HOW TO spend four DAYS IN PRAGUE
Last Updated: 01/23/2020 | January 23rd, 2020
Prague is a destination that always seems to be in vogue.
It’s been on the vacationer map for decades, and the crowds show no signs of abating, especially as it becomes a center for digital nomads and tech workers.
Prague is a gorgeous, well-preserved medieval city with a rich history, expansive parks, Vegas-style nightlife, and a hint of romance. It holds a special place in my heart: it was the first city I backpacked through on my round-the-world trip in 2006. It was where I stayed at my first genuine hostel, the first place I was on my own, and the first place I went to where signs weren’t in English. I grew as a traveler in this city.
I’ve been back over a dozen times considering that that first visit.
Over the years, a lot has changed: there are a lot more tourists, prices are higher, the food is a lot more international, and a lot more foreigners live there. but its essence — all the clichéd stuff (cobblestone streets, quaint medieval houses, extraordinary charm) that makes Prague…well, Prague — is still there.
There’s a reason why so lots of people check out Prague each year.
There is just so much to see and do in Prague that you aren’t going to be short of things to choose from as you plan your trip.
Today’s blog post puts the best the city has to offer into a manageable four-day itinerary. To really see Prague, it’s best to check out for four to five days. That will allow you to see all the main sites and get a sense of the city’s culture.
This post will show you how to create a manageable travel plan as you check out Prague. If you are trying to find a way to organize your trip, here is a list of 20 things to see and do in Prague!
What to do in Prague: Day 1
Take a complimentary walking tour
Walking excursions are a smart way to orient yourself to a new city, learn some history, and hear about the main attractions. There are a ton of complimentary walking excursions in Prague, so you’ll have plenty of options. All the excursion companies meet near the astronomical clock in the Old town Square at 10 a.m. and last about three hours. They will give you an introduction of the main sites, like the Old town Square, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the Jewish Quarter, and more.
My favorite company is new Europe. It operates complimentary excursions around Europe and tends to have upbeat guides and lots of historically accurate information. complimentary excursions by Foot is another terrific option.
If you are trying to find a paid tour, check out Prague alternative Tours, which runs outstanding alternative art and history excursions throughout town, run by local artists. The Prague: Ghosts and Legends excursion is another alternative excursion option for those who want a a lot more niche-focused (and spooky) tour.
Visit Prague Castle
The popular Prague Castle is the next logical place to visit, considering that all the walking excursions end near this popular sight. The castle, which lords over the city, consists of multiple sections: St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old royal Palace, The story of Prague Castle, St. George’s Basilica, golden Lane with Daliborka Tower, the Powder Tower, and Rosenberg Palace. You can get a ticket to any or all of these sights from the box office. the most popular structure is St. Vitus Cathedral — this is the large building you see when you look up at the castle from outside the city walls.
119 08 Prague 1, +420 224 373 368, hrad.cz. The castle is open daily 6am-10pm. Tickets are 70-350 CZK, with discounts available.
Walk around Petrín Park
Petrín Park is the city’s greatest and a lot of stunning park, with sweeping views of Prague. You’ll find a garden, a maze, and a lookout tower that looks like the Eiffel Tower. You can climb the 299 steps to the top of the tower and get an amazing view of Prague (on a clear day, you can see the Czech Republic’s highest pea, Snezka, some 150km away). What I love about this expansive park is how easy it is to get lost among the trees. paths meander throughout, and it’s a kicking back contrast to the crowds of the historic center. keep in mind that this park is on a big hill and walking to the top can be strenuous. There is a funicular that can take you down (or up) the hill if you don’t feel like making the trek.
Petrínské sady 417/5. The park is open 24 hours and admission is free.
Visit the John Lennon Wall
After Petrín Park, head down towards Kampa, a neighborhood by the river, and check out the John Lennon Wall. toward the end of Communism in the 1980s, students started writing John Lennon lyrics on this wall as a way to air their grievances. Today, the wall represents love and peace. Tourists are allowed to write or paint on it too.
Velkoprevorské námestí. The wall is complimentary to check out anytime.
Relax on the waterfront
It’s been a long day, so kick back in Kampa with a satiating drink, some food, or a coffee. There are a number of appealing restaurants and cafés in the area. To get here, just keep walking toward the river from the John Lennon Wall. You’ll cross a little bridge and there you are! You’ll find lots of places to eat, sit, and relax, and when you’re done, you can walk across the popular Charles Bridge back toward the city center.
Suggested restaurant: Kampa Park Restaurant, Na Kampe 8b, lesser Town, +420 296 826 102, kampagroup.com.
What to do in Prague: Day 2
Explore the Old town Square
Though you got an introduction of the Old town Square during your walking tour, today you can savor the square’s attractions in detail. some of the highlights include:
Hanging out in the square — The people-watching is unbeatable as tourists, families, students, and touts pass through the square. sit on one of the benches, eat a sandwich, and enjoy! Moreover, there are a number of talented musicians — ranging from jazz musicians to Scottish bagpipe players, and everything in between — that do in the square.
Astronomical Clock — enjoy the most overhyped attraction in all of Prague! While the hourly chime that people line up for is anticlimactic, the detail and artistry of the clock make it one of the most stunning in Europe.
Visit the churches — The stunning Tyn and St. Nicholas churches line the square. St. Nicholas is open all day, but Tyn is only open in the mornings and late afternoons.
Explore the catacombs — Under the Old town Hall, you’ll find a series of catacombs worth exploring. They were the first level of the medieval houses that used to be in the square. Now, they are an exhibit showcasing medieval life (enter through the tourism office).
Staromestské nám. +420 221 714 444, prague.eu/en.
