Public transport in Prague includes the metro, buses, trams, commuter trains, funicular and taxis. From this article you will learn about how to use public transport in Prague, how much it costs, where to buy tickets, and you can also download maps of Prague trams and metro.

Tariff zones

Prague transport has several tariff zones, the number of crossings of which will determine the cost of travel. There are 8 tariff zones in Prague: 0-5, B and P. I won’t torment you with information about how much it costs to travel from one zone to another, just know that the entire center, the outskirts of Prague, all metro lines, trams and Prague airport Ruzyne belongs to one tariff zone 0, B, P! This means that to travel through this tariff zone you need to buy any ticket from the table below.

Fare and ticket types

Within the above-described tariff zone, the following types of tickets are valid:

• A simple ticket for one trip.
• Personalized travel card Opencard or Lítačka, can only be issued by those who live in Prague at the Prague Public Transport Information Center.
• Unnamed travel card different types: for 1 day, for 3 days, for 1 month, for 3 months, for 1 year.

Prague public transport ticket single, i.e. With a ticket you can travel on any type of transport: metro, tram, bus, funicular, make any transfers within the time frame of the ticket.

Below you will see a summary table of the cost of travel in Prague transport. Prices are indicated in Czech crowns; for 2019, approximately the following exchange rates apply: 1 Euro = 25 CZK; $1 (American dollar) = 22 CZK; 1 Kroon = 3 Russian rubles and 1 Kroon = 1.26 Ukrainian hryvnia.

• Children under 6 years old, people over 70 years old – free travel;
• Children from 6 to 15 years old, elderly people aged 65 to 70 years living in the Czech Republic are entitled to discounted travel.

Cost of electronic travel type Opencard or Litačka(for residents of Prague).

Question: “How to use the ticket?” In order for a travel ticket to be valid (for 1 trip or 1.3 days), it must be validated. On buses and trams you will see yellow composters on the handrails. The metro also has composters; they are located at the entrance to the metro. In Prague there are no turnstiles at the entrance to the metro, so each person is required to validate their ticket. A ticket without composting is considered invalid and you may be subject to a fine. When switching from one mode of transport to another, you do not need to re-validate your ticket.

Question: “If I bought a ticket for 90 minutes, but only skated 45 minutes on it, can I use it again after a walk in a couple of hours?” No! Example: if you boarded the tram at 11:00, arrived at your destination 50 minutes later and are not going anywhere else, this means that the extra 40 minutes will simply be wasted.

Where to buy travel tickets

Travel tickets are sold in many places:

1. Slot machines for selling tickets at tram stops and in the metro. There are machines that only accept small change, and there are modern machines where you can pay with bank cards. Such modern machines are installed, for example, at the airport and at the central station of Prague.
2. Metro ticket offices. Not all stops have such ticket offices. Most ticket offices are closed on weekends. It is at the metro ticket offices that you can buy a non-registered 1-month pass.
3. Vietnamese shops on the first floors of buildings. Simply go to the box office and ask for the required number of tickets, valid for 30 or 90 minutes.
4. Kiosks selling newspapers and magazines Trafiky.
5. At the reception in major hotels in Prague.
6. Tickets for 1 trip, as well as for 1 or 3 days can be purchased through sms. This ticket is called an SMS ticket. To purchase a ticket, you need to send one of the following texts to number 90206, which corresponds to one or another type of ticket: DPT32; DPT24; DPT110; DPT310. In addition to the cost of the ticket, you will be charged the cost of SMS. After you receive a confirmation SMS on your phone, you can start using public transport. Attention! Sending SMS is only possible from the Czech phone number +420.

You can buy travel tickets, as well as top up personal Opencard or Lítačka cards only at Prague public transport ticket sales points, which are located in the metro.

How to use the ticket machine

Most travel ticket machines in Prague only accept change. How to use the machine?

1. Choose the type of ticket. If you need multiple tickets, press the button for a specific ticket several times. On the window you will see the amount you need to pay.
2. You put it into the coin acceptor of the machine the right amount of money.
3. As soon as you deposit the required amount, the machine will immediately will give you tickets and change.
4. If you suddenly choose the wrong ticket or change your mind about buying a ticket, then you need to click on the cancel button, which is indicated as STORNO.

The fine for traveling without a ticket is

Most tourists think that no one controls whether people have travel tickets, but this is not true. There are many controllers running around Prague every day, checking the availability of tickets for transport passengers. If the controller approaches you, he must show you a special token, after which you must present a valid ticket or travel pass. All controllers have readers for checking electronic personalized travel cards. If you do not have a ticket with you, the controller will issue you a fine. If you pay on the spot, the penalty will be 800 CZK, when paying through a bank 1000 CZK. If you try to run away, refuse to pay the fine or present documents to issue a fine, the controllers will call the police. No amount of persuasion has any effect on controllers, and if you have something like the following situation, you will still be fined:

• The ticket is only valid for a minute.
• You purchased the wrong type of ticket.
• You did not validate your ticket.
• You have lost your ticket.
• You didn't know how to buy a ticket, so you went without a ticket.
• You did not receive an SMS with a ticket.
• You are a tourist and do not understand Czech.

