Public transportation

Prague’s public transportation network consists of 3 metro lines, trams and buses, and is very affordable. For single-use tickets there are two choices.                                     
Non-transfer tickets (14 CZK) apply to trams and buses 20 minutes allowing no change. On the Metro such tickets are valid for the distance of 5 stations from the station of validation (not including the station of validation) allowing you to change between the lines A,B,C, but no longer than 30 minutes. These tickets do not apply to night routes and the funicular railway.

Transfer tickets (20 CZK) - Tickets for the entire metropolitan area of Prague, including the airport, can be used 75 minutes from validation. On working days from 08.00 PM to 05.00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays round the clock such tickets can be used 90 minutes from validation.

 A one-day pass good for unlimited rides is CZK 80, a three-day pass CZK 220, a seven-day pass CZK 280. You can buy tickets from yellow coin-operated machines in metro stations or at most news stands (TABÁK or TRAFIKA), or in some shops. Once you have your ticket, punch it in the little yellow franking machine before you go down to the metro or as you get on the bus or tram. The ticket is valid from the moment it’s punched.

Warning: If you are caught without a valid ticket, you will be asked to pay a CZK 500 fine on the spot. If you are caught and asked to pay, insist on getting a receipt. 

The metro operates daily from 5:00 to midnight and runs every 2 to 10 minutes. There are three lines, A (green), B (yellow), and C (red).

The 26 tramlines run practically everywhere. More than a hundred bus lines run mainly outside the central districts of Prague, and are designated by three digit numbers.

It is recommended to buy a thirty-day, ninety-day or one-year travel pass, which is good on all public transport in Prague. The student prices for these passes are CZK 230 (for one month) and CZK 630 (for 3 months). You will receive all necessary forms during orientation week.

Around midnight the regular services stop and the night transport kicks in - the metro closes, but there are night trams and buses to take you to all 4 corners of the city. Night buses and trams all start with the number ‘5’ (e.g. 55 tram or 504 bus) and the night trams ALL pick up passengers at “Lazarská” where they usually wait 10 or 15 minutes.  “Lazarská” is in the centre of town near Národní třída metro station and Tesco supermarket.

Tickets can be bought at the airport, from metro stations, from newsagent shops and from yellow machines at some tram stops.

Taxi

The telephone taxi companies are reasonably honest. The driver may be polite, and should give you a correct receipt for the ride. The biggest and best telephone taxi company, with English speaking dispatchers, is AAA.

AAA Radio taxi              Phone: (+420) 14014

Car

We do NOT recommend bringing a car to Prague. Parking is a problem. Cars are often broken into or stolen. The public transportation system is good and cheap. 

Some general traffic rules:

- seat belts must be used at all times, including rear seats, if equipped
- maximum speed: 90 km per hour, in all built-up areas 50 km per hour, motorways 130 km per hour
- zero alcohol, drugs allowed before/while driving
- motorways fees (paid by purchasing a window sticker - valid for 1 year)
- In Prague, there is a lack of parking spaces. In the streets of the city centre, you must respect the parking zones.