Transport in Czechia

Trains, trams and buses combine to give Czechia an effective transport network that is dense and well coordinated. Government-run transport services combine with commercial operators to move passengers from place to place.

The searchable public transport platform Idos.cz
gives point-to-point public transport information and translates to English.

Czech city transit

Trams are the main framework of inner-urban transport in most of Czechia’s largest cities.

Buses forms wider networks within this web, as well as serving outer city areas.

Tickets are available through apps or from ticket machines. In Prague, consult the Pidlitacka.cz website or PiD Lítačka app. Passengers can use train, metro, tram or bus services on a single ticket.

In Brno, consult the Brno.cz transport page  for planning. These city networks are integrated with the services or regional transport authorities.

Period tickets and direct-journey tickets are generally available. One of the most important concepts to understand in Czechia is to validate transport tickets, whether on trains, trams, buses or funicular railways. Fines for not doing so are legendary (especially in Prague) but legitimate. See the Urban transit section below.

Intercity transport connections

The cities of Czechia are interconnected by trains and buses (see below), some of which are nationally owned, some are operated by regional transport authorities, and some are privately operated (see the Rail travel and Bus travel sections below).

For Czech intercity services the searchable national public transport platform Idos.cz  gives point-to-point public transport information and translates to English from the main menu at top right.

Regional transport

Within the regions of Czechia, public transport is controlled by authorities that coordinate services between cities and towns and have oversight within cities. Regional tariffs are divided into zones. Some transport links also extend into neighbouring regions. Here are some of the chief Czech regional transport authorities.

PiD: Pražská integrovaná doprava  coordinates public transport in and around Prague and through central Bohemia.

IDS JMK: This transport authority uns services in southern Moravia, integrated with transit in and around Brno (zones 100 and 101), Břeclav and Znojmo. Some services cross the Austrian border. Tickets are available at stations, from on-board or fixed machines or bus drivers. Day tickets for the full IDS JMK area cost 190Kč, for Brno only 90Kč.

IDPK: The Plzeň regional transport operator offers 24-hour tickets that cover the full area and a Pilsen tourist ticket for seven days that costs 360Kč. There are also a period ticket option including parts of Bayern in Germany and services extend into parts of southern Bohemia. Tickets are available at stations, blue buses, regional train conductors or in the Virtuální Plzeňská karta app.

IDSOK: This authority coordinates transport in the Olomouc region. The IDSOK website  requires a browser translation.

ODIS: Manages the integrated transport system in and around Ostrava and the Moravia-Silesia region. In the city of Ostrava, fares can be paid only by bank-issued cards, through the local public transport app (or, for longer stays, the ODISka Card). The ODIS website has a lot of material that demands separate translation.

IDESKA: The southern Bohemia operator, with services centred on České Budějovice, was in a transitional phase in the first half of 2026. To search services, use the IDOS website.

IDOL: Integrates transport services in the Liberec region. To search services, use the IDOS website.

Rail travel

Czechia has more than 9,300km of rail lines. The national rail operator České dráhy operates most rail services in Czechia and the private operators RegioJet, Arriva and Leo Express provide competitive services, including trains that cross borders.

Regional transport authorities such as PiD (in the Prague region) and IDS JMK (in southern Moravia and across the Austrian and Slovakian borders) also coordinate rail services, stopping at all or most regional stations.

České dráhy

ČD runs the national rail network. The most useful reference and planning tool for Czech rail travel is ČD’s Můj vlak app, which can host ticket sales and display in English.

ČD charges a substantial premium on RegioJet fares bought through the app and on tickets for services run by regional authorities.

The ČD website has an English option and is another ticket and timetabling source. Fares on the main routes are subject to dynamic pricing.

On main-line trains, station announcements in English are common. On regional trains, there are no station announcements in English. It’s best to know what the name of your destination sounds like in Czech and listen for the words příští stanice (next station). If you need confirmation, young passengers are more likely to speak English.

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Other intercity rail operators

Private rail operators play a significant role in several parts of Czech, competing with ČD main-line trains.

RegioJet: Brno-based RegioJet operates Czech trains as well as its extensive bus network. RegioJet trains run between Prague and Brno, Ostrava, Vienna, Bratislava, Košice and Budapest. Other destinations such as Ružomberok in Slovakia provide access to the Tatras region. The comfort classes available include Low Cost, Standard, Relax and Business classes as well as Astra open-space entertainment carriages and kids' areas.

