What the Prague Visitor Pass actually covers in 2026
The Prague Visitor Pass (officially called the Prague City Card or Prague Official City Pass) is issued by the Prague City Tourism office and bundles free or discounted entry to dozens of attractions with unlimited use of the DPP public transport network (metro, tram, bus, funicular).
The headline inclusions at no extra charge:
- Prague Castle — Circuit B: St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, Golden Lane. Ticket value: 250 CZK (≈ €10).
- Petřín lookout tower + mirror maze: 220 CZK (≈ €9) combined.
- Jewish Museum combined ticket (Pinkas Synagogue, Maisel Synagogue, Spanish Synagogue, Ceremonial Hall, Old Jewish Cemetery, Old-New Synagogue): 550 CZK (≈ €22).
- Old Town Hall tower including Astronomical Clock viewing platform: 250 CZK (≈ €10).
- National Museum on Wenceslas Square: 250 CZK (≈ €10).
- Mucha Museum: 260 CZK (≈ €10).
- Museum of Communism: 290 CZK (≈ €12).
- Franz Kafka Museum: 260 CZK (≈ €10).
- Prague Zoo (standard ticket): 350 CZK (≈ €14).
- Unlimited DPP public transport for the duration of the pass (metro, tram, bus, funicular to Petřín).
There are also discounts (20–30%) at a further 60+ attractions, restaurants, and boat cruises. The discounts are useful but not the reason to buy the pass — the free admissions are what drive the maths.
What is NOT included: Prague Castle Circuit A (adds the St. Vitus Treasury, Powder Tower, Story of Prague Castle exhibition — separately priced at 350 CZK), Lobkowicz Palace (separate commercial ticket at 390 CZK), the Clementinum library hall tour, and most river dinner cruises.
Prices for 2026
Prices are confirmed from Prague City Tourism (pragtour.eu) for the 2026 season:
| Duration | Adult price | Child price (6–15) |
|---|---|---|
| 48 hours | €65 (≈ 1,625 CZK) | €33 |
| 72 hours | €90 (≈ 2,250 CZK) | €46 |
| 120 hours (5 days) | €165 (≈ 4,125 CZK) | €85 |
The pass activates on first use, not purchase date. Buy it in advance via GYG to avoid queuing at the Prague City Tourism booths (main locations: Old Town Hall, Václavské náměstí 59, Rytířská 12).
You can purchase on GYG here: Prague Official City Pass with public transport.
Break-even calculation
Let’s run three realistic visitor profiles against the 72-hour pass price of €90.
Profile A — The curious first-timer (most common):
| Attraction | Price pay-as-you-go |
|---|---|
| Prague Castle Circuit B | 250 CZK (€10) |
| Petřín tower + mirror maze | 220 CZK (€9) |
| Jewish Museum combined | 550 CZK (€22) |
| Old Town Hall tower | 250 CZK (€10) |
| 72h DPP transport pass | 330 CZK (€13) |
| Total | 1,600 CZK (≈ €64) |
Pay-as-you-go total: €64 vs Visitor Pass at €90. The pass does NOT pay off here. You are €26 short.
Profile B — Add two more museums:
Add Mucha Museum (€10) + Museum of Communism (€12) = €86 total. Still short by €4. Add one more sight — National Museum (€10) — and you’re at €96 pay-as-you-go. The pass now saves you €6. That’s the real break-even: 6–7 paid attractions including transport.
Profile C — Heavy sightseer (3 days, 8+ attractions):
Castle B + Petřín + Jewish Museum + Old Town Hall + National Museum + Mucha Museum + Museum of Communism + Franz Kafka Museum + DPP 72h = 2,660 CZK (≈ €106). The 72h pass at €90 saves you €16 and eliminates all ticket queues. This is the profile where the pass clearly wins.
Honest verdict: The pass breaks even only if you visit at least 6–7 paid attractions. Most 2-day visitors do 4–5 attractions and don’t break even. For 3-day visits with a genuine museum habit, it pays.
Who should buy it
Buy it if:
- You are spending 3+ days in Prague and plan to visit Prague Castle, at least 3 Jewish Museum sites, Petřín tower, and 2+ additional paid museums.
- You rely on trams and metro for more than 2 days — the 72h DPP pass alone costs 330 CZK (€13), which partially offsets the pass cost.
- You hate the admin of buying individual tickets at each entrance — the pass removes friction, especially at Castle queues.
- You’re 2 people: the per-person savings double, making a 3-day household cost comparison more favourable.
Skip it if:
- You are in Prague for only 1 day. A 48h pass at €65 requires 7+ sights to break even in one day — not realistic.
- You only want to walk the Old Town, visit one synagogue, and have one river cruise. Pay individually.
- You already have a skip-the-line tour booked for Prague Castle — you’ll pay twice (tour + pass) for the same entry.
- You prefer cafés and restaurants over museums. The pass provides zero food or drink discounts worth noting.
- Your children are under 6 — they enter free everywhere in Prague.
Where to buy
Official booths: Prague City Tourism offices at Old Town Hall (Staroměstské náměstí 1), Václavské náměstí 59, Rytířská 12 (near Old Town Square), and the airport arrivals hall.
