Downtown public transport · field guide
Four city transit systems, decoded for one family. What runs downtown, how you pay, what it costs with two kids in tow, and the one app to put on your phone before you land.
Stop 01 · Czech Republic
Three metro lines cross the centre; trams are the real workhorse for the historic core and the river crossings.
It's a time-based system: one ticket covers metro, tram and bus with unlimited transfers until the clock runs out.
Adult: 30-min 39 CZK · 90-min 50 CZK · 24h 120 CZK · 72h 330 CZK
Children under 15 ride free everywhere in the Prague zones — so your 12- and 14-year-old cost nothing. You only buy tickets for the two adults.
Metro, tram and bus routing all work well for planning. You just can't buy or store a ticket inside Maps — use the app or tap a card for that.
Stop 02 · Austria
Five U-Bahn lines plus one of the world's biggest tram networks blanket the centre, backed by S-Bahn and buses.
It runs on an honour system — no gates — but inspectors check, and riding without a valid ticket means a fine.
Adult: single €3.20 · 24h €10.20 · 7-day €28.90 (48h/72h dropped in 2026)
Your 12- and 14-year-old pay the child fare (€1.60 a ride). Better still: under-15s ride completely free on Sundays, public holidays and Vienna school holidays — so plan museum-heavy Sundays around the trams.
Excellent for planning U-Bahn, tram and bus trips. As always, it won't sell you the ticket — WienMobil does that.
Stop 03 · Hungary
Four metro lines (M1 is a charming 1896 original) plus a dense tram grid — the 4/6 ring tram runs around the clock.
Heads up: a single ticket is one continuous ride, no transfers (except changing between metro lines). For hopping around, get a day card.
Single 500 HUF · 24h card 2,500 · 72h card 5,500 · 24h group (5 people) 5,000 HUF
Unlike the other three cities, Budapest gives no fare break to visiting children (only under-6 is free). The fix is the 24-hour group travelcard: up to 5 people for 5,000 HUF — easily your whole family's best deal.
Maps handles basic routing, but locals find BudapestGO gives better, live tourist routes (replacement buses, real-time). Use BudapestGO as your primary here.
Stop 04 · Germany
U-Bahn and S-Bahn meet under Marienplatz; everything you'll want sits in Zone M, the single inner-city fare zone.
One day ticket covers U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram and bus all day — the simplest option for sightseeing.
Zone M: single ~€3.90 · day ticket €9.70 · Deutschlandticket €63/mo (only for longer regional trips)
New for 2026: children 6–14 travel free on a single-day ticket (your own kids, any number). So two adult day tickets carry all four of you — the kids add nothing.
Germany has some of the strongest Maps transit coverage anywhere — live departures and routing are excellent. Buy via MVGO.
The systems differ, but these rules keep you fine-free and moving.
Paper tickets must be stamped on first use. App and online tickets are already valid — no machine needed.
Free and reduced child fares only count if you can prove age when an inspector asks. Keep ID handy.
Google Maps routes everywhere here, but never sells tickets. Install the official app per city for payment.
Three-plus rides in a day? A day card (or Budapest's group card) almost always wins on price.