At a glance
| Best for | Experience-focused visitors (bus tour, river cruise, a few museums) rather than pure museum-hoppers |
| Cost | €96 (2 days) or €116 (3 days) for adults; €68 / €84 for students and children |
| Public transport | Not included by default — add the DPP add-on (~€14) if you plan to use trams and metro |
| Where to buy | Online only (GetYourGuide or the CoolPass website) — no physical booth |
| Best time to activate | Morning of your first full sightseeing day, so the clock doesn’t burn through a half-used evening |
What the Prague CoolPass covers in 2026
The Prague CoolPass is a commercially operated city pass covering 90+ attractions — not an official city product. It is sold by a private operator and competes directly with the Prague Visitor Pass. The key difference: the CoolPass leans toward experiences (tours, cruises, hop-on hop-off buses) rather than pure attraction entry tickets.
The 2026 CoolPass includes free admission or participation at:
- Hop-on Hop-off bus (Big Bus Prague, 24-hour ticket): 699 CZK walk-up value (≈ €28).
- Panoramic Vltava river cruise (1-hour sightseeing cruise): 490 CZK (≈ €20).
- Petřín lookout tower + mirror maze: 220 CZK (≈ €9).
- Museum of Communism: 290 CZK (≈ €12).
- Mucha Museum: 260 CZK (≈ €10).
- Franz Kafka Museum: 260 CZK (≈ €10).
- Prague Castle (circuit B entry, on selected CoolPass tiers): 250 CZK (≈ €10).
- National Museum: 250 CZK (≈ €10).
- Free walking tours (select operators): typically free-with-tip, so the “inclusion” has low monetary value.
- Four Prague Boats cruises and the hop-on hop-off bus, plus the Jewish Museum and the Zoo, are part of the 90+ attractions.
Critical difference from the Visitor Pass: the official CoolPass site does not say that public transport (DPP metro, tram, bus) is included. You can add a 72h DPP transport add-on for approximately 350 CZK (€14) at purchase. Budget for this if you plan to use trams.
Also note: Prague Castle entry via the CoolPass sometimes comes as a guided tour slot rather than a free-entry ticket — check the current terms at point of purchase, as this changes seasonally.
Prices for 2026
Prices from the official site (praguecoolpass.com). The pass is valid for consecutive days, not hours:
| Duration | Adult price | Student / child price |
|---|---|---|
| 2 days | €96 (≈ 2,400 CZK) | €68 |
| 3 days | €116 (≈ 2,900 CZK) | €84 |
Add DPP transport pass: +€14 (350 CZK) for 72 hours, if needed.
Buy via GYG with mobile voucher: Prague CoolPass on GetYourGuide (2, 3 or 4 days).
Break-even calculation
Profile A — Experience-focused visitor (2 days):
| Experience | Pay-as-you-go value |
|---|---|
| Hop-on Hop-off bus (24h) | 699 CZK (€28) |
| Vltava river cruise (1h) | 490 CZK (€20) |
| Petřín tower + mirror maze | 220 CZK (€9) |
| Museum of Communism | 290 CZK (€12) |
| Total | 1,699 CZK (≈ €68) |
2-day CoolPass: €96. You are about €28 short on just these four experiences. The boat cruise and bus are the CoolPass’s core selling points, but on their own they do not cover the price.
Profile B — Mix of tours and museums (3 days):
Add Mucha Museum (€10) + Franz Kafka Museum (€10) + National Museum (€10) = €68 + €30 = €98 pay-as-you-go. The 3-day CoolPass at €116 still costs about €18 more. Add the Jewish Museum (600 CZK, ≈ €24) and the total is €122, so the pass only starts to break even once you cover most of these sights.
Profile C — Museum focus (3 days), no boat/bus:
If you skip the hop-on hop-off and river cruise (you prefer walking), the CoolPass offers far less value. Museums only: Mucha (€10) + Communism (€12) + Kafka (€10) + Petřín (€9) = €41. The 3-day pass at €116 is a clear loss. In this case simply pay as you go.
Honest verdict: the CoolPass is best when you actually use the boat cruise, the hop-on hop-off and a long list of its 90+ attractions. If you skip them, pay individually.
Who should buy it
Buy if:
- You enjoy the flexibility of a hop-on hop-off bus for orientation on day 1.
- You want a Vltava river cruise included without paying separately (€20 value).
- You’re on a first trip and unsure which museums to visit — the CoolPass lets you “try” multiple places without extra cost.
- You’re a couple: the pass is sold per person, so the maths do not improve for two.
Skip if:
- You prefer to walk everywhere and have no interest in hop-on hop-off buses.
- Your priority is public transport: the official Visitor Pass is the one that clearly includes it.
- You’re visiting for only 1 day: neither pass makes financial sense in a single day.
- Paying extra for metro/tram access irritates you: unlike the Visitor Pass, the CoolPass site does not say that transport is included.
Where to buy
Online only (no physical booth sales for the CoolPass):
- Via GetYourGuide: Prague CoolPass (2, 3 or 4 days) — mobile QR code, instant delivery.
- Via the CoolPass official website (praguecoolpass.com).
The pass cannot be purchased at Prague transport offices or museum ticket desks.
How to use it
Activation: the CoolPass activates on first scan at a partner venue. Unlike the Visitor Pass (which starts on first DPP tap), the CoolPass clock starts when you first present it at an attraction or tour operator, not on the bus or metro.
