Václav Havel Prague Airport
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Václav Havel Prague Airport is a modern and spacious international airport located on the northwest edge of Prague. It is about 17 kilometres north of the city. This airport forms the central artery into the city and region. It provides access to Prague’s renowned culture, business, sports, and everyday life.
This airport was formerly known as the Prague-Ruzyně. It was officially renamed the Václav Havel Airport Prague in October 2012. It draws its name from the country’s first post-Velvet Revolution president, Václav Havel, who served as president of Czechoslovakia and then of the Czech Republic.
All international flights arrive at this airport, including many of Europe’s best-known air carriers. This reflects and adds to the city’s importance as a cultural, scientific, and business centre.
Prague Airport arrivals and departures, along with much additional information, are displayed on the airport website: www.prg.aero. The site is available in multiple languages, including English.
There is no other civil airport in Prague; however, Prague has three smaller airports and several landing areas for helicopters. These are located at airports and in hospital compounds. Václav Havel Airport Prague serves as a hub for Czech Airlines as well as a base for Travel Service Airlines, including its subsidiary, Smart Wings.
The journey from the airport to the city centre takes around 25-30 minutes by taxi, or up to one hour by public transport. The airport is equipped with modern facilities throughout, offering passenger comfort similar to that in other EU airports.
The building also includes conference rooms and other spaces. Some examples are rooms for VIP and business clients. There are also spaces for those traveling with children and other needs. Overall, Prague Airport is a comfortable, clean and logical place to use. Visitors discover it is easy to find their way around.
Tips for Travellers
There is no train or metro connection to or from the airport. Public transport bus service links are available to underground stations on two different lines. The approximate time from the airport to the nearest metro (Nádraží Veleslavín, line A) is around 25 minutes.
Getting from the airport is possible by public bus, shuttle or taxi service. The distance from the city centre to the airport is 20 kilometers (around 30 minutes).
According to the passenger complaints and online reviews, there is a new trick by taxi drivers to rip off customers. Instead of using the direct and shortest route from the airport, they are taking the highway bypass to inflate their fares. Such trips to the city center could cost about twice as much as the direct route via Evorpska highway. To avoid such surprises, pre-book your taxi online or tell the driver your preferred route.
There are three terminals. UK flights arrive and depart from Terminal 1 (with passport control) and flights from Schengen-zone countries from Terminal 2 (without passport control).
Use the ATMs in the arrivals hall to draw out Czech crowns rather than changing money at the airport, as bureau de change outlets tend to be overpriced.
At the airport there is a wide choice of restaurants, cafes and shops, though most are rather high-priced. Some cheap fast food chains (Subway, KFC, Burger King) and a Billa supermarket can be found in the public areas at arrivals.
All areas of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are covered by free Wi-Fi hotspots.
The airport also offers special services. In the transit area of Terminal 1, you can also visit the Oratory, which is designed to ensure that passengers can meditate and relax. On hot days, you might appreciate showers located at both terminals.
Use this general information and helpful tips to make your experience at Václav Havel Airport Prague rewarding, enjoyable, and convenient. Each year, thousands of travellers make it a point to visit here for both business and pleasure.
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