Big Bus Prague FAQ: your questions answered

For a first visit it is worth it mainly for the climb to Prague Castle and the open-top view over the centre, since the hill is the stretch that is hardest to walk. Most of the core sights sit close enough to walk, so the bus adds the least if your plans are only Old Town and Charles Bridge. Judge it by whether you also want the hill, the Dancing House side of town or the main station.

Both routes run as loops, and the loop time for each one is shown on the ticket page, so check it before planning a timed visit.

Each route is a loop, so there is no single start point and you can join at any stop on it. If you arrive by train, the main railway station, Hlavní nádraží, is on both routes and is an easy place to begin. The Dancing House stop works as a second switching point between the two routes.

Check the ticket page for the age rules and child tickets on the tour you are considering.

The stops that matter for sightseeing are the ones named on each route, so plan your breaks around them. The rules for boarding and rejoining belong to the ticket itself, so read the ticket page before you choose one.

Yes, Prague Castle is a stop on the Red Route, and St Vitus Cathedral is about 50 metres from that stop. The Green Route's nearest stop to the Castle is Malostranské náměstí, about 400 metres away, and that stop is also about 400 metres from St Vitus Cathedral. Strahov Monastery is about 150 metres from the Dlabačov stop on the Red Route.

Old Town Square is a stop on the Green Route, and the Astronomical Clock is about 50 metres from it. Wenceslas Square is about 100 metres from Václavské náměstí, and the Lesser Quarter is about 50 metres from Malostranské náměstí. John Lennon Wall is about 250 metres from Malostranské náměstí, while the Old New Synagogue, the Spanish Synagogue and the Rudolfinum sit roughly 350 to 500 metres from the Old Town Square stop.

You reach it on foot from the Old Town side or the Lesser Town side, and it links the two directly. Plan to walk it between the stops for the squares and the Lesser Quarter.

The river cruise is an optional extra and is not on every ticket. Check which ticket includes it before you book, because it is easy to assume it comes with any ticket. The cruise leaves from a pier on Dvořákovo nábřeží, and the pier number can differ between sellers, so confirm it on your voucher. A dry, calm day suits it best, since high water can affect the cruise.

Spring and early autumn are the most comfortable seasons for an open-top ride, with blossom in spring and golden trees in autumn, and they bring fewer crowds at the Castle and Old Town Square than midsummer. Summer is warm and busy, so an early start helps. December fills the squares with Christmas markets, so expect crowds in the centre whichever way you travel.

Wheelchair and pram access on the Red Route should be confirmed on the ticket page before you book, so do not assume it. The bus saves a steep walk up to Prague Castle, which matters most for anyone who finds hills hard going. Check the access details for the Green Route on the ticket page as well.

Walking suits the flat stretches and Charles Bridge, while the bus earns its place on the hill and on the stretch past the station. Many visitors combine the two on the same day.

For a two or three day trip, use the bus on the hill day and cover Josefov, Petřín Hill and Vyšehrad on foot. Compare tickets for the length of your stay before deciding how many bus rides you need.