Prague – City of a Hundred Spires, a UNESCO monument and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Prague is one of the most popular and beautiful destinations for travellers in all of Central Europe. With its medieval style, cheap cost of living, vibrant bar and restaurant scene and great night life it is easy to see why!
Prague posses a mix of history, culture, nightlife, beauty (both man-made and natural) and affordability that sets it apart from any other cities. Lovers of amazing architecture, historical ambiance and incredible Gothic skylines will fall in love, and find countless of things to do in Prague.
Each of Prague’s districts has its own characteristic atmosphere and unique charm. Prague presents itself to you as a changeable city with alternate styles: it is romantic and successful, ancient and modern, but above all it is a city that is cosmopolitan through and through and is used to welcoming foreigners.
This was our second time visiting Prague we were still in awe of its beauty the second time round. In this blog we have shared with your our favourite places to see on full days iteniery along with tips to make you have the best time possible.
Getting Around
The tram and metro in Prague are very simple to figure out as well as an inexpensive and fast way to get around the city. A quick fun fact: Prague has some of the longest escalators in the world at 87 meters.
Buying tickets for public transportation can be a pain, as there are often no tellers at the ticket counters. There are machines in the metro stations to buy tickets, but almost all only take coins, so come prepared.
If you plan to avoid public transportation, I would advise you to be cautious of taxis. The best way to get around in cabs would be by calling for one beforehand, or preferably taking an Uber.
Currency
Unlike most European cities, the Czech Republic does not operate on the Euro, but the Czech Koruna (czk).
Czech banknotes are issued in the following denominations: 100/200/500/1000/2000/5000.
Some hotels, shops and restaurants accept Euros as well, but many only take Czech Crowns. The exchange rate is around 25 Korunas to one Euro. Getting cash in Prague is easy as ATMs are very accessible, yet always be aware of your surrounding when withdrawing money.
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6am Catch the sunrise on Charles Bridge.
When we think of things to do in Prague one of the first activities that comes to mind is taking in the views from the Charles Bridge. This is an unforgettable experience that will doubtlessly stay with you for years to come.
By lunch time the bridge is so busy it can be hard to stop and take photos with out being bumped by the hundreds of people, thus making sunrise when its much more quite, the best time to appreciate it.
8am See the Astronical Clock, Old town Square and Tyn Church.
Prague’s Old Town Square is one of the most spectacular squares in Europe. The square has seen centuries of history with some of it’s Gothic buildings dating back to the 14th century.
You might see some resemblance with the church and the original Walt Disney Castle. It turns out the castle at Disneyland was indeed inspired by this church.
Legend has it that the Tyn Church towers gave Walt Disney the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle. True or not, the church is an awe-inspiring sight during the day, and even more so at night, brightly lit up against a night dark sky. The organ at Tyn Church dates from 1673 and is the oldest in Prague.
The Old Town Hall Tower, constructed in the early 1400’s, sits imposingly in the middle of the square. The tower is among the highest in the Old Town and houses one of Prague’s most identifiable icons, the Astronomical Clock.
Dozens of tourists flock to the clock every hour on the hour to see the mechanical relic put on a small show. There was work being done on the clock this year so it was covered with scaffolding.
You can ascend to the top of the Old Town Hall tower for around 250 CZK. It’s worth every penny, so make sure you do so. There are elevators for those who have a time time climbing stairs and the views from atop are SPECTACULAR. You’ll get a really good look at Our Lady Before Tyn Church and the rest of the Prague’s magnificent Old Town in all directions.
The entrance fee includes also the entry to the Old Town Hall‘s underground, historical halls and the Chapel of the Virgin Mary.
10am Breakfast at Home Kitchen
By now your feeling hungry from walking around. Like many cities eating around the main square can be quite pricey and good can food can be hard to find. We had stumbled cross a cafe called Home kitchen, that served healthy and delicious breakfast. A cute cafe with industrial like interior and a warm cosy feel. We ordered pancakes and an Acia bowl. It was delicious and felt good to eat a healthy breakfast and they make the best coffee.
