Traveling to Prague

Traveling to Prague is quite easy. It's really upto you and your budget. You can fly to Prague, take the train, bus or drive.

How will you travel to Prague?   Air - Train - Bus - Car

This page outlines a little bit about each method of arrival. From there it's up to you. So, grab your passport and guidebook (if you insist) and get here!

Fly to Prague

Traveling to Prague is easiest by air. Many airlines fly to Prague and most of them offer cheap flights to Prague. If you can, always book early and be flexible - especially with budget airlines.

The Prague Airport is an ideal place to arrive and depart from. It's small, efficient and new. Delays are rare and passport control is tame compared to larger airports.

The airport has two main terminals, Terminal 1 and 2. In each one you'll find dining, information points and transfer services. If you need accommodation near the airport, try either of these airport hotels.

You can get to the airport very quickly from the city center. The cheapest route is by public transportation. There are a few buses that service the airport and they link to different metro stations. Read more about travel in Prague. 

If you prefer a taxi or transfer service, try the yellow AAA Taxi company. They seem to be the most reliable. They have an office in the arrivals hall and can quote you a rate before departure.

Read this article for more info about flights to Prague.

Taking the Train

Traveling to Prague by train is my favorite way to get here. Czech Republic is a beautiful country in all seasons and you'll see more by train than by any other method of travel.

Anyway, Prague has two major train stations. This is important to note if you're arriving by train.

• The main train station is Hlavní Nádraží. This station services most domestic routes although some international trains stop here as well. The abbreviation is often written as "hl.n."

The Prague metro stops here as well sharing the station's name. It's on the C line which is red on the metro map.

• Most international trains arrive and depart from Nádraží Holešovice. It's smaller than the main train station but also has a metro stop (C line).

For the record, Prague's train stations can be dark and a bit foul. They aren't places you really want to hang out in.

My Tip: Buy tickets in advance for international destinations - even if it means going to the station a few days early. And, I always get a reserved seat especially in the summer months. This costs a bit more but saves you the hassle of looking for a seat everywhere.

Also to note: domestic routes can be quite busy Thursday - Sunday. Many people go away for the weekend in the warmer months - and trains get crowded especially Friday and Sunday afternoons.

Bus to Prague

Traveling to Prague by bus is the cheapest way to get here. You can find lots of cheap bus routes from lots of destinations in Europe. And, buses are particularly useful for taking day trips from Prague to smaller destinations like Český Krumlov.

Most bus routes use the main bus station at Florenc. Although, many international buses depart from the train station Nádraží Holešovice.

The Eurolines site is a good starting place for buying tickets.

You can get to both bus stations via metro. Read more about the Prague metro.

Driving to Prague

Let's get this out of the way -- the main problem with traveling to Prague by car is... What do you do with your car while you're here? Because, you certainly won't need your car while you're here. (Unless of course, you plan to take day trips.)

Parking is very difficult in Prague and quite expensive - especially in the city center. And, that's where you want to stay - near attractions.

Parking garages range from 15-20 eur/day. Sometimes you can find accommodation with free parking but it can be difficult and expensive. Or, if you drive just outside the historical areas you can find free parking. But, like most big European cities, car theft is always possible.

Aside from parking, the roads in the Czech Republic can be dangerous. Czech drivers can be particularly aggressive - especially compared to drivers in the U.S.

If you decide to drive, get more information about driving and tolls from the Czech Highway homepage.

Traveling to Prague by Boat?

There are many river cruises that operate along the Vltava River. But, at the moment there aren't transport options from other cities by boat.

Instead, I recommend just taking a river cruise while you're in Prague. There are many options from one hour tours to whole day journeys.

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Sleeping in Prague

After traveling to Prague, you have to sleep here too. And, there are many places to choose from. You can read more about accommodtion here or check out some of my apartment recommendations.

Related Travel Links

Travel in Prague: basics information about using Prague's public transportation

Things to do in Prague: there's more to Prague than just sightseeing.

Prague accommodation: a quick overview of your options.