Many people think of London or Paris when they think of a European vacation, but I’m thinking Prague. This will be my first visit to Prague, and I want to make it worth it.
12 Things to Do in Prague on Your First Visit: Here’s a quick look at 12 things you have to check out in Prague on your first visit:
- Infant Jesus
- Old Town Square
- Astronomical Clock
- Charles Bridge
- Jewish Quarter
- Prague Castle
- Lennon’s Wall
- Farmer’s markets
- River cruise
- Petrin Hill
- Nightlife
- Food and Drink
Ideally, you’ll take four to five days to visit Prague, but if you can’t manage that, you need at least three days. As you’re about to see, there is too much to see in Prague in less than a three-day visit.
12 CAN’T MISS THINGS IN PRAGUE
Prague is a city rich in history, first settled by Germanic tribes in the 5th century. The capital of the Czech Republic and the 14th largest city in Europe, it sits on the Vltava River and is populated by more than one million people.
The city is full of museums, restaurants, pubs, cathedrals, and other historical buildings. You’ll never see it all in one visit, but here’s a look at the places not to miss in Prague.
Infant Jesus
The Infant Jesus of Prague is one of the most well-known devotions for Catholics around the world. A Spanish woman brought the 19-inch wax and wood figure to Prague in 1556 as part of her dowry. The daughter of that woman presented it to the Church of Our Lady Victorious in 1628 where it remains on display today.
During its time on display, the statue has been credited with many miracles and extraordinary events. The statue has more than 60 dresses given by followers from around the world. Carmelite nuns change the statue’s clothes throughout the year.
The Church of Our Lady Victorious is located in the part of the city known as “Lower Town.”
If you’re into checking out churches, you’ll also want to stop by St. Vitus Cathedral. It’s a gothic church built within the walls of Prague Castle. Building on the cathedral started in 1344 but wasn’t completed until the 1900s due to different wars in the country.
The church is considered one of the most important in the city because it’s where coronations of Czech kings and queens took place and it’s where the Czech crown jewels are stored. Don’t expect to see them on your visit, though. They’re only displayed to the public about once every five years.
Old Town Square
Old Town Square is a historic area in the Old Town quarter of Prague. Founded in the 10th century, it’s considered one of the most significant areas of historical Prague. It served as a marketplace in the middle of European trade routes back then.
Some buildings you’ll want to keep an eye out for as you walk through Old Town Square include the Old Town Hall, the Church of Our Lady before Tyn, the Baroque Church of St. Nicholas, the Rococo Kinsky Palace, and a monument to Jan Hus. Hus was a famous Czech theologian who was burned at the stake for heresy against the Catholic Church.
If you look down as you walk, you’ll also notice memorial stones that mark the execution of 27 Czech lords in 1621. This is considered by some as one of the most tragic events to take place in the area.
If you’re already checking out Old Town Square, you might as well hop over to Wenceslas Square. While Old Town Square is famous for its history, Wenceslas Square is the commercial and administrative center of Prague. You’ll find theaters, banks, hotels, and restaurants all over the square.
Astronomical Clock
One of the most legendary landmarks in Prague is the Astronomical Clock located in front of the Old Town Hall Tower. It is the world’s third oldest astronomical clock and the oldest one that actually still works.
You’ll want to plan to check it out at the hour mark to see it mark the hour. At the hour, you’ll see the 12 apostles moving in the window of the upper part of the clock. At the same time, various sculptures on the clock start moving.
Parts of the original clock are still intact including the astronomical dial, which many believe is the oldest of the clock’s components. The three sets of the dial can mark three different times, including Italian time, Central European Time, and finally Babylonian time.
Charles Bridge
You won’t want to miss Prague’s oldest bridge, Charles Bridge, on your visit. Some consider the bridge the most beautiful bridge in Europe. It crosses the Vltava River and was started in 1357, but it’s history dates back even further than that.
A bridge was built in the same spot in 1170 but was destroyed by a flood in 1320. Some of the original foundation stones remained in the river and were used in the construction of the Charles Bridge.
