Prague has emerged as one of Europe’s most congested capitals, with drivers spending on average 64 hours per year stuck in traffic.

That places the city ninth on the list of the most traffic-clogged metropolises, according to long-term data from the INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard. The recent surge in delays reflects a troubling trend: the amount of time wasted in jams has nearly tripled since 2017.

European City Traffic Rankings (Average Hours Lost Annually):

10. Berlin – 58 hours
Despite heavy traffic, Berlin remains lower in the ranking than many other European capitals. Time lost has increased by about a third since 2017, but the pace is slower than in other cities.

9. Prague – 64 hours
Prague’s congestion has grown sharply in the last decade. In 2017, drivers spent just 24 hours per year in traffic jams. Only Lisbon and Ljubljana have recorded faster increases. Prague also fell in global rankings, now 29th out of more than 900 cities.

8. Rotterdam – 63 hours
As a major European transport hub, Rotterdam faces high freight and passenger traffic. Its congestion rating also factors in speed in the city center, main corridor occupancy, and the number of people affected, which puts it just ahead of Prague.

7. Milan – 64 hours
Milan shows similar hours to Prague but ranks slightly higher. Dense traffic, narrow historic streets, and a high car density have doubled congestion since 2016.

6. Warsaw – 70 hours
Warsaw has seen one of the fastest increases in traffic delays in Central Europe, with time lost doubling since 2017 and a 15% jump from 2023 to 2024.

5. Brussels – 74 hours
The city struggles with dense urban development, high commuter numbers, and limited metro capacity. Traffic delays have risen nearly 90% since 2017.

4. Rome – 71 hours
Historic streets, heavy tourist traffic, and narrow roads make congestion a persistent challenge. Delays have increased 82% since 2017.

3. Dublin – 81 hours
Dublin faces extreme congestion, with a 161% increase in lost driving time over the last decade. Rapid population growth and insufficient rail alternatives are key factors.

2. Paris – 97 hours
Paris remains one of Europe’s worst traffic cities. Time lost in jams has increased 41% since 2017. The city is testing carpool lanes, pedestrian zones, and cycling infrastructure to ease congestion.

1. London – 101 hours
Despite measures such as extensive congestion charges, strict diesel restrictions, and one of the densest public transport networks in the world, the capital’s traffic remains severe. Economic activity, commuting, and population density continue to exceed the capacity of the road network. Since 2017, time lost in traffic has increased by 36 percent.

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