with other people if there is space - others will sit with you. | View full |
| Health • Medicine • Hospitals | It is normal to miss work for illness. | View full |
| Visiting People’s Homes | Beverages - the only excuse for not drinking when you are going to drive or using antibiotics. One way how to avoid drinking too much is to keep your glass full, because your host will refill your glass immediately when it is empty as a sign of politeness. | View full |
| Restaurants • Food • Eating Habits | Plain water is not common but can be had upon request. | View full |
| Cultural Life | When moving into your row, you have to take the seat shown on your ticket. | View full |
| Traveling | Train tickets - you should purchase them at the train station; if you don’t make it, you can buy them from the conductor on the train - they will cost you 10 Kč more. Unlike bus tickets, it’s possible to buy round-trip tickets (zpáteční jízdenka) but they are not cheaper. | View full |
| Restaurants • Food • Eating Habits | Restaurants don’t have fixed dress codes but shabby clothing is looked down upon. | View full |
| Health • Medicine • Hospitals | Prescribed medicines are usually free of charge. | View full |
| Telling Time and Using Calendars | Learn military time since all train and bus schedules use it. | View full |
| Visiting People’s Homes | It is not usual to give written thanks for hospitality. | View full |
| Restaurants • Food • Eating Habits | Raise glass in toast before drinking (touch all glasses). | View full |
| Visiting People’s Homes | Visitor initiates termination of visit. | View full |
| Restaurants • Food • Eating Habits | When finished eating, put utensils together on the right side of the plate. | View full |
| Visiting People’s Homes | Visitor initiates termination of visit. | View full |
| Tipping | Do not tip in offices, shops, where the prices are fixed, although it is not exceptional and in no way insulting to leave small change behind. | View full |
| Cultural Life | People go to theaters and concerts solemnly dressed (men wear suits, women wear dresses, skirts). | View full |
| Post Office and Telephoning | Coin operated phones don’t give change. | View full |
| Telling Time and Using Calendars | Czech week starts with Monday. | View full |
| Shopping/Services | Get a basket or a cart in all self-service stores. | View full |
| Cultural Life | When moving into your row, you have to take the seat shown on your ticket. | View full |
| Shopping/Services | Expect stores (especially outside of Prague) to close in the middle of the day for lunch. and not many stores are open on Saturday afternoon or Sunday. | View full |
| Restaurants • Food • Eating Habits | Don’t start eating until all saying Dobrou chuť (Bon appetitte). | View full |
| Restaurants • Food • Eating Habits | At restaurant expect to sit with other people if there is space - others will sit with you. | View full |
| Cultural Life | You buy tickets for a certain row and seat in the movie theater. | View full |
| Cultural Life | The theater season is from October to May. There are no performances during the summer. | View full |
| Shopping/Services | In small shops, it is customary to greet the shopkeeper "Dobrý den". | View full |
| Tipping | Tipping is usual in restaurants, bars, snack shops, cafes, at hairdressers, taxi drivers etc. | View full |
| Health • Medicine • Hospitals | Medical emergency numbers is: 155 - ambulance. | View full |
| Shopping/Services | Get a basket or a cart in all self-service stores. | View full |
| Shopping/Services | Services (laundries, shoemakers, repair workshops, tailors,...) are often expensive and with long delivery times. | View full |
| Visiting People’s Homes | When you leave, shake hands again. | View full |
| Restaurants • Food • Eating Habits | Restaurants don’t have fixed dress codes but shabby clothing is looked down upon. | View full |
| Telling Time and Using Calendars | Learn military time since all train and bus schedules use it. | View full |
| Restaurants • Food • Eating Habits | Don’t expect a napkin on the table. It will be brought to you with your food. | View full |
| Shopping/Services | Services (laundries, shoemakers, repair workshops, tailors,...) are often expensive and with long delivery times. | View full |
| Tipping | Tips are not calculated by percentage but rounded up to the nearest round figure. The tip increases as the total amount increases. For example, round off 18 Kč to 20 Kč, 37 Kč to 40 Kč, 92 Kč to 100 Kč, 778 Kč to 800 Kč, or 815 Kč to 850 Kč. It is possible to add a little to the round sum, for example 98 Kč to 110 Kč, although 98 Kč to 100 Kč is acceptable as well. | View full |
| Cultural Life |