Traveling to Prague with diabetes takes a little extra planning, but most of it can be figured out before you ever leave home.
You’re probably already thinking about where to stay, what you want to see, and how many days you actually need in Prague. But when you’re traveling with diabetes, there’s another list running in the background. Where is the closest pharmacy? Can the hotel refrigerate insulin? What happens if you lose medication or supplies? And where do you go if you need medical care while you’re there?
Those are the things I wanted to figure out before the trip—not while standing on a cobblestone street in Prague trying to Google them.
This guide was inspired by my mother-in-law, who has Type 1 diabetes. She was diagnosed at 16 and is now 74, so she has spent a lifetime figuring out how to travel without letting diabetes dictate the trip.
I’ve pulled together the practical information I’d want to have saved before traveling to Prague with diabetes: pharmacies, medical care, insulin storage, CGMs and pumps, airport security, hotels, food, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Diabetes & Medical Help in Prague
Save these numbers before your trip so you know exactly where to turn if you need help.
- Emergency/European Emergency Number: 112
- Ambulance/Medical Emergency: 155
- University Hospital Motol – Health Care Services for Foreigners: +420 224 433 681 or +420 224 433 691
- University Hospital Motol – Adult Emergency: +420 224 438 590
- Na Františku Hospital – Emergency Department: +420 222 801 343 or +420 222 801 344
The Czech Republic uses 155 specifically for emergency medical services, while 112 is the general European emergency number. One nice thing for international travelers: Czech authorities say 112 operators can handle calls in English and German as well as Czech.
For a serious medical emergency: Call 155 or 112. Prague City Tourism specifically directs tourists and other foreigners without Czech public health insurance to Motol University Hospital, which has a department for foreign patients that can help arrange medical care, handle payment-related administration and assist with language issues.
If you need urgent care while staying in central Prague: Na Františku Hospital in Prague 1 is another useful one to save. Its emergency department operates nonstop, making it considerably more convenient from Old Town than traveling out to Motol for some urgent situations.
My tip: Save both 155 and 112 in your phone before your trip. I would also save your travel insurance information and a list of your medications, including the generic names, somewhere you can access without Wi-Fi.
Quick Navigation
Before Traveling to Prague with Diabetes
Prague is a major European city, so pharmacies and medical care are much easier to access than they are in some of the more remote places we travel. Still, I wouldn’t assume you’ll be able to walk into a pharmacy and replace the exact insulin, medication, CGM sensor or pump supply you use at home.
Before your trip, talk with your diabetes-care team about your travel plans and make sure you have enough medication and supplies for the entire trip plus extra in case you’re delayed.
I’d also make sure you know:
- How your insulin or other temperature-sensitive medication needs to be stored
- Whether your Prague hotel has a refrigerator—and whether it actually stays within the temperature range you need
- What backup supplies you should bring for your CGM or pump
- What documentation you should carry for medications and medical devices
- What your health insurance covers outside the United States
- Whether your travel insurance includes medical treatment and prescription replacement
- The generic names of your medications, not just the U.S. brand names
- Where the nearest pharmacy and medical facility are to your hotel
One other thing I’d do before leaving: download or screenshot the important information in this guide. You don’t want the phone number for a hospital or the address of a pharmacy to be something you can only find when you have a good internet connection.
My Take
I wouldn’t let any of this make me nervous about traveling to Prague. You’re in a major European city with pharmacies and hospitals nearby. I’d just rather figure out the backup plan at home than have to figure it out in the middle of a trip.
If there’s something you absolutely need to manage your diabetes, bring it with you—and bring a backup when possible. Even in Prague, I wouldn’t want to spend part of my vacation trying to track down a specific CGM sensor, pump supply or medication.
Diabetes Travel Checklist
MEDICATION & SUPPLIES
☐ Pack enough medication for the entire trip plus extra
☐ Keep insulin, medications and essential supplies in your carry-on
☐ Bring backup CGM sensors, pump supplies, test strips and/or meter as appropriate
☐ Bring a backup way to monitor glucose if your usual device fails
☐ Keep medications in their original labeled packaging when practical
BEFORE YOU LEAVE
☐ Ask your diabetes-care team about any adjustments you may need for travel
☐ Check how your medications should be stored during flights and in Prague’s heat during the summer.
☐ Confirm your hotel has appropriate refrigeration if you need it
☐ Check your health/travel insurance coverage for the Czech Republic
☐ Save Prague medical contacts and emergency information to your phone
FOR THE TRAVEL DAY
☐ Keep fast-acting glucose or your usual treatment for low blood sugar accessible
☐ Carry snacks in case meals or flights are delayed
☐ Keep diabetes supplies with you rather than in checked luggage
☐ Bring a cooling method appropriate for your particular medication if needed
☐ Carry copies of prescriptions and important medical information
One thing I would not do: assume you’ll simply replace a forgotten CGM sensor, pump component or specific medication after you arrive. Bring the diabetes supplies you depend on with you, plus backups when possible.
