Embarking on a journey to Prague, the heart of Bohemia, is like stepping into a fairy tale where every street, square, and building tells a story that dates back centuries. This enchanting city, nestled on the banks of the Vltava River, serves as a bridge between Eastern and Western Europe, blending its rich history with a vibrant contemporary culture that captivates visitors from around the globe. Whether you’re drawn to Prague for its breathtaking architecture, its fascinating history, or its lively arts and nightlife scene, a three-day itinerary in this magical city promises an adventure that will stay with you long after you’ve returned home.
Prague, often referred to as the “City of a Hundred Spires,” is famed for its picturesque landscapes, historic neighbourhoods, and an atmosphere that feels straight out of a dream. From the moment you set foot in its cobblestone streets, you’re transported to a world where the past and present coexist in perfect harmony. The city’s charm lies not just in its grand monuments but in the details: the intricate doorways, hidden courtyards, and the echoes of centuries-old stories whispered by its ancient walls.
For those looking to explore Prague in three days, preparing a well-structured itinerary is crucial to experiencing the depth and breadth of what the city has to offer. From the majestic Prague Castle, which watches over the city from its lofty perch, to the historic Old Town Square, alive with the sounds of bustling cafés and the sight of awe-inspiring architecture, there’s an endless array of experiences waiting to be discovered. And let’s not forget the iconic Charles Bridge, a monument that has stood the test of time and offers some of the most stunning views of the city, especially at sunrise or sunset.
But Prague is not just about sightseeing. It’s about immersing yourself in the local culture, indulging in the culinary delights at a traditional Czech tavern, or perhaps catching a classical music concert in one of the city’s historic churches or theatres. It’s about wandering without a map through the narrow alleyways of the Lesser Town, stumbling upon charming boutiques, and soaking up the atmosphere in a city that never seems to sleep.
In crafting a three-day itinerary for Prague, I’ll delve into not only the must-visit landmarks and attractions but also uncover the hidden gems that offer a glimpse into the soul of the city. We’ll guide you through the best times to visit popular spots to avoid crowds, recommend places to eat and drink that capture the essence of Czech cuisine and suggest experiences that will make your trip truly unforgettable.
Where to Stay in Prague
MOOo Downtown
I can only really give you one recommendation in this section as this is where we stayed during our trip, but this place really was fantastic.
Nestled in the vibrant heart of Prague, MOOo Downtown is more than just a place to stay; it’s an experience that encapsulates the essence of the city’s enchanting charm. From the moment you walk through the door, you’re greeted with a warm, inviting atmosphere that perfectly blends contemporary design with touches of Bohemian flair. The apartments themselves are a testament to thoughtful luxury, offering spacious, well-appointed living spaces that boast sleek, modern kitchens, sumptuous beds that promise a night of blissful sleep, and large, light-flooded windows that frame captivating views of the bustling streets below.
What truly sets MOOo Downtown apart is its attention to detail. From the high-quality linens that drape the beds to the carefully curated art that adorns the walls, each element has been selected to enhance your stay, ensuring comfort, convenience, and a deep connection to the local culture. Whether you’re in Prague for adventure, romance, or relaxation, MOOo Downtown serves as the perfect backdrop to your journey, offering a serene oasis amidst the city’s lively rhythm. It’s not just a place to rest your head; it’s a doorway to an authentic Prague experience, where every stay is memorable, and every guest leaves feeling a little more like a local.
One of two ‘MOOo’ hotels in Prague (the other being in the castle district), MOOo Downtown really felt like luxury and the perfect base for your Prague itinerary – they even gave us a bottle of Prosecco on arrival!
When’s the Best Time to Visit Prague?
For the perfect Prague itinerary you’ll want to consider the best time of year to go. We visited in November and while it was very cold, it was also nice and quiet due to being off season!
I would say if you’re dreaming of wandering through Prague’s fairy-tale streets, the sweet spots for your visit are the spring and early autumn months. Picture this: May and June, with their soft, warm breezes, or September, when the air gets that crisp edge, perfect for cosy walks along the Vltava River. These months wrap the city in just the right temperature, not too hot, not too cold, ideal for losing yourself in the winding lanes of the Old Town or lounging in the sun-dappled gardens of Prague Castle.
