How do you get to Prague?
Getting There6.6/10Easier to reach than about 60% of cities
- Main airport
- Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG)
Good to know
Good to Know
- Always buy a ticket before boarding any public transport. Failure to validate results in large fines (CZK 1,500+). Plainclothes inspectors operate on buses and trams.
- Download the PID Lítačka app (free, English available) before arriving to buy tickets, check real-time departures, and plan routes offline.
- The 24-hour or 72-hour pass offers genuine value and peace of mind if you'll use public transit multiple times daily.
- Prague's metro operates 5 AM–midnight daily; night trams (91–99) and buses (901–915) run midnight–5 AM on 30-minute intervals.
- Trolleybus 59 or Bus 119 + Metro Line A is the gold standard for airport arrivals—fast, cheap (40 CZK), and direct to the city center.
- Don't assume you can buy tickets on buses; machines on most stops don't work reliably. Buy in advance at metro stations or via app.
- Taxis at the airport and on the street have a poor reputation for overcharging tourists. Use Uber, Bolt, or pre-arranged transfers instead.
- Prague has no direct train or metro link to the airport; the bus-to-metro combination is the most reliable public option.
- The metro closes at midnight. Plan night journeys using night trams or night buses; miss one and you wait 30 minutes for the next.
- Many day-trip destinations (Karlštejn, Kutná Hora, Olomouc) are easily reachable by direct train in 1–2.5 hours, making independent travel straightforward.
- Luggage larger than a standard day pack requires a ticket (20 CZK); standard carry-on sizes are free.
Airport
- Name
- Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG)
- Location
- 17 km west of city center
- Distance To Center
- 17 km (11 miles)
- Driving Time Normal
- 25–40 minutes
- Public Transport Time
- 30–40 minutes
Terminals
Terminal 1
- Handles
- Non-Schengen flights (UK, USA, Canada, non-EU destinations)
Terminal 2
- Handles
- Schengen Area flights (most EU countries)
Luggage
- Bike Storage
- Metro, ferries, Petřín cable car, and selected tram sections at specified times
- Small Luggage
- Free if max 25×45×70 cm
Oversized Luggage
- Cost
- CZK 20
- Notes
- Single ticket for luggage larger than 25×45×70 cm; valid 180 minutes max
Tickets
Single 90-minute Ticket
- Cost
- CZK 40
- Notes
- Valid for 1 journey with unlimited transfers within 90 minutes on all PID services (except Airport Express)
Single 30-minute Ticket
- Cost
- CZK 30
24-hour Pass
- Cost
- CZK 120
- Notes
- Unlimited travel for 24 hours from validation; best value for most visitors
72-hour Pass
- Cost
- CZK 330
- Notes
- Unlimited travel for 72 hours; includes Petřín funicular
Airport To City Transport
35–40 Minutes to City Center
- Frequency
- Every 5–10 minutes
- Ticket Cost
- CZK 40
- Notes
- Runs early morning until midnight. Single 90-minute ticket covers both bus and metro. Purchase at yellow machines or via PID Lítačka app before boarding.
~35–40 Minutes
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Ticket Cost
- CZK 100
- Notes
- Direct to Hlavní nádraží (main train station). Often crowded. Tickets only from visitor centers or bus driver (higher surcharge if purchased on board).
~45 Minutes
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Ticket Cost
- CZK 40
- Notes
- Runs midnight–5 AM. Same ticket as daytime public transport.
25–40 Minutes Depending on Traffic
- Ticket Cost
- CZK 600
- Notes
- Typical fare 600–800 CZK. Uber/Bolt usually 20–30% cheaper than licensed taxis. Always confirm price or use app. Avoid unmarked taxis at terminal.
Direct to Hotel
- Ticket Cost
- CZK 425
- Notes
- Approximately €17 per person. Mid-range between private car and public transport.
