Prague Main Train station - Practical guide, facilities & history (2026)

Practical guide to Prague Main Train station, inc. travel information, train connections, facilities, how to buy tickets and the train station history.

The Prague Main Train Station is probably the train station you’ll use most for day trips from Prague. If you are arriving to Prague on a train, you’ll arrive there and you can also use it for all the major connections within the Czech Republic and internationally (to Slovak Republic, Poland, Germany, Austria and further field).

The Main Train Station – Praha Hlavni Nadrazi – is one of the three main train stations in the Prague and it’s also the biggest one.

Where is Prague Main Train Station (Map & Address)

Wilsonova 300/8
120 00 Vinohrady-Praha 2

You can find the Main Train Station – Hlavni Nadrazi on Wilsonova Street, few minutes walk from the top of Wenceslas Square, nestled at the bottom of Vinohrady Prague District and also a 20 min walk from Masarykovo Train Station and about 20 min walk from Florenc Bus Station.

You can also take tram or underground from these station, but I’m just mentioning that they are in a walking distance if you’d prefer that to a public transport.

How to get to Prague Main train station by Metro, Tram or Foot

Undeground – Metro

The train station has it’s own underground stop (Hlavni Nadrazi) on the C line.

Trams

You can also reach the station using trams no. 5, 8, 9, 15 or 26, night trams 92, 95 or 58 which stop about 5 minutes away on the other side of the small park in front of the train station.

Buses

There are also bus lines (stopping right in front of the old part of the building on Wilsonova Street)no 905, 907, 908, 911 or AE.

Walk

Walk from Florenc Bus Station – about 20 minutes through not so pretty part of Prague as you’ll need to walk under the main road bypass.

Walk from Masarykovo Nadrazi – about 20 minutes through an older part of Prague and the park in front of the main station.

Walk from Zizkov through the new train station underpass.

Walk from Wenceslas Square – 10 minutes walk pass the main National Museum, new building of the museum (formally a radio station) and Opera building.

Walk from the centre of Prague (Old Town Square) – this is only about 20-25 minutes walk and I do this often as taking the public transport means changing at least 2 times (depending on if you are getting the tram or underground) and it works out about the same time, plus you can’t really escape the crowds.

You can either find your way to the bottom of the Wenceslas Square and then walk up and take a left when you get to the top.

If you are feeling adventurous walk through the side roads. Start at the Old Town Square, then first to the Estates Theatre on the Ovocny Trh (Fruit Market Square) and then take any road that will cut through the parallel roads, for example, Havirska – Na Prikope – Nekazanka – Jindriska – Jerulazemska – cross the Vrchlickeho Sady Park in front of the main train station and you are there!

If you take this route you’ll see some amazing Prague houses from the end of 19 century, Jindriska Tower, Church of st Jindrich and Kunhuta and also the most colourful synagogue in Prague – the Jerusalem Synagogue as well as plenty of interesting (and independent) shops and coffee places and my one of my favourite independent cinemas called Edison . I always think that’s a pretty cool way to arrive this way at the main train station!

Getting from prague main train station to Vaclav Havel airport

The Airport Express bus (‘AE’) is a direct shuttle bus (using low level buses with plenty of luggage space) to Prague’s Vaclav Havel airport and runs every 30 minutes. This bus runs 24/7, so you can get to the airport any time you need (at night this bus changes to 907 bus). The journey takes about 40 minutes and the only stops are Airport Terminal 1 and Airport Terminal 2.

The only snag is that normal public transport tickets are not valid on this particular bus and you have to buy tickets from the driver as you enter the bus. The tickets have risen recently and from 1 January 2026 are 200 CZK one way per person and you can pay by card or with cash.

International train connection from Prague

Slovak Republic – Bratislava, Zilina, Poprad, Kosice etc.
Austia – Vienna, Graz, Linz
Germany – Munich, Regensburg, Berlin, Dresden etc.
Poland – Krakow
Ukraine – Kyiv
Hungary
Croatia
Switzerland

DAY TRIPS FROM PRAGUE MAIN TRAIN STATION

The main Ticket Offices & How to buy train tickets

The ticket offices at the Hlavni Nadrazi are hidden underneath the top floor and not as you’d expect them on the way to the trains.

