Best Things to Do in Prague (Czech Republic)

What to do in Prague? You often hear that in Prague you need to spend at least a week to see everything, that a weekend is not enough. I know from my own experience that to get to know Prague “from the inside” half a year is not enough. However, the truth is that to visit all the most popular attractions you only need… a weekend.

As you can guess, in this post I have not revealed everything Prague has to offer. Why? Probably because it would make a solid book, and this is just an entry/guide to help you plan your trip to the Czech Republic’s capital. Still, it’s worth delineating the attractions that you simply can’t skip – especially if you only have one day to spend in Prague. As I mentioned in the introduction, this is enough to get to know the city a bit. The Charles Bridge, the Old Town, St. Vitus Cathedral – it will be a pleasant walk, which is best to start just from the Old Town. I have seen those many times when I lived in Prague.

Typing in the search engine for things to do in Prague probably you will get the same locations, and you often ask where and when to avoid the crowds in the Czech capital. In fact, in recent years Prague has become even more popular with tourists, but fortunately there are still attractions that will give you a break from the crowds while enjoying the charm of the city. I hope to be able to surprise you?.

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Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Prague

The spots covered below are the places where you usually start your tour of Prague. You can skip something, you can add other attractions to the list, such as a boat trip across the Vltava River, John Lennon’s wall, the famous Vyšehrad, evening fountain shows or the Dancing House (by the way, I still can’t understand how this strange building can look so good in photos!). It is almost impossible to visit all the museums in Prague, but thanks to that, depending on what your interests are,you can go to the Kafka Museum, the Museum of Technology, the Beer Museum, the Torture Museum… or just sit in a typically Czech pub and eat fried cheese while listening to conversations at neighboring tables.

Market Square in Prague

Here one can start their adventure with the Czech capital and get acquainted with Prague’s churches (including St. Nicholas Church in Prague). In the market square you will, of course, see the Town Hall, and also find the famous Prague astronomical clock. NOTE: It is possible to climb the observation tower, but I personally recommend the elevator ride?.

Popular Sightseeing Spot of Prague: the Charles Bridge

For me, it is the most recognizable and popular attraction of Prague. It is here that every tourist “happily” strokes the famous dachshund, and every woman worries whether the crowd will snatch her purse. According to one Czech story, the tradition of stroking metal objects on the bridge was started by possibly drunken students who polished them off for fun. And that’s how the story began.

Mala Starna in Prague

Mala Starna includes the Market Square (Malostranské náměstí), Petrzin Hill and churches, including St. Nicholas Church No. 2. Petrzin Hill is the most popular hill in Prague, consisting mainly of gardens and parks. At the foot of the hill, you can find the monument to the victims of communism, further up is the observation tower (Petřínská rozhledna). You can take a cable car (Lanová dráha na Petřín) to the hill, running from the Újezd stop.

Hradcany in Prague

Hradcany – its main attraction is Prague Castle. Hradcany Castle is a complex of palaces, churches and other buildings, which also includes the Golden Street. This charming street (Zlatnická in Czech) is made up of tiny townhouses where you can now buy souvenir items. Contrary to what some guidebooks say, admission is free after 4 pm.

Prague attractions. What else is worth seeing?

Absolutely kind of places of Prague where you will miss tourists. All you have to do is drive a bit away from the city center, or even walk to the other side of the river. There, in a place known as Stromovka, there are fewer people than opposite (Naplavka). Plus, the cityscape from this perspective is just as beautiful, or at least I always went there after classes at VSFS (I studied in Prague). Besides, I recommend Prague’s parks and forests. Of course, not necessarily those located in the city center?.

You Can Find Other Interesting Attractions of Prague Below:

A Boat Trip on the Vltava River

I specifically started with the center, because while sightseeing Prague, it can not be missed. Practically the entire Old Town is not only famous, but also besieged by tourists.

It seemed to me that a trip on the Vltava River on a Sunday noon would be hard to do without a booking, in addition, at the last minute, but it turned out quite the opposite! 10 minutes before departure we caught a 45-minute tour with a small beer and an audiobook.

