A Bitcoiner’s Travel Guide: Prague

Read the third installment of BTCManager’s, ‘A Bitcoiner’s Travel Guide,’ here, which explores Arnhem. In the fourth installment, we take a look at what Prague has to offer when spending with crypto.

Prague, also known as the Amsterdam of the East, is a city with charm, culture, and cryptocurrency. The Czech city is home to SatoshiLabs, the company behind Trezor hardware wallets, and Paralelni Polis, which hosts the Hackers Congress every year. In this guide, we explore the bitcoin (and litecoin) accepting merchants of Prague.

A Place to Stay/Work

Prague Siesta

First off, if you’re planning to visit Prague for a trip, you will need somewhere to stay. Prague Siesta Apartments provides a range of accommodation types to suit any traveler and allows you to pay with bitcoin. With many different options available, you can rent one- or two-floor apartments, with larger apartments if you are traveling with a few friends.

Home Hunters

If you are looking for a property to rent, buy or invest in located in Prague with bitcoin, Home Hunters will be able to help you. In November 2017, Home Hunters helped a Russian citizen buy an apartment in Prague’s Strašnice district for 35 bitcoin.

“The buyer was looking for an apartment in Prague, and one of his conditions was bitcoin payment. He wanted to invest some of his property stored in digital currency into real estate,” Jaroslav Kováč, the founder of Home Hunters said at the time.

Destinia

The Spain-based travel agent, Destinia, accepts bitcoin for hotel bookings and flights. If you want a more traditional accommodation, then you can use Destinia to book your stay in Prague.

Paper Hub

If you are in Prague for an extended stay, or you live in the city, Paper Hub will be an important place of interest. Here, you can join as a member and use the space to work, use the internet, and fulfill any other work needs you may have. Located in Paralelni Polis, membership can cost up to 3000 CZK ($145) per month and is paid in bitcoin or litecoin.

Shopping and Entertainment

Alza

There is a bitcoin ATM located in this electronics store, and Alza is only a few minutes walk away from Paralelni Polis. Moreover, you can also pay with bitcoin, and other digital currencies, to buy goods such as cameras, gaming equipment, and many other electronics.

Nový Smíchov Shopping Center

In this shopping center, located near Andel’s Hotel, you will find a bitcoin ATM. Useful if you ever need something that you cannot use cryptocurrency to buy, and requires Czech Crowns.

Housed in one of the largest shopping centers in the Czech Republic, some retail therapy may be in order here once you exchange your ‘bits’ for fiat. The ATM is located adjacent to the car park on the lower ground floor.

Activities

There are two activities in Prague that allow you to pay with the cryptocurrency groestlcoin (GRS). Groestlcoin has higher transaction speeds than litecoin, and was the first coin to enable SegWit and test the Lightning Network. You can use GRS to take part in Breakout Prague, a live escape game, and Alternative Prague Tours.

Cafes and Restaurants

Café Záhorský

The cafe began to accept bitcoin on Valentine’s Day 2017, as shown by a Facebook post from the business’ page. You can find Café Záhorský in Praha 6, and the interior has been designed by Magdalena Rochová, who was awarded the title Interior of the Year 2015.

A Maze in Tchaiovna

This colorful cafe located in Praha 6 accepts bitcoin, and is a must visit for tea connoisseurs. Also, there are monthly culture programs with events in both Czech and English including theatre, comedy, discussions known as “Tea Talks,” live music, poetry nights, art exhibitions, films, and workshops. All the events are free, but the establishment does welcome donations. You can visit their website here.

Forgotten Time

This Czech-themed restaurant accepts bitcoin, and it is easy to pay there; the staff were quick to process the transaction. It is also closely located to the city center, so could be an ideal location to have lunch or dinner once you have explored the city’s attractions. Forgotten time is also known as Restaurace Zapomenuty Cas. The burgers here are highly recommended.

Wing Haus

If you’re feeling like some Chicken Wings, check out Wing Haus, near the city center. According to Coinmap, the establishment accepts bitcoin.

Red Bean Chocolate

Chocolate is also on offer for bitcoin! Red Bean Chocolate, located nearby the Nový Smíchov Shopping Center. You can find out more here.

Bitcoin Coffee

As with the Paper Hub, Bitcoin Coffee is also located in Paralelni Polis.

The cafe only accepts cryptocurrencies, namely bitcoin and litecoin, so don’t bring you fiat here if you wish to buy something. The cool aesthetic also adds to the experience, with a live chart of the bitcoin price and Institute of Cryptoanarchy memorabilia found around the cafe.

Bars

According to Coinmap, there are various bars in Prague that accept bitcoin. Soma bar, Pivní Klub 300, Iluze bar, InCider bar, and Bar No. 7 on the riverbed of the Vltava. Bar No. 7 was the first bar in Prague to accept bitcoin, and since then, many others have followed.

So there you have it, the bitcoiner’s travel guide to Prague. It is indeed a beautiful city, with so much culture and plenty of opportunities to spend your cryptocurrency.

You can read the entire series by BTCManager, ‘A Bitcoiner’s Travel Guide,’ here.