Online in advance (recommended to skip activation queues): Prague Visitor Pass via GetYourGuide — mobile voucher, instant confirmation.
How to use it
Activation: tap the card at the first DPP validator (metro gate or tram reader), and the clock starts. If you want to delay start to the next morning, activate it on your first transit ride rather than on arrival.
At attractions: show the card or mobile QR at the ticket desk. Most major sights have a dedicated “card/pass” queue lane — faster than the regular ticket line. At Prague Castle, go to the queue marked “online / skip-the-line” at the main gate on Hradčanské náměstí.
Public transport: the pass works on all DPP lines (metro lines A/B/C, all trams, all buses, and the Petřín funicular). It does NOT cover the heritage tram Line 42 (separate 75 CZK ticket), river ferries, or suburban trains.
Petřín funicular: the DPP transport inclusion covers the funicular — no extra ticket needed.
Old-New Synagogue: confusingly, the Old-New Synagogue requires an additional supplement of 200 CZK even with the Jewish Museum combined ticket or the Visitor Pass. This is a historic quirk of the synagogue’s separate management. Budget for it separately.
Ticket-buying channels for the Visitor Pass
| Channel | Where | Cost | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town Hall booth | Staroměstské náměstí 1 | Face value | Queue 10–20 min peak |
| Václavské náměstí booth | Václavské náměstí 59 | Face value | Usually faster than Old Town |
| Rytířská booth | Rytířská 12, near Old Town | Face value | Small booth, short queues |
| Airport arrivals desk | Terminals 1 and 2, Václav Havel Airport | Face value | Open 08:00–22:00 |
| GetYourGuide (t421615) | Online, mobile QR | Face value | Instant, no queue |
| pragtour.eu (official) | Online | Face value | Instant, no queue |
| Hotel concierge | Your hotel | Sometimes +€5–10 markup | Instant, but verify price |
Recommendation: Buy online via GYG or pragtour.eu before you travel. You receive a mobile QR code immediately, skip the activation queue at the booth, and can activate at the first DPP validator on your way into the city.
Frequently asked questions about the Prague Visitor Pass
Does the Visitor Pass include Prague Castle?
Yes — specifically Circuit B (250 CZK value): St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, and Golden Lane. Circuit A (which adds the Treasury, Powder Tower, and the Story of Prague Castle exhibition) is not included and costs 350 CZK extra.
Can I skip lines with the Visitor Pass?
At most sights, yes — there is a dedicated “card holders” queue at Prague Castle’s main entrance and at the Jewish Museum ticket office (Maisel Synagogue). At the Old Town Hall tower and Petřín, the queue for pass holders is the same as for pre-booked tickets, which is shorter than the walk-up cash line.
Does the Visitor Pass cover public transport?
Yes, unlimited use of the full DPP network (metro, trams, buses, and the Petřín funicular) for the duration of the pass — 48h, 72h, or 120h from first activation.
Is the Prague Visitor Pass the same as the Prague Card?
“Prague Card” is an older brand name that some travel sites still use. The current 2026 product is officially called the Prague City Card or Prague Visitor Pass, sold by Prague City Tourism. The competing commercial product is the Prague CoolPass (sold by a private operator). They are different products — see our full comparison.
Can I buy the pass at the airport?
Yes, there is a Prague City Tourism desk in the Václav Havel Airport arrivals hall (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2). Opening hours are approximately 08:00–22:00. Alternatively, buy online before arrival and receive the QR code immediately.
Does the pass expire if I don’t use it the same day?
The clock starts on first use (first DPP validation), not on purchase date. If you buy in advance and don’t activate it on arrival day, the hours have not started. You can buy days or weeks before your trip.
Is there a family option?
Yes — children aged 6–15 pay roughly half the adult price. Children under 6 enter all Prague City Tourism-covered sights free, so there is no child pass to buy for the youngest. The child pass is worth purchasing for ages 6–15 if the child visits more than 3 paid attractions.
What happens if I underestimate how many days I need?
The pass cannot be extended once purchased. If you bought a 48h pass and are enjoying Prague more than planned, buy a fresh 72h or 120h pass from the Prague City Tourism booth or via the GYG app. The new pass activates independently. You cannot combine or stack passes for a single continuous period.
Does the Visitor Pass work for Lobkowicz Palace?
No — Lobkowicz Palace is a privately operated institution separate from the official Prague Castle ticket system. Neither the Visitor Pass nor the CoolPass includes it. The admission is 390 CZK (≈ €16) adult, payable at the palace desk.
Can I pause the pass if I leave Prague for a day trip?
No. The 48h/72h/120h clock runs continuously from first activation. If you use the pass Monday at 9 AM and take a day trip Tuesday, the time window continues running through your absence. Plan your pass activation for the morning of your first full Prague day — not on arrival evening.
What is the best time to activate the pass?
Activate at the start of your first full sightseeing day — not on arrival evening. If you arrive Tuesday at 8 PM and activate immediately, your 48h pass expires Thursday at 8 PM, giving you only 1.5 full sightseeing days. Activate Wednesday morning for 2 full days.