Clock Tower – Bird’s Eye View of Prague

When crowds gather under the famous clock, and you hesitate to go inside, you need to know two things. The first is that most of the tourists do not go inside. The second: that inside, in addition to the beautiful mosaics, you can climb (or ride) up the tower and see the city from above, including the market. Interestingly, even on Sunday it’s hard to get a queue there, so it’s really cool (if you don’t have a fear of heights, of course).

Church at Namesti Miru

Even if you’re not a fan of churches, the square at Namesti Miru, or Peace Square, is one of the more recognizable points in Prague. The Church of St. Ludmila, located there, can also be visited inside and we agreed that its decorations are impressive. Plus, you can light a candle of intention (admittedly, only an electric one) and contemplate the architecture, Prague and the world around you.

Admission: free

Note: No photos should be taken inside.

Breweries in Prague: Hostivar

Although a stone’s throw from the Charles Bridge you can visit Staropramen, I recommend an excursion a bit further. More specifically, to the district where I lived, Hostivař. There you will drink beer from a local brewery (several types), eat something good (depending on the season), And after all, you can go to Hostivařská přehrade, in the park?. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

Vyšehrad in Prague

This hill is the second seat of Czech rulers in the 10th century. What’s interesting is that while at Hradčany the queue to the castle is a nightmare, at Visegrad there are no crowds. The Rotunda of St. Martin, the church that can be seen from across the Vltava River and the wonderful views are more memorable than the more famous sites. Maybe it’s because they are not as well known? Or simply because we can see Prague from several sides: from above, we can see both Smichov and Hradcany or the houses on the same side of the river. Visegrad is definitely worth seeing.

Admission to the hill: free.

Prague TV Tower: Žižkov

Despite being featured in many guidebooks, the crowds are not there. Maybe that’s because it’s a bit away from the center. The structure itself is interesting, especially since it is studded with sculptures of children by David Cerny. If you want to go up it’s worth checking the opening hours, as sometimes they close part of the tower. This is what we happened to up just recently and nothing came of our tour. It is worth choosing the right time – in my opinion, it will be ideal in the afternoon, before sunset. In addition to the amazing view, you can learn about the creation of the tower and its history.

What to Do in Prague?

What to do in Prague? So, almost everyone’s plan is to eat dumplings, look for a cartoon mole and stock up on Czech beer for the next month. Beyond that, how can you better discover the Czech capital, even on a short trip to Prague, starting with popular attractions and ending with everyday life? Five things that will help you get to know Prague better can be found below. I think you can allocate at least one day for all of them. Unless you get lost in some park or simply drink too much beer. Be sure to let us know what you most like to do in Prague.

Take a Trip… by Subway from Namesti Miru Station

Namesti Miru is the one of the stations that stuck in my mind because of its… length. To get to the subway you have to spend more than two minutes riding the escalator. The experience is interesting because the stairs just seem to never end. They are really long, comparing to other stations not only in Prague, but also in Europe. Interesting fact! As some of you may remember, a long escalator ride is not one of my favorites, so back when I was still studying in Prague, I usually made up my way to avoid getting on/off at Namesti Miru.

Stroke a Dog on the Charles Bridge

The queue to stroke a dog could reach a few meters, and many doubt that stroking a metal dog could bring good luck. The reality is that the dachshund/gelding was polished one night by students. And that’s simply how the tradition began. However, I believe in the power of intention and my dream spoken on the Charles Bridge came true. Maybe it’s a coincidence, or maybe the dachshund actually has some secret powers?

Visit the Golden Street… Quite Free

Many say that you can’t leave Prague without stopping by the Golden Street. Personally, I don’t agree with them, but it’s certainly worth seeing these tiny townhouses. True, no one lives in them anymore these days, but you can enter most of them and buy all sorts of souvenirs. How to enter for free? After 4 pm, admission is free.

Drink Beer Made in Prague

Staropramen is a beer made in Prague. So, going across the Vltava River you can smell the sweet aroma of the brewery’s production, and right next to the facility you can find a small museum. I myself traditionally recommend looking for a small brewery, where the beer is more local and the atmosphere is typically Czech (as the one I mentioned to you above). Note: option for adults only.

