Flights to Prague — What to Expect
Prague Václav Havel Airport (PRG) is the main entry point for international travelers, sitting about 17 km northwest of the city center. It's a well-connected mid-sized European hub, so flights from Prague are plentiful and competition keeps prices reasonable — especially if you book a few weeks ahead and avoid peak summer. From London, you're looking at roughly 2 hours in the air, with Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways, and Wizz Air all running regular services from Stansted, Gatwick, Heathrow, and Luton. From Paris CDG or Orly, Air France and Transavia cover the route in about 1 hour 45 minutes. From Berlin, it's often cheaper to take the train, but Lufthansa and Czech Airlines (ČSA) do fly it in under an hour. Flights from Amsterdam, Vienna, Frankfurt, and Madrid are all well-served too.
On pricing: flights to Prague from major European cities can range anywhere from €30–€50 one-way on a budget carrier booked well in advance, to €150–€250 return on a full-service airline during summer. The sweet spot for Prague flight deals tends to be spring and autumn — you'll find better availability and lower fares than the July–August crush. If you're flexible on dates, mid-week departures (Tuesday and Wednesday especially) consistently come in cheaper than weekend flights. Set up price alerts on a few platforms and check directly with Ryanair and easyJet, which often run flash sales on this route.
Best Time to Visit Prague
April and May are genuinely excellent months to visit. The city shakes off winter, the gardens around Prague Castle bloom, and tourist numbers haven't yet reached the suffocating levels of summer. Temperatures hover between 9–19°C (48–66°F) — cool enough for comfortable sightseeing, warm enough to sit outside with a beer. September and October offer a similar balance: the summer crowds thin out, the light turns golden, and the city hosts several cultural festivals. These four months are the consensus sweet spot, and flight and hotel prices reflect that demand, so book early.
June through August is high season. Prague in summer is beautiful but genuinely packed — Charles Bridge at noon in July feels like a theme park. Temperatures reach 23–25°C (73–75°F), which is pleasant, but accommodation prices spike and cheap flights to Prague become harder to find. If summer is your only option, go early June or late August. December is surprisingly popular thanks to the Christmas markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square — atmospheric and worth it if you dress for cold (average highs of 1–4°C in January and February). January and February are the quietest months: fewer tourists, rock-bottom hotel rates, and the occasional snowfall makes the city look stunning, though some attractions run reduced hours.
Getting Around Prague
From the airport, the cheapest option is the Airport Express bus (line AE) run by Prague Public Transport, which runs to Hlavní nádraží (main railway station) in about 35 minutes for around 100 CZK (roughly €4). From there, you can jump on the metro. A taxi from the airport to the city center should cost 500–700 CZK (€20–28) — use the official Taxi Praha stands or book via the Bolt app to avoid overcharging. Uber also operates here. Once in the city, Prague's public transport network is excellent and cheap: a 24-hour pass costs about 120 CZK (€5) and covers metro, tram, and bus. The tram network is particularly useful for reaching neighborhoods not on the metro lines. Prague's Old Town is very walkable — many visitors barely need transport for their first two days.
Where to Stay in Prague
Staré Město (Old Town) puts you within walking distance of everything historic, but it's the priciest area and can feel touristy. Expect to pay €100–€200/night for a mid-range hotel. Vinohrady is the neighborhood locals actually recommend: leafy, residential, full of good restaurants and bars, with easy metro access. Mid-range hotels and apartments run €60–€120/night. Žižkov sits next to Vinohrady and is a bit grittier and cheaper — hostels and budget guesthouses from €15–€40/night. Malá Strana (Lesser Town), just below the castle, is romantic and quieter in the evenings, with boutique hotels in the €120–€200 range. For genuine luxury — river views, historic palaces converted to five-star hotels — look at the Mandarin Oriental Prague or the Four Seasons, which sit on or near the Vltava River.
Top Things to Do in Prague
- Walk Charles Bridge at dawn: The only time it's not wall-to-wall tourists. Go at 6am, watch the city wake up, and actually appreciate the 30 Baroque statues lining the bridge.
- Prague Castle complex: The largest ancient castle complex in the world — set aside at least half a day. St. Vitus Cathedral alone is worth the trip up the hill.
- Old Town Square and Astronomical Clock: Yes, it's touristy, but the clock's hourly show and the surrounding medieval architecture are legitimately impressive. Go in the evening when the light is better and crowds thinner.
- Explore Vinohrady and Žižkov: Skip the tourist trail for an afternoon and wander these neighborhoods — Art Nouveau apartment buildings, local wine bars, and the slightly surreal Žižkov Television Tower with its crawling baby sculptures.
- Day trip to Kutná Hora: About 70 minutes by train from Prague's main station. The Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church) and the Gothic Cathedral of St. Barbara are extraordinary and rarely on first-timers' radar.
- Czech food and beer, seriously: Svíčková (beef sirloin in cream sauce), svečená kachna (roast duck), and trdelník (if you must) — but the real priority is sitting in a traditional pivnice and drinking Pilsner Urquell or Kozel on tap for about €1.50 a pint.
Practical Travel Tips
Visa: EU citizens need only a valid ID card. UK citizens (post-Brexit) can visit visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period under the Schengen rules. US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders are also visa-free for tourism up to 90 days. Currency: The Czech Republic uses the Czech Koruna (CZK), not the Euro — don't let anyone charge you in euros at tourist traps near the Old Town. Withdraw CZK from ATMs (Raiffeisenbank and Česká spořitelna have fair rates) rather than using airport exchange booths. Tipping: Rounding up the bill is standard; 10% is generous and appreciated in sit-down restaurants. Don't tip by leaving cash on the table — hand it directly to the server. Safety: Prague is a safe city by European standards, but pickpocketing is common in Old Town and on tram 22 (a tourist favourite). Keep bags in front of you in crowded areas. Scam taxis and dodgy exchange bureaus targeting tourists near the main square are the bigger nuisances — use Bolt or pre-booked transfers.
FAQ — Flights to Prague
How much do flights to Prague cost?
From major European cities, return flights to Prague typically range from €60–€150 on budget carriers booked in advance, rising to €150–€300 on full-service airlines or during peak summer months. The cheapest Prague flight deals tend to appear in January, February, and November — the low season — when you can occasionally find return fares from London or Berlin under €60. Booking 6–10 weeks ahead and being flexible on departure days (Tuesday and Wednesday are usually cheapest) makes a meaningful difference.
Which airlines fly to Prague?
Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air dominate the budget end, with routes from London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Paris, Rome, Warsaw, and most major European airports. On the full-service side, Czech Airlines (ČSA) flies from several European hubs, Lufthansa connects via Frankfurt and Munich, Air France covers Paris CDG, KLM flies from Amsterdam, and Austrian Airlines connects from Vienna. For long-haul, Delta and United operate seasonal nonstop flights from New York, and Emirates connects via Dubai.
What is the cheapest month to fly to Prague?
January and February are consistently the cheapest months for flights to Prague, with fares dropping significantly compared to the summer peak. November is also worth checking. If you want cheap flights to Prague without sacrificing decent weather, late March or early October offer a reasonable compromise — prices are lower than summer but the city is still fully alive and temperatures are manageable.
How long is the flight to Prague from London?
Flights from London to Prague take approximately 2 hours, depending on which London airport you depart from and routing. From London Stansted (Ryanair and easyJet's main base for this route) it's a straight 2-hour flight. From Paris, the flight time is around 1 hour 45 minutes. From Berlin it's under 1 hour by air, though the train is often more practical for that particular journey. Flights from Madrid or Lisbon run about 3 hours.