Convert CHF to CZK Swiss franc ↔ Czech koruna Free Online Secure
Type an amount in Swiss franc and read it in Czech koruna at once. The page uses the European Central Bank's reference rate, and tells you which day that rate is from.
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Common amounts — Convert CHF to CZK (Swiss franc ↔ Czech koruna)
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The last thirty days
Where these codes and rates come from
The three letters in EUR, USD or JPY are not an abbreviation someone invented for a website: they are ISO 4217, a standard in which the first two letters are the country's own code and the third is usually the initial of the currency. The figures on this page come from the European Central Bank, which publishes one set of reference rates each working day, around 16:00 Central European time, agreed between the central banks of the Eurosystem. They are a daily snapshot meant for statistics and accounting, not a live trading feed — which is exactly why they are the same number for everyone, rather than whatever one bank happened to quote at one moment.
Where you meet an exchange rate
You meet an exchange rate four or five times a year without thinking about it: booking a trip, paying an invoice issued abroad, buying from a foreign shop, reading a salary offer in another currency, or checking what a card charge really cost. In all of these the reference rate is the honest middle, and the price you actually pay sits a little to one side of it. Knowing the middle is what lets you see how wide that margin is.
Questions people ask
Is this the rate my bank will give me?
No, and no page can promise one. This is the European Central Bank's reference rate: the midpoint published once a day for statistics. A bank, a card scheme or an exchange office adds its own margin on top — usually between half a percent and three percent, sometimes more at an airport counter. Use this figure to judge the offer you are given, not to predict it.
How often does the figure change, and what happens at weekends?
The European Central Bank publishes once each working day, in the afternoon, Central European time. There is no publication on Saturdays, Sundays or TARGET holidays, so on those days the page shows the last working day's rate and says which day it belongs to. The chart alongside is one year of the same daily series.
Is the answer exact?
Where both units are defined in terms of one another by whole numbers, yes — the page says so above the figure, and the only rounding is in how many digits are shown. Where the ratio has no finite decimal, the page shows twelve significant digits and says the relation is approximate rather than pretending otherwise.
Does anything I type leave my device?
No. The arithmetic runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded and there is no server to upload it to. Load the page once and it keeps working with the network switched off.
Two Switzerlands: from the Swiss Alps to Bohemian Switzerland, in francs and Czech crowns
On the border between the Czech Republic and Germany there is a landscape of sandstone towers, deep gorges and forested plateaus that has been called Switzerland for two and a half centuries. The name was coined in the eighteenth century by two Swiss artists, Adrian Zingg and Anton Graff, who taught at the academy in Dresden and found the rocky scenery reminiscent of their homeland. Today the Czech side is the Bohemian Switzerland National Park, and the German side Saxon Switzerland. For a visitor from the real Switzerland, the pleasure is double: a familiar name and, in the Czech Republic, prices that are a small fraction of those at home. This page makes the conversion between francs and Czech crowns simple. It takes the European Central Bank's reference rates, in which the franc and the crown are each quoted against the euro, combines them into a franc-to-crown rate, shows the result with the date and keeps your amount in your browser. The text below walks through Bohemian Switzerland and the Czech Republic, and each stop is a reason to Convert CHF to CZK and to understand what the figure means.
Using the converter
Francs in, crowns out
Whether you are checking a boat ticket or a hotel bill, Convert CHF to CZK first and write down the date next to the result.
Type an amount in francs and the page returns the value in Czech crowns, with the date of the rate beneath it. At weekends it uses Friday's figure and says so. A table of round amounts and a thirty-day line complete the page. For crowns into francs, use Convert CZK to CHF.
How to use the benchmark
This rate is the middle of the market, published once a working day, and carries no bank margin. Cards, exchange counters and transfers all give you a little less, and the gap is the cost of the service. Take it as a benchmark for every offer: under one per cent is excellent, two or three per cent is usual for banks, and four or more is a signal to compare. Each time you Convert CHF to CZK on this page, you obtain the benchmark for the day.