When you arrive at the station, you can check your train time on the large departure boards and then continue down the stairs (or use an escalator) to the ticket offices, which are in the middle of more shops.

The ticket offices are usually divided into ‘International Tickets – Mezinarodni Listky’ and National – Vnitrostatni Listky’ booths. It’s all written in English and Czech, so you should be fine to find the right place.

I think they will still sell you your ticket even if you are in the wrong queue, but I usually find that the international tickets booths are always slower (as people’s tickets are more complex with seat reservations and buying ticket for a particular dates etc.).

You can buy your train ticket using cash (Czech currency only) or card (any major debit or credit card).

DAY TRIPS FROM PRAGUE MAIN TRAIN STATION

How to buy tickets on the Muj Vlak App

If you want to skip the queues at the ticket office and travel like a local, you should definitely download the Můj vlak app (which just means “My Train”).

It is completely free and available in English and it’s a real lifesaver for navigating the Czech railway system. All you have to do is type in your destination, and it will show you every connection, the ticket price, and even which platform your train is departing from in real-time.

The best part is that when the ticket inspector comes round to check your ticket, you don’t need to print anything out; you just show them the QR code on your phone screen. It’s super convenient, especially during busy holiday periods when the station is packed!

DAY TRIPS FROM PRAGUE MAIN TRAIN STATION

Private Trains: Regio Jet, Arriva & Leo Express

Regio Jet Trains

Regio Jet trains are the yellow ones that you might see sometimes on the platforms. These are run by a private company and you need to buy your ticket in their own ticket offices (right next to the official Ceske Drahy – Czech Trains ticket office) or you can use their app on your smart phone.

I tend to use Regio Jet quite a lot, as their trains are usually direct and only stop at larger train stations. Ticket prices are usually 10-30% cheaper than Ceske Drahy, depending on time and the class you choose.

These trains are usually long distance trains going to places such as Pardubice, Brno, Olomouc, Ostrava and also Vienna or Slovak Republic. In summer Regio Jet also runs trains to Croatia, which is popular sea side destination for many Czech families for a summer holiday.

leo Express

Another private train company you will see at the station is Leo Express. Their trains are sleek and black, which makes them look very modern and cool! They mostly travel to popular places like Olomouc and Ostrava, but they also go all the way to Kraków in Poland and Košice in Slovakia.

One thing that makes Leo Express different from Ceske Drahy trains is their different “classes” of seats. While most trains just have first and second class, Leo has Economy, Business, and a fancy Premium Class with big leather seats that lean back like the ones on an aeroplane!

No matter which ticket you buy, you usually get free Wi-Fi and a bottle of water. Their ticket office is on the lower ground floor (level -1), right near the other train companies, but it’s often much faster to book on their website or app. Just keep an eye on the screens, as their trains often depart from Platform 1b, which is a little further along the tracks.

In my experience, Leo Express tickets are at least 30-50% more expensive than Ceske Drahy or Regio Jet, but they are useful if other trains are sold out especially for the longer journeys.

Arriva Trains

You might also spot the turquoise and white Arriva trains at the station. While they are a huge company across Europe, in Prague, they mostly run regional “express” trains (look for the R21 or R26 lines) that head out to lovely towns like Pisek or České Budějovice and my favourite part of countryside in Brdy (Jince).

Their trains are usually very comfortable and air-conditioned, which is a massive plus on a hot summer day! Since Arriva is part of the Prague Integrated Transport system (PID), you can often use your standard city tickets or the Lítačka app for shorter journeys, but for longer trips, it’s best to buy a ticket specifically for their line.

They have their own ticket office on the lower ground floor (level -1), tucked away on the far left side of the main hall, but you can also buy tickets from their website or mobile app. If you are not to sure where and how to get your ticket, you can just hop on the train and the ticket conductor will sell you a ticket without any extra charge.

I use Arriva trains quite a lot as their tickets are about the same as Ceske Drahy and they are a great choice if you want to explore the Czech countryside without the crowds of the bigger international trains!

DAY TRIPS FROM PRAGUE MAIN TRAIN STATION

The main train station facilities

As you’d expect there is pretty much everything you’d expect at the train train station. There are a couple of restaurants, plenty of coffee places, fast food chains, but also a couple of small (but not overpriced) supermarkets – Billa and Albert, which are open until late.