Prague public transport has an official website Dpp.cz. The site is very well made, and you can get directions from anywhere in the city to your destination. The website contains the most current maps of the metro, trams, the current schedule of all routes, fares, news about transport. The site is made in two languages: Czech and English. But it is very easy and convenient to use.

I especially like the ability to plot a route on the site; as a result, you will see how much time it will take you to travel from point A to point B, where you need to make a transfer, you will be shown all the route numbers and the cost of travel.

Prague metro

• Description of the metro: The Prague metro is very simple, but at the same time very convenient, and is the busiest mode of transport in the Czech capital. The Prague metro is quite young, the first launch took place in 1974. Currently, the metro transports 1.5 million people every day. You can easily figure out the metro, it consists of three lines: A - green, B - yellow, C - red; 57 stations, of which 3 are interchange stations: Můstek, Muzeum and Florenc. When leaving the station, please note that some stations have 1 exit, while central ones have 2 or more. When exiting, always pay attention to the signs on the ceiling, which will tell you which street or which trams you will go to if you use one or another exit.
• Subway equipment: All Prague metro stations are equipped with escalators, but not all stations have elevators. All metro stations have city maps and metro maps. The stations also have a display that shows how much time has passed since the train left, and how much time remains to wait for the next train. To enter a subway car, you need to press the button on the doors. There are two types of rolling stock in the Prague metro: modern Siemens trains and heavily modernized rolling stock 81-71M from the Mytishchi Machine-Building Plant at the Skoda plant.
• Metro operating hours: 5:00 – 24:00
• Train intervals: Every 2-4 minutes during peak times and every 4-10 minutes in the evenings, weekends and holidays.

On the Prague metro map 2017 you see all metro lines, interchange stations, stations with elevators, near which metro stations the main attractions of Prague are located.

Prague trams

• Description of trams: Currently there are 7 types of Czech-made trams operating in Prague: Tatra T3, Tatra T3M, Tatra T3SUCS, Tatra T6A5, Škoda 14T, Tatra KT8D5, Škoda 15T. There are currently 1,013 trams operating in Prague. Part of the tram fleet, as you can see, are old Skoda trams. But most often you will find modern low-ash trams of the Škoda 15T model on the routes. All trams have a board showing tram stops. The seats in the carriages are usually made of plastic or Finnish plywood.
• Stop equipment: Part of the tram stop has a roof and a bench for waiting for transport. In addition, at all tram stops there is an exact schedule of tram routes passing through this stop, where you can find out where the tram is going, the exact time of arrival, and whether the tram is low-floor. Some tram stops have fare information, a ticket machine and a map of Prague showing all metro, tram and bus routes.
• Tram operating hours: 5:00 – 00:30, each tram route has its own schedule, start and end hours.
• Tram intervals: every 4-15 minutes depending on the tram route, time of day and day of the week. On weekdays during peak hours, from approximately 7:30 to 18:30, tram service intervals are minimal. In the evenings, on weekends and holidays, trams will have to wait longer.

On the Prague tram map you can see all tram routes and stops.

Buses in Prague

• Description of buses: You can get to all remote corners of Prague where trams and metro do not go, as well as to the outskirts of Prague by bus. There are currently approximately 300 bus routes operating throughout Prague. The Prague bus fleet consists of buses of the following brands: Karosa, Man, Iveco, Czech SOR and Mercedes. On some city bus routes and routes that go to other fare zones, you can purchase a fare ticket. On buses, as well as on the metro, there are no conductors or turnstiles. You are required to validate the ticket yourself. If the stop is on demand, then you need to press the red STOP button.
• Stop equipment: Bus stops have a roof and a bench for waiting for transport. At all bus stops there is an exact schedule of bus routes passing through this stop, where you can find out: where the bus is going, the exact time of arrival and travel time to the next stops.
• Bus route operating hours: 4:30 – 00:30
• Bus intervals: every 6-30 minutes depending on the route, time of day and day of the week. On weekdays, buses run more frequently during peak hours, but on evenings, weekends and holidays, buses will have to wait longer.

Night public transport routes in Prague

• A huge plus of Prague public transport is the availability night bus and tram routes. After all, if you have an early departure of a train or intercity bus, then you need to leave the hotel early, and in this case night routes will save you. Well, lovers of nightlife will appreciate the availability of night transport, because they won’t have to spend money on a taxi, which is quite expensive in Europe.
• Night trams: operate from 0:30 to 5:00 with a traffic interval of 30 minutes.
• Night buses: operate from 0:30 to 4:30 with traffic intervals of 30-60 minutes.

