Best of Prague: The Ultimate Travel Guide & Top Things to Do

Welcome to Prague, the golden city! Anyone who has taken a stroll at dawn over Charles Bridge (possibly the most famous sight in Prague) can guess why Prague has been given this name.

Prague’s old town is an absolute masterpiece. Baroque palaces, gothic churches, picturesque alleyways and, of course, not to forget the great location of the city at the foot of the Vltava River – all of this makes Prague so special.

Although: This beauty has its price. Prague is an unbelievably touristy travel destination. (Just as a small warning in advance.) But that shouldn’t in any way stop you from taking a city trip to Prague.

We have put together a detailed Prague travel guide with all our tips for the best sights, so that you can perfectly plan and prepare for your holiday. Of course, as always, we have also included a few great culinary recommendations and our hotel tip in this travel guide.

1. Prague FAQs: Overview of Initial Travel Tips

Interesting facts & useful info about Prague

• Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic and has 1.3 million inhabitants. However, the centre is quite compact and almost all the sights can be reached on foot.
• The historic centre of Prague has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.
• Prague’s city landscape is characterised by Baroque, Renaissance and Gothic styles. You can also find some Art Nouveau buildings. For us personally, Prague reminds us a lot of Vienna – perhaps that is why we like Prague so much.
• Prague is really very (!) touristy. You will notice it at the latest when you make your way over Charles Bridge. Of course, we reveal our tips for avoiding the crowds throughout the course of this travel guide.

Prague bucket list: What can I experience in Prague?

Before we introduce Prague’s main sights later in this travel guide, we would like to give you a short overview of what awaits you in Prague. Here is our small but mighty bucket list for your trip:

• Wake up early to marvel at the sunrise from Charles Bridge.
• Peer down into the depths from the town hall tower.
• Observe the astronomical clock on the hour.
• Walk up to Prague Castle and enjoy the view from there.
• Drink a freshly poured tap beer. (Be aware of the excessive prices in tourist areas – beer in the Czech Republic is very cheap.)
• Enjoy Czech sweet treats in the city’s cafés.

How many days should I plan for Prague?

If you stay two nights (and have a few hours on the arrival and departure days), then you can discover the main attractions in Prague without a problem. The city is comparatively compact, so you can easily visit the main highlights in about 48 hours.

Although: You won’t have much time for relaxing strolls. So, if you like to take it a little easier, then we would recommend staying three to four nights.

When is the best time to travel to Prague?

Of course, it is nicest to discover a city like Prague in the warm seasons. We can especially recommend spring and Autumn.

Because Prague is really unbelievably touristy, we would also recommend avoiding the summer holidays, public holidays and weekends. It is the busiest at these times – and believe us, that is not enjoyable.

We ourselves were in Prague during the middle of the week in March and it was the best decision. Generally, we would definitely recommend taking a trip in the low season for Prague.

2. Our Hotel Tip for Prague

Before we get to Prague’s main attractions and reveal the best things to do, we would like to let you in on our hotel tip. Because the perfect city visit goes hand in hand with the perfect accommodation – and we’ve found just that.

The BoHo Hotel Prague is a stylish boutique hotel directly in Prague’s old town. We can warmly recommend this feel-good hotel.

The rooms are a surprisingly generous size and incredibly comfortably furnished. From the coffee machine to the bath robes, nothing is missing here. The bed is an absolute highlight – you will have an incredible sleep here.

Breakfast (which is served until 11am) is the next highlight. The opportunity of a hotel of this size in the city really surprised us. There is really almost no wish left unfulfilled here.

The location couldn’t get any better: Prague’s old town is practically right at your doorstep. You can walk to the Old Town Square in less than ten minutes. Parking is also very convenient thanks to the hotel’s own parking service.

The wellness area is the cherry on top, especially the hot tub, which we would have a nice relaxing time in each day after sightseeing in the city. Our conclusion about the hotel: Highly recommendable! We will definitely be back.

You can book the hotel here: BoHo Hotel Prague

3. Prague Travel Guide: The Best Things to Do and See

Charles Bridge

Unwritten rule: You aren’t allowed to leave Prague without having taken a stroll over Charles Bridge (“Karlův most”). The historicstone bridge crosses over the Vltava River and connects Prague’s old town with the city districts of Malá Strana and Hradčany (where the Prague Castle is enthroned).

Charles Bridge (together with the castle) is the main attraction in Prague and the city’s landmark. So it’s no wonder that there is a frenzy like no other during the day here. You don’t see a lot of the bridge in the afternoon during the main season, instead you are practically pushed through. Oof.

Important note: Pickpockets have it easy in crowds. Please keep extra good care of your valuables around here. 

