Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is a wonderful city to visit. If you are visiting, you will want to know what to do in Prague? This guide will bring you through the best the amazing city of Prague has to offer, where to eat, and where to stay.
Prague has a long and interesting history going back over millennia. Prague is up there with other cities like Paris and Vienna when it comes to culture, architecture, and history. The Vlatava River runs through the city and with Prague’s many world-class museums and baroque-style churches and bridges you will cross the river a few times on your trip.
The ideal amount of time to spend in Prague would be at least 3 to 4 full days but I have spent 8 days in Prague and still felt there was more I wanted to do. If you enjoy walking you can certainly get all these 20 sights visited in 2 days. Bring good walking shoes and if you are visiting from October to March, check the weather and dress accordingly. I once visited in mid-February and it was 8C but feeling like 3C with a slight wind chill factor – scarf, hat, and gloves very much required. I also visited at the end of October and it was very pleasant, around 11C on average, with light showers and some days had a breeze but still very pleasant – again, bring layers so you can change your clothing to suit the conditions.
The Czech Republic does not use the Euro and has the Czech Koruna as the unit of currency. It is located about 2.5 hours from Ireland and about 2 hours from the UK. Most budget airlines fly directly to Prague’s Václav Havel Airport about 12km west of Prague. Connections to the city are available by bus and taxi or private car transfer. We organised our travel from our Hotel, at the Grandior Hotel, more on that later.
I recommend the use of The Revolut Card for excellent exchange rates. I use it all the time and I got about €2 per €100 transferred due to the beneficial exchange rates on Revolut.
Top Things to do in Prague
This is my list of the best things to do and see in Prague. Prague has a lot to offer and in my view gives Paris a run for its money as it has tons of history, and architecture and has great food and is wonderful value for money.
The Astronomical Clock
The Prague astronomical clock, or Prague orloj, is a medieval astronomical clock that is over 600 years old and it is located in the Old Town Square in Prague. you will often find tours of the area and you can get guided tours around Prague which explain the history and the mechanism of this 600-year-old piece of medieval engineering. You can also go up in the tower for great views.
Old Town Square
Old Town Square, in Czech, known as Staroměstské náměstí, is the main central square of the historic part of Prague. Old Town Square is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Prague, along with Charles Bridge and Prague Castle. It is almost impossible to miss it if you’re coming to Prague as a tourist.
Franz Kafka, a German-speaking Bohemian novelist, and short-story writer was born very near here. If you are in this area, look for some great museums in the area, including the Banksy Museum, the Museum of Steel, and the Illusions Museum.
Charles Bridge
Known as Karlův Most in Czech, Charles Bridge is a medieval stone arch bridge that crosses the Vltava River in Prague. Construction of the bridge began in 1357 under the order of King Charles IV, and construction finished in the early 15th century. Because King Charles ordered its construction, the bridge has his name.
This was the only means of crossing the river Vltava River until 1841 as it was an important connection between Prague Castle and the city’s Old Town. You can actually go into the Towers at both ends and you get great views of the city, giving the best Sunset Views. The tower near the lesser town is actually better if you only want to do one.
The Palace and Cathedral Grounds
The castle and palace grounds are visible from the river. Simply head up the hill from Charles Bridge you can enter the castle grounds and enjoy the area. You may also see the changing of the guard. At night, don’t forget to say hello to the ghost (I got a spooky and unexplainable picture here many years ago).
Wenceslas Square
Wenceslas Square is the main square in the center of Prague. However, it is not actually square but more like a 700m long boulevard with many shops and restaurants along the length of it, Wenceslas Square reminds rather of a boulevard full of shops, focusing on various products from fashion to technologies. The square has been the place where many of the most famous demonstrations have taken place in Czech history. The focal point for Wenceslas Square is the National Museum which was founded in 1818 and was built in the neo-renaissance style. When I was here in 2002 the building was quite dull and ravaged by the elements but on my return in 2020 the building had been cleaned and sandblasted and looked amazing.
Some other of the Best places to visit Prague – in short
If you are in Stare Mesto take a look up as you are walking the street and you may just see the Golden Statue of Sigmund Freud. You can also get a great view of the city if you take the Petrin Hill Funicular. Finally, if you are interested in literature then you just have to visit the Franz Kafka Museum.
Food in Prague
The Food in Prague is amazing. If you want to try the local delicacies then you have to try Knedlíky, or Czech Dumplings, and the best place to find these is Deminka at Škrétova 1, 120 00 Nové Město, Czechia – wonderful service, 5-star food, and you have to pair the food with a Pilsner Urequel. If you are looking for a 5-star snack then try the Grand Cafe Orient for its strudel and coffee. One of the other 5-star recommendations for traditional Czech food is Restaurace Mincovna located in Old Town Square; the food is amazing and I recommend making a recommendation. I also recommend Restaurant Mustek, a 4-star recommendation (at the bottom of Wenceslas Square opposite the entrance to the Mustek metro stop) – they serve great food, we visited 3 times, and 2 times were excellent but on the 3rd visit our server had a problem when we asked for tap water (refused it) with the meal, which was the only reason our server was not tipped.
Prague is a wonderful city and I have traveled there about 4 times now, each time I found something new to enjoy. The food and the friendliness of the people are real selling points of the city.