The Prague night bus and tram map shows all night transport routes and stops. As you can see, Prague's night routes cover all corners of the city.

Funicular to Petrin Hill

• Funicular information: The funicular is also part of Prague's public transport. Traveling on it costs the same as on other types of transport. If you have a valid ticket, then you can safely use it to climb the hill. While moving, the funicular stops at the Nebozizek station, and then reaches the highest point - Petřín, where you need to get off. The funicular is located near the Újezd ​​tram stop.
• Funicular operating hours: 9:00 – 23:30
• Cable car intervals: in summer 10 minutes; in winter - 15 minutes.

Train in Prague

• Information about trains: Electric trains connect Prague with the suburbs and with the cities of Central Bohemia and also belong to public transport in Prague. Within the city, you can travel using the same passes and tickets as other types of transport. In total, there are 27 train routes in Prague. The most common trains are the comfortable double-decker City Elefant 471 trains, which have toilets.
• Electric train operating hours: 4:00 – 24:00.
• Train intervals: from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the day of the week and time of day.

Prague Taxi

There are many taxi companies operating in Prague. The fare is approximately the same. I will tell you the main points that you need to consider when traveling by taxi in Prague.

• Approximate cost of travel in Prague taxis: boarding - 40 CZK; the cost of travel for 1 km is 20-30 CZK (the fare is chosen by the driver); waiting time - 6 CZK/minute (if you get stuck in a traffic jam, the counter will continue to tick, i.e. for 30 minutes of being stuck in a traffic jam you will pay 180 CZK).
• After boarding a taxi, the driver must turn on counter.
• At the end of the trip the driver owes you issue a check.
• Ordering a taxi by phone is always cheaper than catching a taxi on the street.

Not all taxi drivers in Prague are honest and like to take advantage of the fact that tourists do not know the city and tariffs. For example, a taxi driver may take clients along a very long route, may turn on the most expensive fare on the meter, not turn on the meter, and demand any amount from the client. I saw a program where a driver demanded 50 Euros from a client for a 5 km journey.

Therefore, if you are not local and you need a taxi transfer to the airport or another city in Prague, then I advise you to book a taxi in advance from a Russian company on the Internet. At the appointed time, the driver will meet you and take you to the address specified in the request. You will comfortably start or finish your journey without nerves or fatigue.

Summarizing, I can briefly write instructions on how to use public transport in Prague: buy a ticket (single for all types of transport), punch it when entering the metro or tram, ride on it for a strictly allotted time. As you can see, there are no complications, everything is simple.

One of the expenses in Prague (you will have to walk and drive here a lot to see everything) is travel by public transport. In the capital, this is a single integrated system, recognized as one of the best communication systems in Europe. Let's figure out how you can save personal money on buses, trains and taxis in Prague.

Read in this article

Public transport

There is only one ticket for public transport in Prague. Applies to trips on the metro, tram, bus and even the funicular. If you have it, you don't need to count the number of trips. Just remember the time. Each ticket has a specific validity period. Which one to choose is up to you. Everything will depend on where you live, where do you want to go? For some, the shortest ticket is enough, for others, you need to think about buying a coupon.

Type of tickets

Travel passes are distinguished by time periods:

30 minutes – 24 CZK, children under 15 years – 12 CZK
90 minutes – 32 CZK, children under 15 years – 16 CZK
24 hours (one day) – 110 CZK, children under 15 years old – 55 CZK
72 hours (three days) - 310 CZK, children are not provided.

If you plan to be in Prague for more than a week and travel actively, the most reasonable solution would be to purchase a coupon for 670 CZK for 30 days. It can be transferred to other persons, and at the end of the trip it can even be passed on “by inheritance” or even sold.

Frequent guests of the capital should think about decorating a personalized OpenCart. The asking price is 550 CZK.

Where and how to buy tickets

If you don’t take care of your ticket in advance - and they are sold at metro ticket offices (not at every station), in cigarette kiosks, newspapers, travel agencies, hotels, specialized vending machines, in information centers, in the arrivals hall - you may not go anywhere. They won’t sell you a ticket on the tram, but if you buy a pass from the bus driver, the amount will be 25% higher than the basic fare. Remember the price of the ticket you need. The machines accept coins.

New technologies will help you. Today it is very easy to become the owner of a travel card. If you have a Czech SIM card from the operators Eurotel, Vodafone, T-mobile, you can buy an electronic ticket for public transport. To number 90206 send an SMS with the code:

DPT24 to order a 30-minute travel pass
DPT32 for the purchase of a 90-minute ticket
DPT110 – purchase a “daily” pass
DPT330 – we take a ticket for 3 days.
Children under 5 and adults over 70 ride free.

