15 Free Things to Do in Prague
There are many things to do for free in Prague, so you don't have to break a bank while visiting the city, and this fact will allow you to stay within your frugal budget on your trip to the Czech Republic. In other words, Prague offers many free activities, events, and attractions all year round. Here is our list of what to see and do in Prague for free!
Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic, and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, popular among visitors for its medieval architecture, unique legends, and mysterious atmosphere.
And although Prague is still very affordable compared to its western brothers and sisters, it's getting more and more expensive every year. That's why we've decided to create a list of free things to do in Prague to help you fall in love with the city while traveling on a low budget.
Home to astonishing parks, stunning viewpoints, romantic waterfronts, and impressive churches, Prague has for sure a lot to offer to budget visitors, who don't want to spend a fortune on admission fees and guided tours.
The city is best explored on foot and by public transport, which makes getting around Prague incredibly cheap and convenient.
All the attractions we included on this list are completely free, with no hidden charges, we promise.
You can see so many beautiful places in Prague for free, that you can spend in the city several days without getting bored, even when traveling on a budget plus you do not have to be worried, you would skip anything, because some of the top attractions are in Prague for free.
Here is our travel guide on how to explore Prague on a shoestring without missing out on all the best attractions and experiences.
Find out what to do in Prague for free and still get the most of your trip to Czechia!
PRAGUE CASTLE
Although it is hard to believe it, visiting one of the top attractions in Prague is absolutely free.
Yes, we are talking about Prague Castle, so right off the bat, it's fantastic value!
Prague Castle is one of the largest castle complexes in the world, which dominates the Prague city skyline, so it is hard to believe that you do not need to pay any entrance fee to get in the complex.
First, enjoy the splendid views from Hradcany Square, you can even wait for the change of castle guard, and then simply step in.
For safety reasons, you have to wait in a line for the security check to visit the grounds, which can take a while, especially during the high season.
You can walk around the Prague Castle grounds for free, and down below, we share more tips what to do while there.
And don’t forget to check out our article How to Get to Prague Castle.
ST VITUS CATHEDRAL
St Vitus Cathedral is the structure you can see towering in the middle of the Prague Castle complex.
Not only you can admire the beauty of this unique Gothic gem from outside, but you can also actually step inside for free.
However, you can only stay in the designated area, which is rather small, but it's free and perfect for travelers who don't want to spend money on admission.
St Vitus Cathedral is absolutely splendid, although it is hard to photograph, because of its heigh, and relatively small space outside, but thanks to it taking the picture here is at least fun.
GOLDEN LANE
A 500 hundred years old picturesque narrow street consisting of cute and colorful small houses in the heart of the Prague Castle complex, Golden Lane makes it without breeze on the list of list of must-visit places in Prague.
This beautiful remainder of the small-scale Prague architecture between the White Tower and Daliborka Tower is now a top tourist attraction and packed with small souvenir stores or museums inside the houses.
There is only one small catch - you have to pay the entrance fee to get there, though it's usually included in the Prague Castle ticket bundle (A & B Circuits).
So why would we include this place to the list of free stuff to do in Prague?
Because when it's after official opening hours, you can visit Golden Lane for free!
Yes, the shops and museums will be closed, but there will be a lot fewer tourists, and the Golden Lane is really beautiful and photogenic at night.
On top of that, many prominent Czechs used to live here including Franz Kafka being the most famous one, who used to live in house number 22 between 1916 and 1917.
Golden Lane opening hours are 9 AM - 5 PM from April to October and 9 AM to 4 PM from November to March, after that you can stroll around for free.
Last time we went there, it was already dark but two shops were still open (not that we would buy anything), and there were just a few tourists. It was a very pleasant walk, and a very different experience, from the usual overcrowded reality.
CHARLES BRIDGE
Together with Prague Castle, Charles Bridge creates a postcard panorama of Prague and easily makes it to the list of top 5 attractions every visitor must-see in Prague.
