Useful apps for Czech Republic: transport, maps, translation

Czech public transport runs on timetables, not turn-up-and-go frequency, so the app that matters most is a search engine rather than a map. IDOS covers trains, buses, trams and metro in one query and is the tool locals use for connections between towns. For Prague, PID Lítačka handles tickets and passes for metro, tram, bus and the airport bus; you can buy a 30-minute, 90-minute or 24-hour fare in the app and validate on board.

For trains, Můj vlak is the official ČD app for schedules, seat reservations and e-tickets. RegioJet and Leo Express are private operators on the Prague–Brno–Ostrava and Prague–Vienna routes; each sells through its own app or website, and prices differ from ČD, so compare before booking. Long-distance buses are not in IDOS alone — FlixBus and RegioJet have their own apps.

For getting around cities, Bolt and Uber both work in Prague, Brno and other larger towns, and usually cost less than a street taxi. Bolt is the more common of the two in Czech cities. Payment is by card in the app, which avoids the cash and change problem that catches visitors on the street.

Google Maps is reliable for walking and driving in Czech cities and for public transport in Prague and Brno, but it is weaker on rural bus connections and hiking trails. Mapy.cz, a Czech product, has better topographic maps, marked hiking routes and offline downloads; it is the standard app for the Bohemian and Moravian countryside.

For language, Czech is not close to English and outside Prague and Brno many staff do not speak it. Google Translate or DeepL with the Czech pack downloaded offline handles menus, signs and short questions. A phrasebook app or a saved screen with key phrases helps in small towns.

You will need data for all of this. An eSIM bought before you fly, or a prepaid SIM from O2, T-Mobile or Vodafone, covers a trip; EU roaming means an EU SIM works at home rates. Free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, pubs, hotels and most trains, so a small data plan is usually enough.

Download offline maps and the Czech translation pack before you leave home; rural signal is thin in the Bohemian Forest and the mountains along the borders.

Buy Prague tickets in PID Lítačka rather than from a machine; the app takes card and avoids the coin-only machines at some stops.

Compare ČD against RegioJet and Leo Express for the same route — the price gap on Prague–Ostrava or Prague–Brno can be large.

Keep a screenshot of your ticket and booking reference; inspectors accept the app but a dead battery is a fine.

If you plan to hike, install Mapy.cz and download the region; Google Maps does not show many marked Czech trails.

Set up your eSIM or buy a SIM at the airport before relying on ride-hailing at the arrivals curb.