What to do in Prague by your own or with a tour? Main attractions of the Czech capital, walking routes, pictures of the old town. Best things to do in Prague with kids, what places to choose for the night staying, where to visit in the surroundings – in a detailed overview of good Time for Trip.
A constantly increasing number of people are dreaming of traveling today. While most of them habitually go on organized group tours, some tourists prefer to plan their trips by themselves.
Naturally, this move requires big preparations. In particular, you will have to buy tickets, book hotel rooms, plan activities. The latter is especially important!
So, when it comes to what visiting in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic and a large city, planning a itinerary is becoming a crucial step. In any case, this is what any experienced traveler does.
Again, much depends on the duration of the trip. After all, some people claim that it’s impossible to do in Prague all the obligatory things even in 3-4 days
But we disagree! And believe that for this amount of time you can see all the main attractions, while creating the right impression.
Will you be able to feel the aura of Prague and immerse yourself in the charm of its historic buildings? It all depends on the intensity of your itineraries: one thing to stroll, and quite another – to rush.
It’s also important to decide whether you want to splurge on a guided tour. A good, non-standard guide can immerse you you in the atmosphere of this truly extraordinary city, while telling a lot of interesting historical facts.
Interesting Places in Prague
The starting day of the trip should be devoted entirely to exploring Prague Castle. This sort of a visit is undoubtedly the first thing tourists should do in Prague.
It is necessary to clarify only one aspect: how much time are you willing to spend for completely immersing in its history?
Although the complex opens at 6 a.m. (and close at 10 p.m.), St. Vitus Cathedral and other historic buildings – at 9 (4-5 p.m.), exhibits – at 10 a.m (6 p.m.) – hrad.cz/en/opening-hours
Visiting the towers and walls, Old Royal Palace, and Queen Anne’s Summer Palace, St. Vitus Cathedral, picture gallery, charming Golden Lane will definitely take a lot of your energy.
Anyone walking around the castle can purchase an audio guide. Some tourists are willing to listen to a human guide’s narration.
Even in 2023, a sum of 100-150 euros for a comprehensive story about the history and all attractions of such a place doesn’t look too high. Especially if you split the cost among a group of up to 4-6 people.
Travelers staying in a rather expensive hotel can walk to the castle in 5-15 minutes. It is also easily accessible if you use (well-developed here) public transport – especially by the Prague Metro
Keep in mind that Prague is very busy in May and much more – in summer. So, the best time for visiting the city castle is early mid-spring or mid-autumn.
Old Town (Staré Město)
On the second day your visiting Prague, do the next expected and logical thing – take a walk through the oldest part of the city. In particular, visit its heart, the Old Town Square with the Town Hall, look at the performance given by the famous Prague Astronomical Clock.
There are usually too many tourists near the tower trying to figure out what all these circles mean. And, of course, no one is inclined to give space so that you can make an attempt to solve this puzzle also
On the square, you’ll find the very Gothic and uniquely Czech Týn Church (make sure to go inside) and Kinsky Palace, which is part of the National Gallery. The latter is a beautiful example of Rococo architecture and is especially impressive from the outside.
The famous Stone Bell House (Dům U Kamenného zvonu) is the oldest building on the square. It dates back to the 13th century, and this is all that remains of the old royal palace where the mother of the future Charles IV lived, of the king who transformed Prague into a wonderfully beautiful city.
We also recommend taking a look at the Old Town Square from the top of the local Old Town Hall Tower.
Also, you can learn Prague’s secrets and interesting stories with a local guide. In this case, the city will open up to you from a completely different, cozy and charming side.
From the Old Town Square, it’s easy to walk to:
Clementinum and Powder Tower
The first one is the largest complex of historical buildings of the city, if we exclude Prague Castle. In the past, it was the college of the Jesuits, a state within a state.
Today, 50-minute guided tours are offered at Clementinum, which include a visit to the 68-meter-high Astronomical Tower. From where you can also get a great view of the entire old town.
Then, if you think it’s not time yet to go to the Vltava River and study the sculptures on the Charles Bridge, head in the opposite direction, towards the Powder Tower. Its dome will beckon you all the time as you explore the old districts on this river bank.
The Powder Tower dates back to the second half of the 15th century and looks absolutely great. A bright news – you can climb it to observe the city!
Smoked by centuries
Charles Bridge
with statues of saints on the balustrade and fairy-tale-like Gothic towers at the edges is one of Prague’s main attractions. It’s simply impossible not to visit it, the main pedestrian thoroughfare that connects the banks of the Vltava River.
One side of Charles Bridge is adorned with the Old Town Bridge Tower, construction of which began in the mid-14th century. Anyone can climb its observation deck for a standard fee of 200 CZK (2024).
In reviews, however, it is advised to look at Prague from the other side of Charles Bridge, from the top of the Malostranska Tower. For a trivial reason – the view is better from there!
For those who plan to visit Prague in November or winter, it is better to dress warmly for such an event. Since it can be bloody cold there!!
Left Bank of the Vltava River
In this part of Prague, we recommend to visit:
- Lesser Town Square with the Church of St. Nicholas. It’s located right on the natural route from the Vltava River to Prague Castle
- Loreto, a complex of religious buildings and a pilgrimage center that has developed around a Catholic church. It’s an interesting and very original example of Baroque architecture
- Schwarzenberg Palace on Hradčany Square. You may have heard of it and its sgraffito-style Venetian technique façade before. Seeing this masterpiece of decorative art is a must thing being in Prague, especially since there are hardly any similar examples in Venice itself
Nearby is the imposing, though less elegant, Salm Palace, another National Gallery site. Its exhibition is dedicated to 19th-century art and modern trends in painting.