And yes, you hear it right, you do not have to pay a fee to walk across Charles Bridge.
Charles Bridge was built between 1357 and 1402 during the reign of the greatest rulers of the Bohemian Kingdom, Charles IV. It replaced an older Judith Bridge destroyed during the floodings, and still stands until today.
Charles Bridge is 516 meters long stone bridge with 30 baroque statues connecting an Old Town and Lesser Town. Take your time, and walk across Charles Bridge, better earlier in the morning when it is not that crowded.
At each end of the bridge are two towers, from where you will enjoy splendid views, although here you must pay a small fee.
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!
BOTANICAL GARDEN OF CHARLES UNIVERSITY SCIENCE FACULTY
Do you want to visit a place not many people discover in Prague during their travels?
We would like to introduce you Botanical Garden on Albertov, where you do not have to pay admission unless you would like to go inside the greenhouse.
This botanical garden is more than 100 years old, and during this long time it has grown and expanded, and you can admire here a large number of remarkable plants.
To get to the botanical garden, take a tram number 6, 18 or 24, and get off at Botanicka Zahrada station.
ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK
One of the biggest shows in Prague is for free - the famous Astronomical Clock on Old Town Square.
The clock was built in 1410 and is one of the oldest astronomical clocks in the world and one of the many must-visit places in Prague. Each hour, the set of twelve statues of apostles moves in the small doorways above the clock and attracts tourists from around the world.
The legend of the origin of the clock and its clockmaker Hanus is fascinating, and you should check out our post 13 Amazing Facts About Prague You Didn't Know to learn more.
Oh, and another thing to know, when you are looking up, don't forget to keep your valuables safe.
CHURCH OF OUR LADY VICTORIOUS AND THE INFANT JESUS
When walking around Prague, you will probably notice many churches along the way.
However, there is one church in Lesser Town, that has something others don't - a wooden statue of the Baby Jesus dressed up in expensive and valuable robes with golden crown and globus cruciger in the left hand.
In front of the statue of the Infant Jesus, people and visitors from around the world ask for help or thank for the things, that happened in their lives.
The order of the Discalced Carmelites takes care of the church, a beautiful baroque monument (partly built in renaissance style as well) from the early 17th century.
Inside the church, there is also a small museum with displayed robes (donated for example by empress Maria Theresa), crowns, many photos of how nuns dress the statue, and the best part?
You can also visit it for free.
If you think that you've seen already enough churches in Prague, and still you are not convinced if it's worth it, make no mistake, the Church of Our Lady Victorius is famous attraction, and popular among international tourists for a reason, and we are always surprised by how many people want to see this fascinating statue.
The church has an easily accessible location between Ujezd and Malostranske Namesti. To get there, take a tram to Hellichova station, which will take you directly to the church.
THE WALDSTEIN GARDEN (WALLENSTEIN PALACE GARDENS)
Prague has many hidden gardens but strictly geometrically designed Wallenstein Palace Gardens is arguably the most beautiful one in Prague.
It's also the second-largest garden in Prague city center, and you can enjoy it completely for free, though it's open only from April to October.
Together with superb stable for 37 horses, this beautiful baroque garden is part of the Wallenstein Palace, and probably the first palace garden built in Prague.
Wallenstein Gardens features a beautiful Italian-style Sala Terenna, Grotta, which is an artificial lime stucco stalactite cave, a fresco depicting a myth of the Argonauts and the Golden Fleece, large pond full of fish, water fountain, bronze statues, aviary to keep exotic birds, and freely roaming, and sometimes quite noisy, peacocks.
The garden is very charming, and it's sometimes used as a venue for concerts in the summer.
There are also benches where you can take a break in this shrine of peace in the heart of Prague. It's also a perfect place to eat your sandwich or packed lunch to get some energy back before you climb to Prague Castle, as it's on the way.
