Prague / The verdict
Prague airport to the center: which way?
Take trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín and metro line A: a 50 CZK ticket covers the whole ride, about 35 minutes to the center. The 200 CZK Airport Express suits anyone heading straight to the main station; groups and late arrivals do better with the airport's official Uber taxi, about 800 CZK to the center.
By The Real Traveler Experiences team. We earn a commission if you book through our links. It never changes a verdict.
The Prague story
Prague is a preserved storybook core over a real, lived-in city: the castle above the river, the astronomical clock's little hourly theatre, the Charles Bridge at dawn before the crowds, Petrin's panorama over the spires, and medieval lanes that survived the twentieth century nearly untouched. Beer is cheap and excellent, Vinohrady pours it like a local, and Kutna Hora's bone church is an hour away.
The verdict in 30 seconds
Our pick: Trolleybus 59 and metro A (runner-up: Airport Express bus to the main station)
Take trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín and metro line A: a 50 CZK ticket covers the whole ride, about 35 minutes to the center. The 200 CZK Airport Express suits anyone heading straight to the main station; groups and late arrivals do better with the airport's official Uber taxi, about 800 CZK to the center.
Go if
- You want the cheapest reliable ride into the center
- You can manage your bags on one bus ride and a short metro hop
- Your hotel is near metro A or anywhere one change from Nádraží Veleslavín reaches
Skip if
- You are heading straight to a mainline train at Hlavní nádraží
- You travel with heavy bags, small children or limited mobility and want door to door
- You are a group of three or four, where one fixed-price car splits well
The options
Trolleybus 59 and metro A Go
Most arrivals: the fastest cheap way in, with metro A reaching the Old Town and Lesser Town stops.
Good
- A 50 CZK 90-minute ticket covers the whole ride, 46 CZK in the app.
- The operator lists the trolleybus ride to Nádraží Veleslavín at about 17 minutes, every 3 to 10 minutes.
- Children under 15 and travelers 65 and over ride Prague transport free with proof of age.
- Machines, staffed DPP counters in both terminals, the app and SMS all sell the fare.
Watch out
- You change once at Nádraží Veleslavín, which reports flag as the annoying part with heavy bags.
- Daytime service only; after the last departures, night buses 907 and 910 cover the airport instead.
- An unvalidated paper ticket or an unactivated app ticket risks a fine, and reports warn inspectors check.
Airport Express bus to the main station It depends
Anyone heading straight to a train at Hlavní nádraží or carrying suitcases they would rather not lift onto the metro.
Good
- Non-stop from Terminal 1 to the main station, about 45 minutes by the operator's table, with luggage racks.
- Runs about every 20 minutes by day and hourly at night, with a Náměstí Republiky stop on night runs.
- Buy on board from the driver or at the DPP counters; the fare covers luggage.
Watch out
- 200 CZK a person, four times the transit fare, and city tickets or passes are not valid on it.
- It ends at the main station, so most hotels still need a metro, tram or walk from there.
- A local guide notes the station area can be confusing on a first visit.
Buses 100 and 191 toward metro B It depends
Stays near metro line B, such as Zličín, Smíchov or Anděl, where riding line A would mean doubling back.
Good
- The same 50 CZK 90-minute ticket covers the bus plus the onward metro.
- Bus 100 ends at Zličín on line B, and bus 191 continues to Anděl for the west side.
- Buses leave every few minutes from stops outside both terminals.
Watch out
- The operator puts the ride to the center at about 45 minutes, slower than the 59 for Old Town or Lesser Town.
- Ordinary city buses rather than airport vehicles, less comfortable with suitcases.
- No overnight service; night buses 907 and 910 fill that gap instead.
Uber airport taxi or a pre-booked car It depends
Groups of three or four, late arrivals, travelers with limited mobility, or hotels far from a metro stop.
Good
- Uber is the airport's official taxi, booked in the app, at self-service kiosks or at staffed counters in the terminals.
- The price shows before booking and cannot exceed the city's regulated cap; the airport lists a usual center fare around 800 CZK (EUR 32).
