Practical info
Travelling from/to the Prague airport
Prague Václav Havel International Airport has a very good standard and you will find your way easily. Terminal 2 (Schengen area flights) and Terminal 1 (rest of the world) are 5-mins walk from each other. The Billa supermarket located between them is a good place to get some stuff for a reasonable price.
There are several options for travelling from/to the airport to the city center.
Public transport
The cheapest and quite effective way to get to the Prague center. There are two main routes:
● trolley bus #59 to Nádraží Veleslavín (16 mins) and then by metro A (green) to the city center (15 mins to Můstek station). Total time around 40 mins, count on 50–60 mins to the Smíchov area.
● bus #100 to Zličín (17 mins) and then by metro B (yellow) to the Smíchov area (Anděl, 17 mins) or further to the city center (Můstek). Total time to Smíchov area is around 40 mins, to Můstek is around 50 mins.
The trip will cost you CZK 46 (in PIDlítačka app) or CZK 50 (paper ticket), you can travel with your 1-day ticket (CZK 140/CZK 150) or 3-day ticket (CZK 340/CZK 350).
For travelling by public transport to Radotín add 20–30 minutes to get from Smíchovské nádraží (metro B). Find detailed information on how to get to the arena here.
Airport Express Bus
There is a direct bus line connecting Prague airport (Terminal 1 only) and Prague main railway station in the center (Praha hlavní nádraží). The bus goes every 30 minutes and the trip takes around 40 mins. (can be more in heavy traffic). There is a special fare CZK 200 per person and ride. This connection makes sense if you are traveling alone or in two persons to the area near the main station. In comparison with regular public transport you can avoid changing to the metro, but considering the bus interval and common delays with bus loading this is not necessarily the faster option. Sharing Uber is cheaper (and much more comfortable) if there are at least three of you.
Uber/taxi
Uber is the only official taxi partner of the Prague airport. You have to order through your app or kiosk in the arrival hall. Expect the price to be around CZK 700 per ride to Prague center or Radotín.
Be careful about fake “official taxis” or “information guys”. They only rip tourists off. See the story here. The airport is trying to eliminate it but they are 100% successful.
Tournament transportation
For the tournament participants who stay in our hotels we offer transportation by our vans for CZK 300 per person and ride. We will drive you to your hotel or to the LCC arena. Arrange your ride through your team manager.
Travelling around Prague
We highly recommend using the Prague public transport system. It is safe and reliable, the network is good and trains, trams, buses and metro go quite often. And it is really cheap. See http://www.dpp.cz for information on Prague public transport.
Tickets and Fares
Tickets are valid on the metro, buses, trams, trains, and Petřín funicular railway (under reconstruction till summer 2026 when it will also get new carriages), changing of lines is not limited. Radotín is in Zone 0, no extras are paid for a trip to/from the center.
● 30-minute ticket: CZK 36/39 (bought through PIDlítačka app/paper ticket)
● 90-minute ticket: CZK 46/50
● 1-day ticket: CZK 140/150
● 3-day ticket: CZK 340/350
We recommend using PIDlítačka App for easy purchase of the tickets, connection search and even paying for your parking. You can purchase paper tickets at tabaconnists, vending machines (change necessary, there are a few machines accepting cards but they are rare), and some shops. In majority of trams you can pay for a single ticket directly with your card.
IMPORTANT: When using the paper ticket, stamp it at the yellow machine when entering a bus, tram or metro station. For the trains, you have to stamp it before entering the train - you will find the yellow stamping machine on the railway station platform or subway. DO NOT restamp the ticket when you change the line.
Uber/taxi
Uber or local Liftago are options for travelling around Prague. Be carefull about street taxis hunting for foreigners.
Walking
Prague historical center is mostly pedestrian zone and walking is far the best way how to explore it. Taking Uber/taxi for short distances does not make sense. By walking or hopping on tram you are usually faster (not mentioning the costs. Annoying electric scooters were banned recently (hooray!).
Car and driving
The center of Prague suffers from traffic jams and finding a place for parking can be a nightmare. There is a system of parking zones in some parts of Prague, including the Smíchov area.
Blue zone – residents
– 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (may be different in some locations) – residents with card without limit, non-residents up to 3 hours after payment, prices vary according to location
– 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. (may be different in some locations) – no regulation
PO–PÁ means Mon–Fri
Violet zone – mixed
– 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (may be different in some locations) – residents with card without limit, non-residents after payment, prices vary according to location
– 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. (may be different in some locations) – no regulation
PO–PÁ means Mon–Fri
Orange zone – visitors
– 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (may be different in some locations) – anybody up to 3 hours (or specification on sign) after payment, prices vary according to location
– 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. (may be different in some locations) – no regulation
PO–PÁ means Mon–Fri
You can pay in the street booths, through the PIDlítačka app, or the Easy Park app is a comfortable tool too.
