tip on riding the trams in Prague
Jun 5th, 2012, 02:40 PM
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tip on riding the trams in Prague
FYI, just wanted to pass on a small tip we learned about the handy trams in Prague (just got back last nite, trip report coming):
You cannot buy tickets onboard, despite what our guidebook told us. We sweated out our first "illegal" trip, then asked our hotel host about buying tickets. He said the only place near us (on the castle side of the river) was the Tabak around the corner from the Starbucks in Malostranska Namesti. He says every year the Prague government says they're going to make ticket machines more available and then fails to do so, he believes because they'd prefer to rake in the fees when they catch unticketed tourists
Just wanted to pass the info along in case it helps anyone else!
You cannot buy tickets onboard, despite what our guidebook told us. We sweated out our first "illegal" trip, then asked our hotel host about buying tickets. He said the only place near us (on the castle side of the river) was the Tabak around the corner from the Starbucks in Malostranska Namesti. He says every year the Prague government says they're going to make ticket machines more available and then fails to do so, he believes because they'd prefer to rake in the fees when they catch unticketed tourists
Just wanted to pass the info along in case it helps anyone else!
Jun 5th, 2012, 11:36 PM
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Not true.
You can buy the tickets at any metro station and at any potraviny (kind of like a 7-11). You can also buy it with your cell phone by sending an sms (text) to 90206 and then typing in dpt24 (which is a 30 minute ticket for adults) in the text box. You will get a return text immediately and if questioned, just show the agent that.
Meri, sorry your hotel gave you bad advice.
You can buy the tickets at any metro station and at any potraviny (kind of like a 7-11). You can also buy it with your cell phone by sending an sms (text) to 90206 and then typing in dpt24 (which is a 30 minute ticket for adults) in the text box. You will get a return text immediately and if questioned, just show the agent that.
Meri, sorry your hotel gave you bad advice.
Jun 5th, 2012, 11:44 PM
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http://www.livingprague.com/transport.htm
this link will expalin all about getting transport tickets in Prague.
I am a regular visitor there, just back from a trip last week.
The inspectors there are pretty ruthless and though it seems they target just tourist that really is not true and I have seen many locals in as much trouble as tourisdt,but the majority of locals use monthly passes and don't have to rely on tickets.Tickets really are quite widely available though unfortunately not at that many tram stops but the tickest do cover trams,metros and buses and are all transferable.In all my many trips to Prague I have NEVER had my tickets inspected on the trams but have had the inspected often on the Metros and in the metro stations ,on one occasion 3 times in one day.Last week the only place I saw inspectors was in Cerny Most metro and it is unlike many toursits make it out that far.
this link will expalin all about getting transport tickets in Prague.
I am a regular visitor there, just back from a trip last week.
The inspectors there are pretty ruthless and though it seems they target just tourist that really is not true and I have seen many locals in as much trouble as tourisdt,but the majority of locals use monthly passes and don't have to rely on tickets.Tickets really are quite widely available though unfortunately not at that many tram stops but the tickest do cover trams,metros and buses and are all transferable.In all my many trips to Prague I have NEVER had my tickets inspected on the trams but have had the inspected often on the Metros and in the metro stations ,on one occasion 3 times in one day.Last week the only place I saw inspectors was in Cerny Most metro and it is unlike many toursits make it out that far.
Jun 5th, 2012, 11:48 PM
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Actually I am suprised your hotel did not have tram tickets ,in my experience most places have them.If coming through Prague airport then there are stands in both terminals where you can get tickets and where I usually buy mine when I arrive in the city.
Jun 5th, 2012, 11:50 PM
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Yep. They are tough. I live here and I probably get 'inspected' about 1-2 times/month. Just the last time it was on the tram, heading over to the beer festival! 
When I didn't have my pass, I wuld just 'stock up' whenever I was at the metro.
When I didn't have my pass, I wuld just 'stock up' whenever I was at the metro.
Jun 5th, 2012, 11:56 PM
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In Dresden (as a local) I get inspected about 1-2 times a WEEK. In Prague, when I changed from one metro line to the other at Hlavni Nadrazi the inspectors picked me and two other tourists out of a crowd of about 50 people - recognised us from our cameras, I think. Of course I had my ticket (and the other tourists did, too) - I had a good laugh on the disappointment of the inspectors. It showed on their faces.
Jun 6th, 2012, 06:50 AM
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Where we were staying on the castle side of the river (Dum u Velke Boty), there is no close metro stop - the closest was Malostranska. So I think the only reasonably close place to get tickets is at that Tabak. The hotel usually has tickets on hand, but were out of stock when we asked.
Texting is not an option for us since we have US cellphones and just get a limited European calling plan when we travel.
Perhaps if you're not staying close to a metro stop, the best plan is to buy a few trips' worth of 24min tickets as you come in to Prague. We didn't expect to use the trams much, but after a few days our legs needed a break!
We were just surprised at how difficult it was to figure out how to buy tickets, even though we had studied these forums, 2 guidebooks, and the overwhelming link referred above by unclegus. We love using public transportation everywhere we travel, and had no trouble using Austria's public transportation the previous week. IOW, we're fairly well seasoned travelers but still found it confusing in Prague for some reason.
Texting is not an option for us since we have US cellphones and just get a limited European calling plan when we travel.
Perhaps if you're not staying close to a metro stop, the best plan is to buy a few trips' worth of 24min tickets as you come in to Prague. We didn't expect to use the trams much, but after a few days our legs needed a break!