My Practical Advice
Create one diabetes-information folder on your phone before leaving home. Include your medication list, prescriptions, clinician’s letter, insurance information, emergency contacts, device details, and photographs of your supplies.
It may feel excessive while you’re packing. If something is lost or damaged, having everything together could save hours of stress.
Bringing Diabetes Medication into the Czech Republic
Travelers can bring medication into the Czech Republic for their own personal use. For medications coming from outside the European Union, Czech authorities say the amount should correspond to what you would normally need for a personal trip.
Still, I wouldn’t toss everything into a bag and hope for the best.
The Czech Embassy recommends traveling with either the medication’s package insert or the original box showing the active ingredients. It also recommends carrying a prescription or a letter from your doctor stating that you need the medication for personal use.
I’d Have This With Me
- Medication in its original labeled packaging when possible
- Copies of your prescriptions
- A letter from your healthcare provider explaining your diabetes and why you need the medication
- The generic/active ingredient names of your medications
- Enough medication for your trip plus extra in case you’re delayed
- Diabetes supplies and medication in your carry-on rather than checked luggage
- Any documentation you normally travel with for your CGM, insulin pump or other medical devices
One thing I like about the Czech guidance is that it’s pretty straightforward: bring what you reasonably need for your trip and bring documentation showing that it’s for your personal medical use.
For most travelers with diabetes, that shouldn’t make packing dramatically different. It just gives you another reason not to throw away the prescription box before the trip.
One Important Note
Medication laws vary by country, and there can be additional rules for certain controlled medications. If you take anything you’re unsure about, check the Czech Republic’s requirements before traveling rather than assuming a U.S. prescription automatically makes it permissible.
This is especially worth checking if you take medications in addition to your diabetes medications that may be classified differently in the Czech Republic.
What to Do if Insulin, Medication or Diabetes Supplies Are Lost in Prague
1. Determine Whether You Need Emergency Care
If you are seriously ill or need urgent medical attention, call 155 for an ambulance or 112 for the general European emergency number rather than spending time trying to locate a particular pharmacy or replacement supply.
Prague has significantly more medical resources than a remote destination, but I still wouldn’t wait until an urgent situation to figure out where to go. University Hospital Motol is one of the major Prague hospitals and has services specifically for foreign patients. If you’re staying in central Prague, Na Františku Hospital in Prague 1 also has a 24-hour emergency department.
2. Contact Your Diabetes-Care Team
Contact the healthcare professional who normally manages your diabetes. Explain exactly what was lost, damaged or is no longer usable and ask what information a doctor or pharmacist in the Czech Republic may need.
Your healthcare professional may be able to provide:
- A copy of your prescription
- A current medication list
- The generic or active-ingredient name of your medication
- Your prescribed dose
- Information about a suitable replacement or alternative
- Documentation explaining your medical condition and treatment
This is where that diabetes folder we created earlier becomes really useful. If you’ve already saved copies of your prescriptions, medication names and your doctor’s contact information, you’re not trying to gather all of this from Prague.
3. Contact Your Travel-Insurance Assistance Service
If you purchased travel insurance, call its medical-assistance number. Depending on your policy, the assistance service may be able to help locate an appropriate doctor or medical facility, arrange an appointment, provide translation assistance or explain how to submit a claim.
For Prague, I’d pay particular attention to how your policy handles medical care outside the United States and prescription replacement. Your insurer may also be able to direct you to a clinic or hospital that regularly treats international travelers, which is a lot easier than trying to sort that out yourself when you’re already dealing with a problem.
Save the assistance number in your phone before you leave home. I’d also keep it in the diabetes-information folder we created earlier.
4. Speak With a Pharmacist
Bring your medication packaging, prescription records, identification and clinician’s letter to the pharmacy.
Whenever possible, ask about the active ingredient or generic name, rather than relying only on an American brand name. A medication available in the Czech Republic may have a different brand name, packaging or concentration than the version you use at home.
And I wouldn’t make substitutions on my own. If the exact medication you use isn’t available, ask the pharmacist what your next step should be and contact your diabetes-care team if you need help determining an appropriate alternative.
5. Obtain a Local Prescription if Required
If the medication you need requires a prescription in the Czech Republic—or the pharmacist cannot provide an appropriate replacement—you may need to see a local doctor.
This is where having your medication list, original packaging, prescription and clinician’s letter can make things much easier. Bring all of that information with you so the local healthcare professional can see exactly what you normally use.
