Transportation in Prague
Divided by the formidable River Vltava, central Prague is a pedestrian-friendly city. Excellent public transport makes discovering the city's ten districts simple. Each has its own unique flavour. Historic Staré Mě sto (the Old Town) is on the East bank of the river and centres on the Old Town Square. North of here is the refined old Jewish district of Josefov. Travel south and east for the shops, restaurants and bars of bustling Nové Mě sto, and east again for hip Vinohrady. Cross the river to the West bank via the medieval Charles Bridge to reach picturesque Malá Strana and stately Hradčany, home to Prague Castle.
Read more about transport from and to the airport
Foot
Much of central Prague is pedestrianised, including the Old Town Square and several of the streets leading off it, as well as the cobbled lanes of Malá Strana. This is where many of the top sights cluster, so put on your walking shoes.
Metro
Prague's extensive underground network, or Metro, is a quick way to get around. There are three lines, A (green), B (yellow) and C (red), which criss-cross the city centre and terminate in the suburbs.
Tram
Trams are handy for travelling all over the city. Popular routes can get crowded, but they are perfect for sightseeing and cover a wider area than the Metro. The ‘Nostalgic Tram No 91' does a heritage circuit between the Public Transport Museum and the Old Town from April to November.
Bus
Buses tend to be less crowded than trams, but are mostly of use for travel outside of the city centre.
Taxi
Prague has no shortage of taxis, but if you want to catch a cab, you should order one by phone from a trustworthy, official company. You may well be overcharged if you catch a taxi at one of the ranks in the main tourist areas. Don't hail one on the street either – it is illegal for them to stop anywhere but at an official taxi rank.
Rent your car
Prague’s narrow medieval streets, many of which are one-way, and shortage of parking mean that it’s easier to park at one of the park-and-ride car parks by metro stations in the outskirts. They are secure and only cost €0.30 for the day, compared to €0.70-€1.30 per hour in the city centre.
Transportation Tips
Travel passes – available for one, three or 5 days – give you unlimited travel on trams, buses and the metro system in Prague. Buy them at any metro station and validate your ticket (only once per ticket and/or journey) in the little machines as soon as you board a bus or tram or enter a metro station.
