There’s no doubt that Prague is one of the rising stars of European travel destinations. There are plenty of fun things to do in Prague, and we’ll take a look at 15 of them in this post.
One word that typically comes up when describing Prague is “fairytale.” For most, this is due to the fact that there’s literally a castle on a hill here. My reason for describing Prague as something out of a storybook has much more to make with the beautiful hikes, mouth-watering food, and tasty draft beer that’s practically as low-cost as water.
In all seriousness, though, this is an absolutely spectacular city. Prague somehow managed to escape world war II relatively unscathed. While numerous of Europe’s cities were left in ruins after the war, the historic center of Prague remained intact. here you’ll find Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Romanesque styles present in the architecture.
Adding to the enchantment is the city’s location along the Vlatva River and the rolling hills that are certainly home to a castle. If there’s a better-looking city out there, I haven’t been there yet. one of my favorite things to do in Prague is just walking around with a video camera and admiring the charm that’s around every corner.
As far as what to do in Prague, you’re really spoiled for choices here. In addition to exploring the well-known Old town and all its landmarks, there’s an abundance of museums, some terrific opportunities for enjoying nature, and plenty of outstanding places to eat and drink. Did I mention that the beer is practically totally free here?
Let’s get to it and Czech out all that Prague has to offer. here are the top 15 things to do in the city that you won’t want to miss.
Table of Contents
1. join a totally free walking Tour
2. check out The Old town Square
3. check Out The Prague Castle
4. Dig into Czech Cuisine
5. walk across The Charles Bridge
6. walk Up Petrin Hill
7. explore The Jewish Quarter
8. Go museum Hopping
9. River cruise (One of the most kicking back things to do in Prague)
10. Hang Out on the Island
11. check Out The local Markets
12. drink Czech Beer
13. check out Letna Park
14. explore Mala Strana
15. See A Show
Ready For Prague?!
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1. join a totally free walking Tour
There’s no better way to get to know Prague than by joining a totally free walking tour. In just a few short hours, you’ll check out some of the most well-known places in the city while learning a bit about the history and culture along the way.
I’ve been on several of these in the last few years all over the world and the one I took here was easily one of the best. It was really interesting to learn random tidbits about the city. For example, if you were born in Prague 100 years ago, you would have lived in eight different countries by now!
I won’t go and spoil the rest of the trip for you, though. The team at Sandeman’s new Europe run totally free walking trips of the city several times a day, so go to their site to check out the available times.
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2. check out The Old town Square
While you’ll check out it briefly on any walking tour, it’s well worth it to return to Old town Square at your own leisure. This is the most historic part of the city and is a stunning place to wander around for a while.
Within the square, you’ll find the Old town Hall, Týn Church, the Jan Hus Memorial, and a whole lot more. There are several architectural styles on display here, as well as the 600-year old medieval astronomical clock. Every hour between 9AM and 9PM, you will see a parade of the 12 apostles appear in the window.
Since this is the center of tourism in the city, there are also plenty of cafes, shops, and street performers vying for your attention and Czech Crowns (they don’t use Euros here, by the way). As you may expect, prices here are a bit higher than in other parts of the city. best to take your photos and relocation along if you ask me.
The Old town Square is fun to check out both day and night, so you’ll probably end up making at least a few trips here. Plus, it’s always a good place to regroup if you get lost wandering around Old Town. Click here to get directions.
3. check Out The Prague Castle
One of the most popular things to do in Prague is going to the city’s renowned castle on a hill. This UNESCO noted ancient castle dominates the skyline of Prague and can be seen from all across the city.
This historic landmark dates back to the 9th century and it has served numerous purposesover the centuries. It’s a large and sprawling complex full of palaces, churches, gardens, and more. You can easily spend an entire day here and just barely scratch the surface of all that there is to see and do.
The Prague Castle complex is open from 6AM-10PM year-round, but the various sites have different opening hours. There are a variety of ticket options depending on what you want to see. There’s this 2.5-hour trip that has thousands of positive reviews, or this skip-the-line admission ticket.
Since the castle complex is quite large and sprawling, there are a few different ways to come and go. the most popular seems to be taking tram #22 to arrive and then walking down the stairs to catch the metro after visiting. Click here for directions to the Prague Castle.
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4. Dig into Czech Cuisine
We can’t talk about what to do in Prague without mentioning Czech cuisine. You wouldn’t want to travel all the way here and end up eating a disappointing, overpriced cheeseburger in a traveler trap restaurant, would you?
One of the quintessential Czech dishes is Svíčková. Don’t worry, I have no idea how to pronounce that, either. It’s a heaping plate of sirloin steak in a cream sauce served with bread dumplings and cranberry sauce, and it’s delicious! This city is also well-known for its pork knuckle, sausages, as well as its pickled cheese.
It can be intimidating figuring out where to eat in a city, and Prague is no different. The Prague Foodie Map is a terrific resource for finding the best places to eat here and you can download it for just $6.
If you’d choose to dive into the culinary scene here and make pals at the same time, there are plenty of outstanding food trips available in Prague. eating Prague has a terrific half-day trip where you’ll sample 7 authentic foods while learning about the city along the way. Click here to learn more.
