Prague has some of the best public transit in the world — 2nd best, in fact, according to Timeout magazine. One ticket will give you access to trams, trains, underground metros, buses, ferries, and even a funicular. The trouble is, there are many ways that you can go wrong and get fined. Don’t be discouraged! Public transit is still the best way to get around the city. It’s safe, clean, efficient, and very affordable. Let me tell you how transit tickets work so you can ride without worrying.
Your tram ticket represents an amount of time. That means you can choose between 30 minutes, 90 minutes, or even 24 and 72 hours. The cost is quite low. For instance, the 30-minute ticket is only 30 Czech crowns (1.30 USD).
There are also discounts for seniors, so those 60-64 years old ride with a half-priced ticket, and those aged 65 and above ride free with a valid ID.
There are three different ways to get a ticket, but one is better than the others.
The best option would be to use the application on your phone called PID Lítačka which can be downloaded here on iPhones and here on the Google Play store. Here are the steps you will take to get your tickets:
Click the “skip” button on the top right to skip the introduction.
Click “skip” again to avoid signing up. It will give you a code to copy in case you need to prove your purchases later, but this is likely unnecessary.
The app will ask your permission to use your location. You decide — if you intend to use the app a lot and find out how to get from place to place, it may make things easier. Notifications should not be necessary.
The next step will be to click “Buy a ticket,” which is again on the top right.
These are the ticket options. If you are travelling with anyone under 15 years old, they do not need a ticket (but they need an ID to prove their age). For this example, we will choose 30 minutes.
If you’re purchasing tickets for multiple people, or you want to have multiple tickets stored for later use, move the slider up to the desired number and then click ‘buy’ at the bottom. You will then proceed to complete the payment with either a card number or a card stored in your device.
You will find your purchased ticket(s) in the ‘tickets’ section, which can be selected from the bottom menu. Here you will be able to activate your tickets. Remember that your ticket will take 1 minute to activate, so you must turn it on and wait to enter any ticketed area, including the metro platforms.
By using the application, you make sure that you have a valid ticket which is conveniently stored in your mobile phone, so as long as you don’t lose this valuable item, you should be able to manage transit just fine. Do beware, however, of pickpockets and other tricks like this in Prague.
Tickets are checked randomly, so you may never encounter a ticket checker during your visit. They do seem to target tourists, however, perhaps because they know that most visitors are severely confused by the system and offer fertile ground for reaching their monthly quotas.
As for the other ticket options, if you prefer a less technical route, you can purchase printed tickets in the metro stations and tobacco shops. These tickets are paper which have yellow strips on the bottom which must be stamped in the validation machines.
Above you can see a properly validated ticket, and the validation machine.
There are a few things to be careful of when using this method:
- Only stamp your ticket once. If the date is printed over by another date, you may be fined for an invalid ticket.
- Make sure that the machine prints your ticket properly — some machines run out of ink and they do not print the length of time onto the ticket. This ticket would not be valid. They also occasionally cut the paper wrong, in which case it must be folded to fit into the validation machine.
- Do not stamp your ticket on any other place than the yellow strip.
- Make sure the stamp is successful. Some validation machines will occasionally break and not apply the date properly.
The third option would be to purchase your ticket on the tram or bus after you enter. The machine will be dark orange with a screen for selecting your ticket. The 72-hour ticket is not an option in this case. This approach can work but it comes with a few risks too:
- The machine can be difficult to find on a crowded tram or bus, and if a ticket inspector meets you first, they are unlikely to take pity on you.
- The machine can sometimes be out of order, in which case you are out of luck.
Out of these three options, the mobile app is certainly the safest way to avoid issues.
Now, if you have the misfortune to face one of our city’s grumpy ticket inspectors, you don’t have to worry about a thing.
Use google maps or the PID app to find your routes around town, remember the metro stops at midnight but there are night buses and trams, and safe travels!