Prague—“the City of a Hundred Spires”—has watched empires rise and fall from its perch on the Vltava River. Gothic towers, Baroque facades, and Art Nouveau flourishes crowd its hills, while the world’s largest ancient castle presides from above. The Astronomical Clock has chimed since 1410, still gathering visitors beneath its animated procession of figures each hour.

Once the glittering seat of Charles IV and later a quiet outpost behind the Iron Curtain, Prague reemerged after the 1989 Velvet Revolution with verve. Franz Kafka scribbled his nightmares here; today, the city dreams in jazz clubs, beer cellars, and galleries. Stone lanes twist toward hidden courtyards and secret gardens—many with the best viewpoints in Central Europe.

Prague is compact and walkable, with reliable trams and metro. Expect cobblestones, great coffee, superb lager, and a serious pastry game. The currency is the Czech koruna (CZK); cards are widely accepted. Classic dishes—svíčková (braised beef with creamy sauce), roast duck with dumplings, and hearty goulash—sit alongside inventive bistros and a thriving vegetarian scene.

Prague

Why you’ll love it: A medieval skyline, café-hopping mornings, golden-hour bridges, and evenings washed in the clink of beer glasses and chamber music. Prague combines blockbuster sights with local rituals—tram rides at dusk, riverbank strolls, and cozy pivnice (beer pubs).

• Top sights: Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock, the Jewish Quarter (Josefov), Malá Strana, Petřín Hill, Vyšehrad, and the National Gallery’s Trade Fair Palace.
• Local flavors: Unpasteurized Pilsner poured “hladinka” style, chlebíčky (open-faced sandwiches), koláče and větrník pastries, and modern Czech menus from the Ambiente group (Lokál, Kantýna, Kuchyň).
• Fun facts: The Vltava splits the city into Staré Město (Old Town) and Malá Strana (Lesser Town). David Černý’s provocative sculptures pop up across town. Prague’s baroque libraries (Strahov, Klementinum) look straight out of a fantasy film.

How to get to Prague (PRG):

• Flights from Europe: Search fares on Omio (flights in Europe). London–Prague ~2h, often $50–150 one-way. Paris–Prague ~1h45, from ~$60–170.
• Flights from outside Europe: Compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. New York–Prague typically 9–11h (nonstop seasonal) or 12–14h via a hub; $650–1,200 round-trip depending on season.
• Trains and buses (within Europe): Berlin–Prague ~4.5h by train ($25–60), Vienna–Prague ~4h ($20–50), Budapest–Prague ~6.5–7h ($25–70). Compare on Omio (trains) and Omio (buses).

Where to stay: Search Prague stays on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com. Tried-and-true picks include:

• Four Seasons Hotel Prague – Landmark luxury on the river, steps from Charles Bridge.
• Motel One Prague–Florentinum – Stylish value, walkable to Old Town.
• Hotel Julian – Boutique comfort near the riverside and Petřín.
• Hotel Kampa Garden – Quiet Malá Strana address by the canal.
• Hostel One Home – Social, clean, great for solo travelers.

Day 1: Arrival, Old Town magic, and a medieval feast

Morning: Travel day. If you arrive early, drop bags and stretch your legs with a coffee at EMA Espresso Bar (near Masaryk Station)—a local standby for expertly pulled doubleshot roasts and flaky croissants.

Afternoon: Settle in, then ease into Prague with an orientation loop: Na Příkopě to Powder Tower, across to Old Town Square. Watch the Astronomical Clock strike the hour, peek into Týn Church, and swing by the Estates Theatre where Mozart premiered Don Giovanni.

Evening: Celebrate night one with a time-warp banquet: Prague 5 Courses Medieval Dinner and Live Performances—fire-eaters, jugglers, minstrels, and generous platters in a vaulted tavern right in Old Town. Reserve the late seating to step into lamplit lanes afterward.

If you prefer something lighter, try Lokál Dlouhááá for perfect Pilsner and plates of svíčková, schnitzel, and potato salad; finish with pistachio cream puffs at Cukrárna Skála. For a nightcap, Hemingway Bar shakes thoughtful, rum-leaning cocktails (book ahead).

Day 2: Charles Bridge, Castle District, and river views

Morning: Cross Charles Bridge at sunrise for statues in silhouette and buskers warming up. Breakfast at Café Savoy—one of the city’s most elegant rooms—for eggs Benedict, a “Savoy” hot chocolate, and a basket of house breads. Wander Kampa Island’s mill wheels and the John Lennon Wall, then ride the funicular up Petřín Hill and climb the lookout tower for panoramic city views.

Afternoon: Tackle Prague Castle: St. Vitus Cathedral’s stained glass, the Old Royal Palace’s Vladislav Hall, and Golden Lane’s storybook cottages. For lunch with a view, Kuchyň (in the castle complex) serves homestyle Czech dishes you choose from pots on the stove—roast duck, dumplings, braised cabbage—paired with tank Pilsner. Pause at the Strahov Monastery brewery for a tasting flight and peek into its baroque libraries (book a tour in advance if this is a must-see).

Evening: Settle in for dinner at Kantýna, a lively butcher’s hall where you order by weight at the counter—try the dry-aged beef tartare, pork schnitzel, and potato pancakes, then grab a table and watch the grill. Walk down to the river for night views of the castle; if you fancy live music, JazzDock’s riverside stage hosts quality sets nightly.

