Prague’s public transport system is one of the best values in Central Europe. A single 90-minute ticket (CZK 50 paper, CZK 46 in the PID Lítačka app) covers trams, metro, buses, and trolleybuses, with unlimited interchanges within the 90-minute window. The system is run by DPP (Dopravní podnik hlavního města Prahy) and is integrated, well-signposted, and reliable. Note: the Petřín funicular has been closed since September 2024 for a full rebuild, expected to reopen around late summer/autumn 2026.

Table of Contents

The Ticket System

Single ticket options:

30-minute ticket: CZK 39 paper / 36 in the app (for very short journeys; limited interchanges)
90-minute ticket: CZK 50 paper / 46 in the app (recommended for most journeys; allows unlimited interchanges)
24-hour pass: CZK 150 paper / 140 in the app (worth buying from day 1 for a busy day)
3-day pass: CZK 350 paper / 340 in the app (best value for visitors staying 3 or more days)

Tickets are bought from yellow ticket machines at metro stations and some tram stops; from DPP mobile app; or via SMS (text to 90206 for a 90-minute ticket). The machines accept coins and credit cards; the app is the most convenient.

Validate tickets before boarding by inserting them into the yellow validators at the tram door or metro entrance. Ticket inspectors operate throughout the network; riding without a valid validated ticket produces an on-the-spot fine of CZK 1,200 (or CZK 1,500 if paid within 15 days; CZK 2,000 base thereafter). Inspectors speak English; being a tourist is not an exemption.

The Tram Network

Prague’s trams are the most useful transport for visitors. Key routes:

Tram 22: The essential tourist route. Náměstí Míru (Vinohrady) to Nové Město to Old Town (Národní třída, Staroměstská) to the Vltava crossing to Malá Strana to Prague Castle (Pražský hrad stop) and beyond to Bílá Hora. A single ride covers the tourist city.

Tram 17: Along the right bank of the Vltava; connects the National Theatre, Staroměstská (Old Town), and the Holešovice direction. Good for the riverside walk.

Trams 22 and 23: Both serve Náměstí Míru in Vinohrady; they follow slightly different routes through the centre.

Night trams run from approximately midnight to 4:30am: a separate network (trams 91 to 99 and higher numbers) with reduced frequency. Standard tickets are valid.

The Metro

Three lines:

Line A (green): East-west through the centre. Airport bus terminus at Nádraží Veleslavín; Old Town at Staroměstská; Vinohrady at Náměstí Míru and Jiřího z Poděbrad.
Line B (yellow): Crosses northwest to southeast. Main bus station at Florenc; main train station connection at Hlavní nádraží (Line C transfer).
Line C (red): North-south. Main train station at Hlavní nádraží; Vyšehrad fortress at Vyšehrad.

Metro runs from 5am to midnight. The network is reliable and fast; trains run every 2 to 4 minutes during peak hours.

Airport Transfer in Detail

Trolleybus 59 to metro (recommended): Departures from Terminal 1 (international) and Terminal 2 (Schengen). This trolleybus replaced the old bus 119 in March 2024; any guide still mentioning “bus 119” is out of date. Runs every 7 to 10 minutes during day hours, every 15 to 20 minutes overnight. To Nádraží Veleslavín (Line A metro): about 17 minutes. From Nádraží Veleslavín to Náměstí Míru (Vinohrady): 8 minutes. From Náměstí Míru to Old Town (Staroměstská): 7 minutes. Total airport to Old Town: approximately 40 to 50 minutes. Cost: CZK 50 paper / 46 in the app (standard 90-minute ticket, valid for the entire journey including metro transfer). Bus 100 to Zličín (Line B metro) is the other daytime option, about 18 minutes to the metro.

Bolt/Uber: CZK 350 to 600 depending on destination and traffic. 25 to 45 minutes from the airport. Available from the official rideshare pickup zone at both terminals; follow DPP/airport signage.

Common Ticketing Mistakes

The most common visitor mistake is buying a ticket but not validating it: the ticket itself is not proof of payment until it has been stamped in a yellow validator, and inspectors treat an unvalidated ticket the same as no ticket at all. The second most common mistake is assuming a multi-day pass covers the airport route automatically; it does, since trolleybus 59 sits within the standard fare zone, but visitors sometimes buy a separate airport ticket unnecessarily. The third is boarding the metro or a tram with a 30-minute ticket for a longer cross-city journey; if there is any doubt, the 90-minute ticket is the safer default.