Taxi

If at one time the reputation of Prague carriers was not very good, today the picture is completely different. Despite the well-functioning mechanism of the metro, trams and buses, taxis are also in demand, although such comfortable trips are not cheap. The service has undergone great changes. Today it is a technically advanced system. But we do not lose our vigilance and turn on the sobriety of our minds.

The cost of traveling by taxi consists of several components:
Boarding – 40 CZK ($1.5)
Price per kilometer – 19-26 CZK ($1)
Waiting for a passenger – 5-6 CZK per minute.

In order to preserve the contents of your wallet as much as possible and not spoil the impression of Prague, call only taxis operating under a license, with mandatory attributes in the form of a price tag, telephone number and company logo on the front door of the car. Branded taxis are “based” at air terminals, railway stations, near large shopping centers and hotels.

You should remember the main principle of saving - call a taxi by phone. It is not necessary to know Czech perfectly. Just give the address and wait patiently...for about five minutes. This will cut costs in half. So, for example, renting a car at Prague Airport Center yourself will lighten your wallet by as much as 700 CZK, instead of 400 when calling by phone. And yet, “catching” a car, “voting” is mega ruinous. It's better to leave this habit at home.

When making an order, find out the final amount, remembering that on the highway from the airport to the city you should be charged no more than 400 crowns, and within city limits - no more than 300. Also, your desire to have a Russian-speaking driver (every guest has the right to this) is not should cost you extra money. Some drivers are tempted to demand extra payment for the “option”. Don't be fooled.

Without the driver presenting a check or receipt at the end of the trip, you may refuse to pay. You know the address of the city transport department, which is at Rytiřská, 10. And the police will always accept such a complaint.

As elsewhere, alternative carriers operate in Prague.

The price per kilometer is 28 CZK, the minimum travel amount is 200 CZK.

Below are approximate current prices for the most popular tourist destinations (the car is designed for 4 passengers):

Prague - Karlovy Vary - from 7216. Travel time - 120 minutes.
Prague – Kutná Hora – from 6240. Travel time – 75 minutes.
Prague – bus station – from 1840. Travel time – 15 minutes.
Prague – airport – from 2400. Travel time – 50 minutes.
Prague – Pilsen – from 6240. Travel time – 80 minutes.

Trains

The Czech Republic is densely covered by a network of railways. Comfortably reaching even the most remote corner of the country is not a problem. If we take into account that the fleet is constantly updated, and, in addition to the main carrier, international and private companies operate the lines, voyages around the country and visits to neighboring European countries turns into a complete pleasure...regardless of the tourist season, weather and other factors. In addition, there are quite tempting offers for tourists. Worth considering.

Weekend group ticket

Discounts on this ticket, intended for a group of five people (2 adults and 3 children), allow you to save on travel on weekends and holidays. You can make an unlimited number of transfers. And it doesn’t matter whether you chose one zone of the Czech Republic or decided to travel halfway across the country. The Czech Railways company offers to survive a busy travel schedule by trains and trains for only 650 CZK. By paying another 150, you have a chance to use all public transport in the capital on the day of your trip. If you choose a specific region, the ticket amount will decrease several times and amount to 200-275 CZK. A ticket purchased online will not only eliminate the need to stand in line, but will also provide an additional 3% discount.

Group ticket

When planning a trip with a large friendly company (age does not matter) from 2 to 30 people, remember that in this case you can get a significant discount, which will be calculated as follows:

The amount of the first ticket is determined based on the base fare
The second one is a quarter cheaper
The third is half the standard.

Below are approximate prices for train tickets in the Czech Republic and other European cities:

Prague – Pilsen – 80 CZK
Prague – Karlovy Vary – 150 CZK
Prague – Brno – 180 CZK
Prague – Berlin – 750 CZK
Prague – Munich – 500 CZK
Prague – Warsaw – 500 CZK.

By the way, many tourists use this trick: they take tickets for night trains to Europe, thereby saving on hotels, spending the night in a comfortable carriage compartment.

Google maps guides us

Google, having significantly expanded the boundaries of its service, now allows you to walk around the Czech capital and reach the desired object easily and naturally. The operating principle of the service is no different from the navigator. The point of departure and destination, the type of movement are indicated, after which all the necessary information is displayed on the screen: the route indicating the distance, travel time, numbers of buses, trams, metro lines. The “Assistant”, speaking 60 languages, supported by any devices connected to the Internet, will not let you get lost. But he won't give you another important tip: Prague has a lot of steep slopes. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to walk through the city of ghosts and truly mystical beauty only in comfortable shoes and only from top to bottom.

