For most first visits to Prague, take trolleybus 59 from the airport to Nádraží Veleslavín, then metro line A into the centre, all on one 90-minute ticket. Choose the Airport Express (AE) only if you are heading for Praha hlavní nádraží, the main railway station, and want a direct ride. Take bus 100 if you are staying on metro line B, the night buses after the metro closes, and the airport’s Uber service when you are tired, in a group or carrying a lot.
If an older guide tells you to catch bus 119, it is out of date: the airport link to Veleslavín has been run by trolleybus line 59 since March 2024.
Prague airport transport at a glance
| Option | Goes to | Time (official estimate) | Fare | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trolleybus 59 + metro A | Nádraží Veleslavín, then Malostranská, Staroměstská, Můstek and Muzeum | About 15 minutes to Veleslavín; about 35 minutes in PID’s journey estimate | 90-minute ticket: 46 CZK in the app, 50 CZK paper | Old Town, Malá Strana, Wenceslas Square |
| Bus 100 + metro B | Zličín, then metro B towards Anděl and Náměstí Republiky | About 18 minutes to Zličín; about 45 minutes in PID’s estimate | Same 90-minute ticket | Smíchov, Anděl and other line B areas |
| Airport Express (AE) | Praha hlavní nádraží (main station), from Terminal 1 | About 30–45 minutes, depending on traffic | 200 CZK; regular PID tickets not valid | Onward trains and hotels near the main station |
| Night buses 907 and 910 | 907 via Hradčanská, Hlavní nádraží, Karlovo náměstí and Anděl; 910 via I. P. Pavlova | About 45 minutes, every 30 minutes | Regular PID tickets | Arrivals after the metro stops |
| Uber Airport (official taxi) | Door to door | Depends on traffic | No fixed fare published | Late arrivals, groups and heavy luggage |
First, check which terminal you arrive at
Václav Havel Airport Prague has two passenger terminals. Terminal 1 handles flights from outside the Schengen Area, such as the UK, Turkey and North America; Terminal 2 handles Schengen flights. Line 59, bus 100 and the night buses stop in front of the arrival halls, but the Airport Express starts from Terminal 1, so arrivals at Terminal 2 face a short walk to reach it.
Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) runs ticket counters in both arrival halls: in Terminal 1 from 07:00 to 21:00 and in Terminal 2 from 09:00 to 21:00. There are also ticket machines in the halls and at the stops, and most accept contactless cards. The airport notes that its Visitor Centres are temporarily closed.
Trolleybus 59 and metro A: the best default
Line 59 runs trolleybuses between the airport and Nádraží Veleslavín, where you change to metro line A. The airport estimates about 15 minutes for the ride itself, and PID, the regional transport network, puts the whole journey at about 35 minutes. Line A then runs through the parts of Prague most first-time visitors stay in: Hradčanská and Malostranská for the castle side, Staroměstská for the Old Town, and Můstek and Muzeum for Wenceslas Square.
Buy a 90-minute ticket, which covers the trolleybus, the metro change and any short tram ride at the end. It costs 46 CZK in the PID Lítačka app, 50 CZK on paper and 55 CZK by SMS. The 30-minute ticket (36 CZK in the app) is too short for a trip into the centre once you allow for waiting and the transfer.
If you plan to use public transport throughout your stay, a 24-hour (140 CZK in the app) or 72-hour (340 CZK in the app) ticket can start at the airport and also covers lines 59 and 100. It does not cover the Airport Express.
Ticket rules that catch visitors out
- Validate a paper ticket once, when you first board or at the validator on the platform. You do not need to validate it again when you change to the metro.
- Activate an app ticket at least 60 seconds before you board.
- You can also pay by contactless card on board, but the app price is the lowest fare PID lists.
- PID charges 25 CZK for larger luggage unless you hold a 24-hour or 72-hour ticket, which includes one piece. Check the luggage rules on PID’s ticket page if you travel with big suitcases.
Bus 100 and metro B: only for line B addresses
Bus 100 runs from the airport to Zličín, the western end of metro line B. The airport gives about 18 minutes for the bus and PID about 45 minutes overall. It uses the same tickets as line 59. It makes sense when your hotel is near Anděl, Smíchov, Karlovo náměstí or Náměstí Republiky on line B; for the Old Town and Malá Strana, line 59 is usually the simpler choice.
Bus 191 also runs from the airport to Anděl, without a metro change, but the airport estimates about 50 minutes, so it is mainly useful if you want to avoid stairs and transfers.
Airport Express: direct to the main railway station
The Airport Express (AE) is a dedicated bus between Terminal 1 and Praha hlavní nádraží, stopping on Wilsonova street in front of the Fanta Building, the station’s historic Art Nouveau hall. The airport estimates about 40 minutes depending on traffic, and Czech Railways about half an hour.
A ticket costs 200 CZK (100 CZK for children aged 6 to 15) and is sold by the driver, at Czech Railways counters and at DPP sales points. Regular PID tickets, including 24-hour and 72-hour passes, are not valid. The official pages do not publish a fixed frequency, so check the current AE timetable on the PID website before you fly.
The AE is the better choice when you are catching a train onwards, or staying close to the main station. For the Old Town or Malá Strana it costs several times more than line 59 and still leaves you with a walk or a metro ride.
Arriving late: night buses or Uber
The metro runs from roughly 05:00 until about midnight. After that, night buses 907 and 910 leave from Terminal 2 every 30 minutes and take about 45 minutes to reach the centre. Line 907 runs via Hradčanská, Hlavní nádraží, Karlovo náměstí and Anděl; line 910 via I. P. Pavlova. They accept regular PID tickets, so a 90-minute ticket works.
The airport’s official taxi service is Uber Airport. Pick-up points are in front of the arrival halls of both terminals. You can book in the Uber app, at a self-service kiosk (card only) or at the service counter, open from 07:00 to 21:00. You receive a six-digit PIN to give the driver after boarding. The airport does not publish a fixed fare to the centre.
Road access to the airport is affected by reconstruction of the Aviatická intersection, and the airport warns that car journeys can take longer at rush hour. It says public transport is not affected, which is worth remembering for your return trip.
How to decide
- Old Town, Malá Strana, Wenceslas Square or Vinohrady: trolleybus 59, then metro A, on a 90-minute ticket.
- Anděl, Smíchov or another line B address: bus 100 to Zličín, then metro B.
- Catching a train or staying by the main station: Airport Express from Terminal 1.
- Using transport for the whole trip: start a 24-hour or 72-hour ticket at the airport and take line 59.
- After midnight: night bus 907 or 910, or Uber Airport if you would rather not change.
- Group of three or four, or heavy luggage: compare the Uber Airport fare with the cost of several tickets.
Once you have reached your base, our two-day Prague itinerary shows how to fit the castle, Charles Bridge and the Old Town into a short stay.
Official sources
- PID: travelling to and from Prague Airport (lines, journey times and fares)
- PID: tickets and fares
- Prague Airport: public transport buses
- Prague Airport: Airport Express
- Czech Railways: Airport Express fare and ticket sales (in Czech)
- Prague Airport: official taxi service (Uber Airport)
Routes, fares and ticket rules were checked on 25 October 2026 and may change. Recheck the official pages before you travel.
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