Prague · Airport transfer
For most visitors, trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín followed by Metro A is the better-value route. Airport Express (AE) costs more, but removes the metro transfer and runs directly to Prague Main Station. The right choice depends more on your hotel location and luggage than on the word “Express”.
The short answer
SituationBest starting pointWhyOld Town / Malá Strana / Metro A59 + Metro AOne transfer and the standard PID fare.Prague Main StationAirport ExpressDirect to Hlavní nádraží without using the metro.Lowest fare59 + metroIn 2026 a 90-minute ticket costs CZK 46 in PID Lítačka or CZK 50 on paper.Heavy luggage / avoiding transfersAirport ExpressA simpler direct ride when Main Station is useful to you.
How 59 + Metro A works
Trolleybus 59 links the airport with Nádraží Veleslavín, where you change to Metro A. DPP gives roughly 15 minutes for the airport–Veleslavín section, while PID gives an approximate 35-minute journey to the city centre. It is a natural route for destinations along Metro A.
Route 59 is part of ordinary Prague public transport. From 1 January 2026, a full-fare 90-minute Prague ticket costs CZK 46 in the PID Lítačka app or CZK 50 as a paper ticket. That makes it much cheaper than AE and the sensible default when one transfer is not a problem.
Airport Express: when the premium makes sense
Airport Express links the airport with Praha hlavní nádraží, Prague Main Station. AE uses a special fare rather than the standard city ticket. The current adult fare in 2026 is CZK 200; DPP says tickets can be bought on the bus or at its airport and Main Station information centres.
AE is strongest if your hotel is near Main Station, you are connecting to a train, or you have awkward luggage and value a direct ride. If your destination is along Metro A, paying extra for AE may still leave you with another transfer after reaching the station.
What if your hotel is in the Old Town?
Do not choose solely by the “Express” name. For Staroměstská, Můstek and other convenient Metro A points, 59 + metro often brings you closer to the hotel. With AE, you may still need metro, tram or a walk from Main Station.
Practical rule: compare the whole route from terminal to hotel, not just the first vehicle. A direct airport bus is valuable only when its destination is useful for your actual address.
The ticket is part of the decision
On route 59, a standard PID ticket covers the city journey within its validity. The 90-minute fare is CZK 50 on paper or CZK 46 in the app. DPP also provides contactless ticket terminals across public transport. AE is outside the standard PID fare and costs CZK 200.
What we would choose
- Hotel on Metro A: 59 + metro.
- Hotel or onward train at Hlavní nádraží: AE.
- Budget trip: 59 + metro is clearly cheaper.
- Large suitcase, small children or reduced mobility: judge whether AE actually removes enough transfers on the complete route.
- Late at night: check night routes 907 and 910; the daytime 59/AE comparison is no longer enough.
Bottom line
59 + Metro A is the best default for most Prague visitors. It uses the normal public-transport fare and feeds directly into Metro A. Airport Express is the more expensive but simpler choice for Prague Main Station. Once you know your hotel address, the better route is usually obvious.
Sources
Checked 10 September 2026.
- DPP — Journey from/to the airport
- PID — tariff from 1 January 2026
- PID — airport connections overview
