Everything To Know For Your Adventure In Prague

Prague is an enthralling city, with picturesque beauty and fascinating history in equal measure. With countless beautiful buildings, churches, and cobbled streets, it is a great place to wander and enjoy at a slow pace, taking in the atmosphere. You can’t beat when the magical Christmas markets are out – so soak up Prague’s unique atmosphere with our winter weekend itinerary – beer or mulled wine in hand!

Wondering how to plan your trip to Prague ? Here are all our top tips and most essential information!

Key info

Transport

In the city: Prague is a great city to explore on foot. In fact, you would miss most of its charm if you weren’t walking. We took a few trams to get slightly further out of the city, and they can be a nice way to view the city too.

To/From Airport - there is no direct metro connection with the airport. The best way to get to the centre on public transport is with the bus 119 to the metro station Nádraží Veleslavín and then the metro line A. Don’t be put off by the bus/metro transfer, as this is a cheap and easy way to get to the centre!

When to go

We have been to Prague twice, once in July as part of a longer trip through Europe, and once in late November for a weekend city break. Although you definitely need to wrap up warm, the atmosphere in Winter felt a lot more authentic, with fewer tourists and the added plus of the Christmas markets, with all the fairy lights that go with it! The markets are one of the longest running in Europe - so you might catch them in late November (as we did) or up until 6/7th January. You’ll also find that the Czech cuisine, with its many warming stews and dumplings, is better suited to a cold winter’s day!

Length of stay

Prague is ideally explored in 3 days, making it perfect for a weekend break. If you’re staying longer, you’d have more time to visit some of the many museums and take a day trip to the stunning nearby town of Český Krumlov.

Accommodation

We found a great apartment (Apartment Pushkin) situated on a small street right in the centre of old town, making it ideal for when we wanted to get up and out early to see the old town square and Charles bridge with fewest tourists possible. It was also ideal for going out again to explore the Christmas markets by night!

Let us know if you have any questions about how to plan your trip to Prague!

Don't forget to check out our 3 day itinerary and our photo gallery for Prague!

Staré Město - Old Town

Begin at the Old Town square, preferably early morning to avoid the crowds! Take in the beauty of this square, especially the incredible 600 year old Astronomical Clock - a real wonder! Enjoy all the elegant townhouses with their pastel colours and intricate paintings. Other interesting buildings here include the beautiful gothic Church of Our Lady before Týn and the Old Town Hall, from which you can get a great aerial view of the square. You’ll also see the baroque 18th century St. Nicholas church, which is free to go inside. Also in the square is the memorial to Jan Hus, a religious reformer who was executed for his views in the 15th century. He had a profound influence on the Czech nation and they have a public holiday on the 6th July dedicated to him. Don’t be limited to the edges of the square itself, but wander down all the side streets - it’s there you’ll find a less touristy cafe where you can take a break. As you wander through the streets, you’ll be sure to come across some of the wooden stalls for the Christmas markets, which aren’t just limited to the square, but are dotted through all the nearby streets. Head to Charles bridge, taking your time to look at the statues and great views of the river and castle. The bridge is beautiful close-up, but it is also important to get a view of it from one of the bridges nearby - Most Legií or Mánesův Most.

Then make your way to Lennonova zeď, the John Lennon wall. When we walked by, we were lucky enough to hear a guitarist playing some of Lennon’s songs. This colorful wall of graffiti is ever-changing and a brilliant monument to freedom of speech.Head down to the riverfront, to the Franz Kafka museum, which gives a really interesting overview of his life and works - a must for any literature fan. Then take a walk down by the river, making your way to Mánesův Most for the view of Charles Bridge, hopefully catching it at sunset. We had a great evening meal at Restaurant Pod Věží, near Charles bridge on the Lesser Town side. It might be slightly more expensive than some restaurants in the area, but you’ll be rewarded with delicious food in an elegant and beautiful setting.

Petrin hill and Prague castle

On a crisp and cold winter morning in Prague, a beautiful activity is to walk up to Petrin hill, less than a thirty minute walk. You’ll be rewarded by that great feeling of being out in the fresh air, and stunning views over the city. You can even climb the tower at the top for extra cool views. Another option to get up Petrin hill is to take the funicular at Ujezd. From here, make your way to Prague castle. If you’re interested in seeing the museums and grounds, then it's a good idea to book a ticket in advance, as there are frequently long queues here. We didn’t fancy waiting in these queues, but loved the view of the city from here, and if you are there for 12 noon, you can see the changing of the guard.

Walk from here to the Powder Tower, one of the city gates, originally built in the 15th century. Gunpowder used to be stored in here, hence its name. Then visit the Museum of Communism, which shows yet another aspect of Prague’s history: what life was like living under communism. The museum is one of Prague’s best, and is extremely informative and eye-opening. Spend your late afternoon/evening at the Christmas markets enjoying mulled wine and food. You’ll see trdelnik (chimney cake) being sold everywhere - we had a rather disappointing, cold and hard one, not a patch one we tried in Budapest. A good tip if you want to try one, go somewhere with a long queue, then you’ll be likely to get a fresh, hot one!

Jewish quarter and Vyšehrad fortress

Begin your morning in the Jewish quarter, a short walk away from Old Town square. Visit the Spanish synagogue (Španělská Synagoga), as well as Europe’s oldest active synagogue, the Old-New synagogue (Staronová Synagoga). Nearby is the Old Jewish Cemetery, where gravestones are densely packed together, as according to custom old gravestones cannot be removed. Unfortunately the cemetery can only be seen as part of the tour of the Jewish Museum, and so it is not free to wander. Having said this, from a historical perspective, it is worth going, especially with a guide who can explain the history, symbols and traditions.

Head to Staromestska tram stop, where you can take the tram 17 slightly out of the centre to U’kroka for a great value traditional Czech meal. While in the area, visit the Vyšehrad fortress and enjoy walking in the beautiful grounds and up to the church. Walk back to the old town via the river (40 mins), or take a tram back. Finish the afternoon with some ice skating at Ovocný Trh - not far from Old Town Square. There is no entry fee, just a charge for skate rental, which is a reasonable price for some winter fun!