Getting Around Prague

Prague has one of the best public-transport systems in Europe - cheap, frequent, and integrated - so you will rarely wait long for a metro train or a tram. Here is the simple version that works for almost every visitor, from the airport to the last night tram home.

From the airport

Václav Havel Airport (PRG) is about 17 km west of the centre, and there is no train or metro directly to it - but the bus links are cheap and easy. The smart-value route is bus 119 to Nádraží Veleslavín, then metro line A (green) into the centre, taking around 35-45 minutes for a single transfer ticket (CZK 40). The Airport Express (AE) bus runs to the main train station (Hlavní nádraží) for a flat fare, useful if you are continuing by train. A taxi or pre-booked transfer to the centre runs roughly CZK 500-700; book through a licensed firm or the Bolt or Uber app rather than taking an unmarked car at the rank.

Tickets and passes

Prague uses one integrated network (metro, tram, bus, funicular, and some ferries) run by DPP, with time-based tickets rather than per-journey ones. A 30-minute ticket costs CZK 30 and a 90-minute ticket CZK 40, each valid across unlimited transfers within the time. For sightseeing days, the 24-hour (CZK 120) and 72-hour (CZK 330) passes are better value and let you hop on and off freely. Buy tickets in the PID Lítačka app, from machines, or contactless straight from a card reader on board trams and in metro stations, and validate paper or machine tickets in the yellow validators when you start - plain-clothes inspectors are common and fines are steep.

The metro

The metro has three lines - A (green), B (yellow), and C (red) - that cross the city quickly and connect most arrival points and outer districts; Muzeum and Můstek are the key interchanges by Wenceslas Square. Trains run roughly 05:00 to midnight. It is the fastest way to cover distance, though in the historic core the stations are often no quicker than walking.

Trams

Prague's trams are a joy and a sightseeing ride in their own right. Tram 22 is the famous one, climbing from the centre up to Prague Castle and Malá Strana and saving you the hill, while lines like the 17 trace the riverbank. Trams run all day and, like the metro, use the same tickets; a network of night trams (numbers in the 90s) takes over after midnight, all meeting at Lazarská.

Taxis, ride apps, and the funicular

Street taxis in Prague have a long reputation for overcharging tourists, so use the Bolt or Uber apps, which are widely available and cheaper, or call a licensed firm rather than hailing one. The historic Petřín funicular is part of the transit network (covered by your ticket or pass) and is expected to reopen in summer 2026 after reconstruction. Cycling is less central-friendly than in flatter capitals, given the hills and cobbles.

When to just walk

Within the Old Town, Malá Strana, and across the river between them, walking is almost always best - the distances are short, the cobbled streets are the attraction, and the river crossings are half the pleasure. Save transit for reaching the castle (tram 22), Vyšehrad, and the outer neighbourhoods of Vinohrady, Žižkov, Holešovice, and Karlín.