Prague Taxi, Uber and Bolt — Prices and Scam Tips 2026

Prague's taxi reputation has improved enormously since the days when every ride from the airport was a gamble. Ride-hailing apps have changed the game entirely — transparent pricing, GPS-tracked routes, and no meter tricks. But the old scams haven't disappeared completely, and knowing which app to use, where the pitfalls are, and how tipping works saves money and stress.

We deal with this topic on nearly every tour. Guests arrive with horror stories from travel forums written in 2015, or they've already been overcharged by a driver at the train station. Here's the current picture.

Bolt — The Local Favorite

Bolt (formerly Taxify) is the dominant ride-hailing app in Prague. Most locals use it daily, and it's the service we recommend to every guest. The reasons are practical: Bolt is consistently the cheapest option, driver availability is excellent (even at odd hours), and the app works smoothly in English.

Typical prices (as of 2026):

Old Town to Prague Castle: ~80-120 CZK
Old Town to Vinohrady: ~70-100 CZK
Main station to Old Town: ~80-110 CZK
Airport to Old Town: ~400-700 CZK
Cross-city ride (e.g., Žižkov to Smíchov): ~120-180 CZK

Prices are set before you confirm the ride, so there are no surprises. Surge pricing can push fares up 1.5-2x during peak hours (Friday and Saturday nights, rainy rush hours, major events). The app shows the multiplier before you book — if it's surging, wait 10-15 minutes and the price usually drops.

One thing we've noticed over years of recommending Bolt to guests: the pickup experience at tourist hotspots can be confusing. In the narrow streets of Old Town or Malá Strana, the driver sometimes can't reach your exact pin location. Move to the nearest main road — Národní třída, Smetanovo nábřeží, or Karmelitská — and you'll get picked up in half the time.

Payment: Bolt accepts card payment through the app (our recommendation) or cash. Card payment means no fumbling for change and no disputes over the fare.

Uber — Reliable but Pricier

Uber operates in Prague with the same core service as everywhere else. The app, the experience, and the reliability are familiar to anyone who's used Uber in other cities.

The key difference in Prague: Uber is typically 10-20% more expensive than Bolt for the same route. The driver pool is smaller, which means slightly longer wait times during busy periods. During surge pricing, Uber's multiplier often climbs higher than Bolt's.

That said, Uber has one advantage: if you already have the app set up with your home credit card and are comfortable with the interface, it works perfectly in Prague. No new accounts, no new settings.

Uber categories in Prague:

UberX — standard sedan, the workhorse
Uber Comfort — newer cars, slightly more space
Uber XL — larger vehicles for groups of 5-6

For most visitors, Bolt's standard ride is cheaper than UberX for identical routes. We suggest trying both apps for your first ride and comparing the quoted prices before confirming.

Liftago — The Czech-Made Option

Liftago is a Czech-developed ride-hailing app that functions like a hybrid between Bolt and traditional taxi dispatch. You enter your destination, and multiple drivers bid on the fare — you see their price, rating, and estimated arrival time, and you pick the one you want.

The advantage: during surge periods when Bolt and Uber jack up prices, Liftago drivers sometimes offer flat rates that undercut both. The disadvantage: the driver pool is smaller, wait times can be longer, and the app interface isn't as polished.

Liftago is worth having as a backup app on your phone. When Bolt is surging on a rainy Friday night and Uber is even worse, Liftago's bidding system occasionally delivers a reasonable fare.

Official Taxis — When You Can't Use an App

Not everyone travels with mobile data, and not every situation allows for an app-based pickup. If you need a traditional taxi, here's how to avoid problems.

The rules (updated in recent years):

All licensed Prague taxis must display a rate card on the front doors showing the per-kilometer rate, minimum fare, and waiting charge
The maximum regulated rate is approximately 36 CZK per kilometer (as of 2026)
The meter must be running from the moment you get in
Drivers must provide a printed receipt at the end of the ride

How the scam still works: despite the regulations, some taxi drivers at tourist hotspots — especially Prague main station, Old Town Square, and the airport — quote flat fares instead of using the meter. These flat fares are invariably inflated. A ride from the main station to Old Town that should cost 100-150 CZK gets quoted at 400-500 CZK.

How to avoid it:

Always insist the meter runs. If the driver says the meter is broken, find another cab.
Check the rate card on the door. If it's missing or shows a rate above 36 CZK/km, walk away.
Use the official taxi rank where available. At the airport, the AAA Taxi rank is regulated and metered. At the main station, the rank on the east side (Wilsonova street) is more reliable than drivers loitering inside.
Better yet, just use Bolt. Even without Czech mobile data, you can use the app on your hotel's Wi-Fi to pre-book a ride before you leave.

AAA Taxi (phone 14014) and Tick Tack are the most reputable traditional taxi companies in Prague. If you call them by phone, the dispatcher gives you the car number and estimated price — a layer of accountability that street hails lack.

For more on tourist-targeting scams beyond taxis, read our complete guide to Prague scams.

