Step One: Get a European-sized Passport Photo
Get a 3.5 cm x 4.5cm passport photo. You can get passport photos take in many of the metro stations around Prague. The most central one is at Můstek, reachable from the Yellow B line or the Green A line. Můstek has several entrances that are over a block apart. Go in the entrance located just behind The New Yorker at the bottom of Wenceslas Square. The booth is at the bottom of the ascending escalator, and looks like this:
If the machine is down, there are also photo booths at metro stops IP Pavlova, Hlavni Nadrazi & Muzeum.
The cost is 100 Kč in cash. Select English and follow the instructions on the machine. These are the photos you want—the four on the bottom are the correct size.
(Definitely try to look as zombied-out as the lady in the photo - no mugging for the camera. Czechs do not appreciate personality in their passport photos ;)
You will also need these photos when you apply for your visa, so save the extras.
Step 2: Get your Card
You will need:
- Your passport
- 200Kc cash
- Passport photo
- A Prague address (for when you fill out the form).
Go to Škoda Palace Jungmannova 35/29, 110 00 Prague 1 – Nové Město.
Go to the touch screen and take a number. Fill out the appropriate form while you wait. After you sign up for your card, you can then ask to add some money to your account in increment as below, or you can choose to add money online at https://www.pidlitacka.cz/login
Once your card has money on it, keep it with you at all times when you ride public transit. If asked by an inspector, show them your card.
Happy travels!