Public Transportation (Prague)
The best way how to learn the city of Prague and make the most out of your stay is to hire a local professional guide. Should you venture to explore the city by yourself you might find this basic info about the Prague public transportation useful (http://www.dpp.cz/en/).
Tickets & Passes
- For single-use tickets, there are two choices:
- You can ride a maximum of five stations on the metro (not including the station of validation)
- or 20 minutes on a tram or bus, without transfers, for 18Kc ($1.2); children 6 and under ride free, – 6- to 15-year-olds for 9Kc (60¢). This is usually enough for trips in the historic districts.
- Rides of more than five stops on the metro, or longer tram or bus rides, with unlimited transfers for up to 75 minutes (90 min. on Sat, Sun, public holidays, and after 8pm on workdays) after your ticket is validated, cost 26Kc ($1,6).
- See lower for all available fares.
| transferable |
26 CZK |
13 CZK |
| non-transferable |
18 CZK |
9 CZK |
| 24 hr (1 day) |
100 CZK |
50 CZK |
| 72 hr (3 day) |
330 CZK |
allows travel with 1 child aged 6-15 |
| 12 hr (5 day) |
500 CZK |
By Metro
- Metro trains operate daily from 5am to midnight and run every 2 to 6 minutes.
- On the three lettered lines (A, B, and C, color-coded green, yellow, and red, respectively), the most convenient central stations are:
- Mustek, at the foot of Václavské námestí (Wenceslas Sq.); Staromestská, for Old Town Square and Charles Bridge;
- and Malostranská, serving Malá Strana and the Castle District.
- Refer to the metro map for details.
By Electric Tram or Bus
- The 24 electric tram (streetcar) lines run practically everywhere
- and there’s always another tram with the same number traveling back.
- You never have to hail trams; they make every stop.
- The most popular trams, nos. 22 and 23 (aka the “tourist trams” and the “pickpocket express”), run past top sights like the National Theater and Prague Castle.
- Regular bus and tram service stops at midnight, after which selected routes run reduced schedules, usually only once per hour.
- Schedules are posted at stops.
- If you miss a night connection, expect a long wait for the next.
- Buses tend to be used only outside the older districts of Prague and have 3-digit numbers.
- Both the buses and tram lines begin their morning runs around 4:30am.
By Funicular
- The funicular (railway) makes the scenic run up and down Petrín Hill every 10 minutes (15 in winter season) daily from 9am to 11:30pm with an intermediate stop at the Nebozízek restaurant halfway down the hill, which overlooks the city.
- It requires the 20Kc ticket and departs from a small house in the park at Újezd in Malá Strana.
Where to buy a ticket
- You can buy tickets from yellow coin-operated machines in metro stations or at most newsstands marked TABÁK or TRAFIKA.
Transit Inspection
- Hold on to your validated ticket throughout your ride; you’ll need to show it if a ticket collector (be sure to check for his or her badge) asks you.
- If you’re caught without a valid ticket, you’ll be asked to pay a fine 500Kc.
