Are you visiting Prague anytime soon and want to know how to enjoy the city with all of its cultural, culinary and sightseeing offerings. I’m here to share with you my 4-day Prague Itinerary.
Prague is beyond beautiful with a rich cultural heritage. I couldn’t stop taking photos, because everything was so unique, and old with cultural roots. I highly recommend booking your flight and checking it off your bucket list. This is my suggested Prague Itinerary, it is also a very comprehensive review of every aspect of Prague, it’s one of the longest reviews and itineraries I’ve written about a city. I don’t think you’re going to need that much more research after reading this, if I may say so myself.
This is my suggested 4-day Prague itinerary. I hope it helps you and you enjoy your time as I did.
ALL THINGS PRAGUE
#1 HISTORY
To talk about Prague, what a difficult task. Prague has a rich history throughout the 20th century and before. So much has shaped Prague and the Czech Republic throughout the years. You may already know that the current Czech Republic was part of the large Czechoslovakia after WWI. It was a very multi-ethnic place and industrially very developed. With the advent of WWII, Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia despite the many acts of heroism to free themselves, you might remember from the movie, Anthropoid. Czechoslovakia was then again part of the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991. This is a very abbreviated version of Czech’s history of course, if this interests you, I highly recommend reading more as Czech has a very interesting history.
#2 LANGUAGE & CULTURE
Czechs speak Czech, Russian and German. Very few speak English fluently or even understand it. I found it rather difficult to get a question answered at restaurants, high end luxury stores, and train stations, etc. I often realized that people heard a familiar word and responded, assuming my question. There is also lack of translation at museums and street signs. Making it a little challenging to navigate. This caught me by surprise as Prague is a major tourist attraction. I thought it would be a bit more catered to tourists. Nevertheless, this is going to be a small inconvenience.
I found Czechs to be quite nice and approachable. Despite the language barrier, many offered to carry my luggage at the train station (regular passengers), taxi drivers, etc. When I asked a question and they didn’t understand, they were very nice in communicating that they didn’t speak English or didn’t understand a word I said. Overall, it didn’t feel like they were against tourist culture like some places can.
#3 COST
Prague is a very affordable place to visit. For $200/night you can stay at a really nice 5-star hotel, and I mean that not by European standards, but by US standards. That would be unheard of in Paris or London. You can have a really fancy dinner for 800 CZK (= 34 USD) or a decent dinner for 400 CZK (= 17 USD). Pastries, snacks, and ice cream are usually around 60-80 CZK (= 2.58-3.44 USD). A full breakfast at a café is around 400 CZK (= 17 USD). So, you get the gist, this is an affordable place to visit.
Most places do not take American Express Credit Cards. Either have another VISA or Mastercard with you or carry cash. They also accept EUR, but will return change in CZK, which is standard. Most exchange locations I went to gave me a very fair rate, meaning fees weren’t high.
#4 FOOD
There is a lot of Austrian, Russian and German influence in the food. I also felt a bit of French influence, which I can’t complain about. The beer and cider options were plenty everywhere I went. Even if you’re not a beer drinker, it tastes quite different in Prague. Try a different variation like sour beer. I loved the taste of cider in Prague, Cherry cider is something I will miss and try to find.
#5 WHEN TO VISIT?
I always recommend going to Europe during the shoulder seasons. May and September are my favorite months. I prefer not to be in Europe during the warmer months as air conditioning is not always guaranteed. I also prefer not to explore under the sun, temperatures are milder in May and September and I don’t mind if it occasionally rains. Tickets are also cheaper and crowds are less intense.
You can scroll down to the section on my Prague Itinerary if this section doesn’t interest you!
#6 HOW MANY DAYS TO STAY?
I arrived to Prague at night, spent four full days and left on day five in the morning. So this will be a four day itinerary. I think four days are sufficient as long as the pace of sightseeing doesn’t feel rushed for you. Keep that in mind as you review each day.
#7 WHERE TO STAY?
To make it easy, I have two main areas old town and new town in mind. While old town is more charming, and has more to offer from a cultural standpoint, you will spend time in both of these areas. Each area is on one side of Charles Bridge. If you stay in new town, I would make sure to be as close as possible to the Charles Bridge, so you’re not wasting too much time walking. I stayed in Old Town, at the Cosmopolitan hotel. Though a bit outside the attractions of the Old Town, thirteen-minute walk to city center to be exact. I didn’t mind it.