The fastest trains reach 200 km/h. Sleeper trains operate on the Prague-Ostrava-Žilina-Košice, Prague-Přemyšl and Prague-Čop (Ukraine) routes.

Leo Express: Leo Express operates Prague-Kolín-Olomouc-Krákow services four times daily, extending to Warsaw twice daily. Ostrava-Krákow train services run two or three times daily. Prague-Ostrava services (3½ hours) run six to nine times daily and services continue to Třinec. Leo Express ticket offices are in Prague and Olomouc and at Ostrava-Svinov station.

From summer 2026, Leo Express aims to connect Przemyśl and Kraków in Poland with Frankfurt Airport in Germany, running via Ostrava, Olomuoc, Pardubice, Prague, Děčín, Ústí nad Labem, Dresden, Leipzig, Erfurt and Weimar.

Alex: The German rail company Die Länderbahn runs Alex trains on the Prague-Plzeň-Regensburg-Munich line.

Arriva: Arriva trains run in several parts of Czechia, connecting Prague with northern and eastern Bohemia and operating in central Bohemia, the Plzeň region, and in southern Moravia around Zlín. Tickets are available through the Arriva CZ mobile app or at the website. Prague-Plzeň services are planned to begin late in 2028.

GW Train: This company operates trains in southern Bohemia (based in České Budějovice and including links with Český Krumlov), northern and western Bohemia, eastern Bohemia and northern Moravia. These are being reintegrated into the IDESKA regional network.

European Sleeper: This start-up runs overnight trans-Europe Brussels-Amsterdam-Berlin-Dresden-Prague services.

Regional rail services

The regional transport authorities can offer lower-cost rail tickets in many cases, if travellers buy direct from the operator. Fares are standardised. To search trains, consult the Idos.cz website or the sites run by the regional operators. Travellers should check whether regional operators’ tickets are valid on CD trains.

PiD: PiD trains include Esko (S) trains serving commuter needs as part of the PiD integrated ticketing system.

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IDS JMK: The regional train lines, converging on Brno, reach out to tourist destinations such a Znojmo, Mikulov and Břeclav and as far south as the Austrian border.

IDPK: The Plzeň region has six main rail lines with several interlinking routes. There are 16 separate timetables, including one connection to Furth im Wald in Germany. Tickets are available at stations and from regional train conductors.

IDSOK: The Olomouc region trains run on a dense network that includes services linked with Brno, Ostrava and Opava and as far as Mikulovice on the Polish border.

ODIS: The regional lines of northern Moravia and Silesia converge on Ostrava. In this region, Idos.cz remains the best source of connection information.

IDESKA: Regional trains in a new dark-green livery were being rolled out in 2026. Use Idos.cz to search connections.

Trains

Comfort classes include First class (where passengers are offered a half-litre bottle of water), Business class and Economy (second) class.

ČD Railjet: These fast trains operate in concert with ÖBB and can reach 230km/h. There are business-class (reservations required), first-class and second-class seats. Features include bulky luggage spaces, storage for bicycles, prams and strollers, restaurant carriages and seat service. A children’s cinema screens programs. First-class passengers receive a complimentary bottle of water and business-class passengers a welcome beverage and a 50Kč restaurant voucher.

Railjet trains run on the Graz-Vienna-Brno-Prague-Dresden-Berlin route, connecting Prague and Graz several times daily.

Intercity-Express: ICE trains run on the Prague-Dresden-Berlin line several times a day.

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SuperCity: These high-speed trains (also known as Pendolino) employ tilt technology. Features include wireless internet, power recharging sockets, bicycle carriages, bistro carriage and seat service in 1st-class areas. Seat reservations are required. SuperCity trains run on the Prague-Pardubice-Olomuoc-Ostrava, Prague-Karlovy Vary and Prague-Plzeň (twice daily) routes.

EuroCity: EC trains run on the Berlin-Prague-Bratislava-Budapest, Prague-Brno-Vienna-Graz, Prague-Warsaw and Prague-Plzeň-Regensburg-Munich and Prague-Pardubice-Ostrava- Katowice-Warsaw routes and connect Prague with other Czech cities including Olomuoc and České Budějovice (extending to Linz in Austria).

InterCity: IC trains run between Prague and Cheb and on the Bohumín-Prague and Třinec-Prague lines. New InterJet IC trains have first-class seat tables, heavy luggage areas and mobile minibars.

