Public Transport in Prague - 2008 Tariff

This page deals with all things related to use of Prague public transport including trams, trains, metro, city buses and funicular. If you want other Prague transport info (taxis, private buses/coaches, boats, bikes, carhire etc) then click here.

The Prague City Transport Authority (Dopravni Podnik - DP Praha) network covers the whole city of Prague and includes trams, city buses and metro (subway).

You will find 4x26kc tickets in the Headstart Prague pre-travel kit along with help cards to negotiate many of the problems which may otherwise spoil your trip. For details of this kit see the details in the left column of this page or click the link.


Tourist "Single Journey" Tickets - CLEAR DESCRIPTION.

The 2008 tariffs bring a dazzling number of ticket options depending on how old you are, how far you want to travel and how long it might take to get there. Look below to find which of the four main tariffs applies to you. If in doubt, adults should always take the 26kc option. These are SINGLE JOURNEY tickets. Only people with travel passes can "hop on, hop off".

NOTE: For the purposes of the DPP rules please understand the following definitions:
Infant: person that has not yet had their 6th birthday.
Child: person aged at least 6 years old but has not yet had their 15th birthday.
Student: person aged 15 to 26, card carrying international student or student of a Czech high school or University.
Adult: person aged between 15 and 69.
Senior Citizen: Czech citizen or international Czech resident aged more than 70.
Transfer Ticket: You intend using a combination of metro/tram/bus transport methods (flexible but, more expensive).
Plnocenna: Same as "Transfer Ticket" above.
Non-Transfer Ticket: You intend to use only one transport method (cheaper but, heavily time restricted, ideal for short journeys).
Discounted: Same as "Non-Transfer Ticket" above.


26kc Transfer ticket single journey

This is a 4 zone single journey ticket. Ticket is valid for the fare zones "P", "O" and "B" (central Prague with "P" counting as 2 zones and extending out 20km i.e. past the airport) and can be used 75 minutes from validation on working days from 0500 to 2000. After 2000 weekdays and on weekends around the clock, tickets can be used 90 minutes from validation. You may change between all types of transportation as long as you complete your journey within the validated time.

YOU NEED THIS TICKET IF YOU ARE:
1) An adult travelling on any combination metro, bus or tram.
2) An adult travelling more than 5 metro stations not including station entry including line changes or having a total journey time of more than 30 minutes.
3) An adult travelling more than 20 minutes on a tram and/or bus.
4) An adult travelling on the night-tram system.
5) An adult travelling one-way on the Ujezd-Petrin funicular.

SMS Option - DPP offers a free 26kc sms ticket service i.e. it's free to users of CZ mobile operators. Tourists should confirm with their own provider about the cost of an sms here. The procedure uses 2 sms messages and works as follows:
Send the message "DPT" to 9020626 (no country code required) i.e. DPT (don't send it in "" quotes).
After two minutes you receive an sms with your 26kc authorisation with confirmation code plus the validity time of the e-ticket you now have 90 minutes to complete your journey (it covers central Prague "P" area i.e. as far out as the airport). Note: this is valid for one person. TIP: check the battery-life on your phone first.


13kc Transfer ticket single journey - also the LUGGAGE ticket

This has the same transfer options as the 26kc ticket but, can be used by children i.e. 6 or older but, not yet 15.

YOU NEED THIS TICKET IF YOU ARE:
1) A child under 15 years old travelling on any combination metro, bus or tram.
2) A child under 15 years old travelling one-way on the Ujezd-Petrin funicular.
3) A child travelling on the night tram/bus system.
Note: An accompanying adult with a 3 day (72 hours or greater) travel pass can take one child for free.

