As is the case with many Eastern European cities, Prague’s fairly compact medieval center is best enjoyed on the hoof, with major attractions like the Old Town Square, the Jewish Museum, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral all huddled relatively closely around the mighty Vltava River. But there are many other ways of getting around Prague, from the fun to the functional. Read on for our whistle stop guide to getting around the Golden City.
Arriving in Prague
Václav Havel Airport Prague lies around 13 kilometers west of the city center. That’s around a 25-minute cab ride to the Old Town or Wenceslas Square outside of rush hour. During busy times (7AM-10AM and 4PM-7PM) that time can almost double in length. Airport cabs and privately booked cars will both cost around 750 CZK (about 30 USD) for a one-way trip into town, but cabs can be a little hit and miss so it’s often worth planning ahead and pre-booking a reliable private service. Traveling solo? The airport shuttle might be a better option for you, costing around half what you’d pay for a taxi or private car. Obviously, if there are two or more in your party, the car is the better choice. Uber and other cab hire apps also operate in Prague.
Budget travelers can opt for the far cheaper public transport system. You’ll find a bus station right outside terminal 2, from where services run to central Prague every few minutes. Best is to take the 59 or 119 and transfer to metro line A for onward services to downtown. Tickets are priced at 40 CZK (less than 2 USD) for 90 minutes, which covers travel on buses, trams and subway trains.
You can read our full guide to getting into town from Prague Airport here.
Getting Around Prague on Foot
Pack your comfiest shoes: you’re about to experience some of the planet’s most atmospheric strolls, from fiery autumn sunsets over medieval Charles Bridge to glute-straining hikes up Petřín Hill to its Eiffel Tower-esque lookout tower (fear not: those 360-degree views across the whole of Prague will make all your efforts worthwhile). Both the Old Town and historic Malá Strana district in the castle foothills are closed to most vehicles. And the old town’s fairytale square, complete with soaring gothic spires, baroque palaces and a quite extraordinary 15th-century astronomical clock, is an absolute joy to explore on foot. There are also plenty of cute cafés, cavernous beer halls, and authentic Czech restaurants scattered around its lanes and on bustling Wenceslas Square, ensuring you’re never far from an life-giving goulash, kobliha (donut) sugar fix, or refreshing local pilsner.
You can get in and out of the center quickly thanks to the efficient tram and metro system, and it’s these you’ll want to rely on for exploring attractions further afield, like Prague Zoo, medieval Vyšehrad Castle, the hip MeetFactory arts hub, and, if you don’t fancy the hike uphill, Prague Castle.
Getting Around Prague by Public Transport
Regular, reliable and cheap to use, Prague’s indispensable tram system connects all extremities of the city. The service runs 24/7, with increased frequency during peak times, and just a few rattling around here and there between midnight and 5AM. Don’t be put off by the rather complicated-looking tram map – once you get used to it, it’s fairly straightforward to use and will save you a heck of a lot of shoe leather if you plan to do a lot of sightseeing (as you most certainly should).
It’s also a very scenic way to traverse the city; tram 22’s route, which weaves through Malá Strana, past Prague Castle and across the Vltava to the Old Town and beyond, is particularly picturesque. Buy tickets on platforms, on the trams and in Tabák shops across the city. Or get yours online here. Short-term tickets that are valid for 30 minutes, 90 minutes, 24 hours or 72 hours are probably the most convenient for tourists. These can also be used on buses and the metro. Note that if you buy your ticket anywhere but on board, you’ll need to validate it before commencing your first trip. This is done at yellow stamping machines located on buses and trams, and at the entrances to subway platforms – this should be done only once, effectively time-stamping your ticket and commencing the countdown on your chosen duration.
Pro-tip: while far less fun than the tram, the metro is certainly the fastest way to hop between attractions, especially over longer distances. Buses are largely used for reaching suburban areas that most tourists will have little call to visit.
Getting Around Prague: Best of the Rest
Touristy it may be, but a hop-on hop-off bus tour is as good an introduction as any to a city like Prague, allowing you to tick off a number of big-hitting attractions in a relatively short time. There’s also the convenience of disembarking at the sites you want to see and cruising on past the ones you don’t. Speaking of cruising, boat tours are also a thriving mini industry here. Less a means of getting from A to B and more a way to get a fresh perspective on some of the city’s beautiful bridges and riverside highlights, they're definitely worth considering for some effortless and, let’s face it, pretty romantic sightseeing.
You can also get around Prague by bike, though the narrow lanes, cobbled surfaces and relatively limited cycling infrastructure aren’t always conducive to comfortable riding. You’ll find a few bike rental shops around the city, as well as pink Rekola bikes at dedicated stands around town. You’ll need to download the app to rent these, but rides start at an affordable 35 CZK (1.50 USD) for half an hour’s use.
Perhaps the most fun way to travel in Prague, the Petřín funicular railway connects Malá Strana to the lookout tower and castle district and, most importantly, spares you a frankly arduous climb. The cost? A relatively steep (pun intended) 60 CZK one-way. But savvy travelers toting one- or three-day transport passes ride free.
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