Ex: Expres class fast trains are long-distance trains with limited stops and are divided into first and second-class sections with quiet sections and (often) women-only sections.

R: Rychlík fast trains are divided into first and second class and stop at main stations only. They include women-only sections on some trains.

ČD Regio class trains operate in conjunction with regional transport authorities and stop at most or all stations. On regional lines, some stations can be request stops only. An illuminated button on or near the door – or sometimes on a handgrip – is the one to press.

Sp: These fast regional-level trains include the RegioPanter trains operating in the north-east part of the country and in southern Moravia and Silesia, RegioShark trains running throughout the country, or the RegioNova railcars in several parts of Czechia. They do not stop at all stations.

Os: These regional-level trains serve all stations and are usually second-class trains, such as the modern RegioFox, RegioPanter, RegioSpider (around Liberec, Pardubice and Hradec Králové) or older RegioMouse single-car trains. On sections of minor lines such trains sometimes run at 40 or 50km/h. Sometimes conductors on these will sell tickets. PiD or south Moravian regional trains have card-operated ticket machines on board marked carriages.

Overnight trains

České dráhy’s ČD Night/EuroNight trains run from Prague to Zürich (via Dresden and Frankfurt, in cooperation with ÖBB Nightjet), Warsaw (via Katowice, with ÖBB Nightjet), Przemyśl (via Katowice and Kraków), Košice, Budapest (via Bratislava). Affiliated EuroNight (EN) trains sevices run to Gdańsk and Gdynia, Berlin, Graz and Munich (via Vienna and Salzburg).

Sleepers: ČD Night airconditioned, single-gender single, double or triple compartments are provided with shared sink and shower. Deluxe compartments with private bathrooms are also available in all categories.

Couchettes: ČD Night compartments are available for four or six people on mixed-gender lines. Shared washrooms and toilets are available at the end of each carriage.

European Sleeper: The Europe-wide start-up https://www.europeansleeper.eu/ runs between Brussels and Prague via Antwerp, Amsterdam, Berlin and Dresden. Four, five or six-berth compartments, including the option of booking women-only compartments, are offered. Washrooms and toilets are in the corridor. Comfort Plus, Comfort Standard, Classic or Budget classes.

Wi-fi onboard connections

Wi-fi connections are good on some Czech key routes, especially in first class, but less reliable in others. Having access to plentiful data and an international SIM or eSIM is a good backup. The ČD wi-fi portal requires an account and login.

Rail tickets

An ordinary ČD ticket bought over the counter is valid on the day of purchase and the following day, but the journey must start on the first day.

ČD tickets will often not be valid on non-ČD trains such as RegioJet trains. Exceptions to this would be Austrian ÖBB and German DB international services running on the ČD timetable. The most successful strategy is to specify trains when buying tickets.

For the cheapest Czech rail tickets, turn first to the regional trains and buy them direct from the provider. Tickets valid for regional trains are likely to be cheaper when bought at a regional transport authority’s ticket counter – which can be found at many rail stations – than at a ČD counter. Small stations, however, might have only a ČD counter. Tickets issued by regional authorities should be validated on the platform before departure.

IN Karta: The IN Karta discount card can load the IN 25 discount of 25% on basic tickets and route tickets for three months or more. The cost is 290Kč.

Eurail & Interrail passes in Czechia

Eurail and Interrail passes can be used on the trains of major rail operators in Czechia. Expect to show a valid ID document when using the pass. For cross-border trains, pass validity must cover the country concerned. For main-line express trains or higher comfort classes, expect mandatory seat reservations.

ČD: Passes are valid on ČD InterCity trains, the SuperCity route from Karlovy Vary to Košice (Slovakia) via Olomuoc and Ostrava, and Ex, R, Os and Sp class trains.

RegioJet: Eurail and Interrail passes are valid tickets on RegioJet trains and buses in Czechia, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary when the pass covers the country concerned. Extra seat bookings are required for the RJ class trains on the Prague-Brno-Vienna-Budapest, Prague-Brno-Bratislava, Prague-Brno-Žilina, Prague-Brno-Košice, Prague-Ostrava and Prague-Brno trains. Making these bookings at the RegioJet website or a RegioJet ticket office is recommended.

A first-class pass is required for RegioJet Business class, while second-class passes cover the Standard and Relax classes. On the R class Brno-Bohumín and Ústí nad Labem-Kolín express lines, Eurail and Interrail passes are valid only in second class.

