Prague Public Transport from A to Z: All You Need to Know!

Prague public transport system is renowned for its efficiency, affordability, and extensive network. It’s very reliable, convenient, and safe.

It was recently ranked as the second-best public transport in the world in a survey by renowned magazine TimeOut.

In this article, we will provide you with all the important information you need – types, tickets, search connections, practical tips, and more…

Overview of Prague Public Transport

• Widespread Coverage: You can get basically anywhere in a relatively short time.
• Cost-Effective: Prague’s public transport is one of the most cost-effective ways of getting around.
• One Ticket for Everything: Tickets are valid on all types of public transport. You can use the metro, trams, and buses all on one ticket (funicular is included only in 24-hour or longer tickets).
• Tourist-Friendly: Information is available in English at most stations, and maps and apps make it easy to navigate the system.
• Clean: Prague’s public transport is known for its cleanliness. Regular maintenance and cleaning of vehicles and stations contribute to a pleasant travel experience for passengers.
• Safe: Prague public transport is safe, even at night. You need to be aware of pickpockets but it’s not as big of a problem as some other cities.
• Night Coverage: Public Transport is great even at night. The metro doesn’t work, but night trams and buses do.

Types of Prague Public Transport

Metro (Subway):

• The Prague Metro is the quickest way to get around the city.
• It consists of three lines: A (green), B (yellow), and C (red), covering most of the city and key tourist attractions.
• Metro stations are well-signposted and easily accessible.

Trams:

• Trams offer a more scenic way to travel and cover areas not accessible by the metro.
• They operate extensively across the city, including several night tram lines.
• Tram stops are conveniently located and provide good access to major sights and neighborhoods.

Buses:

• Buses primarily serve areas where the metro and trams do not reach.
• They are especially useful for reaching suburban areas and during late-night hours when the metro is closed.
• The airport is best accessed by bus.

Funicular (at Petřín Hill):

• The funicular connects the Malá Strana district with Petřín Hill, offering stunning views of the city.
• It’s included in the 24-hour or longer tickets. It’s not included in the basic short-term tickets.

Little Ferries:

• A few ferry services operate on the Vltava River, offering a unique perspective of Prague.
• They operate in places, where there is a larger gap between bridges.
• These services are also covered by the standard public transport ticket.

Prague Metro (Subway)

The Prague Metro is the fastest way to get around Prague. There are 3 metro lines in Prague:

Transfering between lines

Transferring between metro lines in Prague is straightforward and the average transfer time is usually just a few minutes. Clear signage and short walking distances between stations make transferring between lines easy and efficient. The transfer stations are:

• Můstek (for A and B lines).
• Muzeum (for A and C lines).
• Florenc (forb B and C lines).

Metro Operating Hours

• The Prague Metro typically operates from around 5:00 AM to midnight.
• The frequency of metros is approximately 2-5 minutes during peak hours and 5-10 minutes during off-peak hours.

Trams in Prague

Trams in Prague offer not just a means of transportation but also an opportunity to enjoy scenic views of the city. Why are trams a great transportation option?

• Extensive Coverage: Prague’s tram network covers the majority of the city, including areas not served by the metro.
• Frequent Service: Trams run frequently, usually every 8-10 minutes during the day and every 20-30 minutes at night.
• Night Trams: A network of night trams operates after the metro closes, ensuring continuous connectivity.

Notable tram lines for tourists:

• Tram 22: This tram line is particularly famous among tourists as it passes through many major attractions, including the National Theatre, Prague Castle, and Lesser Town (Malostranská).
• Tram 9: Connects the central district with lesser-known charming areas of Prague.
• Historical Tram 41: Operates on weekends and public holidays from April to mid-November. It offers a picturesque route, ideal for sightseeing. This vintage tram offers a unique historical ride through the city.

Buses in Prague

Buses in Prague play a crucial role in the city’s public transport system, especially in areas not served by the metro or trams. Buses are also the best way, to get from Prague Airport to the city center.

Key bus routes for tourists:

• Bus 119: Connects Prague Airport with the Nádraží Veleslavín metro station (Line A). It’s the most common bus route for tourists traveling from the airport to the city center.
• Bus 100: Links the airport to the Zličín metro station (Line B), suitable for destinations in the western part of Prague.
• Airport Express (AE): Direct service to the Main Train Station (Hlavní nádraží), ideal for those with heavy luggage or preferring a direct route. It’s more expensive and is not included in the regular transport ticket.
• Bus routes like 176 and 207 cover areas of central Prague not extensively served by trams or metro.
• Seasonal buses to popular tourist destinations such as Prague Zoo or Troja Castle operate, especially in the summer.

Prague Transport Ticket Types

	Regular		Senior (60-65)		Luggage *
30-Minutes	30 CZK	1.2 EUR	15 CZK	0.6 EUR	20 CZK (0.8 EUR)
90-Minutes	40 CZK	1.6 EUR	20 CZK	0.8 EUR
1-Day (24 hours)	120 CZK	4.8 EUR	60 CZK	2.4 EUR
3-Day (72 hours)	330 CZK	13.2 EUR	–	–
30-Day Pass	550 CZK	22.0 EUR	130 CZK	5.2 EUR
90-Day Pass	1480 CZK	59.1 EUR	360 CZK	14.4 EUR
1-Year Pass	3650 CZK	145.8 EUR	1280 CZK	51.1 EUR

• Juniors (below 15 years old) and Seniors (65+) can ride for free. You just need to provide some sort of ID to prove your age.
• Luggage – if you have large luggage (checked-in), you need to pay an extra ticket for it, which costs 20 CZK (0.8 EUR) and is valid for an unlimited time.
• Transfers – the ticket is valid for unlimited transfers on all metro, train, bus, and ferries.
• Funicular – it’s not included in the 30 and 90-minute tickets. If you plan to use funicular, buy the 1-day or 3-day pass.