Airport Taxi — The Most Overcharged Route

The airport-to-city run is where taxi overcharging is most common and most expensive. A fair price from Václav Havel Airport to Old Town is approximately 550-800 CZK by metered taxi. Drivers who approach you inside the arrivals hall often quote 1,500-2,500 CZK — two to three times the correct fare.

The fix is simple: open Bolt in the arrivals hall, book a ride for 400-700 CZK, and walk to the ride-share pickup area. You'll pay less than a fair-metered taxi and significantly less than an overcharging one. For the full breakdown of all airport transfer options, see our Prague Airport to city center guide.

Night Rides — What Changes After Dark

Prague's nightlife runs late, and you'll likely need a ride home at some point between midnight and 4:00 AM. Here's what to expect.

Bolt and Uber operate 24/7 in Prague. After midnight, driver availability decreases, and surge pricing is common — especially around 2:00-3:00 AM when clubs close. On Friday and Saturday nights, expect to pay 1.5-2x the normal fare and wait 10-15 minutes for a car.

A money-saving trick: walk two or three blocks away from the main nightlife zones (Dlouhá street, Karlovy lázně area, Žižkov pubs) before ordering. Surge pricing is calculated partly by area demand. Moving 200 metres from a cluster of closing bars can reduce the multiplier noticeably.

Night trams are a legitimate alternative. Prague's night tram network (lines 91-99) runs every 30 minutes through the night and covers the entire city center. A 90-minute ticket costs about 50 CZK. If your hotel is on a night tram route, you can save the Bolt fare entirely. Check the public transport guide for night tram details.

Safety at night: Prague is one of the safest capitals in Europe, and both app-based rides and night trams are safe. The risk isn't personal safety — it's financial. Intoxicated tourists who hail random taxis at 3:00 AM on Wenceslas Square are the most likely to be overcharged. Use the app, even if it takes an extra minute.

Tipping — Do You Tip Taxi and Bolt Drivers?

Tipping is not expected for ride-hailing drivers in Prague. The fare is the fare. If you want to round up to the nearest 10 or 20 CZK as a gesture, drivers appreciate it, but there's zero expectation or social pressure.

For traditional taxis, rounding up by 10-20 CZK is the standard Czech tipping practice. On a 150 CZK fare, handing over 170 CZK and saying "to je v pořádku" (that's fine) is a normal tip. Tipping 10-15% of the fare is generous by Prague standards.

For more on tipping culture across Prague — restaurants, bars, hotels, and guides — read our Prague tipping guide.

Quick Comparison

Service | Avg. Price to Old Town | Wait Time | Best For

Bolt | Lowest (base) | 3-5 min | Everyday rides, airport

Uber | 10-20% more than Bolt | 4-7 min | Familiarity, larger vehicles

Liftago | Variable (bid-based) | 5-10 min | Surge situations, backup

AAA Taxi (metered) | Comparable to Bolt | Call: 5-10 min | No smartphone available

Street taxi (unmetered) | 2-3x fair price | Immediate | Never recommended

See Prague the Best Way — With a Local Guide

Getting around Prague is easy once you know the system. But seeing Prague — really seeing it — is something else. The stories behind the facades, the hidden courtyards, the underground passages, the details carved into stone that you'd walk right past — that's what a guide unlocks.

Our All Prague in One Day private tour covers Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, the Old Town, and the Jewish Quarter. Just your group, no strangers, at whatever pace suits you.

And for an evening that no taxi can take you to: the Medieval Dinner Show at U Pavouka — fire dancers, sword swallowers, and a five-course feast in a cellar that's been hosting banquets for centuries.

Browse all our private tours in Prague and Czech Republic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bolt or Uber cheaper in Prague?

Bolt is consistently cheaper for the same route — typically 10-20% less than UberX. Both apps work well in Prague, but Bolt has more drivers and shorter wait times.

How much is a taxi from Old Town to Prague Castle?

By Bolt or Uber, expect around 80-120 CZK. By metered taxi, roughly the same. But honestly, the walk between Old Town and Prague Castle is one of the best in the city — across Charles Bridge and up through Mala Strana. Save the taxi for the return when your legs are tired.

Are taxis safe in Prague?

Yes. Prague is one of Europe's safest capitals. The risk with taxis is financial (overcharging), not personal safety. Using Bolt or Uber eliminates the overcharging risk entirely because the fare is locked in before you ride.

Do Prague taxi drivers speak English?

Bolt and Uber drivers usually speak basic English — enough for simple communication. Traditional taxi drivers vary. The apps eliminate the need for verbal negotiation since the destination and price are set digitally.

Can I pay by card in a Prague taxi?

Bolt and Uber process card payments through the app automatically. Traditional taxis are required by law to accept card payment, but some older drivers still claim their terminal is "broken." If a driver won't accept your card, insist or find another cab.

Prague Taxi, Uber and Bolt — How to Get Around Without Getting Scammed