Air quality in Prague by neighbourhood
Prague’s air quality is driven mainly by traffic. Where there is the least nitrogen dioxide, where the most, and what that means for choosing a home.
What we measure
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) comes mainly from car exhausts, so it shows well how much a neighbourhood is affected by traffic. We take the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute’s five-year average for the 1 × 1 km square each address lies in, and for a neighbourhood the median of its addresses. A single year can be skewed by the weather or a road closure; five years show what a place is really like.
Where the air is cleanest
The least nitrogen dioxide is in Lipence (12.0 µg/m³), Kolovraty (13.3 µg/m³) and Písnice (13.4 µg/m³). Half of Prague’s 85 neighbourhoods are above 17.8 µg/m³.
Where the air is worst
The most nitrogen dioxide is in Nové Město (24.6 µg/m³), Staré Město (23.2 µg/m³) and Holešovice (23.1 µg/m³). Behind the high numbers there is usually the magistrála, big junctions and dense streets where the air circulates less.
What it means for your home
- Courtyard or side street: a flat facing a courtyard or a quiet street breathes better than windows straight onto a busy road, even in the same neighbourhood.
- Floor: next to a busy road the air is worst close to the ground; higher floors are a little better off.
- Greenery and slopes: parks and open hillsides help the air circulate; valleys and enclosed streets hold it.
- Noise goes with it: where there are many cars, it tends to be noisy too. Check the noise map of the address as well.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the cleanest air in Prague?
The least nitrogen dioxide from traffic is in Lipence (12.0 µg/m³), Kolovraty (13.3 µg/m³) and Písnice (13.4 µg/m³), based on five-year averages from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.
Where is the air worst in Prague?
The most nitrogen dioxide is in Nové Město (24.6 µg/m³), Staré Město (23.2 µg/m³) and Holešovice (23.1 µg/m³). High numbers tend to be along the main arterial road (magistrála), at big junctions and in dense streets where the air circulates less.
What nitrogen dioxide level is safe?
The legal annual limit in Czechia is 40 µg/m³. The World Health Organization recommends at most 10 µg/m³, and the EU is lowering its limit to 20 µg/m³ from 2030. Half of Prague’s neighbourhoods are above 17.8 µg/m³.