Landing at Vaclav Havel Prague Airport and not sure of the best way to get to the city center called Old Town? We’ve collected all the reasonable options and put them down for you. Prague is notoriously known for its dubious taxi drivers, so getting to the city center could be stressful if you aren’t prepared.
Prague Airport is located approximately 17 kilometers and 25 minutes from the city center (Wenceslas Square or Old Town Square) when there is no traffic. The rush hours are usually during working days in the morning (7 to 10 AM) and in the late afternoon (4 to 7 PM). During the rush hour please add 20 – 30 minutes to your ride. The official address is Aviaticka, 16108 Prague 6.
Out of all options, we also don’t recommend taking a taxi because for the same (or even lower) price you can get a much better service with private pickups. If you are short on a budget, go with the airport shuttle transfer.
Honest Tip #1: Private Pickup (€33)
Welcome Pickups are focusing on private airport pickups and all their drivers are hand-picked and well trained. For the same price as a taxi (€33), you will get a private driver with excellent English and knowledge of Prague. The driver will be also waiting for you with the welcome sign at the terminal exit. If the flight delayed or canceled? No worries, your driver will be monitoring the flight schedule and will manage accordingly.
The best thing is you will land and go right away with no waiting as your car is always ready. The service has excellent ratings on TripAdvisor (5 stars out of 5.000+ reviews) and even received the Certificate of Excellence.
Honest Tip #2: Airport Shuttle Transfer (from €17)
A good compromise between a cheap public transport and a private car may be a shuttle transfer (it’s actually an 8-passenger car, not a bus). It costs only €14.95 per person and will get you from the airport directly to your hotel or apartment.
However, if you are traveling with more than 2 people, it is smarter to take private pickup. There is also a cheaper version of the shuttle bus which costs only €5.50 per person, but it only goes to the city center (Narodni street). Both shuttles are very comfy and typically a Mercedes Benz V-Class or Volkswagen Transporter with air-conditioning and guaranteed seats. The ride takes from 30 to 60 minutes depending on the number of stops and traffic.
Honest Tip #3: Uber Airport (from €27)
Uber operates in Prague safely and has an even dedicated service for pickups and rides to the airport called Uber Airport. Uber Airport is a dedicated service for Prague Airport and serves as the official provider of taxi services. The cars are mostly Toyota Camrys or similar mid-class sedans or SUVs.
You can book the ride using the Uber app, airport kiosks, or counter. After successful booking you'll receive a PIN which you should share with the first available driver (usually the first one in the line).
The advantage is that you can either prebook the ride or book one upon arrival, and you never have to wait, as cars are always ready in front of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The disadvantage is that the drivers are mostly foreigners who doesn't know much about Prague, but they will drive you to your location safely.
Price-wise, Uber Airport is roughly 50% more expensive than UberX and about 20% more than Uber Comfort. You can also use regular Uber options like UberX or Comfort, but they aren’t allowed to stop directly at the terminal hall, so you’ll likely need to meet them at a nearby parking area, as there’s no dedicated Uber or taxi pickup point.
Honest Tip #4: Public Transport (from €1.6)
The cheapest option to get to Prague city center is by using regular public transport which is very cost-effective. The bus station is right in front of Terminal 2 (Exit D). A ticket valid for 90 minutes costs €1.6 (42 CZK) and you can use it for the bus, tram or subway.
Just take the bus 119 to Nadrazi Veleslavin where you must transfer to subway line A (green) and you can continue to downtown (Mustek) or any other station. The bus goes every 6 minutes and operates from 4:23 AM to 23:42 PM (last bus) on all days including the weekend. Alternatively, you can take bus number 100 which goes to Zlicin (yellow subway line B) or bus number 191 which goes to Andel.
Check out the video from Honest Guide guys below where it is very well explained.
A bit more convenient is the Airport Express bus as you don’t need to transfer to the subway to get to the city center, but it’s also slightly more expensive.
The bus station is at the parking lot right in front of Terminal 1. Tickets cost €4 (100 CZK) for adults or €2 (50 CZK) for children and you can buy them at the terminal or directly from the bus driver. The bus stops at Namesti Republiky and terminates at Prague Main Station (Praha Hlavni Nadrazi) where you can take a subway (line C), tram or go on foot. Please keep in mind the bus schedule – buses operates 24 hours a day and leaves every 13 to 60 minutes. The ride takes around 30 minutes (depending on the traffic) and you can use it also on the way to the airport.
Conclusion: The Best Way to Get from Prague Airport
Unfortunately, there is still no direct train from the Prague Airport as that would probably be our favourite option. Generally speaking, there is no wrong option with any of these, but our recommendation is a private pickup if you are after comfort, or public transport if you are short on your budget.
Please note the actual prices may vary. In our calculations we used a route from the airport to the city center (Old Town or Wenceslas Square).
5 Honest Tips
- Avoid traditional taxis at all costs: Prague taxis are infamous for overcharging tourists. For the same or lower price, you can get a better service with a private transfer.
- Use private pickup for maximum comfort: If you value convenience and a smooth arrival, book a private pickup (€33). Your driver will wait with a sign and monitor your flight in case of delays.
- Choose public transport if you’re on a tight budget: For just €1.60, bus + metro will get you downtown in around 45 minutes. It’s cheap, efficient, and runs frequently—even on weekends.
- Uber Airport is better than regular Uber: The special “Uber Airport” service picks you up right in front of the terminal—no walking to a parking lot or meeting point like with UberX.
- Time your travel to avoid rush hours: Traffic between 7–10 AM and 4–7 PM can add 20–30 minutes to your ride. If possible, travel outside of these windows for a faster trip.
FAQs
The most common questions about transfers from Vaclav Havel Airport to Prague city center.
Prague Airport is approximately 17 kilometers (around 10.5 miles) from the city center. The travel time typically takes around 30–40 minutes by car or taxi.
The cheapest method is public transportation. Take bus number 119 or 100, which connects to metro lines, for approximately €1.60.
Another cheap option is using the shuttle bud called Airport Express which is €4.00 per person.
A taxi from Prague Airport to the city center typically costs around 600–800 CZK (€25–€35). Always confirm the price beforehand or use reputable services such as Uber or Bolt.
More than that! Uber Airport is the official taxi service at the Prague Airport. The ride to the city center costs around 700 CZK (€27).
Unfortunately, not yet. It's currently being planned, with an estimated completion date in 2030 (which is unrealistic in our opinion).
Pre-booking is not necessary but is recommended if you prefer a fixed-price transfer or private shuttle service, especially during busy travel seasons.
Using public transport (bus + metro), the journey usually takes about 35–50 minutes depending on waiting times and connections.
Yes, several shuttle companies offer direct shared or private transfer services from Prague Airport to various city-center locations. We recommend using GetYourGuide shuttle services.
Yes, there is the Holiday Inn Prague Airport hotel which is right in front of the terminals and within walking distance. It's an excellent choice for overnight stays.
Yes, there’s a night bus service (bus numbers 907 and 910) connecting the airport to the city center throughout the night, with slightly longer intervals between buses.
The last bus leaves the airport Terminal 2 at 3:55 (see timetable).
