Prague: the first weeks — where to go and what to do

PID transport: tickets, zones, validation

Prague has one integrated PID system: metro, trams, buses, suburban trains and ferries on a single ticket. The metro runs roughly from 5 am to midnight, and at night night trams and buses run (their numbers start with 9). One ticket is valid on all modes within Prague (zones P, 0 and B).

Single-ticket prices under the PID tariff as of 3 November 2026 (full fare, adults aged 15–60): 30 minutes — 36 CZK in the app or 39 CZK on paper; 90 minutes — 46 / 50 CZK; 24 hours — 140 / 150 CZK; 72 hours — 340 / 350 CZK. The 30- and 90-minute tickets are not valid on the Petřín funicular. The current price list is on the "Jízdné a tarif" page at pid.cz.

How to buy: in the PID Lítačka app (cheapest), at machines at stops and in the metro, at PID sales points. A paper ticket must be validated in the yellow machine before boarding (in the metro before the escalator); an electronic one is activated in the app. Ticket inspectors check passengers without a valid ticket; fines are significant, so do not take the risk.

Tip: PID also accepts a contactless bank card (Visa or Mastercard) as an identifier for some fares; check the rules at pid.cz so as not to make a mistake.

Passes, discounts and the Lítačka card

If you travel daily, a pass is better value. As of 3 November 2026, named (non-transferable) PID passes in Prague are: monthly — 550 CZK, quarterly — 1,480 CZK, annual — 3,650 CZK at the full fare. Reduced passes for juniors aged 15–18, full-time students aged 18–26 and seniors aged 60–65: monthly — 130 CZK, quarterly — 360 CZK, annual — 1,280 CZK. There are also transferable 30-day (1,000 CZK), quarterly (2,700 CZK) and annual (7,800 CZK) tickets.

Free travel in Prague: children under 6 across the whole PID system, children aged 6–10 in Prague without proof, children aged 10–15 with proof of age, people aged 65 and over with proof of age, holders of the Czech ZTP or ZTP/P card (including a guide). A reduced fare applies to ages 60–65.

The Lítačka card is issued by the City of Prague: it can be ordered online or at contact points; it is usually ready within two weeks, and some points issue it the same day; issuing carries a fee. The card alone does not give free travel: you must also buy the relevant coupon/discount at a contact point.

Whether a discount applies to Ukrainians with temporary protection is not stated on PID's official discounts page — do not rely on chat rumours and check directly at pid.cz or a contact point. Tip: students and children should get a Lítačka straight away and carry proof of age or study.

Finding your way: maps, addresses, night transport

For planning journeys use the PID Lítačka app (timetables, tickets, delays) and maps on your phone. Enter the destination — the app suggests a route with transfers. Watch the stop name: neighbouring stops can have similar names, and "Praha hlavní nádraží" is the main railway station.

Czech addresses read like this: "Žitná 1574/51, 110 00 Praha 1". "Žitná" is the street, "1574" the registration number (číslo popisné), "51" the street number (číslo orientační), "110 00" the postcode, "Praha 1" the district. For navigation you need the street number (after the slash).

Prague is divided into 22 numbered administrative districts (Praha 1, Praha 2…). Your district determines the local district office (úřad městské části), school, library and other services — remember it.

Night transport. Night trams (lines 91–99) and buses (numbers in the 900s) run after the metro closes, usually from hubs in the centre. Buy your ticket in advance and always check you are heading the right way.

Tip: download a free offline map of the centre so you do not lose your bearings without internet. Do not be afraid to ask passers-by: "Promiňte, kudy na…?" — and show the address on your phone.

Integration Centre Prague (ICP) and the Contact Point

Integrační centrum Praha (ICP) is a non-profit organisation that helps foreigners in Prague "feel at home". The organisation's address is Žitná 1574/51, 110 00 Praha 1. The website is available in Ukrainian, among other languages.

What the centre offers: - legal, social and career consultations; - Czech courses (over 800 courses delivered; whether free, check on the course page); - interpreting and accompaniment to offices and institutions; - educational seminars; - mandatory adaptation-integration courses; - volunteering and internships; - the Contact Point for Foreigners at the Prague City Hall (MHMP) in the Škoda Palace.

Who can use it. Clients are non-EU citizens with a residence permit longer than 90 days, and people with international or temporary protection. The MHMP Contact Point also serves EU citizens.

Contacts (phone, e-mail, hours) are in the "Contacts" section of icpraha.com — they are not shown on the home page. ICP also runs Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and LinkedIn.

Tip: make your first question: "Which free services are currently available to people with temporary protection?" Check opening hours beforehand and whether a booking is needed.

