Fun Fact
Prague Castle is the largest castle in the world, according to the Guinness book of World Records.
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What is Prague known for?
Sandeman's offers a 3-hour gratuity-based walking tour of Prague led by locals and historians. We have found that starting our trip with one of these tours is a great way to learn about the history & culture of a new city. These tours provide a helpful understanding of the city layout by foot while you take note of attractions to visit throughout the remainder of your trip. Some of the highlights from our tour included the Astronomical Clock, viewing the Prague Castle, and learning about the Jewish Quarter and Prague's role in WWII.
Tickets: Free! (with suggested gratuity)
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A baroque church built in the 18th century that's architecture will amaze all those who step within. Located within the Old Town Square, this beautiful church towers above those relaxing in the square and is worth a visit to appreciate its history and charm.
3. Old Town Square
This large square comprised of St Nicholas Church, the Kinsky Palace, Astronomical Clock, as well as, restaurants and street performers. Depending on the time of year, markets are also set up in this square on cobblestone streets that make you feel like you went back to medieval time.
J&L Tip: Do not use any of the currency exchange places located within Old Town Square as several of them are a scam. Your best bet is to exchange your money at a Prague bank or at the airport.
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Built in the 15th century, this clock goes off on the hour, every hour. But what is an Astronomical Clock? This clock does much more than just tell time. It also shows the date, the position of the moon, stars, and other astronomical information, as well as, zodiac constellations, and ancient Czech time to name a few. Be sure to plan your stop here on the hour so that you can hear the beautiful bells while taking in its historical beauty. Located in such a central part of the city, it is hard not to pass this Astronomical Clock at least once during your time in Prague.
Fact: This clock is the oldest operating astronomical clock in the world and third oldest still standing!
5. Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge is a beautiful bridge that crosses the Vltava River and takes you from Old Town to Malá Strana and the Prague Castle. Malá Strana is the beautiful neighborhood that houses the Prague Castle, John Lennon Wall, as well as, many eateries and hotels. The beautiful cobblestones of the Charles Bridge are home to many street vendors, artists, and local musicians. We took our time crossing this bridge in order to take in the beautiful views of Old Town, Malá Strana, the Vltava River, and of course, the talented street performers.
J&L Recommended: Don't Miss!
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Built in the 9th century, this castle has so much history that you will need the entire day in order to do it justice. Admission to the castle includes entrance into St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George's Basilica, The Golden Lane and Old Royal Palace. We found this ticket to be a great value and well worth our time. We did not purchase the audio-tour and did not feel that we missed out as there was plenty of signage explaining the history.
Tickets: Ticket information can be found here and are roughly $11.50/Adult
There are also a number of museums within the castle that have free admission and contain priceless historic heirlooms that were incredible to witness. The highlights of our experience included the village within Golden Lane consisting of the homes of castle guards and goldsmiths, the beautiful St Vitus Cathedral, the Gothic Vladislav Hall, and the underground museum of medieval knight's armor. Last but not least, do not forget to walk around the castle walls and gardens for beautiful views of the red roofs of Malá Strana.
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7. St Vitus
The largest temple in Prague and the site of Czech King's coronations, this is a magnificent part of the Prague Castle and hard to miss as you explore the grounds. We highly recommend prioritizing this experience while at Prague Castle if not for the incredible architecture, for the beautiful stained glass windows within.
J&L Recommended: Don't Miss!
8. John Lennon Wall
Located off the beaten path, this wall is decorated with poems, symbols, messages, and graffiti. Known for its decoration of John Lennon, symbols of freedom, lyrics from the Beatles and global causes, this wall is a beautiful piece of art to admire on a walk through Malá Strana.
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9. Jewish Quarter
A wonderful part of town highlighting the tragic history of the Jews in Prague. Home to historic Synagogues, a Jewish Cemetery, and museums, we found it to be well worth a stop to admire the architecture and appreciate the history of this quarter.
Tip: The Sandeman's Walking Tour does a phenomenal job explaining the history of this quarter and how it came to be the "shopping district" of today
10. Havelské tržiště
An open-air market in Old Town that is great for picking up a local souvenir. With fresh fruits, veggies, and crafts, we found this small market to be a wonderful place to stroll through in the heart of Old Town. One of the oldest markets in the city, Havelské tržiště exemplifies the hustle and bustle of Prague.
Noms
What food is Prague famous for?
1. Trdelnik
For those of you with a sweet tooth (like us), this pastry is a must-try while in Prague. Also called Chimney Cakes, these pastries are made by cooking dough around a hot rod, allowing for the center to be filled with Nutella or ice cream and the outsides covered in cinnamon sugar.
J&L Recommended: Must try!
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We stopped at several places, on a mission to find the best trdelnik in Prague. Good Food Coffee & Bakery in Old Town was by far our favorite! They have so many delicious flavors both sweet and savory. Be sure to try the Chimney King with vanilla ice cream, nuts, brownies, and caramel.
For those of you in search of an authentic Czech meal while in Prague, look no further. From beef tartar and pickled cheese, to traditional goulash and schnitzel with potato salad, Mincovna has every traditional dish you need to try while in Prague at an affordable price.
