Prague apps to install before you land

Nobody enjoys standing at an airport ticket machine with a suitcase and a flat battery. A few apps, set up on your home Wi-Fi, take most of the friction out of arriving in Prague. This is the short list, in the order you will need them.

Official transport

PID Lítačka is the app of Prague Integrated Transport. Use it to plan journeys, see timetables and buy electronic tickets and passes. An electronic ticket does not need stamping. Set up your payment method before you land and check the app works on your phone. Features and prices change, so look at the PID site for the latest (as of 2026; check the official source).

The DPP website (the Prague Public Transit Company) covers the metro, trams and the Airport Express, and is the place to check for service changes and notices.

Journey planners

• Google Maps is already on your phone and shows public transport routes, departures and walking times. Download an offline map of the city before you travel.
• Mapy.com, from the Czech company Seznam, has detailed maps, walking and cycling routes and public transport directions. Its offline maps are the point: handy if you have no data.
• IDOS is the national timetable planner for trains, buses and city transport across Czechia. Use it for trips out of Prague.

If a route looks odd, check it in a second planner. They sometimes disagree on small changes.

Rides

Uber and Bolt work in Prague, and so does the local taxi app Liftago. They show the price before you order, plus the driver's name and plate on screen. Add your card, check the pick-up point in advance and do not hail unmarked cars.

Trains and coaches

For travel outside Prague, the main train operator is České dráhy (Czech Railways), and RegioJet also runs trains and coaches on major routes. Both sell tickets online and through apps. Compare times and prices on the planner, and book ahead for popular weekend routes.

Other useful apps

• A translation app for menus and signs, with the offline language pack downloaded
• Your bank's app, notifications on, in case a card payment needs approval
• A weather app, for rain and snow
• A currency converter, if koruna prices are new to you

Setting up

What locals know

Praguers open the transport app before they leave the door and use it to decide between tram and metro. They check delays on the app and take the next departure. Many keep Mapy.com for walking and cycling, because it is rich in detail and works offline, and use Google Maps for the quick check. Neither is better. The skill is knowing to check the second one when something looks odd.

The same people also carry a power bank. A dying phone is the one thing that undoes every app on this list.

Small tips

• Match the app to the real world: the stop sign shows the stop name and the lines that call there.
• Carry a power bank.
• If an app lets you down, the yellow stamping machines and paper tickets still work.

Privacy and data

Check the permissions each app asks for. A journey planner needs your location to be useful, but it does not need your contacts. A ride-hailing app needs a payment method, so choose a card you are comfortable storing. Switch off location sharing for apps you are not using, and keep your phone's operating system updated.

If you are on a limited data plan, download maps and timetables over Wi-Fi and use offline modes. Keep an eye on background data in your settings. And if you share a phone or tablet with family, log out of accounts you do not want others to see. These are small steps, and they take a minute to set up.

If an app fails

Technology fails at awkward moments. Keep a paper map or a screenshot of your route, and know the name of your stop and the line number. Stop poles show both, and the yellow machines still stamp paper tickets. If your phone dies, ask a staff member or a local for help. Most people will point you the right way.

Choosing what not to install

You do not need ten apps. One transport app, one map and one ride app cover nearly everything. More apps mean more accounts, more notifications and more storage. Start with the short list, use it for a week and add something only when you hit a real gap. A phone with a few good tools beats a crowded home screen. Delete anything you have not opened in a month, and keep the storage free for photos and offline maps.

Frequently asked questions

What is the official Prague transport app?

PID Lítačka, from Prague Integrated Transport. It plans journeys and sells electronic tickets.

Do app tickets need stamping?

No. Electronic tickets bought in the app are active without stamping.

Which app works offline?

Mapy.com is known for offline maps, and Google Maps can download areas too.

Which app is best for trains out of Prague?

IDOS is the national timetable planner. České dráhy and RegioJet sell tickets for their own services.

Today: install PID Lítačka and Mapy.com, and download the offline map of Prague while you are still on Wi-Fi.