Things to do in Prague
There are so many things to see and do across the city that it can feel a little overwhelming at first. To try and help with this, I’ll split Prague up into sections and walk you through some recommendations for each one. First up, we have:
Staré Mesto
The Astronomical Clock
The most hyped attraction in the entirety of the Czech Republic just had to make it on this list. While probably slightly underwhelming considering its sheer popularity, the clock tower (and its slightly disturbing, though questionable, backstory) is surely worth a look if you’re visiting the city.
A local legend is that the original clockmaker Hanuš, was blinded so that he could not reproduce his genius engineering elsewhere. In a fit of revenge, he climbed up and destroyed the clock’s mechanisms, thus making it non-functional for the next 100 years.
It wasn’t until 1552, when Taborský and Klokotská were able to repair it, that Prague regained the regular chiming sequence and marvel of the clock, which now remains unaltered and functional 600 years later.
Old Town Hall Tower
The old town hall tower is 70m above the square and offers unbeatable panoramic views of the city. Dating from the 14th century, your entrance fee of 250CZK also gets you access to the chapel, historical halls and the underground areas but, for me, the highlight really is the scenery.
Braving the steep spiral staircase (elevator is available!) you eventually reach the viewing platform offering 360 views across the entirety of Staré Mesto and beyond.
Prague is lovingly nicknamed “the City of a Hundred Spires”, and it’s clear to see why. As far as the eye can see you’re met with a medieval cityscape that looks much the same as it would’ve hundreds of years ago. Although it must be said that the nickname wildly undervalues the reality, it’s actually estimated that Prague has closer to the range of 500-1,000 spires!
Church of Our Lady before Týn
Dominating one side of the Old Town Square sits the renowned Gothic architecture of the Church of Our Lady before Týn.
It’s easy to spot the striking black spires jutting out from above orange-coloured roofs from many vantage points across the city and while it’s wonderful to admire from a distance, it’s certainly worth popping inside to get a better look at the Baroque interior that fills its halls.
Museum of Alchemy
I discovered the Museum of Alchemy (Speculum Alchemiae) through my most beloved travel website for weird and wonderful destinations, Atlas Obscura.
After flooding in 2002, this hidden alchemy laboratory was re-discovered beneath one of the oldest houses in Prague. Thought to be from the 16th century, here alchemists would prepare secret elixirs for King Rudolph II.
Embark on a journey to explore just a small section of an underground tunnel network that runs underneath Prague and learn about the history of alchemists in the city. You can even purchase elixirs made from traditional recipes from the museum shop!
Museum of Medieval Torture Instruments
Yes, I really am recommending you visit a torture museum – a little unexpected right?
Admittedly, we only visited this place as we had some time to kill before needing to catch an Uber back to the airport, and so had a quick Google of ‘Things to do in Prague’ in case we’d missed anything. It was dark and cold and we pretty much wanted something to do indoors to stay warm, so the obvious choice was clearly a torture museum!
This place sits right by Charles Bridge and hosts over 80 of the most famous machines used in the Middle Ages. It’s definitely an interesting way to spend an hour or two, and you’ll certainly learn a lot about Europe’s more gruesome past.
Central Gallery of Modern Art
This recommendation really depends on what you’re into, but the Central Gallery just by the Church of Our Lady before Týn houses permanent exhibitions from arguably three of the most impactful modern artists: Salvador Dalí, Alphonse Mucha and Andy Warhol.
Each artist is connected to Czech history, and you can choose to see just one, a couple, or all three of the exhibits.
We opted for just the Dalí exhibition and found a fascinating mixture of both his early work and later pieces. The gallery also boasts wonderful views out onto the town square which is a definite plus.
Map of the area:
Malá Strana
Crossing over Charles Bridge from Old Town (or Staré Mesto, where you’ll find the Astronomical Clock and Old Town Square) will land you in the neighbourhood of Malá Strana or ‘Lesser Town’.
