The Best Things To Do in Prague, Czech Republic
If you are a fan of gothic architecture, medieval squares, and antique bookshops, you will fall in love with Prague. Prague is one of those places you always hear people talking about how much they love it, and for a good reason. It is one of the most beautiful European cities, filled with unique architecture, breathtaking views, and medieval streets! While some roads feel like a step back in time, others feel like a step into a fairytale world. If you love European cities similar to Edinburgh, Cambridge, and Oxford with a movie-like feeling, you need to add Prague to your bucket list! Prague is another one of the places that look exactly like the movies. Prague is featured in movies like Spiderman, Mission Impossible, Amadeus, and more.
Besides being filled with beautiful streets and squares, Prague is one of the more affordable European cities. To give you an idea, a draft beer will cost you around €2, a glass of wine will be about €3, and many of the Prague top attractions are free to explore. It makes it a perfect destination for those on a budget who want to visit breathtaking and worthwhile places!
In this blog post, I will go through all the best things to do in Prague. I will include prices, addresses, and more information on each activity and landmark, so you can be fully ready to take on this incredible city!
How long should you spend in Prague?
If you want to do all the top things to do in Prague listed below, stay in Prague for about 4-5 days. This is the perfect amount if you want to enjoy your time and explore the several excellent museums, churches, and viewpoints but still have time to relax and recharge. This way, you will have time to explore all the main attractions without hassle. However, if you are a first-time visitor and only have a weekend, do not worry! It is possible to explore all the things below in just a weekend. It would mean there would be less time to recharge and café stops, but it is possible!
How much should you budget for Prague?
When I visited Prague, I budgeted around €50 per day per person. This includes 3 meals, approximately 3-4 drinks (coffees, wines, beers), and entrance fees to all the Prague must see museums and cathedrals. It does not include accommodation. You can definitely spend more, and you can definitely spend less. It all depends on where you eat, how often you have café breaks, and how many museums you want to go inside and explore.
The average meal will cost you around 200 Czech Koruna (€8). Beers will cost you around 50 Czech Koruna (€2). A coffee will cost you around 50 Czech Koruna (€2). The average price for Entrance Fees is about 300 Czech Koruna (€12). You can find individual entrance fee prices under each attraction listed below!
If you were to have 3 meals a day at 200 Czech Koruna, 2 beers at 50 Czech Koruna, a coffee at 50 Czech Koruna, and enter one attraction for 300 Czech Koruna, it would be 1250 Czech Koruna which is €51.
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11 Best things to do in Prague
1. Go see the iconic Astronomical Clock
While the astronomical clock is one of the most touristy and crowded Prague top attractions, it lives up to its hype! There is a reason this clock is on every list of top things to do in Prague, do not skip it! It is filled with beautifully detailed architecture and surrounded by the most beautiful square I have ever seen. If you love medieval and gothic architecture as much as me, you will fall head over heels for this part of Prague. I recommend stepping closer to the clock and checking out its exquisite details. It is often overlooked, but the clock has all of the zodiac signs engraved into the clock! It is a stunning sight, so make sure you go up close and look at this beautiful piece of architecture.
As it is a Prague must see, there will be crowds. However, if you want to skip the crowds, and have this clock all to yourself, go early in the morning before 9am! Most tourists will only show up at this attraction after 9am since this is when the clock starts its chime. The chime continues every hour until 11pm.
2. Admire the views at Old Town Hall Tower
The Old Town Hall Tower is one of the best things to do in Prague because of its incredible views of the Old Town Square and Prague city! If you want to see this beautiful square from a different, unique angle, go up the tower. When we went up, the city was covered in snow, and I cannot even begin to describe the magical feeling. It is such a beautiful view, but it is especially incredible to go up during sunsets, sunrises, at night, and on rainy or snowy days! You can find the best ticket prices for the tower here.
Opening Hours:
January to March: Mon: 11am-8pm, Tue-Sun: 10am-8pm
April to December: Mon: 11am-9pm, Tue-Sun: 9am-9pm
Entrance Fee: 250 CZK per adult
3. Walk across Charles Bridge and…
Charles Bridge is a Prague must see for anyone who loves dark and medieval atmospheres. Walk across this gorgeous bridge and get beautiful city views and incredibly detailed medieval architecture. Seeing this bridge will make you want to learn its history, and you can! If you go inside the Old Town Bridge Tower, you will learn the history behind this incredible bridge. You can either read about the bridge’s history or watch a short film about how it came to be. You will also end the self-guided tour with a unique view of the bridge! Despite the tower being one of the top things to do in Prague, it is usually relatively quiet and tourist-free. However, it is well worth it, so make sure you add it to your Prague to-do list! You can find tickets for the Old Town Bridge Tower here.
Opening Hours: Wed-Thur: 10am-8pm, Fri-Tues: 10am-6pm
Entrance Fee: 150 CZK per adult
4. Visit Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral
Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral are two of the best things to do in Prague, and they are known as some of the Prague top attractions. Though they are highly popular with tourists and often crowded places, they were also two of my favourite places in Prague! To get to Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, you will go through an entrance that feels like a portal to another city.
