Getting to Prague for the football

Prague has direct flights from Manchester, London and most big UK airports, so no hub detour is needed. From Václav Havel Airport take trolleybus 59 and metro line A into the centre, then tram 6, 7, 19 or 22 to the "Slavia" stop by the Fortuna Arena, roughly 25 minutes. Away fans sit in a small allocation in a corner of the lower tier, in through Gate 3 source source.

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Prague is one of the easy ones. PRG has direct flights from Manchester, all the London airports and most big UK bases, so there is no hub detour and no onward train, just a flight and the airport transit into town source source. The choice is less about route and more about which airport and how much luggage you can live with: the low-cost carriers (Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz) are cheapest but charge for bags, while Jet2 and BA cost more with a hold bag as standard. Manchester is about 2 hours 5 minutes, London about 1 hour 50 minutes source. All costs are estimates and swing hard with when you book and the fixture. Onward from PRG it is trolleybus 59 plus metro A to the centre, then a tram to the Slavia stop.

Getting into Prague: airport and main station

Václav Havel Airport (PRG) sits north-west of the centre and has no metro or rail link, so getting in on public transport means a bus or trolleybus to a metro station. Stops are directly in front of the terminals, and you must buy a ticket before boarding source.

The fastest public route is trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín (about 15 minutes), then metro line A into the centre. Other options are bus 100 to Zličín on metro line B (about 18 minutes) and bus 191 towards Anděl (about 50 minutes) source.

The Airport Express (AE) bus runs directly between the airport and Praha hlavní nádraží (Main Station), but it is a separate fare of 200 CZK. Ordinary lines like trolleybus 59 are covered by a standard ticket instead source.

If you arrive by train, Praha hlavní nádraží has metro line C directly underneath it plus trams 5, 9 and 26, so you can reach Wenceslas Square (Muzeum, one metro stop) within minutes source.

Getting out to the ground

The simplest option is tram 22, which runs from central stops (Národní, I.P. Pavlova, Náměstí Míru) heading towards Nádraží Hostivař. Get off at the "Slavia" stop right by the ground source. Other trams to the Slavia / Nádraží Eden stop include lines 6, 7 and 19, and the tram journey from the centre takes roughly 23 to 25 minutes source. Night trams 95, 97 and 99 cover the same route after the metro shuts.

There is also a suburban train to the adjacent Praha-Eden station, quoted at about 10 minutes from the centre source. A taxi or Uber from the middle of town runs around 400 CZK source.

The stadium address is U Slavie 1540/2a in Vršovice (Prague 10), south-east of the centre source.

Where away fans sit

Away fans are put in a small allocation in a corner of the lower tier source. The away ticket office and entrance is Gate 3, which opens from 10am. Buy tickets with cash, as card payment is unreliable source. The whole bowl is under a roof, so cover is not an issue whatever the weather source.

Getting around the city

Prague's integrated network (metro lines A/B/C, trams and buses) uses one ticket across all modes. Single tickets are time-based, not per-journey, so you can change between tram, metro and bus within the validity source.

Buy tickets before boarding from machines at stops and stations or in the PID Lítačka app, where fares are slightly cheaper than paper. Validate paper tickets in the yellow machines when you board or enter the metro source.

A 90-minute ticket (50 CZK paper / 46 CZK app) covers the airport trolleybus plus metro, or a trip out to the ground. A 24-hour ticket (150 CZK paper / 140 CZK app) is good value on a matchday with sightseeing source.

Where visiting fans stay

Most visitors base themselves in central Prague (Old Town / New Town around Wenceslas Square) and tram out to the game, since the centre is well connected to the Slavia tram stop and to both the airport route and the main station source. The ground itself is in Vršovice (Prague 10), a residential district south-east of the centre with a few takeaways and a couple of restaurants at the stadium, and the fan shop next to Gate 1, open 10am to 5pm source.

Where to drink

Beer is the reason half of you booked. A half-litre (near enough a pint) of Pilsner Urquell or Kozel runs about 60 to 90 CZK in the tourist centre, and 45 to 65 CZK in ordinary neighbourhood pubs away from the square, so a few streets back saves real money source.

• U Zlatého Tygra (Husova 17, Old Town): a proper unfiltered-Pilsner institution, no frills, locals-heavy, cheap by centre standards. Turn up early.
• Lokál Dlouhá (Dlouhá 33): tank Pilsner poured fast, packed and lively, does full Czech plates too, a safe away-fan bet source.
• The Dubliner (Old Town Square): the default English-speaking football boozer, shows the games, gets busy on matchdays source.
• Rocky O'Reilly's (Štěpánská, near Wenceslas Square): big Irish bar, sport on the screens, easy meeting point source.
• Vršovická / V Olšinách near the ground: the strip of pubs by Eden fills fast and gets rowdy with home fans on matchdays, fine for a quick one but arrive early source source.

Avoid: the touristy strip clubs and "gentlemen's clubs" off Wenceslas Square, which are known for inflated bills and card scams, and the pubs immediately ringing Eden if you are in colours, as they are home turf source.

Where to eat

Czech food is heavy, cheap and made for a drinking day. The dish to try is svíčková, braised beef in a creamy root-vegetable sauce with bread dumplings, followed by beef goulash and roast pork with dumplings and cabbage (vepřo knedlo zelo). Pork knuckle is the big shared plate source.