In Prague, your travel-insurance assistance service is a good first call for non-emergency care, since it may be able to direct you to an appropriate English-speaking doctor or clinic. University Hospital Motol also has services for foreign patients if hospital-based care is needed.
For an urgent situation, don’t spend time trying to solve the problem through a pharmacy first. Seek medical care. Call 155 for an ambulance or 112 for the general emergency number.
What if You Cannot Find Your Exact CGM or Pump Supply?
A pharmacy may carry insulin and traditional glucose-testing supplies without stocking the proprietary components used by every CGM or insulin pump.
Even in Prague, I would not assume a replacement sensor, transmitter, infusion set or other device-specific supply will be readily available. CGMs and insulin pumps use proprietary components, and having a particular brand available somewhere in the Czech Republic doesn’t mean the exact part you need will be sitting at a pharmacy near your hotel.
If something is lost, damaged or stops working:
1. Contact the device manufacturer’s support line. Ask whether they have support or distribution options in the Czech Republic.
2. Contact your diabetes-care team and explain exactly what happened.
3. Ask your healthcare team what backup monitoring or treatment plan you should use if the device cannot be replaced right away.
4. Ask a local pharmacist or medical professional whether compatible glucose-testing supplies are available in Prague.
5. Seek medical care promptly if you cannot safely monitor or manage your glucose.
This is why I’d bring more sensors, pump supplies and other device-specific components than I expect to use—and keep them in my carry-on.
Prague gives you more options if something goes wrong, but I still wouldn’t want finding a specific Dexcom sensor or pump component to become part of my vacation itinerary.
If You Are Staying at a Hotel
Your hotel can be a really useful first call if something goes missing.
Ask the front desk to help you locate the nearest pharmacy or medical provider. But call before you go. Confirm that the pharmacy is open and ask whether it carries what you need rather than walking across Prague only to discover that it doesn’t.
If you need medical care rather than simply replacing a supply, ask the hotel for help contacting a clinic or arranging transportation.
One advantage in Prague is that you have options. There are pharmacies throughout the city, and if the closest one can’t help, the hotel may be able to call another before sending you across town.
Finding a Pharmacy in Prague
Pharmacies in the Czech Republic are called lékárna (plural lékárny), and you’ll see them throughout Prague. They’re usually marked with a pharmacy cross or a sign reading Lékárna.
But I would approach this the same way I would anywhere else when something diabetes-related is involved: don’t assume a pharmacy will stock your particular insulin, medication, CGM supplies or pump components. A pharmacy appearing on Google Maps doesn’t tell you whether the exact product you need is sitting on the shelf.
If you need something specific, call the pharmacy before making the trip whenever possible. Have the generic or active-ingredient name of your medication available, along with the exact name and model information for any device-specific supplies.
What if You Need Something After Hours?
This is one situation I would think about before the trip.
Prague has several pharmacies that provide after-hours or nonstop service, so needing something at night or on a weekend doesn’t necessarily mean waiting until morning. Prague City Tourism maintains a list of pharmacies with emergency service throughout the city.
For travelers staying in central Prague, one particularly useful option is Lékárna Na Františku at Na Františku Hospital in Prague 1. The pharmacy operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays, and dispenses both prescription medications and over-the-counter products.
Lékárna Na Františku
Na Františku 847/8, Prague 1 – Old Town
Phone: +420 222 801 397
During evening and overnight hours, the hospital building is locked and pharmacy service is provided through an emergency dispensing window. Ring the bell at the hospital entrance for access.
I’d still call before heading over if you need a particular insulin, medication or diabetes supply. Being open 24 hours doesn’t mean the pharmacy will have your exact product in stock.
And if the situation is medically urgent, don’t wait at a pharmacy trying to solve it yourself. Call 155 for an ambulance or 112 for emergency assistance.
What to Bring to the Pharmacy
Bring your identification, original medication packaging, prescription records, and clinician’s letter. If you need a device-specific supply, have the exact manufacturer, model, and product information available.
A pharmacist can explain what is available locally and whether you need to see a doctor for a prescription or appropriate replacement.
Save This Before Your Trip
Before you leave home, save these three things to your phone:
- The contact information for the closest pharmacy to your hotel
- Lékárna Na Františku, the 24-hour pharmacy in Prague 1, plus 155 and 112 for medical emergencies
- Your travel-insurance medical-assistance number
I’d screenshot them too. If you need help, this is not information you want to start researching while you’re already dealing with a problem.
Finding Medical Care in Prague
Prague has several large hospitals and plenty of medical care, so the bigger question isn’t whether you’ll be able to find help—it’s where an international traveler should start.
For a serious medical emergency, call 155 for an ambulance or 112 for the general European emergency number. Don’t delay urgent care while trying to find a particular doctor, pharmacy or English-speaking clinic.