ÖBB: Passes are valid on the Austrian national operator’s Railjet, Nightjet and EuroNight trains.

Leo Express: Passes can be used on InterCity and EuroCity trains. First-class passes are valid in Economy Plus and Business classes. Second-class passes are valid in Economy class. Passes cannot be used on Arriva buses.

Arriva: Rail passes are not valid on Czech Arriva trains.

GW Trains: Rail passes are not accepted.

European Sleeper: Accepts rail passes but reservation fees apply and extra charges apply for sleeper compartments and couchettes.

Cross-border trains

Czechia’s main rail lines are tightly interwoven in the central European train network and fast links with neighbouring capitals are many.

Austria

There are multiple train links between Czechia and Austria, mostly operated by ČD and ÖBB.

Prague-Vienna/Wien: There are up to 16 daily direct Railjet, IC, RegioJet or REX direct trains (4-5¼ hours).

Brno-Vienna: There are up to 14 daily direct Railjet, RegioJet and IC trains (1½ hours), some operated by Deutsche Bahn. Some RegioJet trains use Wien Stadlau station. Other Vienna-Brno connections (2-2½ hours) require a change in Břeclav between ÖBB services and trains operated by RegioJet, IDS JMK, the Slovakian ZSSK, or IDZK regional trains.

Znojmo/Znaim-Vienna: Seven daily direct REX trains (1½ hours) use Wien Praterstern station.

Ostrava-Vienna: Up to six IC trains (2¾-3 hours) run daily.

Prague-Linz: Four EC direct trains (3¾ hours) operate daily via České Budějovice to and from Linz, an important rail hub connected with Salzburg and – via the main Austrian western corridor – to Vienna.

Germany

ČD and Deutsche Bahn operate most of these links, although the privately operated Alex trains and Leo Express (see the entry below) offer alternatives. For Leo Express services into Germany, see above.

Prague-Berlin: The Prague-Dresden-Berlin fast train link, operated by ČD and Deutsche Bahn, takes 4-4½ hours.

Prague-Munich: Trains run at about two-hourly intervals via Regensburg and Plzeň and take between 5½ and 6 hours. Die Länderbahn runs seven daily EC-category Alex trains on the Prague-Plzeň-Regensburg-Munich line, taking just over 5½ hours. First-class seats are available, but reservations are recommended in peak season.
Prague-Frankfurt: Three daily connections with one change (two via Dresden, one via Leipzig) are operated by OBB and DB.

Prague-Nuremberg: Direct trains are not available. A 4¾-hour regional link operated by DB and Alex requires a change in Schwandorf. Connections via Dresden and Halle are available (almost 7 hours), but require two changes.

Slovakia

Prague-Bratislava: SC Pendolino and Railjet trains run between the cities several time daily (4½ hours). RegioJet operates additional daily direct trains via Brno (4½-5 hours), while Slovakia’s ZSSK also mirrors the service. RegioJet also has services between Olomuoc and cities such as Košice and Žilina.

Leo Express runs to and from Bratislava and Prešov (about 20km north of Kosiče).

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Poland

The Polish national operator PKP runs most of the trains between Poland and Czechia. From Prague, Pardubice and Ostrava, overnight trains reach Gdynia, Warsaw, Przemyśl, Kraków and Rzeszow.

Prague-Warsaw/Warszawa: Two or three EC trains (8½-9 hours) run this route daily, including one overnight train. An additional RegioJet service (8¼ hours) operates.

Ostrava-Warsaw: Seven daily direct connections (5-5½ hours), one a EuroNight train, are supplemented by one afternoon RegioJet train (5 hours).

Ostrava-Kraków: Six daily direct connections (2½-4½ hours), some via Katowice, include an early-morning option. In addition there are three Leo Express trains (2½-3¼ hours) between the cities and one overnight RegioJet option (6½ hours).

Prague-Wrocław (and Gdańsk): Three daily EC trains (about 4 hours) run between the cities. The Baltic Express connection continues to Gdańsk and Gdynia (8½ hours). See also the Leo Express entry below.

Leo Express: The company’s trains converge on Prague, Olomuoc and Ostrava and run to and from Warsaw. Further Polish stops (Katowice, Kraków and Przemyśl) are planned for 2026 (see above). 

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Stations

A Czech rail station (nádraží or stanice) can have traps for international travellers unfamiliar with platform numbering and other conventions.

