Prague: neighbourhoods, sights, getting there and tickets at a glance

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, lies on the Vltava and has around 1.4 million inhabitants; the historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. The city suits you if you want to explore the castle, bridges and towers on foot and are looking for a short journey: from Dresden the train takes a good two hours. January and February are quietest, and August is busiest.

Getting there and from the airport into the city

Václav Havel Airport (PRG) is about 12 km west of the centre. Flights from Germany land at Terminal 2 for the Schengen area. There is no rail connection yet (as of September 2026); you get into the city by trolleybus, bus or taxi. The “At a glance” box shows the straight-line distance and compensation for delays.

Trolleybus 59 and Metro A: the inexpensive standard route

The former bus line 119 no longer exists; since 6 March 2024, trolleybus 59 with its own luggage area runs instead. It takes about 15 minutes to Nádraží Veleslavín, where you change to the green Metro A towards the centre; according to the transport association PID, the whole journey takes about 35 minutes. PID recommends the 90-minute ticket for 46 CZK in the app or 50 CZK on paper (as of September 2026).

You buy the ticket before boarding from the machine in the arrivals hall or at the stop, mostly contactless, or in the app “PID Lítačka”. A paper ticket you validate at the bus stand.

Airport Express: without a change to the main station

The Airport Express (AE) takes about 40 minutes, depending on traffic, to the main station Praha hlavní nádraží, where you can change to Metro C. Its stop is on Wilsonova in front of the historic Fanta building. The ticket costs 200 CZK (as of September 2026), luggage up to 90 × 60 × 40 cm travels free, and PID tickets are not valid. In the 2026 summer timetable the AE runs every 20 minutes during the day; according to PID, line 59 with Metro A is often similarly fast, runs much more frequently and costs only the normal PID fare.

At night and by taxi

The metro runs from about 05:00 to 24:00. After that, night buses 907 and 910 take you every 30 minutes from Terminal 2 to the centre in 45 to 50 minutes without a change. The official taxi service at the airport is “Uber Airport”: you book via the app, at the kiosk or at the counter (07:00 to 21:00) and give the driver a six-digit PIN. The city's maximum prices apply only to taxis with a taximeter; since 1 August 2026 these are a 70 CZK base fare and 42 CZK per kilometre.

By train from Germany

By train there is no journey from the airport to make. The fastest connections according to Deutsche Bahn (as of September 2026), partly different at weekends:

Where to stay: the neighbourhoods compared

Until 1784, Hradčany, the Lesser Town, the Old Town and the New Town were four independent towns. If you want to stay close to the castle and Charles Bridge, look there; Vinohrady, Žižkov and Holešovice lie east and north of it.

The name Vinohrady recalls the vineyards of Charles IV from the 14th century, and a vineyard still exists today in Havlíčkovy sady park. Living here is expensive, but the neighbourhood has many wine bars, cafés and good restaurants. Žižkov was a town in its own right until 1922, named after the Hussite leader Jan Žižka, and is regarded as a pub and club district. In Holešovice, formerly an industrial and port district, the Holešovice Market is in the former slaughterhouse; its Hall 22 is the largest food market in Prague.

Sights by area

Prague is called the “City of a Hundred Spires”, yet the Old Town alone now has 132 towers. You will find opening hours here and admission prices under Costs (as of September 2026).

Castle Hill: Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral

According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle complex in the world, around 570 m long. It was founded in the 9th century, was the seat of the Bohemian kings and has been the seat of the president since 1918. In the grounds stands the Gothic St Vitus Cathedral, the largest church in the Czech Republic.

The grounds are freely accessible daily from 06:00 to 22:00; the historic buildings open from April to October from 09:00 to 17:00. The basic circuit with St Vitus Cathedral, St George's Basilica and Golden Lane is valid for two days; the Old Royal Palace, which is otherwise included, remains closed until 1 October 2026. It is better to leave bulky luggage at the hotel, as spot checks are carried out at the entrance.

Lesser Town: Charles Bridge and Petřín

Charles Bridge was begun in 1357 under Charles IV, is 516 m long and was the city's only crossing of the Vltava until 1841. Most of its 30 statues of saints are now copies. The best known, the bronze John of Nepomuk of 1683, still stands as the original.

Petřín, 327 m high, rises above the Lesser Town. Its lookout tower of 1891 is modelled on the Eiffel Tower at a scale of 1:5, has 299 steps and opens in September from 09:00 to 19:00.

Since 22 September 2026 the funicular has been running up the hill again. It stood still for around two years: after heavy rain in September 2024 the slope threatened to slide, and the whole route was then renewed. With a 24- or 72-hour ticket you ride at no extra charge.

Old Town and Josefov: Orloj and Jewish Quarter

The Old Town Hall was founded in 1338, and its astronomical clock (Orloj) is among the three oldest still running in Europe. It shows the procession of the Apostles every hour from 08:00 to 23:00, and you can climb the Town Hall tower daily from April to December from 09:00 to 20:00.