#8 HOTEL COSMOPOLITAN REVIEW
I would recommend Hotel Cosmopolitan to anyone visiting Prague. The staff go out of their way to help you. The service I experienced was unmatched in the city anywhere I went. The lobby was very elegant, setting the tone for the rest of the hotel. Functional elevators. The restaurant was great, I joined the breakfast buffet on day two, and I did take out on the same day at night. The gym was slightly small, I never used it; but available if you would like to have one. The room and bathroom were very well decorated. Everything was functional and super clean. Lastly and probably most importantly my bed and pillows were super comfortable. I am very picky about those and I was very comfortable.
This review is not sponsored in any way. I wanted to share with you my experience. There are times when a hotel is just a place for you to sleep at night. I wanted it to do more for me on this trip.
Photos of the Cosmopolitan Hotel.
#9 TRANSPORTATION
You can see most of the city by foot. If you prefer otherwise, subways (ie metro in Czech), trams and Ubers are available for you. I used Uber on a few occasions and I never paid more than 5 USD. I used the metro, which cost me 30 CZK one way.
The train station is very easy to navigate. I took the train to Vienna, which was around 4 hours long. One thing to note with trains in Europe is that while they run on time, I’ve always experienced delays on the road because of people jumping on the train tracks (unfortunately). I’ve had 1-to-2-hour delays and I am often told that this is pretty common. So factor that in if you need to be at your destination at a certain time.
#10 SHOPPING & VAT REFUND
A few words about shopping and VAT refund in Prague. There is a great selection of designer brands in Prague. As you go about your day, I will mention which neighborhoods to shop in.
You have to spend at least 1000 CZK in a store to qualify for VAT refund.
Prices are marked in CZK, and if you want to shop in EUR they will convert the prices for you, which are marked slightly higher than the standard European prices. This discouraged me a bit to do any shopping at big fashion houses. I was also headed to Vienna next, where I knew I could buy in the standard European price.
The VAT Refund is a little higher than in Paris, and for each 50,000 CZK (2192 USD) you spend, you get more in VAT refund, which might be worth exploring especially if you are spending that much.
If Prague is your only stop in Europe, then I would still recommend shopping there. Check the price, convert it to USD and EUR to gauge how much you’re paying compared to the prices in other countries. I would also ask how much in VAT you will be getting back. The higher VAT refund might offset the higher price.
4 DAY PRAGUE ITINERARY
DAY 1: NEW TOWN
Top Left: Charles Bridge. Top Right: St. Vitus Cathedral. Bottom Left to Right: Breafdast from Artic Bakehouse, trdlenick, Prasna Brana (gothic tower).
BREAKFAST
So many options in Prague depending on where you are staying. I needed a quick grab and go on this day as I woke up quite late. I went to Arctic Bakehouse, which is chain. Got a pastry and off I went. I would recommend it.
PRAŠNÁ BRÁNA
Is a gothic old tower in the middle of the city. It’s hard to miss because of the color. It used to be the gate to Prague. It is very elegant, but even more so at night when the lights are on. This was on my way as I walked from my hotel to the Charles Bridge. If it isn’t for you, you can mark your map and come back to it at another time (on day two).
CHARLES BRIDGE
I took a walk on Charles bridge to the New Town. When you do so, make sure to soak it all in and enjoy your walk, don’t just cross the bridge. Depending on the time of the year you’re visiting. It might be packed with tourists. If you go very early in the morning between 8-9am, you will have a more enjoyable time sightseeing than the rest of the day.
I got myself a trdlenick (the cone covered with sugar and filled with ice cream), to treat myself while I crossed the bridge, it was absolutely delicious. When you’re handed one and enjoying it, don’t forget that the cone is hollow! I stained my jeans on day one of this trip.
PRAGUE CASTLE
I walked and hiked up to Prague Castle. The majority of the way is a walk on flat surface, then a slight incline, followed by 287 stairs to the top of the hill. Once you make it to the top, you can take great photos of the city.
As you enter the Prague Castle area, just be mindful that all the buildings together make up the Prague Castle, there isn’t one that’s called Prague Castle. Find the first information center on your left hand, don’t rush to go to cathedral or a central location inside and then try to find out where to purchase tickets. The first information center is the least busy amongst the two. There were some 100 people waiting in line at the information center across from the cathedral, whereas, the first center was empty. The staff at the front desk said it’s always the case, so it wasn’t just my experience that day.
You can also just walk around in the courtyard; the architecture alone is worth it. You can spend a couple of hours to half a day in the area, depending on your interest. St Vitus Cathedral is a must because of its architecture, in my opinion. You can pick and choose which bundle suits you better, I chose 4 places to have access to, I paid 450 CZK. Note that your ticket is good for 2 days, in case you wish to come back.