Once you have passed the gate, you can purchase tickets for the castle and the cathedral, among other attractions such as Golden Lane and the Castle Tower. You can choose between individual tickets or combination tickets. Please note that some of the attractions you cannot purchase as a combination ticket. One of them is the Castle Tower. I recommend getting the Castle Combination ticket and the extra Castle Tower ticket too! The view from the Castle tower is incredible, and you get to see the Towers up close and in all its detail. It makes for great photos!
When you visit, you can choose between self-guided tours or guided tours. We did a self-guided tour, but if you are a first-time visitor who wants to learn everything possible about the beautiful Castle and Cathedral, consider a guided tour! You can find the best combination ticket here. The ticket includes entrance to Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, the Golden Lane, and St. George’s Basilica. The ticket also includes a 2.5 hour tour with a guide who will tell you all about the incredible history of each of these places. You can also find self-guided tickets here.
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun: 6am-10pm
Entrance Fee: Around 350 CZK for a self-guided combination ticket
5. Visit the bookshops
One of my favourite things to do when arriving in a new city is exploring the bookshops. Prague did not disappoint! It is one of the top things to do in Prague, and it is easy to see why. Prague has some of the most beautiful bookshops I have ever been to. If you love old, beautiful, antique bookshops, you must visit Prague. A few of my favourites were Shakespeare & Sons, Valentinska, and The Globe. If you want to know more about the best bookshops in Prague, stay tuned! I will make a guide very soon
6. Walk around the Jewish Quarter
The Jewish Quarter, also known as Josefov, began its history in the 13th century when Jews living in Prague were ordered to settle in this one area of Prague. Jews were banned from living anywhere else but what is known today as the Jewish Quarter.
In the Jewish Quarter, you can visit some of the top things to do in Prague, such as the Jewish Cemetery, the Spanish Synagogue, the Jewish Museum, The Statue of Franz Kafka, and more. Inside, you can learn more about the history of the Jewish Quarter, the people, and the remaining historical buildings. You can find self-guided or guided tickets here.
7. See the “Man Hanging Out”
One of the best things to do in Prague for free is to see the “Man Hanging Out,” also known as Sigmund Freud. Freud was an Austrian Neurologist and was famous for inventing and developing the technique of psychoanalysis. The “Hanging Man” is easy to miss. It is attached to the roofs of the Czech buildings, so to see it, you need to look up! The “Hanging Man” was made to shed light on Freud’s internal struggles, hanging by a thread. Freud suffered from several phobias, including fear of death.
Address: Husova, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia
8. See the John Lennon Wall
Another one of the top things to do in Prague for free is to go see the famous John Lennon Wall. The Wall has inspiring lyrics and positive messages spread across it. You will soon realize that it symbolizes freedom of speech, love, and peace. It is also a symbol of resistance against Communism. The John Lennon Wall is a Prague must see that you need to add to your Prague bucket list!
Address: Velkopřevorské nám., 118 00 Malá Strana, Czechia
9. Cruise on the Vltava
I have a great solution if you are worn out from all the walking and exploring! Go on a cruise on the Vltava. There are so many cruises to choose from you will not be lacking in choice. You can go on a touristy daytime cruise where you can sit back and relax while seeing the city from a unique perspective. Here are a few of the best day cruises in Prague:
You can go on an evening dinner cruise if you prefer something different. On the evening dinner cruise, you will have a delicious meal and drinks with a flowing view of the city lights. Here are a few of the best evening cruises in Prague:
- Sightseeing Evening Cruise
- Evening Cruise with Buffet (Does a vegan spaghetti).
Either way, it is a great way to relax your legs for a while but still get to see some of the best things to do in Prague from a unique and beautiful perspective!
10. Go for a picnic in Letna Park
Letna Park is one of the Prague top attractions you cannot miss if you are visiting in the spring or summer time! If you want a beautiful view of Prague, free of charge, you will have to go to Letna Park! It is arguably the best view of the city, and in the summer, it is the perfect place to bring a picnic. Letna Park has lush green trees and a quiet city view. If your head is overwhelmed by all the city exploring, I recommend you go to Letna Park to breathe fresh air and still your mind for a minute. Exploring Letna Park is one of the top things to do in Prague!
11. Try Traditional Czech food
One of the best things to do in Prague is to eat! You must try some traditional Czech food before ending your trip! Prague has endless amounts of restaurants that specialize in delicious Czech food. Some of the top rated ones are Restaurace U Pinkasu and Restaurace Mlejnice. However, my personal favourite was Moment Bistro! This Bistro not only does some of the most delicious Czech food ever, but it is also 100% plant-based. Their vegan Goulash is out of this world!
You can also go on an incredible underground, medieval food experience. I did not do this, however, it looks incredible, and it is on my list for my next visit! They do a vegan option on request and there are unlimited drinks! You can find more information on that right here.
These are a few of the most traditional Czech dishes you need to try:
- Cesnecka (Garlic Soup)
- Gulas (Goulash)
- Svickova Na Smetane
- Smazeny Veprovy Rizek
