Prague Public Transport Guide: How to Get Around the City in 2025?
Boats
Prague’s ferries offer a pleasant and practical way to cross the Vltava River at several points, connecting neighborhoods and providing a unique perspective of the city. Ferries are included in the public transport system and operate regularly from spring to autumn. They are especially useful for cyclists and pedestrians, and can be a fun addition to your sightseeing itinerary.
Buses
Buses in Prague are essential for reaching areas not served by trams or the metro, including many residential neighborhoods, business districts, and the airport. They also connect the city with nearby suburbs and outlying towns. Bus stops are marked with yellow signs, and timetables are posted at each stop.
Trams
Trams are the backbone of Prague’s public transport network, running day and night through the city and connecting most major neighborhoods and tourist attractions. With over 20 daytime lines and several night lines, trams are frequent and reliable, often arriving every few minutes during peak hours.
Metro
The Prague Metro is the fastest way to travel longer distances across the city, especially during rush hour or when heading to the outskirts. The system consists of three color-coded lines (A – green, B – yellow, C – red) that intersect at key transfer stations in the city center. Trains run every few minutes from early morning until midnight.
Prague boasts a world-class public transport system that is fast, reliable, and affordable. Whether you’re staying in the historic center or venturing to the city’s outskirts, you’ll find it easy to get around using trams, buses, the metro, and other services. This guide provides an overview of each mode of transport and links to more detailed information, so you can plan your journeys with ease.
Overview of Prague’s Public Transport
Prague’s integrated public transport network is operated by Dopravní podnik hl. m. Prahy (DPP) and the Prague Integrated Transport (PID) system. The main modes of transport include:
- Trams: Covering the city center and surrounding neighborhoods, trams are a scenic and popular way to travel.
- Metro: Fast and efficient, the metro connects key districts and is ideal for longer journeys across the city.
- Buses: Essential for reaching areas not served by trams or metro, especially in the suburbs and for airport connections.
- Funicular to Petrin Hill: A unique way to reach the top of Petřín Hill and enjoy panoramic views.
- Ferries: Cross the Vltava River at several points, offering a pleasant alternative for some routes.
- Night Transport: Special night tram and bus lines operate after midnight, ensuring the city never sleeps.
According to data from 2023, the most popular mode of transport is the metro (32%), followed by trams (31%), city buses (27%), and regional (suburban) bus lines (10%).
Facts and History
PID transports millions of citizens of Praguers (and residents of neighbouring areas) to their work, home, or anywhere to spend their leisure time, and it of course also helps a huge number of tourists to reach their destinations. Prague’s Public Transportation System offers a unique level of coverage; there is pretty much no location in the Czech Republic’s capital, which cannot be easily reached by public transport.
Every day, Prague Public Transit transports passengers in Prague and the surrounding region using a total of nearly 2000 vehicles (over 1100 buses, almost 1000 tram-cars, and about 750 tube-trains). Two-thirds of Prague’s population use these vehicles, which cover the majority of the city and its outskirts. The urban mass transit operator is the biggest public transport provider in the Czech Republic, managing about 150 bus lines, 30 tram lines, and 3 metro lines.
The history of the public transport in the Czech Republic’s capital is a long one. In 2015, Prague celebrated the 140th anniversary of the urban public transport foundation. The first means of public transport, a horse drawn streetcar, started its journey from the National Theatre to the neighbourhood of Karlín in 1875.
Tickets and Fares
Prague uses a unified ticketing system, meaning one ticket is valid for all forms of public transport within the city limits.
- Short-term tickets: These are ideal for tourists. You can purchase tickets that are valid for 30 minutes, 90 minutes, 24 hours, or 72 hours.
- Long-term passes: For longer stays or frequent commutes, monthly and yearly passes are available.
- Single-journey tickets: These are perfect for one-off travels across the city.
The ticket prices are shown in the table below:
Tickets can be purchased at machines, newsstands, via mobile apps, or by SMS (with a Czech SIM card). Don’t forget to validate your ticket before or upon boarding.
Conclusion
The easiest way to handle public transport in Prague without getting lost is by using Google Maps, which contains all the latest schedules and connections. You can simply enter a destination and check all available options including travel times, which works well both on a desktop or mobile. Unfortunately, the ticket cost is not displayed, so you’ll need to calculate it manually.
Five Honest Tips for Using Prague Public Transport
- Plan Ahead: Use apps like PID Lítačka or Google Maps to plan your route and check schedules.
- Buy and Validate Tickets: Purchase tickets before boarding and validate them to avoid fines.
- Explore All Modes: Try trams, metro, buses, and even ferries for a complete Prague experience.
- Check Night Schedules: If you’re out late, be aware of night transport options and schedules.
- Keep Your Ticket Handy: Ticket inspections are common, so always have your validated ticket ready.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions about Prague's integrated public transportation system.
Yes, a single ticket is valid for trams, buses, the metro, funicular, and even ferries within Prague's city limits.
Tickets can be purchased at ticket machines, newsstands, convenience stores, via mobile apps, or by SMS (with a Czech SIM card).
Validate your paper ticket in the yellow machine when you board or enter the metro. Mobile tickets must be activated before travel.
Most trams, buses, and metro stations are accessible, but some older trams and stations may have limited access.
During the day, trams and metro trains run every few minutes. Buses are also frequent, but intervals may be longer in the suburbs or at night.
Yes, Prague's public transport is considered very safe, including night trams and buses.
Yes, you can take bus 119 or the Airport Express (AE) bus, both of which connect the airport with the metro and city center.
Children under 6 travel for free. Children aged 6–15 and seniors are eligible for discounted fares.
Night trams and buses operate after midnight, ensuring you can still get around the city.
Small pets in carriers and standard luggage are allowed. Larger items or animals may require an additional ticket.
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We’ve compared all the best options, from private pickups and airport shuttles to Uber and public transport, so you can choose the most convenient and cost-effective way to get to Old Town. Travel stress-free with our honest tips and recommendations.
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