The liquid rules at Prague Airport changed in October 2025, but the change applies only to flights departing from Terminal 2. Terminal 2 normally handles flights within the Schengen Area, while Terminal 1 normally handles flights to destinations outside the Schengen Area. This means that the amount of liquid you can take through security depends on your departure terminal and route.
Where can you find your departure terminal? It should be shown on your ticket or boarding pass. You can also find it in the flight information on the Prague Airport website. Check it before packing because the liquid rules depend on your departure terminal.
Before You Pack: Two Terms to Understand
The Prague Airport liquid rules are much easier to understand once you know what the airport means by a “container” and which products are treated as liquids.
What Does “Container” Mean?
A container is any individual package holding a liquid, gel or aerosol. It can be:
- A bottle of water, shampoo or perfume
- A tube of toothpaste, cream or gel
- A jar or pot of cream
- A spray or aerosol can, such as deodorant
Each bottle, tube, jar or aerosol can counts as one separate container under the airport liquid rules.
What Counts as a Liquid at Airport Security?
The rules cover more than drinks. Prague Airport applies them to liquids, aerosols and gels, including liquid and gel cosmetics, cosmetic sprays and some foods. Common examples include:
- Water and other drinks
- Shampoo and shower gel
- Liquid soap
- Creams, lotions and liquid makeup, including toner and mascara
- Perfume
- Toothpaste
- Cosmetic sprays and aerosols
- Jams, marmalade, honey and compotes
You may carry solid foods such as sandwiches, baguettes, meat products, salami, sausages and cheese. If you are unsure about a particular product, Prague Airport has an official list of commonly questioned items.
Prague Airport Liquid Rules Explained
| Departure terminal | What you can carry |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | One transparent one-liter bag containing small bottles, tubes, jars or sprays. Each container may hold no more than 100 ml. |
| Terminal 2 | The same bag of small containers, plus one additional container larger than 100 ml and no larger than 2 liters. |
The simplest way to remember the rules is:
- Terminal 1: small containers only.
- Terminal 2: small containers plus one larger container.
What Does the 1-Liter Rule Mean?
The same basic rule applies to small liquids at both terminals:
You may carry containers that hold no more than 100 ml each. All of them must fit inside one transparent 1-liter plastic bag.
As you can see, the Prague Airport liquid rules use two different limits: 100 ml and 1 liter. They apply at the same time but mean different things:
- 100 ml is the maximum size of each individual container.
- 1 liter (1,000 ml) is the maximum size of the transparent bag holding all the containers.
For example, a 50 ml tube of toothpaste counts as one container. A 100 ml bottle of shampoo is another container. All your containers must fit inside the same one-liter bag. There is no fixed limit on the number of containers, but the bag must close completely. On paper, ten 100 ml containers equal 1,000 ml. In practice, ten standard bottles or tubes will usually not fit because the packaging also takes up space.
ℹ️ On my recent trip through Prague Airport, transparent one-liter bags were available on tables near the entrances to the security checkpoints. You can take one there if you have not prepared your liquids bag in advance.
Before entering security, make sure all your small containers fit inside the bag and that it closes completely. If they do not fit, move some products to your checked baggage if you still can. Otherwise, you will have to throw them away before passing through security.
Which Prague Airport Terminal Allows the 2-Liter Container?
Since October 1, 2025, passengers departing from Terminal 2 may carry one additional container larger than 100 ml and no larger than 2 liters. This additional container could be a bottle, tube, jar or permitted aerosol.
The key word is one.
For example, you may carry one 1.5-liter bottle of water or one 250 ml bottle of shampoo. You may not carry two 500 ml bottles, even though they contain only 1 liter altogether. They are two separate containers larger than 100 ml, while the rule permits only one.
Which Liquids Can You Take Through Prague Airport Security?
What about water?
That depends on your terminal.