Libraries, culture and cheap places

Prague is a city with a rich culture, and much is available cheaply or free.

Libraries. The Municipal Library of Prague has branches in almost every district. To join you usually need a passport and an address in Prague; membership is cheap. Libraries have reading rooms, free Wi-Fi, computers, children's sections and Czech books for beginners; they often run language clubs and children's events. Check membership terms and opening hours on your branch's site.

Walks and views. Parks, the Vltava embankment, Vyšehrad, Letná, Petřín, the Prokop Valley (a nature monument in Prague 5) — free and beautiful in any season. For weekend ideas see kudyznudy.cz (the state tourism portal, in Czech, with thousands of trip and event tips) and prague.eu (the official Prague tourist portal).

Seasonal events. In November and December Christmas markets open in Prague; kudyznudy.cz already announces "Vánoční trhy Praha 2026". Festivals and exhibitions are held too — check the listings.

Museums and galleries. Admission is usually paid; children, students and seniors get discounts and there are occasional free-entry days. Check specific terms on the institution's site before visiting.

Tip: combine leisure with language practice — take a Czech-language tour or audio guide. It is a pleasant way to learn the language and the city's history.

Ukrainian community and support in Prague

You are not alone: Prague has many organisations that help Ukrainians.

State and official points: - KACPU help centres — list and hours on ipc.gov.cz; they answer questions on temporary protection and visas. - Temporary protection information line: +420 974 801 802, ukrajina@mv.gov.cz (Mon–Thu 8:00–16:00, Fri 8:00–14:00). - Interior Ministry Client Centre: +420 974 801 801. - The Contact Point for Foreigners at the Prague City Hall (MHMP, Škoda Palace) — also via ICP.

NGOs and communities. The Integration Centre Prague (ICP) runs Telegram, Facebook and Instagram; courses, seminars and events are posted there. Help centres, volunteer groups and NGOs have their own chats and groups — ask KACPU or ICP for addresses so you do not end up in unverified "help chats".

Church and culture. Prague has Ukrainian church communities and cultural clubs; their contacts are usually shared through help centres and social media. Ukrainian holidays and exhibitions are often held in libraries and cultural centres — watch the listings.

Children's and parents' groups. Schools, kindergartens, libraries and help centres often organise play rooms and activities for children from Ukraine.

Tip: do not share personal data (passport number, SMS codes) in open chats. Look for help from verified organisations and never pay "for a place in the queue".

Emergency numbers

Save these on your phone and teach your children: - 112 — the single European emergency number: works without a SIM card, is free, and the operator will send the right service and find an interpreter. - 155 — ambulance (záchranná služba). - 158 — the Police of the Czech Republic. - 150 — fire brigade (hasiči). - 156 — Prague municipal police (městská policie): order on the streets, minor offences, help for residents.

How to speak to the operator. Say calmly: "Potřebuji pomoc. Jsem z Ukrajiny." Give the address (street and house number, city, floor), what happened, how many people are injured. Do not hang up until the operator allows it: they may give first-aid instructions.

Whom to call when: danger to life or health — 155 or 112; crime, road accident, missing person, violence — 158; fire, gas leak, a person trapped — 150. When unsure — 112: the operator will transfer you.

Reminder. Notice the address plates on streets and in buildings — they help you state the location quickly. Save your home address in Czech on your phone ("Žitná 1574/51, Praha 1"). In case of domestic violence or threat also call 158 or 112.

Tip: never joke with emergency numbers — a needless call can have legal consequences. And remember that you can call an ambulance without any Czech.

A plan for your first weeks in Prague

Here is a realistic order of steps for Prague specifically. Details of each item are in the guides "I have just arrived", "Housing and moving", "Health insurance", "Work" and "Czech language".

Week 1. A place to sleep, a Czech SIM, the PID Lítačka app and a ticket for a few days (for example the 72-hour one for 340 CZK in the app). Save the emergency numbers. Find the nearest KACPU centre and check its hours.

Week 2. If you have a status — report your address on time (3 working days after the move). Apply to an insurer, find a GP and a children's doctor. Contact ICP and ask about Czech courses and free consultations.

Weeks 3–4. Register with the Labour Office if you are looking for work. Get a pass or a Lítačka (monthly — 550 CZK at the full fare; reduced for students and seniors aged 60–65 — 130 CZK). Join a library. Find a school or kindergarten for the children (there are 90 days from the visa grant to start school).

First month. Open a bank account, draw up a budget, set reminders for known deadlines (31 March 2027 — end of the protection period; the registration date for the extension has not yet been announced; 1 October–31 December 2026 — ZDP for those who expressed interest). Find a community: ICP, KACPU, the library.

Tip: do not try to do everything in a day. Do one item a day and tick it off.