Our tip: If you would like to experience the magic of Charles Bridge, we definitely recommend you pull yourself out of bed and come before sunrise. At dawn, when the first sunbeams bathe the city in a golden light, the backdrop has an entirely different feel. Absolutely recommend!

Prague Castle

Prague Castle is boldly enthroned on an approximate 70-metre-high hill over the Vltava River. Taking a walk around the Hradčany district is an absolute must on any trip to Prague.

Don’t worry: The ascent is not as difficult as you think. For example, you can opt to take the path via the old castle stairs (“Staré zámecké schody”). There you will also be rewarded with a beautiful view back towards the city.

Once you reach the top, the largest enclosed castle grounds in the world awaits you. Prague Castle has several attractions. 

• St. Vitus Cathedral: This Gothic masterpiece is the main church in Prague and the largest in the Czech Republic. The view from the St. Vitus Cathedral clock tower is a highlight.

• Golden Lane: Franz Kafka once lived in this picturesque alley (house number 22). The appearance of the Golden Lane with its low houses, which originates in the 16th century, is rather special.
• Old Royal Palace: If you are interested in history, a visit to the Old Royal Palace may be of interest to you. The Old Royal Palace was the scene of the Prague defenestration. The heart of the palace is the 60-metre-long Vladislav Hall.
• St. George’s Basilica: This Basilica originates in the 10^th century and is therefore one of the oldest parts of the Prague Castle.

To enter into the Prague Castle grounds, you need to pass through a security check. Some areas (e.g. the entrance way to the St. Vitus Cathedral or some courtyards) are free to visit, but you will need a ticket for many of the sights (including the Golden Lane).

More info about opening times and prices: Prague Castle (official website)

Old Town Square: Old Town Hall & the Church of Our Lady before Týn

Now we move to the other side of the Vltava River, in Prague’s old town. The main square far and wide is the Old Town Square. When you walk through Prague’s curvy alleyways, you will eventually end up here at some point.

The Old Town Square is a true work of art: Each row of houses is more beautiful than the last. Several of Prague’s main attractions are also nestled in the Old Town Square, including, above all, the Old Town Hall and the striking Church of Our Lady before Týn.

Old Town Hall with its astronomical clock

One of the main attractions in Prague is the Old Town Hall, a masterpiece of Gothic and Renaissance. You will always (especially on the hour) find a crowd of people in front of its south wall. You will find the world famous astronomical clock there.

The clock originates in the 15^th century and has always been developed or restored throughout the centuries. Every hour on the hour (between 9am and 10pm) a kind of glockenspiel chimes here. Then figures of the twelve apostles appear, then a rooster crows. Our conclusion: The clock itself is the bigger spectacle in our eyes.

Our tip: Definitely do not miss the view from the town hall’s tower. We reveal more info about this viewpoint for you further down in this travel guide.

Jewish District: Jewish cemetery & Synagogues

In the northern part of Prague’s old town, around a five-minute walk away from the Old Town Square, you will come to the Jewish district. There are several sights to explore here within close proximity.

• Old Jewish Cemetery: Probably the highlight of the Jewish district. Around 12,000 gravestones are crowded next to each other here. You can take a tour around the area.
• Spanish Synagogue: In our eyes, the most impressive synagogue in the Jewish district. It was erected in Moorish style and the interior took us quite by surprise.
• Old New Synagogue: Europe’s oldest synagogue and one of the earliest Gothic buildings in Prague.
• Maisel Synagogue: A rather plain synagogue from within, which houses an exhibition about Jewish history in Bohemia.
• Pinkas Synagogue: Here you can find a memorial for the victims of the holocaust.
• Klausen Synagogue: A rather simple synagogue in Baroque style.

There are combo tickets available for the Jewish district, which include different sights (depending on whether you would also like to visit the Old New Synagogue).

Our tip: We recommend you concentrate on the old Jewish cemetery and two synagogues, otherwise you will have quite the information and experience overload. If you allow around two hours, you can discover quite a lot because the sights are all located just a stone’s throw away from one another.

Wenceslas Square

Wenceslas Square is more relevant from a political standpoint than a tourist standpoint. The square has been the scene of many historical events, such as when the student Jan Palach set himself on fire as a sign of protest against the suppression of the Prague Spring.

Wenceslas Square is more of a wide boulevard than a square. It’s no wonder – after all, Wenceslas Square is 750 metres long. It is lined with turn of the century buildings.

Unfortunately, the flair is a little clouded by the traffic and the countless international brand stores (and the numerous architectural mistakes which come along with it).