Sternberg Palace is next door but doesn’t visually make as strong an impression.
Matthias Gate invites you to enter Prague Castle once again. But during high-seasons months the entry queue will suggest that it’s not worth it…
Where to Stay
Not as expensive as its location and name might suggest is the Prague hotel The King Charles, which is located right next to Prague Castle in a 17th-century building.
Its guests have a chance to feel like VIP figures for a quite modest money. However, for a truly royal, hearty breakfast, you’ll need to pay a substantial sum
Pay attention to the much more budget-friendly Hotel Golden City Garni in a quieter neighborhood of Prague, Žižkov. There is a tram stop nearby, and it’s only a few stops to the city center. The hotel has its own parking, and tasty breakfasts are included in the priceб looking quite reasonable.
We particularly recommend the cozy guesthouse Pension Apartment Granit, located in Prague 8. Of course, this is the outskirts, not the city center, but there is a lot of greenery around. In addition, the terrace of the guest house offers stunning views!
Furthermore, there is free private parking, which is especially convenient for those traveling around the Czech Republic by car
Relatively close (10 minutes by car or public transport) to this guesthouse, you’ll find the Botanical Garden and Prague Zoo, as well as the Troja Summer Palace. The latter, charming Italian-style residence, is open for tours – if you will go to Prague in the summer be sure to pay it a visit.
What to Do with Kids and…
On the third day of your trip, we recommend taking a break from the historical and architectural theme, especially if you’re traveling with young ones. Moreover, there are interesting places in Prague that will definitely interest a child.
In particular, we heartly recommend visiting Prague Zoo, which can be easily explored independently
The main zoo in the Czech Republic (and one of the largest in Europe) is located on the outskirts of the city, in the Troja area. You can get there from the center by taking the metro (station: Nadrazi Holesovice) and then bus №12.
In summer, you can also get to the zoo by boat – the cruise will last about an hour. This is all the more convenient because along the way you can enjoy the city panoramas.
Good news – from June to August the Prague Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. – zoopraha.cz/en/opening-time
You may be surprised that we haven’t said anything about Wenceslas Square, the largest in the Czech capital (metro station: Mustek). Well, we’re saying!
It is a very lively space, full of restaurants and cafes where you can taste the most original dishes of Czech cuisine. The square is crowned by the massive building of the National Museum, which recently reopened after reconstruction.
If you have a couple of free hours, then you should definitely see its collection. But if your itinerary doesn’t include museums, on Wenceslas Square you can have lunch or dinner.
Keep in mind that prices in local establishments are quite high. And even American tourists, who believe that everything in the Czech Republic is somewhat cheaper than, say, in France or Italy may be surprised by their level
Jewish Quarter
At least one day of your trip to Prague you should spend on leisurely walks through the streets. Perhaps, with the unusual guided tour – around places that rarely see tourists.
From our side of view, it’s worth visiting in Prague the ancient Jewish quarter of Josefov located to the north of the Old Town Square and does not too often receive the attention of ever-hurrying foreigners. In vain – the place is one of the most interesting places in the city.
Thanks to the reconstruction carried out at the end of the XIX century, this area underwent a complete restructuring and was built гз by single-style houses. So today it flaunts a well-groomed charm, being one of those that are exceptionally pleasant to just walk around.
Despite the rebuilding, Josefov has several historic synagogues, a town hall, and a Jewish cemetery
The nearby Agnes Monastery, founded in the 13th century, has survived to our time in almost perfect condition. Now it houses a considerable number of exhibits illustrating medieval religious art.
On the opposite bank of the Vltava River, you’ll find the lush Letná Gardens. From which open excellent panoramic views of the Czech capital.
What to Visit Near Prague
Not so far away, in the near suburbs of the Czech capital you can see two big medieval castles. In principle, it is not necessary to visit both – even one of them will give you required impressions!
Because, for example, Karlstein Castle was founded by the legendary King Charles IV. And today belongs to the top five attractions of the Czech Republic.
Tourists savvy in the history of architecture will show dissatisfaction with the too fresh appearance of the fortress. Which is supposed to be more shabby, given its age
However, even despite this, most people will like Karlstein Castle. Because it is still beautiful and postcard medieval. Again, it’s easy to get to it from Prague, the distance is about 40 km.
Konopiste Castle is not so brutal and looks more like an inhabited hunting palace than a fortress. Therefore, tourists usually remain completely delighted with the number and condition of its interiors.
After all, this is the former residence of the heir of the Austro-Hungarian Empire!
To get there, drive southeast from Prague – the distance is about 50 km. The train arrives at Benesov station, then you need to walk 2 km by foot.
Hluboká Castle is located much further from Prague, but despite this it deserves a day trip. For an obvious reason – this château is one of the most beautiful palaces in the Czech Republic.
The distance from Prague to Hluboká nad Vltavou is about 150 km, you can get there by car, bus or train.
From Karlovy Vary To Dresden
Regardless of the time of year, every first traveler want to take a trip from Prague to Karlovy Vary. No wonder that this is the most demanded destination in the Czech Republic after its capital!
Many people also eager to go to Český Krumlov. A place with its own huge, well-preserved fortress and the charm inherent only in provincial Czech towns
If you have 1-2 days of time, go from Prague to Dresden in Germany (highway distance ~150 km). We guarantee that you will be stunned by the capital of Saxony and the number of attractions available there. In addition, it’s quite hard to be bored along the way as you will see the amazing landscapes of Czech and Saxon Switzerland, and then its colleagues in .
You can get from Prague to Dresden by train, bus or car or take part in an organized day trip.
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