The bridge has fortified towers at each end and 30 statues of saints carved into it. Although traffic was once allowed to travel on the bridge, it is now only open for walking.
Jewish Quarter
The Jewish history in Prague runs deep. A good spot to learn about this history is in the Jewish Quarter. It was established in the 13th century when Jewish people were ordered to leave their homes and settle only in this area.
The Jewish people experienced an almost unimaginable history in the country. One of the worst was Easter 1389 when almost the entire population (3,000 Jewish people) were murdered after members of the Prague clergy said Jews had desecrated the Eucharistic wafer and encouraged mobs to attack the group.
The area is home to six synagogues including the Old-New Synagogue, which was built in 1270. It is the oldest preserved synagogue in Central Europe.
Prague Castle
You can’t visit Prague, without visiting Prague Castle. The castle is believed to have been started near the end of the 9th century and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as “the largest coherent castle complex in the world.”
It’s made up of a number of different palaces and church buildings in various architectural styles. In addition to these buildings, you can also check out the various gardens throughout the castle.
A couple of notes for your visit to the castle, consider renting the audio tour. It will give you so much more information than what you’ll figure out on your own. Also, if you want to take pictures, buy the photo license. This allows you to take photos of the insides of buildings.
Lennon Wall
The Lennon Wall has been a billboard for people protesting something since the 1940s. It became known as the Lennon Wall after Beatles’ legend John Lennon was killed. At that point, someone painted an image of the singer and some lyrics on the wall.
Despite efforts to paint over the graffiti, “artists” continued to come back and mark the wall again. Tourists now contribute to the memorials at and on the wall and the group that owns the wall has accepted its fate.
You’ll find the Lennon Wall in the Mala Strana district of the city.
Farmer’s Markets
Farmers markets will give you a true taste of the culture of Prague. You’re probably thinking you can just check out a farmer’s market in your own town, but you really don’t want to miss a Prague farmer’s market.
They’ve become more popular since 2010 and are full of fresh produce and products right from farmers in the area. You can check out local herbs, dairy, meat, and bakery products and even grab a cup of coffee or glass of wine.
The markets are held throughout the year, usually on Saturday mornings.
Cruise on the Vltava
One of the best views of Prague is from the Vltava River, which means you should consider taking a cruise on the river during your visit. You’ll travel through the historical center of the city and get a different perspective than walking through the city.
There are plenty of tourist centers that offer river cruises. Many of them include lunch or dinner and live musical entertainment.
Nightlife
If you’re young enough and fun enough to handle it, you can’t visit Prague without checking out the nightlife. The city may be known for its history, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a pretty intense nightlife.
You’ll find any type of club you’re looking for, from five-story nightclubs to jazz clubs to pour your own beer pubs. These aren’t the bars in America that close at 2 a.m., they’re open all night.
No matter what your nightlife taste is, Prague will have something that appeals to you. You’ll find live jazz music from local musicians at JazzDock or a unique nightclub at the industrial nightclub Cross Club, where gadgets, shafts, and cranks literally move to the music and those are just two of the options.
Petrin Hill
Petrin Hill is located in the center of Prague and offers a bird’s eye view of the city. On top of the hill is a TV tower modeled after the Eiffel Tower. You can climb the tower for even better views of the city.
You can trek to the top of the hill on your own or take the funicular. It runs every 10 to 15 minutes. At the top, you’ll find a mirror maze, pony and horseback rides, an observatory, and a rose garden.
Food and Drink
I’m kind of cheating on this one because food and drink isn’t one exact thing to do in Prague, but you really have to take advantage of ALL the opportunities in Prague.
When I say drink, I mainly mean beer. Prague is famous for its beer, and that’s for a reason. Their beer making history dates back to the late 900s when it was brewed in a monastery. It’s home to a number of breweries and microbreweries.
If you really want to check out the beer, plan a visit for May when the city hosts the Czech Beer Festival. It’s the largest beer festival in the country and lasts 17 days. You can taste more than 70 different brands of Czech beer at the festival.
