Is the Prague Card Worth It? We Did the Math

For most visitors, no. The Prague Card costs €62 to €78 for 2 to 4 days and bundles free admission to 50+ attractions plus public transport. But the math only works if you visit 4 to 5 paid attractions per day at a relentless pace. Most visitors see 2 to 3, which means the card costs more than buying individual tickets. Below, we break down exactly when it saves money and when it doesn't.

What's Included

The Prague Card (also called Prague City Pass or Prague Visitor Pass — the branding changes) includes:

• Free admission to 50+ attractions: Prague Castle Circuit B, Jewish Museum complex, National Gallery locations, Lobkowicz Palace, Old Town Bridge Tower, Petrin Lookout Tower, Prague Zoo, and others.
• Public transport for the card's duration (tram, metro, bus).
• Discounts (not free entry) at additional attractions and some restaurants.

The card comes in 2-day, 3-day and 4-day versions. Prices as of 2026 (verify on the official website before purchasing):

• 2 days: approximately €62
• 3 days: approximately €72
• 4 days: approximately €78

The Math — When It Saves Money

Let's calculate what individual tickets cost for a typical Prague visit.

Core attractions with separate admission:

• Prague Castle Circuit B: 250 CZK (approx €10)
• Jewish Museum (all synagogues + cemetery): 500 CZK (approx €20)
• Old Town Bridge Tower: 150 CZK (approx €6)
• Petrin Lookout Tower: 150 CZK (approx €6)
• National Gallery — Trade Fair Palace: 300 CZK (approx €12)
• Lobkowicz Palace: 350 CZK (approx €14)
• Prague Zoo: 350 CZK (approx €14)

Public transport: A 3-day pass costs 330 CZK (approx €13).

Scenario A — Culture-focused visitor (3 days): Prague Castle + Jewish Museum + Lobkowicz + National Gallery + Bridge Tower + transport = approximately €75. The 3-day Prague Card at €72 saves you a few euros. Barely worth it — and only if you actually visit all five venues.

Scenario B — Typical first-time visitor (3 days): Prague Castle + Jewish Museum + Petrin Tower + transport = approximately €49. The Prague Card at €72 costs you €23 more than individual tickets.

Scenario C — Intensive sightseeing (4 days): Prague Castle + Jewish Museum + Lobkowicz + National Gallery + Bridge Tower + Petrin + Zoo + 2 more museums + transport = approximately €95+. The 4-day Prague Card at €78 saves roughly €17. But this requires visiting 2 to 3 paid attractions every day for four days — a pace most visitors find exhausting.

When the Prague Card Makes Sense

The card genuinely saves money if you:

• Plan to visit 5+ paid attractions across your stay
• Want to enter Prague Castle AND the Jewish Museum AND multiple galleries
• Are visiting for 3 to 4 days with a packed cultural itinerary
• Value the convenience of not buying individual tickets at each venue

Insider detail: The Jewish Museum complex alone costs 500 CZK, and the Prague Castle circuit adds another 250 CZK. These two attractions combined account for roughly half the card's value. If you're visiting both anyway, the card starts to make more sense — you need fewer additional attractions to break even.

When It Doesn't Make Sense

The card is a poor investment if you:

• Spend most of your time walking, eating and exploring rather than entering museums
• Visit for 2 days or fewer (the 2-day card requires the most aggressive pace to break even)
• Prefer spontaneous exploration over checklist sightseeing
• Are visiting primarily for the outdoor experience — Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, the castle courtyards, Petrin Hill, Vysehrad, and most Prague churches are all free

Insider detail: Many of Prague's best experiences cost nothing. Walking across Karluv most at sunrise, exploring the courtyards of Prague Castle (the grounds are free — you only pay for interior exhibits), wandering Mala Strana's gardens, sitting in Riegrovy sady watching sunset over the city — none of this requires a ticket. The Prague Card optimizes for museums, but Prague's greatest attraction is the city itself.

