How to Get from Prague Airport to the City Center by Public Transport

Prague Airport has no direct metro or train to the city center. The cheapest option is to take a city trolleybus or bus and then change to the metro.

TThis guide covers regular daytime public transport from Prague Airport to Old Town, New Town, and other central areas. For other journeys, see:

• How to Get from Prague Airport to the Main Railway Station
• Taxi From Prague Airport
• Prague Airport Night Time Transport

Quick Answer: Which Airport Route Should You Take?

• For Old Town, Lesser Town, and historic center, take Trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín and change to Metro Line A.
• For destinations near Metro Line B, including Anděl, Florenc, and parts of New Town, take Bus 100 to Zličín and change to Metro Line B

A 90-minute ticket covers both the airport bus and the metro. It costs 46 CZK in the PID Lítačka app or 50 CZK as a paper ticket. Most journeys take approximately 35–50 minutes, depending on your destination.

Main Public Transport Routes from Prague Airport

Prague Airport (Václav Havel) is connected to the city by municipal bus and trolleybus lines that link the terminals directly with Prague’s metro system. The most efficient route depends entirely on which metro line is closest to your hotel or apartment destination.

Trolleybus 59 → Metro Line A: Best for Old Town & Lesser Town

ℹ️ Route 59 is a modern trolleybus route. The vehicles can run both under electric wires and on battery power, so some people simply call it a bus. In practice, it works like a normal airport bus for passengers.

Best option for downtown locations:

• Staré Město – Old Town (Staroměstská stop)
• Malá Strana – Lesser Town (Malostranská stop)
• Václavské náměstí – Wenceslas Square (upper part, Muzeum stop)
• Náměstí Míru – Peace Square (Náměstí Míru stop)

Trolleybus 59 connects Prague Airport with Nádraží Veleslavín, the final stop. From there, you can transfer to Metro Line A (Green Line).

Transfer from Prague Airport to Old Town using public transport takes 40–60 minutes. The fastest option — Trolleybus 59 + Metro Line A — takes about 42 minutes. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to use this route:

1. Board Trolleybus 59 right outside the terminal exit.
2. Exit at the final stop: Nádraží Veleslavín.
3. Follow the signs down to Metro Line A heading toward the Prague center (Depo Hostivař or Skalka direction).
4. Exit at your chosen historic center station.

🗺️ Unsure how to navigate the platforms? Get your bearings before you enter the station by reading our detailed guide “How to Use Prague Metro: Navigation and Rules”

Bus 100 → Metro Line B: Best for New Town & Anděl

Best option for New Town at Prague 1 and Prague 5 destinations:

• Smíchovské nádraží (secondary train station)
• Anděl (Prague 5 hub)
• Karlovo náměstí
• Národní třída
• Wenceslas Square (lower part, Můstek stop)
• Náměstí Republiky
• Florenc (Central Bus Terminal)

Bus 100 connects Prague Airport with the Zličín station, which is the western terminus of Metro Line B (Yellow Line).

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Take Bus 100.
2. Exit at the final stop: Zličín
3. Walk approximately 1 minute to the metro station entrance and board Metro Line B heading toward the center (Černý Most direction).
4. Exit at your destination station

Choose Bus 100 if your accommodation is closer to Metro Line B.

Other Airport Bus Routes: 161 and 191

Most travelers should use Trolleybus 59 or Bus 100. However, two other routes can be useful for specific destinations.

Bus 161 → Bořislavka (Metro Line A): Only selected Bus 161 services travel between the airport and Bořislavka. This route can be useful for Nebušice, Přední Kopanina, or accommodation near Bořislavka. Check the current timetable and departure stop before using it because not every Bus 161 goes to the airport.

Bus 191 → Anděl and Na Knížecí (Metro Line B): Bus 191 provides a direct connection from the airport to the Anděl and Smíchov areas without a metro transfer. The journey takes approximately 50 minutes and the bus makes many stops, so it is slower than Trolleybus 59 or Bus 100. However, it can be convenient if your accommodation is near Anděl or Na Knížecí, especially when traveling with luggage.

ℹ️ For most destinations in central Prague, Trolleybus 59 or Bus 100 will be faster and easier.

You can check current timetables and ticket prices on the official Prague Airport public transport page

Prague Airport Bus and Metro Tickets

You do not need separate tickets for the airport bus and metro. Prague Airport is within the Prague fare area, so you also do not need a special airport or suburban ticket. A regular 90-minute ticket covers the entire journey.

Where Can You Buy a Bus and Metro Ticket at Prague Airport?

You can buy it in three ways:

• PID Lítačka app: The ticket costs 46 CZK. Activate it at least 60 seconds before entering the marked boarding area.
• Yellow ticket machines: Machines are located in the arrival halls and beside the airport bus stops. A paper ticket costs 50 CZK, and most machines accept contactless cards.
• Public transport information counters: DPP counters are located in the arrival halls of Terminals 1 and 2. You can buy a ticket there and ask staff for help, but the counters are only available during their opening hours.

Ticket machines at the airport operate non-stop, while the information counters have limited hours. Current locations and opening hours are listed on the official Prague Airport public transport page.

Make Your Ticket Valid Before Entering the Boarding Area

Important: Airport bus stops work differently from most bus stops in Prague. Yellow posts show where the marked boarding area begins. You must have a valid ticket before walking past these posts, even if you are only waiting for the bus.

• If you have a paper ticket, insert it into one of the small yellow stamping machines at the entrance. The machine prints the starting time on the ticket, and its 90-minute validity begins immediately.
• If you use the PID Lítačka app, activate the ticket at least 60 seconds before entering the boarding area. Wait until the activation countdown has finished.

⚠️ Stamp a paper ticket only once. Do not stamp it again when changing to the metro. The same ticket covers transfers to the metro, trams, city buses, and trolleybuses until its 90-minute validity ends.

For other ticket types and purchase methods, read our complete guide to Prague Public Transport Tickets.

How to Get from Prague City Center to the Airport

To travel from the city center to Prague Airport, use the same routes in reverse.

• Metro Line A + Trolleybus 59: Take Metro Line A toward Nemocnice Motol and exit at Nádraží Veleslavín. Follow the airport signs and take Trolleybus 59 toward Letiště.
• Metro Line B + Bus 100: Take Metro Line B toward Zličín and exit at the final station. Change to Bus 100 toward Letiště.
• Bus 191 from Anděl: If you are staying near Anděl or Na Knížecí, you can take Bus 191 directly to the airport. It avoids a metro transfer but takes approximately 50 minutes.

Trolleybus 59 and Bus 100 stop at both airport terminals. Check your boarding pass and exit at the correct stop:

• Terminál 1: Flights outside the Schengen Area
• Terminál 2: Flights within the Schengen Area

The same regular Prague public transport tickets apply in both directions. Check the PID Lítačka app before leaving for current departure times and any service changes.