Presentation: show the mobile QR code at each attraction’s entrance. Most partner venues have a dedicated scanner — you do not queue for the cash desk.
Hop-on Hop-off: present the QR at the Big Bus Prague kiosk at Náměstí Republiky (Republic Square) or Old Town Square to receive your 24-hour paper ticket. The bus network covers 25+ stops including Prague Castle, Malá Strana, Wenceslas Square, Vinohrady, and the riverfront.
River cruise: the included cruise is the standard 1-hour panoramic cruise departing from Čechův most (Čech Bridge). Operating hours vary seasonally — confirm the departure schedule at the pier. Typical departures every hour from 10:00 to 19:00 in summer.
DPP transport: if you purchased the add-on, you receive a separate DPP paper ticket or QR code. Validate it on first tram/metro use — the 72-hour clock starts then.
Missing the time window: if you purchase the pass but activate it late, you can lose effective days. Because the pass runs in consecutive days, check at purchase how the first day is counted and start on a morning, not an evening.
How it fits into a wider Prague trip
The CoolPass is a logistics decision, not a sightseeing plan — pair it with an actual day-by-day structure. If you’re building your first visit around it, start from our 2-day Prague itinerary or the tighter weekend Prague plan and slot the included hop-on hop-off bus into day one for orientation, since it also passes near Hradčany and the castle district.
If your trip includes a day trip, note that neither the CoolPass nor the Visitor Pass covers destinations outside the city — budget separately for Kutná Hora or Karlštejn, and see our day-trip transport comparison for getting there.
Because public transport is not bundled, check our Prague metro guide before deciding whether the DPP add-on is worth it — if you’re staying centrally in Staré Město or Malá Strana, you may walk more than you think and can skip the add-on.
CoolPass vs buying Prague Castle and Jewish Quarter separately
If your priority is Prague Castle’s full circuit or the Jewish Quarter synagogues rather than the CoolPass’s tours-and-experiences mix, compare against buying those individually: see our Prague Castle ticket guide and Jewish Quarter ticket guide, or read the full pass comparison before committing.
Frequently asked questions about the Prague CoolPass
Is the CoolPass the same as the Prague Card?
“Prague Card” was the old name for what is now marketed as the Prague CoolPass. The card is operated by a private company. Confusingly, the official city-issued pass (Prague City Tourism) is also sometimes called a “Prague Card”. They are two different products. The CoolPass is the private one; the Visitor Pass is the official one. See our full comparison.
Does the CoolPass include public transport?
Not by default. Public transport (metro, trams, buses) requires a separate DPP add-on of approximately 350 CZK for 72 hours. When purchasing, select the bundle that includes transport if you need it.
Does the CoolPass cover Prague Castle?
In most 2026 tiers, yes — Prague Castle Circuit B is included. However, the terms have varied in past years (sometimes only a guided tour was included, not free self-entry). Check the current inclusions at point of purchase. Circuit A and Lobkowicz Palace are not included.
Can I buy the CoolPass on arrival?
Only digitally. There is no physical kiosk selling the CoolPass. Buy online before or during your trip and receive a QR code immediately.
How long is the CoolPass valid after purchase?
The QR code is valid for 365 days from purchase. The active pass duration (2 or 3 consecutive days) starts only when you first use it at a partner venue.
Is the CoolPass worth it for a solo traveller?
For solo travellers, the per-person maths are tighter than for couples or groups. A solo visitor on the 2-day pass at €96 needs to use the boat cruise (€20) and hop-on hop-off (€28) plus well over €48 of other sights to break even. That requires discipline, so run the numbers first.
What is the cancellation policy for the CoolPass purchased on GYG?
GYG passes are typically non-refundable once the voucher is activated. Unused vouchers (QR codes never scanned) may qualify for a refund within GYG’s standard cancellation window. Check the specific product terms at purchase.
What if I underestimate the duration and need more days?
The CoolPass cannot be extended. If you bought a 2-day pass and want more time, purchase a new pass at a higher duration. The new pass activates independently. There is no discount for upgrading — you are effectively buying a separate product. To avoid this: if in doubt between 2 and 3 days, the extra day costs €20 (€116 vs €96).
Does the CoolPass include the Jewish Quarter / Jewish Museum?
Yes — according to the official site, the Jewish Museum is one of the CoolPass attractions (its individual single ticket is 600 CZK / €24, Old-New Synagogue included). Check the current terms at purchase for which Jewish Museum sites are covered.
How does the hop-on hop-off bus work with the CoolPass?
Present your CoolPass QR code at the Big Bus Prague kiosk (main location: Náměstí Republiky, near the Municipal House) to collect your 24-hour hop-on hop-off paper ticket. The 25-stop network covers Prague Castle, Malá Strana, Wenceslas Square, Old Town, and the riverfront. The 24-hour clock on the HOHO ticket starts when the paper ticket is issued, not when you first board a bus.
Can I book the river cruise time slot in advance?
The CoolPass river cruise (1-hour panoramic cruise) operates on first-come-first-served departures from Čechův most. You cannot pre-book a specific departure time — arrive at the pier and take the next available boat. In July and August, early afternoon departures fill quickly; morning or evening (5–7 PM) slots are easier to board.
Does the CoolPass save money if I’m only doing museums, not tours?
Rarely. Strip out the boat cruise and the hop-on hop-off bus and the museum-only value drops well below the pass price. If museums are your main interest, run the numbers against the Visitor Pass instead, or check individual Prague Castle tickets.
