Table of Contents
- So Why Does Everyone End Up on Tram 22?
- The Tram 22 Route Map - What It Actually Covers
- All Tram 22 Prague Stops in Order
- Getting to Prague Castle on Tram 22
- What to See Along the Route, Stop by Stop
- Churches and Monasteries Along the Tram 22 Route
- Parks and Views Worth Getting Off For
- A Few Places to Eat and Get Coffee
- Tickets, Timetables and What You Actually Need to Know
- A Suggested Day Out on Tram 22
- Quick Answers to the Questions People Actually Ask
Prague's got a lot going for it as a city, but its tram network is honestly one of the most underrated parts of the whole trip. And within that network, Tram 22 is probably the one line that's worth knowing before you arrive. It runs about 21 kilometres across the city - from Nádraží Hostivař in the southeast all the way out to Bílá Hora in the west - passing through Vinohrady, New Town, Lesser Town and Hradčany, and going pretty much right past Prague Castle on the way. The full journey end to end takes around 65 to 70 minutes, which gives you a decent sense of how much ground it covers.
This page's got the full Tram 22 Prague route map, all the stops in order, the best ones to get off at and everything you need to know about tickets before you get on.
So Why Does Everyone End Up on Tram 22?
It's one of the longest and most-used backbone tram lines in Prague - the kind of route that's actually useful rather than just scenic. In the morning and afternoon rush, it comes every 4 minutes. Outside peak hours it's usually every 5 to 10 minutes, and at weekends you're probably looking at 15 to 20 minutes between trams. So you're rarely waiting long, which is nice.
But the main reason tourists end up on it is pretty straightforward - it goes to Prague Castle, and it does so through some of the most interesting parts of the city. You cross the Vltava River, you get views of the castle from below, you pass the National Theatre, you go through the cobbled streets of Malá Strana. That's a lot of Prague packed into one tram route, and it's all covered by a single ticket.
Worth knowing before you board: not all services run the whole route. Some trams start or finish at intermediate loops rather than going the full distance from Nádraží Hostivař to Bílá Hora. The destination board at the front of the tram'll tell you where it's heading, so it's worth a quick check.
And if you're into trams for their own sake - the line used to be served by the iconic red Tatra T3 vehicles, which were built between 1960 and 1999 and became pretty much the symbol of Prague public transport. These days you're more likely to get a modern low-floor Škoda tram, which is a bit more comfortable but considerably less atmospheric.
The Tram 22 Route Map - What It Actually Covers
The Prague tram 22 route runs in a roughly east-to-west direction. Travelling from east to west (so, in the direction of Prague Castle), here's the broad picture of what you're passing through:
- Hostivař and Vršovice - the eastern end, mostly residential, but this is where the route starts so it's worth knowing it exists
- Vinohrady and New Town - from Náměstí Míru through to Národní divadlo, this stretch runs through the city's 19th-century neighbourhoods and the southern edge of the historic centre
- Crossing the Vltava - you get views of the river here, and Charles Bridge is visible to the north if you're looking at the right moment
- Malá Strana (Lesser Town) - from Újezd up through Malostranské náměstí, it's the Baroque quarter sitting at the foot of the castle hill
- Prague Castle access - Malostranská, Královský letohrádek, Pražský Hrad, Brusnice, Pohořelec - there're several stops depending on which side of the castle you want to come in from
- Břevnov and beyond - Břevnovský klášter, Obora Hvězda, and out to Bílá Hora at the western terminus
And the route's one of the most useful in the city for travelling between these areas without changing transport lines - which is partly why it's popular with locals and not just tourists.
