Public transport from Vaclav Havel Airport to Prague centre

Public transport from Václav Havel Airport to the centre of Prague is fast and frequent. Bus and metro is the best way to get to Prague centre provided you only have hand luggage. All you need is a public transport ticket. The bonus is that public transport in Prague is not only efficient but also cheap.  Public transport night buses are available for arrivals after midnight.

By public transport to Prague centre

Travel time by public transport from the airport to the city centre is 40 to 45 minutes, the first stretch is by bus and the second by metro. A taxi won’t make the journey faster, maybe even slower because the metro can continue without delay while traffic often gets stuck.
Taking public transport to the centre of Prague is especially useful if you have only hand luggage. If you have a lot of heavy suitcases, the bus and metro are less attractive because the bus is often full and there is little space to put down (large) suitcases. In addition, you will have to have to transfer from the bus to the metro. If you have a lot of luggage a taxi is more convenient and you can book in advance here.

Which bus goes from Prague airport to the centre?

Getting to Prague centre involves a bus and metro ride. This sounds complicated but it isn’t. The bus is fast and connects with the metro that leaves frequently. This means that there are no long waits.
During the day you have a choice of three bus lines, depending on your final destination in Prague and after midnight there are two buses. The daytime buses run from 5 am to midnight and the night buses from midnight to 4:30 am.

Buses to Prague centre

Day buses

1. Trollybus 59 takes you in 17 minutes to Nádraží Veleslavín on metro line A which goes to Mustek and Museum in the city centre. Bus and metro run at intervals of 3 to 10 minutes depending on the time of day.

2. Bus 100 takes you in 15 minutes to Zličín on metro line B which goes to the centre via Andel, Mustek and Namesti Republiky stations. This bus, less frequent than the 119, runs at intervals of 10 to 20 minutes.

3. Bus 191 will take you to Andel on metro line B. This bus runs at 5 to 30 minute intervals. The journey time to Andel is 50 minutes and is therefore much longer than buses 100 and 119. Take this bus if you have enough time and would like to do a bit of sightseeing on the way to the centre.

Night buses

1. Bus 910 takes you to I.P. Pavlova on metro line C and runs every half hour. Journey time is 45 minutes.

2. Bus 907 takes you to namesti Republiky on metro line B in 40 minutes and runs every hour. Journey time is 40 minutes

Buying public transport tickets at the airport

Public transport tickets are valid on buses, trams and metro. Whether you buy your ticket from a ticket machine, from the driver or at the Info kiosk, always validate it before your journey starts. When you change trams or trains, you need not validate it again.
Public transport tickets have different prices depending on duration: 30 minutes, 90 minutes or 24 or 72 hours.

This is where to buy public transport tickets at Prague airport
1. Info kiosk in Terminal 2, open from 07.00 to 21.00
2. Ticket machines in Terminal 1 and 2
3. Ticket machine at the bus stop
4. Ticket machine inside the bus

Ticket machines accept credit and debit cards or contactless

Bus stops for buses to Prague centre

Arrivals at Terminal 2 are from Schengen countries and at Terminal 1 from non-Schengen countries.

* Exit Terminal 1, cross the parking lot to get to the bus stop. The bus route is via Terminal 2 to Prague centre
* Exit Terminal 2: cross the street and the bus stop is on your right

Tip 1:: When there are many people waiting at the bus stop at terminal 2, walk over to the bus stop at terminal 1, as this is where the bus begins its journey and you are more likely to get a seat.

Tip 2: Change no foreign currency for CZK (Czech koruna) at the airport as the rates are very unfavourable. This also holds good for the ATM’s at the airport. More about where to change money in Prague  

Train to the airport

As yet there is no train from Prague centre to Václav Havel Airport. In 2020, the construction of a train connection from Masarykovo nádraží in central Prague to Václav Havel Airport started. This railway line will continue on to Kladno, 25 km North-West of Prague. This new track is via the Negrelli viaduct, then through a tunnel to the airport. The train station at the airport will be underground. Escalators connect the platform to Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The line will be operational in 2030.

photos: Marianne Crone