The Prague City Council has approved the first step in creating a new Concept for Accessible Public Toilets.

It aims to ensure that residents and visitors can find clean, accessible restrooms across the capital without barriers.

The initiative is being developed by the Institute for Planning and Development (IPR Prague), following research into both local needs and solutions adopted in other major cities.

“We looked into what matters most to Prague residents when it comes to public toilets and how other cities handle the issue,” said Ondřej Boháč, director of IPR Prague. “Accessibility and cleanliness came out as the top priorities.”

According to urban planners, an effective public toilet network would place restrooms within roughly 300 meters of any given point. Currently, only a small portion of the city meets that standard.

For now, shopping centers remain the most popular choice for restroom access, largely due to their maintenance and cleanliness. Yet, there’s a key obstacle: most of these facilities require payment.

That presents difficulties not only for people in financial hardship but also for the growing number of residents who no longer carry cash. To address this, the new concept will explore different operating models — including adapting existing public buildings or partnering with cafés and restaurants to offer restrooms to the public.

Partnering with Restaurants

City officials say constructing new toilets would be costly and time-consuming, as maintenance would then fall entirely on the municipality. Instead, Prague may opt for a collaborative model, partnering with local restaurants and cafés to provide free restroom access in exchange for small incentives or agreements with the city.

“I welcome the idea of working with restaurants to make toilets available free of charge,” said Adam Zábranský, City Councilor for Property, Transparency and Legislation. “But they must be accessible to everyone — including people with disabilities.”

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