Car Hire Prague Airport

Car Hire

Situated just six miles from the centre of the Czech capital, Prague Airport is the country’s busiest travel hub, handling nearly 12 million passengers annually. Dozens of global carriers run routes throughout Europe and as far away as Asia and America. Transport is provided by official taxis, shuttles, public buses and a shuttle to train service. There are also seven car hire firms on hand for travellers who prefer the convenience of driving the easy route into Prague.

Who to Book With
Of the nine car hire firms operating at Prague Airport, five of them are major global names like Hertz and Europcar. The other two are local Czech companies CS Czechocar and Dvorak. All rental offices are located in the Parking C area, which is easily reached on foot from the terminals.

Need to Know Essentials
These documents must be shown to the car hire office when collecting your vehicle:

- Both parts of your EU driving licence or International Driving Permit
- The same credit card used in the booking
- Another picture ID
- A print out of the car hire confirmation if possible

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
Due to the protected historic nature of downtown Prague it is neither easy nor cheap to find parking. The best plan is to park on the outskirts of the city centre in a parking lot connected to a metro station and use the train to get downtown. Driving in the city centre is also tricky due to one-way streets, poor signage and narrow medieval lanes. Czech law requires all vehicles to contain a fluorescent green safety vest, warning triangle, first aid kit and complete sets of spare bulbs and fuses. Headlights must be kept on at all times when driving. The expressways around Prague require a toll sticker that is often provided by the rental company, or can be purchased at petrol stations. Petrol stations are rare inside the city centre so be sure and fuel up on the outskirts.

See our guide to the Czech Republic for more information on driving here.

Transport

Most travellers use a taxi or shared shuttle to get from the airport into the city. There are also public buses, a shuttle service that runs to the nearest metro station and several car hire companies available at the airport in Prague. The drive from the airport to destinations around Prague is easy thanks to its connection with the main expressway network.

Trains
Czech Railway and Prague Airport have a special transport ticket that allows travellers to go from the two terminals to the city’s main railway station and onwards to any domestic destination on the rail network. The Airport Express (AE) shuttle provides free transport to the train station for ticket holders, with departures every 30 minutes between 05:45 and 21:15. Tickets to the train station, which cost about £2, can be bought directly from the driver and the trip to the train station, which also has the Dejvicka metro station, takes 45 minutes.

Taxis
Two taxi companies (AAA RadioTaxi and Radiocab Taxi) are officially licensed to work at Prague Airport. They queue up right outside the terminal exits, and are available around the clock. Transport can be arranged at the taxi kiosks in the Arrivals halls of both terminals.

Taxi prices:
Prague Airport to Prague city centre is about £15

Buses
Several companies operate shared shuttles to hotels in the city centre for around £15 per person. Cedaz Bus is a larger and slower shared transport option that drops passengers off at V Celnici Street in the city centre for about £4. Cedaz buses depart every 30 minutes between 07:30 and 19:00. Airport Express (AE) buses depart from outside both terminals every 30 minutes between 05:45 and 21:15. It costs only about £2, and the buses stop at the main railway station that has a connecting Dejvicka metro station. The cheapest option is the public bus that sells tickets at the Public Transport kiosk in the Arrivals Hall for about £1. These public buses run from 07:00 to 21:00 daily.

Facilities

Terminals
Prague Airport has two terminals. Terminal 1 is used for all flights outside of the Schengen Zone, while Terminal 2 is used for all flights within the Schengen Zone. Nearly all of the 12 million annual passengers are on international flights, with Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport the busiest route followed by London Heathrow, Frankfurt and Moscow. Korean Air runs the sole direct route to Asia, while Delta operates seasonal flights to New York.

Parking
Short-term parking is provided in the P1 and P2 lots directly in front of both terminals. The first 15 minutes are free, with each hour about £2 afterwards. Longer-term parking is best done in the three-storey Parking C garage, just 70 metres from Terminal 1, or Parking B in front of Terminal 2. Rates are about £2 per hour and £16 per day. Parking D is the best deal for stays of seven days or more. It is located seven minutes from the terminals, with transport provided by free shuttle from 05:00 to 22:00 daily. Rates are around £29 per week.

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi internet service covers both terminals, with the first 15 minutes of use for free. After that, 60 minutes costs £2 and 180 minutes is about £5. A high density of hot spots ensures good connectivity throughout the airport.

Information Services
Traveller information desks can be found in the main entrance areas of both terminals. These desks are open 24 hours.

Useful Numbers
Airport information desk: +420 220 113 314
Prague information desk: +420 220 118 511

Accessibility
Assistance is available for any traveller with reduced mobility. Speak to the staff at the information desk inside the terminal entrance and they can help with any specific needs. The airport ensures all areas have wheelchair access and facilities that have been designed for ease of use.

Restaurants and Bars
Both terminals have a solid selection of fast food chains, snack bars, sit-down restaurants and cocktail bars on both sides of security. Both Czech and international cuisine is on the menu, and most eateries are open from 07:00 until 21:00 daily. There are five restaurants in terminals 1 and 2 that are open 24 hours.

VIP Lounges

Terminal 1:
VIP Service Club Continental
MasterCard Lounge

Terminal 2:
Citigold Lounge
ERSTE Premier Lounge

Money and ATMs
ATMs from ČSOB, Komerční banka, Česká spořitelna and UniCredit Bank Czech Republic and Pharro are available in the public areas before security in both terminals. Currency exchange offices by Travelex can be found at several points in both terminals and operate between 06:00 and 23:00 daily. There are also three automated currency exchange machines in Terminal 1, both before and after security.

Shopping
There are over 85 shops in Prague Airport selling everything from fashion accessories, clothing, and perfume, to toys and locally-made products. Duty-free outlets runs by Travel Value are found in both terminals beyond security. Most shops are open from 07:00 to 21:00 daily.