DESTINATIONS prague public-transit-travel-2

TRAVEL TIPS

Public Transit Travel

Prague has an excellent public transit system, which includes a clean and reliable underground subway system—called the Metro—as well as an extensive tram and bus network. Metro stations are marked with an inconspicuous "M" sign. A refurbished old tram (No. 91) travels through the Old Town and Lesser Quarter on summer weekends. Beware of pickpockets, who often operate in large groups on crowded trams and Metro cars and all other forms of transportation, including intercity buses.

The basic Metro, bus, and tram ticket costs 32 Kč. It permits 90 minutes of travel throughout the Metro, tram, and bus network. Short-term tickets cost 24 Kč and allow 30 minutes’ ride on a tram, bus, or Metro. If you're carrying a big bag, you need to buy an additional 16 Kč ticket. Most local people have monthly or annual passes, so while it may look like almost everyone is riding for free, they do have tickets. A matter of politeness: Czechs keep to the right side of escalators, leaving the left side free to people who want to walk up or down. It just takes one person on the wrong side to block the entire escalator.

Tickets (jízdenky) can be bought at dispensing machines in Metro stations and at some newsstands. They can also be purchased via SMS over a mobile phone by calling 902–06–26 if you have an SIM card from a Czech service provider. If you send an SMS that says DPT24 or DPT32 to the number, you will receive a virtual ticket for 24 Kč or 32 Kč.

You can buy a one-day pass allowing unlimited use of the system for 110 Kč or a three-day pass for 310 Kč. Validated one- or three-day passes allow traveling with a child 6–15 years old for free. The passes can be purchased at main Metro stations, from ticket machines, and at some newsstands in the center. A pass is not valid until stamped in the orange machines in Metro stations or aboard trams.

The trams and Metro shut down around midnight, but special night trams (Nos. 50–59) and some buses run all night. Night trams run at 20- to 30-minute intervals, and all routes intersect at the corner of Lazarská and Spálená streets in the New Town, near the Národní třída Metro station. Schedules and regulations in English are on the transportation department's official website. Travel information centers provide all substantial information about public transport operation, routes, timetables, and so on. They are at major Metro stations and at both terminals at the airport.

Validate your Metro ticket at an orange stamping machine before descending the escalator. Trains are patrolled often; the fine for riding without a valid ticket is 1,500 Kč, but the fine is reduced to 800 Kč if you pay on the spot or within 15 days. Tickets for buses are the same as those used for the Metro, although you validate them at machines inside the bus or tram. Information about tickets, route changes, and fines is on the city transit company website.

Transit Information websites

Dopravní Podnik. www.dpp.cz.

Transit Information Centers

Anděl. 296–191–817.

Hradčanská . 296–191–817.

Můstek. 296–191–817.

Muzeum. 296–191–817.

Nádraží Veleslavín. 296–191–817.

Václav Havel Airport. There are public transit info centers in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. 296–191–817.

Lost and Found

Lost & Found. Ztráty a nálezy, Karoliny Světlé 5, Staré Mesto, Prague, Praha, 110 00. 224–235–085.

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