Stop one: Hřensko and the Kamenice gorge
A river between sandstone walls
The village of Hřensko, on the Elbe at the German border, is the gateway to Bohemian Switzerland. From there, trails climb to the rock formations, and a short trip leads into the Kamenice gorge, where boatmen punt visitors between towering walls of rock on two lakes, with a short walk between them. The trip lasts about an hour and a half and costs about 350 crowns per adult. Hřensko has guesthouses, restaurants and a market with souvenirs, many of them aimed at German visitors who cross the border.
Prices at the border
Border villages charge a premium, so Convert CHF to CZK for a typical meal there and compare with a town away from the river.
Prices in the village are higher than elsewhere in the country because of the tourist trade. A main course costs 200 to 350 crowns, a beer 50 to 80, a night in a guesthouse 1,200 to 2,500. Some shops accept euros at poor rates. Pay in crowns by card or use a cash machine. Convert CHF to CZK for the evening's budget, and you will see that you are still paying far less than at home.
Getting there from Switzerland
From Zurich, the journey to Hřensko takes 9 to 11 hours by train via Germany and Dresden. A regional train from Dresden to Bad Schandau, and a short ferry or bus, reaches the village. By car, the route through Germany is about 800 kilometres. Distances are measured in kilometres, and Convert km to mi gives the number in miles for readers from the United States.
Stop two: the Pravčická gate
Europe's largest natural sandstone arch
To plan the day, Convert CHF to CZK for the entry, the lunch at the Falcon's Nest and the bus back to the village.
The Pravčická brána, a sandstone arch with a span of 26 metres and a height of 16 metres, is the largest natural arch of its kind in Europe. It stands on a ridge above the forest, with a castle-like inn, the Sokolí hnízdo, or Falcon's Nest, beside it. A hike from Hřensko takes about two hours. Since 1982, climbing on the arch has been forbidden to protect it from erosion, but the view from below is spectacular. Entry to the area costs about 150 crowns for adults. The castle inn serves meals at 200 to 350 crowns.
Films and fairy tales
The arch and the surrounding rocks have appeared in films, including a well-known adventure fantasy set in a fairy-tale world. Fans come to see the settings. The forest trails are easy and well marked. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water.
Stop three: Děčín and the Elbe
A town on the river
Děčín, a town of about fifty thousand people, is the regional capital, with a large castle perched above the Elbe. The castle's grounds and rose garden are open to the public, and the town has museums, a boat landing and a small theatre. Entry to the castle costs about 150 crowns. A hotel room costs 1,500 to 2,500 crowns a night, a main course 180 to 300. Compared with Zurich or Geneva, these prices are modest.
Trains, cycling and rafting
For a cycling holiday, Convert CHF to CZK for the bike hire and the day ticket, and multiply by the number of days.
The Elbe cycle path, which runs from the Czech Republic to the North Sea, passes through Děčín, and many visitors cycle the stretch to Dresden. Bike hire costs 400 to 600 crowns a day. A train from Děčín to Dresden takes under two hours. Local trains and buses are inexpensive. Add a day ticket for the region at 300 to 500 crowns to your plan.
Weather in the gorges
Deep gorges stay cool in summer and icy in winter, and the boats on the Kamenice stop running in the coldest months. The forecast is given in Celsius, and Convert °C to °F turns it into Fahrenheit for readers from the United States. Plan for changes in the weather.
Stop four: Prague, a day's journey on
The capital as an extension
From Děčín, Prague is under two hours by train. Many travellers combine Bohemian Switzerland with a few days in the capital. In Prague, the cost of living for visitors is low by Swiss standards: a lunch menu 150 to 250 crowns, a half-litre of beer 50 to 90, a metro and tram day pass about 130. Museums charge 200 to 450 crowns. A good hotel room costs 2,500 to 5,000 a night.
What a Swiss budget looks like in Prague
Everything in a budget can be checked in a minute if you Convert CHF to CZK for the daily total and then for the week.
A couple spending three days in Prague might budget 3,000 crowns for accommodation per night, 1,500 per day for meals, 600 for sights and 300 for transport, so about 17,000 crowns in all. Convert CHF to CZK for this total, and you will see it is less than a single night in a Zurich hotel. Add a margin of ten per cent.
Stop five: Czech spa towns
Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Lázně
A spa package is a large item, so Convert CHF to CZK for the full price and ask what is included before you book.
