Prague Airport to City Centre: Bus 59, AE Bus or Taxi

The four ways in, compared

Prague airport has no rail link, so the first leg is always road. Times below are the operators' own estimates for that first leg, checked 19 October 2026.

Sources: the airport's public transport page for the 59 and 100, Prague City Tourism's arrival page for the AE fare and time, and PID's airport journey page for ticket prices. Bus 191 also runs from the airport to Petřiny and Anděl, but at about 50 minutes it only makes sense if one of those stops is your destination.

Verdict: look up the metro line nearest your hotel before you land. On line A, take the 59; on line B, bus 100 saves a change between metro lines. Pay for the AE only if you are going to the main railway station itself, and use a taxi when luggage, a late hour or a group makes the metro change hard work.

How to buy and use the ticket

PID recommends the 90-minute ticket for airport trips because the 30-minute one (39 CZK paper) is too tight once you add a metro ride and a walk. The ticket covers the trolleybus and the metro, with any number of changes inside its validity.

You can buy it at the Prague Public Transit counters in the arrival halls (Terminal 1, 7:00–21:00; Terminal 2, 9:00–21:00), at ticket machines in both arrival halls and at the stops, most of which take contactless cards, or in the PID Lítačka app. Prague City Tourism adds that trolleybus 59 accepts contactless cards on board.

Large suitcases need their own ticket

PID's luggage rules (valid from 1 January 2026) carry small luggage up to 25 × 45 × 70 cm free. Anything bigger needs a 25 CZK luggage ticket, or 23 CZK in the app, valid for the same time as your own ticket. A typical cabin bag fits under the limit; a large checked suitcase usually does not. If you already bought a 24-hour or longer ticket, one piece of luggage rides free.

Worked example for two adults, each with one large suitcase, using the app: 2 × 46 + 2 × 23 = 138 CZK on the 59 and metro. The same pair on the AE pays 2 × 200 = 400 CZK, with luggage free, according to Prague City Tourism.

When the Airport Express is the better choice

The AE runs between the airport and Praha hlavní nádraží, stopping in front of the station building. Prague City Tourism lists the fares as 200 CZK for adults, 100 CZK for children aged 6–15, free under 6, with luggage free. Tickets come from the Visitor Center, the DPP kiosk or the driver, and the AE accepts contactless cards. The airport's AE page states that standard Prague public transport tickets are not valid on it.

It is worth the extra money in two cases: you are catching a train out of Prague the same day, or you are staying near the main station and would rather sit with your bags for 40 minutes than change at Veleslavín.

Check two things first. Prague City Tourism says the AE stop is only in front of Terminal 1 (exit F) and that the AE does not stop at Terminal 2, so Schengen arrivals at Terminal 2 must walk across. And the published hours disagree: Prague City Tourism gives 5:30 to 22:00 every 20–30 minutes, while Czech Railways' AE page lists departures from the airport between 5:30 and 20:53 every 30 minutes. If you land after about 20:30, plan on the 59 instead.

Late arrivals: night buses 907 and 910

PID runs night lines 907 and 910 from Terminal 2 every 30 minutes between 0:00 and 4:30, taking about 45 minutes to the centre according to both PID and the airport. The airport lists the 907 via Hradčanská, Hlavní nádraží, Karlovo náměstí and Anděl, and the 910 via Švandovo divadlo, I. P. Pavlova and Kačerov. PID prices both at the standard 90-minute fare. Stamp or activate the ticket only when the bus is in sight: its 90 minutes start then.

Uber Airport and other taxis

The airport's official taxi is Uber Airport. You can order it three ways:

• Uber app: choose "Uber Airport"; the fare shows before you book; pay by card in the app or cash.
• Self-service kiosks in the terminals: card only, printed receipt.
• Service counters: staff order for you; card or cash.

After ordering you get a six-digit PIN to give the driver, and cars wait at pick-up points directly in front of the Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 arrival halls. The airport's two taxi pages give different counter closing times (21:00 on the main taxi page, midnight on the Uber Airport page), so after 21:00 use the app or a kiosk. No official fare table is published, so the app quote is the price to compare.

The airport also warns that reconstruction of the Aviatická intersection may slow road traffic at rush hour. The 59 and the metro do not care about that; a taxi at 8:00 or 17:00 might.

Which one to choose

Solo traveller or couple with cabin bags: 59 and metro A, 46 CZK each in the app. Family of two adults and a 10-year-old: PID's fare page lets children aged 6 to 15 travel free with proof of age, so the 59 route costs 100 CZK on paper tickets, against 500 CZK on the AE (200 + 200 + 100). Group of four with large cases arriving late: compare the Uber Airport quote with 4 × (46 + 23) = 276 CZK by public transport and decide whether the door-to-door ride is worth the difference.

For the ticket rules once you are in the city, read our guide to Prague public transport tickets. If you need lifts rather than stairs, the step-free route from the airport covers that separately, and paying in Czechia explains why you should not change money at the first exchange counter you see.