Moving around Prague can be a problem, especially if you don't speak Czech. Lucky for you, while much of the western world has been busy with car addiction and building freeways, many European cities are aiming to develop walking, cycling and mass transit.
A city like Prague is affordable and easy to get around. Millions of tourists visit the Czech capital every year and this requires a well-built interchange. In addition, all routes in the city are duplicated in English. However, there are some nuances that you should be aware of.
To help you navigate this city with ease, this article will provide detailed information on public transport in Prague. You will learn everything you need - from buying tickets and reading municipal cards to transfers at Prague airport. It will also indicate the price of travel and interesting objects that you can visit on a trip around the capital.
Tickets for municipal transport
The route network is quite large. Therefore, immediately upon arrival, it is necessary to have an idea about the means of transportation. Despite the fact that the city is very popular, there are places in Prague that are better reached by public transport. In this case, you will need to purchase a municipal travel ticket. It should be noted that public transport in Prague is comfortable and modern. It has air conditioning and free wi-fi.
For one trip, it is recommended to buy one short-term ticket. You can choose between a 30-minute or 90-minute pass, depending on the length of your trip. Once your ticket has been validated, you have unlimited transfers between any form of public transport, including the metro system and all city trams and buses. Such coupons are also valid for night trams and buses, as well as for the funicular that goes to Petřín.
Tickets are sold at yellow vending machines and information windows located at all metro stations. Older machines accept only Czech coins (crowns), while coupons with newer devices are paid by cards. Tickets can also be purchased at most tobacco shops, some supermarkets and tourist information centers throughout the city.
It is worth noting that all children under the age of 6 and people over 70 can ride for free. The fare in Prague by public transport is not high. As tourists themselves note, travel here is one of the cheapest in Europe.
30-minute tickets:
- Adults - 24crowns (70 rubles).
- Children - from 6-15 years old 12 kroons (35 rubles).
90-minute tickets:
- Adults - 32 crowns (90 rubles).
- Children - from 6-15 16 kroons (48 rubles).
Short-term tourist routes
Public transport in Prague allows vacationers to enjoy the views of the city. In addition to short-term tickets, 24-hour and 72-hour travel passes are also available for purchase. Depending on the length of your stay, this may be the most beneficial option.
Pass passes are valid for 24 and 72 hours from the date of confirmation and are accepted on all city trams, buses and metros. The passes are sold at pavilions located at some major bus stops and at tourist information centres.
Ticket offices are located at the following metro stations:
- Deyvitskaya.
- Gradchanskaya.
- Mustek.
- Florenz.
- Main Nadraji.
- Nadrazhi Holesovice.
Most of them are open from 6:30 to 18:30.
24-hour pass:
- Adults - 110 crowns (310 rubles).
- Children - 6-15 years old and seniors 60-65 years old 55 kroons (240 rubles)
The 72-hour pass for everyone costs 310 kroons or 450 rubles.
Long Term Stamps
If you plan to stay in Prague for one month or longer, monthly, quarterly, 5-monthly and annual travel cards with a photo are issued. Long-term passes can be purchased at ticket offices and tourist information centres. ATThere are no conductors in public transport in Prague. Therefore, the necessary ticket must be purchased in advance.
Travel fees:
- Monthly - 550 crowns (850 rubles).
- Quarterly - 1,480 crowns (3,700 rubles).
- For 5 months - 2450 kroons (6500 rubles).
- Annual - 4750 crowns (12.5 thousand rubles).
Fare in Prague by public transport is carried out according to the coupon immediately, at the entrance. It must be passed through the yellow registrar. It is located at the entrance to the transport.
Checking tickets
Better play it safe and not drive without travel vouchers. Ticket inspectors regularly check passengers on the subway, as well as on trams and buses. If you are caught without a valid ticket, you will be issued a fine of up to 1,500 kroons (4,000 rubles) or 800 kroons (2,200 rubles) if you pay it on the spot.
All coupons must be confirmed by a stamp, which is placed when punching a check in a yellow machine in transport. On the metro, you will find them right in front of the escalators, while on buses and trams, they are located on poles near the doors. Again, after putting a mark, such a ticket will be valid when traveling after, in any other municipal transport.
City car park action at night
Public transport modes in Prague are divided into day and night. The first subway trips can be made starting at 4:45 am. Stations are open until midnight. If you are traveling after 12 midnight, you will need to use one of the night trams or buses. Nighttrams (numbers 51 - 58) run from 12:30 to 4:30 with an interval of 40 minutes.
Their routes are much longer than the daily ones, and it can take a long time to get to the right place. Night bus (numbers 501-513), runs after midnight until 4:30 with an interval of up to 60 minutes.
Etiquette and travel rules
As far as what you can and can't do on public transport, the rules are pretty standard. You can not smoke, carry weapons, eat in trams and buses. Dogs are allowed on all modes of transport, but must be muzzled.
