Munich airport to Prague: S-Bahn, train and coach options

Munich Airport is big, well run and a long way from anything. It lies north-east of the city in open Bavarian countryside, so getting to the centre is a trip of its own. Add the road or rail to Prague and you have a proper day ahead.

Plenty of people choose it anyway: it is a major hub with many connections, and a flight into Munich plus a train to Prague gives you Bavaria on the way.

Step one: get to the city

The airport has a railway station below the terminals, and the S-Bahn lines that serve it run to central Munich, including München Hauptbahnhof, in about forty minutes (check bahn.de and the airport's site for current lines and times). Airport buses also run to the city, which may suit if you are heading for a particular district. Look at the timetable before you leave the terminal so you know what you are aiming for.

The S-Bahn is the cheapest and most reliable way in. Buy a ticket from a machine or an app, validate it if the system requires, and watch the display for the direction.

Step two: Munich to Prague

From the Hauptbahnhof, trains run to Prague through eastern Bavaria and into Czechia via Plzeň. Direct services have operated on the line, with a few departures a day, in roughly five to six hours (see our Munich by train or bus guide, which works in reverse). Where no direct train fits, you change once at a regional hub and the trip takes a little longer.

Timetables on this line have changed in recent years, so check cd.cz and bahn.de rather than trusting a friend's memory of a direct train. The train ends at Praha hlavní nádraží, a short walk or metro ride from the centre.

By coach from the airport

Some coach services connect Munich Airport with Prague, which saves the change into the city. Look on the booking pages for the airport as a boarding stop and for the Prague arrival point (often Florenc coach station, on metro lines B and C). Allow around five to six hours or more depending on traffic. Our Prague to Munich by bus guide covers how the services work.

The coach has a simple advantage: you board once and arrive in Prague. It also has a simple risk. If your flight is late, it leaves without you, so choose a departure with a wide margin after landing.

Private transfer

A private car from Munich Airport to Prague is the most direct way and the dearest. It suits groups, families with bags and late arrivals. Book ahead with a company that quotes a fixed price including tolls and waiting time, and get it in writing. Don't agree a taxi fare at the rank without knowing the price. For the Czech end, see taxis in Prague.

If you land late

Late arrivals are the hard case. The last convenient train or coach may have gone by the time you have your bags. Check last departures for your date before you book the flight, and if you land after them, book a night in Munich or near the airport and travel in the morning. It is calmer, and usually cheaper than a last-minute car.

Changing at the Hauptbahnhof

München Hauptbahnhof is a terminus, so trains end at the far side of long platforms, and the walk from the S-Bahn to the Prague train can take several minutes with a heavy bag. Allow at least half an hour for the change, more if you need a ticket. The station has left-luggage options (check its information for current ones) if you want to see the centre between trains, and the old town is a short walk, which turns a two-hour gap into something pleasant, provided you watch the clock.

Break it in Regensburg or Nuremberg

The rail line crosses eastern Bavaria, so you can turn the transfer into a short trip. A night in Regensburg or Nuremberg on the way costs only a hotel and adds a medieval city. Our guide to Nuremberg and Regensburg shows how the stops fit together, and Nuremberg from Prague covers the bigger city.

Border and arrival

Germany and Czechia are both in the Schengen Area, so there are normally no passport checks, but carry a passport or ID card. Germany uses the euro and Czechia the koruna, so plan to use a card on arrival; our guide to paying in Prague has the details.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Munich Airport to Prague?

Usually by S-Bahn to Munich central station, then a train or coach to Prague. Some coaches serve the airport directly.

How long does it take?

About 40 minutes to central Munich, then roughly five to six hours to Prague.

Is there a direct train from Munich Airport to Prague?

No. You change in Munich, or take a coach that serves the airport.

Can I stop on the way?

Yes. Regensburg and Nuremberg are on or near the route.

Work out the last departure first, and pick your flight around it.