- At Terminal 1, a full water bottle larger than 100 ml does not meet the normal hand-luggage liquid rule. You can take an empty bottle with you and later refill it from drinking-water fountains around the airport.
- At Terminal 2, your one additional large container can be a bottle of water holding up to 2 liters. Remember that this uses your single large-container allowance—you cannot then add another bottle of shampoo, drink or other liquid larger than 100 ml.
Can You Take Shampoo, Perfume and Other Cosmetics?
Yes. Shampoo, perfume, liquid makeup, creams, toothpaste and cosmetic sprays are treated as liquids and must follow the limits explained above. At Terminal 2, a full-size cosmetic product would use your one additional large-container allowance.
Can You Take Food Through Security?
Solid ready-to-eat food is generally permitted in hand luggage. Prague Airport specifically lists sandwiches, baguettes, cakes, confectionery, meat products and cheese as permitted.
Marmalade, jam, honey, compote and similar foods are treated as liquids or gels and must follow the liquid limits for your terminal.
Can You Take Alcohol in Hand Luggage?
You can carry alcohol, but you must follow these rules:
- It must be in its original bottle or package.
- It must contain no more than 70% alcohol.
- It must follow the liquid limits for your departure terminal.
If you buy a liquid at an airport shop, it may be placed in a special sealed bag. Keep the bag closed until you have passed all security checks during your journey. If you have a connecting flight, check the liquid rules at the airport where you will change planes.
What Are the Exceptions for Medicine and Baby Food?
The standard size and container limits do not apply in the same way to necessary medicines, special nutrition, baby formula and baby food. Some necessary liquids have special rules:
- Contact lens solution: It is allowed in both hand luggage and checked baggage. Keep it easy to reach in case security staff want to check it.
- Liquid medicine and special food: You may carry the amount you need for your journey. A doctor’s note is not required, but Prague Airport recommends bringing one. It is also better to keep medicine in its original package. Cooling bags and ice packs used for medicine are allowed. Take these items out of your hand luggage and show them separately at security.
- Baby food and drinks: When traveling with a baby or child, you may carry the amount needed for the journey. Take these items out of your hand luggage and show them separately at security.
Do You Need to Remove Liquids From Your Bag?
- At Terminal 1, liquids must be removed from your hand luggage and presented separately.
- Terminal 2 includes security lanes with modern CT scanners. When you use a CT-equipped lane, liquids can remain inside your bag. However, procedures depend on the lane being used, and security staff may still ask you to remove particular items.
Keep your liquids near the top of your bag so you can take them out easily. At security, follow the instructions from the airport staff.
The 2-liter rule tells you what you may carry. The type of scanner tells you whether the liquids can stay inside your bag during the security check. These are two different rules.
Other Practical Questions
Does the Liquid Rule Depend on Your Airline?
The liquid rules at the security checkpoint depend on your departure terminal, not on whether you are flying with Ryanair, easyJet, Smartwings or another airline.
Your airline still controls the number, dimensions and weight of bags you may take on board, so check its baggage allowance separately.
Do the Same Liquid Rules Apply to Your Return Flight?
The Terminal 2 allowance applies when you depart from Prague Airport. It does not automatically apply at the airport from which you fly back.
The rules can vary by airport and sometimes by terminal. A large container accepted at Terminal 2 in Prague may not pass through security on your return journey. Check the official website of your return airport before traveling.
Do the 2-Liter Rules Apply to Flights from Prague to the UK?
Flights to the UK normally depart from Terminal 1 because the UK is outside the Schengen Area, so the Terminal 1 liquid rules usually apply. Always confirm the terminal shown for your flight.
What Happens if a Liquid Is Not Accepted at Security?
If security staff do not allow a liquid, you will usually have to throw it away. In some cases, you can leave it at the airport’s baggage storage and collect it when you return. This service costs money and has its own rules. Ask the security staff if you can use this option.
Information checked using the official Prague Airport guidance in September 2026. Security staff make the final decision at the checkpoint.