While you’re drinking your beer, find somewhere to try a pork knuckle or pickled cheese, two popular choices in the city. While you’re at it, grab a bite of goulash, roast goose, or a trdelnik, a delicious pastry made of fried dough, rolled in cinnamon sugar and then filled with your choice of filling.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WHEN VISITING PRAGUE
We’ve talked about food, history, and entertainment, but there are always a few other questions people have when traveling. Here are some answers to other questions you might have.
Best Time to Visit
Now that you know all the best things to see in Prague, you need to figure out the best time to visit the city. If you’re like me, you want to avoid the major crowds.
In that case, the best times to visit are spring and early fall. This is due to Prague’s cooler climate, which means more tourists head to the city in the summer. It also means it may be a bit cooler when you visit, so bring a lightweight jacket. Spring and early fall high temps range between the mid-50s to the upper 60s.
Visiting in the offseason also means you’ll probably find better hotel rates.
If you don’t mind the tourists, you might want to visit at Christmas. Almost the entire city is decorated with Christmas lights and Christmas trees, and various Christmas markets are open.
Budgeting for Your Trip
When you visit Prague, you might be wondering just how much to save for a trip. The city is probably the most expensive in the country by a lot but is relatively affordable compared to many other major European cities.
As far as food and drink go if you’re a beer drinker you’re in luck. Prague has some of the cheapest, GOOD beer you’ll find. Prague is also big on delis, so you can easily find lunch for less than five bucks.
Lodging costs are comparable to other major European cities. You can save by traveling in the off-season or even venturing outside of Prague and finding something on AirBnB.
As far as transportation goes, you have a few options if you don’t have a rental car. Uber is available in Prague and offers reasonable prices.
You can use taxis, but they sometimes have a bad reputation for overcharging tourists. Have your hotel set up your taxi for you. Sometimes you can even set a price before you hit the road. If not, make sure they start the meter when you get in the car.
Finally, public transit is affordable and can take you just about anywhere in the city.
As far as tourist excursions, you can see just about all of Prague’s history on your feet for free. Quite a few of the options we talked about above don’t cost a dime.
Your best bet if you’re on a budget is to not buy souvenirs or food in popular tourist spots. Venture off the beaten path away from the tourists and buy there. Shops in tourist spots likely have raised their prices because they know they’re a hot spot.
Before you start shopping, you’ll want to trade your dollars for Prague’s currency, which is the Czech Crown. Some shops accept Euros but not all, so your best bet is to have plenty of Czech Crowns. If you don’t have Prague’s currency on hand, make sure you’re carrying some credit cards.
Safety in Prague
Another question that comes to people’s minds when traveling is whether it’s safe to travel to the destination of your choice. The answer here is yes, it’s safe to travel to Prague.
As far as crime goes, Prague mainly sees property crimes, mostly pickpocketing and some car break-ins. Really any tourist place you visit has its share of pickpocketing, so it’s not a huge surprise.
Keep some tips in mind to avoid becoming a victim of a pickpocket.
- Don’t carry a lot of cash
- Leave important documents in a safe deposit box at your hotel
- Make a copy of any important documents in case they do get taken
- Be especially vigilant on crowded trams and subways
- Consider wearing a money belt (fanny pack) instead of purse or handbag
- Don’t take out your wallet in busy areas
- Keep your valuables close and an extra eye out, especially in extra touristy areas (Karlova and Melantrichova Streets, Charles Bridge, tram 22, and Old Town Square)
Violent crime is pretty rare in Prague, but there are two areas where it pays to be extra cautious: Wenceslas Square and the park around the main train station.
Wenceslas Square is a hot spot for pickpockets because of the number of tourists. There are stories of people having all their money taken in this area, especially at night.
The locals refer to the park near the main train station as “Sherwood.” It’s a place you probably want to avoid at night. Security inside the train station is pretty solid, but outside can be fairly questionable.
With these tips in mind, it’s time to hop on the Internet or call your favorite travel agent and start planning that trip to Prague.