LUGGAGE OPTIONS
In general, each large piece of baggage i.e. suitcase requires a 13kc ticket. People with 1, 3 or 5 day passes are entitled to one large item of travel free. Full exemption list is below:

Free-of-Charge Transport of Passengers and Objects

  • infant not yet had their 6th birthday.
  • child between 6 and 14 if accompanying adult has 3 or 5 day travel pass.
  • citizens of the Czech Republic and foreigners with residential permit over 70.
  • disabled in a wheelchair, guide and dog.
  • prams with infant. (pram with no infant is treated like luggage i.e. 13kc ticket)
  • cats/dogs in bag. (dog not in bag is treated like an adult person i.e. 26kc ticket)
  • luggage sized up to 25 x 45 x 70 centimetres i.e. aiplane carry-on.
  • rodlike luggage up to the length of 150 centimetres and 20 centimeters in diameter.
  • platelike luggage sized up to 100x100x5 centimetres.
  • 1 pair of skis.
  • a bycicle (in Metro only and off-peak hours).


18kc Non-Transfer ticket single journey

Allows travel on trams OR buses and allows no change between them i.e. bus only or tram only and the duration of the journey is maximum 20 minutes.
On the Metro this ticket is valid for the distance of 5 stations (not including the station of validation) allowing to change between the lines A, B, C, but no longer than 30 minutes total travel time.

YOU NEED THIS TICKET IF YOU ARE:
1) An adult using only the metro system travelling maximum 5 stations (not including the validation station) including metro line changes who completes their journey in less than 30 mins.
2) An adult travelling less than 20 minutes on a tram or bus and not changing between them.
Note: This type of ticket cannot be used on night tram or night bus routes or the Ujezd-Petrin funicular railway.


9kc Non-Transfer ticket single journey

YOU NEED THIS TICKET IF YOU ARE:
1) A child under 15 years old travelling maximum 5 metro stations after entering the system (not including the station of validation).
2) A child under 15 years old travelling less than 20 minutes on a tram or bus.
Note: An accompanying adult with a 3 day (72 hours or greater) travel pass can take one child for free.


Prague Transport Machines and Tariffs after January 1st 2008

Once you have decided on your travel requirement, select the tariff that you need i.e. an adult travelling on the metro more than 5 stops will need to press the 26kc button once and insert coins into the machine to get the ticket. For two adults travelling together press the 26kc button twice and insert 52kc etc to get the tickets. If at any point you want to end the transaction i.e. you press the wrong button, press the button with "Storno" (cancel) next to it.

DPP official ticket machine guide (visual)

Don't get too frustrated with all the colours, categories and zones etc. The most important thing is the number i.e. for the regular "Transfer" ticket there will only be one button with "26" on it and on the machine it will be under a category called "Transfer or Plnocenna". Likewise, adults wanting the cheaper "Non-Transfer" ticket will find the "18" under the "Discounted" column. The trick here is to pay attention to the right number. Press the button, put in the money and it's as simple as that. If you want two tickets then push the button twice etc etc. You can see a photograph of a ticket machine below: (bit old, must get this updated... light blue is now the "full transfer option colour" and light green is the "discounted option colour)

standard DPP ticket machine


Prague Ticket prices at a glance

Each ticket tariff in the tables below apply to a person travelling in central Prague within the limits of the tram system and extending to some bus services. These are covered by zones P, O and B (P counts as two zones). If you need to know how many zones you will be using then it is best to check the DPP zone chart. As a rough guide, for every zone added to the standard 4 zone ticket you must add 50% of the cost of the original ticket. The Czech word for zone is "pasmo".

Travel Period Transfer (15 or over - Plnocenna) Non-transfer (15 or over - Discounted) Under 15 years old
20 mins - 18kc bus or tram or metro 9kc
Peak
(75 mins)		 26kc 18kc 13kc
Off Peak
(90 mins)		 26kc 18kc 13kc
24 hours
(3 zones)		 100kc - 50kc
3 Days
(2 zones)		 330kc - -
5 Day
(2 zones)		 500kc - -


Note about short term travel passes:
1) A travel pass of 1 day entitles you to carry one item of large luggage (normally 13kc).
2) A travel pass of 3 or more days entitles you to carry one item of large luggage AND one child between 6-14 travels free.
3) Travel passes are mostly sold in the Tabaks (newsagents) located in the metro stations.
4) Short term travel passes are "whole time" i.e. a 1 day pass is valid for 24 hours after being validated.
5) For a long term pass (1 month or more) you need a passport and photo.


