Prague Travel Guide
Prague Travel Guide
Prague is one of Europe’s most enchanting cities. Exploring the Old Town streets of Prague feels like stepping back into a fairytale. I absolutely adore this city; it’s picturesque, walkable, charming, fun, & filled with history. I recommend Prague on any eastern Europe itinerary!
Jump To:
- *Backpacks & Bubbly – Top Pick for Drinks With A View*
- Where to Stay in Prague
- Best Things to do in Prague
- Best Restaurants in Prague
- Getting to Prague
- Getting Around Prague
- How Many Days to Spend in Prague
- Safety for Solo Female Travel in Prague
- Prague Travel Map
- Prague– Top Blog Posts
Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
*Backpacks & Bubbly – Top Pick for Drinks With A View*
Hotel U Prince Rooftop Terrace
This rooftop offers the most unreal views over Old Town Square. It’s located on the roof of Hotel U Prince. I was able to walk in late afternoon without a reservation for drinks!
Where to Stay in Prague
Hotel Paris Prague
I loved this classic, old-school, Art Nouveau style hotel in Prague Old Town. Hotel Paris was upscale, clean, and felt like how I picture fancy hotels being back in the day. They had a stunning cafe, a restaurant/bar, and a spa in the basement.
Josephine Old Town Square Hotel
I stayed at this hotel on my recent trip to Prague for the Christmas Markets and it was the absolute perfect location, it’s only a 2 minute walk from Old Town Square. This hotel is located in a historic building and has a traditonal feel with antique furniture and decor. I would recommend it just on the location alone!
Best Things to do in Prague
Explore Old Town Square
Old Town Square is Prague’s oldest and most famous square of Prague’s Old Town. The gothic style architecture originates from the 10th century. Some of thr highlights of the Old Town Square include the:
- astrological clock
- Old Town Hall
- Church of Our Lady before Týn
- Baroque Church of St Nicholas
- Rococo Kinský Palace
- Stone Belll Gothic House
This area is free to explore, although to learn more about what you’re seeing I highly recommend a walking tour (see below)
For the best views of Old Town Square grab a drink at Hotel U Prince Rooftop Terrace
Take a Walking Tour
A walking tour is one of my favorite things to do in any European city with a lot of history. There are a variety of free walking tours you can do in Prague, generally the tour is free and the tour guide is working for tips only, so make sure you bring cash to tip! Most walking tours include:
- Old Town
- Charles Bridge
- Lesser Town (neighborhood across the Charles Bridge)
- Jewish Quarter
Another option is this paid walking tour that also includes a traditional lunch & a 1 hour boat cruise.
Walk the Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge is one of the most famous landmarks in Prague. Construction on this medieval stone arch bridge started in 1357, and it still is actively in use today. It is lined on either side with a total of 30 statues of saints. This is a lovely place to visit at sunset.
It’s free to visit the Charles Bridge.
Visit Prague Castle
The Prague Castle dominates the Lesser Town of Prague. It’s famous for being the world’s oldest and largest ancient castle complex, and it really is massive. It can be a bit confusing to visit as it’s so big and includes many of the streets and areas around the castle.
Certain parts of the castle are free to visit, while some require a ticket to enter. The courtyards and gardens surrounding the castle are free to visit + a small area of St. Vitus Cathedral. You can also visit Golden Lane for free outside of castle opening hours. Golden Lane is a colorful street where workers of the castle lived.
Tickets get you access to Old Royal Palace, Basilic of St. George, Golden Lane and St. Vitus Cathedral. I highly recommend a skip the line ticket if you’re visiting during spring, summer or fall. The lines can get insanely long.
See the Lennon Wall
An anonymous artist originally created the Lennon wall after the murder of John Lennon along with art & Beatles lyrics. It soon became people to express irritation with the communist regime in then Czechoslavakia. The wall has been repainted multiple times since its inception, usually as a form of protest.
Take a River Cruise
I love a good river cruise in European cities. The Vltava river separates the Old Town and Lesser Town neighborhoods of Prague. It offers stunning views of both sides of the city. This walking tour combines a 1 hour river cruise and lunch and is a great way to see the Old Town and Lesser Town.
See the Dancing House & Head of Kafka
Dancing House
Prague’s Dancing House is one of the most unique pieces of modern architecture in Prague. The building was designed by Frank Gehry, a world-famous architect. The building is also sometiems referred to as “Ginger and Fred” because the dancing towers mimic the famous dancers Ginger Rogers and Fred Astair. The location of the Dancing House is significant because it was the location of an apartment building destroyed by the U.S. bombing of Prague in 1945
The most impressive part is the outside, but you can also go inside for free (it’s a hotel)
Rotating Head of Kafka
The Rotating Headof Kafka by artist David Cerny is another interesting modern thing to see in Prague. The memorial is inspired by Kafka’s short story Description of a Struggle
Infinity Book Tower
This is another cool find in Prague, the Infinity Book Tower at Municipal Library of Prague. It’s a tower comprised of 8,000 books and has mirrors at the top and bottom to creates the illusion of infinity. Admission is free.
Best Restaurants in Prague
Traditional Czech Restaurants
- Lokál Dlouhááá
- Restaurace Mincovna
- U Glaubiců
- U modré kachničky II
- Restaurace Pivnice
Others Restaurants
- FAT CAT – burgers, tacos quesadillas
- Ristorante • Pizzeria Giovanni – Neopolitan pizza
- Laboratorio della pizza -pizza, pastas, salads
- BRICK’S | Hergetova Cihelna – upscale dining with Charles Bridge views
- George Prime Steak – upscale steakhouse
Getting to Prague
By Train
Prague is well connected to the rest of Europe by train, and the train station is located only about 10-15 minutes from Old Town Prague. If you can, I recommend arriving via train.
Train times to Prague:
- Prague to Vienna – 4 hours
- Prague to Budapest – 6 hours 45 minutes
- Prague to Munich – 5 hours and 30 minutes
By Plane
Prague also has an international airport located about 30 minutes from the city center, longer with traffic during busy times. Prague has Uber so you can easily order an Uber from the airport (this is recommended so your price is guaranteed)
There’s also a Prague airport shuttle that leaves from Prague’s main train station Hlavni Nadrazi and runs every 30 minutes from 5:30AM to 9PM it costs less than $5 and you can buy them on the bus directly.
Getting Around Prague
Prague is a very walkable city, particularly the tourist areas of Old Town, Lesser Town (across the Charles Bridge) and the New Town. So you likely won’t need to do much other than walk. Also, many of the streets are pedestrian/taxi only.
How Many Days to Spend in Prague
2 Days
Prague is a fairly small city, and can easily be explored in 2 days. If you have longer you can keep yourself busy, but if you’re trying to do Prague in a weekend of combine your trip with a few other citiies 2 days is enough time to see the higlights of Prague!
Safety for Solo Female Travel in Prague
5 out of 5
Prague is one of my top recommendations for a newer solo traveler looking for a city break. Prague is small, easy to navigate, and incredibly safe. I’ve visited Prague several times alone and have never felt unsafe. They’re also generally friendly to and familiar with solo travelers.
Prague has super fun night life, just be careful if you’re out drinking. This is still safe, but make sure you’re aware of how much you’re drinking and your surroundings getting back to your hotel/vacation rental.