PID transport: tickets, zones, validation

Prague has one integrated PID system: metro, trams, buses, suburban trains and ferries on a single ticket. The metro runs roughly from 5 am to midnight, and at night night trams and buses run (their numbers start with 9). One ticket is valid on all modes within Prague (zones P, 0 and B).

Single-ticket prices under the PID tariff as of 3 November 2026 (full fare, adults aged 15–60): 30 minutes — 36 CZK in the app or 39 CZK on paper; 90 minutes — 46 / 50 CZK; 24 hours — 140 / 150 CZK; 72 hours — 340 / 350 CZK. The 30- and 90-minute tickets are not valid on the Petřín funicular. The current price list is on the "Jízdné a tarif" page at pid.cz.

How to buy: in the PID Lítačka app (cheapest), at machines at stops and in the metro, at PID sales points. A paper ticket must be validated in the yellow machine before boarding (in the metro before the escalator); an electronic one is activated in the app. Ticket inspectors check passengers without a valid ticket; fines are significant, so do not take the risk.

Tip: PID also accepts a contactless bank card (Visa or Mastercard) as an identifier for some fares; check the rules at pid.cz so as not to make a mistake.

Passes, discounts and the Lítačka card

If you travel daily, a pass is better value. As of 3 November 2026, named (non-transferable) PID passes in Prague are: monthly — 550 CZK, quarterly — 1,480 CZK, annual — 3,650 CZK at the full fare. Reduced passes for juniors aged 15–18, full-time students aged 18–26 and seniors aged 60–65: monthly — 130 CZK, quarterly — 360 CZK, annual — 1,280 CZK. There are also transferable 30-day (1,000 CZK), quarterly (2,700 CZK) and annual (7,800 CZK) tickets.

Free travel in Prague: children under 6 across the whole PID system, children aged 6–10 in Prague without proof, children aged 10–15 with proof of age, people aged 65 and over with proof of age, holders of the Czech ZTP or ZTP/P card (including a guide). A reduced fare applies to ages 60–65.

The Lítačka card is issued by the City of Prague: it can be ordered online or at contact points; it is usually ready within two weeks, and some points issue it the same day; issuing carries a fee. The card alone does not give free travel: you must also buy the relevant coupon/discount at a contact point.

Whether a discount applies to Ukrainians with temporary protection is not stated on PID's official discounts page — do not rely on chat rumours and check directly at pid.cz or a contact point. Tip: students and children should get a Lítačka straight away and carry proof of age or study.

Finding your way: maps, addresses, night transport

For planning journeys use the PID Lítačka app (timetables, tickets, delays) and maps on your phone. Enter the destination — the app suggests a route with transfers. Watch the stop name: neighbouring stops can have similar names, and "Praha hlavní nádraží" is the main railway station.

Czech addresses read like this: "Žitná 1574/51, 110 00 Praha 1". "Žitná" is the street, "1574" the registration number (číslo popisné), "51" the street number (číslo orientační), "110 00" the postcode, "Praha 1" the district. For navigation you need the street number (after the slash).

Prague is divided into 22 numbered administrative districts (Praha 1, Praha 2…). Your district determines the local district office (úřad městské části), school, library and other services — remember it.

Night transport. Night trams (lines 91–99) and buses (numbers in the 900s) run after the metro closes, usually from hubs in the centre. Buy your ticket in advance and always check you are heading the right way.

Tip: download a free offline map of the centre so you do not lose your bearings without internet. Do not be afraid to ask passers-by: "Promiňte, kudy na…?" — and show the address on your phone.

Integration Centre Prague (ICP) and the Contact Point

Integrační centrum Praha (ICP) is a non-profit organisation that helps foreigners in Prague "feel at home". The organisation's address is Žitná 1574/51, 110 00 Praha 1. The website is available in Ukrainian, among other languages.

What the centre offers: - legal, social and career consultations; - Czech courses (over 800 courses delivered; whether free, check on the course page); - interpreting and accompaniment to offices and institutions; - educational seminars; - mandatory adaptation-integration courses; - volunteering and internships; - the Contact Point for Foreigners at the Prague City Hall (MHMP) in the Škoda Palace.

Who can use it. Clients are non-EU citizens with a residence permit longer than 90 days, and people with international or temporary protection. The MHMP Contact Point also serves EU citizens.

Contacts (phone, e-mail, hours) are in the "Contacts" section of icpraha.com — they are not shown on the home page. ICP also runs Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and LinkedIn.

Tip: make your first question: "Which free services are currently available to people with temporary protection?" Check opening hours beforehand and whether a booking is needed.

Libraries, culture and cheap places

Prague is a city with a rich culture, and much is available cheaply or free.

