PRAGUE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM

Getting around like a local

Prague public transport, one of the world's best and most usable systems. Amazingly, the tram, metro or bus of your choice will arrive almost to the minute of the posted schedule. Use it---you'll love it! We've outlined pretty much what you need to know, but if you want the transport system official site (in English) click here.

Tickets---you can't pay on board, but tickets are available from vending machines (in all metro stations) or from most newspaper stands and Tabak (tobacco shops). Tickets come in 8 and 12 crown prices. The 8 crown is good for only one ride without transfer, the 12 crown includes transfers and is good for 60 minutes during the week and 90 minutes evenings and weekends---by far your best purchase.

At most metro stations, the following are also available:

	24-hour ticket	70,- CZK
	3-day ticket (72 hours)	200,- CZK
	7-day ticket (168 hours)	250,- CZK
	15-day ticket (360 hours)	280,- CZK

saving you the hassle of decision.

Validation---a ticket's no good unless it's stamped. On metros, you do this at the top of the escalators, beforegoing down. Just slip your ticket into the machine, arrow first---you're legal. On buses and trams, there's a yellow validator mounted on upright hand-holds---same proceedure there. Traveling within the 60 or 90 minute limit, don't re-stamp your ticket.

Controllers---A public transport "controller" can check your ticket (or lack thereof) at any time within the system. They'll show you a gold badge, held in the palm and ask for your ticket. They are most often not in uniform and may be dressed as passengers, but the badge is their authority. It's simple---show your ticket or pay the fine. The fine is 800 crowns, reduced to 400 for on-the-spot payment, but if you're a tourist, they'll only accept on-the-spot payment. Controllers are not to be argued with, as they'll just call the cops and that ruins a perfectly nice day.

Where's this tram (or bus or metro) going?---they actually let you know quite nicely. At tram stops, there are printed schedules posted for all tram routes serviced by that stop---white for regular hours and a yellow (usually quite high number) for the "night tram." Night tram service runs from midnight to 5am, but the intervals are usually 45 minutes, so you want to think about that. Anyway, they read like this---each route has it's route number and the listing of stations, as well as the times of arrival throughout the day. The stop at which you are standing is highlighted. The stops from which the tram is coming are above that highlight and the stops to which it will go are below. Thus you know you're waiting for a tram headed in the right direction. If you want to go to a stop that's above your stop, just cross the tracks and catch the same number tram in the other direction. Same system for buses .

On the metro, signs above the station (on either side) show only where that metro will stop. Inside the trains, over each exit, there's a red-yellow-green map of the routes and (most importantly) where they intersect for transfer points.

A word about night-trams--- they're all there is between midnight and 5am (other than a cab). Usually, they're on about a 45 minute schedule and usually the one where you are doesn't go to your destination. Never fear, just have patience---they ALL congregate at Lazarska---get off there and find your night-tram of choice.Some of them are hidden just around the corner, so check it out. Good luck.

What's that recorded voice on the tram or metro saying?---they ask you to stand back from the doors, just before they close. Approaching a stop, they tell you what stop it is, then what stop is next. They say it in Czech and no other languages, but they announce very clearly and Czech is very phonetic, so you ought to be able to match your map to a tram or metro stop. There are no announcements on buses---showing the driver your stop, then sitting nearby usually works for him to wave you off---or, just keep an eye on the stops (they're all marked quite well) and know your get-off point.