PRAGUE TRANSPORTATION TIPS
(PragueHotels.com / Czech-Hotels.com)
Prague's Ruzyně
International Airport
The
Ruzyně International Airport
(airport website)
is located 20 km northwest of Prague's center. It is not yet accessible by
tram or metro, so plan to take a taxi or bus. The largest
airport in the country, it is also one of the busiest within the EU member states.
* City buses from the Airport
to the City Center and metro system
depart from Terminal North 1 or 2.
(Purchase a ticket costing 12 Czech Koruna (CZK) = US$0.80 at the arrivals
lobby, at ticket machines or at the news agents.) Bus route 100
involves a change to Metro Yellow
Line B at Zliĉín
for a 15-min. trip to
Mustek station (the town center).
Bus route 119 is marked "Divoká
Šárka": at
Dejvická
metro station change to Metro Green Line A for a 20-minute trip.
(Bus
route 179
is a longer but more interesting connector with Yellow Line B.)
[Between
midnight and 3:30 a.m.,
Night Bus Route 510
runs to
Divoká
Šárka, where Tram Number 51 will take you to
Dejvická
metro station, or all the way to the city center at
Namesti Republiky or Wenceslas Square.]
* Airport Express Buses
are the
quickest way to get to Prague's train station. They leave every 30 minutes from
5 a.m. to 10 p.m. The
45-Koruna fare (US$3) includes not only travel from the airport, but also the
transfer from Holešovice railway station to Prague Central Station (via Czech Rail).
* A taxi from the airport to central
Prague will cost from about 650 to 1000 CZK = US$36 to US$55 (for a hotel outside the city center).
*
Rental cars
can also be reserved at Ruzyně airport through Otels.
This map
shows distances by rail between
Prague (Praha) airport,
the Czech airport Brno
to the southeast, and other major Central European cities:
(To book a hotel in
Brno,
click here. This city is in the south of Moravia, one the Czech Republic's 3
provinces.)
Arriving
by Train
(train
info &
Czech Eurail)
Many major European cities have train connections to Prague. If possible,
reserve on international trains at least a few weeks before traveling,
especially in summer. Praha Hlavni Nadrazi (Main Station,
in the neighborhood of Nove Město)
is where most international trains depart and arrive. Others go through
Praha Holesovice or Praha Smichov
or Praha Masarykovo Nadrazi. Subway lines serve all these stations and are easily accessible.
Praha Hlavni Nadrazi (Main Station) has
the best facilities, including exchange offices, showers, lost and found,
day-use lockers, and fast food. It is recommended that travelers consider using
the metro rather than taxis from the Main Station. At night you should use
caution and not take strolls in the parks outside the station.
Click
here for further
information about tourist destinations and
here for a great article about traveling by rail in the Czech Republic, which can
often be slower
than in other European countries.
Tram and Underground (Subway
map)
Prague's
public transit system allows for use of the same ticket on trams, subway cars
or buses. For about 20 Koruna ($1) you can ride for 75 minutes on any of
these forms of transport. A ticket for 40 Koruna will get you 180 minutes
of travel. Tickets are available at any coin dispenser or tobacco shop.
At some of the subway stations, tickets for longer times (7 days, 3 days, 24
hours) can be bought. Be sure to time-stamp your ticket when boarding bus
or tram, or at the entrance to subway stations. 500- Koruna fines are not
unheard of for unstamped tickets or freeloading.
Budget tip: Consider the Prague
Card for 740 Koruna. You will gain
four days of free travel, free entry to many tourist sites, other discounts, and
a guidebook!
Sightseeing
info coming soon
PragueHotels.com
hopes you enjoy
your stay in this city of a 100 spires!