Prague is located in Czech Republic which borders Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Poland. Prague has been gaining in popularity in recent years as tourism in the city rises. We had to check it out for ourselves and now we understand why it’s been such a popular destination! In this post were going through 8 things to do in Prague to hit all the highlights as well as information about getting there and where to stay!
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The Czech Republic doesn’t use the Euro like so many other European countries. It uses the Czech Koruna. Also, we found the Czech Republic to be significantly cheaper than some of its neighbors!
- We were able to get an entire Airbnb apartment in Prague with a washer for 1105 CZK or $48 USD a night.
- While they use Czech Koruna we did notice in the old town that places were accepting (and giving change) in both Czech Koruna as well as Euros. Sometimes in the same transaction we would get a mix of currencies as change.
Getting to Prague
We took the train from Vienna, Austria to Prague in about 4 hours. It was a direct train and really easy thanks to our Eurail Global Passes.
- The Eurail Global Pass is a train pass for use all around Europe. We got the 3 month continuous Global Pass so we could use it in any European country on unlimited trains for 3 months. It saved us so much money getting around to all the different places we visited and was so much easier than flying.
- If you’re not traveling for quite as long they have so many different passes to fit whatever your travel schedule is!
- The Prague train station is in Prague 1 so it’s easy to get to wherever you’re staying via the buses or the tram.
If you’re flying the Prague airport is about 15 kms from Prague 1 which is the center of the city. You can get from the airport to Prague 1 by taking the bus 910 or 907 depending on where you’re going.
Prague Neighborhoods
The city of Prague is divided into 22 districts that are all numbered. Prague 1 is the city center with many of the main sights you likely will see such as the Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge. The farther from the city center the higher the number similar to the Paris arrondissements. We stayed in Prague 3 and felt like we got a lot for our money while still being within walking distance to Prague 1 or a short tram ride if you don’t feel like walking.
1. Wander Around the Prague Castle
The Prague Castle is actually more like a castle complex. From the Charles Bridge you can see the St. Vitus Cathedral which stands in the complex.
It’s free to walk around the Palace grounds so whether or not you want to tour the inside you can still enjoy it. From the city center as you walk up Nerudova we instantly noticed how many less people there were than near the bridge. It took us about 10-15 minutes to walk there.
- Tickets to tour the inside of the Prague Castle depends on what you want to see and thus what ticket you are buying. The three circuit ticket options range from 250-350 CZK or $11-15 USD.
There is a beautiful viewpoint at the Starbucks (they find a way to squeeze these everywhere in the world) at the palace. You walk up the road and are rewarded with views looking over the city of Prague. In front of you is Kinskeho Zahrada.
To walk into the entrance to the Prague Castle you have to go through metal detectors. As soon as you walk through you are surrounded by Palace buildings. Continue walking and you’ll hit St. Vitus Cathedral. From the Charles Bridge you can see the spires of the cathedral and up close it’s even larger! It’s incredibly detailed from both the front but also from the side so make sure to walk around to see both sides.
Travel Truth: We walked into St. Vitus Cathedral without tickets to the lobby area. There was no where to show a ticket or anything so we just walked in. You can see the inside and a little of how far back it goes. Then to continue walking farther in you have to go through electronic ticket machines.
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2. Spend Time in the Park Islands in the River
Standing on the Charles Bridge (facing the Prague Castle) you can see the park islands on your left.
If you have time it’s a beautiful walk through and gives you a really nice view of the Charles Bridge and a much different perspective because you’re almost in the middle of the river. If you’re looking for an urban oasis this is place you are sure to love!
3. Cross the Charles Bridge
The Charles Bridge, or Karluv most, crosses the Vltava River. It’s a small pedestrian only bridge that gives amazing views of the river and Prague Castle up in the distance.
You can walk to the bridge from the old town from Karlova. Before you walk onto the bridge there is the Old Town Bridge Tower which looks so impressive! It’s intricate with statues and carvings and stands towering over the beginning of the bridge.
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4. See the Prague Astronomical Clock
The Prague Astronomical Clock, or Prague Orloj, is on one edge of the Old Town Square in the center of Prague. The Prague Astronomical Clock has been in the Old Town Tower since 1410 making it one of the oldest clocks to still be in operation.
- It’s on the side of the building not facing into the square so it’s easy to miss.
- The twelve apostles can be seen on the clock every hour from 9 AM to 11 PM.
5. Go Up to Petrin Hill
Petrin Hill provides panoramic views of the city of Prague. It is located in Prague 6 on the same side of the river as the Prague Castle.
You can either walk up to the top or take the funicular. The cable car is considered part of the public transportation system in Prague so you can use your tram or bus ticket for a ride on the funicular as well. That makes it an incredibly inexpensive as well as scenic place to go! This would be an awesome place to pack our daypack with a picnic lunch!
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6. Explore the Old Town
The old town of Prague is such a beautiful area! The architecture is impressive reminding us a little of the intricate buildings of Vienna, Austria.
Walk through Prasa Brana, a beautiful gateway to the old town area. It’s detailed and large and vaguely looks like something from a Harry Potter movie. Trust me you will definitely know when you are there!
From the Old Town Square you can see the top of the Church of Our Lady before Tyn. It has that same gothic style that you will a lot of throughout Prague!
The buildings are beautiful and it’s such a pretty place to walk around on a nice day. You can easily make your way to Charles Bridge or even up to Prague Castle. Prague definitely goes down as one of the prettiest cities we visited in Europe!
7. Try a Trdelnik
A Trdelnik is like a thin pastry in a tube shape. We saw them everywhere in the old town area and so many people walking by were eating them! They are made by wrapping dough around a metal stick that is cooked over a fire.
After doing some research we learned they are actually more of a tourist snack but still they’re delicious! You can choose from a variety of filling (or just leave it plain) and it’s a sweet snack!
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8. Take Tram 22 around the City
If you don’t feel like walking you can take tram 22 around the city and it gives you nice views of everything. The trams are really easy to figure out too. A short term ticket (valid for 30 minutes of travel) costs 24 CZK or $1 USD. A 1 day pass (for 24 hours of travel) cost 110 CZK or about $5 USD.
- To buy tickets at the tram stop using the automated machine you need to have exact CZK coins. The machines do not accept Euros or give change. You can also buy them at nearby shops usually, there should be signs and at the shops you can pay in cash or by card!