- Forum reports praise pre-booked cars whose drivers track the flight and meet arrivals by name.
Watch out
- For one or two travelers it costs far more than transit; reports put a normal center ride around 650 to 800 CZK.
- The app-or-kiosk ordering frustrates travelers who simply want to take a cab, per news coverage of the backlash.
- Unofficial drivers still solicit outside arrivals, so use the official channel only (see trap).
Official airport taxi (Uber Airport)See transfer pricespartner site
| Criterion | Trolleybus 59 and metro A | Airport Express bus to the main station | Buses 100 and 191 toward metro B | Uber airport taxi or a pre-booked car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official fare | 50 CZK (46 CZK in app) | 200 CZK | 50 CZK (46 CZK in app) | Varies; about 800 CZK typical |
| Arrives at | Nádraží Veleslavín (metro A) | Hlavní nádraží (metro C) | Zličín or Anděl (metro B) | Your door |
| Official journey time | About 35 min to the center | About 45 min | About 45 min | Varies with traffic |
| Frequency | Every 3 to 10 min | About every 20 min by day | Every few minutes | On request |
| Night service | No; night buses 907 and 910 | Hourly night runs | No; night buses 907 and 910 | Runs around the clock |
| What travelers report | Cheap and quick; one change | Direct and easy with bags; pricier | Cheap but slower to the center | Door to door; use the official channel |
What it costs
- PID 90-minute ticket, covers the bus plus metro ride (adult): Kč 50 (46 CZK in the app, 55 CZK by SMS; children under 15 and travelers 65 and over ride free). Official source, checked Sep 2026.
- Airport Express ticket (adult): Kč 200 (children 6 to 15 pay 100 CZK; luggage included; standard tickets and passes not valid). Official source, checked Sep 2026.
- PID 24-hour ticket: Kč 150 (140 CZK in the app; the 72-hour ticket is 350 CZK (340 in the app)). Official source, checked Sep 2026.
- Regulated taxi fare estimate, airport to city center: Kč 800 (the airport lists the usual regulated fare as about CZK 800 / EUR 32; the cap is a 60 CZK base plus 36 CZK per km). Official source, checked Sep 2026.
What travelers report
Based on 14 traveler reports (Feb 2025 to Jun 2026) and the official sources linked on this page. 4 were negative.
What people like
- Travelers call the trolleybus and metro combination the cheapest reliable way into the center.
- Guides and regulars describe ticket buying at the airport as straightforward, with machines, staffed counters and an app.
- The Airport Express earns praise for a direct, luggage-friendly ride to the main station.
- Pre-booked cars whose drivers track the flight and wait at arrivals get praise from travelers landing late or with limited mobility.
What people complain about
- Unofficial drivers soliciting outside arrivals are the recurring complaint, with four reports describing charges of two to three times the regulated fare.
- Travelers who want to hail a normal cab dislike the app-and-kiosk taxi setup, and news coverage says the backlash pushed the airport to bring classic taxis back.
- The trolleybus ends at the metro, so most hotels still need a change at Nádraží Veleslavín.
- The Airport Express costs four times the transit fare and takes no city tickets.
How to do it right
- Board trolleybus 59 outside Terminal 1 or 2 and ride it to the last stop, Nádraží Veleslavín, then take metro A toward the center.
- Buy a 90-minute ticket for 50 CZK at the machines or the DPP counters in arrivals, or for 46 CZK in the PID Lítačka app; validate a paper ticket or activate the app ticket before riding.
- For the main station or bulky luggage, take the Airport Express from Terminal 1: 200 CZK paid to the driver, bags included.
- For a car, book the airport's official Uber service in the app, at a kiosk or at the staffed counter, and give the driver the PIN the booking generates.
- After the day services end, take night bus 907 or 910 from Terminal 2, which run about every 30 minutes on the standard fare.
- Ignore anyone soliciting rides inside or outside the terminals; the airport's official taxi is ordered through the app, the kiosks or the counters.