11am Strahov Monastery Library
Getting to Strathov Monastery Library is easy from the main square as there is metros and trams close by.
One of the most beautiful historical libraries in the world. The magnificent Baroque library in Prague, situated close to Prague Castle and Petřín Hill regularly appears in lists of places that are well worth seeing at least once in your life. Strahov Monastery, in which the library is located, was founded as early as the 12th century and ranks among the oldest monasteries in Czech lands that still serve their purpose and are home to monks. The monastery is open to the public all year round and tours are held almost every day.
Don’t get me wrong the library is beautiful but when we went in we thought we could walk around the library but unfortunately its closed off and you can only see through an open door. Entry in is 80 czk and then you also have to pay a fee to take photos. Make sure this is what you want to see so you don’t get disappointed.
1 pm Enjoy city views at Restaurant Bellavista
Now it always beer o’clock in Prague and Prague is widely known for its beer. Just a short walk around the corner is Bellavista Restaurant.
Catch the most amazing views of the city and enjoy a glass of rose or traditional beer from Bellavistar restarant. The view takes in the orchard below the monastery, St Vitus Cathedral, the Vltava River and much of Prague including the old town. The monk brewed pilsner is a must try.
2 pm Prague Castle and Malá Strana
On your way down to the Prague Castle take a walk down the hill to the Mala Strana neighborhood. Marvel at the historic cobble stoned streets and the spectacular facades of the centuries old buildings. No matter what time of the year this neighbourhood is one of the best to see. Get lost in the small alleyways and be immersed in cute small pubs and cheap souvenir shops.
Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world, and is perhaps the most renown of all of the city’s many landmarks. Set atop a hilly vantage point overlooking the Vltava River, the castle is a staggering work of architectural design. Its twin spire church, St. Vitus Cathedral, is especially impressive. Sporting an abundance of arches, gargoyles, and massive Gothic spires that soar into the sky the cathedral is what everyone pictures when they think of Prague castle.
If it is your first time visiting Prague then you will, doubtlessly, be spending a lot of time in the vicinity of Prague Castle. Theres even a food market near the castle where you can taste local meats. In our opinion make sure you visit Prague Castle, walk around the grounds and see the amazing Cathedral (be prepared to queue for quite a while) and watch the changing of the guards at midday.
Entrance to the castle is free, and you can easily wander around for hours without spending a cent. However if you want to gaze inside the cathedral or many of the other watchtowers and museums on the premises this will cost you.
The price for entrance to Prague Castle is 350CZK (13 Euro) for full admission, or 175CZK (6.50 Euro) for students and seniors. Tickets can purchased within the Prague Castle grounds at the information centers found in the second and third courtyards of the castle.
5 pm Stroll along Vltava River
After you are done exploring Prague Castle and the quirky streets of Malá Strana, take a walk down to the Vlata River.
Even in the city centre, nature is ever present by the river. Swans float around in search of food, and other birds fly through the air and swoop down on the water. From the river around Charles Bridge you can also see across to the wooded hillside of Petrin.
The Vltava River flows through the centre of Prague, and is the waterway around which the city has developed over the past 1000 years.
Another pleasant way to take in the beauty of this part of Prague is to dine at one of the riverside restaurants; many have terraces which look out over the water. Should you want to explore the Vltava River more closely rent a pedal or row boat. Rental offices can be found on Slovanský Island or Žofín Island.
6 pm Watch sunset from Letná park
For sunset views head up to the stunning Letná Park. The large large park sits on Letná hill, built on a plateau above steep embankments along the Vltava River in Prague. Letna’s elevation and location offer postcard views of the Prague Old Town and is the best spot to watch the sunset and take spectacular photos of the Vltava River and all Prague’s bridges.