Libraries. The Municipal Library of Prague has branches in almost every district. To join you usually need a passport and an address in Prague; membership is cheap. Libraries have reading rooms, free Wi-Fi, computers, children's sections and Czech books for beginners; they often run language clubs and children's events. Check membership terms and opening hours on your branch's site.

Walks and views. Parks, the Vltava embankment, Vyšehrad, Letná, Petřín, the Prokop Valley (a nature monument in Prague 5) — free and beautiful in any season. For weekend ideas see kudyznudy.cz (the state tourism portal, in Czech, with thousands of trip and event tips) and prague.eu (the official Prague tourist portal).

Seasonal events. In November and December Christmas markets open in Prague; kudyznudy.cz already announces "Vánoční trhy Praha 2026". Festivals and exhibitions are held too — check the listings.

Museums and galleries. Admission is usually paid; children, students and seniors get discounts and there are occasional free-entry days. Check specific terms on the institution's site before visiting.

Tip: combine leisure with language practice — take a Czech-language tour or audio guide. It is a pleasant way to learn the language and the city's history.

Ukrainian community and support in Prague

You are not alone: Prague has many organisations that help Ukrainians.

State and official points: - KACPU help centres — list and hours on ipc.gov.cz; they answer questions on temporary protection and visas. - Temporary protection information line: +420 974 801 802, ukrajina@mv.gov.cz (Mon–Thu 8:00–16:00, Fri 8:00–14:00). - Interior Ministry Client Centre: +420 974 801 801. - The Contact Point for Foreigners at the Prague City Hall (MHMP, Škoda Palace) — also via ICP.

NGOs and communities. The Integration Centre Prague (ICP) runs Telegram, Facebook and Instagram; courses, seminars and events are posted there. Help centres, volunteer groups and NGOs have their own chats and groups — ask KACPU or ICP for addresses so you do not end up in unverified "help chats".

Church and culture. Prague has Ukrainian church communities and cultural clubs; their contacts are usually shared through help centres and social media. Ukrainian holidays and exhibitions are often held in libraries and cultural centres — watch the listings.

Children's and parents' groups. Schools, kindergartens, libraries and help centres often organise play rooms and activities for children from Ukraine.

Tip: do not share personal data (passport number, SMS codes) in open chats. Look for help from verified organisations and never pay "for a place in the queue".

Emergency numbers

Save these on your phone and teach your children: - 112 — the single European emergency number: works without a SIM card, is free, and the operator will send the right service and find an interpreter. - 155 — ambulance (záchranná služba). - 158 — the Police of the Czech Republic. - 150 — fire brigade (hasiči). - 156 — Prague municipal police (městská policie): order on the streets, minor offences, help for residents.

How to speak to the operator. Say calmly: "Potřebuji pomoc. Jsem z Ukrajiny." Give the address (street and house number, city, floor), what happened, how many people are injured. Do not hang up until the operator allows it: they may give first-aid instructions.

Whom to call when: danger to life or health — 155 or 112; crime, road accident, missing person, violence — 158; fire, gas leak, a person trapped — 150. When unsure — 112: the operator will transfer you.

Reminder. Notice the address plates on streets and in buildings — they help you state the location quickly. Save your home address in Czech on your phone ("Žitná 1574/51, Praha 1"). In case of domestic violence or threat also call 158 or 112.

Tip: never joke with emergency numbers — a needless call can have legal consequences. And remember that you can call an ambulance without any Czech.

A plan for your first weeks in Prague

Here is a realistic order of steps for Prague specifically. Details of each item are in the guides "I have just arrived", "Housing and moving", "Health insurance", "Work" and "Czech language".

Week 1. A place to sleep, a Czech SIM, the PID Lítačka app and a ticket for a few days (for example the 72-hour one for 340 CZK in the app). Save the emergency numbers. Find the nearest KACPU centre and check its hours.

Week 2. If you have a status — report your address on time (3 working days after the move). Apply to an insurer, find a GP and a children's doctor. Contact ICP and ask about Czech courses and free consultations.

Weeks 3–4. Register with the Labour Office if you are looking for work. Get a pass or a Lítačka (monthly — 550 CZK at the full fare; reduced for students and seniors aged 60–65 — 130 CZK). Join a library. Find a school or kindergarten for the children (there are 90 days from the visa grant to start school).

First month. Open a bank account, draw up a budget, set reminders for known deadlines (31 March 2027 — end of the protection period; the registration date for the extension has not yet been announced; 1 October–31 December 2026 — ZDP for those who expressed interest). Find a community: ICP, KACPU, the library.

Tip: do not try to do everything in a day. Do one item a day and tick it off.