This was my absolute favourite neighbourhood of Prague. I remember as we crossed Charles Bridge one evening to explore the ‘other side’ of the city we were both awestruck by the romantic spires towering above quaint side streets filled with a joyful warm atmosphere and vendors selling mulled wines and chimney cake (the smells, my goodness!).
There are a few things you can see on this side of the bridge such as the castle and John Lennon wall which are detailed below, but honestly make sure you have time to just have a stroll around and soak up the ambience.
John Lennon wall
Admittedly, it is quite an unusual attraction if we consider that this Beatles icon never actually stepped foot in Prague, but the Lennon Wall stands for so much more than just a monument to the singer and activist.
The John Lennon wall represents a non-violent rebellion of the Czech youth against the Communist regime, in particular, the police who were tasked with cleaning the wall. Before the 90’s his songs were actually banned by authorities as they spoke of freedom that didn’t exist within a Communist community.
After his death, a picture of John Lennon was painted on the wall amongst the other graffiti as an act of defiance. No matter how often the police tried to whitewash it, more and more images and messages of peace would appear on the wall, all of which you can see today.
Certovka Boat Trip
The Devil’s Canal or ‘Certovka’ is a small channel on the western side of the Vtalva river, which is sometimes lovingly referred to as Little Venice in English.
Now, I’ve also visited Venice, and I must admit, this tiny portion of Prague really does resemble the popular Italian destination, even down to the houses right on the water. So much so that some big Hollywood productions with scenes in ‘Venice’ are actually shot here due to it being way cheaper and quieter.
We opted for a boat trip tour of Certovka, which not only took us around the channel but also to see other famous sites on the Vtalva (such as Charles Bridge). Our tour guide was so informative, in fact, a lot of the fun information I’ve included in this blog was learned from him, so shout out to our tour guide!
Charles Bridge
Another icon, Charles Bridge spans the Vltava river and connects the Old Town (Staré Mesto) with the Lesser Town (Malá Strana).
Construction began in 1357, and after taking around half a century to complete, the bridge became the only way to cross the river (at least without getting your feet wet) until the 1800s!
Dotted along the bridge are 30 Baroque statues, which began to be placed during the 17th century. We learned from our tour guide on the ‘Devil’s Canal Boat Trip’ (see above) that these statues are all regularly replaced copies, and the originals can be seen in the Lapidarium.
Map of the area:
Hradcany
Prague Castle
Famed for being the largest coherent castle complex in the world, Prague Castle offers plenty to see for a day out overlooking the city.
There are a few different ticket options, and I’d recommend going for the ‘all-in’ option at 250 CZK, which includes sights such as the Old Royal Palace, St. George‘s Basilica, Golden Lane and St. Vitus Cathedral (some of which are pictured below).
You can reach the Castle from the city centre by taking the tram line 22 or 23 to Pražský hard. St. Vitus Cathedral remains the jewel on the crown of the Prague castle complex as its gothic spires stand out amongst the red roofs of the royal palaces surrounding it.
Golden Lane was so called after being the home of the goldsmiths and other servants of the castle. A small cobble-stoned street filled with what are now a range of craft shops and small-scale museum displays, this little area was probably my highlight of the entire complex.
The interior of St. George’s Basilica was a surprising treat. It features Romanesque-style architecture and painted ceilings.
Letna Park
If you’re looking for one of the best viewpoints over Prague, look no further. Letna Park offers an iconic view of the city, including one of the most panoramic views over its bridges from the beautiful Art Noveau pavilion.
However, Letna Park is so much more than just a viewpoint. At around 1 mile in length, it’s worth taking some extra time to explore sights such as the former Stalin monument, vast greenery and huge beer garden before settling at the Art Noveau to catch the sunset.
Map of the area:
Nové Mesto
Dancing House
Legendary architects Frank Gehry and V. Milunic were commissioned by the Dutch bank Nationale-Nederlanden to create an iconic building in Prague. With an unlimited budget and artistic freedom, they certainly didn’t disappoint when creating the famous ‘Dancing House’.
