Tram and Metro in Prague

Public transport in Prague and all you need to know about metro, tram and bus. Public transport in Prague is cheap, efficient and well-organized. Metro and tram run frequently so you never have to wait long for your connection. If you want to avoid hassle, buy a public transport pass valid for 24 hours or 72 hours, or buy separate tickets for each journey. You have the choice of 30 or 90 minutes travel time. You must validate your ticket at the start of your trip and from then on you ticket is valid for the period you have chosen and there is no need to validate it again when changing trams.

Buying public transport tickets in Prague

Tram drivers do not sell or check tickets. You travel on the basis of honesty: every traveler validates his or her ticket at the entrance of the metro or in the yellow machine inside the tram. In the tram and metro, inspectors in civilian clothes carry out periodic checks. They show their ID card and ask for your ticket. If you cannot show a valid ticket, you will be fined and pay on the spot. No exception for tourists.
Read all about buying public transport tickets in Prague here

PID mobile application

The PID info app can be downloaded for free in Google Play or the App Store and provides information about traveling by public transport in Prague as well as regional bus and train connections.

The app gives information about all connections, tram and bus stops, metro stations and ferries and the current departure times or delays from every stop or metro station.

A paper metro and tram map can be found in a racks at many metro stations or in the Public Transport Information Centres, at Prague airport, Veleslavin metro station, Můstek metro station near the exit to 28. října street and at Praha hlavní nádraží, the main train station (near Wenceslas Square)

Travelling by metro in Prague

There are three metro lines:
1. green line A
2. yellow line B
3. red line C
and three transfer stations: Můstek, Muzeum and Florenc.

Electronic signs on the platforms and in metro trains show the name of the next station. Trains start running from about 4:45 am and the last train leaves the station of origin at midnight. Trains run with a frequency of 2 to 4 minutes during rush hour and every 4 to 10 minutes outside the rush.
The time elapsed from the moment the train just left the station is shown on the clock at the front of the platform.

All stations are equipped with escalators and many with elevators, 45 stations are suitable for wheelchair users and prams. Read more on the metro with pram, stroller or wheelchair

Travelling by tram in Prague

The tram network covers the entire city. During the day, trams run from 4:30 am to midnight at 8 – 10 minute intervals and 8 to 15 minutes on weekends. Night trams run from 12:30 am to 4:30 am at 40-minute intervals. Night trams have different numbers and run a different route than the day trams.

A pleasant side effect of the tram for tourists is that trams provide an almost free city tour. Trams 7, 17 and 22 are the best for ‘tram sightseeing.

Trams and timetables

Each tram stop has a pole with a notice board with white sheets of paper on which the timetable, the tram number and the name of the stops. The stop where you are is in bold, where the tram is going is below and where the tram came from is above the bold one. Yellow sheets indicate different times and routes when, for example, there is maintenance on the tram rails. An X means replacement transport by buses as indicated between the two X’s.

Trams suitable for prams and wheelchair users

The timetable also indicates whether the tram has a low entry and is therefore suitable for the disabled and prams. Signal the driver when you want to get in with a wheelchair or pram; the doors will remain open longer.

The pram vignette at the door indicates where to get in with a wheelchair or pram because there is extra space there. There is always someone willing to help you get in and out, a friendly ‘Muzete mi pomoc?’ (can you help me) works wonders.
Every tram is different; the older trams have the section in the back reserved for prams. The newer trams have the stroller and wheelchair section in the middle.

When getting off, press the button znamení pro ridice (sign for the driver), do the same if you are traveling with small children, the driver will check whether all children have got out safely.

Travelling by bus in Prague

Buses run in parts of Prague not served by trams and almost always connect to a metro station. At the bus stop you will see =M=. From the metro stations at the end of the line, buses fan out to areas outside Prague’s city boundary. Some bus stops are zastávka na znamení which means they only stop on request. You must press the stop button.

There are three types of buses

1. City buses: numbered from 100-299, Prague public transport ticket is valid
2. City night buses: numbered from 501-513, Prague public transport ticket is valid
3. Intercity buses: numbered from 301–499: Boarding is only possible at the front. The driver sells tickets. Your Prague public transport ticket is valid until the city boundary; from there you need an extra ticket.

Buses run every 6-8 minutes during rush hour, every 10-20 minutes during off-peak hours and every 15-30 minutes at weekends and night buses every 30-60 minutes from midnight to 4:30 am.

Trolleybus

Prague has two trolleybus lines:
Line 58 on the route Palmovka to Čakovice and Miškovice.
Line 59 is the airport bus and runs from Nádraží Veleslavín to Václav Havel Airport.

These Škoda Solaris 24 trolleybuses are 24.7 long. They are double-articulated battery trolley bus with a capacity of 170 passengers and 54 seats. The buses run part of the route without overhead lines but on battery power.

Regional trains “S”

Regional trains can be used if you stay within the city boundary. These trains show the letter S or R followed by a number; for example S6. This train goes from Praha Masarykovo station to the city of Kladno. Prague public transport tickets are valid for all stations within the city boundary.

Vltava Rivers Ferries

Ferries provide a direct link to destinations on the other side of the Vltava River. There are 6 lines: P1, P2, P3, P5, P6 and P7. Prague public transport tickets are valid.