Hey everyone! This post is without a doubt my favorite one so far. I am going to share with you 20 things to do in Prague, Czech Republic. Some are typical must-see tourist spots; some are off the beaten path. Even if you aren’t planning a trip to Prague anytime soon, I suggest reading this post anyways because I guarantee at the end of it you’ll be itching to go there the next chance you get!
Really quick – what inspired me to write this post? Well, during the months of February – May 2016, I was living and studying in Prague. Spending this semester of my junior year of college abroad was one of the best decisions I have ever made! Just this last week I was sorting my photos when I came across all of the ones I took abroad (on an iPhone, before I started blogging!). My goal is to share photos and highlights from each place I visited within blog posts over time. What better city to start with than Prague?
Prague is an overwhelmingly beautiful, unique, and colorful place that makes you feel like you’re walking through a fairy tale. It is underrated and today you’ll see why.
So, here we go! All of these things are either free or very inexpensive which is a huge plus when traveling!
20 Things to do in Prague
1. Try the trdelnik
This is a pastry that you can find everywhere you go in the city. It is made from dough that’s been wrapped around a stick, covered with cinnamon and sugar, and held over flames to cook. Lots of places offer a variety of fillings – whipped cream, soft serve ice cream (see mine below!), berries, Nutella, and more!
2. Visit the Strahov Monastery
The Strahov Monastery is up on the hill behind the castle complex. There’s a lot to see at the old monastery: a Baroque church, massive library, and more. Right across from it is Klasterni Pivovar, the Strahov Monastery brewery where you can find yummy Czech food and good beer! When I lived in Prague I came here a lot for the view.
It was so cool to be able to see this view during both winter AND spring! (This was before I chopped all my hair off)
3. Don’t just visit the John Lennon Wall; PAINT IT!
The John Lennon Wall is one of Prague’s most popular sights. The wall has an amazing story dating back to the late 1980’s, when the Czech Republic was still a communist country. Today it is a place for people to share uplifting messages of peace, love, and more. Anyone is allowed to paint the Lennon wall – I did this for one of my classes and it was so fun!
From Seattle to Prague!
4. Walk the Charles Bridge at dawn or dusk
One thing I wish I could go back and do more often is walk across the famous Charles Bridge early in the morning and/or late at night. The bridge is one of the most touristy spots of the city but it is almost always crowded with people. It is a pedestrian only bridge lined with statues of saints and other historical figures, and was completed in the year 1402… crazy! Not only is the city extra beautiful at sunrise and sunset, but the bridge and surrounding areas are a whole lot less crowded.
View of the Charles Bridge from above!
5. Explore the Prague Castle complex
The Prague castle complex is the largest castle complex in the world, most known for the beautiful St. Vitus Cathedral that you see featured in a lot of photos of the city. The cathedral is unbelievably huge and gorgeous in person… make sure you go inside and see the stained glass. Walk around and explore the castle grounds – nice views, unreal architecture, and plenty of museum-like exhibits to choose from.
Here is a view of the castle complex from across the river.
6. Spend some time in the Letna Beer Garden
This was definitely one of my favorite things to do in Prague. I must admit I spent quite a bit of time here once the weather warmed up (after class of course). Beers are as little as $1 and the food is yummy and cheap. There are rows of benches and tables underneath the trees, and you have a great view of the city. The park is huge, so feel free to take your drink and walk around the paths/enjoy the gardens!
View looking at the garden from the city.
Below is the view looking over the city from inside the garden.
7. Go to the Prague Zoo
I’m not a huge fan of zoos because they sort of make me sad, but we felt like we had to go see this one due to the amazing reviews… it didn’t disappoint. There are over 50 exhibits with all different kinds of animals, and if you go at the right time (feeding time) you can even see them up close and personal.
8. Have a picnic on Shooters Island
Shooter’s Island is a small island in the middle of the Vltava River that runs through the city. Accessible by a lift on the Legions Bridge, the island is covered with grass and trees and is perfect for a picnic. We would pick up sandwiches or wine, bread, and cheese, and sit there for hours.
9. Wander through Old Town Square
Remember when I said Prague feels like a fairy tale? This square is one of the main reasons why. The buildings are colored in pastels and you are surrounded by amazing buildings with spires on top (after all, one of Prague’s nicknames is The City of 100 Spires). You definitely have to pay the few bucks to climb to the top of the Old Town Hall/Astronomical Clock Tower for a 360 view of the city.
10. Relax in a cute cafe
Prague is bursting with little coffee shops and cafes. You’ll stumble across them without even trying to! Some of my frequent favorites were Styl&Interier and Mama Coffee. Places like this come in handy when you need a break from walking around the city.
11. Do some shopping in Wenceslas Square
If you’re looking to shop while in Prague, Wenceslas Square is for you. With stores like Zara, H&M, Adidas, and more, you’re bound to find something! The square remains lively into the night and lights up, sorta like it’s the Times Square of Prague. In the springtime flowers bloom in the middle of the square making it that much better!
12. Go paddle boating on the river
Springtime in Prague is the best for a few reasons… one of them being that the paddle boating companies on the river open up! Such a fun activity for a nice day. You can also bring your own food & drinks on the boat if you like.
13. Take in the view from the top of the Zizkov radio tower
This modern tower stands out among all the old architecture in Prague. Located a little bit outside of the city center, the Zizkov radio tower gives you the highest possible view of Prague other than a helicopter or plane. The inside is also pretty modern, with cool pod chairs hanging from the ceiling that you can sit in while you take in the view.
14. Indulge in some hearty Czech food
Czech food is all about meat, bread, dumplings, and beer (pivo). You can take your pick of the many traditional Czech restaurants, try out street vendors, or even take a ‘food tour’ of the city.
15. Explore Vysherad
Vysehrad is a historic fort up on a hill in Prague. It is an area with much less tourists but plenty to see with the Basilica of St. Peter & St. Paul, the cemetery, a cafe, and the large park with walking trails.
16. Go to a soccer game
When you’re looking for things to do in Prague, soccer might not be at the front of your mind. However, it’s a lot more fun than you may think! AC Sparta Praha is the biggest soccer (football) team in Prague. There are a lot less restrictions on the crowd than there are here in the U.S., so the games can get pretty rowdy. When I went the team won 5-0 and everyone rushed the field!
17. Walk around the Jewish Quarter
Josefov, the Jewish Quarter in Prague, has six synagogues. The only reason the entire quarter was preserved during Nazi occupation during WWII was because Hitler wanted to use it as a “Museum of an Extinct Race”. This being said, it is a must-see place with lots of history.
18. Take the trek up Petrin hill
When you take the time to climb to the top of Petrin hill you’ll reach the Petrin Tower, or the ‘Eiffel Tower of Prague’. Nowhere near the size of the real Eiffel Tower, this one is easy to climb via the stairs inside, giving you a pretty view at the top! In the springtime the trees that cover the hill bloom with white flowers.
Here’s a glance at Petrin Hill from afar!
19. Spend time at the street markets
The markets throughout the city have a lot to offer. Yummy food, paintings of the city, post cards, unique jewelry… it’s hard to stay away! If you’re there around certain times of the year like Christmas or Easter, the markets get even better! Petting zoos, live music, and lots of food!
20. Get lost!
Some of my best memories of Prague are from times when my friend Madi and I would just wander the streets and get lost on purpose. We would discover exciting new places without even trying! This is when you’ll come across spots with less tourists that are just as cool.
I hope you enjoyed learning about all of these fun things to do in Prague! It really is unlike any other city in the world. I’d love to answer any questions about it you might have now or in the future – feel free to contact me! Thanks for reading!
XO Sorelle
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