Landing at Vaclav Havel Prague Airport and not sure of the best way to get to the city center called Old Town? We’ve collected all the reasonable options and put them down for you. Prague is notoriously known for its dubious taxi drivers, so getting to the city center could be stressful if you aren’t prepared.

We have put together all possible transfer options (9 in total!), so you can easily compare their costs using our calculator below.

Prague Airport is located approximately 17 kilometers and 25 minutes from the city center (Wenceslas Square or Old Town Square) when there is no traffic. The rush hours are usually during working days in the morning (7 to 10 AM) and in the late afternoon (4 to 7 PM). During the rush hour please add 20 – 30 minutes to your ride. The official address is Aviaticka, 16108 Prague 6.

Out of all options, we also don’t recommend taking a taxi because for the same (or even lower) price you can get a much better service with private pickups. If you are short on a budget, go with the airport shuttle transfer.

Welcome Pickups are focusing on private airport transfers and all their drivers are hand-picked and well trained. For the same price as a taxi (€33), you will get a private driver with excellent English and knowledge of Prague. The driver will be also waiting for you with the welcome sign at the arrival hall. If the flight delayed or canceled? No worries, your driver will be monitoring the flight schedule and will manage accordingly.

The best thing is you will land and go right away with no waiting as your car is always ready. The service has excellent ratings on TripAdvisor (5 stars out of 6.000+ reviews) and even received the Certificate of Excellence.

Another great advantage for families travelling with kids is that you can order a child seat, infant carrier, or booster for only €5 each. Just make sure to select the option "Add child seats" when booking.

They are legally not required for transportation within the Czech Republic, but safety should be your top priority when it comes to your family. This isn't possible with any other transfer option.

A good compromise between a cheap public transport and a private car may be a shuttle transfer (it’s actually an 8-passenger car, not a bus). It costs only €17 per person and will get you from the airport directly to your hotel or apartment.

However, if you are traveling with more than 2 people, it is smarter to take private pickup. There is also a cheaper version of the shuttle bus which costs only €5.50 per person, but it only goes to the city center (Narodni street). Both shuttles are very comfy and typically a Mercedes Benz V-Class or Volkswagen Transporter with air-conditioning and guaranteed seats. The ride takes from 30 to 60 minutes depending on the number of stops and traffic.

The cheapest option to get to Prague city center is by using regular public transport which is very cost-effective. The bus station is right in front of Terminal 1 (Exit D) and Terminal 2 (also Exit D) – make sure not to confuse it with the Airport Express station (see below), as they are two different lines, each with its own station. A 90-minute ticket costs €1.60 (40 CZK) and can be purchased at the station using a ticket machine (cashless payment accepted). You can use this ticket for the bus, tram, or subway. Children up to age of 15 (including) and seniors over 65 years can use the public transport for free, no matter what nationality they are.

Just take the trolleybus #59 (former bus #119) to Nadrazi Veleslavin (last stop) which takes only 16 minutes, where you can transfer to subway line A (green) and continue to downtown (Mustek) or any other station. The bus goes every 3 – 10 minutes and operates from 4:22 AM to 23:32 PM (last bus) on all days including the weekend. You can check it's schedule here.

Check out the video from Honest Guide guys below where it is very well explained. Note they used the bus line #119 which was replaced by the current trolleybus #59 in 2024.

Uber operates in Prague safely and has an even dedicated service for pickups and rides to the airport called Uber Airport. Uber Airport is a dedicated service for Prague Airport and serves as the official provider of taxi services. The cars are mostly Toyota Camrys or similar mid-class sedans or SUVs.

You can book the ride using the Uber app, airport kiosks, or counter. After successful booking you'll receive a PIN which you should share with the first available driver (usually the first one in the line). Just be careful and make sure you are booking an Uber, not falling for an “official airport taxi” scam.

The advantage is that you can either prebook the ride or book one upon arrival, and you never have to wait, as cars are always ready in front of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The disadvantage is that the drivers are mostly foreigners who doesn't know much about Prague, but they will drive you to your location safely.

Price-wise, Uber Airport is roughly 50% more expensive than UberX and about 20% more than Uber Comfort. You can also use regular Uber options like UberX or Comfort, but they aren’t allowed to stop directly at the terminal hall, so you’ll likely need to meet them at a nearby parking area, as there’s no dedicated Uber or taxi pickup point.

