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Florenc bus station will soon undergo significant changes in its appearance, layout, and location. City officials and private developers are moving forward with plans to relocate the station. With the current site no longer meeting the demands of the modern city, a new location is being weighed up for the long-distance bus terminal.
For over seven decades, Florenc has served as a major point for long-distance bus connections, including international routes. However, the congestion on Prague's streets has been steadily increasing, causing long-distance trains and their passengers to often spend dozens of minutes waiting in traffic while passing through the city in recent years. As a result, the days of the bus station at Prague's Florenc may be numbered.
Deputy Mayor Petr Hlaváček, overseeing territorial development, recently told Czech media outlet Novinky.cz that the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) is analyzing bus transport optimization with Ropid and the municipal transport department.
One option is to increase the use of bus terminals on the city's outskirts, with the new Nádraží Smíchov terminal as a potential key site. Another possibility is to create designated stops for long-distance buses near the main train station.
Private ownership makes things tricky
Complicating the matter, Florenc bus station has been privately owned by Penta Real Estate since 2023. The company also owns adjacent land and has proposed shifting the station to an eastern location, an idea stemming from the ongoing Florenc21 urban planning project.
According to IPR spokesperson Marek Vácha, Penta’s new ownership changed the design requirements initially set by the former owner, ČSAD Praha Holding. “The new owner sees operational advantages in relocating the station to the eastern part, rather than integrating it into the ground floor of a building,” Vácha said.
Prague Deputy Mayor for Transport Zdeněk Hřib acknowledged that Prague has little authority over the privately owned station but stressed that any relocation must align with broader urban development plans. “The city does not agree with moving the station until a comprehensive plan is established,” Hřib stated.
Critics, including Anna Vinklárková from the environment-focused Arnika association, argue that the potential move prioritizes commercial interests over public convenience. “Travelers will face longer walks from the metro to buses. Instead of a transparent discussion on Prague’s future transport hub, decisions are being made behind closed doors,” she told Novinky.cz.
Penta Real Estate, however, maintains that its proposal aims to enhance efficiency. “Optimizing the bus station’s operation might reduce its footprint, but it remains a profitable and essential transport hub,” said Penta PR manager Martin Lánský.