For a non-life-threatening problem, your travel-insurance assistance service can be a good first call. It may be able to direct you to an appropriate provider and explain what your policy covers.
University Hospital Motol — Best to Know for International Travelers
If I were choosing one Prague hospital to save before the trip, this would be it.
Prague City Tourism specifically directs tourists and other foreigners without Czech public health insurance to University Hospital Motol’s department for foreign patients. The department can help arrange medical care, deal with payment administration and assist with language or other issues.
Foreign & Private Patient Department: +420 224 433 691 or +420 224 433 681
Hospital switchboard: +420 224 431 111
Adult Emergency Reception: +420 224 436 767
Location: V Úvalu 84, Prague 5
Motol’s adult emergency department operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and acute patients can arrive without an appointment.
If you don’t have Czech public health insurance, bring your passport or other identification and your travel-insurance information. Motol advises international patients to contact their insurer in advance when possible, and you may need to pay a deposit if treatment isn’t covered directly by your insurer.
For me, this is the information I’d save to my phone. Hopefully you never need it, but I’d much rather know where to start than research Prague hospitals while something is already going wrong.
Storing Insulin While Traveling in Prague
Prague’s changing seasons make insulin storage something I’d figure out before leaving home, not after checking into the hotel. Summer days can get hot, while winter temperatures bring the opposite concern—insulin can also be damaged if it freezes.
Insulin-storage requirements vary by product, so check the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific insulin you use and talk with your pharmacist or diabetes-care team about how to store it during your flights, transfers and hotel stay.
Write down:
- The recommended storage-temperature range
- How long your insulin can remain unrefrigerated
- Whether the instructions change after the insulin is opened
- What to do if it becomes too warm
- What to do if it accidentally freezes
- How to recognize possible damage
The CDC warns that heat can damage insulin and other diabetes equipment. It recommends keeping diabetes supplies out of direct sunlight and not placing insulin directly on ice or a gel pack, because insulin can also be damaged by freezing.
A long sightseeing day is where I’d be particularly careful. Don’t leave insulin or diabetes equipment sitting in direct sun, inside a hot vehicle or somewhere it could be exposed to extreme temperatures. In winter, remember that freezing temperatures can be a problem too. Bring whatever temperature-control system you normally use and follow the storage instructions for your specific insulin.
Don’t assume “minibar” means medication refrigerator. Before your trip, ask the hotel exactly what is available in the room and whether it can maintain the temperature required for your particular medication.
Review the current CDC travel guidance, American Diabetes Association storage guidance, and instructions supplied with your particular insulin before traveling.
Do You Need a Refrigerator at Your Prague Hotel?
That depends on the particular insulin you use, whether it has been opened, how long you’ll be traveling and the manufacturer’s storage instructions.
Some insulin products can remain at room temperature for a specified period, while unopened supplies may require refrigeration. Confirm the requirements for your exact medication before deciding what you need from your hotel.
Don’t Assume a Minibar Is a Refrigerator
A hotel minibar may:
- Be warmer than a household refrigerator
- Have an inconsistent temperature
- Switch off when you leave the room
- Become too cold near the cooling element
- Lack a temperature display
If your medication requires refrigeration, contact the hotel before your trip and explain that you need refrigeration for medication rather than simply asking whether the room has a minibar.
If you haven’t chosen your hotel yet, start with my Where to Stay in Prague and Best Hotels in Prague guides.
Questions to Ask Your Hotel
Contact the hotel directly before booking and ask:
- Is there a working refrigerator inside the room?
- Does it remain powered when the room is unoccupied?
- Can its temperature be adjusted or monitored?
- Does it contain a freezer compartment that could accidentally freeze medication?
- Can the hotel provide a separate medical refrigerator?
- Can staff securely refrigerate medication if the room does not have a suitable refrigerator?
- Will the medication be accessible early in the morning or late at night?
- Can the hotel freeze or refrigerate a reusable cooling pack before departure?
Explain that the refrigerator is needed for medication rather than food or drinks. Request written confirmation and reconfirm the arrangement shortly before arrival.
If the Hotel Stores Your Insulin
If hotel staff will store medication in a central refrigerator:
- Keep it in a labeled, sealed container
- Include your name and room number
- Make sure staff know it must not be frozen
- Ask who can retrieve it early in the morning or late at night
- Keep any immediately needed medication with you
- Confirm how you can access it if the front desk is unattended
I wouldn’t hand over all of my insulin without knowing exactly where it’s being stored and how I can get to it when I need it.
Consider Bringing a Small Thermometer
A compact refrigerator thermometer can help determine whether an in-room unit is maintaining the appropriate temperature. It is especially helpful when the refrigerator does not display its internal temperature.