And although it's enclosed by a wall and entrances are not well-signed you should have no problem at all to find it.
To get there, take a tram or metro (Green A Line) to Malostranska, where the garden is adjacent to the metro entrance, or you can enter the grounds from Letenska Street. Using google maps really helps to find the entrance.
There is almost no shade though, so don't forget to wear a hat or apply sunscreen if you want to enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the garden for a longer time.
PETRIN HILL
Petrin is a beautiful hillside park in Prague famous for the Petrin Lookout Tower, which resembles a much more famous Eiffel Tower in Paris and the funicular.
Walking around the Petrin Hill is for free, and so are the incredible views from the top.
You have to pay the entrance fee to Petrin Tower, and you need a ticket for the funicular, although if you have already purchased a standard ticket for traveling in Prague public transport, you can use it for the funicular as well.
Don't forget to validate it before the ride, if you haven't done so already.
PRAGUE MUSEUM NIGHT
Every summer, a really big cultural event takes place in Prague.
It has a humble name - Prague Museum Night - but make no mistake, it's a big thing which has a long tradition across the European cities. On the second Saturday of June, more than 70 museums, galleries, libraries, and other cultural institutions will open to the public.
The event starts at 7 PM and ends at 1 AM, so you can visit many interesting places, and then get back to your hotel still quite early to get some sleep.
Despite the fact, that Prague Museum Night aims mostly at locals, if you happen to be in Prague on this day, as you won't probably plan your trip to Prague around this event, it's always a great idea to see some attractions you would not have seen otherwise.
The only place where you have to pay admission fee is National Cultural Monument Vysehrad, however, it's only a nominal fee - 1 CZK.
This is one of the most popular events in Prague and being completely free of charge means one thing - crowds.
Luckily, DPP (Prague Public Transport Company) provides an extra nine bus lines and an additional historical tram line during the time of the event.
These public transport lines are also for free. Among the best things to do and see during the Prague Museum Night are the National Museum, Karolinum, Maisel Synagogue, or the Czech National Bank.
You can also visit the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Theatre Space, which is also free of admission.
PRAGUE FREE WALKING TOUR
Interesting, informative, with highly engaging tour guides, free walking tours are one of the best ways to learn more about the destination, you've just arrived in.
You will find a free walking tour in Prague easily, there are more providers than only one, just quickly google which one suits you best, and you are ready to visit the famous sights in Prague.
The only problem we have with free walking tours in general, and why we were quite reluctant to include them on the list of free things to do in Prague, is that they are not actually for free, as you are kind of obligated to give a tip to the tour guide at the end.
That's perfectly fine with us, as they make living out of it, it's just something to know, so you won't be surprised when the tour finishes.
LETNA PARK
A fairly large plateau on the top of the hill, Letna Park offers one of the best views and lookouts in Prague.
It's a perfect place for a relaxing walk, jogging or having a picnic. We believe that before your trip to Prague you had already seen the famous picture of the city, river and many bridges over the river.
Well, you can easily snap this photo by yourself from a viewpoint in Letna Park.
VYSEHRAD
All the city parks in Prague have no entry fee, and for us, Vysehrad is the best park in Prague.
It has everything you would expect plus things you wouldn't, like a beautiful cathedral, or cemetery where many famous Czech people rest in peace. We love this place for autumn walks and jogging, and the views from the lookout platforms are simply breathtaking.
Vysehrad is for sure a thing you must include in your Prague itinerary, not only because it is free, but because it is so breathtaking and peaceful.
HEAD OF FRANZ KAFKA
Prague is a city of hundred spires but also a city of statues. There are hundreds of them scattered around the city, and you will see a lot of them on your trip to Prague even without looking hard.
However, one of the statues stands above all - Head of Franz Kafka.
As you might know, Franz Kafka, a famous writer was born in Prague and is tightly connected to the city. We've already mentioned a house in Golden Lane, where he used to work, and here we are going to talk about his statue.