Prague: features of tourism and recreation. Useful information for travelers about Prague.

• Tours for the New Year to the Czech Republic
• Last minute tours to the Czech Republic

Evgenia Bagmutskaya

My first trip to Prague was short, so I didn’t have time to form a special opinion about the city - other than the fact that it is fabulously beautiful, and the food there is fabulously tasty and cheap. But on the second trip, I approached the journey more thoroughly, and on the first day of arrival, leaving my things at the hotel, my friend and I immediately ran to buy tickets for the Hop-on-Hop-Off bus.

Hop-on hop-off is a well-known practice in European cities. Buses take you along excursion routes, accompanying the trip with comments about the sights in the language you select in the player. You can get off at any stop, and at any stop you can return to the next bus. There are three routes in Prague, they intersect, they give you a map and schedule “on board”, such a pleasure for two days costs about 20 EUR and, as a rule, also includes a trip on a river boat along the Vltava and, for example, a night excursion. If you are in Prague for a short time and live within the radius of bus routes, perhaps this ticket will be enough for you.

On our third day in Prague we had to take the tram. And we immediately became convinced of the veracity of the statement, heard more than once during the excursion, that the public transport system in the Czech capital is one of the best in Europe. In just 15 minutes we covered a considerable distance, dashingly jumping between branches. We never made a mistake in the tram numbers - it’s hard to make a mistake when there are maps with routes at each stop, and the names of the stops are duplicated on the electronic screens of comfortable cars.

There are a total of 26 daytime tram routes in Prague, operating from 4:30 to 1 am, 9 night routes and one historical one.

There are also many bus routes, including night ones, so even if you stay in the center until late, returning to the hotel will not be difficult. Moreover, Prague residents are very responsive people. One day we got a little lost while walking in a residential area - but a Czech passing by took out his smartphone, downloaded a map and explained everything to us in detail.

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Travel cards (in Czech it sounds like “ezdenka”) are suitable for all types of transport and are sold in the metro, in special vending machines, in printing and cigarette stores, and sometimes from bus drivers (but they are more expensive there). As soon as you first enter the transport with a travel pass, validate it, recording the beginning of its validity period. Passes can be purchased for 30 or 90 minutes or for 24 or 72 hours. The latter will cost about 12 EUR. By the way, there are no turnstiles anywhere, but you can stumble upon a ticket inspector, and the fine for an expired ticket or lack thereof will be higher than the cost of a three-day pass.

We used the Prague metro and bus only once - to get to the airport in the morning. Everything worked like clockwork. But riding around Prague itself on trams turned out to be the most enjoyable. So, one day we simply boarded the first tram we came across and got off at the stop we liked. Having climbed Petrin Hill, surrounded by cherry blossom trees, we found ourselves at the funicular, the passage of which - surprise, surprise! - also included in the price of the general pass. A couple of minutes - and we are at the foot of the Prague replica of the Parisian Eiffel Tower, from which our picturesque walk to Prague Castle began. By the way, the second such cable car is located in the Prague Zoo. And “rider cards” are also suitable for traveling on ferries.

Of course, the best way to walk around Prague is on foot, which is what we did, then in the evenings we bought cream “for tired legs” in pharmacies. But if you decide to save on a hotel, feel free to stay in remote areas, making sure that there is a public transport stop nearby. And if you need to quickly get to the other end of the city, take the Prague tram and enjoy the views around you. It's worth it.

How to use public transport in Prague? Without knowing the language and the principles of paying for travel, a tourist may fall into a slight shock before boarding a bus or entering the metro. After this article, it will be easier for you to choose and buy a ticket, understand the schedule and operating principle of Prague public transport. At the end of the note, I will show you how to most optimally plan a public transport route in Prague using an online service.

Find an inexpensive airport transfer!

Nothing prevents a person from taking care of his loved one in advance and booking a transfer from the airport or Prague Main Station in advance. But some people want to stay within a certain budget, others are interested in going through everything as much as possible with their own feet. Traffic jams again. There are many reasons why it would be worth exploring Prague city transport. This is what we will do now.

Basic principles of public transport in Prague:

• Availability of discounted travel depending on the age of the passenger. For children from 10 to 14 years old inclusive, age must be proven during control with a document, for example, a foreign passport.
• Lack of turnstiles and conductors. The availability of tickets is checked by mobile groups of inspectors; inspectors are accompanied by police officers in the metro.
• Transport in the Czech Republic operates strictly according to a schedule, which can be found at any stop or metro station, as well as on the Internet. Delays are very rare and most often occur on holidays. At the end of the note there are tips on how to use such schedules.
• Availability of stops "on request" on bus routes. In order to get off at such a stop, you must first press the "STOP" button on the bus. Make sure that the indicator above the door or in front of the bus lights up. In order to optimize traffic, it is planned to introduce stops on request on trams as well.
• Ground transport operates in Prague at night using regular tickets; separate routes are allocated for this. At stops, night trams and buses are marked separately with a route number on a black background.
• Stops on bus routes are available upon request. In Czech it sounds "na znameni". If you need to get off at such a stop, then press one of the STOP buttons located in several places on the bus in advance.