Czech spa towns have been popular with Swiss and German guests since the nineteenth century. Karlovy Vary has a colonnade of hot springs, grand hotels and a film festival. Mariánské Lázně has a singing fountain and a park of rare trees. A spa stay of a week, with treatments, accommodation and meals, costs 25,000 to 60,000 crowns per person, depending on the hotel. The treatments include baths, massages and drinking cures. Swiss insurers do not usually cover spa treatments abroad.
Czech glass and crystal
At the factory shop, Convert CHF to CZK for the tag and compare it with the price of a similar piece at home.
The Czech Republic is known for glass and crystal, produced in Bohemia for centuries. Visitors can tour glassworks, watch artisans at work and buy items at the factory shop. A hand-cut crystal glass costs 300 to 1,500 crowns, a vase 1,500 to 10,000. Items are fragile, so pack them well.
Across the border: Saxon Switzerland and Dresden
The Bastei and its bridge
On the German side, the Elbe Sandstone Mountains continue as Saxon Switzerland National Park. The Bastei, a cluster of rocks rising 194 metres above the river, is crossed by a stone bridge from 1851 that offers one of the most celebrated views in the region. Painters of the Romantic period, including Caspar David Friedrich, depicted the landscape. A walk to the viewpoint from the nearby village takes about 20 minutes, and entry is free, with a small parking fee. Because the border is open under the Schengen agreement, a traveller can walk, cycle or take a boat from Hřensko to Bad Schandau without any formalities.
Euros on one side, crowns on the other
Moving across the frontier, Convert CHF to CZK on one side and into euros on the other, and you will see the price gap at once.
Across the frontier, prices are in euros, and the cost level is higher than in the Czech Republic. A coffee is 3 to 4 euros, a main course 15 to 25, a night in a guesthouse 90 to 140. Moving from one side to the other lets you compare the effects of two currencies and two price levels in an afternoon. Convert CHF to CZK for the Czech lunch and Convert CHF to EUR for the German dinner, and the difference becomes clear.
Cycling the Elbe
The Elbe cycle route is among the most popular in Europe, following the river for 1,200 kilometres. Stages through the sandstone region are flat and scenic. Bike hire in Bad Schandau or Děčín costs 15 to 25 euros or 400 to 600 crowns a day. Ferries cross the river at several points, and the cost is a couple of euros. A day on the path, with lunch at a riverside inn, can be a highlight of a trip.
Dresden, the Florence on the Elbe
Forty minutes by train from Bad Schandau, Dresden is a city of baroque palaces and museums, rebuilt after its destruction in 1945. The Frauenkirche, the Zwinger and the Semper Opera draw visitors from around the world. Entry to the Zwinger museums costs about 14 euros, and a ticket for the Green Vault treasure chamber about 14 to 25. A night in a three-star hotel costs 90 to 150 euros. The mix of art and river makes it a fitting end to a regional tour.
A Swiss winter in the Czech mountains
Skiing in the Giant Mountains
The Krkonoše, or Giant Mountains, along the Polish border, are the Czech Republic's highest range, reaching 1,603 metres at Sněžka. Resorts such as Špindlerův Mlýn and Pec pod Sněžkou offer skiing and cross-country trails at a fraction of Alpine prices. A day lift pass costs 900 to 1,400 crowns, ski hire 500 to 900, a lesson 800 to 1,200 an hour, and a hearty meal in a mountain hut 200 to 350. Swiss families who want a cheap, uncrowded week often give it a try.
What a week costs
Families should Convert CHF to CZK for the total of a ski week and then divide by the number of days to see the daily cost.
A family of four renting an apartment at 3,000 crowns a night, with passes of 4,500 a day, hire of 2,500, lessons for two children at 1,500 and meals of 2,500, would spend about 14,000 crowns a day, so around 100,000 for the week. That is a fraction of a comparable week in Switzerland. Convert CHF to CZK for the whole sum, and you will see why Czech winter resorts remain popular with neighbours.
Snow, cold and clothing
Snow in the Giant Mountains is reliable from January to March, although low altitude means thaws can occur. Pack warm layers, waterproof jackets and gloves. Temperatures can drop to minus 15 degrees Celsius, and Convert °C to °F helps readers with Fahrenheit. Ski clothing is cheaper in Poland and the Czech Republic than in Switzerland, but buying at home avoids surprises.