The trap to avoid
Following someone who approaches you in or outside arrivals offering a ride. The airport's advice is blunt: its official taxi is booked through the app, the kiosks or the counter, and unofficial drivers have charged arriving travelers two to three times the regulated fare.
What to do instead
Why this verdict
The reports and the official numbers point the same way: the 50 CZK transit fare plus a fast trolleybus-and-metro link beats everything else for a typical arrival. Trolleybus 59 leaves from outside both terminals every few minutes, reaches Nádraží Veleslavín on metro A in about 17 minutes on the operator’s timetable, and the 90-minute ticket carries you on into the center. All five positive reports in the log back that route: a Prague local calls the trip about 35 minutes, a frequent airport user names the 59 plus metro A as the go-to, and forum regulars describe it as easy.
The Airport Express is the runner-up because it solves different problems. It runs non-stop from Terminal 1 to the main station in about 45 minutes, takes luggage without fuss, and since 2026 runs about every 20 minutes by day plus hourly night runs with a Náměstí Republiky stop. At 200 CZK a person it costs four times the transit fare and city tickets are not valid on it, which is why it suits travelers bound for a train or a hotel by the station rather than everyone.
Buses 100 and 191 are a depends: same 50 CZK fare, but they feed metro B, right for Zličín or Anděl stays and a detour for Old Town. The car option is also a depends. Uber is the airport’s official taxi, shows the price before booking and cannot exceed the regulated cap, but for one or two travelers it runs about 650 to 800 CZK against 50 CZK each on transit.
Timing and tickets
Buy the ticket before riding: machines and DPP counters sit in both terminals, and the PID Lítačka app sells the 90-minute fare for 46 CZK. Paper tickets must be validated and app tickets activated; reports warn that inspectors check and fine.
After the day services wind down, night buses 907 and 910 leave Terminal 2 about every 30 minutes on the standard fare, and the Airport Express adds hourly night runs. The one thing to avoid is a ride offered by anyone soliciting in or outside arrivals: the airport warns of unofficial drivers with official-looking signs who charge two to three times the regulated fare, and news reports describe police intervening.
Book or check times
Airport lines, fares and journey times (PID)DPP fare pricelistAirport Express tickets and info centers (DPP)Airport bus lines (airport)Official airport taxi (Uber Airport)Taxi fare caps and unofficial-driver warning (airport)
We earn a commission if you book through our links. It never changes a verdict. How this works
See transfer pricespartner site
Questions
What is the cheapest way from Prague airport to the center?
A 50 CZK 90-minute ticket (46 CZK in the PID Lítačka app) covers trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín plus the metro A ride onward, about 35 minutes in total on the operator's timings. Children under 15 and travelers 65 and over ride Prague transport free with proof of age.
Is the Airport Express worth it?
It runs non-stop from Terminal 1 to the main station in about 45 minutes, takes luggage without fuss, and added hourly night runs in 2026, but it costs 200 CZK a person. For hotels near the station or a train connection it is the easy pick; otherwise transit is a quarter of the price.
How do I get a taxi at Prague airport?
Book the official Uber Airport service in the app, at the self-service kiosks or at the staffed counter in either terminal (daily 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.). The fare shows before you book and cannot exceed the regulated cap; the airport lists a usual center ride around 800 CZK (EUR 32).
What if my flight lands late at night?
Night buses 907 and 910 leave Terminal 2 about every 30 minutes on the standard fare and reach the center in about 45 to 50 minutes. The Airport Express also runs hourly through the night, and a car booked through the official service is the door-to-door option.
Can I buy the transit ticket by card?
Yes. The machines by the stops and in arrivals take cards, the DPP counters sell all fares, and the PID Lítačka app undercuts the paper price at 46 CZK for 90 minutes; an SMS ticket costs 55 CZK. Validate a paper ticket before riding, since inspectors check.
Is a normal Prague transit ticket valid on the Airport Express?
No. The AE uses a special fare paid to the driver or at the DPP counters, and 90-minute or multi-day tickets do not apply. In exchange the fare includes luggage and a non-stop ride to the main station.
Pack for it
Gear verdicts from our sister site, Real Buyer Experiences: