I talked about taking an overnight train from Prague to Krakow in Prague to Krakow by Train.
I think I spend $50 for a solo compartment, but you can get a ticket to Krakow for only $20. Tickets here => Rail Europe A Single Stop for European Rail Travel
However, I forgot to tell you how to get from the Prague Airport to the city center.
That’s what this post is about.
I’m writing this so you don’t make the mistake I made in one of my first trips out of the country. I flew to Vancouver airport and took a Taxi from the airport to my hotel downtown.
The taxi cost me $35 USD for a 30-minute ride. Five days later when I left Vancouver, I took the Vancouver Metro to the airport. The metro cost me $7 USD.
Ever since that experience, I always look to take public transportation whenever I travel and you should too.
In fact, the most valuable travel lessons I’ve learned since traveling are (1) get a good set of headphones – Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) Wireless Headphones, Noise Cancelling, with Alexa voice control – Black
and (2) take public transportation if available.
Airport to the Center of Prague
Prague is a very cool city. When you talk to citizens of Prague, they say the Czech Republic is Central Europe but most Americans will think of Czech as Eastern Europe.
In fact, I advise you to start with Prague if you’re interested in visiting Eastern Europe. Prague is easier for Americans than a former Soviet Union country where very few people speak English.
Wenceslas Square
The center of Prague for tourism is Wenceslas Square. This is sort of the Times Square of Prague, the hub of all the life.
Wenceslas Square is in the Prague 1 section of the city.
Tip: Make sure you book a hotel or Airbnb in Prague 1 on the east side of the river.
Vaclav Havel Airport
The main airport in Prague is called Vaclav Havel Airport. If you come to Prague, this is the airport you will most likely fly in to.
Airport Transportation in Prague
Wenceslas Square is about 40 minutes away from the airport. Your transportation choices from the airport will be Taxi, Uber, Hotel Shuttle, and bus.
Unfortunately, there is no direct metro from the airport to the city center. But there is a very easy bus and Metro ride that takes you to Wenceslas Square. This will be the fastest and cheapest way to get to Wenceslas Square.
Tip: You may be uncomfortable on your first trip to Eastern Europe, I know I was.
As a result, I was tempted to take the $60 airport shuttle that my Airbnb host offered me. But as I said above, ever since that Vancouver experience, I try to take public transportation and you should too.
Also, in America, everyone drives cars, especially on the west coast, and nobody uses public transportation. But from what I’ve seen overseas, everyone uses public transportation outside the U.S.
The 119 Nadrazi Veleslavin Bus
As of this writing in 2018, the bus you want to get on when leaving the Prague airport is the
119 Nadrazi Veleslavin bus.
The 119 Nadrazi Veleslavin bus comes to airport and picks up every 5 minutes.
How to get a Ticket
Buy a ticket at the big orangish yellow kiosk.
You can pick English as your language.
Quick note: Every machine I’ve ever used overseas whether it’s an ATM, Train Kiosk, or self-checkout machine always has an English option.
You can use Czech money and coins if you want, but it’s much easier to just use your US credit card. One note about credit cards, pay attention to where your magnetic strip is. The reader in the machine is different in Prague. I spent 5 minutes turning my card around and upside down before it worked.
Which ticket option to get
Buy the “90 Minutes Prague or Four Zones” ticket for 32 CK rounds. (about $1.40). This ticket is good for the Bus and the Metro.
How much does it Cost: $1.40 USD
Getting on the Bus
When you first walk on the bus, you must validate your ticket on the little orangish yellow box that is right there. Just copy everyone in front of you.
I did not know this, but nobody will make you validate your ticket when you get on, however, the driver comes around later to check if you validated.
Also, you must slide the ticket into the machine. (instead of just scanning around it).
I mention this because I “had to” help a beautiful Czech girl in front of me who didn’t know what to do.
Little did I know, but all the girls in Eastern Europe would be beautiful. If you like Slavic girls check out InternationalCupid.com.
Getting Off the Bus and on to the Metro:
After a 25-minute bus ride, the bus will drop you off at the Nadrazi Veleslavin bus stop.
Get off the bus and walk over to the Metro. When you get inside the Metro station, follow the signs and go down the escalator. At the bottom will be the Metro. Again, just follow the crowd because everyone from the bus is going to the same place.
Tip: When you are at train stations, airports, bus stops, etc. you will see many people with luggage and rolling suitcases, just follow them.
Mustek Metro Stop
Get on the Metro that takes you to the Mustek Metro Stop. When you get on the Metro, the Mustek Stop will be about eight stops from where you start. There is an easy map on the wall inside the metro of all the stops.
When you get off the Metro at the Mustek stop, walk up the stairs and you’ll be in Wenceslas Square. Total travel time is about 40 minutes.
Any questions? please leave them in the comments.
