How to Spend Four Days in Prague

Prague is a destination that always seems to be in vogue. The crowds show no signs of abating, especially as it becomes a center for digital nomads and tech workers.

It’s a gorgeous, well-preserved medieval city with a rich history, expansive parks, Vegas-style nightlife, and a hint of romance. It holds a special place in my heart: it was the first city I backpacked through on my round-the-world trip in 2006. It was where I stayed at my first genuine hostel, the first place I was on my own, and the first place I went to where signs weren’t in English. I grew as a traveler here.

I’ve been back over a dozen times since that first visit.

Over the years, a lot has changed: there are more tourists, prices are higher, the food is more international, and more foreigners live there. But its essence — all the clichéd stuff (cobblestone streets, quaint medieval houses, incredible charm) that makes Prague…well, Prague — is still there.

To really see Prague, it’s best to visit for four to five days. That will allow you to see all the main sites and get a sense of the city’s culture — without rushing (something a lot of tourists do). There is just so much to see and do in Prague that you aren’t going to be short of things to choose from as you plan your trip.

Here’s my suggested itinerary for visiting Prague:

 

Prague Itinerary: Day 1

Take a free walking tour
Walking tours are a smart way to orient yourself to a new city, learn some history, and hear about the main attractions. There are a TON of free walking tours in Prague, so you’ll have plenty of options. Most tour companies meet near the astronomical clock in the Old Town Square and last 2-3 hours. They will give you an overview of the main sites, like the Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the Jewish Quarter, and more.

My favorite company is New Europe. It operates free tours around Europe and tends to have upbeat guides and lots of historically accurate information. Tours by Foot is another great option.

If you are looking for a paid tour, check out Prague Alternative Tours, which runs amazing alternative art and history tours throughout town, run by local artists. The Prague: Ghosts and Legends Tour is another alternative tour option for those who want a more niche-focused (and spooky) tour. It’s really fun. I highly recommend it.

Visit Prague Castle
The famous Prague Castle is the next logical place to visit, since all the walking tours end near this popular sight. The castle, which lords over the city, consists of multiple sections: St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, The Story of Prague Castle, St. George’s Basilica, Golden Lane with Daliborka Tower, the Powder Tower, and Rosenberg Palace. You can buy a ticket to any or all of these sights from the box office. The most famous structure is St. Vitus Cathedral — this is the large building you see when you look up at the castle from outside the city walls.

Tickets are 150-250 CZK while in-depth guided tours (including admission) cost 830 CZK.

Walk around Petrín Park

Petrín Park is the city’s biggest and most beautiful park, offering sweeping views of Prague. You’ll find a garden, a maze, and a lookout tower that looks like the Eiffel Tower. You can climb the 299 steps to the top of the tower and get an awesome view of Prague (on a clear day, you can see the Czech Republic’s highest point, Snezka, some 150 kilometers away).

What I love about this expansive park is how easy it is to get lost among the trees. Paths meander throughout, and it’s a relaxing contrast to the crowds of the historic center. Keep in mind that this park is on a big hill and walking to the top can be strenuous. There is a funicular that can take you down (or up) the hill if you don’t feel like making the trek.

Visit the John Lennon Wall

After Petrín Park, head down towards Kampa, a neighborhood by the river, and visit the John Lennon Wall. Toward the end of Communism in the 1980s, students started writing John Lennon lyrics on this wall as a way to air their grievances. Today, the wall represents love and peace. Tourists are allowed to write or paint on it too.

Visit the Franz Kafka Museum
Born in Prague in 1883, Kafka is regarded as one of the most important writers of the 20th century. The museum displays the first editions of some of his most famous short stories (such as The Metamorphosis), photos, diary entries, and drawings. The museum also includes audiovisual pieces as well as a soundtrack composed especially for the exhibit. Admission is 300 CZK.

Relax on the waterfront
It’s been a long day, so relax in Kampa with a satiating drink, some food, or a coffee. There are a number of appealing restaurants and cafés in the area. To get here, just keep walking toward the river from the John Lennon Wall. You’ll cross a little bridge and there you are! You’ll find lots of places to eat, sit, and relax, and when you’re done, you can walk across the famous Charles Bridge back toward the city center. I’m a big fan of Kampa Park Restaurant if you are looking for a place to eat.
 

Prague Itinerary: Day 2

Explore the Old Town Square

Though you got an overview of the Old Town Square during your walking tour, today you can savor the square’s attractions in detail. Some of the highlights include:

• Hang out in the square — The people-watching is unbeatable as tourists, families, students, and touts pass through the square. Sit on one of the benches, eat a sandwich, and enjoy! Moreover, there are a number of talented musicians — ranging from jazz musicians to Scottish bagpipe players, and everything in between — that perform in the square.
• See the Astronomical Clock — Watch the most overhyped attraction in all of Prague! While the hourly chime that people line up for is anticlimactic, the detail and artistry of the clock make it one of the most beautiful in Europe.
• Visit the churches — The beautiful Tyn and St. Nicholas churches line the square. St. Nicholas is open all day, but Tyn is only open in the mornings and late afternoons.
• Explore the town hall catacombs — Under the Old Town Hall, you’ll find a series of catacombs worth exploring. They were the first level of the medieval houses that used to be in the square. Now, they are an exhibit showcasing medieval life (enter through the tourism office).
• See the Paternoster Elevator – Nicknamed “the Elevator of Death,” the Paternoster is a type of lift that doesn’t have a door — and it doesn’t stop at floors. There are a handful of them around town but the one that is most easily accessible is in Prague City Hall in Old Town. It’s free too.

