Tram traffic suspended along popular Prague Castle lines until summer

Prague residents and tourists traveling to Prague Castle face significant disruptions starting from the weekend as a major tram artery shuts down for long-term maintenance.

From Saturday, March 21, all tram traffic was suspended on the section between Chotkovy sady and Brusnice, cutting off direct rail access to the country’s most-visited monument.

The Prague Public Transport Company (DPP) confirmed that the closure is necessary for a complete reconstruction of the aging tracks. The bypass is expected to remain in place until Friday, July 17, 2026, forcing thousands of to find alternative routes or finish their journeys on foot.

The disruption centers on the popular "castle" lines. Lines 22 and 23, which typically deposit passengers at the gates of the Royal Summer Palace and Prague Castle, will be diverted away from the Hradčany ridge. Instead, these trams will travel via Hradčanská and Prašný most before reconnecting with their standard routes at Brusnice.

Line 12 will also see changes, diverting from Malostranská toward Čechův most rather than climbing the hill toward Letná via Chotkovy sady. Historical tourist lines 41 and 42 are also scheduled for route adjustments throughout the spring and summer seasons.

While the diversions keep the neighborhood accessible, the "Prague Castle" (Pražský hrad) and "Royal Summer Palace" (Královský letohrádek) stops will remain completely out of service. This leaves visitors with a significantly longer walk to reach the Castle's main entrance.

Navigational data suggests that passengers disembarking at the nearest available stop, Prašný most, should expect at least a 13-minute walk to reach the Castle gates.

The reconstruction will also ripple out to local bus services. For lines 143, 149, and 180, the Prašný most stop in the direction of Dejvická will be temporarily cancelled to accommodate the construction equipment and shifted traffic patterns.

City officials and DPP have urged passengers to check the updated digital timetables and look for orange informational signs at major transit hubs. With the peak tourist season approaching, the transport company expects heavy pedestrian traffic along the detour routes until the tracks reopen in mid-July.