Best Things to Do in Prague by Locals
Prague, Czechia is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and here is the list of the best things to do in Prague. Let's explore five top places no one can miss while visiting the capital of the Czech Republic. Visit Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, Vysehrad, and Petrin Hill.
From one of the largest castles in the world to a stunning bridge lined with statues of saints, we’ve rounded up the must-visit attractions that make Prague worth a visit.
If you are looking for things to do during your trip to this wonderful European city, don’t look any further.
Here are the best things to do in Prague you can't miss..
Prague has been on and off our hometown for many years. When we were living in Prague, we probably didn't appreciate its beauty enough.
Of course, we knew the city by heart, we knew that the city is wonderful and enjoyed our time there, but only now, after we spent a year in Calgary - which couldn’t be more different - we realized, how lucky we were that we could live in one of the most beautiful European cities.
Living there for so many years we didn't have to look up the best things to do in Prague or the best places to visit, we just knew.
To be honest, we took some things for granted.
But nothing lasts forever, and when the time has come, we left Calgary and set off on a year-long adventure around South America and Central America.
Before we knew, we were back in Prague. Back home.
One of the things that we now appreciate more than ever is that we can anytime wander around cobblestone streets, architectural jewels, historical buildings, beautiful squares, refreshing parks, or walk back home after work along the Vltava River.
Something we really missed when we lived abroad.
HOW TO PLAN YOUR TIME IN PRAGUE
We have good news. The city's historical center, where you can find the majority of attractions, is compact and pedestrian-friendly, so it is easy to visit all Prague’s must-see places in a couple of days.
We’ve created super useful posts 1-Day Prague Itinerary and 3-Day Prague Itinerary to help you plan your stay and enjoy your vacation to the fullest.
Try to spend in Prague at least two days, we consider it as a bare minimum.
And don't forget to check out this super useful article Prague Guide for First-Timers: Everything You Need to Know.
The public transport is one of the best in the world and Prague also has a great reputation when it comes to safety. No wonder that Prague started to gain its popularity in recent years among tourists and backpackers, and nowadays is on top of its game.
These guides will help you to get around Prague and how to use Prague’s metro.
MUST-VISIT PLACES IN PRAGUE
It doesn't matter which time of year you visit Prague, all places we love the most, are stunning throughout the year.
THE OLD TOWN SQUARE
In the very center of Prague, you'll find the Old Town Square, repeatedly rated among the most beautiful and most famous squares in the world.
It is conveniently located between Wenceslas Square and Charles Bridge, so there is no way you miss it on your walk around the city. It is a lively place and at times (especially during Christmas when markets are open) it can get unbearably crowded.
In spite of the crowds, the square still keeps its medieval charm, and you won't have a problem to soak up the atmosphere.
The Old Town Square was founded in the 12th century, at the beginning served as a marketplace and since then has witnessed many historical events throughout the Czech history.
Nowadays, it is literally the place where the tourist heart of Prague beats.
Our travel guide on Old Town Square will show you the best places on this stunning square.
Among the most significant monuments on the Old Town Square are Old Town Hall, Church of Our Lady before Týn, Baroque Church of St. Nicholas, the Rococo Kinský Palace, the Gothic House at the Stone Bell, the monument of Jan Hus, and last but not least, Astronomical Clock.
When arriving in the city around December in winter, you can visit Prague Christmas Markets.
ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK
The well-preserved Astronomical Clock on the Old Town Square is dated back to the 15th century, which makes it the oldest still working medieval astronomical clock in the world.
Every hour on the hour, from 9-23, you'll find people gathered beneath the building waiting for the procession of Apostles, moving statues, who parade past the windows above the clock.
Although everything happens in less than one minute, it is the must-see when in Prague.
Our Tip: Try to visit The Old Town Square early in the morning when it's deserted, and the city is waking up. By no means, do not exchange money in the exchange office opposite Astronomical Clock - they rip off tourists.
CHARLES BRIDGE
The most iconic bridge in Prague, Charles Bridge is dated back to 15th century and since then is a significant pathway across Vltava River (until 1841 it was the only way how to cross the river without a boat).
Nowadays, you can use other bridges to get to the other side of the river, but Charles Bridge still remains the most picturesque one on the way from Old Town area to Prague Castle.