Take an underground Prague tour
Prague Underground Tours runs an underground tour of the medieval houses in the city center. There are many “catacombs” in Prague, which are basically the first couple of levels of old houses below the Prague that has risen on the rubble of many centuries. The tour lasts about 75 minutes but it provides a detailed history of medieval Prague and is super interesting!

Explore the Jewish Quarter

The Jewish Quarter in Prague is located between the Old Town Square and the Vltava River and has six synagogues, a Jewish Ceremonial Hall, and the Old Jewish Cemetery. It is one of the most popular attractions in Prague. Hitler saved it from Nazi destruction because he wanted to make the area a museum to the lost Jewish race. Now, the museums, synagogues, and historic graveyard in the area honor the history of what was one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe.

Explore Letenské sady (Letná Park)

This park, across the river from the Jewish Quarter, features several walking trails, a café, and expansive views of the city. You’ll see a lot of art students painting the cityscape. Crossover to Chotkovy sady for beautiful gardens and rear views of the Prague Castle. It’s quiet, with secluded paths that make for an intimate romantic stroll.

See the National Monument at Vitkov Park
This hill has played an important role in the development of Prague and has a gigantic statue of Jan Žižka, who defeated the Catholic King Sigismund and his forces in 1420 on this very hill! You’ll also find the Ceremonial Hall here, which has an exhibit on the history of the country during the 20th century (it’s really good and detailed) and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The high vantage point gives you incredible views of the city, and the park is popular for running.

Admire the Cubist Architecture

Between 1911 and 1914, a small group of Czech architects decided to see what it would be like if they applied Cubism — a style typically found in paintings, such as in the work of Picasso — to architecture. They built several buildings around the city that are incredibly striking but also a little odd to look at. To find them, just stroll around the Vyšehrad neighborhood (just south of Old Town). To learn more about the Cubist style, take the Art Nouveau and Cubist Architecture walking tour. It’s three hours and covers all the main highlights.

Prague Itinerary: Day 3

Take a day trip to Kutná Hora

Kutná Hora was an important center for silver mining in medieval Bohemia. It helped keep the kings of Prague rich. Now the town is famous for its creepy bone church, Sedlec Ossuary, which contains 40,000-70,000 bones. Since the church takes only about 15 minutes to see, head into the historic city center to see some of Kutná Hora’s other attractions, including marvelous medieval churches, overlooks, well-preserved streets, and a large town square. It’s a small and quiet town that feels like Prague without the crowds.

You can take a half-day tour from Prague for 1,652 CZK or visit on your own (if you visit without a tour, skip-the-line tickets with an audio guide cost 200 CZK.
 

Prague Itinerary: Day 4

Explore Vyšehrad

While Prague Castle gets all the love, Vyšehrad, located in the southern part of the city, was also one of the original castles of the kings of Prague. It was built around the 10th century and contains Prague’s oldest surviving building, the Rotunda of St. Martin. Few tourists ever come here, so you’ll get the castle and its views of Prague to yourself. It also offers good upriver views of the city. Guided tours cost 830 CZK. I’d recommend a guided tour if you can as there’s not a lot of signage here so it will help add context to what you’re seeing.

Walk up the river back into town
From the castle, you can take a nice walk along the river back into the center of town. There are walking and bike paths, as well as places to stop, sit, and maybe read a book. It’s mostly locals around here, despite it being about 20 minutes from the city center.

Visit the Powder Tower

Back in town, be sure to check out this medieval tower, one of the original 13 city gates. Construction began in 1475 and, during the 17th century, the tower used to store gunpowder. It was heavily damaged in 1757, and most of the sculptures on it were replaced in 1876. Get your tickets in advance and skip the line.

Wander the streets of Prague

Prague is a stunningly beautiful and historic city. Meander its winding streets. Find random restaurants, markets, and churches. Sit and watch the people go by. Get happily lost and find your own offbeat attractions and things to do while you’re here! Travel is, after all, an act of discovery!

Take in a concert
Prague is famous for its classical music, and there are beautiful venues and concert halls throughout the city with nightly performances. There are a variety of shows to choose from, from a performance of Mozart’s classics in a historic theatre over a 3-course dinner to the Prague Symphony Orchestra performing in the Spanish Synagogue.
 

Where to Stay in Prague

As one of Europe’s biggest tourist hotspots, Prague has a lot of accommodation options. There is something for every budget and I have written extensively about the best hostels, hotels, and neighborhoods in the city. But if you don’t want to read all those articles, here three spots to check out:

• Sophie’s Hostel – This is my favorite hostel in Prague. The rooms have modern furnishings, soft beds, clean bathrooms, and showers with incredible water pressure.
• Old Prague Hotel – Located in the center of the Old Town, the rooms here are pretty simple but you really can’t beat the location. It’s a quiet place to stay too.
• Augustine – Set in a still-working monastery from the Middle Ages, this hotel is one of the nicest and most luxurious in the city and the basement bar serves homemade beer from the recipe of the on-property monks.

If you want more hostel suggestions, here is a list of my favorites in the city. If you prefer hotels, this post lists all my favorite hotels in Prague.

And, if you’re wondering what part of town to stay in, here’s my neighborhood breakdown of the city!

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Prague has been one of my favorite cities in the world since I first visited in 2006. It’s gorgeous and brimming with fun things to see and do (especially if you love history). There’s an incredible food scene, tons of energy, and just all around good vibes. Though you’ll always find tons of other tourists, Prague’s magnificence will always make it worth visiting — just avoid coming in the middle of summer when the city is at its most crowded!