What the Card Doesn't Include

Before buying, understand what the Prague Card leaves out:

• Guided tours: The card gives you admission to attractions, not a guide to explain what you're seeing. At Prague Castle, you'll walk through St. Vitus Cathedral and Golden Lane with an audio guide or text sheet, but no one to tell you why the Mucha window matters or what happened in Vladislav Hall.
• Evening experiences: The card covers daytime museums and attractions. It does not include river cruises, concerts, theatre or evening entertainment.
• Food and drink: No meals, cafe discounts or restaurant benefits.
• Day trips: Attractions outside Prague (Karlstejn, Kutna Hora, Cesky Krumlov) are not included. If your itinerary includes day trips, those days reduce the card's per-day value.
• Special exhibitions: Temporary exhibitions at National Gallery venues and other museums may require separate tickets even with the card.

Insider detail: The most common complaint about city passes worldwide is the "forced march" effect. Cardholders feel compelled to visit attractions they wouldn't otherwise choose, just to justify the cost. If you catch yourself entering a museum purely because it's "free with the card," the card is costing you time — Prague's scarcest resource on a short visit.

Planning your visit? A private guide takes the logistics off your plate.

The Convenience Factor

Money aside, some visitors value the convenience of pre-paying. The card eliminates ticket-buying at each attraction — you flash the card and walk in. At Prague Castle during summer, this can save 15 to 20 minutes of queuing. At the Jewish Museum, the time savings are similar.

However, the Litacka transport app and online ticket purchasing have largely eliminated the convenience advantage. You can buy Prague Castle tickets on your phone in 2 minutes. The Jewish Museum sells timed tickets online. The queue-skipping benefit of the card is shrinking as Prague's attractions modernize their ticketing.

Alternatives to the Prague Card

Litacka transport pass: The official Prague transport app sells individual tickets (CZK 40 for 30 minutes) and multi-day passes (CZK 330 for 3 days). Buy transport separately and pay for attractions individually.

Buy individual tickets online: Prague Castle, the Jewish Museum and the National Gallery all sell tickets through their websites. Online purchase sometimes means shorter queues, though not always.

Prague CoolPass: A competing product from the city tourism office that sometimes offers different inclusions. Compare both before purchasing — the inclusions and prices differ.

Skip the indoor attractions entirely: Many visitors discover that Prague's outdoor experience — the architecture, the bridges, the views, the food scene — is more rewarding than its museum interiors. This approach costs essentially nothing beyond food and transport.

Our Recommendation

If you're the kind of traveller who visits every museum in a city, the 3 or 4-day Prague Card can save a modest amount. Calculate your specific plans against individual prices before purchasing.

If you're the kind of traveller who prefers walking, eating and discovering a city's atmosphere, skip the card. Buy a transport pass on the Litacka app, pay for the one or two interiors that genuinely interest you, and spend the savings on a proper dinner or a private tour that shows you the Prague behind the ticket counters.

Our All Prague in One Day private tour covers Old Town, the Jewish Quarter, Charles Bridge, Mala Strana, Prague Castle and Vysehrad with a guide who knows stories no audio guide contains. The tour price does not include castle admission tickets, but your guide handles the logistics so you never stand in a queue.

For an evening experience no city pass includes, our Medieval Dinner Show at U Pavouka offers fire dancers, sword fights and unlimited mead in a 15th-century cellar.

See all our private tours. Just your group, no strangers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Prague Card the same as the Prague City Pass?

The branding varies — Prague Card, Prague City Pass and Prague Visitor Pass have all been used. Check the official website for the current product name and inclusions before purchasing.

Does the Prague Card include public transport?

Yes, all versions include unlimited public transport (tram, metro, bus) for the card's duration. This is equivalent to a multi-day Litacka pass.

Can I buy the Prague Card at the airport?

Usually yes — tourism information points at the airport and in the city centre sell the card. It can also be purchased online for pickup or mobile activation.

Is there a student or child discount on the Prague Card?

Reduced rates are typically available for children and students. Check the official website for current pricing and age thresholds.

You May Also Like

• Prague Currency and Money Guide
• First Time in Prague — Essential Tips
• Free Things to Do in Prague

Planning your trip? See our Prague tour guide for details.

Planning your trip? See our Prague tour prices for details.