Prague is a charming city with cobblestone-lined streets, beautiful town squares, and stunning historical sites. The city is compact, with most of its must-see sites within walking distance of one another. This makes sightseeing easier as travelers do not need to rely on public transit to navigate Prague.
In this guide, I provide travelers with an ideal one-day itinerary, as well as a list of recommended experiences and sites to explore for those who have more time to spend in Prague.
Interactive Planning Map
Fellow adventurers, here is a great map you can use to plan your trip to Prague! I created this map while planning my own trip and added the restaurants I visited afterward.
Check out this travel guide to learn how to create your own My Maps for your next trip.
| Green ~ Museums | Orange ~ Jewish District | Magenta ~ Pub |
| Purple ~ Historical Sites | Red ~ Restaurants | Blue ~ Hotel |
| Gray ~ Historical Church |
Ideal One-Day Itinerary Idea
If you have only a day in Prague, follow this itinerary to explore the major must-see sites in the city.
Start your adventures at Old Town Square. Arrive early to beat the crowds and have the opportunity to take great photographs!
First, head to the Old Town Hall and purchase a ticket to climb the tower. Tickets are 50% off for the first hour after opening! From the top of the tower, you’ll have beautiful views of Old Town Square, the Powder Tower, and Prague Castle.
After conquering the tower, take the time to stroll through Old Town Square, where you’ll see the Astronomical Clock, the Church of our Lady Tyn, the Marian Column, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Storch House, the Jan Hus Memorial, and Kinsky Palace. A lot of history and great architecture can be found around the square!
Of course, do not forget to stop and watch the show when the Astronomical Clock strikes the hour!
Sightseeing can work up an appetite, and Old Town Square is the perfect place to be when hungry because this area is full of eateries. If you are looking for a quick, cheap bite, I recommend Bageterie Boulevard, a great local sandwich chain that has awesome subs, soups, and desserts. If you prefer a sit-down restaurant, two of my favorites in Old Town are Maitrea and Pizzeria Pulcinella. (Read more about those places in this post.)
To start your afternoon, head towards Charles Bridge. While crossing the bridge, take the time to view the many statues across its length, and don’t forget to stop by one of the plaques that will bring you luck.
After crossing Charles Bridge, continue walking westward for about two blocks. Here, you can continue onwards and climb the hills and stairs to reach Prague Castle, or you can catch Tram 22.
When you arrive at Prague Castle, purchase the “Main Circuit” ticket, which provides admission to St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica, Old Royal Palace, and Golden Lane. You can also rent an audio guide. After visiting the sites at Prague Castle, take a stroll through the South Garden and enjoy the views of the city. From there, head to Hardrasky Square and check out the palaces, monuments, and more amazing views of Prague.
To wrap up your day, climb down the castle stairs and make your way to Restaurace U Mecenáše in Malá Strana (Lesser Town), where you can enjoy delicious, traditional Czech meals and celebrate a day of sightseeing with a cold pivo (Czech word for beer).
Multi-Day Itinerary Ideas
My best recommendation if staying more than a day is to take some time to meander through the streets of Staré Mesto (Old Town) and Malá Strana (Lesser Town). Unlike other European cities, Prague was not as heavily bombed during World War II, so many of its historical sites survived the war. I enjoyed just getting lost in the streets of Prague, admiring the art and architecture of its many old buildings.
An experience I highly recommend is attending an evening classical concert. These concerts are typically held in one of Prague’s many historic churches, offering travelers the opportunity to enjoy beautiful music in a stunning setting. During my trip, I attended a concert at St. Salvator Church, located just across the street from the Charles Bridge. The performance featured a soloist and string quintet performing Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.
Performances can sell out, especially during busy travel seasons, so I recommend buying tickets before your trip. I purchased my ticket via Get Your Guide but tickets can also be purchased directly from the venue.
Things To Do in Prague by Interest
History: I highly recommend that travelers visit Old Town Hall and take one of the available tours. Dating back to the 1300s, this site has a beautiful chapel, magnificent halls, and a fascinating maze of underground caverns. Visitors also have the opportunity to get a close-up look at the statues of the 12 apostles that are seen during the clock’s hourly show.
History, Religion, Art, Architecture, Music: If visiting Prague for several days, I suggest exploring other sites in Prague Castle that are not included in the “Main Circuit”. Travelers can climb the South Tower, view several permanent exhibits, or visit the beautiful Lobkowicz Palace, which features a museum, café, and concert hall.
For those who enjoy classical music, the Lobkowicz Palace hosts a daily concert in its Baroque Concert Hall.
History, Science: The Museum Complex of the Národní Muzeum houses several notable exhibits focusing on the history of the Czech lands from the 8th century through today. It also contains multiple interesting science-based exhibits. Beyond the exhibits, the historic building has a beautiful interior with glass ceilings, a splendid dome, frescoes, and gilded reliefs.
In my post about the Národní Muzeum, I provide a list of other museums that are part of its network, such as the Czech Museum of Music and the Vrchotovy Janovice Chateau.
History, Religion, Architecture: One of my favorite experiences in Prague was visiting the Jewish District. The Jewish District, located in a beautiful section of Staré Mesto, is home to several synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery. Each synagogue houses an exhibit that focuses on the history and life of Jews in the Bohemian Lands. The admission pass for the Jewish District is valid for 3 days.
The Pinkas Synagogue serves as a memorial to the 80,000 Czech and Moravian Jews who lost their life during the Holocaust. Their names are etched on the walls of the synagogue.
History, Music, Art: Prague’s Obecní Dům (Municipal Hall) is a masterpiece of Art Nouveau style featuring works from two of Czechia’s greatest artists, Alphonse Mucha and Jan Preisler. Visitors can tour its concert hall, parlors, and other masterfully painted and decorated rooms.
Next to the Obecní Dům, one finds the historic Powder Tower, which is open to the public.
Art: The Narodni Galerie Praha (National Gallery Prague) is a series of art museums, each focusing on a different time period and art style. The galleries at Schwarzenberg Palace & Šternberský Palace, the two I visited, focus on Renaissance and Baroque art and also display a rare collection of Russian Christian icons.
I provide links to other great art museums in my post about the Národní Galerie Praha.
History, Religion: The Church of Our Lady Victorious and the Infant Jesus is a historic church that houses the statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague. The church also contains a museum with two exhibits: one gallery showcases nativity sets from around the world, and the other displays robes for the Infant Jesus of Prague, including one gifted by Empress Maria Theresa.
History: The Charles Bridge is a wonderful must-see site in Prague with its many sculptures and beautiful views of the Vltava River. When visiting the Charles Bridge, travelers can climb the Old Town Bridge Tower and the Lesser Town Bridge Tower or explore the nearby Charles Bridge Museum.
Cheers to Prague
Of course, no trip to Prague is complete without sampling some local pivo! I recommend that travelers stop by Staroměstský Pivovar, Prague’s oldest brewery and inn, where visitors can sample 6 local beers. This brewery is a short 5-minute walk from Old Town Square.
One of my favorites was the cherry beer ~ interesting and delicious!
Leave a Comment