Václav Havel Prague Airport (PRG) Flights & Flight Status

Prague’s international airport – named for writer and Czech president Václav Havel – is a compact airport that makes visiting the capital of Czechia, also known as the Czech Republic, a dream.

There’s just a single terminal building here, which makes for easy arrivals and departures. Prague is served by most European hub airlines via their home airports, with seasonal summer flights from New York on Delta, as well as low-cost carriers that include the likes of Ryanair, easyJet, Eurowings, and the local Smartwings.

Arriving at Prague Airport’s terminals

Prague Airport has four terminals, of which terminals 1 and 2 are the ones used by passengers on regular commercial flights. These terminals are all housed within one L-shaped building, so being dropped off by a taxi or ride-hailing car is super easy – though if you have luggage, I always check which terminal I need so I can be dropped off at the closest point.

Czechia is a member of the Schengen Area, the joint border zone comprising 29 European countries, including most of the European Union. Flights to and from these destinations – which includes the majority of the flights at the airport – use terminal 2. This is the newer terminal, and comprises concourses C and D. Those correspond to the C and D gates on your boarding pass or in your airline’s app.

Flights to all other countries, including the US, UK and Ireland, use the older terminal 1, which is made up of the A and B gates. The A, B and C gates extend on short piers from the main terminal, and are just a few gates long, making walks short wherever you’re going in the terminal.

Advice on the official currency

Czechia’s currency is the koruna, which means “crown” in Czech. Avoid exchanging cash at the airport, whether from a bureau de change foreign currency desk or via an ATM, as they are generally overpriced.

Instead, I’ll usually use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees to get into town via Uber or public transit, then withdraw a small amount of local currency from an ATM that partners with my own bank. Local banks Česká spořitelna and CSOB (which is affiliated with the post office) are trustworthy options to look out for.

Check with your bank for an ATM locator and full details, including any fees, and make sure you know the current mid-market exchange rate (use an online currency converter – my go-to is xe.com) to make sure the rate you’re offered is a good one.

Getting into Prague and back to Prague Airport by public transit

Prague Airport doesn’t have its own Metro stop, so the fastest way into the city center by public transportation is taking bus 59 to Veleslavín station on the Metro line A and then taking the Metro into town. It’s convenient, really cheap and the full-day transit pass is valid on the whole route.

Both the bus and metro are run by DPP, the local transit operator, and the combined journey into central Prague takes around 30-45 minutes. There are escalators and elevators at Veleslavín, but think about a taxi or Uber if you have a lot of luggage.

Bus 59 is a modern, low-floor, electric triple-sectioned trolleybus that’s reasonably accessible for wheelchair users, disabled travelers, and people with restricted mobility. Local buses 100 (Zličín) and 191 (Divoká Šárka – Petřiny – Anděl) also serve the airport in the daytime, while the night buses 907 and 910 run if you need to be at the airport in the middle of the night.

Local buses stop in front of both terminals 1 and 2, and you’ll need to buy a ticket in advance before boarding. I think the PID Lítačka app (for Android and iPhone) is the best and easiest way to get your tickets, and it also has a journey-planning function.

You can also buy them from ticket vending machines at the stop, the DPP (Prague public transit company) counters in Arrivals, or at the Visitor Centre at the airport (which may be temporarily closed). Check whether the ticket you buy needs to be validated with a timestamp from the little machines on the bus as you board.

Traveling elsewhere in Czechia – and other countries – from Prague Airport

If you’re heading to another city in the Czech Republic – or even in some neighboring countries – you might find the intercity bus (coach) options useful. These all stop in front of terminal 1, under the overpass that heads to terminal 2.

While most options allow you to buy tickets directly from the driver, I’d certainly recommend booking in advance if possible. RegioJet and FlixBus both have apps for iPhone and Android, while all operators have English-language websites.

RegioJet coaches head into Prague’s central Praha-Florenc coach terminal and out to Karlovy Vary. European long-distance budget bus powerhouse FlixBus has three lines connecting central Prague and the airport, with a variety of cities including central Prague, Brno, Louny, Chomutov, Klášterec nad Ohří, Karlovy Vary, Most, Jirkov, Ostrava and Krakow. Gepard Express coaches are the fastest way to Brno, departing five times a day.

How to get to and from Prague Airport by car, taxi and Uber

Prague Airport doesn’t just allow Uber, it actively encourages it. For most travelers who have more than just a carry-on, this is the way I’d recommend to get into the city.

The Uber app you’re probably familiar with is the easiest way, but Prague Airport also has self-service kiosks that take cards, in the event your phone battery is dead. You can even go to the service counter if you want to pay cash or need any additional help. The pick-up points are immediately in front of the arrivals halls in terminals 1 and 2.

Passport control, immigration, customs and security at Prague Airport

Like most European countries, the Czech Republic (also known as Czechia) checks your passport on the way in and on the way out. The country is part of the Schengen Area, like all its neighbors, meaning that most visitors from the US, Canada, Mexico, and other countries in the Americas won’t need a visa in advance.

Check the EU Schengen website for more details, and be careful to only get your information about Schengen visa requirements from official sources – there are quite a lot of visa scam pages out there.

Make sure you understand the Schengen 90/180 rule: you can stay up to 90 days in any 180 days. The website has a handy calculator and a user guide to explain. Remember that the European Schengen Area requires that your passport be valid for six months after you enter the Schengen Area (even if you plan to leave well before that date) and that it be less than ten years old.

Prague’s a pretty small airport, so security lines are rarely a major issue in my experience. Business class passengers and some frequent flyer cardholders can use the FastTrack shortcut, so check with your airline for more details if you need them. The FastTrack line is also available to prebook for a nominal fee if you’re traveling within the Schengen Area.

Free Wi-Fi and lounges at Václav Havel Airport Prague

There’s a free Wi-Fi network at Prague, called Prague Airport WiFi Free.

Prague Airport has three lounges, one in terminal 1 and two in terminal 2. In terminal 1, you’ll find the MasterCard Lounge in the main part of the terminal towards the B gate pier. I think this is the best option in the airport, and it’s pretty good for a non-airline lounge in Europe, with comfortable seating, snacks, drinks, Wi-Fi and showers.

The MasterCard Lounge is used by many airlines for business class passengers and frequent flyers. It’s also a Priority Pass lounge, and Priority Pass cardholders can also use three bars and restaurants within the airport under the card’s dining scheme. These are all in terminal 1: the Bottega Prosecco Bar & Caffe near gate B1, and the Pilsner Urquell Original Restaurant locations near B7 and A3.

The two terminal 2 lounges are also used by some airlines: the Erste Premier Lounge in the transit area , and the FastTrack Lounge, also on the second floor (look for the red carpet staircase). There’s a combined package for FastTrack security plus lounge access for the FastTrack Lounge.

Overall, the terminal areas in Prague Airport are just fine, and unless I happen to have access through my airline, I don’t usually bother with the lounges – save your money for a crisp, cold drink at one of the bars or restaurants instead.

The best souvenirs at PRG Airport

Prague Airport has some great last-minute souvenir options. If you’re looking for something lightweight, pick up a box of linden (lípa in Czech) tea – a real local favorite. If you’re in terminal 2, head to pier D for Future is Local, which I love: it showcases local, sustainably produced Czech goods from slow fashion items to bohemian glassware, handmade cosmetics, and soaps.