Sadly, the house doesn’t actually dance (how cool would that be), but it does make for some pretty cool photos.
Wenceslas Square
While not actually square-shaped, this area of Prague holds a lot of significance for the Czech people and acts as a central place for all important events of the nation’s history, such as the fall of communism in 1989 and the declaration of the First Czechoslovak Republic in 1918.
Mainly a shopping area for tourists, the strip also has a number of great bars and restaurants. In fact, the best chimney cake we ate in the entirety of our trip was from a tiny little vendor at the top of the square—but more on that later!
Franz Kafka head
An outdoor sculpture by artist David Cerny depicting famous writer Franz Kafta is certainly worth a visit. The 42-layer sculpture constantly rotates in mesmerising patterns and weighs a whopping 39 tonnes!
Annoyingly, I only have video proof of the monument, so you’ll have to take my word for it. (Also, Google is great if you’re looking for images.)
Map of the area:
Places to Eat in Prague
Lokal
If you’re looking to try very reasonably priced authentic Czech food in a friendly and atmospheric venue then this is the place for you. There are a few different ‘Lokals’ dotted around Prague, we visited ‘Lokál Dlouhááá’ which gave off a real beer hall vibe and most definitely didn’t feel like a tourist trap.
If you stop by here, make sure you try the beer. It’s made very locally and offers the option to choose your “beer foam,” a concept unique to Czech drinking culture.
Naše maso
Vegans and vegetarians, you might want to skip this one…
Part butcher and part informal restaurant, Naše maso is a wonderful concept where you walk up to the counter, choose all the meat you’d like and they’ll cook it up for you and bring it to your table. No frills, just simple and delicious food.
This place was incredible, so much so that we ate there twice during our three-day trip!
Restaurant U Modre kachnicky
We wanted to be a little fancy for one evening, so we booked in to try ‘Restaurant U Modre kachnicky’, a charming restaurant with cosy interiors in Malá Strana.
We both opted for the degustation menu, which consisted of 7 perfectly prepared courses – we felt like kings for the evening!
Trdelník
Chimney Cake, or ‘Trdelník,’ is a dough-based funnel cake found in various eastern European countries. Quite often coated simply with sugar and cinnamon, it can be topped with a range of fun and adventurous fillings and toppings.
I have two ‘recommendations’ for this, depending on what you’re after: the more Instagrammable option or, in my opinion, the genuinely tastier option.
Good Food – A very popular spot for Trdelník which I think is primarily due to their aesthetics. The cakes from here really do look visually stunning and while they’re definitely not bad, we both agreed we’d had better during our trip.
Random vendor in Wenceslas Square – As mentioned previously, our first taste of chimney cake was while we were visiting Wenceslas Square. We opted to share one coated in sugar and cinnamon, and it was honestly so fresh, warm and delicious. I really can’t give you much more information other than it was at the top of the square, not on the side where the statue is!
Wrapping up our whirlwind three-day itinerary in Prague feels a bit like saying goodbye to an old friend – you know, the kind that shows you hidden gems in familiar places and makes you laugh until your sides hurt. This city isn’t just a collection of postcard-perfect spots; it’s a living, breathing storybook where every cobblestone, every bridge arch, and every hidden courtyard whispers tales of the past.
Through this itinerary, we’ve dipped our toes into Prague’s vibrant life, from its awe-inspiring sunsets on Charles Bridge to the cosy, dimly lit taverns serving up hearty Czech fare that warms you from the inside out. We’ve strolled through history-laden lanes, paused in lush, secret gardens, and felt the pulse of the city’s heart at bustling market squares.
So, when you pack your bags for Prague, leave a little space for the unexpected. Go with the flow, let the city’s rhythm guide you, and embrace every surprise. Prague is not just a stop on your itinerary; it’s a journey for the soul, an invitation to experience life in all its richness and wonder. And just maybe, like me, you’ll find yourself promising to return, drawn back by the magic of a city that feels like both an old friend and a new discovery, each and every time.
