Transportation around Prague
There are many ways to get around Prague. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. Here are our recommendations.
Public Transport
Public transport in Prague is fantastic – Time Out even ranked it the second best in the world. Sure, it might get stuffy in the summer and not all passengers smell like Chanel No. 5, but it’s affordable, on time, and gets you almost everywhere. Even at night, although the night lines have different numbers and routes.
Tickets are valid across the entire public transport network and are transferable. So you can switch between the metro, trams, and buses with the same ticket. The validity is determined by time: there are tickets for 30 minutes (30 CZK), 90 minutes (40 CZK), 24 hours (120 CZK), and 72 hours (330 CZK). Discounts are also available. For comprehensive information, check out the Capital City Transport Company’s website: https://www.dpp.cz/en
- The validity of the ticket is calculated from the moment of its activation. You probably don’t carry cash and won’t want to buy paper tickets from a machine. Simply download the PID Lítačka app, where you can search for individual connections and buy tickets. You can choose whether the ticket should be valid immediately after purchase or manually activate it later when you use public transport. The IDOS app or Google Maps also work well.
- You can buy paper tickets from vending machines at bus stops or at the entrance to the metro (some also take credit cards) or from newsagents. If you’re coming to Prague by train, get paper tickets at the České dráhy / Czech Railways ticket office. Each ticket must be validated at the beginning of your journey. Look for the small yellow validators at the entrance to the metro or when you get on the tram or bus.
- Payment terminals are available on trams where you can pay for your ticket with a contactless card.
One downside of Prague is that it tends to be completely dug up during the summer. This year, we can expect extensive street repairs as well. Two major closures will affect Prague Pride participants the most:
- Due to the construction of the tram line on Wenceslas Square, we recommend avoiding Jindřišská and Vodičkova streets. Plan your arrival from the direction of Národní třída, Náměstí Republiky or from the metro station Můstek.
- The reconstruction of the tram line will also take place in Dukelských hrdinů, the street below Letná heading towards Holešovice. Because of the closure, many tram lines will likely have route changes, causing some chaos. It might be better to take the other route to/from Letná via Hradčanská, where there is a large tram and metro intersection.
Keep an eye on https://www.dpp.cz/en/restrictions-and-emergencies for updates on traffic restrictions and emergencies.
Bikesharing Rekola
Riding around the center of Prague on a shared bike is a great idea. Use bikesharing Rekola, easily recognizable by their pink bikes. Just download their app and start pedaling. During the festival, Rekola will have a special heart-shaped rack at Pride Village on Střelecký Island. This way, you can ride all the way to the venue and won’t have to hunt around for parked bikes in the streets when you leave.
CAR4WAY Car Sharing
If you still want to get around on your own or take a trip somewhere further afield, CAR4WAY car sharing is a great solution. The advantage: it’s a car and you can travel wherever you want. The even bigger advantage: it’s not yours, so you can let it go as soon as you’re done driving. CAR4WAY cars can also park in blue and purple parking zones, which are otherwise off-limits to people without a Prague residence.
Taxi
There are many taxi services in Prague, but not all of them are reliable, and taking a taxi can be a gamble – especially for foreign visitors. The biggest risk is getting into a taxi that’s just standing on the street. They might charge you an absurdly high fare, and getting justice will be tough. Prague definitely has room for improvement here. We’ve also seen cases where drivers use homophobic language or are downright rude to queer clients. That’s why it’s a good idea to use a taxi company with reliable customer service, where you can file a complaint if something goes wrong. Liftago is a great example. Download their app to see an estimated price for your ride in advance, know the driver’s identity, and rate the ride afterward. Bolt or Uber might be cheaper, but keep in mind that the driver might not know their way around Prague well, might not help you with your bags, and might not even show up.
Own Car
If you don’t have a permanent residence in Prague, parking can be a hassle. The city uses a parking zone system, and non-residents can only park in selected spaces (mostly paid). Plus, you can get stuck in heavy traffic, and that’s the last thing you want on your way to a festival event. We definitely don’t recommend using a car for personal transport around Prague. If you do bring a car to Prague, park it at a P&R parking lot on the outskirts of the city and continue on with public transport.