If you believe insulin has frozen, overheated, changed appearance, or otherwise been damaged, do not guess. Check the manufacturer’s instructions and contact a pharmacist, the manufacturer, or your diabetes-care team for guidance.
Eating in Prague with Diabetes
Eating in Prague can actually give you quite a bit of flexibility. Traditional Czech food tends to get a reputation for being heavy—and yes, you’ll see plenty of dumplings, potatoes, bread, rich sauces and desserts—but that’s definitely not all you’ll find.
Prague has everything from traditional Czech restaurants to cafés, international restaurants and more modern places with grilled meats, fish, vegetables, soups and salads. You usually have options if you want to build a meal that works better for you.
The harder part may be figuring out exactly what’s in a traditional dish or estimating portions when nutrition information isn’t available.
Traveling with diabetes doesn’t mean you need to avoid Czech food. It just means knowing what works for you and having a plan for meals that are harder to estimate. Your diabetes-care team or dietitian can help you decide how to approach restaurant meals based on your medication, insulin regimen and usual eating habits.
Expect Limited Nutrition Information
Many independent restaurants in Prague don’t publish complete nutrition information or carbohydrate counts.
That doesn’t mean you can’t eat there. It just means you may need to rely more on the strategies you already use at restaurants at home.
When nutrition information isn’t available:
- Ask how the food is prepared
- Ask whether sauces or dressings can be served on the side
- Ask what comes with the meal
- Choose substitutions when the restaurant allows them
- Use your usual method for estimating carbohydrates
- Monitor your glucose according to the plan you’ve made with your diabetes-care team
Don’t Forget About Drinks
Sweetened drinks, juices, specialty coffees and other beverages can contain a surprising amount of carbohydrate without being particularly easy to estimate.
You don’t need to avoid them simply because you’re traveling with diabetes, but don’t forget to account for what you’re drinking along with what you’re eating.
Look for Customizable Meals
Prague has plenty of restaurants where meals are fairly easy to understand and adjust. Grilled meats, fish, salads, vegetables and simple side dishes are widely available, even if you also plan to try traditional Czech meals while you’re there.
If having some control over your meal makes things easier, look for restaurants where the components are served separately rather than mixed into one dish.
Useful requests might include:
- Grilled fish or meat without breading
- Sauce or dressing on the side
- Vegetables or salad instead of one of the usual sides
- A different side dish
- No sweetened glaze or sauce
Not every restaurant will make every substitution, especially when it’s busy. Looking at the menu before you go can make choosing a restaurant much easier.
Prague Foods You'll See on Menus
Prague has plenty of traditional Czech food alongside international restaurants and more modern cafés. If you’re estimating carbohydrates or simply trying to understand what you’re ordering, it helps to recognize a few things you’ll see repeatedly on menus.
Knedlíky (dumplings) — One of the most common Czech side dishes. You’ll see both bread dumplings and potato dumplings, often served with meat and sauce.
Brambory (potatoes) — Potatoes show up in all kinds of forms, including boiled, roasted, mashed and fried.
Guláš (goulash) — Czech goulash is typically a meat-based stew served with bread dumplings. The sauce and dumplings can make the carbohydrate content harder to estimate than the meat alone.
Svíčková — Beef served with a creamy vegetable sauce, usually accompanied by bread dumplings. It’s also commonly served with cranberry sauce and sometimes whipped cream.
Řízek (schnitzel) — Breaded and fried meat, usually pork or chicken, commonly served with potatoes or potato salad.
Polévka (soup) — Soup is common on Czech menus, but ingredients vary considerably. You’ll find everything from broth-based soups to thicker potato, vegetable and cream-based versions.
Don’t Assume Sightseeing Will Go Exactly as Planned
Prague is the kind of city where a day can get away from you. You stop at one more church, walk across the Charles Bridge, realize Prague Castle takes longer than you expected, or end up on the other side of the city when you thought you’d already be sitting down for lunch.
If meal timing matters for managing your diabetes, I wouldn’t depend on being able to grab something quickly wherever you happen to be.
Carry whatever fast-acting carbohydrate and snacks you normally use or that your diabetes-care team recommends.
This is especially worth thinking about when you’re:
- Touring Prague Castle
- Spending several hours exploring Old Town
- Walking between neighborhoods
- Taking a day trip outside Prague
- Waiting for a tour or transportation
- Spending a full day sightseeing without returning to your hotel
My approach would be simple: bring what you know works for you. Prague has cafés, restaurants and small markets everywhere, but that doesn’t mean the thing you need will be right beside you at the exact moment you need it.
Grocery Stores Can Make Managing Diabetes Easier
Even if you plan to eat most of your meals at restaurants, having a few familiar foods in your room can make traveling with diabetes a lot easier.
Water, snacks, fruit, cheese, yogurt, breakfast foods or whatever you normally keep around can be especially useful before an early tour, during a long sightseeing day or when dinner ends up happening later than expected.
One nice thing about Prague is that you usually won’t have to go far to find groceries. Small supermarkets and convenience-style grocery stores are scattered throughout the city, including in the areas where most visitors stay.
You’ll see chains like Albert, BILLA, Lidl and Tesco, along with smaller neighborhood markets. So I wouldn’t feel like I needed to do a huge grocery run when I arrived. I’d find the closest store to my hotel and pick up the few things I know I’ll actually use.
My Practical Advice
Don’t wait until you need a specific food to figure out where you’re going to buy it.
If there are foods or drinks you routinely rely on while managing your diabetes, I’d pick them up early in the trip. Prague has plenty of grocery stores, but the small market closest to your hotel may not carry the exact brand or product you’re used to.
Traveling With a CGM or Insulin Pump
Choosing a Prague Hotel When Traveling with Diabetes
A continuous glucose monitor or insulin pump can make diabetes management easier while traveling, but it also adds another layer of planning—especially when you’re traveling internationally.
Replacement sensors, infusion sets, transmitters, cartridges, chargers and other device-specific supplies may not be easy to replace in Prague, even if your particular brand is available somewhere in the Czech Republic.
I would bring more supplies than you expect to use and have a backup plan in place before you leave home. If something fails, comes loose during a long sightseeing day or is accidentally damaged, you don’t want your vacation to depend on finding the exact replacement part locally.
Pack Device-Specific Backup Supplies
Depending on your equipment, your travel kit may include:
- Extra CGM sensors
- Backup transmitter, if applicable
- Extra infusion sets
- Extra reservoirs or cartridges
- Insertion devices
- Pump batteries
- Charging cables and adapters
- Adhesive patches
- Skin-preparation products
- Blood glucose meter
- Test strips and lancets
- Ketone-testing supplies
- Backup insulin-delivery supplies prescribed by your care team
Do not place all of your device supplies in checked luggage.
Contact the Manufacturer Before Traveling
Before leaving home, check with your CGM or insulin-pump manufacturer about international travel and what support may be available in the Czech Republic.
It’s worth knowing:
- Whether your exact device is supported in the Czech Republic
- Whether there is a customer-service number you can call from the Czech Republic
- What to do if a sensor, transmitter, pump or other component fails
- Whether emergency replacement supplies can be shipped or obtained locally
- How your particular device should be handled during airport security screening
- Whether changing time zones affects any device settings or app functions
Save the manufacturer’s international support number in your phone before you leave.
Prepare for Airport Screening
Tell the security officer that you are wearing an insulin pump, CGM, or another medical device before screening begins.
Screening recommendations vary by manufacturer and device. Some manufacturers advise against particular scanners or X-ray equipment. Follow the instructions for your exact model rather than relying on general advice from another traveler.
If you are departing from the United States, TSA states that travelers can inform the officer about attached medical devices and request alternative screening when appropriate. Contact TSA Cares at least 72 hours before departure if you would like additional assistance navigating the screening process.
Remember that security procedures for your return flight from Prague may differ from TSA procedures in the United States. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific CGM or insulin pump, and keep those instructions accessible while traveling.
Plan for Charging in Prague
The Czech Republic uses Type E electrical outlets and a 230-volt, 50 Hz electrical system, so travelers from the United States will need a plug adapter for most U.S. chargers.
Before plugging in your CGM receiver, insulin-pump charger or other medical equipment, check the device or power adapter to make sure it is rated for 230 volts. Many modern chargers accept 100–240V and only need a plug adapter, but don’t assume yours does.
If you depend on a rechargeable device, I’d also bring the charging cable in your carry-on and pack a backup cable if you have one. This is not something I’d want to discover I forgot after arriving in Prague.
Keep Your Phone Connected
Some CGMs rely on a smartphone app, Bluetooth connection, cloud service or data sharing with family members. International travel can affect cellular service, app availability and cloud-based features, so know what functions of your system will continue working if your phone temporarily doesn’t have internet access.
Before traveling:
- Update essential apps before leaving home
- Confirm your login credentials
- Download any available offline information
- Check whether the app is supported internationally
- Arrange international phone service or install an eSIM
- Make sure companions know how to access shared glucose information
- Keep a portable phone charger with you
Bluetooth readings may continue without cellular service on some systems, while sharing and cloud features may require internet access. Confirm how your exact system behaves when the phone is offline.
Have a Written Backup Plan
Before traveling, ask your diabetes-care team what you should do if your usual technology isn’t available.
That might include a pump malfunction, failed CGM sensor, lost phone, damaged charger or another situation that prevents you from using your normal system.