Tickets for public transport in Prague

• Tickets apply to three types of transport: bus, tram, metro. This also includes the lift road to Petřín. The ticket is marked with a composter only once at the beginning of the route. Transfers from one type of transport to another are carried out using a single ticket.
• Tickets are limited in time, you don’t need to look at the distance. If the ticket time for one trip is not used up, then you can go back with the same ticket.

* - only from SIM cards of Czech mobile operators. The cost of SMS is added to the ticket price according to the tariff.

Children under 5 years old travel free of charge. There is no need to pay for a stroller with a child; a stroller without a child is considered luggage. Likewise, a dog without a box requires the purchase of a baggage ticket.

The bicycle can be transported free of charge in the metro, on the funicular to Mount Petřín, and on certain tram lines on designated days.

With a regular ticket you can go up Mount Peterzyn by cable car. On weekends and holidays in good weather, a queue forms there, you can lose an extra 20-30 minutes. But this route itself is very picturesque.

Which tickets in Prague are convenient for tourists?

Anyone planning a week-long or more intensive trip around Prague by public transport can buy immediately 30 day coupon. It is valid from the date of purchase (unlike a ticket, it does not need to be validated) and costs 670 CZK. Such a ticket, if unnecessary, can be given for temporary use to someone else, and at the end of the trip, it can be passed on to someone else by inheritance. There are even small online flea markets on the Internet where such tickets are offered in large quantities!

The cheapest way to travel around Prague is with a personalized Litáčka card, but to do this you need to get one. Friends or a trusted person can order such a card for you in advance, since it takes 2-3 weeks to produce it. Having such a card makes sense only for frequent guests of Prague.

In Prague there are anonymous e-tickets Litachka, but for travel on public transport they are currently not much different from paper ones. The only reason is that if you lose your card, you can quickly restore it while saving your funds (credit), but you lose a paper coupon without the right to restore it. Restoring credit on the card will cost 250 CZK. If the credit remaining on the card is worth it, then it makes sense. This will take about 30 minutes at the transport company branch. When applying for a duplicate, you must name DIC code, which is assigned to each card.

Regular tickets for the funicular to Mount Peterzyn are valid, as well as all types of travel coupons. Eat funicular and Prague Zoo, but there you have to buy separate tickets for 20 CZK. Children under 6 years old are transported free of charge. Transporting dogs is prohibited, including in boxes. Strollers with children and golf equipment are allowed. Tickets can be bought from vending machines for small change (they do not require change), bills can be exchanged with the service staff. For six or more passengers you can buy a group ticket.

More detailed information is available in Czech, English and German on the passenger carrier's website city ​​of Prague.

Opening hours of Prague public transport

Metro daily 5:00 - 24:00

Daytime trams 4:30 - 0:30, night trams 0:30 - 4:30 (every 30 minutes)

Daytime buses 4:30 - 0:30, night buses 0:30 - 4:30 (every 30 - 60 minutes)

Funicular to Mount Peterzyn 9:00 - 23:30 (every 10 minutes in summer, 15 minutes in winter)

Where to buy transport tickets in Prague?

The capital of the Czech Republic is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and it is not surprising that many tourists are eager to visit it. Are you also planning to visit Prague? Great choice! This city offers amazing architecture, many unique sights and interesting places, friendly people, an exciting variety of entertainment, famous Czech beer and truly delicious food. Are you planning to travel to Prague on your own? Then read this article with useful information. We share tips that will be useful when traveling to Prague on your own.

How to get to Prague: tickets and visas

The capital of the Czech Republic is located in the center of Europe, and getting to Prague is quite easy. There are many airlines offering flights to Prague at affordable prices. In addition, it is possible to build a railway route. It is more spectacular and romantic, but may turn out to be too long. You can also get to Prague by bus, but this is perhaps the least comfortable option. You need to be a well-prepared tourist so that sitting for a long time in a bus seat does not spoil the impression of an exciting trip.

Choosing transport and buying tickets is a very significant moment if you are traveling to Prague on your own. When choosing a way to get to Prague, you should proceed from your preferences, financial capabilities and take into account the starting point of departure. For example, Czech Airlines and Smart Wings fly from Moscow. Ecoline bus routes are available with transfers in Riga. And the train and bus route can be laid through the Ukrainian Uzhgorod. From there there is a LEO Express flight to Prague, which involves crossing the border into Slovakia by bus and then boarding a direct train to Prague.

