Public Transport

Public Transport

Public transport in Prague is great! The metro, trams and buses are clean, almost always on time and cheap. 

Finding your connection

There are several options as to how to look up connections. The apps and websites listed below usually also show up-to-date information on the delay of individual trams, buses and metro.

We recommend downloading one of these apps: 

PID Lítačka – you can buy tickets through this app as well

IDOS app: for Android for Iphone

Pubtran

You can use Google maps or one of these websites to find your connection:

DPP 

IDOS

Public Transport Pass

We strongly recommend that you secure your 1-month transportation pass (550 CZK = approx. 25 USD) before you arrive to Prague using the Lítačka app. You will then have the pass in the app on your phone and will not need to carry an extra document in your wallet. Please scroll below for detailed instructions on how to get your pass. After the 1-month pass expires, you can get a 3-month pass using the same method with a student discount (360 CZK for 3 months), which will cover the rest of the semester. In order to be eligible for the student discount (in case of NYU students but not FAMU students), you will need to get an ISIC card in the Charles University office. FAMU students will receive a student discount when submitting a study certificate issued by FAMU during the first month.

If you don’t get your pass before orientation starts, you can still purchase tickets on the trams or in the metro, but please note that getting a 1-month pass is a much cheaper and convenient option.

Make sure to have your pass on you at all times in case of a random inspection. If you are not able to show the pass to the ticket inspector, you will be fined 1000 CZK. You don’t need to stamp it when you enter. 

If you purchase single tickets (30 or 90 minutes, day or 3-day tickets), make sure to stamp them when you start your journey. You can also use SMS tickets, if you have a Czech phone  number (see below), or purchase single tickets through the Lítačka app.

Where and how to get a new pass?

Lítačka App – recommended

1. From the App Store, or Android Store, download the PID Lítačka app. 
 
2. Create a profile (you will need to upload a photo). 
 
3. Buy a pass (not a ticket). 
– ZONE – you should get the Prague zone (Praha) – 0.  Choosing other zones is unnecessary and will end up costing you more.
 
– TARIFF CATEGORY: You want a season ticket – in Czech this is a Dlouhodobé kupony or Občanské. The cost is 550 Kc ($25).  You do NOT want the TRANSFERABLE SEASON TICKET (in Czech this is a Přenosné dlouhodobé kupóny) – the cost for that is 1000 Kc ($45). 
 
4. When you get to the page that says “Pass Purchase – Period”  – choose the first option, “Měsíční” (this means monthly).  Make your pass valid from the day of your arrival in Prague. The end date will be entered automatically, because you have chosen a monthly pass.
 
5. You will be charged around $25 or 550 Kc.  Note: You CANNOT GET A STUDENT DISCOUNT before you secure your ISIC card in Prague. The confirmation screen should look like the screenshot below. 
 
6. When your monthly ticket expires, you can buy a 3-month pass with a student discount (if you get an ISIC card). 

In person at ticket offices

You can buy the coupons at some metro stations (Máchova – Náměsti Míru or I.P. Pavlova metro stop, Osadní – Holešovice metro, Můstek metro stop) or at Škoda Palace, Jungmanova street 35, Lítačka Centre Point. 

You can have Lítačka in your app or as a plastic card.  

Price:
 
360 CZK for 3 months
– you NEED a photo, the ISIC ID 
– if you leave it at home and you get caught, you pay only 50 CZK on the spot but you must bring the pass to the penalty desk 
 
You may need to show your ISIC ID to the ticket inspector – download the ISIC app and keep it on you at all times!
 

Tickets and Fares

If you don’t have a pass, tickets good for one journey (30 or 40 Kč) can be purchased at TRAFIKA (newsstands) or TABÁK (tobacco stands), or at the ticket vending machines at all metro station entrances and some tram/bus stops.

You must validate your ticket before you ride (stick it into any yellow ticket validation machine, located at the entrance to metros or on trams).

Fares

40 Kč ticket 

  • Valid for 90 minutes at other times.
  • You can change trams/ subways/buses with a 40 Kč ticket, as long as you are within the time limit.

30 Kč tickets

  • Valid for 30 minutes.
  • You can change trams/subways/buses with a 30 Kč ticket, as long as you are within the time limit.

PID Lítačka App

You can buy tickets and passes can also be purchased through the Lítačka app using your credit card. You can download the app from the PID website. You can also use this app to look up connections.

SMS Ticket

Send an SMS to the phone number 90206 with DPT42 in the subject line. Wait a few seconds – sometimes it can take up to one minute – and your ticket will arrive (subject to your mobile credit balance). When you meet a controller, show him your display with your ticket number. The price is the same as for ordinary paper tickets, 40 Kč, and is valid for 90 minutes. Ticket can be ordered only using a local sim card (from a Czech operator). Below you will find a listing of all tickets which can be bought from your mobile.

DPT42 – ticket for 90 minutes for 42 Kč
DPT31 – ticket for 30 minutes for 31 Kč
DPT120 – ticket for 24 hours for 120 Kč
DPT330 – ticket for 72 hours for 330 Kč

Night Transportation

The metro and normal trams routes stop at midnight, and a night tram system starts. Night trams run about every 30 minutes until 5 a.m. and the tram numbers are in the #90s. If you take a tram or metro somewhere and plan on taking public transportation home, check the night tram schedule. As in New York or any other city, be careful using public transportation, especially at night. You can find the schedules of the night trams on www.dpp.cz or download the IDOS App on your phone for best connections from your location. It may be safer to take a taxi or uber if it is very late, especially if you are by yourself or uncertain of your connection.

Ticket Inspection

There are random ticket inspections in the buses, metros and trams. The inspectors may or may not wear a uniform, but they always show you a badge and ask you to show them a valid ticket or transportation pass. If you fail to present a valid transportation pass or ticket, they will ask you for an ID and give you a fine. Details about ticket inspection and fines can be found on the Prague Public Transport company’s website.

Cultural Tips

For some survival tips on safety and etiquette on public transport, visit the Cultural Tips section.