Let’s face it: the ubiquity of mobile phones and internet access have completely changed the way we travel. But while some may roll their eyes at the tourists staring at their phones rather than the sights, we actually think that with the right apps, a mobile phone with internet access can actually immerse you deeper into the local culture and scene when you’re in Prague or Czechia. (Or anywhere else for that matter.)
So what apps should you download if you’re planning to spend some time in Prague? Here’s our top 10:
PID
You’ve probably heard it already, and it’s true: Prague’s public transport system is really fantastic, convenient, clean and safe, and used literally by hundreds of thousands every single day. Their PID app lets you buy single tickets (30 or 90 minutes) or 24h or 72h passes with ease, finds your best route or the nearest stop, lets you filter wheelchair-access routes only or guides you to the nearest parking spot. You can also save your favorite routes and then look for current schedules with a single tap. If you’re planning to spend a few days in the city, this is the one app you should have.
Liftago
But if you’re too tired or drunk to take public transport, we’ll look the other way and let you get a cab. The best way to do that is with the Czech Liftago app that - unlike other, international apps - only uses licensed taxi drivers at prices similar to those via Uber and so on. What I personally like about Liftago is that they don’t like about the ETA and give you a more conservative estimate rather than letting you stand in the rain and wait for a car that should have been here ages ago (we’re looking at you, Uber).
The app let’s you choose different categories of cars, filters only electric cars, or cars with baby seats if you need them, and you can preorder a ride 15 minutes ahead, or for a specific date and time (if the ride exceeds 4km / 2.5 miles). If you want to support local businesses and local drivers, this is a great, reliable app that I personally use exclusively when I need a cab.
European Coffee Trip
If you like specialty coffee, European Coffee Trip is an indispensable companion to your travel, and not just in Prague but the entire continent. We happen to know the founders, the amazing Brno-based Aleš and Radek, and it was fun seeing them grow from small-time coffee bloggers to what today seems to be the established Michelin guide of specialty coffee throughout Europe. If you’re in need of a cup of freshly brewed coffee, the app can guide you to the nearest specialty coffee shop around you, or list great coffee spots in your vicinity. These guys never fail, and we use the app whenever we travel through Europe and look for excellent coffee. A must-have on your phone. You’re welcome.
Raisin
This one is not a Czech app, but is pretty much the equivalent of European Coffee Trip for the world of natural wines. It’s a good idea to have this in your phone if you’re into natural / low-intervention wines, or - as our dear friend and great Paris food tour operator Wendy Lyn strongly believes - it’s a good idea to look at natural wine venues if you like your food sensibly and locally sourced, the logic being that people who care about how their wine is produced also care about how their food is grown or bred. Raisin lists and maps wine shops that sell natural wine, restaurants that serve natural wines, and wineries that produce natural wines. Works not only in Prague or Czechia, but throughout Europe. Great resource!
Mapy CZ
I won’t lie to you - Google Maps work great in Prague, but mapy.cz, the local map provider, is a tad better for specific purposes. For instance, if you need to find a safe cycling route, mapy.cz will do that for you. Also, mapy.cz is the best resource for something that is unique to Czechia, i.e. the color-coded walking paths through forests. The incredibly well marked forest paths and directions are the reason why we Czechs are the idiots of Central Europe and always get lost in forests abroad - we just got used to the convenience and the reliability of the walking paths we have put in place here. And mapy.cz really maps these very well, telling you if you should use the red or the blue to walk or cycle to the Karlštejn castle. The level of detail with mapy.cz is always one level better than with Google Maps, which may be redundant in the city centre, but if you want to take a hike or cycle around the city, mapy.cz should find a place in your phone.
Alza
I know it may be a bit odd for a boutique travel tour operator to endorse a huge company, but when it comes to convenience, it is hard to beat Alza. Originally a small computer retailer, Alza has grown into the de facto local Amazon, selling everything from perfumes to gardening tools to even wine. But their focus is still electronics, so if you experience a malfunction in Prague and you need a new battery pack, memory card, phone, luggage lock or even completely new luggage, it is hard to beat Alza on the convenience front: you order in the app, pay with your card, Apple or Google Pay, and choose any of the numerous self-check lockers they have around town for delivery. And if you order by midnight, most items are in the locker the next morning.
Idos
Idos does one thing only and it does it well: look for train and bus routes within Czechia and buy tickets. This is your add-on to the PID app if you want to travel outside of Prague. It also lets you figure out what route is more convenient for you - is it by bus? Or by train? Or a combination of both? And then you buy the ticket straight in the app. Good stuff.
Muj vlak
Confession: I spent my childhood on Czechoslovak Rails night trains between Prague and Eastern Slovakia where my mom is from, so excuse me if I have a nostalgic relationship with Czech trains. The app lets you find the best train route, choose seats (there’s a detailed map for each train, so if you want to sit near the restaurant car - and trust me, you do want to sit near a restaurant car - you can do so) and buy tickets. It also lets you see in real time if a train is delayed, where is it exactly, and why is it delayed. So if you’re taking the train from Prague to Vienna or from Prague to Berlin, this is the best way to do it.
PRE / Futur/e/GO
Need to charge your electric car in Prague? At the time of writing this (late 2023), there are two major energy providers that have their chargers across the city: PRE, and CEZ. PRE charging stations are a bit more prevalent, but there just might be a very convenient CEZ charger just where you live, so I suggest you download both of these apps. There might be some registration involved, so I suggest you do it beforehand rather than doing it with frozen fingers in a snowstorm at the charger itself. (Okay, I am being a bit dramatic here, but you know what I mean.)
GoOut
The app of the popular portal that sells tickets does not only do that - sell tickets to events - but is also a great overview of what’s going on in Prague at the moment, while totally bypassing all things touristy. Want to find cool local concerts, exhibitions and festivals? GoOut lists them by date and time, location, focus, or all of these things above. Plus it lets you buy and store tickets directly in the app. If you want a deeper cultural immersion while you’re in town, GoOut is just the app for you.