Prague Castle and the Vltava at golden hour
First-hour guideEurope

Prague: your first hour after landing

You just landed in Prague — the City of a Hundred Spires, where Gothic towers, cobblestones and pub beer come as standard. Cross Charles Bridge at sunrise, eat svíčková in a brewery pub, and let the castle watch you from the hill. This guide covers your first hour and everything after it.

By After You Land editorsUpdated Oct 202611 min readPrices checked Oct 2026
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In this guide
Land The short version Quick facts
Settle in Settle in Getting around In the city Where to stay your first nights Where to eat first What to pack
See and do Day trips and more
Know before you go When to go and what it costs Language, visa and entry Safety and health Sources and last verified Related destinations Frequently asked questions
The short version

You just landed in Prague. PRG is 17 km west: the Airport Express reaches Praha hlavní nádraží in about 35 minutes for 200 Kč, or take trolleybus 59 plus metro A for 46 Kč in the app. Grab an Airalo eSIM before you land, and book Prague Castle tickets — the morning slot beats the crowds.

Quick facts

Airport
Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) Václav Havel Airport sits about 17 km west of the city centre. Two terminals handle all flights — Terminal 1 for non-Schengen, Terminal 2 for Schengen.
Getting in
Airport Express 200 Kč The Airport Express bus runs nonstop to Praha hlavní nádraží in about 35 minutes for 200 Kč. The cheapest route is trolleybus 59 plus metro line A on a 90-minute PID ticket — 46 Kč in the app, 50 Kč on paper — in about 40 minutes. A taxi to the centre runs around 800 Kč.
Currency
Czech koruna (Kč) Czechia uses the koruna, not the euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including transit ticket machines. Skip the airport exchange desks — their rates are poor.
Languages
Czech Czech is the official language. English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and tourist areas. A few Czech words go a long way.
Time zone
CET, UTC+1 Prague runs on Central European Time, UTC+1, switching to CEST (UTC+2) from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.
Emergency
112 / 155 / 158 Dial 112 for the general European emergency line, 155 for ambulance, 158 for police. The municipal police line for taxi disputes and minor issues is 156.
Plugs
Type C and E, 230V Czechia uses Type C and E sockets at 230 volts. Bring an adapter if your plugs are anything else.
Tap water
Safe to drink Prague tap water is clean and safe. Refill a bottle and skip the plastic.
Tourist tax
50 Kč per person per night Since January 2022 Prague charges an accommodation fee of 50 Kč — about €2 — per person per night, collected by your hotel or rental. It applies to the first 60 consecutive nights, and under-18s are exempt.
Best months
May–June, September Late spring and early autumn bring the best weather and thinner crowds than July and August. December is magical for Christmas markets but cold and busy.

Map

Stays, sights, and landmarks in Prague — live hotel prices plus the key places from this guide.

Settle in

1
Step 1

Get connected

Grab an Airalo eSIM before you land so maps and transit apps work the moment you clear arrivals. Saily is a solid backup if you need a second data plan mid-trip.

2
Step 2

Sort money

You need koruna, not euros. Withdraw a small amount from an ATM in the arrivals hall for the bus or a coffee — cards cover almost everything else. Never accept a "convert to your home currency" offer at an ATM or card terminal; pay in koruna.

3
Step 3

Eat

Your first Czech meal should be hearty. Head to a pub like Lokál for svíčková or goulash with a tank-poured Pilsner Urquell — lunch menus at local spots run 150–180 Kč.

4
Step 4

Walk

Prague rewards walking above everything else. Drop your bags, then stroll the Old Town and across Charles Bridge — go early in the morning to have it nearly to yourself.

Getting around

Václav Havel Airport Prague

Times are airport to city centre.

Airport Express (AE)

Nonstop to Praha hlavní nádraží; separate fare, PID tickets not valid

200 Kč~35 min

Trolleybus 59 + metro A

Cheapest option; 90-minute ticket covers bus and metro

50 Kč~40 min

Taxi

Door-to-door; agree the route or use a reputable dispatcher

~800 Kč25–35 min

Uber / Bolt

Fixed price in the app before you ride; Uber is the official airport partner

~550–850 Kč25–35 min

Trolleybus 59 + metro A. The cheapest way in. Trolleybus 59 leaves from right outside both terminals every few minutes and reaches Nádraží Veleslavín in about 17 minutes, where you switch to metro line A for the centre. One 90-minute ticket — 46 Kč in the PID Lítačka app, 50 Kč on paper — covers the whole journey.

Airport Express. The comfortable direct bus to Praha hlavní nádraží, the main train station and a metro C stop. It runs every 20–30 minutes from about 5:30 AM to 10 PM. Note that the fare doubled to 200 Kč in January 2026 and ordinary transit tickets are not valid on it — an inspector will treat a PID ticket as no ticket.