GARDENS BELOW
It was heavily raining when I visited, so I skipped this stop. But based on my research this is a beautiful place to see, and if you’re in luck for good weather, don’t skip it.
Day One Continued
Top Left to Right: Kafka Museum, View from the Lesser Tower, Lennon Wall, Gift Shop behind the Lennon Wall, View from Park Cihelna.
PARK CIHELNÀ
This is on your way down from the Gardens Below or Prague Castle to Kafka Museum. A quick stop that offers a stunning view of the Vltava River and the Charles Bridge.
KAFKA MUSEUM
Because of the rain, I made a small change to my itinerary and included an indoor activity that was planned for another day. I am a big fan of Kafka and his work, so this was a must for me. There is so much to appreciate in this museum, from his early life, to handwritten letters and the first versions of his books. I really enjoyed this museum. Entrance is 300 CZK. You can spend 1-2 hours in here, especially if Kafka is of interest to you.
Note: There are so many tourist traps that pertain to Franz Kafka in the city. This is the only museum that truly represents his life and work. It’s located in Malá Strana.
LESSER TOWN BRIDGE TOWER
If you like to get a nice shot of the city, you can pay 190 CZK to go up the tower. It’s more than 100 steps to make it to the top. For full disclosure, the stairs are not the most comforting, they are pretty steep and some are very tiny. I was extremely jet lagged on day one and it felt a bit scary to climb up. But I was able to go all the way up. The Old Town Bridge Tower is another option to have great city views.
LENNON WALL
Another fun thing to do around in the area is to visit the Lennon Wall. It’s a wall filled with a portrait of John Lennon, lyrics of his songs and graffiti related to many other western cultural events. Historically, this wall started to shape into what it is today at the time of Lennon’s assassination. It was outlet for the people against the regime in the country.
When you’re done seeing the wall, there is a shop right behind it filled with local, new and upcoming artists’ work.
DINNER
I picked up some Turkish kebob on the way to my hotel. I was so exhausted; I couldn’t think about sitting at a restaurant and ordering food. Netflix with a cup of tea sounded so great.
DAY 2: OLD TOWN
Depending on the day you are out or the direction you are walking from to the old town landmarks, you might want to play with the sequence here. Don’t forget to add Prašná Brána if you didn’t see it on day one.
Top Left: Lady Before Tyn. Top Right: The House At the Minute. Bottom Left to Right: National Gallery, Prague Meridian, Astronomical Clock, Hotel Breakfast Buffet at the Cosmopolitan Hotel.
BREAKFAST BUFFET AT MY HOTEL
I don’t always eat at the hotels I stay. As a matter of fact, I rarely do because I want to have authentic breakfast everywhere I go and hotels aren’t necessarily good places for that. I was really impressed with the food at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. If you are staying here, it’s a great breakfast option, don’t skip it.
CHURCH OF OUR LADY BEFORE TYN
Gothic style church, very beautiful and stands out in city center amongst a crowd of light color buildings. Entrance is free if you wish to visit.
ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK
The Clock strikes between 9 and 11 am at the hour. The 12 apostles show each time. So it is an interesting ‘ceremony’ to attend. It can get very busy if you want to have a good spot, you have to come at least 20-30 mins before the hour to be able to watch it.
THE HOUSE AT THE MINUTE
This is the former residence of Franz Kafka. A beautiful building, which stands out from the rest in the square. Very close to the Astronomical Clock.
PRAGUE MERIDIAN
The gold plaque was used to tell the time. When the shadow of the Meridian column in town square was parallel to this plaque it was assumed that it was 12 pm. The Column no longer exists, but it’s an interesting part of history and industrialization. The plaque may be hard to find, it is almost in between the national gallery and the central monument in the square.
THE GOLZ-KINSKY PALACE/ NATIONAL GALLERY
A beautiful building that cannot be missed. The gallery itself is a single floor, like a single exhibit. But the building is beautiful, I spent quite a bit of time looking at the architecture. The exhibit during my visit was focused on skating and hockey, and what an integral role hockey has played in the national identity of the country. I learned quite a bit at the museum. You can spend 30 mins to an hour here depending on the exhibit. Entrance 270 CZK.
Day 2 Continued
Top Left: Old Town Square. Top Right: Celine Store in Old Town. Bottom Left to Right: Kafka Memorial, Jewish Museum, Statue of Franz Kafka.