Explore the Jewish Quarter
The Jewish Quarter in Prague is located between the Old town Square and the Vltava River and has six synagogues, a Jewish ceremonial Hall, and the Old Jewish Cemetery. It is one of the most popular attractions in Prague. Hitler saved it from Nazi destruction because he wanted to make the area a museum to the lost Jewish race. Now, the museums, synagogues, and historic graveyard in the area honor the history of what was one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe.
Explore Letenské sady (Letná Park)
This park, across the river from the Jewish Quarter, features several walking trails, a café, and expansive views of the city. You’ll see a lot of art students painting the cityscape. Crossover to Chotkovy sady for stunning gardens and rear views of the Prague Castle. It’s quiet, with secluded paths that make for an intimate romantic stroll.
170 00 Praha 7. The park is open 24 hours and admission is free.
Take an underground Prague tour
Prague Underground excursions runs an underground excursion of the medieval houses in the city center. There are lots of “catacombs” in Prague, which are generally the first couple of levels of old houses below the Prague that has risen on the rubble of lots of centuries. This excursion may be short, but it supplies a in-depth history about medieval Prague and is incredibly interesting!
Malé nám 459/11, +420 777 172 177, prague-underground-tours.com. The excursion costs 410 CZK and lasts about 70 minutes.
want to travel Europe like an expert?
get all my best Europe travel ideas as well as a complimentary planning toolkit that includes the following guides sent to your inbox:
how to stay past the 90 Day Limit
61 savvy travel Tips
The utmost packing Checklist
My favorite companies to Use
My step-by-step trip planning Guide
send me travel tips!
What to do in Prague: Day 3
Take a day trip to Kutná Hora
Kutná Hora was an crucial center for silver mining in medieval Bohemia. It helped keep the kings of Prague rich. now the town is popular for its creepy bone church, Sedlec Ossuary, which consists of 40,000-70,000 bones. considering that the church takes only about 15 minutes to see, head into the historic city center to see some of Kutná Hora’s other attractions, including marvelous medieval churches, overlooks, well-preserved streets, and a large town square. It’s a small and quiet town that feels like Prague without the crowds. You can take a excursion or travel to Kutná Hora on your own.
Trains for Kutná Hora leave the Prague main train station every two hours in the morning, and the journey takes about an hour. It costs around 100 CZK.
What to do in Prague: Day 4
Explore Vyšehrad
While Prague Castle gets all the love, Vyšehrad, located in the southern part of the city, was also one of the original castles of the kings of Prague. It was built around the 10th century and consists of Prague’s oldest surviving building, the Rotunda of St. Martin. few tourists ever come here, so you’ll get the castle and its views of Prague to yourself. It also uses good upriver views of the city.
V Pevnosti 159/5b, Praha 2, +420 241 410 348, praha-vysehrad.cz. open 9:30am-5pm (6pm during the vacationer season). Guided excursions cost 120 CZK.
Walk up the river back into town
From the castle, you can take a great walk along the river back into the center of town. There are walking and bike paths, as well as places to stop, sit, and maybe read a book. It’s mostly locals around here, despite it being about 20 minutes from the city center.
Visit the Powder Tower
Back in town, be sure to check out this medieval tower, one of the original 13 city gates. construction began in 1475 and, during the 17th century, the tower used to store gunpowder. It was heavily damaged in 1757, and a lot of of the sculptures on it were replaced in 1876.
Namesti Republiky, 5, stare Mesto, +420 725 847 875, muzeumprahy.cz/prasna-brana. open daily 10am-10pm. Admission is 100 CZK, with discounts available.
Wander the streets of Prague
Prague is a stunningly stunning and historic city. Meander its winding streets. find random restaurants, markets, and churches. sit and enjoy the people go by. get happily lost and find your own offbeat attractions and things to do while you’re here! travel is, after all, an act of discovery!
Other activities while in Prague:
Take in a concert — Prague is popular for its classical music, and there are concert halls throughout the city. They do nightly shows of classical piano and singing, and you’ll find people selling tickets throughou town.
Visit the Franz Kafka Museum — love Kafka? Great! then you know Kafka was from Prague. There is a museum dedicated to his life and work on the banks of the river. Cihelná 635/2b, +420 257 535 373, kafkamuseum.cz.
Visit the national Monument at Vitkov Park — This hill has played an crucial role in the development of Prague and has a enormous statue of Jan Žižka, who defeated the Catholic King Sigismund and his forces in 1420 on this very hill! You’ll also find the ceremonial Hall here, which has an exhibit on the history of the country during the 20th century (it’s really good and detailed) and the tomb of the unknown Soldier. The high vantage point gives you extraordinary views of the city, and the park is popular for running.
Suggested places to eat in Prague:
Country Life — low-cost vegetarian buffet that uses travelers terrific value for their money.
VinoGraf — Off-the-beaten-path white wine bar serving only Czech wines. It makes a good date spot.
U Medvídku — standard Czech food with delicious soup and goulash. They also brew their own beer.
Las Adelitas — delicious and authentic Mexican food for those with a fiery palate, the best I’ve found in continental Europe.
Prague Beer museum — despite its cheesy name, this place has a large selection of beer and good food with large portions.
***
Prague has been one of my favorite cities in the world considering that I first checked out in 2006. though there is a constant horde of tourists, Prague’s greatness will always make it worth visiting. and hopefully this travel plan will help you decide what to see and do during your check out to Prague.
Get Your thorough budget guide to Europe!
My in-depth 200+ page guidebook is made for budget travelers like you! It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the functional information you need to travel while in Europe. It has suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on and off the beaten path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, bars, safety tips, and much more! Click here to learn a lot more and get your copy today.
Book Your trip to Prague: Logistical ideas and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to find a low-cost flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search web sites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. start with Skyscanner first though because they have the greatest reach!
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as