In Josefov stand the Old New Synagogue, the oldest still active synagogue in the world, and the Old Jewish Cemetery, the best-preserved Jewish cemetery in Europe. The combined ticket of the Jewish Museum is valid for five synagogues and the cemetery on three opening days; allow two to three hours. It is closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays, in 2026 for example on 27 September and 4 October.

New Town and Vyšehrad

Charles IV founded the New Town in 1348, and its main axis is Wenceslas Square. At 79,650 m², Charles Square is among the largest squares in Europe. On Rašínovo embankment stands the Dancing House (“Ginger & Fred”), built from 1992 to 1996 to plans by Vlado Milunić and Frank O. Gehry.

A good 3 km south-east of the castle lies the Vyšehrad fortress on a rocky spur on the right bank. Dvořák and Smetana are buried in its cemetery, and in the Gorlice Hall of the casemates stand six original Baroque statues from Charles Bridge.

Žižkov and Holešovice: tower and art

At 216 m, the Žižkov Television Tower is the tallest structure in Prague, built from 1985 to 1992. Ten baby sculptures by David Černý belong to it, and it is open daily from 09:00 to 24:00. In Holešovice the National Gallery has its headquarters in the Trade Fair Palace (Veletržní palác), alongside the National Technical Museum and DOX, a centre for contemporary art.

Food and drink

Bread dumplings and potato dumplings are on virtually every Czech menu, for example with svíčková (roast beef in cream sauce), with duck and two kinds of cabbage, or with goulash. In the pub there is smažený sýr (breaded, deep-fried cheese with tartare sauce) and utopenec, sausage pickled in vinegar.

When it comes to beer, the Czech Republic leads: in 2024 consumption was 148.8 litres per head, for the 32nd time in a row first place worldwide. A smoking ban applies nationwide in restaurants and bars.

Best time to visit

Prague is dry; in the rain shadow of the low mountain ranges only about 454 mm of precipitation falls per year. The table shows averages for 1991 to 2020 from the Klementinum station, which has been measuring daily since 1775 (weather service ČHMÚ):

In 2025 there were 8.27 million overnight guests, a record; the biggest source market was Germany with 981,800 guests. August (just under 800,000) and December (790,233) were busiest; this time the Christmas market on Old Town Square runs from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. January and February were each just under 500,000, and the tourism office itself advises coming outside the main season.

For city strolls, May and September with average highs of around 20 °C are best; September also falls after the peak month of August. Anyone who finds quiet more important than warmth should go in January or February.

Costs

The National Bank set the rate on 23 September 2026 at €1 = 24.380 CZK, so 100 CZK is a good €4.10. The euro values are converted and rounded accordingly (as of September 2026):

The tax is charged per day begun, except on the day of arrival; under-18s are exempt. The Prague Visitor Pass (opens in a new tab) costs 2,700, 3,300 or 3,900 CZK for 48, 72 or 120 hours and bundles over 70 offers with free admission or a discount as well as public transport. The castle basic circuit, Jewish Museum, Town Hall tower and Petřín tower cost 1,650 CZK together when bought individually, or 1,990 CZK with a 72-hour ticket from the app; the pass therefore only pays off if you use significantly more.

Practical information

Money: koruna, card and exchange offices

The Czech Republic uses the koruna (CZK, Kč), not the euro. Card payment and ATMs are widespread, and the German Foreign Office advises paying cashless and carrying only the day's needs in cash. According to the National Bank, a commission on currency exchange is prohibited, except for coins and cheques, and the exchange office must issue you a receipt.

Public transport: which PID ticket

The metro has three lines: A (green), B (yellow) and C (red). Prices for adults aged 15 to 60 according to PID (opens in a new tab) (as of September 2026):

The 24-hour ticket pays off from the fourth journey per day. Like the 72-hour ticket, it is valid on the metro, tram, bus, ferry and train within Prague, but not on the AE.

There are no group tickets. Children up to 10 years travel free without proof, and children from 10 to 15 years also travel free, but then only with proof of age such as a passport.

You validate a paper ticket only once in the yellow validator; a second stamp makes it invalid. App tickets are valid only 60 seconds after purchase. Without a valid ticket you pay 2,000 CZK, or 1,200 CZK if you pay directly at the inspection.

Electricity, city rules and help

The sockets are type C and E with 230 V. According to the tourism office, quiet hours apply from 22:00, and disturbing the peace costs up to €400. You can reach the tourist information on +420 221 714 714, and the emergency number is 112. The current rules on entry, safety and health are available from the German Foreign Office, as are the current alcohol bans in public spaces.

Who this is not for

• Anyone who avoids crowds should skip August and December: in 2025 each had just under 800,000 overnight guests, and the German Foreign Office also warns of pickpockets.
• Anyone who finds walking difficult will have a hard time on Castle Hill, Petřín and in hilly Vinohrady; with a suitcase, Metro A to Malostranská is more comfortable.
• Anyone looking for sun in winter will hardly find it: in December there are on average 46 hours of sunshine, plus frequent fog.
• Anyone who copes badly with heat should avoid high summer, with recently significantly more days above 30 °C.