OLD TOWN SQUARE
Make sure to spend some time walking around rather than hitting all the spots in the town square. All the buildings are beautiful and worth looking at. You can also sip on coffee and people watch in the square, with plenty of restaurants around.
FRANZ KAFKA MEMORIAL
There is really no sign to indicate where the memorial is, but it is on the corner of the building. It’s a quick stop, a moment to pause and look at it.
JEWISH MUSEUM IN PRAGUE & THE OLD JEWISH CEMETERY
Interesting and moving experience to learn more about the history of Jews in Prague. Entrance to both places are included in your museum ticket for 500 CZK. There is a lot to read and to learn, do not feel pressured to buy the audioguide, that’s just my opinion. What you see is easily understood. You can also go to the Pinkas Synagogue, it is a memorial for the victims of the Holocaust. 80,000 names of Czech Jews who lost their lives during WWII are inscribed on the walls.
STATUE OF FRANZ KAFKA
This is a quick stop, once again if you’re a fan of Kafka. Depending on the time of the day, you might come across a big line, but people are usually there for a few photos and they move on.
SHOPPING IN OLD TOWN
There is so much shopping you can do in the city. Gucci, Cartier, Celine, Prada, Hermes and many other luxury designer stores are in the neighborhood. If you skipped my thoughts on shopping and VAT refund in Prague, go back to that section, you might find it useful.
DINNER AT CAFÉ IMPERIAL
It was a long day for me and I was lucky to have Café Imperial across my hotel. This is a beautiful restaurant, and the staff are super attentive. I wasn’t dressed very casual (thankfully), there is a dress code and reservations are recommended. I ordered French onion soup, escargots and duck confit as entrée. I highly recommend having a meal here. They are also known for their breakfasts. I don’t have photos of my food, apologies but there are plenty online and they looked very similar to what I had.
If you scrolled to my Prague Itinerary and skipped the sections before, you can always go back and read the sections that interest you!
DAY 3: OUTSIDE CENTRAL PRAGUE
Top Left to Right: Wanceslas Square, Nardni Museum New Building and Old Building.
(SKIPPED) KLEMNTRUM
I came here early in the morning as I didn’t have an e-ticket. However, the elevator was not functional and I had to go up to the stairs. Because of my experience at the Lesser Town Bridge Tower, I decided to skip it. Tickets are 380 CZK. You can also sign up for a tour. The baroque library is beautiful, and the views of Prague are great from above.
HARVEL’S MARKET
Anytime I’m visiting someplace and there is a market, I make every effort to go. I love seeing what markets offer, how locals shop and what crafts and souvenirs these places offer. There was an interesting selection of fruits and chocolate that stood out to me. Very Eastern European vibes. You can also grab coffee and a bite if you wish.
MAN HANGING OUT
This is a statue of Sigmund Freud hanging from a pole above the street (it’s mostly at the junction of Belémské nàm and Husova Streets). It’s pretty cool.
LAUHUDKY ZLATY KRIZ
PSA: it is closed on Sundays. Like I mentioned earlier, I had to move my schedule around because of the weather, so I wasn’t able to experience this place. If you are headed in this area any other day of the week. You must stop here for a bite. They specialize in the chlebíčky sandwiches (open sandwiches).
FRANZ KAFKA ROTATING HEAD
Another spot dedicated to Franz Kafka. This probably needs no introduction. Kafka’s rotating head facing the OC Quadrio shopping mall.
STOP FOR A BITE
There are a few options here to get something to eat as you explore the area. (1) Paul in the OC Qudario Mall: for some coffee and pastries. (2) Ovocný Světozor: If you want to try the infamous chlebíčky sandwiches, since the place I wanted to try was closed, I went two floors down in the OC Quadrio mall and got myself some sandwiches (coffee from Paul), they weren’t bad and frankly I have nothing to compare them to. (3) Café Louvre: Another option is to walk 2 blocks and eat at Café Louvre, I didn’t eat here but I saw the restaurant. It is on the second floor overlooking the street. It seemed very busy but it’s a huge place.
WENCESLAS SQUARE
This is an interesting walk. I walked the entire block on Václavské Nàm. There were lots of restaurants, hotels and many tourists here. This led me to the next stop, Narodni Museum.
NARODNI MUSEUM
You can visit the old and new buildings. I walked into the new building first and bought a combination ticket for both museums and another exhibit in the old museum for 400 CZK. It was a great selection of art. The new museum had a smaller selection and mostly focused on the history of Prague in the 20th century, including a really cool documentary on a 360-view screen. The old museum itself is in a beautiful building, with exhibits ranging from precious stones, natural history and animals, to painting and photography. Don’t skip the rooftop, you can get a really nice view of the city.