Each platform (nástupište) can have a separately numbered track (kolej) on either side. The numbering patterns can be quite unrelated. The label směr (direction) is common. At Olomuoc, platform 2 accommodates tracks 1 and 3 and platform 3 accommodates tracks 2 and 4. Platform 1 accommodates track 5. Passengers should make no assumptions about station layout and allow extra time to find the correct departure point.

Platforms might also be divided by end. At the central Praha hlavní nádraží, these are labelled S (sever, or north) and J (jih, south, or jižní, southern). Platforms at tiny stations such as Telč or Mikulov can be extremely narrow.

Perhaps the most difficult feature of Czech rail stations to navigate is late platform notifications. Crowds of passengers gather around high traffic areas in stations for longer, staring at electronic departure boards until about 10 minutes before departure time. This is regular at large stations including Prague, Brno and Plzeň. Sometimes platforms for departures display on the Můj vlak app.

In large regional cities, English translations of signs might appear in smaller letters below, but most České dráhy staff cannot use much practical English. At all but small stations, announcements are generally repeated in English.

Ticket counters at large stations distinguish between Vnitrostátni jízdenky (‘inland’ tickets) and Mezinárodní jízdenky (‘international’ tickets). One or more counters might be designated for sales of both, depending on the size of the station. Others will be labelled for tickets within Czechia only.

ČD lounges in Prague, Brno, Olomuoc and Břeclav are open to passengers with a valid first-class ticket, a second-class ticket and reservation for a Railjet, SuperCity, EC, IC, EN, Ex or Rx train, an SC or Railjet business-class reservation, or a sleeper or couchette supplement for a higher-quality train for up to two hours before the start of the ticket or pass’s validity. Pregnant women and travellers with accompanying children under 10 can also use ČD Lounges.

Not all small stations are operated by České dráhy and these might not appear on the Můj vlak app timetables.

Bus travel

Long-distance buses servicing central and eastern Europe have Prague as a critical node point. Prague’s ÚAN Florenc bus station and other bus hubs including Praha Hlavní nádraží and Černý most east of the city (connected by the metro network with central Prague) handle services connecting the region. Brno’s ÚAN Zvonařka, Brno Hlavní nádraží and Grand Hotel/Benesova bus stations are also busy transport nodes.

RegioJet

Brno-based RegioJet-Student Agency buses run services between Prague and Brno and about 90 eastern European cities including connections with Vienna, Berlin, Warsaw, Bratislava. Buses are fitted with seat belts and touch screens for online internet (not always working) and gaming, recharging stations and the option to self-serve coffee on board. An app allows ticket sales, although tickets are available from drivers. Eurail and Interrail passes are valid on RegioJet buses in Czechia, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary when the pass covers the country concerned.

Domestic connections with Prague include Cheb (3 hours), Karlovy Vary (2¼ hours), Plzeň (1¼ hours), Liberec (about 1 hour), České Budějovice (about 2 hours), Český Krumlov (2½-2¾ hours), Jihlava (1½ hours), Znojmo (3¼ hours), Pardubice (about 1 hour), Olomuoc (2¼ hours), Brno (2-3 hours) and Ostrava (3¼-3½ hours).

Germany: Direct RegioJet buses to and from Prague serve Berlin (4½ hours), Dresden (about 2 hours) and Munich (4¾ hours).

Austria: Direct buses run between Prague and Vienna (4¾ hours). Several direct Brno-Vienna buses (1¾-2 hours) run daily.

Slovakia: Direct buses run between Bratislava and Brno (1¾ hours) and Prague (4¼-4½ hours).
Poland: Direct Prague-Katowice (1½ hours), Brno-Katowice (3½ hours), and early-morning Brno-Kraków (5¼ hours) buses cross the Polish border.

Hungary: Brno-Budapest buses (4½ hours) and direct Prague-Budapest buses (about 7 hours) run twice daily. 

FlixBus

International FlixBus connections run across Europe. Daily services run between Prague Florenc and London via Nuremberg, Frankfurt, Maastricht, Brussels, Lille and the Dieppe-Dover ferry. Within Czechia, Europe’s biggest long-distance carrier runs direct services between Prague and Plzeň (1½ hours), České Budějovice (2¾ hours), Český Krumlov (3¼ hours), Brno (2½ hours), Olomuoc (3¾ hours) and Ostrava (4¾ hours). A direct service connects northern Bohemia, Prague, Hradec Králové, Jeseníky, Opava, Ostrava and Havířov.

