Prague airport to city centre (2026)

You have just landed at Prague Václav Havel Airport. Suitcase in hand, phone searching for wifi, and the first question of the trip: how do I get to the centre.

The short answer: trolleybus + metro. It is what I use when I fly, it is what I tell everyone, and it is what works best in terms of value for money and time. You reach the centre in 40-50 minutes and, if you buy the ticket on the app, spend less than €2.

But there are situations where public transport is not the best option: you arrive at night, you are travelling with three suitcases, or you simply do not want to think after a 4-hour flight. There are options for that too.

Prague airport is about 17 km from the centre. There is no direct metro to the airport (they have been talking about building a line for decades and it still does not exist). But the bus + metro system is well designed and reliable. Everything you need to know is here.

Option 1: trolleybus + metro (recommended)

This is the cheapest, most used and most efficient option if you are travelling with reasonable luggage and arrive during daytime hours (between approximately 05:00 and 00:00).

Trolleybus 59: the main route

Trolleybus 59 (which replaced the old bus 119 in 2024) connects the airport with the metro station Nádraží Veleslavín (line A, the green one). The journey takes about 15 minutes.

From Nádraží Veleslavín, you take metro line A and in 10-15 minutes you are in the centre: Staroměstská (Old Town), Můstek (Wenceslas Square) or Muzeum (upper end of Wenceslas Square).

Total time airport to centre: 40-50 minutes including waits and the transfer.

The trolleybus 59 stop is right at the terminal exit. Follow the signs reading "Bus / MHD" and you will find it in less than 2 minutes.

Frequency: every few minutes during the day, a little less often early in the morning and late in the evening.

Line 100: alternative via line B

If your hotel is near metro line B (the yellow one: Anděl, Smíchovské nádraží, Karlovo náměstí), line 100 connects the airport with Zličín (terminus of line B). The bus journey takes about 18 minutes.

In practice, line 59 + metro A is faster for most destinations in the centre. Line 100 only makes sense if you specifically need line B or if you are staying in the south-west area of Prague.

Airport Express (AE): direct to the main station

If you are staying next to the main railway station (Hlavní nádraží), the AE bus runs directly from the airport to the station. It has its own fare, 200 CZK per journey, and the standard public transport ticket is not valid on it. For the rest of the centre, trolleybus 59 + metro is cheaper and almost always faster.

The ticket

This is where many people overcomplicate things unnecessarily. It is simpler than it seems:

A standard public transport ticket covers the entire journey: bus + metro. You do not need a special airport ticket. The same ticket you would use to go from one metro station to another is valid for the airport bus.

Prices (2026 fares):

Recommendation: buy the 90-minute ticket. The 30-minute one can be tight if the bus takes a little longer than usual or if there is a queue at the metro. With the 90-minute ticket you have plenty of margin for the whole journey.

If you are carrying a large suitcase (bigger than 25 × 45 × 70 cm), you need an additional luggage ticket: 23 CZK on the app or 25 CZK on paper. It is valid for as long as your own ticket (180 minutes at most). A backpack or cabin-size suitcase does NOT require an extra ticket.

How to buy the ticket

You have 3 options, from best to worst:

1. PID Lítačka app: the cheapest and the most practical. You download the app, buy the ticket by card, and keep it on your phone. No paper, no machines, no queues. It is the option I use.

1. Yellow DPP machines: there are several in the terminal and at the stops, and most accept contactless cards as well as coins. The interface is in Czech and English. There are also PID sales desks in the arrival halls.

1. On the trolleybus, by card: every city bus and trolleybus in Prague has an orange terminal next to the second door. You pay by contactless card (Visa or Mastercard) and get a printed ticket with the time on it, which does not need validating.

SMS tickets only work with a Czech SIM card, and drivers no longer sell tickets on city buses.

Important: a paper ticket bought from a machine is validated once, when you board the trolleybus. The validators are next to the vehicle doors and at the metro entrances. An app ticket is activated on your phone before boarding, and a ticket bought by card on board already has the time printed on it. If an inspector catches you without a valid ticket, the fine is 1,200 CZK (~€49) if you pay on the spot, 1,500 CZK if you pay within 15 days and 2,000 CZK after that. It is not worth the risk to save €2.

Step-by-step summary

1. Exit the terminal, follow the "Bus / MHD" signs
2. Buy a 90-minute ticket (Lítačka app = easiest)
3. Board trolleybus 59, validate your ticket
4. Get off at Nádraží Veleslavín (~15 min)
5. Enter metro line A (green), direction Depo Hostivař
6. Get off at your stop (Staroměstská for Old Town, Můstek for Wenceslas Square)
7. Total: ~45 min, less than €2

For a complete guide to the Prague metro with map, lines and tips, read our article on the Prague metro.

Option 2: taxi or Uber

If you arrive in the early hours, you are travelling with a lot of luggage, you are in a group, or you simply do not want to deal with public transport after a long flight, a taxi or Uber is perfectly reasonable.

