TOP THINGS TO DO & SEE | HOSTELS | HOTELS | VEGAN FOOD | GETTING AROUND | MORE
Prague or ‘Praha’, more commonly referred to as by locals, is undoubtedly one of the most fun-loving and stunning cities I have ever visited. To ensure you don’t miss a thing, I have covered almost everything in this guide: Best things to do in Prague, Getting around, Coolest places to stay at, food and more.
Situated on the Vltava river, Czech’s capital is basked in grandeur and old-world charm. There ain’t much I didn’t like about this city. Architecture is remarkable, beer is cheap, food is delicious, the nightlife is awesome and everything is very affordable. Walking in Prague is like walking in a fairytale world, with castles, laneways and a beautiful medieval square.
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Some Practical Info & Facts About Prague
- Currency: Czech Crown (CZK)
- Country: The Czech Republic
- Language: Czech, Slovak, and English
- Safety: Extremely Safe
- Famous For: Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, Beer, and nightlife
- Moneywise: Very Affordable
- Nickname: The Golden City of a Hundred Spires
- Fun Fact: Prague is the birthplace of ‘pilsner draft’ and takes great pride in brewing it.
How To Reach Prague?
- Fly โ๏ธ: Prague’s International airport is called Vรกclav Havel, and is located around 18km from the city centre. You can either hail a taxi and should cost around โฌ27 to the main centre, or get an Uber for โฌ22. The better and more cost-effective option is using an Airport Express bus. One way ticket is โฌ2.50.
- Train ๐: There are many train stations but the largest one is Praha Hlavni Nรกdraลพรญโ. It is very centrally located, only 15 minutes walk from the old town square and 5 minutes from Wenceslas Square. You can take a metro (line C), bus or trams from here. Another major station is Praha Holesovice. Prague is very well connected via trains to other European cities like Vienna, Budapest, and Berlin.
- Bus ๐: Florenc, Krizikova is the main bus station, located to the east of the city. If you are coming from any surrounding European city, most likely your bus will terminate here.
Pro Tip: To find the cheapest, fastest and most recommend routes between any two destinations in Europe, use Omio. I used this website for almost all my buses, flights and train bookings in Europe. It is really awesome.
How To Get Around In Prague?
The best way to explore and enjoy Prague is by walking. Most parts from Wenceslas Square to the Old Town Square or from the old town to Charles Bridge and the Palace district could be easily covered on foot. Depending on where you are staying, you might need to use public transportation a handful of times.
The network of subways, buses, and trams is excellent. Plus it is very affordable. The same ticket can be used for all modes. Remember to validate your ticket once boarded. Tickets can be purchased from any Newsagents, Tobacco shops, Public Transport Information Centres, and from orange/yellow ticket machines at major tram and bus stops.
- 30-minute ticket: โฌ0.90 (24 CZK)
- 90-minute ticket:โฌ1.20 (32 CZK)
- 24 hours ticket: 4โฌ (110 CZK)
- 72 hours ticket: 11.5โฌ (310 CZK)
Pro Tip: Consider getting a Prague City Card to explore the city at your own pace. Not only it gives unlimited access to public transportation but tons of discounts on tours and shows, free entry to Prague castle and many other monuments.
How Many Days Do You Need In Prague?
I will recommend 4-5 days but if you are short on time, the main highlights could be easily covered in 2 full days.
In terms of location, Prague has an advantage. Austria’s capital is not very far from here. In addition to Vienna, there are plenty of other beautiful day trip options from Prague like Cesky Krumlov and Kutna Hora. So if that sounds interesting, do include at least one day trip in your itinerary.
Best Time To Visit Prague?
I don’t think there is, in particular, a ‘bad time’ to visit Prague. It is appealing all year round, and you will find something special in every season. Having said that, I am a big fan of the shoulder months, when tourists are few, airfares are low and you get a bargained price on accommodation. Thus the best time would be to visit in late spring or early fall. That is April, May, late September, and October.
Summers are extremely busy as Prague is a popular tourist destination. I will avoid June, July, August and early September.