Charles Bridge is over 600 meters long, at each side of the bridge stand two gothic Towers, once an essential part of Old Towns fortification and the entire length of the bridge is lined with over 30 statues.
Charles Bridge is one of the busiest sights in Prague, and you can find yourself disgruntled by the crowds with selfie sticks in hands.
There is only one advice.
Visit Prague in winter when crowds usually thin out or get up early to capture a sunrise.
At this time, you'll be surrounded only by equally crazy early-bird photographers and Asian groups who tirelessly come here to take their pre-wedding pictures.
One of the most popular ways how to enjoy Prague Bridges is by boat tour. There are many tours, you might consider this one - Prague Sightseeing Dinner Cruise.
PRAGUE CASTLE
Being the largest ancient coherent castle in the world, no wonder Prague Castle attracts every year millions of visitors from all over the world.
The castle complex is dated back to the 9th century and since then was an official seat of power for kings, emperors and nowadays presidents.
Prague Castle dominates the Prague's skyline, so it is easy to find.
The entrance fee to Prague Castle complex is free and you must only buy a ticket when you want to explore the significant buildings from inside such as St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, Golden Lane, St. Georges Basilica, etc., or when you want to visit exhibitions.
If you want to know more about the Prague Castle's history, take a Prague Castle Tour.
The Prague Castle strengthened its security because of the terrorist attacks in Europe, so be prepared to wait in a queue for some time, because all visitors must go through metal detectors and security checks.
We also created a useful post How to Get to Prague Castle you should definitely read before you go.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
SAINT VITUS CATHEDRAL
If there is only one place you should explore more thoroughly in the Prague Castle complex, it is St. Vitus Cathedral.
The outstanding gothic architecture is spectacular both from outside and inside, and you could easily spend whole day admiring so many details.
When you enter the complex via the main gate, you must cross the courtyard, and then you emerge right in front of the cathedral. You can tell, that more than 1000 years ago, builders didn't plan how to make the cathedral photo-friendly as from this side it's just impossible to take a picture of the whole building.
Fortunately, you can walk around, and it gets much better from the back.
If you are on a tight budget, definitely check out this post 15 Free Things to Do in Prague.
VYSEHRAD
To get to Vysehrad (upper castle), you can use public transport or walk south along the river about 25 - 30 minutes from the city center.
A historic fort was built on the hill in the 10th century, and according to a legend, from this place, Libuse (daughter of mythical Czech ruler Krok) prophesied the glory of the future city of Prague.
In Vysehrad, you can see the Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul, Cemetery containing remains of famous people from Czech history or you can only enjoy the upriver views of the city and the relaxed atmosphere of the surrounding park.
This place is popular among locals who come here to jog (we lived nearby so this place is soaked with our sweat), walk dogs or have a beer and gather with friends, so come here to get to know Czechs better and enjoy authentic vibes.
To learn more, here is our Vysehrad guide.
PETRIN HILL
For better views, climb to Petrin Hill, one of the Prague's greenest urban areas, near Prague Castle.
On the top of the hill is TV tower that is a loose miniature of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (at a ratio of 1:5). It's bit steep walk to get to the top, so to save time, you can use a funicular (a public transport pass is valid here) from Ujezd.
You can climb up to the Lookout Tower, stroll around gardens, come nearer to Hunger Wall, visit Mirror Maze or Observatory.
WHERE TO STAY IN PRAGUE
Prague has uncountable options on where to stay, and you should book your room way ahead when traveling around summer (from May to September) or during top dates such as weekends in December or on New Year's Eve.
However, Prague has many hotels and hostels for every traveler's budget, and we've handpicked three best places in each category.
Budget | Hostel Boudnik - This hostel offers both dormitories and private rooms, and features free wifi- clean common areas and great location close to the city center.
Mid-range | Nyx Hotel Prague - It is quite hard to pick only one hotel in the mid-range category as there is simply too many of them, but this hotel lies in the center and beats the others with the unique design.
Luxury | Augustine Prague - A luxury hotel located close to Prague Castle set in an old monastery offers beautifully appointed rooms and apartments with stunning views over Prague.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Get Around: Buses and trains are an affordable way to get around the Czech Republic. Regiojet offers clean and modern buses and trains with all the amenities.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
