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: bus + 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 spend less than 2 EUR.

But there are situations where the bus 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: bus + 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 5-10 minutes at peak times, every 15-20 minutes off-peak.

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.

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 25x45x70 cm), you need an additional luggage ticket: 20 CZK. It is validated just like the regular ticket. A backpack or cabin-size suitcase does NOT require an extra ticket.

How to buy the ticket

You have 4 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 airport terminal. They accept coins and card. The interface is in Czech and English.

1. SMS: you send a code to number 90206. It works with Czech operators and most European operators on roaming. It is the most expensive of the three.

1. From the driver: technically you can buy on the bus, but only in cash and with the corresponding surcharge. It is the last resort option.

Important: validate your ticket before boarding the bus or when entering the metro. The validators are at the bus door (you validate on boarding) and at the metro entrances. If an inspector catches you without a validated ticket, the fine is 1,200 CZK (~€48) on the spot, or 2,000 CZK (~€80) if unpaid after 15 days. 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 EUR

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 / Bolt (recommended over taxi)

Uber and Bolt work at Prague airport. The pick-up point is signposted at the terminal exit ("ride-sharing" or "VLC pick-up" zone). 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. The authorised airport taxis have fixed fares.

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 taxi/Uber over the bus

• 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 bus tickets)
• You are carrying more than one large suitcase per person
• Your hotel is in an area away from the metro (Vinohrady, Žižkov, Dejvice, where bus + metro requires 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

Prague has a network of night buses connecting the airport with the centre. The line you need is bus 910, which departs from the airport and reaches the city centre. Night frequency is lower (approximately every 30 minutes), and the journey is longer because the bus makes more stops without the metro option.

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

Uber / 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

Buy your ticket before boarding the bus

Do not board the bus without a ticket thinking you will buy one later. The validators are on the bus and the inspector can appear at any moment. Fine: 1,200 CZK on the spot, 2,000 CZK after 15 days. Buy your ticket on the Lítačka app or at the terminal machines before heading out.

Always validate

The ticket must be validated. If you buy it on the app, it activates on purchase. If you buy it on paper, you must put it through the validator when boarding the bus and when entering the metro. 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 bus 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 bus + metro: 40-50 minutes. By taxi/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. They have had the project to extend line A to the airport for years, but as of 2026 it does not exist. The connection is bus (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?

Not directly on the bus. But you can buy the ticket by card at the terminal machines or, better still, on the PID Lítačka app. The bus itself does not have an onboard card payment system.

When you reach the centre, our free walking tours depart every morning, the best first contact with the city. If you are short on time, check our Prague in 2 days itinerary (→ ES-12).