Here is a breakdown of how this ecosystem works, what the airport is doing about it, and how you can protect yourself.

Never go with “touters”: Fake informants in vests lure you to overpriced unofficial cars.

How the “Fake Taxi” Scam Works

The most effective scams don’t look like crimes; they look like customer service. The trap usually unfolds in a few predictable steps:

• The Approach: A friendly individual wearing a fake “INFO” badge or an official-looking vest approaches you in the arrivals hall. They borrow the airport’s credibility to make you trust them.

• The Misdirection: They confidently guide you a short walk away from the official taxi stands, moving you out of the view of airport staff and CCTV cameras.

• The Payment Trap: At the end of the ride, the driver demands an astronomical fare—often up to three times the legal limit. They will aggressively pressure you to pay in cash, claiming their card machine is broken, and may hand you a fictitious “receipt” to make the transaction feel legitimate.

What Prague Airport is Doing

Because this issue heavily impacts the city’s reputation, authorities have been forced to step up their countermeasures. Crucially, Prague Airport also visually warns passengers throughout the arrivals area. They have installed prominent new navigation and signage warning travelers not to accept unsolicited ride offers from people lingering outside the terminals.

Beyond visual warnings, the airport has deployed 24/7 security at Terminal 2 to monitor behavior, blocked the access cards of dozens of dishonest drivers, and increased cooperation with the municipal police. However, because touts exploit legal loopholes in public spaces, enforcement remains an ongoing game of cat-and-mouse.

Official Transport and Pricing in 2026

To avoid being overcharged, it is essential to know the official baselines.

• The Official Provider: Uber Airport holds the exclusive concession for the airport’s contracted taxi service in the primary terminal lane until September 2028. You can order a ride via their app or at the kiosks inside the terminal.

• The Legal Limits: Prague’s maximum regulated fare for a standard taxi is a 60 CZK base fare, plus 36 CZK per kilometer, and 7 CZK per minute of waiting.

• The Benchmark: A typical 20-kilometer ride to the city center should cost approximately 800 CZK. If a driver quotes you 1,800 CZK or more, you are being scammed.

How to Protect Yourself Right Now

You do not have to fall victim to this trap. Keep these rules in mind when you land:

• Ignore the touts: Do not engage with anyone offering you a taxi as you walk through the terminal. Walk purposefully past them.

• Follow official signage: Look for the visual warnings and signs pointing to the official Uber Airport lane or public transit.

• Demand a taximeter receipt: If you take a traditional taxi, insist on a printed receipt from the meter.

• Call the police: If a driver refuses to provide a valid receipt, demands cash only, or attempts to charge you vastly more than the meter or regulated limit, do not pay. Call the Municipal Police immediately at 156.

• Use public transit: The airport is well-connected by buses that link directly to the metro. It is entirely scam-proof and highly affordable.

Tip for travelers: How not to get fooled

Don’t trust fake informants: Official Prague Airport staff do not wear yellow vests.