Have a Picnic in a “Lesopark”

The number of parks and forests in Prague simply knocks you out. Therefore, when you are fed up with the bustling and crowded atmosphere and have nothing to do in Prague, it is worth packing up and having a picnic in one of the parks. When you don’t have a blanket, or are too lazy to organize such ventures, no problem. Practically in every place you can find a stall where you can buy something to eat. And obligatory, Czech beer. You can find information about the parks, for example, here. Even on a cloudy day it is beautiful!

Where to Eat in Prague?

The center of Prague is stuffed with endless restaurants, bars, and eateries. I’m not a fan of unknown restaurants in typically touristic places, so I’ve had a few slip-ups while taking friends to such places. One of my favorite places when I lived in Prague was Kozlovna Lidická, located a bit away from the very center. As Kozlovna Apropos was near during the tour, we sat down there to try the food, which disappointed everyone. A cheap, tasty and quick place for Czech cuisine is Česká Kuchyně, located in the heart of Prague. Everything we choose lands immediately on our plate. My favorite combination is potato salad with poultry cutlet, and for dessert: fruit dumplings with cream sauce. You can find dishes that do not necessarily deserve a set of Michelin stars, but the portions are really satisfactory.

Accommodation in Prague – Where to Sleep?

Where you want to spend the night in Prague depends only on your preferences (and budget, of course). You can spend the night in the very center, on the outskirts or near any of the beautiful parks. In the center you may not have a parking space.

If you are interested in accommodation in Prague, you can find recommended places at this link, or you can check on the map below:

Booking.com

Public Transportation in Prague

The easiest way to get around Prague is by public transportation (buses, trains and subway). You can find the price list here! As for getting around by car – the problem is not traffic jams, but finding a free parking space (and even paid parking spot in high season). IMPORTANT: Czechs often park cars in prohibited places. If we think that this is acceptable by the municipal police, we are mistaken. In 90% of cases, after an hour behind the doormat you will find a notice of violation, and more than once we have seen cases in which the car was towed ?.

Many people have asked me about unconventional and amazing places in Prague. I’m into nature, forests and tranquility, so I can’t hide the fact that I didn’t go to the center particularly often. There are probably more forests and parks in Prague than museums… Each of the parks I visited was wonderful, and first on the list of my favorite places were Kunraticko-michelsky forest and Hostivařská Přehrada, where I spent most of my free time. By the parks you will usually find pubs and restaurants (on the menu a must: sausage, fried cheese, dumplings, and, of course, a beer!).

When traveling to Prague, I recommend exploring the lesser-known neighborhoods, because that’s often where the real gems of the city hide. I lived in the Hostivař district, which is about 20 minutes from the center (by tram/car) and in my opinion it is a good place to stop during a visit to the Czech capital: the center is not far away, plus you can get a taste of real Czech life. Walking through Hostivařská Přehradka, relaxing on the beach by the lake, Czech beer and… no tourists! The place to visit there is Pivovar Hostivař. It is there that you can feel the true Czechvibe, where no one is in a hurry, while sipping a beer and not worrying about the next day.

Prague – What is Worth Seeing?

The center of the city, the streets, churches and all the other monuments – all these have survived the Second World War. Thanks to the fact that Prague suffered virtually no damage, it is now one of the brightest jewels of all Europe. One can, of course, discuss the past and the rightness of certain choices, but in my opinion, it is far better to focus on what is now and what today’s Prague offers us. Attractions, delicious food and a great atmosphere are the best way to spend a pleasant weekend.

After moving out of Prague, I missed those sights and all that the city has to offer. I would love to get back to exploring the less popular neighborhoods and streets today, because I’m sure that’s not all Prague has to offer yet.

The Czech Republic is ahead of the curve (I listed transportation prices at the beginning), and its capital is well worth seeing. Don’t worry if you only have a weekend to explore. Just take a notebook and plan everything down to the hour.

That’s all I can tell you about Prague for today. Let me know what your favorite places in Prague are. Or do you have your own ways to avoid the crowds in the Czech capital?