• Lokál (several branches, Dlouhá is central): fast, honest Czech classics and tank beer, cheap and reliable source.
• Mincovna (Old Town Square): well-regarded goulash and svíčková, more locals than you would expect for the location source.
• Pivnice Štupartská (near Old Town Square): traditional pub grub, sausages, goulash and pork knuckle, good value.
• Tiskárna (Národní and other sites): a modern take on Czech staples, beef goulash and svíčková the picks, sit-down but not pricey.
• KATR (near the centre): Czech grill popular with former hockey and football players, strong on goulash and steaks.
• Stadium food: a few takeaways and a couple of restaurants inside the ground for a quick sausage and a beer before kick-off source.

What to do

If you are making a day or two of it, the centre is compact and walkable.

• Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock: the medieval heart of the city, with the hourly Apostles show on the 600-year-old clock source.
• Charles Bridge: the statue-lined 14th-century bridge linking Old Town to Malá Strana, best early morning before the crowds.
• Prague Castle: the vast hilltop castle complex with St Vitus Cathedral, dominating the skyline across the river.
• Wenceslas Square: the New Town's broad boulevard, handy for bars, shops and the National Museum at the top.
• Jewish Quarter (Josefov): the historic synagogues and old cemetery, one of Europe's most significant Jewish sites.
• Petřín Hill and lookout tower: a funicular up to gardens and a mini Eiffel-style tower with the best view over the city.
• John Lennon Wall: the ever-changing graffiti wall in Malá Strana, a quick, free photo stop near Charles Bridge.

Common questions

How do you get to the stadium from the airport?

Václav Havel Airport has no metro or rail link. Take trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín (about 15 minutes), then metro line A into the centre, then tram 6, 7, 19 or 22 out to the "Slavia" stop by the ground. Buy your ticket before boarding source source.

Which airport do you fly into, and is there a direct flight?

Fly into Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG). There are direct flights from Manchester (about 2 hours 5 minutes) and from London airports (about 1 hour 50 minutes), plus other big UK bases, so no hub or onward train is needed source.

Where do away fans sit?

In a small allocation in a corner of the lower tier. The away ticket office and entrance is Gate 3, which opens at 10am. Bring cash, as card payment is unreliable. The whole ground is under a roof, so you stay dry whatever the weather source source.

What is the away allocation?

Slavia give visiting clubs a small allocation, roughly a corner of the 19,370-capacity lower tier, with the exact number set per fixture. For big European nights check with your club, as demand runs well ahead of what is released source.

What time should you get to the ground?

Gate 3 opens at 10am, and the away ticket office and fan shop work daytime hours, so there is no rush on that front. Aim to be at the ground 60 to 90 minutes before kick-off, as the pubs immediately around Eden fill fast and are home-fan territory source source.

Can you drink in the ground?

Yes. There are a few takeaways and a couple of restaurants inside the stadium serving beer and quick food before kick-off, so you can get a sausage and a Pilsner without leaving the ground source.

How much is a beer?

A half-litre (near enough a pint) of Czech lager runs about 60 to 90 CZK, roughly £2 to £3, in the tourist centre, and 45 to 65 CZK in ordinary neighbourhood pubs. A few streets back from the main square costs noticeably less than on it source.

Is Prague safe?

Broadly yes, it is a safe city for football fans, with violent crime rare. The risks are pickpockets on busy trams (the tourist tram 22 and metro line A especially) and in crowds, plus overpriced taxis and dodgy bar bills near Wenceslas Square. Keep valuables secure and use Uber, Bolt or Liftago rather than street cabs source source.

Where are the away-friendly areas?

The Old Town and New Town around Wenceslas Square are the safe base, with the English-speaking football bars (The Dubliner, Rocky O'Reilly's) and easy transport to the ground. Local pubs a couple of streets off the square, such as U Zlatého Tygra and Lokál, are friendlier and cheaper than the tourist strip source.

Does the match ticket include free public transport?

No. Unlike some European cities, a Slavia match ticket does not cover local transport, so buy a PID ticket separately. A 90-minute ticket (50 CZK paper / 46 CZK app) covers the trip out and back, or a 24-hour ticket (150 CZK / 140 CZK app) is better value if you are sightseeing too source.

How far is the ground from the city centre?

The Fortuna Arena is in Vršovice (Prague 10), south-east of the centre. By tram it is about 23 to 25 minutes from central stops such as Národní and I.P. Pavlova, or roughly 10 minutes on the suburban train to Praha-Eden, or around 400 CZK in a taxi source source.

Where should you stay?

Base yourself in central Prague, the Old Town or New Town around Wenceslas Square. It is well connected to the airport route, the main station and the Slavia tram stop, and it puts you among the bars, restaurants and sights. The area around the ground is quiet and residential with little for visitors source.

What currency do you need and how do you avoid getting stung?

The Czech koruna (CZK), not the euro. Pay in koruna and decline any card-machine or ATM offer to charge in your home currency, which gives a poor rate. Avoid standalone Euronet ATMs and use Czech bank machines such as ČSOB, Česká spořitelna or Moneta. For taxis use Uber, Bolt or Liftago, a fair airport-to-centre fare is about 500 to 700 CZK source.