The travel time has a big influence on the cost of tickets to Prague. Obviously, during popular periods among tourists, the cost will be higher (and the city itself, accordingly, will be more crowded). Therefore, when deciding, take into account the cost of the trip.

Check which flight options to Prague are currently available:

As for obtaining a visa to the Czech Republic, for a tourist trip you will need a short-term Schengen visa. Before submitting an application to the Embassy of the Czech Republic, you must prepare all the documents listed on the official website: www.mzv.cz/moscow/ru. If you act strictly according to the rules of the embassy, ​​then there will be no problems in obtaining a visa.

Where to stay in Prague?

The Czech capital offers a huge variety of hotels. There are 4-5 star hotels and luxury apartments here. A little cheaper, but still with a fairly high level of comfort, you can stay in mini-hotels.

To save as much as possible, you can stay in hostels, of which there are quite a lot in Prague. Hostels often bring together a cheerful group, where it is easy to find new friends and company for walks and entertainment in the city. However, this option is suitable only for those who are ready to sacrifice comfort for the sake of saving and prefer cheerful companies to a relaxing holiday. Calculate your strength! You can search for hostels at www.hostelsclub.com.

When choosing a hotel in Prague, you should take into account the considerable size of the city. Having settled on the outskirts, it will take you a long time to get to the center, but that’s where all the most interesting things are located! The most convenient option is housing directly in the center or at least a 15-minute walk from it. However, there are a lot of tourists there and it can be noisy. Visitors often stay in the Zizkov area or on the left bank of the Vltava River, in the Smichov area, from which public transport runs to the center. This option is quite convenient and will be optimal for those who do not want to spend too much money on an independent trip to Prague. When choosing a place to stay, always carefully study the reviews of other tourists - from them you can often find out important details and features of a particular hotel.

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You can find an inexpensive hotel and see reviews from real travelers on the popular resource booking.com. By the way, here are some of the special offers that are currently presented on it:

Transport in Prague

How to get there from the airport

Prague airport is located at a distance from the city, so after landing in the Czech Republic you will have to use local transport. Taxi drivers will be happy to take you to any area and to any hotel, but their services are not cheap. It is quite comfortable to get to the center of Prague on a special Czech Airlines bus, which departs very often. He even stops near major hotels! If you decide to plunge into real Prague life from the very start, you can leave the airport by bus No. 119, which runs to the Dejvicka metro station. This is not only cheap, but also optimal for those who do not live in the center.

If you do not want to take risks and like certainty, use the airport transfer service, which can be booked in advance, even before the trip. In this case, you will be sure that you will quickly get to the hotel, and you will know the cost of the trip in advance. Transfer options include an economical shuttle (tourist bus) and more comfortable options for individual trips. It all depends on your preferences and on the company you are traveling with. .

How to get around the city

Prague railway station is located next to the Main Station metro station. There is also a metro station near the central Prague bus station - it is called Florenc. When you arrive in Prague on your own, you should get a map of the city with transport routes marked on it. This will protect you from unnecessary wandering and spending on taxi drivers.

If you are staying near the historical center of Prague, then it will be most pleasant to travel on foot (and our offline map will not let you get lost in the city). But if you need to use public transport, then this should not be a problem - the Prague metro (3 color-coded lines green A, yellow B and red C), trams, buses, ferries and the funicular to Petrin Hill are at your service.

Metro in Prague open daily from 5.00 to 24.00. Train intervals are 2-3 minutes, on holidays and weekends - 4-10 minutes.

Trams. This type of transport can be called a signature one in the capital of the Czech Republic; it is very pleasant to ride them. Most of the 35 active routes operate from 4.30 to midnight. There are also night trams in Prague - numbers 51 to 59. They run at intervals of 30 minutes.

Historical tram
The Prague public transport network features the so-called Historical Tram No. 91, which travels around the city center and will help you get to the main attractions of Prague.

Buses in Prague they run in the same time interval as trams. Night trips are carried out by buses with numbers 501-513. You can find timetables at Prague stops, so you will know exactly how long you will have to wait for transport.

Funicular allows you to travel from the Újezd ​​stop to Petřín Hill. It is open from 9.00 to 23.30 from April to October and from 9.00 to 23.20 from November to March. Movement intervals are 15 minutes.

Fare

Tickets are available for one trip (30 or 90 minutes), and long-term for different types of transport. It is more convenient and profitable for tourists to buy long-term tickets for 24 or 72 hours in order to freely travel around the city. They are sold in special vending machines. When entering the metro, bus or tram, tickets must be validated.

The fine for traveling without a ticket is CZK 800.