All Tram 22 Prague Stops in Order (Nádraží Hostivař to Bílá Hora)
The full Tram 22 route has over 40 stops. Here they are in order going west - these are the Czech stop names you'll see on timetables and hear announced on the tram:
| Stop | What's nearby |
|---|---|
| Nádraží Hostivař | Eastern terminus, metro line A connection |
| Hostivařská | Hostivař-Záběhlice Park and reservoir |
| Ke Koulce | Residential area |
| Záběhlická | - |
| Kubánské náměstí | Local square, Vršovice |
| Slavia | Vršovice neighbourhood |
| Čechovo náměstí | Local cafés and shops |
| Vršovické náměstí | Tylovo náměstí area |
| Krymská | Popular local café street |
| Ruská | Vinohrady / Vršovice border area |
| Náměstí Míru | Church of St. Ludmila, metro, main Vinohrady square |
| Bruselská | Vinohrady |
| Čelakovského sady | Gardens, edge of New Town |
| I.P. Pavlova | Wenceslas Square area, metro |
| Štěpánská | New Town |
| Karlovo náměstí | Charles Square, New Town Hall, metro |
| Moráň | New Town |
| Myslíkova | Dancing House a short walk away |
| Národní třída | Franz Kafka Head sculpture, metro |
| Národní divadlo | National Theatre, Café Slavia, Vltava views |
| Újezd | Petřín funicular, Memorial to Victims of Communism |
| Hellichova | Malá Strana |
| Malostranské náměstí | St. Nicholas Church, Lesser Town Square |
| Malostranská | Valdštejn Garden, Kafka Museum, metro |
| Mariánské hradby | Base of Prague Castle hill |
| Královský letohrádek | Royal Summer Palace, Royal Garden (April-October) |
| Pražský Hrad | Main Prague Castle entrance |
| Brusnice | Castle northern approach, Golden Lane |
| Pohořelec | Strahov Monastery, Loreta Church |
| Marjánka | Residential Břevnov |
| Vypich | Břevnov |
| Břevnovský klášter | Břevnov Monastery |
| Obora Hvězda | Star Summer Palace, Ladronka Park |
| Bílá Hora | Western terminus, Battle of White Mountain site |
Getting to Prague Castle on Tram 22 - Which Stop Actually Works Best?
This is the main reason most people get on tram 22 to Prague Castle, so it's worth going through properly. There're actually three stops that give you usable access to the castle complex, and they're not the same experience at all.
Pražský Hrad - the Most Direct Option
You get off here and you're basically at the main gate - the 1st Courtyard's right there. If you want to get into Prague Castle as quickly as possible without a lot of extra walking, this is the stop to use. The street on the way up, Chotkova, has some pretty good views back over the city too.
Brusnice - the Quieter Northern Side
This one puts you just north of the castle complex. It works well if you're heading for Golden Lane or want to come in from a less crowded direction. It's also the most convenient stop if you're visiting the Royal Garden first - which is open April through October and is actually one of the nicer spots in the whole castle area, though a lot of people skip it entirely because they don't realise it's there.
Pohořelec - the Scenic Approach from the West
The western approach, and probably the most interesting of the three. From here you walk through the Hradčany neighbourhood, past the Loreta pilgrimage complex, down toward Strahov Monastery, and into the castle from the west. It takes a bit longer but you're passing through a part of Prague that feels genuinely old and not particularly touristy. The New World area (Nový Svět), a short detour from this stop, is one of those streets that's easy to walk right past without noticing.
What to See Along the Route, Stop by Stop
Tram 22 provides access to several major attractions in Prague beyond just the castle, so there's a good case for treating the whole tram route as a sightseeing framework rather than just a transfer option. And it's not like you've got to commit - a 24-hour ticket means you can hop on and off as much as you like. Here's what's worth stopping for.
Náměstí Míru - Start Here if You're in Vinohrady
A useful boarding point with a metro connection on line A. The square itself is anchored by the Church of St. Ludmila - a neo-Gothic twin-tower church built in the 19th century and dedicated to St. Ludmila, patron saint of Bohemia. It's pretty imposing up close and free to look at from outside.
Karlovo náměstí - Charles Square and New Town History
Charles Square was laid out by Charles IV when he founded New Town in 1348, and it's one of the largest squares in Central Europe. The New Town Hall at the northern end is where Prague's first defenestration happened in 1419 - yes, the Czechs really did throw people out of windows on more than one occasion, and this is where it started. The Dancing House is a short walk from the Myslíkova stop if you want to see the Gehry-Milunič building.
Národní třída - Kafka and New Town
Get off here to walk through the area around National Avenue. David Černý's Franz Kafka Head - a kinetic sculpture made of 42 rotating stainless steel layers that assembles itself into Kafka's face - is right nearby. It's the kind of thing that sounds gimmicky until you actually see it working.
Národní divadlo - the National Theatre and the Vltava
One of the better stops on the route, genuinely. The National Theatre is a beautiful 19th-century building, and the views toward Prague Castle from the riverside promenade here are some of the best in the city. Café Slavia is right across the road from the tram stop - it's been open since 1884 and it's pretty much the most historic café in Prague. Worth a coffee stop if you've got time, though the window seats fill up fast on weekends.
Újezd - Petřín Hill
From Újezd you can catch the Petřín funicular up to Petřín Hill. The Petřín Lookout Tower at the top is a scaled-down version of the Eiffel Tower, built in 1891, and it's got some of the best views in the city on a clear day. There's also an observatory, the rose garden and Kinský Garden up there. The Memorial to Victims of Communism is right at the Újezd stop - it's an easy one to walk past quickly, but it's actually worth taking a minute for.