Germany: Direct buses run between Prague and Dresden (about 2 hours), Berlin (4¾-5 hours), Nuremberg (3¾-4 hours), Regensburg (3¾ hours), Munich (5½ hours), Frankfurt (7½ hours) and many other German destinations.

Poland: Between Prague (either Florenc, Praha Hlavní nádraží or Černý most) and Warsaw (8¼ hours), Kraków (7½ hours), Wrocław (4 hours), Poznań (6½ hours) and Gdańsk (11¾ hours) there are regular direct buses.

Slovakia: Prague (4¼-4½ hours) and Brno (1½ hours) direct buses run to and from Bratislava.
Austria: There are direct buses between Prague and Vienna (4-4¼ hours), Linz (about 4 hours) and Salzburg Süd (5½-6½ hours). Brno-Vienna buses (1¾-2¼ hours) run more than a dozen times daily.

Hungary: Direct buses between Budapest and Brno (4-4½ hours) or Prague (6¾-7 hours).

Arriva

Express buses operate on the Prague-Teplice, Prague-Litvínov and Brno-Olomuoc routes. The company offers a bus app for booking.

Regional buses

Regional buses between Czech cities and towns are run by the integrated regional transport authorities, including PiD, IDS JMK, IDPK, IDSOK, ODIS, IDESKA and IDOL. The goal of efficient transport is to avoid duplicating services, so regional trains are the first resort for connecting population centres. However all these regions also support bus interconnections.

PiD: On PiD inner-region buses, passengers with a valid ticket can board through any door. Those who need to buy need to board from the front and buy from the driver. Bus lines 300 to 960 service areas outside Prague city and central Bohemia and the regional tariff stretches as far as Karlovy Vary in the west.

PiD fines for riding without a validated ticket have increased. Tickets bought through the smartphone app are cheaper, but from 2027 the PiD Lítačka system will also update the app

Car & motorcycle

Drivers or riders should always show dipped headlights in Czechia. From November to the end of March winter tyres must be used.

The maximum road speed is 50 km/h in built-up areas, but in residential areas some 20km/h zones are marked. Watch for speed signs. Away from built-up areas, 90 km/h is the limit. On motorways in open areas, 130 km/h is the limit (80 km/h for vans), and on expressways 110 km/h, but all drivers are restricted to 80 km/h on motorways within towns.

A short road rules summary is here.

Safety: Many foreign drivers have the experience that road behaviour is less patient in Czechia than in other parts of central Europe, especially in relation to speed and maintaining distance between vehicles. A 2014 survey ranked Czech drivers the third-most aggressive after the UK and France.

In a 2024 transport study, Czech drivers felt less safe on the roads than the European average. In the same year, Prague ranked No.27 among European capitals in perceptions of traffic safety.

On-the spot road fines by police are common and in cases involving foreign drivers instant payment is often expected. These fines reach up to 5,500Kč by law (about €225) and if unpaid can be referred to courts, which can impose higher fines.

Road accidents: Drivers must report accidents in which a person is injured or killed, where there is third-party or road damage, or where damage to vehicles or their contents likely exceeds 100,000Kč. 

Tolls: A Czech motorway or expressway toll, certified by a digital vignette, is mandatory for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes with at least four wheels, using standard fuels.

These designated D-class roads are marked by green road signs with a white motorway symbol or a hexagon. Examples of designated roads are D1 (Prague-Brno-Ostrava, where long sections are tolled) and D3 (Prague-Austrian border near Linz). A map and listing is at the Edalnice.cz website.

The sign 'Dálniční známka' designates that a vignette is required, while the sign 'Bez poplatku' (with a crossed-out hexagon) marks sections that are free for drivers.

Vignettes must be bought at the Edalnice.cz website, self-service kiosks in border areas, post offices or EuroOil petrol stations. The fine for non-compliance is 20,000Kč.

A vignette covering one day costs (2026 rates) 230Kč, for 10 days 300Kč, for one month 480Kč. For electric, hybrid, biofuel or CNG/LNG vehicles, there are eco-rates ranging from 50-110Kč, 70-150Kč or 120-240Kč. For hydrogen vehicles there is a zero rate, but a notice of exemption is required for foreign-registered vehicles.

Emergency road service phone numbers are 1230 (ÚAMK ‘yellow angels’) or 1240 (ABA).