Write the plan down and keep it with your medical information. An international trip is not where I’d want to figure this out for the first time.
Diabetes Walking & Weather
Prague involves a lot of walking. Between cobblestone streets, hills, public transportation and long sightseeing days, you may be away from your hotel for hours at a time.
If you wear a CGM or insulin pump, think about what you’ll need to keep your device working comfortably throughout the day. Heat and sweat can be an issue in summer, while cold temperatures and layers of clothing add a different challenge in winter.
Before traveling, check the manufacturer’s recommendations for your specific device, including acceptable operating temperatures and anything that could affect the sensor, pump or adhesive.
If you normally use an approved overpatch or other adhesive product with your device, bring extras. I’d also carry whatever backup monitoring or insulin-delivery supplies your diabetes-care team recommends rather than leaving everything back at the hotel.
Prague is one of those cities where you can easily walk much farther than you planned. I wouldn’t head out for a full day of sightseeing without the diabetes supplies I might need if plans change or I don’t get back to the hotel when expected.
Choosing A Hotel in Prague
Where you stay in Prague can make managing diabetes easier—or add complications you really don’t need on vacation.
For this guide, I wouldn’t choose a hotel based only on the room or how close it is to the major sights. I’d also want to know what kind of refrigeration is available, how close I am to a pharmacy or grocery store, what food options are nearby and how easy it would be to reach medical care if I needed it.
Location matters in Prague for another reason: you’re probably going to walk a lot. Staying somewhere central can make it easier to return to the hotel during the day if you need medication, supplies, food or simply a break.
That doesn’t mean you need to stay directly on Old Town Square. In fact, I’d rather be somewhere convenient without being in the absolute busiest part of the city. The goal is to have pharmacies, food, transportation and the things you may need within easy reach.
Instead of just comparing location, rooms and amenities, I wanted to know what would actually matter if you were traveling with diabetes.
That means refrigeration, access to food, nearby pharmacies and how easy it would be to get what you need without spending half your vacation tracking it down.
Prague Hotels: Refrigeration, Pharmacies & Food Nearby
| Hotel/ Check Availability | Refrigerator | Nearby Essentials | On-site Dining/food options |
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Minibar listed in rooms. Do not assume it maintains medication-safe temperatures; confirm insulin refrigeration directly with hotel. |
Fragnerova pharmacy Black Eagle on Malostranské náměstí, ~ 5 min walk. Bio Market Vacek is next door on Mostecká for groceries. |
Restaurant Pod Věží + Café Crêperie Pod Věží. Restaurant and café are both operated by the hotel. |
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Refrigerated private bar listed. Still confirm temperature requirements and medication storage with hotel before arrival. |
Groceries are available around the Staroměstská/Old Town area; for after-hours pharmacy needs, Lékárna Na Františku is the useful 24-hour option to know. |
CottoCrudo + 24-hour in-room dining. |
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Minibar listed. Confirm separately whether medication refrigeration can be provided and where it would be stored. |
Fragnerova pharmacy Black Eagle is downhill toward Malostranské náměstí, ~5–10 min. Bio Market Vacek is farther down toward Charles Bridge for groceries. |
Terasa U Zlaté studně is the hotel’s on-site restaurant, serving à la carte and tasting menus. |
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Minibar listed in all main room categories. Confirm whether it is suitable for medication or whether separate refrigeration can be arranged. |
BENU Lékárna Praha 1, Quadrio and Delmart at Quadrio are useful nearby pharmacy/grocery options, ~7–10 min walk |
Café Mosaic serves food and drinks throughout the day; the hotel also has an on-site restaurant. |
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Minibar listed. Confirm medication refrigeration directly with the hotel rather than relying on the minibar. |
Fragnerova pharmacy Black Eagle is only a few minutes away around Malostranské náměstí. Bio Market Vacek is roughly 7–10 min walk for groceries. |
Augustine Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner; additional hotel bar options are available. |
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Minibar listed. Confirm medication refrigeration directly with hotel. |
LÉKÁRNA ipc Palladium is directly across Republic Square inside Palladium; Billa on V Celnici is also only a few minutes away. |
ADELE Restaurant & Bar is on-site and open daily. |
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No in-room refrigerator confirmed. Contact the hotel before booking if medication requires refrigeration. |
Dr. Max Lékárna is on Na Poříčí, and an Albert supermarket is in the Florentinum complex. |
Breakfast + One Lounge/bar. No full-service in-room restaurant setup. |
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Minibar listed in rooms. Confirm medication refrigeration directly with the hotel. |
Fragnerova Pharmacy Black Eagle on Malostranské náměstí ~ 3–5-minute walk. Bio Market Vacek on Mostecká is a convenient nearby option for groceries. |
Hot and cold buffet breakfast is served daily. The hotel also has a lobby bar, and numerous restaurants and cafés are within a short walk. |
Important: A hotel minibar is not automatically suitable for storing insulin. If your medication requires refrigeration, contact the hotel directly before booking to confirm that it can maintain the temperature required for your specific medication.