Malostranské náměstí - St. Nicholas Church and the Best Square in Lesser Town
The tram runs right through Lesser Town Square, which is one of the finest Baroque squares in Prague. St. Nicholas Church dominates the upper part of the square with its dome and tower - the interior is genuinely dramatic, and Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer did much of the design work. It's probably the best Baroque church in the city, and it's right there on the tram route.
Malostranská - Gardens Below the Castle
The Valdštejn Garden (Wallenstein Garden) is a few minutes' walk from this stop - it's a formal Baroque garden with free entry, and it's usually peaceful even when the rest of Malá Strana is busy. The Kafka Museum is also close by, in a converted warehouse on the riverbank. A short detour from the tram route but worth it if you've got an hour and you're curious about the man behind all the literary references.
Pohořelec - Strahov Monastery and the Loreta
One of the best stops on the whole route, and often overlooked by people who get off at the castle and don't ride this far. Strahov Monastery has two Baroque library halls - the Theological Hall and the Philosophical Hall - that are among the most-photographed interiors in Prague and a genuinely good reason to visit on their own. The monastery runs its own microbrewery where you can get lunch, which is a pretty good combination. The Loreta, a Baroque pilgrimage complex a two-minute walk away, has got an extraordinary treasury and is rarely crowded.
Břevnovský klášter - the Oldest Monastery in Bohemia
Břevnov Monastery was founded in 993 by Prince Boleslav II and Bishop Adalbert, making it the oldest monastery in Bohemia - and one of the oldest in the Czech Republic. It's got beautiful gardens, a brewery that's been running in some form for centuries, and a Baroque church that's genuinely worth a look. It's an easy stop to add if you're riding the tram all the way out toward the western end of the line anyway - and most people don't bother, which means it's rarely crowded.
Bílá Hora - the End of the Line
The western terminus is the site of the Battle of White Mountain in 1620, one of the most important battles of the early Thirty Years' War - the Czech Protestant army was beaten by the Habsburgs here, which led to around 300 years of Habsburg rule in Bohemia. There's a small monument if you know what you're looking at. Most people just turn around and head back into the city, and that's fine too.
Churches and Monasteries Along the Tram 22 Route
There's a lot of religious architecture along this route, which probably shouldn't be surprising given it passes through the heart of Baroque Prague. Here's what you'll find, in brief:
- Church of St. Ludmila - Náměstí Míru, neo-Gothic, 19th century, dedicated to the patron saint of Bohemia
- Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola - near Karlovo náměstí, Jesuit Baroque
- Church of Our Lady Victorious - Malá Strana, home of the Infant Jesus of Prague (a small wax figure that's been drawing pilgrims since the 17th century)
- St. Nicholas Church at Malostranské náměstí - the finest Baroque church in Prague
- Strahov Monastery - Premonstratensian, Pohořelec, founded 1143
- Loreta Church and Monastery - Baroque pilgrimage complex, Pohořelec area
- Břevnov Monastery - the oldest in Bohemia, founded 993, Břevnovský klášter stop
Parks and Views Worth Getting Off For
There's actually more green space along the Tram 22 route than most people expect - which is a nice surprise given how much stone and cobblestone you're walking around on the rest of the time.
- Petřín Hill (Újezd stop) - the most prominent one. The funicular takes you up, and once you're there you've got the lookout tower, the rose garden, Kinský Garden and views over pretty much the whole city.
- Royal Garden (Královský letohrádek stop) - next to the Royal Summer Palace, open April through October. It's one of the more elegant Renaissance gardens in Central Europe, and a lot quieter than the castle courtyards below.
- Vojanovy Gardens near Malostranská - one of Prague's oldest public parks, tucked behind a wall. Easy to miss, usually quiet.
- Vrtba Garden in Malá Strana - a terraced Baroque garden on the slope below the castle with good views over the rooftops. There's a small entrance fee, but it's worth it and usually not crowded.
- Grébovka Park near Náměstí Míru - a 19th-century park with a working vineyard. The vineyards here trace their roots back to Charles IV's royal vineyards planted in the 14th century. Prague's actually still producing wine from this area, which surprises most visitors.
- Ladronka Park near Obora Hvězda - a recreational park that's popular with locals, with the Renaissance Star Summer Palace (Hvězda) at its centre.
A Few Places to Eat and Get Coffee
You won't struggle to find food along this route. A few worth knowing about specifically:
- Café Slavia (Národní divadlo stop) - open since 1884, writers and artists in the 20th century drank here regularly, and it's still a decent spot for coffee and lunch. The riverside window tables are good.
- Café Louvre (Národní třída area) - a first-floor coffeehouse that's been going since 1902. Franz Kafka reportedly came here regularly, which probably says something about the coffee. Good for breakfast or lunch.