Further things to do in Prague if you have more time

Even though you will have already discovered a lot of highlights from the sights listed above, that is of course not nearly all of them. Therefore, we would like to briefly familiarise you with a few more sights that are also worthwhile.

Klementinum Library: WOW! Klementium, the Baroque library of the former Jesuit colleges is simply, without a doubt, the most impressive library that we have ever laid eyes on. Unfortunately, there are two downsides: One is that you can only view it while on a tour, the other is that you are not allowed to enter the library, only take a look inside from the side. Such a shame.

Franz Kafka Statue: The sculptures by the Czech artist David Černý can be found all over Prague, including the futuristic-looking head of Franz Kafka next to the Quadrio shopping mall.

John Lennon Wall: This wall of street art pays homage to John Lennon. We personally found it a little overrated, but you could certainly stop by here if you are in the area.

Dancing House: One of the most well-known modern architectural buildings in Prague is the Dancing House, which was built in 1996 on the banks of the Vltava River. Not really a must-see of Prague, in our opinion, but if you come by, then it is worth a short photo stop at this really unusual sight.

Wallenstein Garden: This Baroque garden is located below Prague Castle. Perfect for a short break from sightseeing.

4. Prague from Above: The Most Beautiful Viewpoints

Tower of the Old Town Hall

The most iconic view of Prague from a birds-eye-view can be enjoyed from the tower of the Old Town Hall. The way up is quite intriguing: You don’t go up a classic staircase (other than at the beginning and end). Instead, you take a spiral staircase up.

Once you reach the top, a view out in all directions awaits you. We personally found the view over to the Old Town Square to be especially beautiful. The Church of Our Lady before Týn is also very impressive from this perspective.

Our tip: We came before sunset and found this to be fantastic timing in terms of lighting. However, we fear the crowds are particularly large during the high season at this time.

A visit to the historic rooms of the town hall is also included in the ticket price. We only took a short walk through. The real highlight in our eyes is the view over Prague.

Entrance: 250 CZK per person

Old Town Bridge Tower

Probably the best view of Charles Bridge you can get is from the Old Town Bridge Tower. This Gothic gate tower (city gate and tower in one) is located right at the entrance to the bridge and is hard to miss.

Once you conquer the 138 steps, you can look forward to a grand 360-degree view. The viewing platform at the top is very narrow and crooked, so you actually need to hunch over a little the whole time. The view – especially towards Charles Bridge – is fabulous.

We decided to visit shortly before sunset. Because we were there in the shoulder season, it was surprisingly not very busy. Otherwise, you need to be prepared for a few visitors.

Entrance: 150 CZK per person

Letna Park

Letna Park is a free viewpoint, which is also very popular with many locals. It is located on a hill north of Prague’s Old Town and is a beloved day trip destination for jogging or walks.

You have a beautiful view over Prague from Letna Park, including the bridges. (Too bad Charles Bridge isn’t the most prominent, but okay – you can’t have everything.)

You can walk to the park from Charles Bridge in around 20 minutes. You will get a good view from the historic Hanavský pavilion (a café is also located here) or about 100 metres east of the viewpoint.

Klementinum Lookout Tower

A beautiful central view over Prague can be enjoyed from the lookout tower of the Klementinum, a former Jesuit college. Astronomical measurements were once carried out in the tower – that is why it is also known as the Astronomical Tower.

Small downside: The Klementinum (and also the lookout tower) can only be entered while on a tour. Therefore, the time up the tower is limited (around 10 minutes). The rest of the time you will learn a lot about the (astronomical) history of the Klementinum and can get a peek inside the (very spectacular) Baroque library. 

Even though the view is fantastic, we found the price was a bit high for the (rather mediocre) tour. But if you have enough time, then you could definitely stop by here.

Entrance: 300 CZK per person

Prague Castle

There are numerous points around the grounds of the Prague Castle where you can always enjoy a wonderful view down towards the city. We will briefly introduce the most well-known to you.

• East of the castle, at the end of the old town stairs (“Staré zámecké schody”). This is where we took our photo.
• West of the castle, at the end of the castle stairs (“Zámecké schody”) next to Starbucks. Not so impressive, but still worth seeing.  
• Last but not least, from the 99-metre-high tower of St. Vitus Cathedral. You can reach this viewing platform after climbing up 287 steps.

5. Eating & Drinking in Prague: Our Culinary Tips

Prague Specialties

The Bohemian kitchen is one thing above all: Meat-heavy. And hearty. But we can reassure you: There are now also unbelievably great, modern-inspired restaurants of the highest quality. In any case, we had excellent (vegetarian) food in Prague. 

The Czech sweet treats are an absolute highlight, which are of course very reminiscent of the Austrian classics, including curd dumplings, pancakes, buchtel or golatschen (Danish pastry stuffed with e.g. curd cheese).

