How To Get From Prague Airport to the City Center + A Warning! ✈️

I love Prague and try to visit the Czech Capital at least once a year.

I’ve tried several different modes of transport from the Prague Airport to the city center, so in this guide, you’ll find essential, no-nonsense advice on choosing the best mode of transportation for your journey.

This guide focuses on crucial aspects such as cost, convenience, travel time, and ease of access, ensuring your arrival in Prague is as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Let’s go through the options and get you from the Václav Havel Airport Prague to your destination in Prague’s city center.

Taxi – prices, apps & pre-booked drivers 🚖

Taking a taxi from Prague Airport to the city center offers convenience and comfort.

I’ve never taken one of the official black & yellow taxis outside of the Terminals, as I know the taxis in Prague have a dodgy reputation. I’ve always pre-booked a private driver, which has worked very well (and it’s cheap, too).

I’ve heard and read a lot of horror stories about the taxis in Prague so I’ve never dared taking one myself.

But here’s a bit of info about taking an official taxi from Prague Airport to the city center:

The average fare for a taxi ride from Prague Airport to the city center ranges from approximately 550 CZK to 800 CZK (around 23-30 EUR or 25-35 USD), with the journey lasting about 25-35 minutes.​​

During rush hours, the cost may rise to even 1000 CZK (42€/45.50$) and take up to 70 minutes​​. Taxis are readily available at the exits of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

I recommend pre-booking a car

Pre-booking a car is a great option for those seeking a more personalized experience.

Welcome Pickups, for instance, offers a fixed price of 33€ for a private driver who speaks excellent English and has a good knowledge of Prague.

The driver will be waiting for you at the terminal exit, which is a significant advantage, especially if your flight is delayed or you arrive late at night​​.

I’ve used Welcome Pickups all over Europe and never had a bad experience.

You could also check out the different private transfer options at Get Your Guide.

If you haven’t found a hotel yet, check out my vast guide on the best areas and places to stay in Prague. One of my favorite hotels in Europe is The Julius Prague in the heart of the city.

Uber is available, but expect to wait

Uber is also a popular choice for travelers, with the estimated cost of a ride from Prague airport to the city center being around 400 CZK (approximately 20 USD).

Uber offers different service levels, with prices for UberX around 400 CZK, Uber Select 500 CZK, and Uber Black approximately 800 to 900 CZK​​​​.

However, it’s important to note that there’s no official Uber meeting point or parking zone at Prague Airport, so you may experience a waiting time of about 10 minutes, which can extend to 30 minutes during rush hours​​.

Now, let’s take a look at the cheapest way to get from Prague Airport to the city.

Public transport – bus & metro

When I last visited Prague, I explored public transportation options from the airport to the city center.

Typically, I might pre-book a private driver, but this time, I chose to take the public bus, specifically the 119, and then the metro. This turned out to be a convenient and economical choice.

Bus 119 from the airport

The 119 bus, which runs every 15 minutes from 04:30 to 23:30, departs directly outside the airport terminals. Finding it was easy; I followed the signs to the ‘bus’ in the arrivals hall.

The bus took me to Nádraží Veleslavín station in Western Prague in approximately 15-20 minutes. Here, I switched to the green line of the Prague metro to continue towards the city center.

Change to the metro

My journey continued seamlessly on the metro, and in 10 minutes, I arrived at Můstek station, which is in the heart of Prague.

From there, it was just a 5-minute walk to my hotel. Impressively, the entire journey from the airport to the hotel took under an hour.

Tickets & prices

Purchasing tickets for the bus and metro was straightforward. I bought mine from the machines located outside the arrivals hall, where the buses depart.

These machines accept card payments, and I opted for a 90-minute ticket, which cost 32 CZK (just under 1.3 Euros).

This ticket is valid for both the bus and the metro ride.

Please remember to validate the ticket at the machines on the platform before boarding since it becomes valid only upon validation.

Overall, the experience was simple, efficient, and budget-friendly.

The Prague metro system is notably easy to navigate, with clear signage and directions.

For anyone looking for an affordable and authentic way to travel from Prague Airport to the city center, I highly recommend this combination of bus 119 and the metro.

I recommend using Google Maps to check timetables and routes – it works great in Prague:

This video by the excellent Youtube-channel ‘Honest Guide’ shows how to do it all:

Get ready for your trip with my guide on the best things to do in Prague.

The Airport Express bus

While I’ve never personally used the Airport Express (AE) bus in Prague, it’s worth mentioning as an alternative to the public bus options.

The price for a ticket is 100 CZK, though. So it’s three times as expensive as taking the ‘normal’ bus and metro.

The AE is a special airport bus that offers direct service to the city center without any stops.

Key info about the Airport Express:

Route

The AE bus travels directly from the airport to central Prague. It has two main stops in the city: the first at Namesti Republiky, located in the city center of Prague, and the final stop at Prague’s main train station (Hlavni Nadrazi).

Convenience

From both of these stops, you can easily walk to most hotels or continue your journey using a taxi, tram, metro, or other public buses.

Schedule

The AE buses are timed according to flight arrivals and depart every 30 minutes between 5:30 am and 10:00 pm from the airport, and between 5:30 am and 9:00 pm from the city to the airport.

Journey Time

The trip from the airport to Hlavni Nadrazi takes about 40 minutes.

While the AE bus provides a direct route to the city center, I’ve always found the regular public bus, like the 119 combined with the metro, to be just as efficient and more cost-effective.

The public bus system in Prague is reliable and well-organized, making it an excellent choice for travelers looking to save money without compromising on convenience or efficiency.

For these reasons, I’ve never felt the need to opt for the AE bus during my visits to Prague.

I hope the information will help you make an informed decision about your transportation.

Whether you choose the efficiency and economy of the public bus and metro combination, the direct route of the Airport Express, a traditional taxi, a pre-booked service like Welcome Pickups, or a ride-sharing option like Uber, Prague offers a variety of reliable and convenient choices to suit your travel needs and preferences.

If you have any questions or need further details about any of these options, please feel free to leave a comment.

Read more Prague travel guides here.

Frequently asked questions: