What to do in Prague: Top 12

Prague is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and in the world. It has a magical aura that makes you feel like you are in a fairy tale. If you want to know what to do in Prague, keep reading!

Introduction to Prague

Prague is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, as well as the historical capital of the region of Bohemia. It has a privileged location in the center of Europe and is very well communicated with its neighbour countries (Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Poland), which makes it one of the most visited destinations in the continent. It has had many nicknames, such as the Golden City, the City of the Hundred Towers and the Heart of Europe. Prague is made of the union of five old cities and it’s built around the Vltava river. Throughout its history, it has been the political, cultural and economic center of the Czech Republic.

Prague’s main attractions are mostly situated in 5 quarters:

• Staré Mĕsto: the Old Town. Place of the original settlement of Prague and one of the most picturesque. It is house of the Old Town Square, where the Town Hall and its famous Astrological Clock sit.
• Nové Mĕsto: the New Town. Founded by King Charles IV in 1348, it is not actually “new”, but an expansion of the territory when the Old Town was too small for the population. Its heart is Wenceslas Square
• Malá Strana: the Lesser Town. Founded in the 13th century at the bottom of the Prague Castle. It has also been called the Pearl of Barroque, because of the great influence of this style in the manors and houses of this quarter.
• Hradčany: the Castle district. Built in the 9th century, this district was independent from Prague until the 18th with the great unification of the five districts. This quarter was designed for servants and artisans employed by the castle, which were later replaced by nobility and religious authorities that wanted to be close to the monarch.
• Josefov: the Jewish quarter. The first Jewish settlements in Prague are from the 10th century and, during the crusades, they separated themselves from Prague building a wall around their quarter. They later got the statute as an independent city (they have a city hall).

Top 12 things to do in Prague

1. Stroll along the Charles Bridge

Since Prague is divided by the Vltava river, it is filled with bridges. The most representative, however, is Charles Bridge. As the oldest bridge in town (built in the 14th century) it has a deep meaning in the city. By the time it was built under orders of Charles the IV, it was the only bridge that connected the two sides of the river: the Old Town and the Lesser Town, making it the most important communication road.

The bridge is protected by three towers: two in Malá Strana (the Small Town) and one in Staré Mĕsto (the Old Town), the latter being one of the most important representatives of Gothic architecture in the world. The bridge is flanked by 30 statues of baroque style.

It is of course free to enter, and one of the main attractions in the city, so expect a high density of tourists at any time. Try very early hours for fewer people and the best light for your pictures.

2. Travel in time in the Old Town Square

The Old Town Square is the center of Prague, and one of the most emblematic and visited sites. This square is one of the highlights of the city, and it is home to its most photographed symbol: the Astrological Clock of the Town Hall.

You can climb on top of the tower for one of the best views in the city. Buy your tickets and skip the line here.

You can get a sense of different time points in Prague’s history in one spot, from the old small alleys that surround it, to the gothic style of the Church of Our Lady before Týn and the baroque of the Church of St. Nicholas, and modern concerts and sport events hosted in the square.

3. Explore Prague Castle

Prague Castle was funded around year 880. This means that it has over 1000 years of history and plenty to explore! It is actually the largest coherent castle complex in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, with an area of almost 70,000 m2. As many other sites of Prague, it is like a history book: it host castles and ecclesiastic buildings of architectural styles spanning from the Romanesque period to the Gothic and further renovations. This, and its undisputable beauty and views of the city granted the castle the UNESCO World Heritage site.

There are several tickets for Prague Castle with different circuits. The standard one includes a big part of the city. You can buy it here. If you want, you can also have a guided tour for 2.5 hours around the castle, which will give you a much deeper insight into Prague’s history. You can book your guide through this link.

Old Royal Palace

This palace was the seat of Bohemian princes and kings until the 16th century. It was built on the remains of a previous Romanesque Palace in a Gothic style. The most iconic part of the palace is the Gothic Vladislav Hall with a beautiful rib vaulting. It is currently used as a venue for ceremonial state events.

St. Vitus Cathedral

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert (St. Vitus Cathedral for short) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the inner yard of the Prague Castle complex. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. It is built in beautiful Gothic architecture and hosts the remains of Bohemian Kings and Holy Roman Emperors. Founded circa 930 but the current building dates from 1344.

Golden Lane

Golden Lane is a street situated within Prague Castle. Originally built in the 16th century to host King Rudolf II’s castle guards, it takes its name from the goldsmiths that lived there in the 17th century. Popularly called Alchemists’ Alley, there are no records of alchemists living there. The street consists of small houses, later painted in bright colors in the 1950s. Today, Golden Lane houses host mostly souvenir shops, but still keep the charm of old times.

4. Enjoy the climb to the Castle

Prague Castle is a wonderful visit, but climbing there through the wonderful quarter of Malá Strana is just as great! Founded by King Ottokar II of Bohemia in the 13th century just under the castle, it was a royal town that had many privileges. After two important fires, the whole town was rebuilt in Renaissance style, with new palaces for nobility. It still preserves this air of nobility and elegance, with beautiful palaces in pastel colours and houses of merchants with symbols in their facades.

The center of Malá Strana is its old Town Market, now Malostranské námĕsti (Square of the Lesser Town). The square is divided into upper and lower part, with the St. Nicholas Church in the center (a different St. Nicholas to that in Old Town Square).

