Short answer: Busking is governed by a city decree (No. 5/2013, revised 2016 and later) rather than a permit. Acoustic playing is allowed in most places but banned in a growing list of central spots, including the whole of Old Town Square.
Do you need a permit to busk in Prague?
| Permit needed? | Only in some areas or for amplifiers |
| Cost | Not published. Ask Prague City Council (decree); enforced by Prague City Police. |
| Regulated by | Prague City Council (decree); enforced by Prague City Police |
| Official page | praha.eu |
The rules in Prague
- Amplifiers. Electric amplifiers and drums are banned under the 2016 revision.
- Banned on all of Old Town Square, Nerudova, Velkopřevorské náměstí, náměstí Míru and part of Spálená (2019 report)
- Banned at cemeteries, hospitals, playgrounds, near schools in class time and at churches
- Must alternate banks of the Vltava by hour (odd hours left bank, even hours right bank, per 2016-2019 reports)
- Playing 9:00 to 22:00, max one hour at a time with a one hour break (2016 report)
Stations and public transport
Performers may not block entrances to metro stations; no rule on playing inside the metro was confirmed.
Taking card tips on a Prague pitch
Plenty of people stop to listen and then find they have no coins on them. A QR code on a sign beside your case lets them tip in Czech koruna by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay from their own phone. Visitors can pay with a card from home, and nobody needs an app.
- Print it large. A phone reads a code from about ten times its width, so a 10 cm code works from a metre and an A3 sign from about three.
- Stand it upright at knee to waist height, with your name and one line saying what it is for.
- Playing as a group? One code can split every tip between the members automatically.
The full set-up is in cashless busking: card and phone tips.
Before you play
Read the general advice in busking etiquette and how to choose a busking pitch, and see how Prague compares with other cities on the world busking map.
Sources
Checked in October 2026. Rules and fees change, and enforcement varies from street to street, so confirm with Prague City Council (decree); enforced by Prague City Police before you play. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Common questions
Do you need a permit to busk in Prague?
Busking is governed by a city decree (No. 5/2013, revised 2016 and later) rather than a permit. Acoustic playing is allowed in most places but banned in a growing list of central spots, including the whole of Old Town Square.
Can you use an amplifier when busking in Prague?
Electric amplifiers and drums are banned under the 2016 revision.
Can buskers in Prague take card payments?
Yes. A printed QR code lets listeners tip in Czech koruna by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay from their own phone, with no card reader to carry or charge.
App Store
Google Play