Prague serves as an excellent starting point for a Czech Republic road trip or a standalone city getaway. I’ve personally experienced both options, visiting Prague in winter and again during the summer. While both visits were enjoyable, they offered distinct experiences. Overall, Prague is a great destination for a city break, and I recommend exploring it in around 3 days. Ultimately, this Prague Travel Guide is a detailed blog covering the top things to do, the best bars and restaurants, and recommended places to stay. Moreover, I’ll provide you with useful travel tips and highlight personal favourites.
To break down your visit, begin Day 1 in Prague by exploring the Old Town and Jewish Quarter, offering attractions and dining options. On Day 2, start early with Prague Castle and Mala Strana, on the other side of the bridge. During your final day, explore Nove Mesto (New Town) and the local Karlin / Vinohrady areas. In conclusion, I believe that Prague can perfectly be visited in 3 days.
From Prague, it is possible to do a day trip to for example Hrad Karlstejn or Bohemian Switzerland
This Prague Travel Map provides a comprehensive city overview, encompassing all the destinations highlighted in my Prague travel guide. Personally, I find maps to be invaluable, offering a visual aid to locate prime spots effortlessly—whether it’s a nearby bar for a relaxing drink or a stunning dinner venue.
Firstly, there are plenty of great things to do and see in Prague. Generally, I’m not the biggest fan of ‘to-do lists’ when in a city and I love to just stroll around. However, to structure your visit to Prague, I’ve highlighted the main sights and places to visit when in the Czech capital.
Starting with one of the main sights in Prague is the Astronomical Clock located in Old Town Square, a central location in Prague. On the hour, the public gathers in front of the clock to watch the possession of the 12 apostles. Personally, I don’t think it is worth planning your visit to be there when the hour strikes, however, when you are in the area, you might as well take a look.
It is also possible to take a walking tour around the Old City to learn more about Prague's history.
The Charles Bridge is another famous sight in Prague, connecting the Old Town with Mala Strana. To fully enjoy the bridge, arrive in the early morning to avoid the crowd.
This small palace can be found in Mala Strana and can easily be visited on your way to Prague Castle. Additionally, you can already spot this famous castle from the beautiful castle garden.
When visiting Prague Castle, don’t expect solely a castle. Additionally, the area around the castle rewards you with beautiful views over the city. Next to that, you can also visit Golden Lane, where you find tiny houses inhabited by the defenders of the castle. Unfortunately, we haven’t visited this place as it wasn’t included in our entrance fee and we felt it wasn’t worth the additional investment.
Close to the castle, you can find Novy Svet, in my opinion, the cutest street in Prague. The colourful houses make up for a great sight in town. Moreover, pay a visit to Kavarna Novy Svet, a cute coffee bar that is worth the detour.
In the 80s, this wall was painted with graffiti inspired by John Lennon and the Beatles. Since then, the wall has been used for many protests.
The Jewish Quarter (Josefov) is home to multiple synagogues, such as the Maisel Synagoge, Old-New Synagoge, and Spanish Synagoge. Furthermore, you can access the Jewish graveyard and Jewish Museum to learn more about the history and background. Next to these sights, the area is also home to many great restaurants, such as Food Lab. On top of that, my favourite wine bar in Prague, Bokovka, is located in this area.
If you want to learn more about the Jewish quarter, book a tour including entrance tickets to all sights.
Next to the old architecture in Prague, there are plenty of modern buildings to be found. Firstly, the Dancing House might be the most popular building due to its interesting architecture. Furthermore, the Head of Franz Kafka, slowly turning around its axis, can also be found in Nove Mesto.
Lastly, when on a city trip, I’m a big fan of visiting some other neighbourhoods instead of hanging around on the main square. Our hotel was located between Vinohrady and Karlin, which allowed us to walk through these beautiful neighbourhoods every morning. Especially Karlin has plenty of cute bars and restaurants to offer.
Beneficially from a hotel without breakfast, is the opportunity to explore new places for brunch. My top recommendations in Prague, based on research and my own experiences are:
Prague is full of cute cafes and coffee bars to sit down and relax or kick-start your morning. Also, don’t forget to order some cake with your coffee!
With Prague being generally affordable, this is a great place to indulge in different cuisines. Personally, the Czech kitchen isn’t my favourite as it is quite harsh on the stomach. Nevertheless, I would always advise you to try some local dishes. Lokal is a known chain in Prague that’s perfect for this! Below you can find a list of some of the best restaurants in Prague for lunch and dinner. Because what’s a Prague Travel Guide without the best restaurant recommendations?
When you think of Prague, you think of huge mugs of beer. Fortunately, there are plenty of great places to enjoy a pint. In fact, drinking beers at U Zlateho Tygra was my favourite experience when in Prague.
Storytime: When we visited this bar, we already noticed the fact that some tables were reserved, however, we could take place and leave at the time of the reservation. After a while, a couple of men walked in and were mad we sat at their place. At that point, we changed to the other side of the table to make space for them. Apparently, they were already sitting at the same table for almost 30 years! Next to that, plenty of politicians and celebrities have visited this place. Be aware, they only serve mugs of beer. Constantly, they are walking around with mugs and will place a new beer on your table when yours is empty. The bill is paid by counting the stripes on your paper and place with every beer you ‘order’. In summary, an unmissable experience if you ask me!
