Prague Getting there & around

Getting there & around

Prague’s excellent integrated public-transport system combines metro, tram and bus. It’s operated by Dopravní podnik hlavního město Prahy (DPP; 800 19 18 17; www.dpp.cz), with information desks at Ruzyně airport (open 7am to 10pm) and in four metro stations – Muzeum (7am to 9pm), Můstek, Anděl and Nádraží Holešovice (all 7am to 6pm) – where you can get tickets, directions, a multilingual transport-system map, a map of night services (noční provoz) and a detailed English-language guide to the whole system. Prague Information Service branches also have a superb map detailing public-transport information for more than 100 Prague landmarks and attractions.

On metro trains and newer trams and buses, an electronic display shows the route number and the name of the next stop, and a recorded voice announces each station or stop. As the train, tram or bus pulls away, the announcer says ‘Příští stanice…’ (The next station is…) or ‘Příští zastávka…’ (The next stop is…), perhaps noting that it’s a přestupní stanice (transfer station). At metro stations, signs point you towards the výstup (exit) or to a přestup (transfer to another line).

The metro operates from 5am to midnight daily. Line A runs from northwest Prague at Dejvická to the east at Depo Hostivař; line B runs from the southwest at Zličín to the northeast at Černý Most; and line C runs from the north at Letňany to the southeast at Háje. Line A intersects line C at Muzeum, line B intersects line C at Florenc and line A intersects line B at Můstek.

After the metro closes, night trams (Nos 51 to 58) and buses (Nos 501 to 512) still rumble across the city about every 40 minutes through the night. If you’re planning a late evening, find out if one of these services passes near where you’re staying. Short-hop tickets cannot be used on these services.

To/from airport

Getting into town

To get into town, buy a ticket from the public-transport (Dopravní podnik; DPP) desk in arrivals and take bus 119 (26Kč, 20 minutes, every 10 minutes 4am to midnight) to the end of the line (Dejvická metro station), then continue by metro into the city centre (another 15 minutes; no new ticket needed). Note that you’ll also need a half-fare (13Kč) ticket for your backpack or suitcase for the metro (if it’s larger than 25cm x 45cm x 70cm).

Alternatively, the Airport Express (adult/child 50/30Kč, every 30 min; h5am-10pm) bus service goes to Praha-hlavní nádraží via the Dejvická metro station. Luggage is free on this service; buy your ticket from the driver.

Another option is a Cedaz minibus (220 114 296; www.cedaz.cz), which leaves from just outside arrivals. Buy your ticket from the driver (120Kč, 20 minutes, every 30 minutes between 7.30am and 7pm). There are stops near Dejvická metro, or in town at the Czech Airlines office near nám Republiky. You can also hire a Cedaz minibus right to the door of your hotel or any other address (480Kč for one to four people, 960Kč for five to eight). Book and pay at the Cedaz desk in the arrivals hall.

Prague Airport Shuttle (800 870 878; www.prague-airport-shuttle.cz) and SmartShuttle (602 357 072 www.smartshuttle.cz) operate similar services.

Airport Cars (14014, 220 223 222) have a 24-hour taxi service charging around 550Kč to 600Kč into the centre of Prague. Drivers usually speak some English and accept Visa credit cards.

^ Back to top

Car & motorcycle

Driving in Prague is no fun, especially in the narrow, winding streets of the city centre. Trying to find your way around – or to park legally – while coping with trams, buses, other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, can make you wish you’d decided not to drive. Try not to arrive or leave on a Friday or Sunday afternoon or evening, when half the population seems to be heading to and from their weekend cottages.

Central Prague has many pedestrian-only streets. They are marked with ‘Pěší zóna’ (Pedestrian Zone) signs, and only service vehicles and taxis are allowed in these areas. Offering around-the-clock emergency services nationwide is ÚAMK (Automoto-klub; 1230; ww.uamk.cz; Na Strži 9/1837, Prague 4; 8am-noon & 12.30-4.30pm Mon-Fri; Budějovická then 21 to Na Strži).

Car hire

The main international car-rental chains all have offices in Prague and have airport pick-up points; however, small local companies offer much better prices. They are also less likely to have fluent, English-speaking staff, and it’s often easier to book by email than by phone. Through a local company, typical rates for a Škoda Fabia are around 700/3800Kč per day/week including unlimited kilometres, collision-damage waiver and value-added tax (VAT). Reputable local companies include the following: Secco Car (220 802 361; www.seccocar.cz; Přístavní 39, Holešovice; j1, 3, 5, 25 to Dělnická) Vecar (224 314 361; www.vecar.org; Svatovítská 7, Dejvice; mDejvická) Cars can also be picked up at Prague’s Ruzyně airport. West Car Praha (235 365 307; www.westcarpraha.cz, in Czech; Veleslavínská 17, Veleslavín; mDejvická)

^ Back to top

Travel documents

Tickets

You need to buy a ticket before you board a bus, tram or metro. Tickets are sold from machines at metro stations and major tram stops, at newsstands, Trafiky snack shops, PNS newspaper kiosks, hotels, PIS tourist information offices, all metro station ticket offices and DPP information offices.

A transfer ticket (jízdenka) valid on tram, metro, bus and the Petřín funicular per adult/child aged six to 15 years costs 26/13Kč; kids under six ride free. You’ll also need a 13Kč ticket for each large suitcase or backpack (larger than 25cm x 45cm x 70cm). There’s no extra charge for prams or pushchairs.

Validate (punch) your ticket by sticking it in the little yellow machine in the metro station lobby or on the bus or tram the first time you board; this stamps the time and date on it. Once validated, transfer tickets remain valid for 75 minutes, and within this time period you can make unlimited transfers between all types of public transport (you don’t need to punch the ticket again).

There’s also a short-hop ticket (adult/child 18/9Kč), valid for 20 minutes on buses and trams, or for up to five metro stations. No transfers are allowed with these (except between metro lines), and they’re not valid on the Petřín funicular nor on night trams (Nos 51 to 58) or buses (Nos 501 to 512).

Being caught without a valid ticket entails a 500Kč on-the-spot fine (100Kč for not having a luggage ticket). The plain-clothes inspectors travel incognito, but will show a red-and-gold metal badge when they ask for your ticket. A few may demand a higher fine from foreigners and pocket the difference, so insist on a receipt (doklad) before paying.

You can also buy tickets valid for 24 hours (100Kč) and three/five days (330/500Kč). Again, these must be validated on first use only; if a ticket is stamped twice, it becomes invalid. With these tickets, you don’t need to pay an extra fare for your luggage. Three and five day tickets are valid for one adult and one child. And no, we don’t know why one three-day ticket is more expensive than three 24-hour tickets.

^ Back to top