Taxi and ride apps. A metered taxi to the centre lands around 700–1,000 Kč; the airport's own guidance quotes about 800 Kč. Maximum meter fares were deregulated in October 2026, so the safest move is a fixed-price app ride — Uber and Bolt typically charge 550–850 Kč with the price shown before you confirm. If your flight landed late, a pre-booked Kiwitaxi transfer or Welcome Pickups ride means a driver is already waiting with your name on a sign.

Metro, trams and buses. Prague's network is superb: three metro lines, day and night trams, and buses, all on one ticket. A 90-minute ticket is 46 Kč in the app; a 24-hour pass is 140 Kč and a 72-hour pass 340 Kč. Trams 9, 17 and 22 double as cheap sightseeing rides along the river. Validate paper tickets in the yellow machines and keep the app ticket active — plain-clothes inspectors are frequent and the on-the-spot fine is 1,200 Kč.

Rent a bike. The riverside paths along the Vltava make for easy cycling — rent a bike for a half day and ride from Vyšehrad to Troja. The centre itself is too cobbled and hilly for most riders, so stick to the river routes.

In the city

Prague Castle.

The largest ancient castle complex in the world, and the grounds and courtyards are free to walk from 6 AM to 10 PM — including the hourly changing of the guard. Only the interiors are ticketed: the main circuit covering St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, St George's Basilica and Golden Lane costs 450 Kč, is valid two days, and has no timed entry. Book Prague Castle tickets online to skip the desk queue, though the real wait is the security check at the gate.

Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock.

The hourly show on the 1410 dial is free and takes about thirty seconds — twelve apostles, a skeleton ringing a bell, a crowing cockerel. It looks better from the Old Town Hall tower gallery above than from the packed square below; tower admission is 350 Kč. Check Old Town Hall tickets if you want the gallery view.

Charles Bridge.

The 14th-century bridge is Prague's most photographed spot and its most crowded — walk it at sunrise or after 10 PM. Thirty baroque statues line the span; the views back toward the Castle at golden hour are the postcard.

Jewish Quarter.

Josefov holds one of Europe's best-preserved Jewish quarters: six synagogues, the Old Jewish Cemetery with its layered tombstones, and the haunting Pinkas Synagogue memorial. Buy the combined Jewish Museum ticket and allow at least half a day.

Eat your way in.

Czech food deserves a proper introduction — book a Prague food tour and let a local walk you through svíčková, trdelník done right, and which pubs pour the best Pilsner.

After you land in Prague: Bookable experiences

Where to stay your first nights

Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel.
Splurge

Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel.

Best for a special occasion

A 13th-century monastery turned serene luxury hideaway right below Prague Castle, with vaulted ceilings, a private garden and one of the city's great spas. Map → Letenská 12/33, Malá Strana, Prague 1.

Check prices →
Hotel KINGS COURT Prague.
Mid

Hotel KINGS COURT Prague.

Best for the Old Town

A polished 4-star deluxe hotel two minutes from the Municipal House and the Palladium shopping centre, with a spa and indoor pool — a strong base for first-timers who want the Old Town on foot. Map → U Obecního domu 660/3, Old Town, Prague 1.

Check prices →
Budget

The Madhouse Prague.

Best for meeting people on a budget

The city's most social hostel, famous for its nightly events and family dinners, in the New Town a short walk from Wenceslas Square. Dorms are clean and secure, each with its own lockers. Map → Spálená 102/39, New Town, Prague 1.

Where to eat first

Czech pub food and beer in Prague

Prague's food scene runs on pubs — hearty Czech cooking, tank beer, and prices that still feel like a secret. Eat where the menus are in Czech first.

Lokál Dlouhááá — the modern Czech pub done right.

Map → Dlouhá 33, Old Town, Prague 1. Tank-poured Pilsner Urquell, svíčková, roast duck and goulash at honest prices in a buzzing beer-hall room. Book ahead — it fills nightly.

U Fleků — the brewery pub since 1499.

Map → Křemencova 11, New Town, Prague 2. Prague's oldest brewery pub still brews its dark lager on site; the courtyard fills with accordions and long communal tables. Touristy, yes — and still worth one evening.

Café Louvre — the grand café ritual.

Map → Národní 22, New Town, Prague 1. A billiard-hall grand café from 1902 where Einstein once drank coffee — come for breakfast or an afternoon Melange-style coffee with a větrník cream puff.

Beer culture note.

Beer here is cheaper than water in some pubs — around 50 Kč for a local lager, about 62 Kč for Pilsner Urquell. Order "pivo" and a "malé" (small, 0.3l) or "velké" (large, 0.5l); the foam head is part of the pour, not a mistake.

Day trips and more

Prague sits in the middle of Bohemia, and the countryside rewards a day out. Trains are cheap and frequent — or rent a car if you want castle-hopping freedom on your own schedule.

