A city where beer is cheaper than water (supposedly), Prague, Czech Republic is a fairytale with a dark history. Stroll across Charles Bridge, see the oldest astronomical clock & tour the grounds of a medieval castle.
While I can’t guarantee your beer will be cheaper than water, I can tell you that the Czech Republic has the highest beer consumption per capita in the world – and they’re proud of it! We only had two days in Prague, but we were able to do, see and learn a lot of things. You may have heard that the Czech Republic was formerly known as Czechoslovakia. During WWII, it was invaded by Germany and wasn’t liberated until the Soviets arrived in 1945. It remained under Communist Soviet control until 1989! In 1993 (the year Mark and I were both born) Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two separate countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Check out the best things to do in this Eastern European hub in our City Guide:
Free Walking Tour
We always love to start our first day in a new city with a free walking tour. Sandeman’s New Europe offers free tours of Prague, Czech Republic by local guides who take you on foot around the city for 2-3 hours. They share historical facts, tips on where to get authentic food & recommendations of other things to see. You decide at the end of the tour how much it was worth, and give your guide a tip! You can sign up online in advance to hold your free spot, or show up on the day of at the meeting location. (We’ve done their tours in Paris, Dublin & Amsterdam and love their company!)
- Cost: Tip at your discretion
- Reserve spots online here: Sandeman’s New Europe
- Estimated time needed: 3 hours
Astronomical Clock
In the Old Town Square you can visit the World’s Oldest Astronomical Clock. Our guide actually taught us how to read the clock. Instead of telling the time, it tells you how many hours until the next sunset! Every hour, there is a short show at the clock. The 12 apostles come out of the two windows at the top while the skeleton (middle of the picture on the right) pulls a chain. Don’t set your expectations too high if you wait to see the show. Technically the Astronomical Clock is the 2nd most disappointing attraction in the world (after the Mona Lisa). If you’re in the center near the hour, stop by to judge for yourself – but we don’t recommend standing around waiting to see it. Observing this 600 year old clock is interesting enough in our opinions.
- Cost: Free
- Estimated time needed: 15 minutes
Jewish Quarter
We were actually able to explore a lot of the Jewish Quarter while on our free walking tour, but if you skip that – we recommend making your way their on your own. The Old New Synagogue is Europe’s oldest active synagogue, built in 1270. This synagogue has seen many things throughout history. One of the most famous incidents during this time was a massacre on Easter Sunday in 1389, where over 1,000 Jews hiding within the synagogue’s walls were killed. Now, the inside of the Synagogue has Hebrew inscriptions remembering that day.
- Cost: ~$5 for Old New Synagogue / Free to walk around
- More details online: Old New Synagogue
- Estimated time needed: 1 hour
Franz Kafka’s House & Museum
Born in the year 1883 in Prague, Czech Republic, Kafka grew up to become a famous writer. His most popular novels are Metamorphosis, The Castle & The Trial. While the original house itself burnt down, the original doorway remains. You can find a plaque on it recognizing its significance. The address is U Radnice, 5, Old Town if you are trying to find it while downtown. If you are a Kafka fan, we also recommend visiting the Museum dedicated to him from his life in Prague.
- Cost: Free (house) / $10 (Museum)
- Reserve spots online here: Franz Kafka Museum
- Estimated time needed: 5-10 minutes / 1-2 hours
John Lennon Wall
What was once an ordinary wall, is now a place filled with grafitti about peace and love. After John Lennon was killed in 1980, the wall became a place for young Czech people to express themselves (in a time where they had few opportunities to do so). The communist police tried to whitewash the wall, but everyday new messages of Beatles lyrics and peace were appearing. Today this wall serves as a monument of free speech and the non-violent rebellion of youth against communism. It is constantly changing, yet you can always find some reference to the Beatles or Lennon! If you’re a fan of the Beatles, we recommend visiting the wall and then grabbing a bite to eat at the John Lennon Pub nearby.
- Cost: Fre
- Estimated time needed: 15 minutes
Old Town Hall Tower
Arguably the best view in Prague, Czech Republic is from the Tower in the Old Town Hall. “Old” is no joke – the tower was completed in 1364 and has remained largely unchanged since. If you have time, you may also want to tour the Old Town Hall, which includes entrance to the Tower. Every hour during the day, there are trumpet players who announce the changing of the hour with a short tune, which we were able to catch (coincidentally, not planned). We loved the 360 views of Prague you get from the top. (Students don’t forget your student ID for a discounted rate!)
- Cost: $3-$6
- Reserve spots online here: Old Town Hall
- Estimated time needed: 1 hour
Charles Bridge
It’s impossible not to cross the pedestrian Charles Bridge in Prague while visiting. It’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and crosses the Vltava River in Prague. You can even climb to the top of one of the towers guarding either side of the bridge for a better view of Prague Castle and river.
- Cost: Free to walk across / $7-$8 to climb tower
- Reserve spots online here: Charles Bridge Tower
- Estimated time needed: 1 hour
Trdelnik
Across Prague you can find street vendors and shops that sell the Eastern European treat called Trdelniks. According to our walking tour guide, they are not authentic Czech food because they are more modern and have only been around for the last 20 years or so. However, they looked (and smelt) too good not to try. They are basically fried dough made into a cone shape, covered in cinnamon & sugar. You can even get them filled with ice cream if you want! They make the perfect snack after a busy day of sightseeing. (Check out our previous post: Been there, ate that: Dessert Edition, to learn more about other sweet treats we’ve enjoyed).
