Driving to Prague

A Guide to Prague for Motorists

Map

Directions

How Far

Country: Czech Republic Capital: Prague Language: Czech Currency: Koruna

The low cost of holidays and sheer quantity of beer halls and cafes in Prague are fast making the city one of Europe’s top tourist destinations. However there’s more to the Czech capital than beer and stag do’s. The city that inspired Mozart and Beethoven is littered with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, with its many bridges, churches, and the castle.
Winters can be very cold, so the best time to visit is in spring or autumn. The city has many pedestrian-only areas, therefore it is best explored on foot, and there is a fully functional underground system too. The Charles Bridge, which dates back to the 14th century, is located near the Old Town and is completely devoid of cars. It is also Prague’s most photographed spot - expect to see tourists and buskers aplenty.

The Old Town Square is lined with magnificent buildings and is also home to the Astronomical Clock. Once the main marketplace, it now hosts a Christmas Market and is a popular place to sit outside in the summer. The castle itself (Prazski Hrad) is visible from anywhere in the city. The large complex contains the Czech Republic’s largest cathedral in St Vitus Cathedral, and the Belvedere, a Renaissance building.

The Jewish Quarter is of interest due to the Jewish Museum, the Synagogue and the Old Jewish Cemetery. For a bit of Art Nouveau architecture, visit the Municipal House, where the Prague Symphony Orchestra has its home.
Wenceslas Square is a long boulevard lined with Western shops. There are numerous bars and cafes to cater to the influx of tourists, and this is slowly pushing up the cost of living. Despite this it is still a tourist-friendly city with plenty of charm, and there’s no denying the fairytale quality of the castle, particularly on a snowy winter’s night.

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Driving and Parking in Prague

Parking in central Prague can be very problematic. It gets very busy at peak times and progress is slow. There are car parks in the centre but they are few and far between and expensive. Parking on the street is difficult and you run the risk of being fined/towed.

Your best bet when driving in to Prague is to use one of the Park and Ride services. There are car parks at these stations: Skalka, Zlicin, Nove Butovice, Radlicka, Opatov, Rajska zahrada, Cerny Most and Nadrazi Holesovice. You just park up and jump on the subway system for quick easy access to the city. You'll also get discounted travel rates for using the park and ride.

Speed limits around Prague

Speed Limits: Motorway: 130 km/h Rural: 90 km/h Urban: 50 km/h

Distances from Prague to...

All of these places are within a few hours drive from Prague

Place		Distance km (miles) (Point to Point)
Town	Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic	108 km (67 miles)
Town	Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic	140 km (87 miles)
Town	Vienna, Austria	252 km (156 miles)
Town	Salzburg, Austria	270 km (168 miles)
Town	Berlin, Germany	281 km (175 miles)
Town	Bratislava, Slovakia	292 km (181 miles)
Town	Munich, Germany	295 km (183 miles)
Town	Innsbruck, Austria	381 km (237 miles)
Attraction	Schloss Neuschwanstein, Germany	385 km (239 miles)
Town	Krakow, Poland	395 km (245 miles)
Town	Stuttgart, Germany	402 km (250 miles)
Town	Frankfurt, Germany	406 km (252 miles)
Town	Heidelberg, Germany	415 km (258 miles)
Town	Budapest, Hungary	444 km (276 miles)
Town	Koblenz, Germany	483 km (300 miles)
Attraction	The Stelvio Pass, Italy	488 km (303 miles)
Town	Zagreb, Croatia	488 km (303 miles)
Town	Hamburg, Germany	491 km (305 miles)

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