Available on almost every corner, but definitely not a Czech specialty, is Trdelník. This pastry is originally from Slovakia. But it still tastes delicious.

In terms of drinks, Czech beer is of course the number one specialty. No wonder, the Czech Republic is always the beer world champion – nowhere else do they drink as much beer as here. Although, you need to be careful in the tourist areas. They often like to hike up the prices there.

Our tips for cafés & restaurants in Prague

Café Café: One of our favourite cafés in Prague’s Old Town. Here you are seated in a very nice setting and there are the most delicious cakes and slices. Very recommendable.

Ema Espresso Bar: This hip coffee bar, which is extremely popular with young people, has amazing coffee. Perfect for a short coffee break.

The Eatery: By far (!) our favourite culinary discover in Prague. We hadn’t eaten as well as we did in this stylish, industrial style restaurant in a long time. The menu is small but great and includes something for all tastes (meat, fish, vegetarian). The restaurant has been awarded by Michelin for its fantastic value for money. We can only agree. The food was poetry. Very highly recommend!

Bistro Monk: This hip bistro is located right by the Old Town Square, which is perfect for breakfast or a light lunch. The prices are rather high for what is on offer, but we really enjoyed our meal here. On the menu they have avocado toast, salad or sandwiches/burgers.

Maitrea: The most well-known vegetarian/vegan restaurant in Prague is located right in the centre. They have meals from around the world on the menu. A little spirit was lacking for us personally, but the restaurant is still recommendable.

6. Don’ts in Prague: Just No!

• Don’t ever shop in the countless candy stores in the historic old town. The quality is bad, and the prices are terrible – an absolute rip off. If you want to buy Czech sweets, then you can stock up on them in any supermarket.
• Always keep a close eye on your valuables – otherwise the pickpockets will have an easy time. Unfortunately, Prague doesn’t have the best reputation in this regard. That especially goes for the well-frequented tourist spots such as Charles Bridge or in the metro.
• You should never ever exchange your money on the street. Unfortunately, that is a well-known scam in Prague. They will try to sell you notes worth next to nothing. If you need to exchange your money, then definitely do it in the bank. However, you can quite comfortably withdraw money from ATMs or simply pay by card.
• Watch out for the excessive prices around the Town Square. You will lose your money here faster than you would like.

7. Practical Travel Tips for Getting There & Transport While There

Getting there: How do I get to Prague?

Arriving by car

Prague is just a few hours’ drive away from many Austrian and German cities – it’s around 4 hours from Berlin, Munich and Vienna. Given this, arriving by car is naturally a good idea.

The disadvantage: A car is pretty useless once you get there and needs to be parked somewhere. The parking fees in the centre of Prague are not to be underestimated. If you want to keep your car in a parking garage (which we would recommend), you need to allow around 25 to 35 euros per day.

Important tip: You need a vignette to use the motorway in the Czech Republic, which is now only available as a digital e-vignette. You can buy it before the border. (Watch out for the excessive prices and dubious stalls.)

Arriving by train

The Prague train station is located quite close to Prague’s old town. (For example, it was about a 10-minute walk to our hotel, the BoHo Hotel Prague.) In this respect, arriving by train is an option worth considering.

Arriving by plane

Arriving by plane is a little unusual, but possible. Prague’s airport is located about 45 minutes outside of the inner city on public transport. You can use Google Maps to easily find fastest connection. We like to search for cheap flights using Skyscanner.

Transport while there: Getting from A to B in Prague

Almost all of the sight sin Prague are located very close together, so you can reach them on foot. For example, we covered (almost) all of the routes on foot.

For the further distances, there is a well-developed public transport system (subway, trams & buses). You will find ticket info and a route planner on the official website, the Prague Public Transit Company.

Unfortunately, taking a taxi in Prague is not the best call at the moment. Clueless tourists are often charged exorbitant prices. We ourselves had good experiences getting Ubers in Prague.

8. Map: Overview of all Sights & Travel Tips

For better orientation, you will find an overview of all the main sights and best things to do and see in Prague marked on this map. What’s the optimal way to use the map? Our tip: Simply click on the top right corner to open the map in the Google Maps App on your smartphone. That way you can easily navigate your way from A to B in Prague.

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Disclaimer: Affiliate Links

This travel guide contains our personal recommendations in the form of affiliate links. If you book or buy something via the links, we will receive a small commission. This will not change the price for you at all. A million thanks from the both of us! 

Have you already been to Prague? Which sights and things to do and see impressed you the most? Do you have some additional tips that you would like to share? We look forward to you tips below this travel guide.