Prague Records More Than 3.8 Million Tourists in First Half of Year

Prague welcomed around 3.8 million visitors in the first half of 2026. This represents an increase of approximately one per cent compared with the same period last year. At the same time, foreign visitors are spending more money in the Czech capital and are increasingly interested in cultural offerings.

A total of 3,830,576 tourists visited the Czech capital during the first six months of the year. This is according to the latest data from the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ).

Alongside the slight increase in visitor numbers, the profile of foreign guests is also changing. Data from payment services provider Mastercard shows that tourists are spending significantly more money in Prague and are increasingly visiting the city because of its cultural offerings. The growing demand for high-quality services is also reflected in the performance of Prague’s hotels. Their occupancy rate in June was higher than that in the centres of Vienna, Budapest and Rome.

Foto: Dmitry Goykolov | Unsplash

“Prague is attractive because of its sights, but increasingly also because of the quality of its services and cultural offerings. We want to attract visitors who genuinely want to get to know the city, discover new places and experiences, and contribute to the development of the local economy,” said Prague Councillor for Culture and Tourism Tomáš Slabihoudek.

At the same time, the city wants to distribute visitor flows more widely beyond the historic centre. In the long term, tourism should benefit both visitors and Prague residents.

Germans Form Largest Visitor Group

Traditionally, the largest number of foreign tourists came from Germany. In the first half of the year, 450,731 visitors from the Federal Republic were recorded. They were followed by the United States with 228,189 visitors, the United Kingdom with 222,834, Italy with 178,282 and Slovakia with 175,916. Around one fifth of all visitors came from the Czech Republic.

“Our goal is not to increase the number of tourists. In the long term, we are primarily targeting people who come for the history, art or high-quality gastronomy and spend more time in Prague,” said František Cipro, Chairman of the Board of Prague City Tourism.

Foto: Fairmont Golden Prague

Foreign Tourists Spend More

According to an analysis of Mastercard transaction data, tourists from the most important foreign markets spent a total of 18 per cent more in Prague during the first half of 2026 than in the same period last year. The strongest increase was recorded among visitors from China and South Korea. Significantly higher spending was also recorded among visitors from the United States.

Luxury Hotels in Particularly High Demand

The increasing demand for high-quality offerings is also evident in Prague’s hotel market. Occupancy at luxury hotels increased by 6.7 per cent year on year. According to a report by hotel industry specialist STR, average hotel occupancy in Prague reached 73.8 per cent in the first half of the year. This was almost five per cent higher than the previous year’s figure. In June, hotels even recorded an occupancy rate of 83 per cent. In this area, Prague is currently growing faster than cities such as Vienna or Budapest.

The average overnight rate rose by 5.4 per cent to €123.30 per room per night. In the luxury segment, the average rate was €217.40 – 4.3 per cent more than in the previous year.

Foto: Prague Visitor Pass | Prague City Tourism

Visitors Should Also Discover Districts Outside the Centre

Prague City Tourism intends to continue marketing the Czech capital primarily as a cultural travel destination. Through its “Enjoy Respect Prague” campaign, the municipal tourism organisation also promotes respectful behaviour towards the city. At the same time, the Prague Visitor Pass is being expanded to include attractions outside the overcrowded tourist routes. This is intended to encourage visitors to discover lesser-known places beyond the historic centre.

The long-term strategy also includes seeking measures through which tourism can provide greater benefits to the city and its residents. Among the measures under discussion is an adjustment to the accommodation tax. Despite the city’s great popularity, this remains one of the lowest in Prague compared with other European capitals.