J&L Recommended: Traditional Czech Meals
As self-awarded cheese connoisseurs, we highly recommend trying a local Czech favorite, fried cheese at Dlouhááá Lokál. Here, they have a designated chef for breading and frying cheese, and let their cheese age an extra size weeks. If you want to taste the best of the best, be sure to stop at Lokál!
Try: Fried Cheese!
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A perfect lunch option and another Czech favorite, the Chlebičky. Offering open-faced sandwiches with toasted baguette bread and many savory toppings, Lahůdky has many tasty options, while providing a fast and affordable meal/snack.
Try: Chlebičky
5. Cukrár Skála
Looking for more dessert? Try the Czech Kolash, a round dough treat with sweet fillings at the local bakery, Cukrár Skála. Their pastries and ice cream will not disappoint.
Try: Kolash
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A lovely beer garden offering Prague's famous pilsner (for $3), along with delicious German main dishes and appetizers. Be sure to bring Czech cash with you when coming to this beer garden as they do not accept credit cards. If not for the food and beer, this is also a lovely park to walk through and experience the spectacular views of Old Town and enjoy the shading of the large chestnut trees.
Another quick and easy, on-the-go meal. Bageterie Boulevard is a chain with over 20 locations around Prague. The bread is absolutely delicious and ingredients fresh! When looking for a meal that might be more familiar, yet tasty and unique, this is a great option.
J&L Recommended: Easy on-the-go meal!
Brews
What is the main beer in Prague?
Recommended Brew: Sv. Norbert IPA (American IPA 6.3% ABV)
An excellent top-fermented beer brewed with Amarillo and Cascade hops and local Czech ingredients. It is a full malt body with the perfect amount of bitterness combined with a hoppy aroma.
J&L Tip: Skip the tour and go straight for the beer tasting experience.
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Recommended Brew: Vienna Red ( 6.2% ABV)
15th-century restaurant with six beers brewed on-site. This place is a must stop for a nice sit down meal to try the local cuisine and brews. We recommend their special red beer that is brewed from Viennese and caramel malt.
Also Read: Top 12 Things To Do in Prague
Recommended Brew: H-Ale 15 (American Pale Ale 6.3% ABV)
Hostivar Brewery is a nice place to grab a drink and a bite to eat at their outside beer garden. Hostivar is more popular with the locals and not as well known by tourists. H-Ale 15 is a top-fermented beer with a dark golden, cooper color that has an enticing citrus and flower aroma. A stronger craft brew that goes down easy.
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Recommended Brew: Monarchy 13 (Dark 5.5% ABV)
A unique experience where you can eat and drink on a floating brewpub! A great view of the river to watch the wildlife and boats pass by on the ship's deck. We recommend trying the Monarchy 13 for a tasty dark beer with a caramel and a slight bitter taste (not as sweet as a typical dark beer).
J&L Recommended: Unique experience!
Recommended Brew: Pilsner Urquell (Czech Pilsner 4.4% ABV)
This beer is not brewed in Prague and is from a macrobrewery with a history that dates back to 1842. However, this pilsner is a staple located in every Prague bar, is light, and is refreshingly crisp to drink. Typically under $2 USD for a half liter!
Fact: Beer is cheaper than water in Prague!
Planning Your Trip
When is the best time to visit Prague?
We recommend visiting Prague in the spring or fall in order to avoid the crowds while enjoying pleasant temperatures.
J&L Recommended: April - May & September - November
What is the best area to stay in Prague?
Our recommendation is to stay near the Old Town Square or anywhere in Old Town. This location will allow you to walk to most of the bellow attractions and restaurants within Prague. For our top-pick hostels based on location and value, see Best Hostels of Europe.
J&L Recommended: Ahoy! Hostel
Search your travel dates for a great deal on hotels in Prague:
What is the best way to get around Prague?
Prague is a very walk-able city. We walked to all attractions and restaurants during our stay with no issue. However, if you would prefer public transportation, Prague offers 30 min, 90 min, 24 hour, 72 hour, and one month passes for unlimited use of their metro, tram, bus, or railways.
Transportation: For more information regarding their public transportation system, click here
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Do they speak English in Prague?
Although the native langue is Czech, you will be able to get around the main areas of Prague by speaking English. Most locals speak at least a small amount of English and if you stay within the touristy areas, you will have a much higher likelihood of finding English speakers.
J&L Recommended: research key phrases in Czech and print a cheat-sheet for your travels! Attempting the language goes a long way with locals.
How long do you need in Prague?
We recommend at least 2-3 days to be able to see the highlights of Prague. If time is limited, see our 24 hour guide to Prague.
J&L Suggested Duration: 2-3 Days Minimum
Affordable International Data
Want to avoid roaming charges and $10/day international data fees? Airalo allows you to download an e-SIM to your phone and activate while in Europe for a very affordable price. We bought 3 GB of data valid for 30 days from activation for only $7. It worked great throughout our entire Europe trip and was very easy to install. Airalo offers e-SIMs all around the world and we can validate that it works with ease in multiple European countries.
Get $3 off with code NBV8668 by signing up here!
Happy Adventuring!
J&L
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