We were just surprised at how difficult it was to figure out how to buy tickets, even though we had studied these forums, 2 guidebooks, and the overwhelming link referred above by unclegus. We love using public transportation everywhere we travel, and had no trouble using Austria's public transportation the previous week. IOW, we're fairly well seasoned travelers but still found it confusing in Prague for some reason.
Jun 6th, 2012, 08:13 AM
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"Perhaps if you're not staying close to a metro stop, the best plan is to buy a few trips' worth of 24min tickets as you come in to Prague."
That is what we did, and it was quite convinient.
We did get stopped when leaving the metro for a ticket check - we were on our way to the train station with our luggage, so pretty obvious that we were visitors, plus my husband is Mexican, so no mistaking him for a Czech - LOL. But the inspectors positioned themselves right before the escalators, so everybody had to file past them and show their tickets.
That is what we did, and it was quite convinient.
We did get stopped when leaving the metro for a ticket check - we were on our way to the train station with our luggage, so pretty obvious that we were visitors, plus my husband is Mexican, so no mistaking him for a Czech - LOL. But the inspectors positioned themselves right before the escalators, so everybody had to file past them and show their tickets.
Jun 6th, 2012, 09:05 AM
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" But the inspectors positioned themselves right before the escalators, so everybody had to file past them and show their tickets."
thats a pretty common occurance and I have seen that tactic in various metro stations.
In october last year I was coming down the escalators and there were about 6 of them strung across the area, i had a small roller bag and a small rucksack and thought here we go ticket inspection time, a couple of them just smiled and said Dobry den and i was passed without having to show a ticket,an amazing experience actually getting a smile off these guys.
thats a pretty common occurance and I have seen that tactic in various metro stations.
In october last year I was coming down the escalators and there were about 6 of them strung across the area, i had a small roller bag and a small rucksack and thought here we go ticket inspection time, a couple of them just smiled and said Dobry den and i was passed without having to show a ticket,an amazing experience actually getting a smile off these guys.
Jun 6th, 2012, 10:00 AM
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"amazing experience actually getting a smile off these guys."
Yeah - they didn't look like the smiley type to me.
I have seen a lot of posts about the ticket inspectors targetting tourists, and maybe they do in some instances, but from what I have seen, they seem to target everybody.
Yeah - they didn't look like the smiley type to me.
I have seen a lot of posts about the ticket inspectors targetting tourists, and maybe they do in some instances, but from what I have seen, they seem to target everybody.
Jun 6th, 2012, 12:16 PM
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yeah it is not just tourists, in fact i think the locals get a harder time of it than tourists and I have seen quite a few incidents where the locals have been in deep "converstions" with the inspectors.
The thing is on these forums it is obviously "tourists " that will come on here complaining they were trageted but at least in Prague there are warnings in both Czech and English about having validated ticket sin the metro areas and on the actual tickets themselves.
The thing is on these forums it is obviously "tourists " that will come on here complaining they were trageted but at least in Prague there are warnings in both Czech and English about having validated ticket sin the metro areas and on the actual tickets themselves.
Jun 6th, 2012, 02:11 PM
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I suppose some may deliberately try to cheat the system; for tourists, they more likely fail to realize they have to validate their tickets when they get on the bus/tram/subway. In our case, we knew we needed to buy a ticket and validate it, but couldn't find a place to buy the ticket to begin with, LOL!
Jun 6th, 2012, 09:18 PM
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Unclegus, it was the first one we had been to as we just moved here in Sept. It was a bit disappointing as it was in a lousy location, tucked away and looking very rundown. Still, the beer was great and there was a hockey game playing which had the crowd ramped up.
We enjoyed trying beers we don´t usually see. Unfortunately, now, I can´t find them in the stores.
There is a smaller beer festival this weekend at the square in Jiriho z podebrad. That one may be a bit more my style.
We enjoyed trying beers we don´t usually see. Unfortunately, now, I can´t find them in the stores.
There is a smaller beer festival this weekend at the square in Jiriho z podebrad. That one may be a bit more my style.
Jun 6th, 2012, 11:05 PM
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Slojan you might like this Blog
http://www.pivni-filosof.com/
I am a good friend of this Blogger he also has a regular beer cloumn in the Prague Post (Max Benson).
I had a very good session with him at the Variety area of the Beer Festival, completely fre as he had a big pile of Tolars from the organisers, we both got very drunk.I was not impressed by the location of the Beer Festival and at night the lack of lights made the place even more dangerous.There are quite a few places to get botled beer in prague and several places you can drink a wide range of beers .Beer Museum Pub and Zly Casy to name but 2.
If you have a look at max's blog lots of great ideas there and his book Prague an Pisshead Pub Guide is excellent and may be of some use to you.
http://www.pivni-filosof.com/
I am a good friend of this Blogger he also has a regular beer cloumn in the Prague Post (Max Benson).
I had a very good session with him at the Variety area of the Beer Festival, completely fre as he had a big pile of Tolars from the organisers, we both got very drunk.I was not impressed by the location of the Beer Festival and at night the lack of lights made the place even more dangerous.There are quite a few places to get botled beer in prague and several places you can drink a wide range of beers .Beer Museum Pub and Zly Casy to name but 2.
If you have a look at max's blog lots of great ideas there and his book Prague an Pisshead Pub Guide is excellent and may be of some use to you.