You may notice that the elderly, disabled and pregnant women always have an advantage when it comes to seating. It is considered extremely rude not to give up your seat, and the locals will point you out.
Metro in the city
Built in 1974, the Prague Metro carries about 1.6 million passengers a day and is the fifth busiest underground system in Europe. It consists of three lines, and the construction of the fourth line only started in 2019. Not to mention that it is fast, clean, safe and the interchange allows you to get to any point in the capital. If you are interested in the question of how much the metro in Prague costs, then at the beginning of the article the prices for all types of travel cards are indicated. They are universal and suitable for travel on any municipal transport.
Line A (Green) runs from east to west from Hostivar Depot to Nemotsnice Motol. It currently has 17 stations. This is the line bywhich you can go to the airport named after Vaclav Havel and back. Unfortunately, for the current year 2019, such a route is still only available by bus transfer, but plans to expand Line A are in the works. It plans to open a direct route to the airport by metro by the end of 2020.
Line B (yellow) runs east-west from Black Bridge to Zlichin and is the longest of the three lines with 24 stations.
Line C (red) runs north-south from Letňany to the city limits and is the oldest line. It has 20 stations.
Passengers can move between metro lines at the following three stations:
- Mustek (lines A and B).
- Museum (lines A and C).
- Florenz (lines B and C).
During rush hour, trains arrive every 1-3 minutes. During non-working hours and on weekends, trains arrive at intervals of 4-10 minutes.
How to read a subway map
To help you navigate the metro system, all stations have a large map in the center between both platforms. Your current stop will always be highlighted, as well as clearly marked places where you can change to another line.
If you are looking at a map, first find your current station. Then find the destination station. If it is to the right of your current location, take the train from the platform to your right. If the terminus is to the left of your current location, take the train from the platform on your left.
For a more complete overview of the entire subway system, check out the large scale,a glazed map located in the center of each stop.
When you enter the car, you will see a similar map above each door, which shows the lines and stations. There are even some helpful images showing stops at popular landmarks like Prague Castle and Old Town Square. Announcements about where the train is staying are made at each station.
Trams
Prague chain is the third largest in the world after Moscow and Budapest, and one of the oldest in Europe. In fact, the very first wagons were drawn by horses and date back to 1879. Today, the extensive network consists of 25 day routes, 9 night routes and one historical route. It stretches over 500 km and carries over 300 million passengers a year.
Most of Prague's trams run every day from 4:30 am to midnight with an interval of up to 10 minutes, while some run only at certain times, such as weekdays or peak hours. Night trains (numbers 51 - 58) run from 12:30 to 4:30 with an interval of 40 minutes.
One of the great benefits of riding a tram is that you get to see a lot more of the city's buildings. It is also one of the fastest ways to get around Prague. Before riding the tram, you will need to buy a public transport ticket in advance. Yellow test machines are located inside each vehicle on supports near the doors.
How to read Prague tram timetables
A table of wagon numbers is displayed at all stops andtheir accompanying schedule. First, find the required number on the map. Next, you will see a list of all stops along this route. The current station will be highlighted and underlined. Under the current stop is a list of the remaining ones. If you are above the current station, you are going in the wrong direction.
To the right of the stops is a schedule with departure times. The first row is the schedule for weekdays (pracovní den), the second for Saturday (sobota) and the third for Sunday (neděle).
The tram will display upcoming stops on a digital screen. Each time a tram approaches a station, two names are announced. The first is the name of the current stop. Second, this is the name of the next one.
Key tram routes in the city
The roads of Prague pass through many historical places. Trams run slowly. This allows tourists to enjoy the views of the capital.
Top Vacation Destinations:
- Tram routes 22 and 23 are the most scenic in Prague.
- Directions 22 and 23 pass by the National Theatre, Staromestska and Malostranska metro stations and on to Prague Castle.
- Route 16 crosses the river from Andel through Karlovo namesti, Namesti Mira and through the Vinohrady region.
- Route 17 runs from Visegrad to Letna Park.
- Route No. 9 passes through the whole city through Wenceslas Square to the Small Town (Mala Strana).
Historic Route 91 is a vintage tram from the 1920s that runs from March to midnovember. It departs from the stop Vozovna Střešovice every hour from noon to 17:30 and passes through the city center. Tickets cost 35 kr for adults and 20 kr for children under 15.
Buses. Nuances
The first regular bus service started in 1925. Since then, the network has expanded to cover the outskirts of Prague and areas inaccessible by tram or metro. From 4:20 am to midnight, daytime buses run at intervals of 6-8 minutes during peak hours and from 10-20 minutes during non-peak hours.