How to Buy Prague Transport Tickets?

There are several options for buying public transport tickets:

A) Contactless ticket terminals

• You can find them in all trams, city buses, and metro stations.
• You can pay only with a contactless card.
• You can buy 30-minute, 90-minute, and 1-day passes. (longer passes are not available in these)

B) Ticket vending machines

• Automated ticket vending machines are available at all metro stations and some major tram and bus stops.
• They usually accept coins and banknotes, and some accept credit cards.

C) Official mobile app PID Lítačka

Another convenient way to buy tickets is to download the official mobile app PID Lítačka, which works on both Apple and Android.

• You can buy tickets and find a connection easily in this app.
• Be aware that you need to buy the tickets 2 minutes before entering the tram/bus/metro area (it’s like that to combat cheating).

D) Tobacco Shops/Newsstands

Many small shops and newsstands throughout the city sell public transport tickets.

Ticket Validation, Inspection, and Fines

How to validate my ticket?

All tickets must be validated before use. How to validate them?

• Ticket from the contactless terminal: it’s automatically validated, you don’t need to do anything.
• Ticket from a vending machine or tobacco shop/newsstand: you need to validate it using a yellow validator located in every metro station, all trams, and buses.
  Always validate the ticket only once! If you transfer, don’t validate again!
• Ticket from the mobile app: you need to activate the ticket and then wait 2 minutes before the ticket is valid.

Ticket inspections and fines

Ticket inspectors may check tickets on any form of public transport. If they find you without a valid and validated ticket (or if your ticket runs out of time), they will give you a fine.

If you pay directly or within 15 days.	1000 CZK	39.9 EUR
If you pay later than 15 days.	1500 CZK	59.9 EUR

How to Find Connection?

There are two several ways, how to find connections:

A) Official mobile app PID Lítačka

If you want an app, where you can both find connections and buy tickets, download the official mobile app PID Lítačka, which works on both Apple and Android.

• It’s the most user-friendly, clearly arranged, and easy to use.

B) Google Maps

If you don’t want to download any other mobile app, you can just use Google Maps.

• Just type your destination and switch to the public transport tab.
• It’s easy to use but not that user-friendly.
• You can’t buy tickets.

C) Other mobile apps like Citymapper or Moovit

These also work pretty well, however I prefer the official app PID Lítačka as it’s designed specifically for Prague and is more user-friendly.

• You can’t buy tickets.
• They are full of ads.

How to get from Prague Airport to City Center

Getting from Prague airport to the city center is pretty easy:

A) Public transport bus 119 + metro A

• The most popular and cheapest option (40 CZK / 1.6 EUR).
• It connects Prague Airport with the Nádraží Veleslavín metro station (Line A). From there, you can take the metro to reach the city center.
• The journey from the airport to Nádraží Veleslavín takes about 15-20 minutes, and from there, it’s another 10 minutes by metro to the city center.

B) Public transport bus 100 + metro B

• Convenient if your accommodation is on metro line B. This bus takes you to the Zličín metro station (Line B).
• Cheapest option (40 CZK / 1.6 EUR).
• The journey to Zličín takes approximately 18 minutes, and then it’s about 20 minutes by metro to the city center.

C) Airport Express (AE) Bus

• Convenient if your accommodation is if you want to ride directly to the Main Train Station.
• More expensive (100 CZK / 4.0 EUR).
• The journey from the airport to the Main Train Station takes about 40 minutes.

D) Uber (official taxi service)

• Prague taxi drivers were infamous for scamming tourists, therefore Prague made Uber the official taxi service from the airport to avoid scams.
• You can arrange a ride using the mobile app or using self-service kiosks located in airport terminals.

Prague Public Transport Accessibility

Accessibility in Prague’s public transport system has been improving, with efforts to make the city more accessible to travelers with disabilities or limited mobility.

Metro accessibility

• Elevators and escalators: Most metro stations are equipped with elevators and escalators. However, not all stations are fully accessible, so it’s advisable to check the specific station’s accessibility in advance (currently 46 out of 61 metro stations are wheelchair-friendly).
• Marked platforms: Platforms are marked to indicate where the doors will open, and in some cases, where the accessible doors are located.

Tram accessibility

• Low-floor trams: Prague has been integrating low-floor trams into its fleet, which are more accessible for wheelchair users and those with mobility impairments.
• Designated space: These trams usually have designated spaces for wheelchairs.

Bus accessibility

• Low-floor buses: Most of the city buses are low-floor models, providing easier access for wheelchair users.
• Marked seating: Buses have clearly marked seating for passengers with disabilities.

Accessibility at bus and tram stops

• Curb cuts and ramps: Many bus and tram stops have been modified with curb cuts and ramps to facilitate easier boarding and disembarking for passengers with mobility aids.

Prague Public Transport Practical Tips

Ticket validation (only once!):

• Validate only once: if you transfer, don’t validate again! If you validate twice, the ticket becomes invalid!

Using metro during rush hours:

• The metro can be crowded during peak hours. Ride outside of peak hours if you want a more pleasurable experience.
• Peak hours: weekdays 6:30 AM – 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Safety:

• Prague public transport is considered safe, but like in any major city, keep an eye on your belongings, especially during crowded times.
• It’s safe to use even at night, however, be even more cautious of pick-pocketing.
• Try to not fall asleep on public transport. It’s the most common way, how to get robbed.

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