🚆 Arriving by rail
Prague's railway stations
One main station that handles nearly all long-distance trains, three smaller ones that matter for specific journeys, and an Art Nouveau hall upstairs that most arriving passengers never see.
Tickets and timetables
Three operators run long-distance trains from Prague: České dráhy (ČD), the state railway, and the private RegioJet and Leo Express. Fares differ between them on the same route, so compare before buying. The national IDOS timetable shows every operator in one search. We link to the sources rather than copying a timetable here — a departure time copied onto a travel page is wrong within a season.
Praha hlavní nádraží — the main station
Praha hlavní nádraží, on the edge of the New Town, is where nearly every long-distance and international train arrives: from Vienna, Berlin, Bratislava and Budapest, and on to Brno and Ostrava. It is on metro line C, two stops from Muzeum at the top of Wenceslas Square.
The modern concourse underneath is ordinary. Go upstairs. Above it sits the Fanta Building, Josef Fanta's Art Nouveau station of the early 1900s, with a domed hall, stained glass and sculpted figures — one of the finest station buildings in central Europe, and ignored by almost everyone rushing to the platforms.
The park in front of the station has an uneasy reputation after dark. Walk straight through to the tram or taxi, or use the metro inside the station.
Masarykovo nádraží — the oldest
Masarykovo nádraží, near Náměstí Republiky, opened in 1845 and is the oldest station in Prague. Today it is a regional station, handling suburban trains, and a pleasant old building a short walk from the Old Town. It is near metro B at Náměstí Republiky.
Praha-Holešovice
Praha-Holešovice, in Holešovice, is a stop for some international trains passing through Prague to and from the north. It is on metro C at Nádraží Holešovice — check your ticket, because a few trains stop here and not at the main station, or the other way round.
Praha-Smíchov
Praha-Smíchov, on the left bank in Smíchov, serves lines to the south-west, including trains towards Karlštejn and Plzeň. It connects with metro B at Smíchovské nádraží.
Practical
- Compare operators. ČD, RegioJet and Leo Express price the same routes differently, and advance fares are much cheaper than walk-up ones.
- Seat reservations are worth making on busy routes at weekends and holidays.
- Left luggage is available at the main station, both lockers and a staffed office.
- All the stations connect to the metro, so a transfer to your accommodation is straightforward — see getting around for how tickets work.
- Late at night, treat the main station like any large city station: keep track of your bag, use a ride app or the taxi rank, and do not accept a lift from someone who approaches you.
Day trips by rail
Several of the best day trips from Prague are an easy train ride: Karlštejn in under an hour, Kutná Hora in about an hour from the main station, and Plzeň for its brewery in around an hour and a half.
Staying near the main station
Live prices and availability on a map centred on this exact spot — hotels, apartments and hostels, so you can judge the walk from here rather than guess from an address.
Bookings made through this map earn us a commission. Your price is unaffected.