This extensive park with grassy areas, mature trees, a colorful assortment of bushes planted on the hillsides, and a long plane tree-lined avenue provides not only a pleasant to sit and relax but also unparalleled views of the city, especially from the Hanavský Pavilion – a unique cast-iron building with a restaurant. In the park you can spend your free time participating in sports, walking, picnicking or relaxing in the summer garden restaurant in the Letná chateau in its eastern part. The oldest carousel in Europe is located in the Letná Park. The carousel was constructed in 1892 and was originally located in another part of town. It was moved to the park in 1894. It is now being reconstructed.
8pm Check to the dancing house
Prague is rich in a variety of sights, especially historical ones. But there are also a great number of modern places of interest. One of them is the Prague Dancing House, a highly original building resembling and also inspired by two dancers – the immortally famous duo of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
The Nationale Nederlanden building, known as the “Dancing House” or sometimes “Fred and Ginger”, is one of the most significant landmarks in Prague and definitely the most internationally renowned piece of post-1989 Czech architecture. The story of the Dancing house reaches back to the end of World War II, when the previous building standing on the site was destroyed during the bombing of Prague by the Allies.
The dancing House is beautiful to see at night when the lights come on inside and is the perfect location to finish off your day exploring Prague. To finish off a great day you can go and enjoy a famous Prague beer out in the town.
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Where to stay
We stayed at Post Hostel Prague.
Situated in the attractive Vinohrady district of Prague, Post Hostel Prague is only 5 minutes’ walk from one of Prague’s most loved parks (and beer gardens) Riegrovy Sady and a mere 20 minutes walk from the city centre. Pub;ic transport is easy accessible and a tram will only take 5 minutes.
The staff are friendly and welcoming and organise daily activities to make everyones time there enjoyable. There is a vibrant atmosphere and there is a huge entertaining room where you can watch a movie oh the big screen, play darts, table football and board games while enjoying pragues famous beers,which they sell for a even cheaper price.
The bathrooms and toilets were kept incredibly clean. There is more than 3 showers so we never had to wait for a toilet or shower. Privacy curtains hang over every bed in the dorm rooms to make you feel like you have your own private space and every bed comes with a large locker.
We got to enjoy one of their private rooms, and without exaggerating it was better than some 4-star hotel rooms we’ve stayed in. The bed was ridiculously comfortable, there was a sitting area and large windows to let in air and light in. Of all the hostels we’ve stayed in around the world we can honestly say Post Hostel Prague is one of the best.
Post Hostel Prague is the perfect place for any traveller, they are highly motivated to help you find the find the most interesting experiences around to make you enjoy the best of what Prague has to offer. Post Hostel Prague also organises activates for every day and night of the week.
To book Post Hostel click HERE
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Where to Eat near by
The lovely staff at Post Host Prague recommend us 2 places to eat close to where the hostel is.
- Vinohradsky Parlament– We ate here for dinner and we were not disappointed. Here you will find very nice traditional food with out the price tag. There is a great vibe and plenty of outdoor seating. This restaurant is popular with tourists and locals. Parliament do amazing lunch time specials.
- Mlsnej Kocour– Another great restaurant serving traditional Czech food and at very affordable price. They serve traditional Czech meat dishes and have a great beer selection and the wild boar is a must try.
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Other activities
We would recommend staying in Prague for more than a night, its a wonderful city and there is so many things to see and do. Here is a list of other activities you can do to get the most our of the beautiful city.
- Explore The Bohemian State Of Mind Tour
- Sedlec Ossuary – The Bone Church In Kutna Hora
- Riegrovy Sady Park
- The John Lennon Wall
- Josevof- The jewish Quarter
- Explore Mana Strana
- Petřín Tower
- Petřín Hill
- Vyšehrad Port
- Prague Jewish Museum
- Letná Park
- Prague National Theatre
- Czech beer museum
We hope you have enjoyed reading our blog and we hope this information helps you plan your next trip to Prague.
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