Independent guide
Big Bus Prague: routes, stops and tickets
Independent guide, not operated by or affiliated with Big Bus Tours.
We list one Big Bus ticket option in Prague, from 1 hr. Big Bus Tours runs the Prague hop-on hop-off service as a Green and a Red route; a Vltava river cruise is an optional extra on some tickets. This guide covers 2 routes, its 11 distinct stops, when to ride and who it suits, then lines up the tickets.
- Routes2
- Stops11
- Ticket1
Route and stops
- Green Route
- Red Route
City-centre route through Old Town Square, across to Malostranske namesti on the Lesser Town side, past the Dancing House and Wenceslas Square to the main railway station. Stops are listed as the seller gives them, not as a confirmed running order.
Green Route
Route that climbs to Prague Castle and Kinský Square, then returns through the Dancing House area, I. P. Pavlova and Karlov to the main railway station. Stops are listed as the seller gives them.
Red Route
Big Bus tickets in Prague
Want to see every hop-on hop-off bus in Prague, not just this one? Compare hop-on hop-off tours in Prague.
What riders say
Across these tickets travellers rate Big Bus Prague 3.3 out of 5 from 30 reviews.
Great way to get around the city especially with there being two line we done the 2 day ticket super easy to use would definitely recommend
We used Big Bus in two cities, Vienna and Prague. It was great experience, easy to navigate the town and explore. One thing to keep in mind is understanding when your last buses are in the stop towards evening so you can plan accordingly as the trips come to an end around 6.
Wonderful experience with the hop on and hop off . The staff is courteous and truly helpful. Oksi staff memberwas helpful and friendly.
Best time to ride
Spring and early autumn are comfortable for an open-top ride, with fewer crowds than midsummer at the Castle and Old Town Square. A river cruise is better on a dry, calm day, and high water can disrupt it.
Who it suits
- Families
- A river cruise add-on and the open top deck give children a break from walking up to the Castle.
- Couples
- The Green Route links Old Town Square and the Lesser Town, and the optional Vltava cruise passes Charles Bridge.
- Seniors
- Hop-on hop-off saves walking on Prague's hills; one seller says Red Route buses take wheelchairs and prams. Check the operator for current accessibility details before booking.
- First-time visitors
- Two routes together reach the Castle, Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, with the main station and Dancing House as shared stops for changing between them.
Tips before you go
- Jiráskovo náměstí (the Dancing House) and Hlavní nádraží are on both routes, so use them to switch.
- The river cruise is optional and not on every ticket; check which ticket includes it.
- Sellers quote different bus frequencies, so check the live timetable.
- The cruise leaves from a pier on Dvořákovo nábřeží; the pier number differs between sellers, so confirm it on your voucher.
Sights along the way
Prague Castle, Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, Wenceslas Square, Dancing House, Malá Strana.
Top-ranked in Prague: Charles Bridge (Karluv Most), Prague Castle (Pražský Hrad), Prague Old Town Square (Staromestské Námestí), Prague Astronomical Clock (Prague Orloj) , Wenceslas Square (Václavské Námesti). All things to do in Prague.
Why take the bus in Prague
The honest case for the bus is the Castle hill. Walking up to Hradčany is rewarding, but it is a steady climb after a morning on cobbles, and the Red Route has a stop at Prague Castle itself, right beside St. Vitus Cathedral. For families with tired children, or anyone who wants to save their legs for the interior of the cathedral and the Castle grounds, that is the main advantage. The open top deck is the second: Prague's red roofs and spires are best taken in slowly, and a seat above street level gives you that without effort.
There are places where the bus is not the right tool. The Old Town Square, the Astronomical Clock, Josefov and the lanes between them are a walking area. The Charles Bridge is best crossed slowly on foot from the Old Town or Lesser Town side, not seen from a seat. For short hops between central points, the metro and trams are quicker than waiting for a bus.
On the walking tour question: a guided walk is typically better for stories, hidden courtyards and Josefov history, while the bus is better for covering distance and seeing the hill sections without climbing. Many visitors use both, a walking tour for the Old Town and the bus for the Castle side.
How the routes work together
Think of the two routes as two halves of one visit. The Green Route is the city-centre one, and its stops include Old Town Square, Malostranské náměstí, the Dancing House, Wenceslas Square and the main railway station. The Red Route is the Castle one: it climbs to Prague Castle, calls at Dlabačov and Kinský Square, then comes back through the Dancing House area, I. P. Pavlova and Karlov to the same railway station.
The two meet at Jiráskovo náměstí, by the Dancing House, and at Hlavní nádraží. Those shared stops are where you change. The Green Route is the one for the Old Town and the Lesser Town, and the Red Route is the one for the Castle. Or do it the other way round and finish in the Old Town for the evening, when the squares are livelier.
Some sights fit only one route. Strahov Monastery is about 150 metres from the Dlabačov stop on the Red Route, and the Old Town Square, the Astronomical Clock and Wenceslas Square are all served by the Green Route. Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral are reached by both: directly from the Red Route stop, or about 400 metres from Malostranské náměstí on the Green Route.
A sample day on the bus
Start in the morning at Old Town Square, which is a Green Route stop. Spend the first stretch on foot here: the Astronomical Clock is about 50 metres from the stop, and the Old New Synagogue and Spanish Synagogue are each about 350 metres away. Josefov rewards slow walking, so give it time before you board.
The Lesser Quarter is about 50 metres from this stop, and the John Lennon Wall is about 250 metres away. Walk the Lesser Town lanes, have lunch, and if you want the bridge, approach the Charles Bridge on foot from here rather than expecting a stop.
Get off at the Prague Castle stop, with St. Vitus Cathedral about 50 metres away. Allow a long stay: the Castle complex, the cathedral and Golden Lane take most of an afternoon. This plan is a half-day if you trim the Josefov stops, and a full day if you do not.
Booking advice
Start with the ticket page rather than the route map, because bundles differ. They include plain open-top or double-decker loops, tours that add a river cruise, and tickets bundled with an attraction or a second activity.
If you want both the Castle and the Old Town, make sure the ticket covers both routes.
Sights worth the stop
Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral are the strongest reasons to ride, since the Red Route stops right at them. Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock are on the Green Route, and Wenceslas Square gives you a view of the New Town's grander side. The Lesser Quarter and the John Lennon Wall suit a slow walk after leaving the bus at Malostranské náměstí. Strahov Monastery is a quieter extra from Dlabačov. The Old New Synagogue, the Spanish Synagogue and the Rudolfinum are best treated as walks from the Old Town Square stop, with the Rudolfinum the longest at about 500 metres.
More on Prague sightseeing
Questions about Big Bus Prague
What routes does the Prague bus have?
A Green Route through the centre and a Red Route that includes Prague Castle.
Is the river cruise included?
It is optional, and only some ticket types include it.
How long is the river cruise?
Sellers describe it as just under an hour on the Vltava, passing Charles Bridge.
Which stops do both routes share?
The Dancing House stop at Jiráskovo náměstí and the main railway station, Hlavní nádraží.
Does the bus go to Prague Castle?
Yes, the Red Route starts from the Castle.
How many Big Bus ticket options are there in Prague?
We list 1 Big Bus ticket option in Prague, lasting 1 hr, rated 3.3 out of 5 across 30 traveller reviews.
Route and stop details checked 2026-10-13; routes and times change with the season, so confirm on the ticket page before you travel.