Eight Practical Tips When Flying Out of Prague Airport
We’ve written a super practical guide for those of you flying out of Prague Airport for the first time — how to get there from Prague city centre, where and how much to park, or which terminal to go to? We’ve also got something for those of you flying multiple times a year. For example, do you know where to go to do your shopping before you leave?
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Arriving at the airport — transport (public transport), airport parking
Terminals — choosing the right terminal, airport map
Baggage check-in — what to look for when checking in
Security check — security check procedure
Move to the boarding gates — how to find your exit
Where to go after arrival — a simple rule on where to go after landing
How to get from terminal 1 to terminal 2
Important documents — tickets, insurance, online hotel reservations
1. Arrival at the airport
Every airline recommends using a long time interval for a smooth check-in process. But if you arrive at Prague airport 2 hours early, you will definitely not go wrong. It is better to wait a little than to let the plane take off.
And how to get to the airport? You can order a transfer to the airport, from your hotel room, fill out an application on the CZtransfer website, and also use public transport. It is fast and reliable. Are there buses going to the airport from the center of Prague?
Transport to the airport — public transport
Bus no. 119 — from metro station Nádraží Veleslavín
Bus no. 100 — from metro station Zličín
Night bus no. 910 — night alternative to taxi; twice an hour
Bus no. AE — express directly from the Main Railway Station to the airport.
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You can also order a taxi from our company CZtransfer
Parking at Prague Airport
If you are driving to the airport yourself, there are two options: the official car parks next to the terminals, and private lots a few minutes away that run a shuttle.
Parking directly at the airport
The advantage is obvious — you walk to the terminal, with no shuttle and no waiting. What you pay depends on whether you book online or simply drive up, and it moves with the dates and how full the car parks are: the booking system quotes the real price for your dates.
As of 2026:
Short-term parking — CZK 80 per hour.
P1 Express, P2 Express and PB Economy — one free entry of up to 10 minutes per 24 hours; 11 to 30 minutes then costs CZK 150. These are the ones you use to drop someone off or collect them.
Long-term parking (PA Smart, PC Comfort, PD Holiday) — from CZK 790 for 8 days booked online. Driving up without a booking costs more: CZK 300 for the first 24 hours, then CZK 500 for each further 24 hours.
Current rates and booking are on the airport’s own parking site, aeroparking.cz.
Off-airport parking
Private companies run car parks a few minutes from the terminals, and the price normally includes the shuttle both ways. It is usually cheaper than parking at the airport itself. Two things worth asking before you book: how often the shuttle runs, and whether it runs at the hour of your flight — for a six o’clock departure that decides everything. Prices are on the operators’ own sites and change more often than the official ones.
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2. What terminal do you have?
A simple rule usually applies. If your first flight is to the EU or Schengen area, your terminal is Terminal 2. If you are flying outside the Schengen area, it will be Terminal 1.
Information about the terminal is always on your ticket or on the information screens at the airport. If you mistakenly mix up the terminal, nothing happens, there are about 5-10 minutes between the terminals.
3. Baggage check-in — check-in for flight
Once you enter the terminal, you will find a large departure board to check your flight. It may be delayed. The board will also tell you the counter number where you will be issued your boarding pass and where you will drop off your luggage. Have your ticket or reservation code, passport or ID ready (depending on where you are flying).
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They will give you a ticket at the counter and accept your luggage at the same time. The luggage must be flying to its destination. Always check this, because for example flights over the USA have an exception.
If you are flying with low-cost airlines such as Ryanair or Wizzair and you only have luggage on board, do the so-called online check-in, which is free. The one at the airport costs around tens of euros. So print your boarding pass at home, with which you can go through security. If you have luggage to check in, you should always go to the check-in counter.
When you check in your luggage, you will receive a barcode for your luggage, we recommend that you take a photo of it and stick it on your travel document. It will come in handy if you lose your luggage.
4. Security check
Always have your passport or ID card handy. Before going through security, you must identify yourself and show your boarding pass. Follow the security screening instructions to speed up the process.
There are two types of security screening at Vaclav Havel Airport. The first is near the gate, mostly when departing from Terminal 1, and the second is right after check-in. This type is in Terminal 2. If you are flying outside the EU, allow more time for screening — the queue is longer there, and arriving at the last minute is a bad idea.
New since autumn 2025: the EES checks
The Schengen Entry/Exit System is now running. Passengers from countries outside the EU have their fingerprints taken and their photograph recorded on the way out. The first time takes a few minutes; after that the check is quicker. On departure from Prague this adds time at passport control, so leave a margin on top of whatever you had planned.
5. How to get to the boarding gates
Once you are in the duty-free area, look for the departure screens. Your gate should be listed there. Often it is not known yet. In these cases, the letters A, B, C or D are written here. These are the sectors in the airport where the individual gates are located.
When your gate number appears, head to it. Even at Prague Airport, the journey may take several minutes. There is no need to go at the last minute. If you are already standing at the gate, wait until the airport staff asks you to board the plane. Again, keep your boarding pass and documents with you.
6. Where to go after arrival
If you don’t travel often, the best advice on where to go when you exit the plane is to watch the crowd leaving the plane. Mostly, people know where to go. If you are traveling with only hand luggage, you can exit the airport after a quick check of your documents. Otherwise, watch the screens, they tell you how long and where your luggage should go.
7. How to go from terminal 1 to terminal 2
All the previous tips are especially applicable to Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague. Most of them can be used at other airports as well. You can easily walk from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 in 5 minutes, they are connected. The transition is well marked with signs.
8. And the main advice — keep everything online
Surely you have a smartphone. Before departure, as part of your preparation, spend half an hour downloading important documents to your mobile phone. Tickets, reservations, copies of passports or insurance will not take up space in your memory, and if you lose the original, they will come in handy. Prague Airport has a free Wi-Fi network — Prague Airport WIFI Free — , so you can, for example, use your email or Dropbox to download. But it is best to leave everything offline on your mobile phone.
For all questions, please contact our company CZtransfer by phone +420 773 477 799 viber, whatsapp, telegram or fill out the form, we will answer you and advise you on the best and most comfortable way to relax in Prague.
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