Designed by David Cerny, the statue of Franz Kafka is very modern, made of steel, and almost futuristic looking, but here comes the best part - it's moving.
Forty-two layers are constantly rotating and changing the shape of Franz Kafka's head, pausing only for a brief moment or when the statue reaches its final form and transforms into a perfect Kafka head.
You will find the statue behind Quadrio shopping mall, only a minute walk from Narodni Trida (tram and metro station), and like all the things on our Prague list, you can enjoy this spectacular show for free.
DANCING HOUSE
Yes, there is a luxury hotel and fancy restaurant inside the Dancing House, and you have to pay for the ticket to get to the rooftop or order something to drink while there.
But the main reason to visit Dancing House is the incredible exterior, which you can admire from the street by simply stopping by.
The residential house that used to stand on the corner of Jiraskovo Namesti and Rasinovo Nabrezi was destroyed during the WW2 US bombing of Prague, and after the Velvet Revolution, it was decided to build something new, something that Prague didn't have - a modern dancing-shaped building.
If you like modern art and architecture, you can't miss it out.
OPEN DAYS IN PRAGUE
Here are two extra tips you can enjoy in Prague for free, although they are not possible to catch all year round.
Similar to the Prague Museum Night, Open Days in Prague allows you to visit some popular attractions for free.
And you can also visit some places, which are not open to the public throughout the year. Although the events last only one day, you can make the most of it and enjoy several places. Open Days in Prague usually take place around important Czech national holidays such as the 28th of October, which is the Independent Czechoslovak State Day.
But once again, locals love Open Days, and it can get really crowded at popular places, so get there early.
CULTURAL EVENTS
There are tons of things to do in Prague for free, ranging from concerts, galleries, movie festivals, shows, yoga classes, or sports activities each day.
When in the city, search the internet and you will quite quickly get an idea of what is happening around the city today.
Sure, some of the activities are mainly aimed at the locals, and we feel you, that watching an art movie in Czech without English subtitles might not be an ideal way to spend your evening in Prague, but there are also activities accessible to everyone.
There could be a laser light show tonight, a photo exhibition, or free entrance to a museum or art gallery.
The best part about these public events is that they not only save money, but also offer unique experiences, as you will get to know the Prague from a little bit different perspective, and perhaps meet some locals along the way.
BEST CHEAP HOTELS IN PRAGUE
Arriving in Prague on a low budget means one thing - you want to save money on accommodation too. The nature of low budget traveling usually means compromises, and cheap accommodation is full of them.
Worry not, we have put together a list of three best affordable hotels in Prague, so you can have a calm dreamless night, though we skipped the five-star hotels this time.
Budget | Charles Bridge Hostel and Apartments - Who said that accommodation in the historical part of Prague can't be nice and cheap? Charles Bridge Hostel & Apartments is a very affordable hotel for budget travelers in the heart of Prague. The rooms are basic, though nice and clean. And have we mentioned the hard to beat location right next to the Charles Bridge?
Mid-range | Motel One Prague - Unbeatable price, modern design, excellent location, spotlesly clean rooms - these are the main streghts of the Motel One Prague - one of the best value hotels in Prague.
Mid-range | Salvator Boutique Hotel - Reasonably priced hotel with excellent location only two hundred meters from National Museum and Wenceslas Square. The rooms are very clean, have comfortable beds, aircon, and tv.
SUMMARY
We hope you made it to the end with us and enjoyed the article, and as you can clearly see, you can visit Prague on a frugal budget, and enjoy many beautiful places for free.
However, we think, that it would be a shame if you would decide not to purchase tickets to Prague Castle, as they are very affordable, and allow you to visit multiple places.
That's probably the only thing on which we wouldn't try to save money, but other than that, you can enjoy plenty of places in Prague for free.
And one more tip, if you come to Prague in Winter, everything will be cheaper, as it’s the off season.
Happy travels!
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.
