Prague Tram Guide 2026: New Ticket Prices, Routes & Local Tips
The Prague tram network has over 140 kilometres of track and 26 daytime tram routes and it is the largest tram network in the Czech Republic. It’s very easy to use and you can explore Prague centre and also get quickly into the suburbs.
Travelling by tram is one of the easiest ways of getting around Prague and exploring this amazing city at the same time. It’s my favourite way to travel around Prague as you get to see a lot more than if you travel by the ‘Metro’ – the Prague underground.
It’s also a very affordable tram system – with one ticket you can travel anywhere for 90 minutes!
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How to use Prague Trams: A Beginner’s Guide for 2026
The distances between tram stops are usually very short – you can sometimes see the next stop ahead, so even if you forget your stop, you can easily walk back or hop on the next tram going back.
Prague tram system is one of the biggest in the world, in 2020 it carried over 240 million of passengers, which was the second in the whole world (after Budapest in Hungary).
There are several different tram routes and the numbers start from 1-26 for day time trams.
Prague trams are not free, but they are a great value for money.
One standard ticket is only 50 CZK and last 90 minutes, which is enough to get you from one side of Prague to another or take the tram all the way from the centre to the Prague Castle.
how many tram routes are there in prague ?
There are currently 26 day time tram routes, 9 night tram routes and 1 historic – tourist tram route operated by Prague tram transport. This equals 275 tram stops spaced out on 143 km of tram tracks across Prague.
As I mentioned before trams are the perfect way to explore Prague and because of that I’ve put together a few comprehensive guides that help you to do sight-seeing from the comfort of a tram seat!
READ MORE
- 9 Best tram lines to explore Prague + what to see on each route >>
- Tram Line No. 22 sight-seeing guide >>
- How to explore Prague with the historic tram no. 42 >>
- Hidden gems on the tram line no. 9 >>
Prague Tram Ticket Prices & types for 2026
Single-trip tickets will vary in price depending on how you buy them. Paper and SMS tickets will be more expensive than digital ones.
| Ticket Type | PID Lítačka App | Paper Ticket | SMS Ticket |
| 30-minute | 36 CZK | 39 CZK | 42 CZK |
| 90-minute | 46 CZK | 50 CZK | 55 CZK |
| 24-hour | 140 CZK | 150 CZK | 150 CZK |
| 72-hour | 340 CZK | 350 CZK | 350 CZK |
Short time ticket – 39 CZK
This ticket is valid for 30 minutes only. This type of ticket is perfect for shorter journeys.
Longer time ticket – 50 CZK
This standard ticket is valid for 90 minutes and you can make as many changes as you like and travel on any tram or other public transport.
1 Day ticket – 150 CZK
This ticket is valid for 24 hrs from the time you validate your ticket (including the next day or whenever your 24 hrs runs out).
There is no restriction on this tram ticket. It is valid any time (peak, off-peak, night time) and on any type of Prague public transport, which makes it a such great value.
3 day ticket – 350 CZK
The three-day ticket works in exactly the same way as the one-day ticket, but it’s valid for 72 hrs in total.
READ MORE
3 different ways to buy your tram ticket
Paper tram tickets – large yellow ticket machines at underground stations
Paper tram tickets can be bought in yellow vending machines at some major tram stations (or at any underground (metro) station). Most of these vending machines take Czech crowns (Czech currency only), and you can also pay with any debit or credit card.
You can buy these tickets any time or buy a few in advance and then validate them as you start your journey on the first tram. There is no need to validate (stamp the ticket with a date) more than just once, in fact validating the ticket more times will actually make it invalid!
Paper tram tickets – smaller orange ticket machines on trams
You can also buy tram tickets on the trams, but you need to use your payment card for this. The ticket machines inside the trams are easy to use, you just select the type of ticket you need – 30 or 90 minutes or 24 or 72 hrs ticket and tap your card.
The ticket machines (see my picture above) are usually in the middle of the tram, so if you are buying your ticket on the tram, that’s the best place to get on. The ticket is printed with time stamp, so there is no need to validate it.
PID app – on your smart phone
You can also download an PID Litacka app to your phone and buy your ticket via the app. You need to buy your ticket at least 1 minutes before you board the tram (or any other Prague public transport) and make sure that the ticket is activated within the app otherwise, it won’t be valid.
The app is translated into English, so you shouldn’t have any problems following the instructions.
My local tip: Since 2026, when the tickets prices have risen slightly, the PID app is the cheapest way to buy your ticket as you will always save a few crowns against the paper ticket.
How to Validate Your Ticket and Avoid Fines in Prague
If you are buying a paper ticket from the large ticket machines outside the trams, please make sure you validate it in the smaller yellow ticket machine on the tram. The machine stamps it with a date and time, and you have either 30 or 90 minutes (or 24 or 72 hrs) to get to your destination, including any changes. The ticket is also valid on the underground or Prague buses or trains within the city wider area.
You don’t need to validate ticket that you’ve bought on the tram (in the larger orange machine), because those tickets already come with stamped time.
You also don’t need to validate the ticket again when you change from one tram to another (or bus, underground etc within the time of your ticket validity), just keep your ticket with you.
Ticket Inspectors & Fines
A word of warning – ticket inspectors are in plain clothes (not uniforms) and do regular spot checks, especially on the well known tourist trams, such as the tram 22. They usually work in 2 or 3 and can get on the tram at any point. To prove they are official staff, they will show you a small metal badge, often hidden in their palm before they flip it open.