- Strahov Monastery Brewery (Pohořelec) - lunch here is a pretty good idea. Simple Czech food, their own lager, and a terrace with views. Bit touristy, genuinely good.
- Krymská Street (near Krymská stop, Vršovice) - a street with a cluster of independent cafés and restaurants that are popular with locals rather than tourists. Worth knowing if you're starting the route from the Vinohrady end.
Tickets, Timetables and What You Actually Need to Know
Types of Ticket and What They Cost
Prague uses the PID (Prague Integrated Transport) ticketing system, and the same ticket works across all tram lines, metro, buses and the Petřín funicular. So there's no separate tram ticket to buy - it's all one system.
| Ticket | Price | Valid for |
|---|---|---|
| 30-minute ticket | 30 CZK | 30 minutes from validation, single direction |
| 90-minute ticket | 40 CZK | 90 minutes, unlimited transfers |
| 24-hour pass | 120 CZK | 24 hours across all modes |
| 72-hour pass | 330 CZK | 72 hours across all modes |
Single tickets are valid for one journey and can't be transferred between lines once used. If you're planning to hop on and off the tram 22 route throughout the day - which is pretty much the best way to use it - the 24-hour pass's much better value than buying individual tickets each time.
Where to Buy Tickets and How to Validate
Tickets are sold at yellow machines at the main tram stops, at metro stations and at tobacco and newsagent shops (look for signs saying "Tabák" or "Trafika"). You can also buy them on the tram itself, and most trams in Prague now accept contactless card payment.
The important bit: you've got to validate your ticket before boarding, or immediately when you get on. Yellow validation boxes are near the tram doors. Inspectors do check, and the fine for travelling without a validated ticket is a lot more than the cost of a day pass. So don't skip it.
When the Tram Runs and How Often
Tram 22 runs from roughly 5am to 1am daily. During peak hours on weekdays it comes every 4 minutes. Outside of peak hours it's every 5 to 10 minutes. At weekends and late evenings, roughly every 15 to 20 minutes.
The night tram - Tram 97 - covers a similar route overnight when Tram 22 stops running.
A Suggested Day Out on Tram 22
The Half-Day Version (about 3-4 hours)
Board at Náměstí Míru after a coffee, heading west. Ride to Národní divadlo and spend 15 minutes by the river and the National Theatre. Get back on and ride to Újezd - take the funicular up Petřín Hill for 30 to 40 minutes of views. Back down, then ride to Malostranské náměstí for St. Nicholas Church and a walk around the square. Finish at Pohořelec with a visit to Strahov Monastery and, if you've got time, the Loreta. That's a solid half-day and it's all on one tram line.
The Full Day (6-8 hours)
Same start, but add Malostranská for the Valdštejn Garden, then ride to the castle area - Pražský Hrad for the most direct entrance, or Pohořelec if you want to approach through Strahov first. Give Prague Castle two to three hours at minimum if you want to do St. Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane and the courtyards properly. On the way back east, stop at Karlovo náměstí for Charles Square. End the day with dinner in Vinohrady near Náměstí Míru - there're loads of good restaurants in that neighbourhood, and it's a lot more relaxed than the tourist areas near the castle.
Quick Answers to the Questions People Actually Ask
Does Tram 22 go to Prague Castle?
Yes - it's one of the most direct public transport options in the city for reaching the castle. Get off at Pražský Hrad for the main entrance, Brusnice for the northern side, or Pohořelec if you want to approach from the west through Strahov.
Where's the best stop on Tram 22 for Prague Castle?
Pražský Hrad for the fastest route in. Pohořelec if you want to pass Strahov Monastery and the Loreta first. Brusnice for the Royal Garden.
How much does Tram 22 cost?
A single 90-minute ticket's 40 CZK (roughly €1.60). A 24-hour pass is 120 CZK and makes far more sense for a day of sightseeing.
Can I pay by card on the tram?
Yes, most trams now accept contactless card payment. A paper ticket or the PID Lítačka app is a good backup.
How often does Tram 22 run?
Every 4 minutes during peak hours on weekdays, every 5 to 10 minutes during the day, and every 15 to 20 minutes in the evenings and at weekends.
What's the difference between Tram 22 and Tram 23?
Tram 23 shares part of the route but branches off differently. For Prague Castle, Tram 22 is the one to use.
Can I use Tram 22 as a hop-on hop-off tram?
Pretty much, yes - that's actually how most tourists end up using it. Get a 24-hour pass and ride in both directions as much as you like. It's a fraction of the price of a tourist bus and you can get on and off wherever you want.
Do all Tram 22 services run the full route?
Not always - some trams start or finish at intermediate stops. Check the destination board at the front of the tram before you board.