Before listing my favourite craft beer bars, you should know I’m a huge craft beer fan and I always research the best craft beer bars in town (e.g. in Lisbon or Rotterdam)
In preparation for our visit to Prague, I’d already been checking out Untappd to learn about the different beers on tap. Honestly, I was beyond excited.
Even though the Czech Republic might be famous for its beers, wine lovers don’t have to be concerned. Fortunately, there are plenty of wine bars to be found in Prague. My personal favourite was Bokovka, where they serve lovely wines on a great terrace. Next to that, around the corner, you can pick up the best meat sandwiches at the local butcher.
Do you want to learn more about wine in the Czech Republic? Check out my guide to Moravia.
When writing this Prague Travel Guide, I was impressed once again by the number of bars and restaurants that can be recommended. The final category to highlight is the best cocktail bars in Prague.
With such an extensive list of bars and restaurants to visit when in Prague, it might be difficult to decide on the places to visit. If you have limited time or don’t feel like exploring plenty of places, I would advise you to head to:
If you are looking for the most central location in town, your best option is to stay in Stare Mesto (Old Town). With plenty of bars and restaurants and the famous Jewish Quarter, this is a perfect place to stay. However, if you don’t mind a bit of a walk and want to explore some more neighbourhoods in Prague, I would recommend one of the neighbourhoods below.
Luxury: Pytloun Boutique Hotel Prague is a boutique hotel located in the city centre in a dark design style where you straightaway embark into luxury for €165 per night.
Mid-range: Cathedral Prague Apartments can be found only 150 meters from the town’s main square. That’s as central as it will get. Rooms are simple, but decent, for €90 a night.
Luxury: The Julius Prague might be one of the most stunning hotels in Prague with a mind-blowing interior. This 5* restaurant has everything you need for around €210 a night.
Mid-range: OREA Place Seno is another great aparthotel to stay, offering classy and stylish studios. The staff is friendly, private parking is offered and there is a bar/restaurant/terrace available. (€110)
Nove Mesto, also “new town”, can be found south of the Old Town. Slightly less busy, still with plenty of unique places to explore (e.g. head of Kafka and the Dancing House), while still within walking distance from Stare Mesto, Nove Mesto is a perfect place to stay. My ultimate recommendation can be found here.
Top tip! Mid-range: Mosaic House Design Hotel – A stunning hotel where everything seems to be thought through. This would be one of my top recommendations. Rooms start at about €100 a night.
Mid-range: Miss Sophie’s New Town & Wellness is a beautiful hotel, with multiple hotels in the city (also in Mala Strana), with neat and clean rooms for a decent price. (€88)
Budget/Mid-range: numa 1 Libusa apartments offers stylish apartments including a kitchenette for a low price. Ideal if you want to have more space. They still offer breakfast, which is served at a partner nearby. (€84)
Luxury: Dancing House Hotel is the perfect place if you are looking for a unique stay. The hotel is located in the dancing house and offers, on top of that, a beautiful river view. (€170)
Courtesy of booking.com - Mosaic House Design Hotel During our time in Prague, we stayed in Zizkov, a little neighbourhood between Karlin and Vinohrady. If you are seeking a more local experience, this is the perfect place to stay. A 20-minute walk from the old town (we mostly took a taxi in the evening), but also here, you’ll find great places for brunch, beer or cocktails.
Budget: Ostas Hotel is a self-service hotel in Zizkov, with standard but great rooms if you want a cheaper stay. (€70)
Mid-range: Botanique Hotel Prague is located in Karlin, however, very near the old town. The rooms are bright and modern and there is a gym available. (€105)
Luxury/Mid-range: Apartment Lupacova offers apartments including a jacuzzi. Look no further if you aim for some luxury and relaxation. (€131)
Budget: If you are looking for a hostel and a cheap place to stay, Brix Hostel might be the place for you. Located slightly out of the city centre, but in an exciting neighbourhood within walking distance from the old town. Beds for the night start from €25.
Lastly, Mala Strana is a beautiful neighbourhood on the other side of the Charles Bridge. Plenty of places to see and close to Prague Castle, however, generally it takes a little bit longer to explore most of the central town.
Mid-range: Miss Sophie’s Charles Bridge is a stunning hotel in Mala Strana with an amazing vibe and interior. (€100)
Luxury: Hotel Nerudova 211 offers beautiful apartments in a style where white and wood are mixed. A unique interior where you can stay with 4 persons for €300 a night.
Mid-range: Mama Shelter is not located in Mala Strana but on the same side of the Charles Bridge. This famous boutique hotel can be found across Europe and offers beautiful rooms for low prices. (€95)
Budget: Adam&Eve Hostel offers private rooms with a shared bedroom for a low price, located in a central location. In summary, a great budget option. (€65)