On weekends, buses arrive every 15-30 minutes. Night buses (numbers 501-513) run from midnight to 4:30 with an interval of 30 to 60 minutes. As with the tram, the timetable is displayed at each stop and reads the same.
Key bus routes
Bus 119 connects Prague's Václav Havel Airport with Nadrazi Veleslavin station (metro line A, Green).
Currently, this is the only public transport that directly links the airport and the city center. Bus transportation in this direction will be the best solution if you need to quickly and inexpensively get to the city.
How to get from the airport to the city center
If you are visiting Prague, most likely your first stop is the Vaclav Havel Airport (Vaclav Havel Letishte). Ruzyne International Airport, located about 12 km west of the city center and consists of two main passenger terminals:
- Terminal 1 (flights outside the Schengen area).
- Terminal 2 (flights within the Schengen area).
Although there are several ways to get from the airport to the city center and back, many tourists advise using the public transport system. Prague bus stations are located near the city center. This is the fastest and cheapest way to get to the desired area. Below are options for how else you can get into the city.
Taxi or Uber from city to airport
Private transportation is also not inferior in popularity. The cost of a taxi from the airport to the city center will cost you about 25 euros (1500 rubles) and take 30-45 minutes, depending on traffic. For a slightly cheaper option, Uber will be priced between 15 and 20 euros.
The average cost of a taxi in the city will be around 10 euros (700 rubles). During rush hour, it is better to use public transport. The Prague taxi is heavily loaded. There are very few drivers during the summer and winter seasons, and they are constantly busy due to the influx of tourists.
Airport shuttle
Prague airport or bus station shuttle offers a relatively cheap public service to the city centre. This service is available at both terminals and is only available upon reservation. It costs about 6 euros per person (450 rubles), and each passenger is allowed two standard pieces of luggage.
Final stop at Národní 40, next to the Premiant Tour kiosk. It is within walking distance of Wenceslas Square and next to metro lines A (green) and B (yellow) whichavailable through Můstek entrance.
Public transport to the airport
Regular public transport is the fastest and cheapest way to get to the city center. A 90-minute ticket costs 32 kroons (90 rubles) and is valid on all city buses, trams and metro.
Travel machines are located at the bus stop in front of terminal 2 (exit D) and accept Czech coins (crowns) or a bank card. You can also buy your ticket at the Prague public transport kiosk in the arrival hall.
In any case, make sure you buy the 90-minute ticket for 32 kr for adults and 16 kr (48 rubles) for children. This time is enough for the whole trip. Experienced travelers are also advised to grab a free city map from a public transport kiosk in Prague before leaving the arrivals hall.
Bus 119 to the city center leaves every 6 minutes. The first and last bus runs from 4:23 to 23:42, including weekends. Immediately after you have boarded the bus, validate your ticket at one of the yellow machines at the counters near the doors. Once validated, your pass is valid for 90 minutes.
Stay on bus 119 to the final stop at Nádraží Veleslavín (metro line A, Green). This will take about 15 minutes. After that, take your bags and follow to one of the subway entrances. At the platform, wait on the right side of the subway heading towards the city center.
Express bus
This bus is a little more expensive, but more convenient, as it does not require a transfer. Tickets cost 60 kroons (160 rubles) or 30 kroons(80 rubles) for children, they can be purchased at the terminal or from the driver.
The bus runs between the airport and the main railway station in Prague (Praha Hlavni Nadrazi) from 5:30 to 21:00 with an interval of 15 to 30 minutes. The queue is usually short. The schedule may change depending on the season. Tourists recommend checking it immediately at the exit of the railway station or airport.
Funicular
Funiculars are also an integral part of the capital's integrated transport system. These cable cars connect the Újezd tram stop. They began to function again in April 2016 after a long reconstruction.
These vehicles are 50 meters long and move at a speed of 4 m/s. A one-way ticket costs only 24 crowns. The Prague funicular operates from 09:00 to 23:30. It runs every 10 minutes in summer and every 15 minutes in both directions in winter. Transport is part of the metropolitan public transport network, so you can use the same tickets and travel cards that are used on the metro, trams and buses.
Water vehicles
The Prague Integrated Transport System provides several ferries across the Vltava River. Since it almost never freezes over, some ferries operate all year round. This type of transport is used mainly by tourists. Its routes pass through historical and picturesque places.
Usually such crossings are used in order to get toTroja Castle and Prague Zoo. Transport is presented in the form of small covered boats with a capacity of up to 50 people. River channels run throughout the capital. Therefore, the boat is calmer and faster to get to the right place. However, water transport in Prague runs much less frequently, and the number of tourists who want to ride on it is large.
The average price for an adult ticket is 180 kroons, for children 100 kroons. In the city center, where the piers are located, there are also private companies that offer scenic excursions along the rivers of the capital. However, the price of such a route will be several times more expensive.