If you decide to purchase a Prague Card, you will no longer need to worry about travel tickets, because... The card includes free travel on all types of public transport, including tram, bus, metro, Airport Express bus, Petrin funicular and ferry. The card is simply presented to the controller instead of a travel ticket along with identification documents.

Taxi in Prague

It’s nice and useful to know that Prague has officially set maximum prices for transport services in passenger taxis. Don't be fooled! The maximum cost for landing is 40 CZK, traveling 1 km is 28 CZK, waiting is 6 CZK per minute.

In popular tourist areas you can find special Fair Place taxi ranks with a yellow sign. Under the sign you can find a table with approximate prices for certain points. Taking a taxi in these places is safer, as they are rented by trusted companies.

Are you planning an active tourism program? Buy your Prague Card

Arriving in Prague on your own, you will be able to plan your days without looking at other people. If you plan to actively visit, then take advantage of the Prague Card. This will help you save significantly on entrance fees. The guest card will allow you to visit 50 major Prague attractions and museums (including historical buildings and exhibitions, Old Town Hall, Petrin Lookout Tower, National Gallery, National Museum, Jewish Museum, etc.)

In addition, the price of the card includes free movement on public transport (metro, bus, tram, funicular) for the entire duration of the card, transfer to the airport by Airport Express bus, an information booklet and even a sightseeing tour of Prague.

The card is issued for 2, 3 or 4 days and cannot be transferred to another person. You can buy the card already in the city (at one of 24 sales points) or buy in advance online, and upon arrival simply pick up the card at the airport or in the city center. You can find out more about the Prague Card guest card and order it online.

By the way, if you came to Prague for only 3 days, we offer ideas on how to spend them with benefit and pleasure: short.

Self-guided tours of Prague

If you are traveling to Prague on your own, organizing an excursion and cultural program falls entirely on you. If you have a “rubber” budget, you can find personal guide and transfer the worries of organizing the excursion part of the trip to him. You can also choose group excursion, but there are some nuances here - your impressions will largely depend on the personality and qualifications of the guide, as well as on how lucky you are with the composition of the group. Not everyone likes to jostle in a noisy tourist crowd and run after a guide without having time to look at the place of interest or take enough photographs. Besides, this pleasure is also not cheap.

Some people prefer to explore the city with paper guide to Prague. This gives a certain freedom and flexibility, however, it does not always provide enough necessary information, and the available information in guidebooks, as a rule, is presented very dryly. In addition, not everyone likes to carry a rather heavy book with them on a walk, which still does not guarantee that you will not get lost in the city!

What remains? “Advanced” and budget-conscious tourists carefully study the city before their trip and think through independent routes around Prague. This is a great way to start your trip early and arrive in Prague already somewhat familiar with it. But this is a huge job that requires a lot of effort and a lot of time. Those who have “scoured” the Internet in search of the necessary information, studied guidebooks, and reviewed many resources in order to create their own route and become “your own guide” know that such preparation takes more than one day.

Where should thrifty and freedom-loving tourists go who do not want to spend money on expensive excursions, but do not have enough time or experience to create their own “guide”? And how can we make our work easier for all those who decide to organize excursions in Prague on their own? Contact a good assistant -. It is installed on your smartphone and will not leave you alone with the boring pages of a paper guidebook, will not let you get lost in the city, no matter where you wander (thanks to an offline map and GPS navigation), will help you easily find the most interesting places in the city and will tell fascinating stories about the sights Prague. And all this is free or very inexpensive! An offline map, a catalog of attractions, useful information about the city can be downloaded and used absolutely free, and individual audio tours cost no more than simple souvenirs! For now, the guide is only available for iPhone, but owners of other devices will soon be able to use it.

And, of course, you cannot deprive yourself of the pleasure of experiencing the culinary merits of Prague and the Czech Republic. A huge number of local “gentlemen” and pubs will offer you delicious draft beer. These are perhaps the best places to eat in Prague. It's calmer and tastier than fast food and bistros. And not as expensive as in fine restaurants.

Don’t forget to check out Prague’s many shops and souvenir shops, where you can find a lot of interesting things! You don’t want to return from a trip to Prague empty-handed, do you?

Be careful about carefully planning your stay in the Czech capital - no matter how interesting your plans may seem, be prepared to easily abandon them and spend time on what really attracts you to the city. We can say that magnificent Prague will tell you what to do on its own! Look around, walk along the streets, admire the views, communicate with people, breathe the real life of this beautiful city. The results of a trip are measured not by the number of wonders you see, but by your inner satisfaction, which should be put in first place both at the planning stage and directly during the trip!

Useful phones

Emergency numbers (calling these numbers is free):

150 – fire service
155 – emergency medical care
156 – city police
158 – police
112 – integrated emergency telephone number.