When making your sightseeing tours around Prague, you might need to get somewhere a bit further out of the centre. In these cases, while you can of course catch one of the city’s many cabs or an Uber, it is definitely cheaper and quite often much faster to use the Metro (this is sometimes also called the Subway or Underground, but in Czech it’s also “Metro”).

The Prague Metro, the “backbone” of Prague’s integrated transport (PIT, “PID” in Czech), consists of three lines and is the fastest means of transport in the capital. Not affected by the traffic situation or weather, the subway is an absolutely vital part of the Prague public transportation system.

History

Since 1974, Prague has been proud to belong among the world’s metropolises equipped with a metro. The Czech Republic’s capital is the only Czech city offering this means of transport. The history of Prague’s underground railroad reaches back to the 19th century, when the first voices started to talk about the need for this means of transport. Nevertheless, the war stopped the initial preparatory works, and the idea of the Prague Metro only came back to life in the 1960s.

The first Prague metro line led from the “Sokolovská” station (today called “Florenc”) to “Kačerov” station. It was 6.6 km long with 9 stations.

Metro Lines

Nowadays, the Prague metro consists of three lines (A, B and C):

• GREEN LINE “A”: The first one, also called (and marked) “Green” (A) connects the North-West and East of Prague, going from the “Nemocnice Motol” station (where the biggest Czech health-care institution is located) to “Depo Hostivař”.
• YELLOW LINE “B”: The “Yellow” line (B) leads through the centre, from South-West to North-East, with large shopping malls at both ends (“Zličín” and “Černý Most”).
• RED LINE “C”: The “Red” line (C) goes through the right-bank side of the city, in the North-South direction. There is yet another big shopping centre at one end of it (“Letňany”), and the other end-station (“Háje”) is located in a large settlement area.

The metro lines are shown on the map below, check also our article Prague Metro Map for more details and map downloads.

In total, there are 57 stations (three of them transit ones), connected with roughly 60 kilometres of (mostly underground) railway. During the morning rush hours, transport is secured with almost 450 vehicles. Recent research found that the Prague Metro transported 1 272 143 passengers in one day, and the number gets higher every year.

Metro Tickets and Prices

There are several types of metro tickets available in Prague:

• 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:

Children under the age of 15 (including) can travel for free and don't need any tickets. However, they may be asked to provide an ID confirming their age.

Also, one adult accompanying a child under the age of 3 does not need a ticket.

All tickets must be validated before entering the underground station to avoid fines.

Where to Buy Metro Tickets

Metro tickets in Prague can be purchased from a variety of locations:

• Ticket machines: Available at all metro stops. These machines accept coins, and some accept contactless credit/debit cards. For specific location, please see the map of ticket vending machines.

• Tabák (Tobacco) shops: Commonly found around the city, these shops sell various types of tram tickets.
• Online: Tickets can also be purchased online through the DPP website or via the PID Lítačka app, which is available for both Android and iOS devices.
• SMS Ticket: For a hassle-free purchase, send an SMS with a specific text to the number provided by DPP. This option is great for mobile users. The number for purchasing the ticket is 90206, and the text is DPT31 (30-minute ticket), DPT42 (90 minutes), DPT120 (24 hours), and DPT330 (72 hours). Please see the overview of the SMS texts and costs in the table below.

Keep in mind you can't purchase the ticket inside the metro wagon, you need to purchase before entering the undergorund station.

Conclusion: Prague’s Fastest Way to Get Around

The metro is definitely the fastest means of transport in Prague, and with over a million passengers a day, it is the seventh busiest underground in Europe. It might reach an even higher position soon, since it has grown recently with plans for further development.

5 Honest Tips for Tourists

1. ‍Metro map: Grab a free metro map at tourist offices, hotels, or download it via mobile apps like Lítačka.‍
2. Safety: Prague Metro is very safe, but watch out for pickpockets, especially during rush hours.‍
3. Transfers: One validated ticket covers unlimited transfers between metro, tram, and bus within its validity period.
4. Signs in English: Prague Metro is very tourist-friendly. Most signs and station names are also in English, and announcements on newer trains are multilingual.
5. Validating tickets: Look for the yellow validation machines at the entrance of every station. Insert your ticket before boarding—inspectors check regularly, and fines are steep.

Must-See Attractions Near Metro Stations

• Staroměstská (Line A): Old Town Square, Astronomical Clock, Jewish Quarter
• Malostranská (Line A): Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Lesser Town (Malá Strana)
• Muzeum (Lines A, C): National Museum, Wenceslas Square
• Vyšehrad (Line C): Vyšehrad Fortress and scenic views