Peggy

I am soooo confused! What is the best way to get from the airport to Prague Old Town area? I have been searching and it's making me nuuts! I found airport shuttle for around $50 rnd trip, 1-2-3-Prague about the same as is discoverch.com. But then I found CEDAZ vans for $3.60 per person one way and Tourista Praha was the a few cents more? Is this possible? What am I missing?
Thanks
Peggy

mbgg

Take the 100 or 119 bus to a Metro station. It costs less than $1.00

J62

mbgg advice is good. The 119 bus leaves the airport every 15min or so and connects to the end of the green subway line. (20min bus ride). From there, the subway will get you to the old town in about 15min. Ticket will cost 20Cr., or less than $1.

The posted/going rate for a taxi on the far south side of town TO the airport was 800Cr, or ~$25-30, so $50 rnd trip sounds about right - not per person, but per carload. I believe a metered taxi should be less than that.

The bus/subway is really easy but if you are not comfortable with public transportation then you can take a taxi. Everyone on the bus has suitcases so you just need to follow the crowd. You can only go one way on the subway and the stops are well marked with easy to read signs in the stations and on the trains.

You can buy a single 20Cr ticket at the airport that is good for the bus/subway - just ask the info desk if you need help figuring out how to buy one.

If you plan to use the trams, buses or subways a lot during your stay, the best deal is a 24hr pass (80Cr) that you can buy at your hotel desk.

Juju2

Agreed, 119 bus to subway station. Just get off where everybody else gets off and follow them.

Andrew

I took the #119 from the Prague airport to Dejvická underground station back in September - I think that was the end of the line for that bus anyway. The bus was quite crowded mid-day but still worked out fine. Note that you can buy the ticket you need from a Tobak shop at the airport, without waiting in the long line I found at the transit desk. The trick for me was getting change - the ATM spit out a large bill that the Tobak lady refused to change, so I went to a change desk and got free change for my large bill and that was all I needed.

The ticket you want is the 20Kc ticket that is good for 75 minutes and allows transfers. You could also buy a day pass if you are arriving early in the day.

The #100 bus could work out better for you - depends which underground stop your hotel is closest to. To minimize underground changes you might want line A (Dejvická, from bus 119) or Line B (Zličín, from bus 100).

Andrew

luckykat

Agreed, the taxi's are fundamentally scary. Less for their driving style, which is fast, but more for the 'mob' attitude at the airport. One company seems to dominate the entire airport and are very aggressive. We were getting picked up by a driver from the hotel we were staying at and walked towards the car with him. The taxi drivers shouted to us that he was a dodgy taxi, which he wasn't. We tried to get into his car and 3 airport taxis screeched up and blocked him in and proceeded to shout at him and threaten him. We intervened and explained that he was our driver but it was a very nasty situation. Take the bus, much less hassle.

amp322

I've used taxis, vans, bus to the subway, and friends to get to & from the Prague airport. Cheapest way, other than friends who will do it for free!, is to take the bus to the subway. The vans are a good deal. I'm not sure what Cedaz is charging these days, but I think that is the one that only stops in certain locations (anyone else know?) The other vans cost $15 per person, and will take you to your hotel/place of residence. You will share the van with others, so it will take longer than a taxi. Taxi should be around $30. They all should be charging a flat rate to downtown, if they are lined up at the taxi cue. Personally, I'd take the van, especially if you have big luggage. I only do the bus/metro if I have a carry-on, or small bag. Too crazy & crowded to be hauling stuff all around.

amp322

http://www.aas.cz/cedaz/default_e.htm

Ahh, just checked website. I think it's 90 crowns to Namesti Republiky. Other locations will cost around $15, like I said before. I guess you'll find out when you get there & ask, unless someone else on here has taken the van to just Namesti Rep. From there, you will be around Old Town, but if you have tons of bags, you'll still need a taxi or metro, etc., if you're closer to Old Town Square (clock area).

KathyErdo

I, too, looked into the Cedaz vans and they looked to me to be the easiest. On their website http://www.aas.cz/cedaz/default_e.htm
it gives information needed. After a non-stop flt from Neward I just want the most hassel-free transfer I can get.