A bit more convenient compared to the public transport trolleybus is the Airport Express bus as you don’t need to transfer to the subway to get to the city center, but it’s also slightly more expensive and doesn't go that frequently.

The bus station is at the parking lot right in front of Terminal 1 – make sure not to confuse it with the trolleybus station (see above), as they are two different lines, each with its own station. If you are going from the city to the airport, the bus also makes a stop at the Terminal 2. Tickets cost €4 (100 CZK) for adults or €2 (50 CZK) for children and you can buy them at the terminal or directly from the bus driver (you can pay cashless).

The bus has only two stops – Namesti Republiky (subway line B) and terminates at Prague Main Station (Praha Hlavni Nadrazi) where you can take a subway (line C), tram or go on foot. If you are heading to downtown, we recommend getting off at the Namesti Republiky station as navigating through the Main Station can be very tricky.

Please keep in mind the bus schedule – buses operates 24 hours a day and leaves every 13 to 60 minutes. The ride takes around 40 minutes (depending on the traffic) and you can use it also on the way to the airport.

Another smart option to get from the airport to your location is a car rental. There are several car rental companies operating directly at the airport including some of the international ones like Avis, Alamo, Budget, or Enterprise and some local ones like CAR4WAY.

For a "standard" European car that will fit 4-5 people and luggage (i.e., VW Golf) the prices starting at €56 per day with a basic insurance. For a larger car (SUV) you can expect to pay around €100 per day.

Driving in Prague is really easy and peaceful. Traffic jams are minor compared to some of the other metropolitan cities. It's not always easy to find a parking spot in the city center, but there are plenty of garages.

Keep in mind you need a valid driver license to rent the car. If you are an US citizen that includes also the International Driving Permit (IDP). If you are UK/EU citizen and have a driving license with your photo, you are fine. Also, some rental companies require quite large security deposit, for example Alamo, Budget, and Enterprise require €1.000 while Avis needs only €200.

However, we would recommend renting a car only if you are planning some trips outside of Prague like to Cesky Krumlov or Kutna Hora. You definitely don't need a car to commute through the city as public transport is much better, faster, and cheaper.

If you need to return the car in the city, most of the rental companies have an office at the Hlavni nadrazi (main station), but ask about the possibility before the rental.

If you will be returning the car at the airport, there is Shell gas station right next to it. The problem is it's in the opposite direction and getting back to the airport is quite a big detour (like 10 minutes), so we recommend taking the gas the MOL or Shell stations that are on the way to the airport at Evropska street.

Conclusion: The Best Way to Get from Prague Airport

Overall, there are many ways to get from Prague Airport to the city center (Old Town). If you prefer comfort and want to avoid stress, choose the private pickup for €33. It's also a great option if you are travelling with children as you can order child seats/boosters.

If you are on a budget, the shared shuttle, which starts at €17 per person, will still take you right to your hotel. Public transport is also a great option and costs only €1.6, but requires additional travel via subway to get to the city center.

Our least preferred way is definitely the Airport Express. It's often overcrowded and more expensive than a regular public transport, but runs 24/7. Unfortunately, there is still no direct subway or train line, unlike in some other major cities.

Please note the actual prices may vary. In our calculations we used a route from the airport to the city center (Old Town or Wenceslas Square).

5 Honest Tips

1. Use private pickup for maximum comfort: If you value convenience and a smooth arrival, book a private pickup (€33). Your driver will wait with a sign and monitor your flight in case of delays.
2. Be safe with child seats: If you are travelling with children, make sure to order extra child seats/boosters. They aren't legally required, but safety comes first.‍
3. Choose public transport if you’re on a tight budget: For just €1.60, trolleybus + metro will get you downtown in around 45 minutes. It’s cheap, efficient, and runs frequently – even on weekends.‍
4. Uber Airport is better than regular Uber: The special “Uber Airport” service picks you up right in front of the terminal – no walking to a parking lot or meeting point like with UberX.‍
5. Beware of scams: The "official airport taxi" scam is still going on, so make sure you are either booking Uber car or any of the recommended options above.