UBC July 2026 - Trams

Photo Credit: Airam Dato on Pexels

Quick, list three cities where you can ride a streetcar:

San Francisco, Lisbon and..? 

If you're American you may say "New Orleans' French Quarter". In Europe, however, and from recent experience, it's Prague.

In Prague, trams are not just public transport, they are part of the city’s identity. The Czech capital has one of the largest and busiest tram systems in Europe, with around 144 kilometers (90 miles)  of track, more than 690 tram vehicles and a network of 26 daytime routes, nine night routes and even historical lines weaving through the city. 

Operated by the city-owned company Dopravní podnik hlavního města Prahy, the tram system forms an essential part of Prague’s integrated transport network and carries hundreds of millions of passengers each year.

What makes Prague especially fascinating is that the city never truly turned its back on trams. While many Western European cities ripped out their tram tracks in the 1960s and 1970s in favor of cars and underground systems, Prague continued investing in surface transport. When the metro opened in the 1970s, it complemented rather than replaced the tram network. The result is a layered public transport system in which metro lines handle the fastest cross-city journeys while trams continue to connect neighborhoods, suburbs and the historic center.

The history of Prague’s trams stretches back to 1875, when horse-drawn tramcars first appeared on the streets. Electric trams followed in 1891, placing Prague among the earlier adopters of electric urban transport in Europe. Over time the network expanded into an enormous web that today reaches virtually every corner of the city.

Photo by waa town on Unsplash

One of the most charming aspects of Prague is the coexistence of sleek modern low-floor trams with the instantly recognizable older red-and-cream Tatra trams from the communist era. In many cities these vehicles would have disappeared decades ago, but Prague chose modernization over wholesale replacement. The legendary Tatra T3 models, built by the Czechoslovak manufacturer ČKD Tatra, were famously robust, simple to maintain and designed for heavy everyday use. Instead of discarding them, Prague continually refurbished them with updated electronics, braking systems and interiors. Some routes even intentionally celebrate vintage rolling stock, such as the nostalgic tram line 23, where classic Tatra vehicles still run through the city center.

So are the Czechs especially gifted at maintenance? In a way, yes, but it is also about mentality. Prague developed a culture of maintaining and upgrading infrastructure instead of replacing it purely for prestige. There is a practical Central European mindset behind the system: if something works reliably, modernize it gradually and keep using it. That philosophy, combined with strong local engineering traditions and domestically produced trams, allowed Prague to preserve a living transport heritage rather than turning old trams into museum pieces.

We enjoyed riding the tram. It’s like a hop-on, hop-off tour, only much cheaper and without the uninspired tour guide commentary coming through the headphones. Because the trams run so frequently, they are rarely crowded, and you can usually even find a seat.

During the daytime, trams on busy lines often arrive every 4 to 8 minutes, especially in the city center where multiple routes overlap. On the busiest corridors, it can feel like there’s always another tram appearing almost immediately.

At night the frequency drops, but Prague is also known for having a remarkably good night tram network compared with many European cities. 

Another thing worth mentioning is the fact that senior citizens (65 and older) ride for free! It doesn't matter if you're a local or a visitor, as long as you carry a piece of ID with you, enjoy using busses, trams and the underground without purchasing a ticket. 60 - 64 pay half price, btw. I find this admirable! 

Are there trams where you live? Or does this seem like a charming mode of transportation that you'd use as a tourist?