Before you go · Prague
Prague essentials
The practical things worth knowing before you arrive, checked against official sources on 28 October 2026. Entry rules change: always check the official sources before you travel.
Updated October 2026
Entry to the EU
The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) registers travellers from outside the EU electronically at the border.
ETIAS, the travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors, is not yet in operation: the EU will announce the start date on its official site, travel-europe.europa.eu, in advance. Never pay a third-party site. Dresden is in Germany, also in the Schengen area.
The Czech crown
Prices in Czechia are in Czech crowns (CZK), not euros. Our guide quotes prices in CZK, as the venues and Prague City Tourism publish them.
From the airport
The Airport Express (AE) bus runs from Terminals 1 and 2 of Václav Havel Airport Prague to Praha hlavní nádraží, the main station, where you can change to trains; journey times depend on traffic. Works on the Aviatická intersection lengthen road journeys at rush hour, while public transport is not affected (prg.aero, 28 October 2026).
PID tickets
One PID ticket covers the metro, trams, buses and the Petřín funicular. Full fares (ages 15–60), app / paper: 30 minutes CZK 36 / 39, 90 minutes CZK 46 / 50, 24 hours CZK 140 / 150, 72 hours CZK 340 / 350 (pid.cz). See our page Prague by metro, tram and train.
The Castle and the sights
Prague Castle has a summer season from 1 April to 31 October and a winter season from 1 November to 31 March; hrad.cz publishes the hours. The Jewish Museum’s sites close on Saturdays and Jewish holidays; the Wallenstein Garden is open from April to October. Prague City Tourism sells the Prague Visitor Pass for museums, towers and transport.
The Christmas markets
The Christmas markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square run from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 (prague.eu). Book hotels early for Advent and New Year.
Customs and etiquette
Cover your shoulders and knees in churches and synagogues. Validate a paper ticket when you first board, and keep it until you leave the vehicle. Cobbles are everywhere: wear comfortable shoes.
Emergencies
Call 112 for ambulance, police and fire, or 155 for an ambulance. See our health page for the university hospitals. Carry your EHIC or GHIC, or travel insurance that covers medical costs.
Questions and answers
Does Prague use the euro?
No: prices are in Czech crowns (CZK).
Do I need ETIAS to visit Prague?
Not yet: ETIAS is not in operation. The EU will announce the start date in advance on its official site.
How do I get from the airport to the city?
By the Airport Express bus to Praha hlavní nádraží, the main station.
How much is a 24-hour ticket?
CZK 140 in the PID Lítačka app, CZK 150 on paper (full fare).
What is the emergency number?
112, or 155 for an ambulance.
Entry rules and transport change, sometimes at short notice. Check the EU’s official sites, prg.aero, pid.cz, hrad.cz and your government’s advice before you travel.