Air travel

Prague's Václav Havel Airport (PRG) is part of the transcontinental airline network as well as part of the European web of low-cost air carriers. This handles the vast bulk of Czechia’s flight traffic, with a peak of more than 160 destinations in summer. London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Dubai and Doha. There are also daily direct connections to and from New York.

Prague city bus 100 and trolley bus 59 connect the airport with Prague’s metro network, while the Prague Airport Express bus runs to and from Prague’s central rail station (about 45 minutes) every half-hour (5.30-22.00 daily).

The Brno-Tuřany airport (BRQ) handles flights to and from London Stansted, Frankfurt, Spain and Egypt.

Ostrava’s Leos Janacek (OSR) airport (Letiště Leoše Janáčka Ostrava) is a port for Mediterranean and eastern European connections, including flights to and from Warsaw.

Letiště Karlovy Vary (KLV) deals with light summer traffic only, mainly from eastern Europe.

Letiště Pardubice (PED) can be reached from several Mediterranean regional airports using low-cost carriers.

Bicycle travel

On dedicated national trails and as a recreational activity, bicycles are popular, but cycling is less common in cities (see Urban transit below). Mapy.com https://mapy.com/en/ offers a method of planning bicycle travel, including within cities, with time estimates and filters. Komoot.com has a map of prime cycling paths with navigation notes for users who sign up. 

Carrying bicycles on CD trains requires a separate ticket and there are rules.  

Check out the ČD bike rentals system. 

Urban transit

Public transport is the best way to negotiate Czechia’s biggest cities.

Tram

Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň, Olomuoc and Liberec rely on trams as their densest networks of public transport. They are traditionally driven fast, so it’s important for passengers to hang on.

Pedestrians should note that trams enjoy priority at street crossings. When other traffic stops for at lights, pedestrians need to allow trams to continue before crossing safely. At many street crossings, the warning pozor tram appears painted on the pavement.

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Bus

Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň, Pardubice, Hradec Králové, České Budějovice and Ústí nad Labem run both buses and trolley buses. Prague has reintroduced trolley buses on two lines.

Smaller cities such as Kutná Hora, Tábor, Znojmo, Český Krumlov, Telč and Mikulov are reliant on buses along for public transit services.

Trains

Prague has an efficient underground rapid-transit metro network of three interlinking lines and 61 stations, as well as the heavily used Petřín funicular railway. In addition, there are commuter S-line trains, such as Prague or Ostrava’s CityElefant double-deck trains, operated by ČD.

Bicycle

Bicycles are not as popular for city transport as in many European countries and Prague, in particular, does not have many cyclists on its inner streets. The city is ranked low internationally as a bike-friendly city and the lowest in Europe.

Car

Traffic is limited to 50km/h in built-up areas and in some marked city residential streets 20km/h is the limit. In parts of Prague, road markings are often identified as lacking.

Taxi

The average tariff per kilometre for Czech taxis is 32Kč, but rates in Prague will be higher. Visitors are advised to use only taxis that are clearly marked and should check the rate for each destination before boarding. Calling for a taxi by phone is the safest way to get the correct rate.

Bicycles on urban public transport

Rules vary by region for carrying bikes on public transport. Folded bikes are likely to be considered baggage.

Prague metro: Metro trains allow bicycles free, but only in marked carriages (usually the front or rear doors of carriage). But cyclists have to avoid peak periods and should not use pram or wheelchair-designated areas. E-bikes or e-scooters can only be carried if the battery has been removed. Check the special metro rules, which include a limit of two bikes.

Other Prague transport: On Prague bus 147 only, bikes can be carried. PiD regional trains have special bicycle rules and there is a map of permitted lines. Bikes are carried on buses only on non-working days, and for a fee.

On Prague trams, bikes can be carried free on trams running away from the city centre.

Also check out the Cyklohráček special bike train.

Other Czech public transport: Sometimes bikes can be accommodated on other Czech trams, but where permitted (usually in outer city areas and when designated by a bike symbol at stops). they should be placed in marked pram areas, which are usually at the rear. The cyclist has to signal the tram driver before boarding. Here are example rules for the Olomuoc region and Plzeň region, which also runs Cyclobuses.

Shared journeys

Traditional hitchhiking is not legal on Czech roadsides. Petrol stations and areas before the blue signs before motorway entrances are legal places to pick up rides.

For a shared rides through Czechia, Solvakia and Poland, consult Carpul. BlaBlaCar has a Czech page.