Although Prague’s winters are very chilly, they have their own charm. From November-December, you can enjoy winter festivities. Prague’s Christmas markets are gorgeous and are well known. It is a magical experience to be in the city when it is completely decked down in white snow.
Get Insured Before Travelling To Prague
Before we get to the best things to do in Prague, a quick reminder to get your travel insurance. I never travel abroad without it. Really! In case something goes wrong, you must have travel insurance. Frankly speaking, it will be stupid to head off to a new destination without one.
I will recommend World Nomads. Simply because they are backed by reputable insurers, 24-hour assistance providers and offer travel insurance to travelers from over 140 countries.
Even if you donโt get one from World Nomads, make sure to get your travel insurance sorted before you actually start traveling.
Where To Stay? Prague’s Neighbourhoods & Accommodation
Prague is a big city and neighborhoods are quite spread out. With an excellent and affordable network of buses, trams, and metros you can basically stay anywhere in the city but still have access to all major sights.
If it’s your first time in Prague, a good starting point will be to stay either in the Old Town or close to Malรก Strana. These are the most centrally located neighborhoods and concentrates many historical sights, bars, and restaurants.
- Best Hostel In Old Town Prague Square Hostel
- Best Budget Hotel In Old Town Old Prague Hotel
- Best Treat Yourself Hotel In Old Town Best Western Plus Hotel Meteor Plaza
- Best Studios & Apartment In Old Town City Nest
If you are looking to skip the crowd, noise and slightly inflated price of the city center, I will advise you to stay in and near Vinohrady, Zizkov, and New Town.
Vinohrady is a cool neighborhood, few trams stop away from the old town. It is famous for green spaces, bars, cafes and is LGBTQ friendly.
- Best Hostel In Vinohrady Hostel Krupka
- Best Budget Hotel In Vinohrady Royal Plaza
- Best Treat Yourself Hotel In Vinohrady Le Palais Art Hotel Prague
Zizkov is located a little further from the main centre. Mainly a residential area but comes alive at night with tons of bars and restaurants. If you are looking to enjoy Prague’s crazy nightlife, Zizkov is a good option.
- Best Hostel In Zizkov Hostel Elf
- Best Budget Hotel In Zizkov Carlton
- Best Treat Yourself Hotel In Zizkov Theatrino Hotel
The New Town is an adjacent neighborhood to Old Town. Though technically it is not new, most of the houses are a few centuries old. Here you will find the famous Dancing House, National Museum, and Wenceslas Square.
- Best Hostel In New Town Hostel One Home
- Best Budget Hotel In New Town Wenceslas Square Hotel
- Best Luxury Hotel In New Town Majestic Plaza
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What To Eat In Prague? Vegan/ Vegetarian Food Guide
Despite Chezchs being famous for their love for meat, Prague feeds it’s Vegan/Vegetarian visitors with all heart. In fact, Prague is one of the most Vegan/Vegetarian-friendly cities in the whole of Europe.
5 Must-Try Vegetarian CZECH Specialities in Prague
- Potato soup served in a bread bowl
Czechs love a good soup. Bramboraฤka, or Czech potato soup, is a creamy hearty soup, made with potatoes as the base and variety of root vegetables are also mixed in to add the flavors. You can find them at many traditional Czech pubs.
- Goulash
A popular Eastern European dish traditionally served as a thick stew of meat and vegetables. Many plant-based restaurants offer meatless versions of it in Prague. You could try at Vegan Prague or Lehkรก hlava.
- Trdelnik
A Slovakian based baked dessert which will melt in your mouth. Made of hollowed cylindrical dough coated with sugar, cinnamon, walnuts, almonds and sometimes, chocolate. You will find ample vendors in any tourist area.
- Smaลพenรฝsรฝr
A popular local dish. It is fried cheese served with fresh salads, fries, and cheese. For best Smaลพenรฝsรฝro go to Lokรกl and/or U Pinkasลฏ.
- Absinthe
Checzh loves to have a good time. It is well reflected not only through their food but also by their drinking culture. Prague is probably the most popular city to try ‘Absinthe‘. It is a Bohemian version of the traditional spirit, usually containing 60-70 percent alcohol. Available at most bars in Prague, however, Absintheria claims to prepare it with traditional recipes.
