Discover how to navigate Prague like a local with its cheap, reliable and fully integrated public transport system. This guide will help you buy the right ticket, avoid fines, and reach every must-see spot with ease – whether you prefer trams, buses, or the metro.
For more details, including maps and real-time schedules, check also the official Prague Public Transport page.
Prague Public Transport in a Nutshell
Prague boasts one of Europe’s most efficient and user-friendly public transport systems, making it easy for visitors to navigate the city. Whether you’re exploring historic sites or venturing into local neighborhoods, here’s what you need to know:
🗺️ Overview of the Transport Network
Prague’s integrated transport system (PID) includes:
- Metro: Three lines—A (green), B (yellow), and C (red) – form the backbone of the network, with interchange stations at Můstek (A/B), Muzeum (A/C), and Florenc (B/C)
- Trams: 26 daytime and 9 nighttime lines cover the city extensively. Key lines like 9, 17, and 22 run frequently and are useful for sightseeing.
- Buses: Serve areas not covered by trams or metro, including routes to and from Václav Havel Airport.
- Funicular: Connects Újezd to Petřín Hill, offering panoramic views. Under reconstruction right now.
- Ferries: Operate on the Vltava River, providing scenic cross-river transport.
Most of these modes are integrated under a unified ticketing system.
🎫 Tickets and Fares
Tickets are time-based and valid across all public transport modes:
- 30-minute ticket: CZK 30
- 90-minute ticket: CZK 40
- 24-hour pass: CZK 120
- 72-hour pass: CZK 330
Children under 15 and seniors over 65 travel free with valid ID. Passengers aged 60–65 receive a 50% discount.
🛒 Purchasing Tickets
You can buy tickets:
- At ticket machines in metro stations and major tram stops.
- Onboard trams and buses via contactless payment terminals.
- Tobacco / newspaper shops
- Through the PID Lítačka mobile app.
🚨 Ticket Validation & Inspections: Don’t Get Fined
Tickets for Prague’s public transport must be validated before travel. If you purchase a paper ticket from a vending machine, tobacco shop, or metro vestibule, don’t forget to stamp it in a yellow validator before boarding. The machine prints the date and time on your ticket – from that moment, your ticket is valid for 30 or 90 minutes, or for 24 or 72 hours, depending on the type. Without validation, your ticket is not valid and you risk a fine. Ticket inspectors are strict and unlikely to make exceptions.
Prague’s public transport operates on a proof-of-payment system – there are no turnstiles or conductors, and inspections are random. Plainclothes ticket inspectors can board any tram, bus, or metro at any time, day or night. If you’re caught without a valid ticket – whether it’s expired, unvalidated, or missing altogether – you can be fined 1,500 CZK (around €63). The fine is slightly reduced if you pay on the spot. Our advice? Don’t risk it – it’s not worth the stress or the money.
🕒 Operating Hours
- Metro: Operates daily from approximately 4:45 AM to midnight.
- Trams and Buses: Daytime services run from 4:30 AM to midnight. Night services (lines 91–99 for trams and 901–915 for buses) operate at 30-minute intervals.
✈️ Airport Connections
To reach the city center from Václav Havel Airport:
- Bus 59: Connects to Nádraží Veleslavín metro station (Line A).
- Bus 100: Connects to Zličín metro station (Line B).
The journey takes approximately 45–60 minutes.
♿ Accessibility
Most metro stations and newer trams are wheelchair-accessible. For detailed information on barrier-free travel, visit the Prague City Tourism website.
For more details, including maps and real-time schedules, visit the official Prague Public Transport page.
Prague Public Transport Discounts: Who Rides for Free?
Note: Always carry appropriate identification to prove eligibility for free travel.
🧒 Children
- Under 6 years: Travel for free when accompanied by a person over 10 years old.
- 6–10 years: Travel for free within Prague. No proof of age is required, except when traveling on PID trains, where age verification is necessary.
- 10–15 years: Travel for free within Prague, provided they can prove their age with a document containing their name, date of birth, and photo (e.g., passport, ID card).
👵 Seniors
- 65 years and older: Travel for free within Prague. Proof of age is required (e.g., passport, national ID card).
🐶 Dogs
- Dogs travel for free within Prague when accompanied by a passenger with a valid ticket.
🚲 Bicycles
- Bicycles can be transported for free, but only on the metro, funicular, ferries, and during designated times on certain tram lines. They are not permitted on buses.
👶 Prams
- Baby strollers with a child inside are transported free of charge on all Prague Integrated Transport routes.
Sightseeing in Prague from a Tram Window
Forget expensive sightseeing buses – Prague’s trams offer one of the best (and cheapest) ways to explore the city like a local. For the price of a regular public transport ticket, you can hop on a tram and enjoy panoramic views of castles, riverbanks, historic squares, and local neighborhoods. Here are the tram routes we recommend for a self-guided tour:
Best Prague Sightseeing Tram Lines
🏰 Tram 22 – A Classic Tourist Route
If you only take one tram ride in Prague, make it this one. Tram 22 winds its way through some of the city’s most famous landmarks:
- Prague Castle (stop: Pražský hrad)
- Malá Strana – charming cobbled streets and amazing baroque architecture of Saint Nicolaus Church (stop: Malostranské náměstí)
- Petřín hill (stop: Újezd)
🌉 Tram 17 – Riverside Views and Modern Art
Running along the Vltava River, Tram 17 is ideal for those who love scenic water views. Enjoy one of the most beautiful tram rides in Prague!
- Pass through the vibrant district of Holešovice – home to the National Gallery (stop: Veletržní palác).
- Views of Charles Bridge and Prague Castle, the National Theatre, the Dancing House, and Vyšehrad.
- Great for a relaxed daytime ride, and even better around sunrise or sunset for stunning views.
Official Tram Sightseeing: Prague’s Historic Tram Line No. 42
Take a Trip to History
Looking for a unique way to explore Prague’s historic heart? Hop aboard Tram Line No. 42, a heritage tram that takes you past the city’s most iconic landmarks – all from the comfort of a beautifully restored vintage carriage.
🎩 What Makes It Special?
Unlike regular public transport, Line 42 is a hop-on, hop-off heritage line designed specifically for sightseeing. It runs daily, year-round, and offers a curated route through the Old Town, Lesser Town, and the castle district – areas steeped in centuries of history.
This is not part of Prague’s standard PID transport network – regular tickets and Lítačka passes are not valid here.
🗺️ Route Highlights
You’ll pass by (and can get off at):
- Prague Castle (Pražský hrad & Královský letohrádek)
- Malostranské náměstí
- Charles Bridge (stop: Malostranská)
- National Theatre & Národní třída
- Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí)
- Old Town stops like Dlouhá třída and Náměstí Republiky
The full ride lasts approximately 41 minutes, and trams run every 40 minutes from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
🎫 Tickets & Prices
- All-day pass (valid for 24 hours): CZK 400
- Discounted fare (children 4–15, students up to 26, seniors 65+, disabled passengers): CZK 300
- Children under 3 years: ride free
🛒 Where to Buy Tickets:
- Directly from the conductor onboard (cash or card)
- Tourist Information Centres:
- Můstek
- Old Town Hall (Staroměstská radnice)
- Petřín Lookout Tower
- Prague Castle
🎟️ Once purchased, tickets are valid for 24 hours from validation – but only on lines 42, 41, and K.
💡 Local Tip: This ride is perfect for photography lovers and those short on time – you’ll cover a huge part of Prague’s historic centre without needing to walk for miles.
