Transportation Tips

Get to Prague

By Plane
  • Easily accessible from all major European cities in max. 2,5 hours by plane
  • By rail (4.5 hours from Berlin, 4 hours from Vienna)
  • By car (4 hours from Munich or Vienna)
  • EU member - Schengen country
  • 35 Minutes drive from the city centre (18 km)
  • Direct flights to 128 destinations all over the world - daily flights from/to all major European cities
  • New recently opened Terminal 2 - 15,5 million passengers a year
  • Every day around 200 takeoffs and landings
  • Regular base by 70 airlines and charter companies
  • Many low cost providers
  • Upon arrival to Prague by plane: We strongly recommend to use  AAA Taxi service, located at the arrival hall
By Train
  • Easily accessible from all European countries
  • Prague has two international stations:
    “Nadrazi Holesovice” - most international lines end there
    • - located 15 minutes from the city centre
    • - connected with underground (“Nadrazi Holesovice”)
    “Prg. Central Station” - the biggest and eldest Prague railway station
    • - located at the edge of city centre
    • - connected with underground (“Hlavni Nadrazi”)

Traveling in Prague

By car
As Prague is one of the smaller European metropolises travelling by car is quite easy there. One end from another could be reached in 20 minutes. However, heavy traffic jams could occur, especially in the city centre and while traveling in the morning (8 – 10AM) and late afternoon (5 – 7PM)

By taxi

Upon arrival to Prague by plane: We strongly recommend to use  AAA Taxi service, located at the arrival hall.

Taxis are easy to hail from the street in the city centre, however we recommend using hotel taxis or obtain taxis by phone through the radio taxi service e.g. AAA (+ 420 14 014), City taxi ( +420 257 257 257) or Speed cars ( +420 224 234 234) and ask for the approximate price in advance. Although Euros are to be accepted by almost all taxi services, paying by Czech Crowns is safer.

Approximate rates are:
Boarding charge: 40 CZK
Journeys within the city: 28 CZK/km
Waiting time: 15 CZK/per minute
Journey from airport to the city centre:  500 – 600 CZK
Journey from airport to the Congress centre: 600 – 700 CZK

By public transport
Prague has very well developed net of public transport. Any place in the city could be reached by underground, buses or trams. There are three underground lines (green – A, yellow – B, red – C) connecting all parts of Prague, all going through the city centre. Therefore any place in Prague could be accessed in maximum of 20 minutes from the city centre. Underground is recommended for traveling anywhere in Prague. Trams connect especially city centre, which buses cannot access. Buses can be used to go to the outskirts of the city.

Public transport tickets are valid for all three means of transport.
The approximate fares are (only in Czech Crowns):
Single adult ticket (valid for 90 minutes)    26 CZK
One day pass     100 CZK
Three-day pass   330 CZK
Five-day pass     500 CZK


How to get from the airport to the Congress Centre

By Public Transport
Prague-Ruzyně International Airport is located approximately 20 km northwest from the city centre. The Airport is served either by public bus or taxi. The easiest and quickest way is to take the Airport Express (going every 10 – 15 minutes for 45 CZK/1,5 – 2 Euro) to the underground station “Nadrazi Holesovice” (red line C). Change to the underground and go to the station “Vysehrad” (direction Haje). The Prague Congress Centre is located right at the entrance to the underground. The journey takes about 40 minutes and public transfer ticket is required.

By taxi
The Prague Congress Centre is 30 minutes away from the Airport going by taxi. The price is approximately 700 CZK. Make sure to agree on the price before starting the ride. Credit cards are rarely accepted, cash is preferred.

By train
Both international railway stations are connected with the same underground line (red line C) in the same direction. Take the direction Háje and exit at station “Vysehrad”. The Prague Congress Centre is located next to the station. Public transfer ticket is required.

 

How to get from the airport to the City Centre

By Public Transport
Prague-Ruzyně International Airport is located approximately 20 km northwest from the city centre. The Airport is served either by public bus or taxi. The easiest and quickest way is to take the Airport Express (going every 10 – 15 minutes for 45 CZK/1,5 – 2 Euro) to the underground station “Nadrazi Holesovice” (red line C). Change to the underground and go to the station “Muzeum” (direction Haje). Muzeum is located at the Wenceslaus square, gate to the city centre.

By taxi
The city centre is 30 minutes away from the Airport going by taxi. The price is approximately 500 - 600 CZK. Make sure to agree on the price before starting the ride. Credit cards are rarely accepted, cash is preferred.

By train
Both international railway stations are connected with the same underground line (red line C) in the same direction. Take the direction Háje and exit at station “Muzeum”. Muzeum is located at the Wenceslaus square, gate to the city centre.