Day 3: Jewish Quarter, underground secrets, and Art Nouveau

Morning: Coffee and pastry at Bakeshop (Old Town), then explore Josefov’s layered history: the Old-New Synagogue (Europe’s oldest active), Pinkas Synagogue’s Holocaust memorial, the Old Jewish Cemetery’s sea of tilted stones, and the luminous Spanish Synagogue.

Afternoon: Admire the Art Nouveau Municipal House and the Gothic Powder Tower next door. Then descend into Prague’s hidden layers on the Prague Old Town, Medieval Underground and Dungeon Historical Tour—a storyteller-led dive beneath the cobbles into cellars and passages that reveal flood marks, prison tales, and daily life centuries ago.

Evening: Dine under porcelain mosaics and gilded stucco at Café Imperial (classic Czech with finesse—try the beef cheeks or svíčková). Cap the night at Black Angel’s, a speakeasy-style bar beneath Old Town Square, or stroll to the River Vltava embankment for views back to the lit-up castle.

Day 4: Vyšehrad vistas, modern Prague, and a gourmet evening

Morning: Start at Etapa (Karlín) for seasonal, vegetable-forward plates and superb sourdough. Tram to Vyšehrad, the hilltop fortress older than the castle—walk the ramparts, visit the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul, and see the Czech pantheon at Vyšehrad Cemetery (Dvořák, Mucha). The views down the river bends are sublime.

Afternoon: Head to Holešovice for the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, then stroll Letná Park’s leafy ridge to the beer garden overlooking the bridges. Late lunch at Lokál Nad Stromovkou (or casual bites at Mr. HotDog nearby if you crave American-style street food), followed by cake and coffee in the courtyard at Café Alchymista.

Evening: Eat like a local on the Prague Eat, Sip and Make Friends on Food Tour by Taste of Prague. Small groups, generous tastings, and neighborhood gems you’d likely miss—expect artisanal charcuterie, modern Czech small plates, natural wines, and immaculate desserts. It doubles as dinner, so arrive hungry.

Day 5: Day trip—sandstone cliffs and fairytale bridges

Trade spires for rock towers on the Bohemian & Saxon Switzerland From Prague—Travelers’ Choice 2025 full-day tour. In a small group, you’ll visit Narnia film locations, the Bastei Bridge in Germany’s Elbe Sandstone Mountains, and the Czech side’s wild rock formations; itineraries often include Pravčická Gate (Central Europe’s largest sandstone arch) or a Kamenice Gorge boat ride (seasonal). It’s about a 2-hour drive each way, with a local lunch included—moderate fitness and sturdy shoes recommended. Expect pick-up around 7:30–8:00am and return by early evening.

Back in town, toast the day with Moravian pours at Vinograf Senovážné or the cult-favorite wine bar Bokovka, paired with cheeses and pâtés.

Day 6: Markets, neighborhoods, and farewell

Morning: If it’s Saturday, browse the Náplavka Farmers’ Market along the river for pastries, fruit, and street eats; otherwise, try Jiřího z Poděbrad’s market (Wed–Sat) in leafy Vinohrady. Coffee at La Bohème Café (Vinohrady)—a chandeliered roastery with serious beans—and a quick climb of the Žižkov TV Tower for a last panorama (and David Černý’s crawling babies).

Afternoon: Lunch at U Kroka (Nusle)—roast duck with red cabbage and dumplings is a crowd-pleaser—or pop back to Naše maso for a steak sandwich to-go. Aim for the airport 2.5–3 hours before an intercontinental flight. From the center, Bus 119 + Metro A takes ~35–40 minutes (about 40 CZK), the Airport Express runs ~30–40 minutes (around 100 CZK), and taxis/ride-hails take 25–40 minutes depending on traffic.

Evening: Departure day—if you have time for one last bite, grab chlebíčky at Antonínovo pekařství and a koláč for the plane. Na shledanou, Prague!

Practical bites and sips (any day)

• Breakfast/coffee: EMA Espresso Bar (precision espresso), Můj šálek kávy in Karlín (Doubleshot roastery), La Bohème Café (roastery-chic), Café Savoy (grand café classics), Artic Bakehouse (flaky croissants in Malá Strana).
• Lunch ideas: Lokál Dlouhááá (textbook Czech), Naše maso (butcher-shop sandwiches), Kuchyň (castle views), Mlejnice (Old Town comfort plates).
• Dinner standouts: Kantýna (grill and butcher counter), Divinis (elegant Italian by a Czech TV chef), La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise (Michelin-star tasting menu), U Kroka (hearty Czech done right).
• Beer and cocktails: U Hrocha (tiny Mala Strana pub; arrive early), BeerGeek Bar (rotating taps), Letná Beer Garden (sunset), Hemingway Bar or Bukowski’s Bar (cocktails).
• Transit tips: A 24-hour transport pass is great value for tram hopping; validate tickets on first use. Watch for tram tracks and cobbles in slick weather. Tipping ~10% is appreciated for table service.

Optional add-on in the city (if you have extra time)

Curious about Prague’s Cold War years? Consider the Prague Communism History and Nuclear Bunker Tour on a future visit for a powerful historical perspective.

Another great in-city tour if you swap a day: Foodies and first-timers love the “see-it-all” style tours and castle-focused walks; prebook in peak season to avoid queues.

Summary: Six days in Prague gives you the icons and the in-betweens—sunrise bridges, castle courtyards, neighborhood cafés, and one unforgettable day among sandstone cliffs. You’ll leave with camera roll gold and a short list of places you already want to revisit.