Getting around · Prague · Czechia
Getting around Prague
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Miaow Miaow, Public domain
Quick answer
Prague's historic centre is compact and best seen on foot, though cobbles and hills make it tiring. Three metro lines and a dense tram network, run under one integrated ticket system (PID), reach everything else. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Tram
- Airports
- PRG
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- PID tickets
Ways to get around
Tram
Trams are the most useful way to get around, running frequently and through the night on dedicated night routes. Line 22 passes the National Theatre, Malá Strana and Prague Castle.
Validate paper tickets in the yellow machines when you board; inspectors fine passengers without a valid ticket.
Metro
Three metro lines (A, B and C) cross the centre, with Můstek, Muzeum, Staroměstská and Malostranská covering most sights; trains run from about 5am to around midnight.
Walking
The Old Town, Josefov, Malá Strana and New Town are all walkable; climbing to the castle takes about 20–30 minutes from Charles Bridge.
Taxi
Use ride-hailing apps or taxis ordered by phone; street taxis waiting in tourist areas have a history of overcharging.
Ferry
Small public river ferries cross the Vltava at several points and accept standard PID tickets.
Tickets and passes
PID tickets
Time-based tickets valid on metro, trams, buses, ferries and the airport buses, from 30 and 90 minutes up to 24 and 72 hours. Buy them from machines, newsagents or the PID Lítačka app.
Prague Visitor Pass
A multi-day pass combining public transport with entry to many sights; worth comparing against the attractions you actually plan to visit.
From the airport
Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) is about 17 km west of the centre and has no rail link. Bus 119 runs to Nádraží Veleslavín on metro line A in about 15–20 minutes on a standard PID ticket, while the Airport Express bus to the main railway station has its own fare. Taxis and ride-hailing cars take about 25–40 minutes to the centre.
Do you need a car?
No. Driving and parking in central Prague are difficult, and public transport and trains cover the main day trips. A car is useful only for touring rural Bohemia.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Kutná Hora | About 1 hour by train | Train from Praha hlavní nádraží, then a local bus or walk |
| Karlštejn Castle | About 40 minutes by train, then a 20–30 minute walk | Train from Praha hlavní nádraží or Smíchov to Karlštejn |
| Český Krumlov | About 3 hours by bus | Direct bus from Prague, or train via České Budějovice |
| Terezín | About 1 hour by bus | Bus from Nádraží Holešovice |
| Karlovy Vary | About 2–2.5 hours by bus | Direct bus from Florenc bus station |
| Plzeň | About 1–1.5 hours by train | Train from Praha hlavní nádraží |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Prague?
No. Driving and parking in central Prague are difficult, and public transport and trains cover the main day trips. A car is useful only for touring rural Bohemia.
+How do you get from the airport to Prague?
Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) is about 17 km west of the centre and has no rail link. Bus 119 runs to Nádraží Veleslavín on metro line A in about 15–20 minutes on a standard PID ticket, while the Airport Express bus to the main railway station has its own fare. Taxis and ride-hailing cars take about 25–40 minutes to the centre.
+What is the best way to get around Prague?
Tram: Trams are the most useful way to get around, running frequently and through the night on dedicated night routes. Line 22 passes the National Theatre, Malá Strana and Prague Castle.