5. walk across The Charles Bridge
One of the most renowned landmarks in Prague is Charles Bridge. This stunning stone bridge spans the Vlatva River, with outstanding Gothic towers on both ends and an range of statues in between.
The bridge dates all the way back to 1357 and the guideline of King Charles IV. It replaced a bridge that had been destroyed by a flood and has managed to endure numerous subsequent floods. One urban legend says that egg yolks were mixed in with the mortar during construction to make it stronger.
Taking a walk across Charles Bridge and admiring the scenery is certainly one of the top things to do in Prague. just be aware that you won’t be the only one with this bright idea! If you want to avoid the most significant crowds, try to get here early in the morning or later at night.
Both day and night, the bridge is bustling with activity. There are typically artists, musicians, vendors, and other street performers on the bridge, which makes for a very lively and interesting scene.
6. walk Up Petrin Hill
For some absolutely spectacular views of Prague from above, head to the top of Petrin Hill. You’ve got several options for getting to the top of the hill, including a steep but relatively easy 30-minute hike. If you’re not up for the challenge, you can take a ride on the funicular or you can catch a tram. Both are included in a public transport ticket for the city.
Atop the hill, you’ll find the Petrin Lookout Tower — Prague’s tribute to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. While it’s not quite as outstanding as the original, its hilltop location offers some outstanding panoramic views of the city. Tickets cost about $6.50 for adults and $3.50 for children.
There’s much more to the hill than just the tower. While you’re up here, you can also take a walk in a rose garden, get lost in a mirror maze, and check out a monastery with a brewery. Be sure to add a trip up to Petrin hill to your list of what to do in Prague. Click here to check the location on the map and get directions.
7. explore The Jewish Quarter
A trip to the Jewish Quarter, also known as Josefov, is a should when going to Prague. This was once home to the city’s Jewish ghetto, which was one of the largest in Europe.
During world war II, Hitler had plans for Prague to be a cultural center of the third Reich. Jews were forced to wear the star of David and were deported to concentration camps shortly thereafter. It was a dark time in the history of not only the city but the entire continent.
Surprisingly, many of the buildings here survived through the war. This was because Hitler had an idea for a “Museum of an Extinct Race” here. He even had his Nazi forces gather up Jewish artifacts from other parts of Europe to send here.
Today, these monuments form the Jewish museum of Prague. This includes four synagogues, the ceremonial Hall, and the Jewish Cemetery. join this walking trip to explore the area and learn much more along the way. The ticket price includes entrance fees as well.
8. Go museum Hopping
There are several other museums that are worth going to in Prague. In addition to the typical art and history museums, the city is also home to museums on Communism, public transportation, Apple (the company, not the fruit), and sex machines. No, that last one wasn’t a typo…
The Czech national museum ought to be high on your list of things to do in Prague. It’s actually several buildings in and outside of the city, with the main historical building as the main attraction. It re-opened in October 2018 after some enormous remodellings and is much more outstanding than ever.
Tickets for the main building cost $11 for adults and $7.50 for children. It’s open daily from 10:00-6:00pm and is worthy of at least a few hours of your time. Their current “2 x 100” exhibition celebrates 200 years of the museum and features a large collection of artifacts, numerous of which are on display for the first time.
Another must-see is the Kafka Museum. It’s all about Franz Kafka, one of the most well-known writers from Prague. The museum houses some of his original manuscripts, photos, diaries, and more. before you head in, be sure to check out the odd sculpture titled “Piss.” It’s a fountain shaped like the Czech Republic with statues of two men urinating on the country. You can even request them to write something by sending a text message (the number is written near the sculpture).
The Kafka museum is also open each day from 10-6. Tickets are $11 for adults and $8 for children. Click here to get directions.
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9. River cruise (One of the most kicking back things to do in Prague)
Enjoying a cruise on the Vlatva River is certainly a must-do in Prague. There are plenty of options for cruising along the river and taking in the scenery of this stunning capital city.
A conventional one-hour river cruise costs around $15 and includes refreshments. You’ll get to delight in the views of the historical center from the deck as you relocation along the river. For a little bit extra, you can add a tasty glass of Prosecco.
That’s not all, though. You also have the option of taking a lunch or dinner cruise of the river. music lovers may choose a ride on the jazz boat instead, where you’ll get to delight in some live tunes along with your dinner. These range in price from around $30 up to $100 depending on the type.
If you happen to be in Prague at the end of the year, you may want to ring in the new Year with one of the special river cruises. You can get much more info about all the various options on this website.
10. Hang Out on the Island
There are actually a few islands in the river here, and they make for a terrific place to hang out and delight in a leisurely afternoon. You can choose between Strelecky, Slavonic, or the so-called Children’s Island.
All three islands are in a little cluster in the river just south of the Legions Bridge. They’re all easily easily accessible and each island provides something different. Strelecky typically hosts cultural events, Slavonic is home to the Zofin Palace, and the Children’s Island features a fun playground for kids.
You can find a few cafes and restaurants on each island as well as restrooms. There are also paddle and rowboats available to rent, so you can make your own river cruise! Click here for directions to Strelecky Island. You can easily check out them all in an afternoon if you want.
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