A Quick Guide to Prague Public Transportation

Prague has a reliable and convenient public transportation system, which consists of metro, trams and buses. It enables local people and visitors of Prague travel around Prague quite easily though at peak hours one might find it too crowded.
Fares

You can use just one ticket or pass for all three vehicles. If you stay in Prague for a short time (a few days), you will probably use single tickets.

You can either buy a transfer ticket or a non-transfer ticket. A transfer ticket is for three zones and can be used for 75 minutes on weekdays and for 90 minutes at weekends. You have to buy a ticket before you get on and you have to validate it first time you enter one of the vehicles. The time counts from the validation. With a transfer ticket you can change metro, trams and buses and combine them. The cost is 20 CZK (about 0.8 EUR). A non-transfer ticket can be used for 20 minutes and doesn’t allow change. The cost is 14 CZK (about 0.5 EUR). These tickets you can buy in vending machines installed in each metro station and at some tram and bus stops. Tickets are also available in many tobacco shops and newsagents’.

There are also season tickets (passes) available – 24 hours ticket (80 CZK/3 EUR), 3-day pass (220 CZK/8 EUR), 7-day pass (280 CZK/10 EUR), 15-day pass (320 CZK/12 EUR). Residents and long-time visitors buy long-term passes – monthly, quarterly, annual. These tickets can be bought at tickets offices located at several metro stations (e.g. Mustek, Florenc, I.P.Pavlova).
Metro

Prague metro has a good reputation not only among local people but also among visitors of Prague. There are 3 lines designated by letters A (green line), B (yellow line) and C (red line). Metro is in operation daily from 5 am till midnight. It is reliable, convenient and fast way of getting further from the center. You can also use it within the center but to move around the center trams might be more convenient if you do not like walking. Prague metro is clean and quite safe. However, you must beware of pickpockets like in most big cities.
Trams

Those who don’t like metro can use trams. Going by tram around the center is a very convenient and easy way of traveling. Trams in the center get quite crowded due to the high concentration of tourists. There is again the danger of pickpockets especially at the busiest places of the center. Trams operate from 4.30 am till midnight. After midnight you can use night trams operating from 00.30 am till 4.30 am.
Buses

Buses are mainly used to get further from the center, to and within suburbs. Buses operate from 4.30 am till midnight. After midnight night buses operate.
Ticket inspection

The validity of tickets can be checked any time during your trip by ticket inspectors. Tickets inspectors are entitled to ask passengers to show valid tickets and in case of traveling without a valid ticket give passenger a penalty fate in the amount of 800 CZK. Ticket inspectors have to prove themselves by an inspection badge Ticket inspection /Prague Public Transit Co. Inc.