Best Vegan/Vegetarian Resturants In Prague
- Estrella
A fellow traveler told me about this hidden vegetarian gem. Situated in Praha 1 (very close to Charles bridge), Estrella serves vegetarian versions of Czech specialties and international cuisine at a reasonable price. (Insider tip- their burgers are the bomb)
- Beas Vegetarian Dhaba
If you are looking for a good value Vegetarian buffet, go to the Beas Dhaba. It is a self-service restaurant, where you pay for the weight of the food you take. So you can taste everything and everything is delicious.
- Maitrea
Located in Old Town, Maitera is a fully vegetarian restaurant with few vegan and gluten-free options. You can try the vegetarian version of Svรญฤkovรก and Goulash here. Slightly expensive but the calm vibe and friendly staff make up for the extra buck.
- Forkyโs
Although I didn’t get a chance to try here, Forky’s is a popular vegan joint among locals. So popular, that it recently got opened at two additional locations in Prague. They have a whole range of plant-based fast food from burgers, pizzas, salads, fries and much more.
Top Things To Do & See In Prague
Now are food, accommodation, and traveling is sorted, let’s get to the fun part of actually exploring Prague. I have covered almost all major sights, tourist attractions, few offbeats things, and popular day trips. So let’s delve into top things to do in Prague.
Top Things To Do In Prague
Take A Free Walking Tour
I love walking tours. I usually prefer to take them on the first day of reaching a new city as it helps me find my bearings and gives me an idea of places I want to revisit.
Free walking tours are great in exploring and learning about a new destination. Moreover, if you are a solo traveler like me, they are an excellent way of meeting new people. Though free, but these walking tours rely heavily on your tips. Make sure to tip your tour guide well. I usually pay anywhere from 10โฌ- 20โฌ. For more details check Free Walking Tour Prague or Free Tours In Prague.
Read More: How To Make Friends While Traveling Alone.
Alternatively, you can also discover the city on a 2.5 hour Guided Bike Tour. Learn about the city’s architecture, culture, and more while cycling through the Old Town and New Town, the Jewish Quarter, and to the John Lennon Wall. Book Here.
Walk Through Charles Bridge
I won’t be exaggerating If I say Charles Bridge is the most beautiful medieval bridge in Europe. Connecting the Old Town and the little quarter, Charles bridge span over the river Vltava with 16 pillars, many magnificent statues, decorative lamps, and beautiful Gothic bridge towers on both its ends.
Visiting Charles Bridge is completely free and you can go anytime. It is also possible to climb up into the Old Town Bridge Tower on its eastern end. The price is 100 CZK( around 4โฌ). The views from above will give you a new perspective over the Charles Bridge, the Vltava River, the Old Town, the Lesser Town, and Prague Castle.
Insider Tip: Charles Bridge is a popular tourist attraction, thus it is quite impossible to find it not packed with people at almost all hours during the day. I will advise on visiting early in the morning right before or during sunrise.
Old Town Square
At Prague’s heart is a gorgeous historic square. Located in Old Town (well duh!), Old Town square is surrounded by many eye-catching attractions like Astronomical Clock Tower, Old Town Hall and Church of Our Lady before Tรฝn. There are tons of bars, restaurants, and cafes too. But as you would expect, they are quite expensive.
Astronomical Clock is on the southern wall of the Old Townhall. It is the oldest working clock (around 600 years old) of it’s kind and draws thousands of gawking tourists every day. Even though it is mocked as pretty overrated, I think it was fun to check it once and cross it off my list.
Church of Our Lady before Tรฝn is another impressive landmark in the square. Once in the square, it is impossible to miss its twin spires, behind a row of houses. Admission to the church is free.
Other notable attractions here are Jan Hus Memorial and St. Nicholas Church and the Museum of Medieval Art.
Visit The Statue of Franz Kafka
Installed in 2014, this is Prague’s most curious attraction. Franz Kafka is an enormous mirrored bust made with the layers of stainless steel. Rotation and reflection of these layers depict the head of a homegrown writer Franz Kafka. It is an intriguing mix of art and engineering.