I use these supermarkets regularly, not because they are quite handy, but because they are the only supermarkets open during public holidays (when other large shops have to close for the day).

There is also a large bookstore, which has travel books, maps and a section of English books too.

If you have the time, you can have a coffee in the old part of the train station, where the cafe is set in the old ticket booths.

DAY TRIPS FROM PRAGUE MAIN TRAIN STATION

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Luggage Storage

There are a couple of places you can leave your luggage at the train station. As you enter the main train station, there are some newly installed self-service luggage storage boxes and if you have a smaller to medium bag, this is certainly a convenient place to store them for a day or so.

The main luggage storage place is as you go to to the first platform, opposite the main toilets – if you keep right as you enter the main train station. You pay depending on how big your luggage is (more how much it weights) and how long you want to keep your luggage stored for.

Prices – for small bag you’ll pay approx £2 – 60 CZK for 24 hrs and for a large bag it’s approx 3,50 – 100 CZK for 24 hrs

The left luggage office is open every day from 6 am to 11 pm, but do check when your train connection is, so that you can pick up your baggage before the office closes at 23 hod or 11 pm at night.

Toilets

There are a couple of public toilets – the main one is opposite the left luggage office. You need to pay to enter (last time I’ve checked it was around 20 CZK). It’s worth mentioning that they also have showers there (for an extra cost), which I think it it’s great if you are travelling on the trains for a while and haven’t reached your destination or accommodation yet!

My local tip – if you are catching a train and you are either short of money or time, wait until you get on the train. The toilets are reasonably equipped with everything you need (water, paper towels etc) and they are free.

Navigating the Platforms: Understanding ‘S’ and ‘J’ Signs

There are 7 platforms at the Main Train Station, but they are often divided into South and regular number.

If your train platform comes up with say 3 J it means it’s from the south (jih) side of the platform (basically on the right). If the platform comes up with 3 S, it means it’s from the north side (Sever) of the same platform (left side along the platform). Confused much? Yep, me too!

The main thing is to follow the number – say platform 3, take any underpass and then look up again on which side is your train before you go up to the top of the platforms. Sometimes you might need to walk up quite a bit towards one end of the platform before you see your train.

Don’t worry every train platform has the trains displayed and there are also display boards on each train, so you should be fine getting to the right train.

Travelling safely

The main train station is always busy, which unfortunately attracts people who might not have your best interest at heart. Please keep all your belongings with you, never leave them unattended and be careful with your purse and money always keeping them safe on your person. I think, that Prague Main Station is as safe as the rest of the Prague, providing that you stay vigilant.

If you walk through the park, you’ll also notice a lot of homeless people and people who sleep rough or beg for money. They are usually fairly harmless and keep themselves to themselves, but if anyone approaches you, just politely decline and calmly walk away.

There are charities and social workers regularly working with these people, so don’t feel that they have no option, then just to be there. You will also see frequent police staff walking around and being present, especially in the evening and night.

I use Prague Main Train station pretty much every day when I’m going on a day trip from Prague and often arrive late at night and I feel quite safe walking to my tram stop or underground as there is always somebody around.

There is a police station at the train station (located on the right-hand side up the first flight of stairs) if you have any problems or needed any assistance.

Waiting for your train? Don’t miss my favourite gems

If you find yourself with a bit of spare time before your train departs, you absolutely mustn’t miss my favourite hidden gems at the Main Train Station, including the amazing Fantova Kavárna. I often visit this cafe just to escape the hustle and bustle of the modern terminal downstairs.

In my opinion, it is the most beautiful place in the whole station! I love how you can sit under that massive, painted Art Nouveau dome with a coffee and just pretend you’re a traveller from the 1920s. It’s so grand and elegant, and I think it’s the perfect place to relax.

While you’re in that historic mood, I really recommend taking a short stroll out onto the first platform to see the statue of Sir Nicholas Winton who saved the lives of 669 Jewish children by arranging special trains to get them out of Prague and safely to the UK during the Second World War. I think it’s such a powerful and moving memorial, and because it’s right there where the trains pull in, it feels very real.

This blog post was originally written on 1 May 2022 and last updated on 19 January 2026

Prague Main Train station – Practical guide, facilities & local tips (2026)

Where is Prague Main Train Station (Map & Address)