Prague DPP Extended duration transport ticket.
This is minimum 1 month, contains personal details, photo etc and must be bought from a DPP office.

Travel Period Transfer (15 or over - basic) 15 to 25 years old Under 15 years old
1 month 550kc 260kc 130kc
3 months 1480kc 720kc 360kc
1 Year 4750kc - -

Validating a Prague Transport ticket

 In all metro stations, buses and trams you'll find a little yellow or orange box. In a metro station you will find it shortly before you use the escalator or stairs. In a bus or tram it will be close to the entry/exits at chest level. Put your ticket face up with the white space in the machine. You'll feel it punch and a little bell sounds. Check that has left a visible impression on the ticket. If not, try another box.

You do not have to show your ticket or travel pass to the driver. If someone identifies himself as an inspector and you are on DP property you must present a valid Prague transport DPP ticket for both yourself and any luggage to the inspector if you are asked to do so.



The picture on the left shows a DPP Prague transport inspectors badge, often a ring which he will use to identify himself. The ID card on the right is what you can challenge him to show you. He must have an ID card with the same number as the ring. The inspectors operate in groups and mainly target metro stations like Florenc, Mustek and Museum which are line junctions and the stop at Hlavni Nadrazi (main train station). They can fine you up to 950Kc if you do not have any pass or validated ticket but, if you pay on the spot this is reduced to 500kc. The fine for not having a ticket for your luggage will also be halved for immediate payment (50kc). Czech residents can defer payment. Tourists cannot. You MUST be able to identify yourself even as a tourist. If you cannot then the inspector is authorised (with police assistance if necessary) to hold you at a place of their choosing until your identity has been confirmed and the appropriate fine issued.


General Information

 The Prague Metro network is safe, reliable and clean. There are three lines (A-green, B-yellow, C-red). It runs from 5 am to midnight daily every 3-10 minutes.

The Bus and Tram network covers the whole of Prague. Most of them run from 4:30 am to 11:30 pm daily every 5-25 minutes. There is a limited night bus and tram service on certain lines from midnight to 5 am every 40 minutes (see the link to DP Praha at the top of the page for the Night Timetables, it's under "Routes" on the DPP page).

Some metro stations in Prague are "loop points" i.e. in case of maintenance works, it is possible to terminate the train at this point even though it is not the end of the line. A popular example of this is Kacerov (pronounced catcherov). You'll be on the metro and the sign will announce "vlak konci" or metro terminates here. Simply get off the metro and wait for the next one which will identify the final station on the line.

If you want to see a more interactive page with a metro route planner (printable) and other info, take a look at the Subway Navigator (little out of date, I hope they add the new stations) or if you want to print the the whole system layout click Here.

Specifically for a bus or tram is "priority seating". On Buses you'll find the seats close to the exit have a sticker on the adjacent window indicating this is priority seating. In trams, the seats either side of the front of the tram carriage are priority seating. This means that you should give up your seat to somebody who needs it more. By law you must give up the seat if challenged by somebody carrying priority documentation. This is usually somebody old, recuperating from injury or pregnant. From a comfort perspective, a bus generally has seating in pairs and it will be a fabric covered seat. Older trams have a single line of hard plastic seats running down both sides.


Train transport

 The Czech Republic has an extensive railway transport network which is operated by state railway company Ceske Drahy (CD). With some exceptions, domestic train travel is slower than bus travel. There is no need to book domestic rail travel before you get here. You can buy the ticket from the ticket office at the railway station or from the conductor on the train.

Most domestic trains depart from Prague Masarykovo Nadrazi, Prague Hlavni Nadrazi (Main Station) or from Praha Smichov. A few leave from Praha Holesovice. All these stations have metro stops (except Masarykovo which is a 5 minute walk from the Namesti Republiky metro station) and are easily accessible.

Serious researchers should pay a visit to the DPP Download page where you will find lots of transport route map and timetable info but, you can save direct to your PC.

You can find all the DPP transport rules and regulations as well as park and ride, night service timetable and much more info at DP Praha (select "English (flag)" from the choice of languages).