Day 3 Continued
Top Left to Right: Vyśehrad, Vyśehrad again, Náplavka, Metro station near Narodni Museum, Dancing House, Masarykovo Nabr, Dinner at Café Slavia.
VYŠEHRAD
The easiest way to go in that direction is to take the metro straight from in front of the Narodni new building museum and head straight to Vyśehrad for only 30 CZK. It’s a bit of a walk from the metro station to the castle/ fortress, but it’s so beautiful and part of the experience, you won’t fret it.
This is a beautiful area to explore. You won’t be able to see it and quickly check it off your list. You’re going to want to take many photos and videos and it’s going to be hard to leave. If you didn’t fall in love with Prague yet, this place will make sure you do. It was heavenly. There are many benches to sit on, it is so clean and it smells so beautiful. I’m not sure if it’s because I was there in Spring, but I still recall the smell.
NÁPLAVKA
You can exit the fortress and surrounding garden and head to the notable street called Náplavka. Honestly it is one of the most enjoyable and beautiful walks I have been on. It is so special; you must walk at the lower level close to the water. You can get yourself drinks, spend as much time as you want by the water and the beautiful view.
DANCING HOUSE
As you are walking and getting closer to the Dancing House, you must take the stairs to the street level. The closest one is half a block away from the Dancing House. So you don’t need to exit the Náplavka Street sooner. You can take pictures, it’s a beautiful building.
MASARYKOVO NÁBR
This is the name of the street you will be walking on after you’re done seeing the dancing house. I recommend staying on it and walking up North.
DINNER AT CAFÉ SLAVIA
A well-known restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I had made plans to eat a meal here. Honestly the food is great, I would order anything off their menu and it is very affordable. I had duck confit, soup and crepe for dessert, all for around 800 CZK with a live piano player, which was a lovely experience. The service was outstanding.
DAY 4: BACK TO NEW TOWN
Left Column: Café Savoy capuccino, omelette and sandwich. Middle Column: Petrin Tower & Gardens, Cherry Cider at Lokál. Right Column: crèpe, white tea, beef goulash and beet salad.
CHARLES BRIDGE
I was happy to be back to New Town and walk on Charles Bridge again on my last day. I crossed the bridge, a bit earlier than usual and it was less crowded than day 1.
CAFÉ SAVOY
This was probably my favorite restaurant in Prague. The food is outstanding, I ordered their ‘Savoy Breakfast’, the omelet was cooked to perfection, the sandwich was really good and so was my crepe. I also ordered some white tea, which was really good. Their bathroom is adorable. You can see the chefs behind the glass on your way to the bathroom. You might find a table, or have to wait a bit to get seated. But I wouldn’t recommend that. Make a reservation, as this place is on every tourist’s radar and it is very busy. I also have to say that as much as tourists like to come here, I saw many locals, making the ambience of the restaurant a little more ‘pleasant’. I paid a total of 563 CZK.
PETRIN TOWER & GARDENS
I hiked up all the way to Petrin Tower (on a full stomach, great idea), it’s not as intense as Prague Castle but it’s a hike with lots of stairs. I hope it won’t rain as it did when I visited. You can take some great photos of the city on your way to the top. You can also hike up the Petrin Tower itself which offers some amazing views of the city. You can spend time around the Tower, it’s beautiful.
MALÁ STRANA
As you come down from the Petrin Tower, you can spend time in Malá Strana. In case you skipped a few spots here from day one of this itinerary, you can catch up now.
OLD TOWN SHOPPING
You can catch up on your shopping, especially if you are staying in Old Town and some of these stores are on your way to your hotel.
DINNER AT LOKÁL DLOUHÁÁÁ
On my last day, I really wanted to eat some Czech food. I saw this restaurant’s name come up every time I searched. At the entrance you would think you stepped into a bar, but as you walk further, is a bit like your school or hospital cafeteria. There are numerous tables in these long halls. I had the beef goulash with bread dumplings and a beet salad (which was just diced beet). The meal was exactly what I was looking for. I also ordered a Cherry Cider, which was amazing. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a more local experience with traditional food.
This is my suggested 4-day Prague itinerary. I hope it helps you and you enjoy your time as I did.
As always, thank you for stopping by and reading. If this type of content interests you, please follow my IG account @girlontheues
See you next week,
Girl on the Upper East Side
Xx
If this interested you, you might want to read my travel itineraries for London, Paris, and the French Riviera & Nice.
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