The Czech economy and what it means for visitors
Wages and prices
When you compare a pay slip with a menu, Convert CHF to CZK for each and measure how many hours of work a meal costs.
Average wages in the Czech Republic are a fraction of Swiss ones, which explains the price difference. Restaurant staff, hotel workers and guides earn modest sums, and tips matter. The Czech economy is strongly tied to Germany, supplying car parts, machinery and electronics. Škoda Auto, owned by Volkswagen, is one of the country's largest exporters.
Inflation and the crown
Czech inflation has been above the euro area's in recent years, and the National Bank has raised and lowered interest rates accordingly. The crown has been relatively stable against the euro, with moves of a few per cent in a year. For a traveller, the main implication is that prices rise slowly and the exchange rate rarely surprises. For planners of larger purchases, a margin of five per cent is prudent.
Property and investment
Some Swiss residents buy holiday flats in Prague or in spa towns, attracted by lower prices. Foreigners from the European Union may buy property freely; citizens of other countries, including Switzerland, face some restrictions on land. A lawyer should check title and taxes. Rental yields and growth are not guaranteed, and prices have risen quickly in recent years.
Communication, language and manners
A few Czech words
"Dobrý den" means good day, "děkuji" thank you, "prosím" please, "pivo" beer, "účet" the bill, "hotovost" cash, "kartou" by card. Locals appreciate the effort, though English is widely spoken by younger people in cities. German is understood in the border regions. In the mountains, signs are often bilingual.
Habits at table
Czech meals are hearty. Soup comes first, followed by a main course with dumplings or potatoes. Water in restaurants is often bottled and charged. Ask for tap water if you prefer, though it may not be served. When you are a guest in a home, bring a small gift, and take off your shoes at the door.
Currencies for onward travel
If your trip continues to Britain, Convert CHF to GBP covers the pound; for America, Convert CHF to USD; for Romania, Convert CHF to RON; and for Sweden, Convert CHF to SEK. Each shows what a franc buys elsewhere.
Money matters in the Czech Republic
Cards, cash and cash machines
Cards are accepted widely, including in many small guesthouses and mountain huts, though a few still prefer cash. Withdraw crowns from a bank cash machine. When a terminal asks whether to charge in francs or crowns, choose crowns. Some tourist shops show euro prices at poor rates. Ask for the crown price.
Exchange offices and scams
A simple test applies to any counter: Convert CHF to CZK here and compare the result with the amount they offer.
In Prague, exchange offices with eye-catching rates may add hidden commissions. Do not exchange cash with street touts. Use banks, large exchange chains with clear boards or cash machines. Convert CHF to CZK on this page first so that you know what a fair rate looks like.
Tipping
Tipping of about ten per cent is normal in restaurants. Say the total, including the tip, as you pay. Service charges are rare in Czech restaurants, but check the bill.
The crown and the franc
A currency of its own
The Czech Republic has not adopted the euro, and the crown floats against it. The franc is a safe haven, while the crown is the currency of a mid-sized, export-driven economy. Over the long run, the franc has gained against the crown, so Czech prices look ever lower to Swiss visitors. The pair moves with the franc-euro and crown-euro rates and can swing by several per cent in a month.
Using the chart
The thirty-day line on this page shows how restless the pair has been. If the line is quiet, you can convert on any day. If not, split a large conversion into two or three parts. The chart does not forecast the future, but it helps you decide how careful to be.
Related conversions
Other currencies on the trip
For the euro, used in Germany and Austria on the route, Convert CHF to EUR. For Poland and Hungary, Convert CHF to PLN and Convert CHF to HUF. Switzerland and the Czech Republic share a time zone.
Mistakes to avoid
Euro prices in tourist shops
Many shops show euro prices and convert at a poor rate. Ask for the crown price and pay in crowns.
The terminal's offer
If a card machine offers to charge you in francs, say no. Pay in crowns and let your bank convert.
Old rates
A rate noted last month may be a percentage point or more away from today's. The date beside the result protects you.
Back to the Alps
The page downloads only the table of daily reference rates. The amount you type never leaves your device, and no account is needed. From one Switzerland to the other, the habit is the same: Convert CHF to CZK, read the date, compare any offer against the figure and keep a note.