5. Visit the Old Jewish Cemetery

The Old Jewish Cemetery is proof of the difficulties the Jewish Community had to suffer in Prague. Founded in the 15th century, it was the only place in the city where Jewish people could bury their deceased for over 300 years. This came with the need of adding up to 12 layers of graves and the accumulation of gravestones in the same spot that referred to someone buried perhaps 6 or 7 layers underneath the surface.

Despite the sadness of this story, the Old Jewish Cemetery is a beautiful and calm place with a very characteristic aesthetic due to the accumulation of gravestones. I have read a few blogs that don’t even mention its existence and, while I understand that visiting a graveyard may not be of everyone’s liking, I believe it is an unavoidable stop in any visit to the city as well as one of its most iconic and beautiful sights.

It’s a good idea to buy the Jewish Quarter ticket, which includes the visit to the cemetery as well as several Synagogues around the quarter. You can buy the ticket in any of the sites in the quarter, but if you prefer a guided tour to fully immerse in Jewish history in Prague, you can book your tour here.

Travel tip: try to recognize the symbolism in the gravestones. Many symbols reference the family, job or condition of the deceased. i.e. a bunch of grapes means they came from a rich family, scissors mean the deceased was a tailor, a lion means that the buried person came from the tribe of Judah…

6. Climb the Petřín Hill for the best views

Petřín Hill is an open space park that can be a nice break of the business of the city. It is located west of the city in a high spot, so it has privileged views of Prague’s center, the Castle and the Vltava river.

The main viewpoint is the Petřín Lookout Tower, built in 1891 for the General Land Centennial Exhibition in resemblance to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. You can climb the 299 steps to its peak and get one of the best views in Prague for 150 CZK (around 6€).

7. Feel the revolution at Wenceslas Square or John Lennon Wall

Prague is a city with a revolutionary past. Two of the main centers for congregation in these occasions are Wenceslas Square and the John Lennon Wall.

Wenceslas Square

Wenceslas Square is the heart of the New Town (Nové Mĕsto). It is a square that resembles more of a boulevard. Initially built as a horse market in the Middle Age, it has become one of the favourite spots for the Praguers to congregate in any event that may affect the city or the country (both celebrations and demonstrations).

This square is one of the best conserved sites regarding the leading architecture in Prague of the end of the 19th century: art nouveau. Buildings like the Koruna Palace, the Grand Hotel Evropa or the Meran Hotel are proof of this.

John Lennon Wall

This wall in Prague was filled with John Lennon-inspired graffiti and pieces of lyrics from Beatle songs since the 1980s. It was the center of a student movement against the communist regime. Now locals and visitors are allowed to make their contribution to the wall.

8. Check out the Klementinum National Library

Klementinum is a historic complex of building that hosts the National Library of the Czech Republic. Originally a chapel dedicated to Saint Clement in the 11th century, many uses and modifications have been given to the building through the years. During the Middle Ages it became a Dominican monastery and later a Jesuit college that would eventually merge with the Charles University.

The building can be visited (guided tours exclusively) and it comprises the beautiful Baroque Library Hall, a beautiful room that brings you back in time, the Meridian Hall, used to determine noon, and the Astronomical Tower, where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the historical center of Prague. You can check prices and schedule for the tours here.

9. Dance with the Dancing House

The Dancing House, nicknamed Fred and Ginger, is an unconventional building that has become one of the symbols of Prague. With its privileged location in front of the Vltava river bank, it stands out among the Baroque, Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings of the street.

10. Eat Czech food at a medieval tavern

Czech food is, as most of central Europe, very centered in meat and potatoes. My personal favourites? The pork knuckle (that can reach unreasonable proportions), the goulasch and the roasted duck.

One of the best ways to enjoy traditional Czech food is by going to one of Prague’s medieval taverns. One that I particularly enjoy is Krčma, with a cozy ambiance in the cellar with stone walls, big wooden tables and giant candles dripping melted wax on the bar. You can find the best places to eat in prague in the guest post I wrote for The Boho Chica:

→ Savouring Prague: Best places to eat in Prague

11. Drink up and sing in the oldest bar in town

U Fleků has been serving beer since 1499. For over 5 centuries they serve their self-brewed dark beer and shots of Becherovka, a miraculous digestive. U Fleků has rightfully become one of Pragues top sights for visitors for its delicious beer, the happy crowds and the oompah band. It has for sure become more and more touristy, but I believe it is still a fun place to have a drink and enjoy the camaraderie, or retreat to the courtyard for a more quiet drink.

12. Enjoy Prague from the river

There is something special about cities that have a river. I always try to get myself into water if there is some because it gives a new perspective of the city, and in Prague, with the spectacular Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau buildings that line the river bank, it also gives breathtaking views.

I really recommend that you take advantage of the Vltava river that crosses Prague’s heart. An option is to rent a pedal boat. This will give you more freedom than organized cruises, although it may become tiring at some point and sunburns in the summer are not unlikely.

Another option is to hop on one of the many city cruises that Prague offers. The most popular option is the 1-hour guided river cruise. Book your tickets here. An option for a nice evening is to take a Jazz Boat or Dinner Cruise where you can watch the sunset from the river in beautiful Prague while having dinner and drinks and listening to nice music.

Closing statement

I hope you enjoyed this post and that you enjoy Prague as much as I do. You can also try to fit in other activities such as the Black Light Theater if you’re traveling with kids or a Czech Beer Tasting if you’re only adults. I am preparing a new post with a 4-day itinerary of Prague, so stay tuned!

Have a look at the guest post I wrote about food in Prague in the link below:

→ Savouring Prague: Best places to eat in Prague

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