A First-Timer's Guide to Prague
What to Expect
Prague is the capital city of Czech Republic (‘Praha’ in Czech). Prague is famous for many things, including its history, architecture, and of course, its beer. The city is also well known for being one of the more “wallet-friendly” cities in Europe.
Language Spoken
The official language of the Czech Republic is Czech. I always make sure to have the language downloaded to my google translate app on my phone, and I always do my best to learn a few basic words.
Currency Used
Czech koruna is the official currency of the Czech Republic. It is very easy to exchange your money for Czech koruna when you get to Prague.
I exchanged 120USD for around 3000CZK which was more than enough for the three full days we spent in Prague. We ate out for every meal and did a lot of shopping and tours around the city. We did not budget this trip, but there are many ways to still save money while visiting.
I highly recommend using cash when you are in Prague. Credit cards are not always accepted here. There are many vendors and restaurants that do not accept them.
Getting around Prague
The main mode of transportation in Prague is walking. You can walk everywhere you need to go here (yes, we walked 10+ miles a day but it is well worth it)! The Prague Metro and trams will also take you everywhere you need to go.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Prague is March-May or September-October. You will have beautiful weather, but the city will also be quite busy!
Winter is also a great time to visit Prague! Of course, you would have to go to the Christmas Market if you are visiting in November/December! It will be colder during these months, but the cold months are still pretty mild, and there are fewer visitors at that time! I went in February and loved it. The average temperature in the winter months in Prague is 33F/5C (Minnesota girl here, so this seemed like beautiful weather!).
Best Things to do in Prague
Before we get into the specifics – this Prague City Card linked below will get you into 50+ Prague sights (including the Prague Castle) and public transportation is included. This is a great option to save money and have a variety of things to do that are accessible and already paid for!
Old Town Square
Old Town Square is the heart of the city – from its history and culture to delicious food, plan on spending quite a bit of time at Old Town Square. Make sure to visit the Astronomical Clock and Old Town Hall when you are there.
We took a walking tour of the Astronomical Clock and the Charles Bridge Underground, and I highly recommend it! It will take you to the top of the Old Town Hall/Astronomical Clock Tower for one of the best birds-eye views in Prague. You will also get to see the underground of Prague and learn about the darker side of Prague's history – it was really fascinating and well worth it!
You can go to the top of the Astronomical Clock tower without the tour for a small fee (or with your city pass); it is definitely worth it! I would also recommend checking out the Prague Meridian (Pražský poledník), Štorch House (Štorchův dům), also known as At the Stone Virgin Mary, and St. Nicholas Church.
Prague Castle
Visiting the Prague Castle is a MUST. Built in the 9th century, Prague Castle is the world’s largest castle; the complex is home to The Royal Palace, St. Vitus Cathedral (go to the top of the Cathedral for another amazing birds-eye view), St. George’s Basilica, and Golden Lane – all of which are worth visiting!
There are many places in the castle that everyone can visit with the city pass, but to get the full experience, I recommend getting a Prague Castle Tour for better access to the entire complex and to learn so much more about the history.
Tunnel of Books Illusion
Make sure to stop at the Tunnel of Books in the Municipal Library to see the tunnel of never-ending books! It is an illusion created by Matej Kren and it is so cool to see.
Charles Bridge
Take time to walk across this medieval stone-arch bridge that crosses the Vltava River. The Charles Bridge is known for its gothic and baroque architecture. It connects Old Town with Mala Strana (Lesser Town).
Mala Strana (The Little Quarter)
Take time to wander around Mala Strana, also known as the Little Quarter or Lesser Town. It is a beautiful neighborhood with a lot of character, located up on the hillside. You will also find the John Lennon Wall here!
Visit the Klementinum
The Klementinum is one of the largest complexes in Europe and is famous for its rich history. While you are there, make sure to visit the Mirror Chapel, Meridian Hall, and the Baroque Library.
I highly recommend taking a tour of the complex – I much prefer a tour of these great historical complexes/places rather than trying to read everything. I learn so much more this way! You can schedule a tour at the Klementinum, you will most likely just have a bit of a wait! If you prefer to have everything booked in advance, below you will find another great tour option!
Eat Trdelnik
This might just be the most important thing to do in Prague – try the Trdelnik. I had at least one per day, and if I return to Prague (which I hope to soon), the first thing I do will be to find a Trdelnik stand. You can find stands and stores for Trdelnik everywhere here; make sure you try at least one!
Accommodations
There are many different reasonable hotel and apartment options around Prague. These hotels are all in great locations, fun neighborhoods, and easy walking distance to everything you will want to see around Old Town!
You'll find most hotels on my list in the moderate to lower price range while still being great options (all 3-4-Star hotels)! Prague is great because everything is very reasonably priced!
If you are looking for more luxury options or wanting to splurge more on a hotel (because even the luxury hotels are reasonable), please schedule a call with me to talk about the best options for you. There are so many incredible 5-Star hotels here!
Book Your Trip to Prague
Prague is a must-visit city in Europe! There is so much to see and do (and eat)! Hopefully, this travel guide for Prague makes you feel more prepared when planning and visiting the city!
If you would like additional help booking your trip to Prague, shoot me an email at jenny.walz@fora.travel or fill out the "contact me" form through the link below and we can get started planning!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Happy traveling!
xx,
Jenny
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