Tickets are required for all forms of transport before you board and can be bought from the automatic machines in stations or at bus and tram stops, kiosks, newsstands and Tourist Offices. A single or ‘transfer’ ticket (jizdenka) costs 2Kc and is valid for an hour from 5am-8pm, or 90mins the rest of the time. In that time you can make unlimited transfers but bear in mind that you may need to pay 6Kc extra if you’re hauling luggage with you. Validate the ticket once before you use the transport in the yellow machines in the lobbies of the metro stations or on the buses and trams.
Other useful tickets include a 24 hour one (70Kc), and 3/7/15 day ones (200/250/280Kc respectively).
Plain-clothed ticket inspectors frequently lurk about the transport system and there will be an on-the-spot fine issued if you haven’t bought or validated your ticket.
Metro
Quick, efficient and clean, the Prague metro runs from 5am-midnight and is relatively simple to decipher with just three lines; Green line A (running between Skalka and Dejvicka), yellow line B (running between Cerny most and Zlicin) and red line C (running between Ladvi and Haje). There are three transfer stations including Muzeum (connecting lines A and C), Florenc (connecting lines B and C) and Mustek (connecting lines A and B).
Trams
A fantastic way to see the city, no less than 23 run during the day, with eight running at throughout the night. They arrive at their stops approximately every seven minutes (every 15 minutes off-peak) and some of the more central stations have electronic boards telling you when the next one is going to arrive. A particularly scenic route is the one taken by the ‘historical trams’ (numbers #22 and #91) which travels on a 40minute journey through Prague Exhibition Ground (Vystaviste), through Wenceslas Square and terminating at namesti Republiky from April through to October.
The #501 and #512 trams run all night.
Buses
Are only found in the suburbs and run every 10 to 20 minutes during rush hour and every hour off-peak. Visit a tourist office for more information about routes and timetables.
Taxis
Notorious for ripping visitors off, if you have to take a taxi then try to steer clear of flagging them down in tourist areas. Always agree the price before getting in but for peace of mind you would be better off phoning a taxi company. Reputable companies include AAA, telephone 223 113 311, ProfiTaxi, telephone 261 314 151 or City Taxi, telephone 233 103 310. A trip in the centre of Prague should cost Kc 100-150.
Cars
With narrow streets, pedestrians milling about and trams jostling for space on the road, it takes a brave person to bring their car into the city – oh, and the parking’s dire too. There are plenty of residential spaces (blue zones) but park there at your peril because you will be clamped or towed. If you are adamant about driving then make sure you stay at a hotel with parking facilities or leave your car in the suburbs and catch public transport in.
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