 

Public Transportation

The major city-transport carrier in Prague is Dopravni podnik hl. m. Prahy, a.s. (The Capital City of Prague Transport Company), whose total annual transportation volume is more than one billion passengers. They are served by the system of underground, trams and buses. Prague Public Transit Company has been awarded the certificate “Fair Play Business 2006”.

Useful links / maps

Where to ask for Information?

Phone +420 296 191 817 (daily 7 a.m. - 9 p.m)

Metro A and C lines, in the Museum station underpass, phone +420 222 623 777.
Open daily 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Metro B-line, in the Mustek station underpass, under the Jungmannovo nam., phone +420 222 646 350.
Open Mondays to Fridays 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Metro B-line, Andel, phone +420 222 646 055.
Open Mondays to Fridays 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Metro C-line, in Nadrazi Holesovice station, phone +420 220 806 790.
Open Mondays to Fridays 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.

In the arrival vestibule of the airport of Ruzyne, phone +420 220 115 404.
Open daily 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.

What Passangers should Know

Tickets
Passengers may travel by means of public transport (PT) with a valid ticket only. Tickets must be obtained before entering a surface transport vehicle or the compulsory ticket area of Metro or funicular to Petřín.The ticket is valid only if validated in the validating machine or supported by a relevant coupon issued by the operator and with all required and permanently legible data completed.

Tickets are sold at Metro stations, newsagents, Travel Information Centres, hotels, travel agencies, department stores etc. They are also available from a number of ticket vending machines installed next to surface transport stops, at Metro stations, funicular stations and their immediate vicinity.


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For more frequent journeys it is advisable to use long-term tickets , single tickets are more suitable for occasional journeys. Season tickets valid for 1, 3, 7 and 15 days are the most suitable tourist option. Ticket vending machines issue only single tickets valid up to 24 hours. The amount of fare is set by tariff. Types of tickets and appropriate current prices are specified in the Prague Public Transport Tariff. Information on fare is also available at ticket sales outlets and offices of Prague Public Transit Co. Inc. in charge of customer care.

Carriage of luggage, animals and other items
Luggage, animals and other below mentioned items are subject to a charge for carriage in the form of a single ticket. The charge for carriage is set by the Tariff. Season tickets with validity of one and more days entitle passengers to carry free of charge one of the items subject to the charge for carriage. Validity of ticket paid for luggage (items) corresponds with that of a passenger carrying such luggage (items). Passengers are allowed to carry as much as three pieces of luggage.

Active ImagePrams may be carried with the drivers approval only in the part of the vehicle designed for such purpose. On Metro escalators prams must be always carried by two persons. On trams and buses the driver has to be informed about the passenger’s intention to get off by means of a signaling equipment.

Active Image Disabled persons on wheelchairs may be carried on surface transport vehicles subject to the driver’s approval. The driver can deny such transport if existing or anticipated situation along the route does not guarantee the safety of immobile person or other passengers or if the immobile person has not complied with some of provisions of conditions of carriage. Disabled persons on wheelchairs may be carried only if accompanied by another person.

Active Image Bicycles are allowed only on the Metro in off-peak periods, and that in the last car on its rear platform. Riding a bicycle through the car is not allowed. A passenger can carry one bicycle only. Bicycles can be carried only by persons over 12 years old.

Active Image Live animals are allowed only in containers with a leakproof bottom. Dimensions and condition of carriage are governed by provisions applying to carriage of luggage. Dogs can be carried without a container except for the Metro where such carriage is possible only in containers. If not in a container a dog must have a muzzle and be held on a short lead during the journey.

Lost tickets/lost property
Should you lose your season ticket please contact the Central Control of Prague Public Transit Co. Inc., Prague 2, Na bojišti Street 5, (ticket office on the groundfloor) or call tel. no.: +420 296 192 173.
Should you lose various property, please contact the Lost Property Office, Prague 1, Karoliny Světlé Street no.5, tel.: +420 224 235 085.

Fare zones
Prague integrated transport system provides transport services to the City of Prague and suburban areas and such services are provided jointly by individual operators by various modes of transport.
Urban public transport (zone P+0) = transport within the territory of the City of Prague is divided for fare purposes into two fare zones: zone P and so-called "finishing zone 0".
Outside zones (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) = region outside the City of Prague divided into 5 outside fare zones based on the distance.

Fare is based on the number of zones and travel time; single tickets are divided into transfer and non-transfer ones.

 

Fares

Single tickets transfer non-transfer
Adult persons over 15 years
Children from 6 up to 15 years inclusive

26,- CZK
13,- CZK

 18,- CZK
7,- CZK

Transfer tickets
Tickets for three fare zones can be used 75 minutes from validation. On working days from 08.00 PM to 05.00 AM and on Saturdays and Sundays round the clock such tickets can be used 90 minutes from validation.