They are generally quite professional, but they do not make exceptions for tourists who have made a mistake, so it is best to be prepared and always keep your ticket handy until you have finished your journey.
Since 1 January 2026, the rules have become a bit stricter, and the on-the-spot fine for not having a valid ticket has increased to 1,200 CZK.
It is important to remember that if you are using a paper ticket, you must stamp it in the yellow machines as soon as you board a tram or enter the metro station. If you prefer using the PID Lítačka app, make sure you activate your ticket at least one minute before you hop on, as inspectors are quite keen and will check that the digital countdown has finished.
Do the Prague trams run at night ?
Night trams no. 91-99 run between midnight to about 4-5 am when the day time trams re-start again.
The nighttime trams use the same tracks as the day time trams but join up several routes together, so that their routes are much longer.
All trams interconnect in the middle of Prague (Karlovo Square or Lazarska Street) where you can change to get the tram you need.
The trams also wait for each other there, so don’t be surprised if your tram will stand there for few minutes. A regular tickets are valid on the night trams, but you do need to bear in mind that the regular route might be a bit longer than usual, so I’d always recommend to get the 90 min ticket as a minimum.
A nice little quirk of the night trams is that the Prague transport department uses the old trams with high steps to get to the tram carriage.
There is also only one tram carriage, so sometimes it might feel like a bit of a squeeze with everyone trying to get home. Most of the old tram carriages also have the old types of seats which are individually heated from underneath – perfect in the cold Prague weather in winter time!
Trams have a right of way on the pedestrian crossing
Whether you think it’s right or wrong, the fact is that in Prague, trams have the right of way at a pedestrian crossing and anywhere on the road.
Do not cross in front of the tram or try to run across the street in front of the tram as you never know how fast the tram is travelling and the tram won’t slow down for you. The trams are very heavy and stopping is not easy for them.
If the tram has to make an emergency stop or try to slow down, the trajectory is still quite long, and it might still hit you if you are not quick enough to move away from the tracks.
Even though trams have the right of way, they will often ring a loud, “ding-ding” bell if they see someone getting too close to the tracks. If you hear that bell, it’s a friendly but firm warning to stay back!
My local tips on how to travel on Prague trams
There are a few quirks that might be worth mentioning when travelling on Prague trams.
Don’t talk to the tram driver unless it’s an emergency, in which case use the emergency button, which can be found in several places within the tram carriage.
In the winter and the heat of the summer, some tram doors don’t automatically open unless you press the circular touch points on the door (new trams) or press the door button (old trams).
I’m assuming that this is because in the winter the trams are trying to keep the heat in and in the summer, the trams that have an air-conditioning need to keep doors closed to prevent the hot air coming in.
It’s good manners to give up your seat to older people, people who struggle with mobility or find it difficult to stand without asking. Even better, don’t sit on the seat marked with a disabled label next to the doors.
Talking about good manners, people who are getting off have the priority to leave the carriages before new passengers get on. If you are waiting for a tram and the door opens you should stand on the side of the doors and let people get off first.
How to Read the Tram Timetables
At every tram stop, there is a yellow poster with the timetable. The most important thing to know is that the time listed is for that specific stop. You don’t have to guess when the tram will arrive from the start of the line.
Also, look out for the little wheelchair symbol next to certain times; this tells you that the tram will be a modern, low-floor one, which is perfect if you have a pram or find stairs difficult.
The time tables are surprisingly accurate off peak and at the weekends when the freequency is lower (say every 10 or 20 minutes.). But during day, when the frequency is only about 3-4 minutes, the trams might get hold up slightly on route and the times might not be as accurate. Saying that during peak hours, you’ll rarely need to wait more than 2-3 minutes for a tram, which is I think is pretty good.
Which Way is the Tram Going?
On the front and side of the tram, you will see the route number and the name of the final stop. If you aren’t sure which direction you need, check the vertical list of stops on the timetable at the station. Your current stop will be in bold or underlined, and all the stops listed below it are where that tram is heading.
Request Stops (Zastávka na znamení)
Trams automatically stop at most of their stops. There are few stops (usually on the outskirts of Prague) where you need to press the stop button to get the tram to stop otherwise the tram will carry on and won’t stop.
If you are standing on the platform, the driver will usually see you and stop.
You can tell if a stop is on request because it will have a small circle symbol next to its name on the map or the display screen inside the tram.
Entering and Exiting with Prams & pushchairs
If you are travelling with a pram, look for the doors marked with a pram sticker. On the older, high-step trams, it is polite to wave to the driver or press the pram button so they know to wait a little longer. Locals are usually very kind and will often help you lift the pram up the steps if you just give them a nod!
How to tell which tram has air-conditioning
Only modern trams with easy access have air-conditioning. They usually have different advertising or colours on them and the driver looks like he/she is sitting behind a giant red M&M (that’s lentilka to me….), well at least that’s how it always looks to me!
The trams look like the one on my picture above – this one has lovely Christmas decorations on and only runs during December in Prague.
If you visit Prague in the summer and it’s a heatwave, the only way to travel without fainting is in an air-conditioned tram. Unfortunately sometimes I see people opening windows in these air-conditioning trams, which means that the air-conditioning struggles even more to keep the tram cool!
The old fashioned trams (usually the red ones without any advertisements) don’t have any air-conditioning. If you sit towards the back of each carriage you might get a bit of a breeze, but also often heated seats, which is definitely something you don’t want in the summer!
This blog post was originally written on 3 January 2023 and last updated on 17 January 2026