Day Trips By Public Transit
Kutná Hora (Bone Church, Medieval Town)
- Distance
- ~60 km east
- Transport
- Direct train from Main Station or bus
- Highlights
- Sedlec Ossuary (40,000 bones), Czech Museum of Silver, Gothic Cathedral
- Travel Time
- 1 hour direct train or bus
Karlštejn Castle
- Distance
- ~32 km southwest
- Transport
- Train from Main Station (direction Beroun); up to 90 min depending on connections
- Highlights
- 13th-century castle, hiking trails, Velká Amerika quarry lake
- Travel Time
- 40 minutes by train
Terezín (WWII Memorial)
- Distance
- ~60 km north
- Transport
- Bus from Holešovice metro station (Line C) or 1-hour drive
- Highlights
- Historic Jewish ghetto, sobering memorial
- Travel Time
- ~90 minutes by bus
ČEská Kníhovna (Kutná Hora Region)
- Distance
- ~50 km
- Transport
- Train or bus
- Highlights
- Mining heritage, bone church
- Travel Time
- ~1.5–2 hours
ČEský Krumlov (Picturesque Medieval Town)
- Distance
- ~180 km south
- Transport
- Train or bus; best as overnight trip
- Highlights
- Castle, historic center, UNESCO charm
- Travel Time
- 5–6 hours round trip
Konopiště Chateau (Archduke Franz Ferdinand Residence)
- Distance
- ~40 km southeast
- Transport
- Train or bus; easily reached
- Highlights
- 20th-century royal residence, guided tours
- Travel Time
- ~1 hour by train/bus
Olomouc (Eastern Bohemian City)
- Distance
- ~250 km east
- Transport
- Regular trains from Main Station
- Highlights
- Holy Trinity Column, baroque fountains, astronomical clock
- Travel Time
- 2–2.5 hours by train
Divoká ŠáRka (Nature Reserve Hiking)
- Distance
- In Prague, north side
- Transport
- Metro A (green) to Nádraží Veleslavín, then tram 20 or 26 to terminus
- Highlights
- Rocky cliffs, forests, natural spring, beer garden
- Travel Time
- ~40 minutes by metro + tram
Intercity Buses
- Operators
- FlixBus, RegioJet, other regional services
- Main Station
- Florenc Bus Station (Nádraží Florenc)
- Metro Access
- Line B and C
Connections
- Brno (Czech Republic)
- Ostrava (Czech Republic)
- Plzeň (Czech Republic)
- Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic)
- Vienna (Austria)
- Other European destinations
Dogs
Free on public transport (except PID trains and Airport Express) if on short leash and muzzle; no crate required
Buses
- Day Lines
- 118
- Night Lines
- 15
- Peak Frequency
- 6–8 minutes
- Night Frequency
- 30–60 minutes
- Off Peak Frequency
- 15–30 minutes
Metro
- Lines
- A (green), B (yellow), C (red)
- Length
- 65.2 km
- Stations
- 61
- Night Service
- Replaced by night trams (91–99) and night buses (901–915) every 30–60 minutes, midnight–5 AM
- Peak Frequency
- 2–4 minutes
- Operating Hours
- 5 AM – 12 AM daily
- Off Peak Frequency
- 10 minutes max
Trams
- Lines
- 34
- Backbone Lines
- 9, 17, 22 (run every 4–5 minutes peak, 5–10 min off-peak)
- Night Frequency
- 30 minutes (midnight–5 AM)
- Other Lines Frequency
- 8–10 minutes peak, 10–20 minutes off-peak
- Notes
- Most popular surface transport; over 1 million riders daily.
Operator
Prague Public Transit Company (DPP)
Components
Components
- Metro (3 lines: A green, B yellow, C red)
- Trams (34 regular lines)
- City buses
- Trolleybuses
- Commuter trains
- Funicular to Petřín (currently out of service until 2026)
- Ferries on Vltava River
Public Transit System
Prague Integrated Transport (PID)
Rail Connections
- Address
- Wilsonova 300/8, Vinohrady, Prague 2
- Booking
- Use Můj vlak app (free, English available) to check connections, prices, and book tickets; show QR code on phone to inspectors
- Platforms
- 9
- Daily Trains
- 610
- Main Station
- Praha Hlavní nádraží (Main Train Station)
- Metro Access
- Line C (red) at Hlavní nádraží stop
- Ticket Payment
- Czech koruna or EUR accepted; card payment available
- Operation Hours
- 3:30 AM – 1:15 AM
Secondary Stations
- Praha-Holešovice (northern hub; trains to Berlin, Dresden)
- Masarykovo nádraží (regional services)
- Praha-Smíchov (commuter/regional traffic)
International Destinations
- Vienna, Austria
- Munich, Germany
- Berlin, Germany
- Warsaw, Poland
- Krakow, Poland
- Budapest, Hungary
- Bratislava, Slovakia
- Salzburg, Austria
- Other European capitals
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.