Frequently Asked Questions About Traveling to Prague With Diabetes
Can I bring insulin and diabetes medication into the Czech Republic?
Yes. Travelers can bring medication into the Czech Republic for personal use in an amount appropriate for their trip. I’d keep medications in their original labeled packaging when possible and carry copies of prescriptions or a letter from your healthcare provider explaining what you take and why.
If you take any controlled medications in addition to your diabetes medications, check the Czech Republic’s current requirements before traveling.
Can I bring insulin through airport security?
Yes. You can travel with insulin and diabetes supplies. If you’re departing from the United States, TSA allows medically necessary liquids and diabetes supplies through security, although additional screening may be required.
Keep insulin and essential diabetes supplies in your carry-on rather than checked luggage, and check the manufacturer’s travel instructions for your specific CGM or insulin pump.
Can I buy insulin in Prague?
Insulin is available in the Czech Republic, but don’t assume you’ll be able to walk into a Prague pharmacy and replace the exact insulin you use at home. Brand names, formulations, concentrations and prescription requirements can differ.
If you lose insulin while traveling, contact your diabetes-care team, travel-insurance assistance service and a local pharmacist or doctor rather than trying to choose a substitute yourself.
Are there pharmacies in Prague?
Yes. Pharmacies, called lékárny, are common throughout Prague. You’ll find them in central tourist areas, shopping centers and residential neighborhoods.
There are also pharmacies providing after-hours service. One particularly useful option for travelers staying near Old Town is Lékárna Na Františku, which operates 24 hours a day.
What should I do if I lose my diabetes medication or supplies in Prague?
If it isn’t a medical emergency, contact your diabetes-care team and travel-insurance assistance service first. Have your medication list, prescription information and the generic or active-ingredient names of your medications available.
A Prague pharmacist can then help determine what’s available locally and whether you’ll need to see a Czech doctor for a prescription.
If you’re seriously ill or cannot safely manage your diabetes, seek medical care rather than spending time trying to replace supplies yourself. Call 155 for an ambulance or 112 for emergency assistance.
Can I replace a Dexcom, FreeStyle Libre or insulin-pump supply in Prague?
Possibly, but I would never plan a trip assuming you’ll be able to replace a specific device component locally.
Availability varies by manufacturer and product, and a pharmacy may not stock your exact sensor, transmitter, infusion set or other proprietary supply. Bring more device-specific supplies than you expect to use and carry a backup monitoring plan recommended by your diabetes-care team.
Do Prague hotels have refrigerators for insulin?
Some Prague hotels have minibars or refrigerators, but a minibar isn’t automatically appropriate for insulin storage. It may not maintain the temperature required for your medication.
If your insulin needs refrigeration, contact the hotel directly before booking. Explain that you need refrigeration for medication and ask specifically how it will be stored and accessed.
Is Prague easy to visit with diabetes?
Prague has several things working in its favor: pharmacies are plentiful, major hospitals are available, public transportation is good and grocery stores and restaurants are easy to find in the central neighborhoods.
The bigger consideration is how much walking you’re likely to do. Cobblestones, hills and long sightseeing days can add up quickly. Carry the medication, monitoring supplies, fast-acting carbohydrate and other diabetes supplies you normally need rather than assuming you’ll return to the hotel exactly when planned.
What number should I call for a medical emergency in Prague?
Call 155 for emergency medical services in the Czech Republic. You can also call 112, the general European emergency number.
I’d save both numbers in your phone before leaving home.
Final Thoughts on Traveling to Prague With Diabetes
Traveling to Prague with diabetes doesn’t require planning for every possible thing that could go wrong. It just means answering a few extra questions before you leave home.
Where will you store your insulin? What’s the closest pharmacy to your hotel? What will you do if a CGM sensor fails? Who do you call if you need medical care?
Once those things are figured out, Prague is a pretty manageable city for travelers with diabetes. Pharmacies and grocery stores are easy to find, there are major hospitals if you need them, and you’ll have plenty of choices when it comes to food.
The one thing I probably wouldn’t underestimate is how much walking you’ll do. Prague is compact, but cobblestones, hills and those “it’s only ten minutes away” walks have a way of adding up.
Bring more medication and supplies than you think you’ll need. Keep the important stuff in your carry-on. Save your emergency information to your phone. And have a backup plan for the things you absolutely depend on.
Then go enjoy Prague.
Diabetes gets a little extra space in the suitcase. It doesn’t need to take over the trip.