Non-transfer tickets
Apply to trams and buses 20 minutes allowing no change. On the Metro such tickets are valid for the distance of 5 stations from the station of validation (not including the station of validation) allowing to change between the lines A,B,C, but no longer than 30 minutes. These tickets do not apply to night routes and funicular railway.

Charge payable for carriage of various items

Charge payable for carriage of various items is paid by a transfer ticket for CZK 10.-. Validity of such ticket is identical to that of the ticket used by a passenger carrying the luggage (but no longer than 240 minutes). This charge is payable for carriage of items larger than 25 x 45 x 70cm (a bar over 150cm, a board over 100 x 100 x 5cm) and an empty pram. Season tickets of all types entitle their holders to a free of charge carriage of one of the items subject to the charge payable for carriage of luggage. Passenger may carry only items permitted by Contractual Transport Conditions.

Charge payable for carriage of a dog without a container (not allowed on the Metro) is identical to the price of a single transfer ticket for adult persons over 15 years. Charge payable for carriage of various items on trains of the Czech Railways is governed by provisions of the Railway Transportation Code. Season tickets do not entitle passengers to carry a dog without a container free of charge.

Season tickets valid for one or more days entitle passengers to carry free of charge one of the items subject to the charge for carriage of luggage (does not apply to carriage of animals).

Free of charge carriage
Free of charge carriage applies to the following groups of passengers:

  • children up to the age of 6
  • holders of cards for handicapped persons "ZTP" and "ZTP-P" including a guide and a dog (on trains of the Czech Railways they must follow provisions of the Railway Transportation Code)
  • participants of the I. and II. Resistance, citizens according to Section(29)(3) of Act No. 87/1991Coll.
    citizens of the Czech Republic and persons permanently residing in the CR over 70 years of age (on trains of the Czech Railways they must follow provisions of the Railway Transportation Code)
  • a wheelchair with a "ZTP-P" card holder
  • active participants of the Prague Rising (only in zones P+0)
  • holders of ČSBS cards
  • prams with babies (on trains of the Czech Railways only in folded condition - so-called "pushchairs")
  • animals (dogs) in containers
  • one ski-set with sticks
  • bicycles (only on the Metro)
  • items not subject to charge for carriage of various items

Ticket Sale


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Ticket vending machines are installed at all Metro stations and at surface transport stops and are designed to buy single tickets.

Ticket offices at Metro stations
Ticket offices at Metro stations offer a full assortment of tickets and are designed particularly to sell season tickets and tickets with optional commencement of validity period.

Travel Information Centres (TIC)
Travel Information Centres offer single tickets and short-term season tickets, so-called "tourist tickets".

Offices of the Czech Post in the City of Prague
Offices of the Czech Post in the territory of the City of Prague sell season ticket except for valuable coupons for students from 15 to 26 years and tickets with optional commencement of validity period.

Newsagents
Selected newsagents in the territory of the City of Prague sell single and season tickets except for valuable coupons for students from 15 to 26 years and tickets with optional commencement of validity period.

Instructions for use
1. Select a ticket - by repeatedly pressing the button you select the required amount and type of tickets.
2. Pay the relevant amount (the machine returns coins).
3. Take your ticket and returned coins.

Ticket Inspection

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Ticket validity can be inspected any time during a trip or a stay within the compulsory ticket area by ticket inspectors of Prague Public Transit Co. Inc. Ticket inspectors are entitled to give passengers binding instructions a nd identify personal data of passengers. They prove themselves by an inspection badge designated "Dopravní podnik hl.m. Prahy, akciová společnost - Ticket inspection" /Prague Public Transit Co. Inc. - Ticket Inspection/ and by a four digit identificantion number. Upon request a ticket inspector is obliged to produce his/her service card with a photograph and a number identical with that on the badge.

Ticket inspectors on PIT vehicles and within the compulsory ticket area are entitled to ask passengers to produce valid tickets, take away invalid tickets and, in case of travelling without a valid ticket, assess a penalty fare in the amount of CZK 950 which is reduced to CZK 500 in case of an on-the-spot payment. In case of a failure to pay a charge for carriage of luggage such penalty fare amounts to CZK 50.

Should a passenger violate conditions of carriage, ticket inspectors are entitled to assess a penalty fare in the amount of CZK 200 which is is reduced to CZK 100 in case of an on-the-spot payment.

Penalty fare can be paid at the cash office on the groundfloor of the Central Central building (Centrální dispečink), Praha 2, Na bojišti 5.

Opening hours

Monday, Tuesday
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

The relevant ticket inspector shall issue a pay receipt or an acknowledgement confirming the withdrawal of a season ticket.

Ticket inspectors badge

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