By Francina Morel

Spoiled on New York subways, Prague’s Metro’s closing at midnight was a little bit of a shock, but then we discovered the night trams and said goodbye to rip-off taxis and hello night trams.

The night trams run right after midnight in half-hour intervals. There are 10 lines — 51–59 — each stopping off at Lazarská, the central interchange stop for all the night trams. Since every tram stops there, a fool-proof plan for every late-night spree is to find your way to Lazarská as a base point and then transfer to whichever tram takes you to the appropriate dorm. Though you might have forgotten how to study, memorize these tram numbers and stops, and you’re golden.

Máchova – Tram 59 takes you right to your dorm at stop Jana Masaryka. If you’re too impatient to wait for the 59, Trams 51 and 57 also stop at Námestí Míru.
Slezská – Tram 51 stops at Vinohradská vodárna, which is just two stops after Námestí Míru and a block away from the dorm. For a slightly longer walk, you can opt for Trams 57 and 59 to Námestí Míru.
Jaurisova – It’s best to take tram 56 to Pod Jezerkou.
Osadní – Get off at the Delnická stop, which is about a block away off of the Tram 54.

Still don’t get it? In case you’re still a bit lost, the Prague Wanderer’s got you covered with some tram tips for our favorite hotspots.

It’s Wednesday and you’re leaving Mecca at 2:15 a.m.

• You live in Máchova. The taxi drivers keep taunting you but you’re thinking you could make the 2:22 a.m. tram. Power walk two blocks down Komunardú to the Delnická stop. Take the 54 tram in the direction ofLehovec to Lazarská and wait for the 59 tram in the direction of Nádrazí Hostivar, which takes you right home to Jana Masaryka.
• Don’t live in Máchova and also partied at Mecca? For Jaurisova, take Tram 54 to Lazarská, get off, and take the 56 tram in the direction of Sporilov to Pod Jezerkou. For Slezská , take Tram 54 to Lazarská and then take the 51 going towards Radošovická to find home sweet home, Vinohradská vodárna.

But what about Thursdays at Radost FX?

• Heading to Jaurisova? Take Tram 56 that gets to I.P. Pavlova at 3:20 a.m. straight to Pod Jezerkou. Don’t go the wrong direction – you’re looking for the tram heading towardsSporilov.
• For Osadní, hop on Trams 51, 57, or 59 at Námestí Míru. Take it to Lazarská and then wait for Tram 54 towards Sídlište Barrandov that takes you back to Delnická.

We take our weekday partying seriously, meaning Tuesday nights at Chapeau Rouge:

• Everyone can travel together to the Námestí Republiky metro stop.  There, Slezská and Máchova students can catch a direct route home on Tram 51 towards Radošovická (Máchova kids, get off at Námestí Míru, but Slezská is once again just two stops after at Vinohradská vodárna). Those heading to Jaurisova and Osadní can take Tram 51 to Lazarská and transfer to Tram 56 to Sporilov and 54 to Sídlište Barrandov respectively.
• Want to get some fried cheese in Wenceslas Square first before heading home?  Tram 51 also has a stop directly in front of the club Lucerna, a perfect location for the drunken munchies.

We suggest a quick look at Google Maps for exact tram stop locations and dpp.cz for exact times. Now you can save all those cab crowns and put them towards something more productive …like beer.