Uber or Bolt (better than a taxi)

Uber and Bolt work at Prague airport. The pick-up point is signposted at the terminal exit and the app shows you where to wait. You request the car from the app and the price is fixed before you get in.

Estimated price airport to Prague centre: 400-600 CZK (~16-25 EUR) depending on the time, traffic and the exact area in the centre. At peak hour (morning between 07:00-09:00) it can go up. In the early hours it is usually at the lower end.

Time: 25-40 minutes depending on traffic.

The advantage of Uber/Bolt over a traditional taxi is simple: the price is locked in before you get in. No surprises, no meters, no arguments.

Taxi

If you prefer a taxi, there is an official taxi rank at the terminal exit.

Fundamental rule: never accept a taxi that is not at the official rank or that does not have a visible meter. The reputation of Prague taxi drivers with travellers exists for a reason: unmarked cars, unnecessarily long routes, inflated fares. It is not the majority, but the risk exists, especially at night.

If you take a taxi, confirm the approximate price before getting in. A trip from the airport to the centre should cost between 500 and 700 CZK. If they ask for more than 1,000 CZK, something is wrong.

When to choose a taxi or Uber over the trolleybus

• You arrive between 00:00 and 05:00 (night buses exist but are less frequent and the journey is longer)
• There are 3-4 of you (split between everyone, the Uber costs almost the same as 4 public transport tickets)
• You are carrying more than one large suitcase per person
• Your accommodation is far from metro line A and public transport would mean a second transfer

Option 3: night arrivals

If your flight lands after midnight, the metro is closed (it operates from ~05:00 to ~00:00). But you have options.

Night buses

Two night bus lines connect the airport with the city: 907, which runs via Hradčanská, the main railway station (Hlavní nádraží), Karlovo náměstí and Anděl, and 910, which runs via Švandovo divadlo and I. P. Pavlova. They leave from the same stop as trolleybus 59, much less frequently than during the day, and take about 45 minutes to the centre. Check the timetable on the PID Lítačka app before you land.

The ticket is the same as during the day: a standard 90-minute ticket covers the entire journey.

Uber or Bolt at night

My real recommendation for night arrivals: use Uber or Bolt. At night the prices are usually at the lower end (less demand), the journey is faster without traffic (20-25 minutes), and at 02:00 in the morning after a flight you do not want to be waiting 30 minutes for a night bus.

The extra cost over the bus, about 15-20 EUR, more than compensates in comfort and time. Especially if you are travelling with someone else and you split the cost.

Practical tips

Have your ticket before the trolleybus pulls away

The easiest option is to buy it on the PID Lítačka app or at the terminal machines before heading out. If you run out of time, buy it by card at the orange terminal as soon as you board the trolleybus. The inspector can appear at any moment: a 1,200 CZK fine on the spot, 1,500 CZK within 15 days and 2,000 CZK after that.

Always validate

If you buy the ticket on the app, activate it before boarding. If you buy a paper ticket from a machine, put it through the validator when you board the trolleybus: it is validated only once and remains valid on the metro for its whole duration. A ticket bought by card on board is already validated. An unvalidated ticket = no ticket as far as the inspector is concerned.

Do not exchange money at the airport

The exchange offices at the airport have the worst exchange rates in Prague. If you need Czech crowns for the ticket, use the Lítačka app (you pay by card) or a ticket machine that accepts card. If you need cash, wait until you reach the centre and use an ATM from a real bank (not the Euronet cashpoints, which charge abusive commissions). Read our guide on where to exchange money in Prague for more detail.

Do not accept unidentified taxis

I repeat this because it is the most expensive mistake you can make when arriving at the airport. If someone inside the terminal offers you "taxi, taxi, good price", say no. Always. No exceptions. Use the official taxi rank, Uber, or Bolt. Any other option exposes you to inflated prices and, in the worst case, an uninsured and unlicensed car.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take from Prague airport to the centre?

By trolleybus + metro: 40-50 minutes. By taxi or Uber: 25-40 minutes depending on traffic. The real difference is usually 15-20 minutes, no more.

Is there a direct metro to Prague airport?

No. There has been talk for years of linking it to the centre by metro or by train, but as of 2026 it does not exist. The connection is trolleybus 59 + metro. It is comfortable and works well, but it requires one transfer.

How much does a taxi from the airport to the centre cost?

An official taxi or Uber: between 400 and 700 CZK (~16-28 EUR). If they ask for more than 1,000 CZK, refuse. And never accept an unofficial taxi.

Can you pay for the bus by card?

Yes. Every city trolleybus and bus in Prague, including line 59, has an orange terminal next to the second door where you buy the ticket by contactless card; it comes out printed with the time and does not need validating. You can also pay by card at the terminal machines or on the PID Lítačka app, which is the cheapest option.

Do I need a ticket for my suitcase?

Only if it is large: above 25 × 45 × 70 cm you pay for a luggage ticket, 23 CZK on the app or 25 CZK on paper. Cabin bags and backpacks travel free.

When you reach the centre, our free walking tours run every day and are the best first contact with the city. If you are short on time, check our Prague in 2 days itinerary.