Postal Codes in the Czech Republic
Czech postal codes always have 5 digits. Postal code is usually written with a space between the third and fourth digit, for example 123 45 (though omitting this space will most likely not cause you any trouble). The density of post offices in the Czech Republic and especially in Prague is very high, therefore knowing the right postal code when sending a letter is essential.
Prague Postcodes Always Start with 1
The first digit of the postal code is always 1 for any location in Prague. But with the other four digits, it gets more complicated.
Second Digit of the Postcode: Summary
For Prague districts 1-9 the second digit in the postal code is the same as the district number. For example places in Prague 3 have postal codes 13X XX.
For districts 10-11 it is most likely zero. The postal codes here are 10X XX.
For districts 12-22, the second digit in the postal code depends on the former district where that place used to be located under the old system.
Changes in Prague Districts
In the past postal codes in Prague were assigned according to the former districts of Prague (the second digit in the postal code was the district number). However in the 1990’s and eventually in 2001 additional districts were created from some parts of the old districts.
The city of Prague is currently divided into 22 districts. As a result, in some places the district number changed, but the postal code remained the same, still according to the old classification. After all, with 22 districts you can’t have a different second digit in the postal code for each district.
In the city centre (the new districts 1-9) the district numbers generally stayed the same. But the further you get from the centre, the more likely it is that a place that used to be for example a part of Prague 5 in the past is now Prague 16, but its postal code remains 15X XX.
List of Old Prague Districts and Postal Codes
Below you can find the postal codes, old district numbers, and some more familiar cadastral areas which use the postal codes.
Postal codes 110 00 – 119 99: Prague 1 (the very centre of Prague including Old Town, Josefov, most of Mala Strana, Hradcany, and New Town).
Postal codes 120 00 – 129 99: Prague 2 (areas adjacent to Prague 1 in the south-east including Vysehrad, part of Nusle, Vinohrady, and New Town).
Postal codes 130 00 – 139 99: Prague 3 (areas adjacent to Prague 1 in the east, mainly Zizkov and part of Vinohrady, Vysocany, and Strasnice).
Postal codes 140 00 – 149 99: Prague 4 (a vast district south of Prague 2 including areas at the east coast of the Vltava River like Podoli or Branik, as well as parts of dense residential areas like Chodov and Jizni Mesto – the other part of these is under Prague 11).
Postal codes 150 00 – 159 99: Prague 5 (areas to the south-west of the city centre including Smichov and mostly residential areas Radlice, Barrandov, Jinonice, and Zlicin).
Postal codes 160 00 – 169 99: Prague 6 (areas to the north-west of the centre including Dejvice, Veleslavin, Vokovice, Stresovice, Liboc, and Ruzyne; Prague Ruzyne Airport is located here).
Postal codes 170 00 – 179 99: Prague 7 (areas adjacent to Prague 1 in the north – primarily Holesovice and surroundings).
Postal codes 180 00 – 189 99: Prague 8 (north parts of Prague including Bohnice, Cimice, Kobylisy, and Karlin).
Postal codes 190 00 – 199 99: Prague 9 (mostly dense residential areas in the north-east including Cerny Most, Hloubetin, Prosek, and part of Vysocany).
Postal codes 100 00 – 109 99: Prague 10 and Prague 11 (generally places in the south-east of Prague and far from the centre).
How to Find the Right Postcode in Prague
What are your options if you don’t know the postcode?
The fastest is visiting the website of Czech Post and finding the postal code online. It is not as easy as it sounds, as the website might be a bit confusing. There is an English version though (click the EN in the top right corner).
Postal code in Czech is usually referred to as Poštovní směrovací číslo (which can be translated approximately as Postal Routing Number) and you will often see it written as abbreviation: PSČ (with the little accent above the Č). A little more from Czech vocabulary might be useful here: okres means region, obec mean municipality, and ulice means street.
Besides the internet you can also call the free information service of the Czech Post – phone number (+420) 800 10 44 10, but English or other non-Czech language is not guaranteed here either.
You can also ask at a post office in person. Generally the larger the post office the greater the chance that someone will speak your language. Don’t be afraid to ask a client if the post clerks don’t understand you.