You can see zones at maps at www.mapy.com in detail. By the way, not only for the Czech Republic, mapy.com are even better than Google maps, especially for hiking. You can download an app to your mobile and Czech Republic data so it will perfectly work even off-line.
Some driving rules
● You must always have the lights on.
● A right turn is not allowed at the red light.
● There is no tolerance for alcohol when driving. Any result of the test higher than absolute zero means fine or at least a waste of time at blood tests.
● General speed limits are 50 kmph in urban areas, 90 kmph outside of urban areas, 130 kmph in designated motorways.
● Pedestrians have always right of way on the designated crossings, you must stop.
● The tram always has the right of way.
● In the Czech Republic you need a vignette for motorways outside of Prague. Buy it ONLY from the official website or a sales point to avoid an unfair surcharge.
Money
Czechia uses Czech crowns – korunas although euros are accepted in some places, too. Cards and electronic payments are commonly accepted. ATMs are widely available but be careful about choosing the fair ones. Usually, bank ATMs do not want to trick you with hidden fees or a bad exchange rate (ČSOB, Česká spořitelna, Raiffeisenbank, KB are the safe choices).
● Always pay in local currency and decline DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion - their exchange rate is usually considerably worse), both in ATMs or in shops or restaurants.
● Some ATMs offer ridiculously high amounts of money when they detect a foreign card. Calculate how much money you really need.
● Avoid and boycott Euronet ATMs. They are everywhere and they are really unfair.
● Always check the exchange rate before you change money at tourist exchange offices, some of them have no shame and rob you on terrible rate. You can check the Czech National Bank rates here and try to get as close as possible. You have legal right to freely cancel your money exchange within 3 hours with no reason or explanation. Always require a receipt.
● Never change money with an unknown person on the street, unless you are particularly interested in getting expired Belarusian rubles.
Prices in Prague
● Meals in restaurant: budget Kč 200–300, mid-range Kč 300–500, high Kč 500+
● Soft drinks: 3 dcl, Kč 40–60
● Beer: 1/2 liter, Kč 60–80
● Wine: 2 dcl, Kč 50–80
● Spirits: 5 cl, Kč 80–200
Expect higher prices in tourist areas.
Tipping
A tip of 5–10% is appreciated in any restaurant with table service. The usual protocol is for them to tell you the total bill and for you, as you hand over the money, to say how much you are paying with the tip included. The tip is not obligatory; it is understood as a reward for good service.
It is common that in a group of people everybody pays separately, but of course paying for the whole group is absolutely no problem.
Safety, Annoyances
In general, Prague is at least as safe as any European city and the Czech Republic is generally a very safe country. However, Prague is a tourist magnet and attracts scammers of all kinds.
● Be aware of pickpockets in crowds.
● Also, there is a wide range of tourist traps like in any tourist city. For example, avoid the Prague Ham booth in the Old Town Square. Their booth was removed recently but they appear here and there in markets. They won’t tell you that they charge per weight and serve you an absurdly large and expensive portion).
● It is illegal to drink alcohol in the majority of public spaces in the Prague center, which is a tool to avoid loud drinking parties. You will have no problem if you keep your decency. Alcohol consumption is legal from the age of 18 years.
● Be aware of tourist “weed shops” in the city center. Marihuana is not legal in Czechia (although it is tolerated) and you cannot buy it legally. The stuff sold in the “weed shops” is a trash, very often is is not suitable for consumption (it is labeled "decoration" in Czech and tiny letters) and can even be dangerous. See the story here.
● Avoid hop-on/hop-off buses. They are usually a scam. You will have a better view and experience from tram line 23 operated by various historical models including Prague's iconic T3 tram, or tourist line 41 with really vintage trams (special fare applies).
We highly recommend Honest Guide YouTube channel, where you can learn about all kinds of scams and get interesting tips to „off the beaten track“ places in Prague.
And trdelník, which you can see everywhere, is NOT a traditional Czech pastry. It has its origin in Slovakia or in Hungarian kürtőskalács (more). And usually it is pretty tasteless.
Russian matryoshka dolls have nothing to do with the Czech culture, souvenir shops selling communist caps are a shame targeting naive tourists with no clue that in fact this is quite offensive to majority of Czechs (the City of Prague inability to get rid of this crap is another sad story).