Wenceslas Square
Originally conceived as a large horse market, it is now a beloved shopping area. Located in front of the National Museum, this beautiful avenue and boulevard have lively markets, cinemas, theatres, hotels, and restaurants.
Jewish Quarter (Josefov)
Between Old Town Town Square and Valvata river, is a small area containing the remains of a former Prague’s Jewish Ghetto. The district is home to many significant and fetching synagogues like Klausen Synagogue, the Pinkas Synagogue, and Old-new Synagogue.
Fun Fact: Old-New Synagogue is the oldest working synagogue outside Israel.
Another notable attraction in the Jewish Quarter is The Jewish cemetery. Constructed in the 15th century, this cemetery has a palpable atmosphere of mourning. Due to restrictions on the Jewish population, for many centuries the Jewish community was forced to burry members in this small space. There are a total of around 100,000 corpses buried here. It is really something one needs to see to believe it.
Dancing House
Dancing House is a modern masterpiece, designed by the famed architect Frank Gehry. The building is inspired by two dancers โ the immortally famous duo of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. There ain’t much to do here but it is a cool spot for getting travel photographs for your social media. If you like you can also enjoy the breathtaking panorama of Prague from the buildingโs rooftop cafรฉ.
Prague Castle
Dominating Prague’s skyline is the biggest ancient castle in the world, Prague Castle. It dates back to 880 AD and has a huge complex area of around 70,000 mยฒ. The castle includes Old Royal Palace, Vitus Cathedral, Basilica of St. George, and many other beautiful buildings. It is definitely a must-visit in Prague.
St. Vitus Cathedral is a masterpiece inside the Castle district which you shouldn’t miss. Though the entrance is free with the castle ticket, you will need to pay a little extra to visit special parts of this gorgeous gothic cathedral. More details here.
It is free to enter the castle, walk around the courtyard admire all the buildings from outside. But if you wish to enter any of these buildings or learn more about the history, you will need separate tickets.
Insider Tip: Explore Prague castle on a 2.5 Hour Guided Tour. This will give you access to Vitus Cathedral, St. Georgeโs Basilica, and Golden Lane. Take a tram ride up to the castle from the cityโs Lesser Town, and learn about more than 10 centuries of the Czech capitalโs history.
Other Things To Do In Prague
Vyลกehrad
Sited on the hill, outside Prague’s main city is another lesser-known castle called Vyลกehrad castle. Frankly speaking, I enjoyed visiting Vyลกehrad more than Prague Castle.
Sitting tall, overlooking the Vltava river, this fort offers some of the best panoramic views of the city. Moreover, the whole Vysehrad complex is huge, with many parks, a beer garden, fort, and best of all, no-less tourists. If you can, do visit Vyลกehrad. You will thank me later.
Explore Vysehrad on a 2.5-hour Guided Tour. Tickets included Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Vyลกehrad Cemetery, and underground casemates.
Take A Pub Crawl
As you know, Prague has one of the best nightlife in the world. One of the major reasons why the city attracts so many backpackers, solo travelers, students, and partiers. With tons of bars, dive in pubs, nightclubs, beer gardens, and everything in between, it really feels like Prague has got it all.
Whats better way to have an awesome night than a whole night pub crawl. Checkout an All-Nighter Pub Crawl, which includes 1 hour of unlimited beer, wine, vodka, and absinthe with free VIP entrance into the 5 story nightclub Karlovy Lazne. Or book a 2.5-Hour All You Can Drink Bar Visit & Bar Crawl.
Enjoy Czech Beer In Czech Capital
Any trip to Prague is incomplete without trying a few amazing Czech beers. Whether you are a beer lover or not, it something you must try when in Czech’s capital. Not only delicious, like the majority of eastern Europe, but beer is also quite cheap here. It is very much possible to get a glass for less than 2โฌ. Check out these following beer tours. I will advise you to read more about each, before booking one.
Popular Day Trips From Prague
While there is so much to do in Prague, there are many nice day trips and surrounding cities you might wanna checkout outside Czech’s capital. Possibilities for this include:
I hope this guide will give you a good idea about Prague. Have a wonderful time! If you find this blog helpful, do share it and save it on Pinterest. ๐ โค๏ธ๏ธ
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