Kutná Hora bone church and old town

Kutná Hora

A UNESCO-listed silver-mining town an hour east, home to the Sedlec Ossuary — the famous bone church decorated with the remains of some 40,000 people — plus the magnificent St Barbara's Cathedral. Book Kutná Hora tickets for the ossuary and cathedral.

Full day · 1 hour by train from the main station

Check availability →
Český Krumlov old town and castle

Český Krumlov

The fairy-tale South Bohemian town wrapped in a bend of the Vltava, with a castle second only to Prague's in size, Renaissance facades and bears in the moat. Go early and stay for the evening when the day-trippers leave.

Full day · 3 hours by bus or train

Check availability →
Karlštejn Castle above the forest

Karlštejn Castle

Charles IV's 14th-century fortress rising above the Berounka valley, 40 minutes southwest of the city — the classic half-day castle trip, with guided tours of the imperial palace and the Chapel of the Holy Cross.

Half day · 40 minutes by train

Check availability →

When to go and what it costs

Prague in spring with blooming trees

The sweet spot is May and June, when the gardens bloom and the terraces open, and again in September, when the summer crowds thin but the weather holds. July and August are hot and packed; December brings the Christmas markets and freezing nights; January and February are quiet, grey and cheapest.

Budget — around 1,500–2,500 Kč a day.

Hostel dorms from 400 Kč, street food and lunch menus, a 72-hour transit pass and free sights like the Castle grounds and Charles Bridge.

Mid-range — around 4,000–8,000 Kč a day.

A 3-star hotel in the centre, pub dinners with beer, paid attractions and the occasional guided tour.

Splurge — 12,000 Kč and up a day.

A 5-star stay in Malá Strana, fine dining, private guides and day trips with a driver.

What to pack

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Packing for Prague's cobblestones and seasons

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Language, visa and entry

✓ Visa-free entry

Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral

Czech is the official language and English gets you through the tourist zones comfortably. A few words of Czech earn genuine smiles — start with these.

Dobrý den — hello Děkuji — thank you Prosím — please Na shledanou — goodbye

Czechia is in the Schengen zone. US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian passport holders enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. ETIAS is not yet in operation — check the current requirements before you fly, as the rules can change.

Safety and health

Pickpockets in the crowds

Charles Bridge, Old Town Square and packed trams are prime territory. Keep your phone and wallet in a zipped front pocket, not a back one.

Only licensed taxis or apps

Never take a ride from a driver who approaches you inside the terminal. Use Uber, Bolt or a pre-booked transfer — and the municipal police line 156 if a driver overcharges.

Mind the cobblestones

Prague's streets are beautiful and uneven. Wear proper shoes, watch the tram tracks when crossing, and take the castle stairs slowly in the rain.

Emergency numbers

112 works everywhere in Europe; 155 reaches an ambulance and 158 the police directly. Pharmacies marked Lékárna handle minor issues, and travel insurance is worth having.

Prague quick answers

Frequently asked questions

The facts that matter after you land in Prague.

Verified against Prague Airport (prg.aero), Prague Public Transit (DPP) and the City of Prague, October 2026.

The Airport Express bus runs nonstop to Praha hlavní nádraží in about 35 minutes for 200 Kč.

The cheapest route is trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín plus metro line A on a 90-minute ticket (46 Kč in the app, 50 Kč on paper) in about 40 minutes.

No. Public transit is excellent and cheap.

If you want door-to-door, use a fixed-price Uber or Bolt ride (about 550–850 Kč) rather than a metered taxi from the rank.

Since January 2022 Prague charges an accommodation fee of 50 Kč (about €2) per person per night, collected by your hotel or rental.

It applies to the first 60 consecutive nights, and under-18s are exempt.

Yes. Prague tap water is clean and safe.

Refill a bottle and skip the plastic.

Czechia uses Type C and E sockets at 230 volts.

Bring an adapter if your plugs are anything else.

May to June and September bring the best weather and thinner crowds.

December is magical for Christmas markets but cold and busy.

AE Airport Express fare 200 Kč; trolleybus 59 + metro A 46 Kč in the app / 50 Kč on paper (90-minute ticket); taxi ~800 Kč; Uber/Bolt ~550–850 Kč; 90-min ticket 46/50 Kč; tourist accommodation fee 50 Kč per person per night; CAT n/a.

Prague, in your pocket

Landing soon? Get the printable PDF — ticket links, the airport transport cheat sheet, our 3 restaurant picks with maps, and the packing checklist. Everything above, formatted for your phone.

Sources and last verified

Prague guide Check hotel prices

Affiliate disclosure: hotel names, transfers, experiences, and products linked in this guide may earn After You Land a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and times were checked in Oct 2026 and change often — confirm before you book.