Devcon 4 Updates by Genny — Travel around Prague by Public Transportation

Heading to Ethereum Devcon 4 conference and wondering how to get around Prague using public transportation, wonder no more!

Public transportation in Prague is cheap and efficient within the city, but can be scary in a new city. Read below to learn the info you will need to navigate this Czech city by public transit; otherwise, you can try to decipher the official Prague Public Transportation website.

Notes:

• Ride-sharing and taxis are also available, but are discussed in Devcon 4 Updates by Genny — Can I use Uber, Taxi, a local ride-sharing in Prague?.
• If looking for transportation from/to the airport, please review the article about Devcon 4 Updates by Genny — How do I get from the airport to my hotel?.

What are the types of public transportation tickets?

• Single tickets
• 1-Day pass
• 3-Day pass (normally unavailable at vending machines, you might have to go to one of the Public Information Centers to get one)
• 1-Month pass (normally unavailable at vending machines, you might have to go to one of the Public Information Centers to get one)

Tickets and passes for the public transportation network permit you to travel on the metro, trams and buses for a set period, as well as allowing you to switch between the three transport modes with the same ticket/pass.

Where to buy public transportation tickets?

Tickets can be purchased from:

• Metro stations
• Selected newsagents, tobacconists and wholesalers
• Public Transportation Information Centers

Prague Transit ticket vending machines

• Orange/yellow ticket machines located a major tram and bus stops
• On newer trams, some also have a ticket machine
• SMS tickets are available for locals through their Czech cell phone providers (you must have a Czech mobile phone number from a Czech provider and understand the Czech language to use such tickets — not recommended for tourists, but if you are Czech, enjoy!).

How to buy a ticket from the orange/yellow ticket machines?

Most vending machines only accept cash in CZK (only a few machines accept credit cards or debit card).

1. Press the button repeatedly to select the desired type and number of tickets. In the case of a child, senior, luggage or dog fare, press the DISCOUNTED (in Czech: ZVÝHODNĚNÁ) button prior to making your selection.
2. Press STORNO if you have made an error in selecting a ticket, this will return you to the beginning.
3. Insert the correct amount of money.
4. Take your ticket and change.
5. Validate your ticket! Only properly validated tickets are valid.

If a transit ticket vending machine is not working properly, try a different one or contact the Prague Transit service centre:

• for surface transit, tel.: 267 31 01 76
• toll-free line: 800 188 100 (English agents available)

How much are the tickets and passes?

• Luggage = 16 CZK (yes, luggage is extra, see note below)
• Short-term (30 min) = 24 CZK
• Basic (90 min) = 32 CZK
• 1-day (24 hrs) = 110 CZK
• 3-day (72 hrs) = 310 CZK
• 30-day (monthly) = 550 CZK

Note: If you are carrying luggage on Prague Transit, you must pay 16 CZK extra for your luggage. For example, you would buy yourself a short-term ticket for 24 CZK + a luggage ticket for 16 CZK.

Free transport applies to luggage up to and including 25x45x70 cm, flat luggage up to and including 100x100x5 cm, tube-shaped luggage up to and including 150 cm in length and 20 cm in diameter, animals in carriers with dimensions up to and including 25x45x70 cm, at most two pairs of skis including ski poles in one case (skis not in a case are not allowed on the transit system), a snowboard or a shopping bag on wheels.

How do I validate my ticket or pass?

Prague Transit ticket validating machine

You must validate your ticket by punching it in the orange machine at the top of the escalators on the Metro, and inside trams and buses.

Is there an app I can download?

Yes, the Prague Transit has apps available for Android and iOS. You should be able to find it on the regular app stores by searching for “Prague Public Transport” or “DPP” or a combination of the two.

App languages: Czech and English.

By default, the app will open in Czech, to change the app to English: select the settings button in the top right corner of the app and select language to switch to English. The app is known as a difficult app to use if you are new to Prague!

If you require the direct app download links, go to http://www.dpp.cz/en/the-prague-trips-application-is-now-available-for-android/

Alternative to using the Prague Public Transport app, the recommendation (from Jose Luu — thanks!) is to use Google maps to find your way and find the right metro, trams, buses, etc. The schedule through Google maps has shown to be very accurate in Prague.

Where are the Public Transportation Information Centers?

You can buy tickets, passes and pick the paper version of metro and tram maps at all Public Transportation Information Centers.

Public Transport Information Centers are open daily 07:00/08:00–20:00/21:00 and are located at:

• Prague Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 2
• Muzeum metro station (top of Wenceslas Square)
• Praha Hlavní Nádraží (Main Train Station)

More info on the different types of public transportation available

Metro

• The Prague Congress Centre is adjacent to the Vyšehrad station on Line C (or red line).
• Covers all areas of the city center.
• Operates 5:00–24:00.
• Metro lines run a service every 2–3 minutes during peak hours, and every 4–9 minutes after 19:00.
• There are three metro lines: A (green), B (yellow), C (red).
• The Metro is safe and reliable, running at high speed from one side of Prague to the other.

Trams

• Covers all areas of the city centre.
• Daytime trams operate 04:30–24:00. The most popular trams run every 4 minutes. Other trams run every 8–10 minutes during the week, and every 8–15 minutes at weekends.
• Night trams operate 24:00–04:30, and run every 30 minutes.

Bus

• The bus network primarily serves the outskirts of Prague, areas where the Metro and trams do not reach. Buses often terminate at metro stations or tram stops in or near the city centre, providing people living outside Prague with an efficient means of travelling into the city (for example travelling to/from Prague Airport).
• Daytime buses operate 04:30–24:00. Buses run every 6–8 minutes in peak hours, every 10–20 minutes off-peak, and every 15–30 minutes on weekends.
• Night buses operate 24:00–04:30, and run every 30–60 minutes.

Funicular Railway at Petřín Hill

Note: the funicular railway goes out of operations between November 5th until December 7th, 2018

• The funicular on Petřín Hill connects to tram service at the Újezd stop, and services the Újezd — Nebozízek — Petřín route with a stop halfway at Nebozizek Restaurant.
• At the summit of Petřín Hill, set amongst landscaped gardens, is the Petřín Observation Tower, a mirror maze and an observatory.
• The funicular operates 09:00–23:30. It runs every 10–15 minutes in both directions.
• The funicular railway forms part of the Prague public transport network, so the same tickets and passes used on the Metro, trams and buses can also be used to ride the funicular.

Stay in touch

If you will be at Devcon 4, please join the community-based Telegram group to chat with your peers and get updates: https://t.me/devcon_4

To only see the updates (without all the chatting back and forth), please join the Telegram channel at https://t.me/devconIV

PNGTree

Disclaimer: I have people on the ground in Prague before the conference providing me local knowledge for these posts. I will be in Prague during Devcon 4. The accuracy of information cannot be guaranteed.