- Cost: $2-$4
Pub Crawl
Prague, Czech Republic is known for its nightlife and beer, so we thought we would honor the city by participating in an old fashioned pub crawl. Drunken Monkey offers a planned pub crawl through the city and is a great way to meet other travelers. At the first stop, they offer 2 hours of open bar (including beer, wine and some liquor). They have games, like beer pong, foosball and Jenga that you can play. After the first bar, you visit two more bars and end the night at a Club! Due to an early start the next day, we didn’t stay at the club long and made it back to our hostel at 2:30am. Our Uber home only cost $2.35 – can’t beat it!
- Cost: $35
- Reserve spots online here: Drunken Monkey Pub Crawl
- Estimated time needed: 4-6 hours
St. Vitus Cathedral
St. Vitus Cathedral is located on the grounds of Prague Castle. To enter into the area of the Castle is technically free (you only have to go through a security checkpoint) and it’s great to walk around and enjoy the views. We ended up buying a ticket to see some more places in the area. There are different types of tickets, one that includes everything and one that only includes a few things. Since we were short on time, we opted for the less expensive ticket. St. Vitus Cathedral was included so we were able to explore the inside of the Cathedral. Your ticket also includes entrance to St. George’s Basilica, which is another beautiful religious site to visit on the grounds. It dates back to 920.
- Cost: $10-15
- Reserve spots online here: Prague Castle
- Estimated time needed: 20 minutes for each (St. Vitus & St. George’s)
Prague Castle
Additionally, the same ticket for St. Vitus & St. George’s will also get you into Prague Castle. Truthfully, the castle itself is underwhelming compared to some others we’ve seen in Europe but was fun to explore nonetheless. Inside the castle you can see Daliborka Tower, which is nothing more than a small torture chamber with some old devices.
- Cost: $10-15
- Reserve spots online here: Prague Castle
- Estimated time needed: 30 minutes for Prague Castle
Golden Lane
Golden Lane is said to be one of the most beautiful streets in Europe and is only accessible through one of the Prague Castle tickets. We were able to step inside some of the colorful buildings that were formerly used to house the King’s Castle Guards.
- Cost: $10-15
- Reserve spots online here: Prague Castle
- Estimated time needed: 15 minutes for Golden Lane
In all honesty, if you have more time to explore and really get into the history, paying for a ticket to visit Prague Castle may be worth it. However, if you are on a budget or have limited time, simply entering the castle region and exploring it yourself for free is good enough. There are nice views of Prague from the top of Castle Hill, which you can see right when you enter the area.
Lahudky
We normally don’t include specific restaurants in our City Guides but we couldn’t resist including this amazing deli. Our tour guide told us about Lahudky and recommended it if we were looking for authentic Czech food. He warned us that the staff behind the counters most likely wouldn’t speak english but you can simply point at the things you want. They are famous for their open faced sandwiches (pictured above). Lahudky is only about 5 minutes walking from downton and the perfect spot for a quick meal. (Please note that they don’t have seats, only standing tables, so if you are weary after a day of walking, this may not be the best spot for you). The open faced sandwiches were amazing!
- Cost: $5-15 (depending on meal choice)
- More Information: Lahudky
- Estimated time needed: 30 minutes
Prague, Czech Republic Accommodation
St. Christopher’s is a popular hostel company in Europe and they own the Czech Inn where we stayed. You can stay in dorm style rooms or even opt for a private room, which we did. The Czech Inn had super welcoming staff and were located walking distance to downtown in a safe neighborhood.
- Cost: $10 – $75 /night (Depending on room type)
- Reserve online: Czech Inn
Prague, Czech Republic Travel Tips
Transportation
- Prague, Czech Republic is very walkable
- The Tram system is another scenic way to get around if you don’t feel like walking
- Uber also exists in Prague
Tipping
- Tipping is not as prominent in the Czech Republic as it is in the US because servers are paid a livable wage
- Rounding up to the nearest Koruna or 5-10% of your bill is expected at restaurants & bars
Weather
Prague has distinct winter and summer months. For example, we visited in February and were faced with most days in the mid 40’s. Summer is the warmest time to visit, and never gets too hot. If you’re looking to beat the crowds, shoulder season or winter would be best.
- Winter: 35 – 50 F
- Summer: 50 – 80 F
General
- The Czech Republic uses the Koruna. Around $1 is the equivalent of 20-25 Koruna (depending on the exchange rate). Things will feel expensive due to the high numbers, but they are actually very reasonably priced when converted back to USD.
- Avoid currency exchange scams that claim “0% commission” but will charge you a high exchange fee. We recommend instead using an ATM associated with your bank or credit card, or exchanging currency before you leave.
- Like in any major European city, be aware of pickpockets in crowded areas. They are most likely to strike while you’re snapping photos or the Astronomical clock or crossing a bustling Charles Bridge.
Ahoj, Amanda
