Prague’s skyline looks drawn with a calligrapher’s nib: spires, domes, and red roofs twine above the Vltava, a river that has watched empires rise and poets fall. Founded in the 9th century and polished by Charles IV in the 14th, the “City of a Hundred Spires” shelters the world’s largest ancient castle, an astronomical clock that still performs on the hour, and legends from alchemists to the Golem.

Yet Prague is anything but a museum. Cafés hum with third-wave espresso, tank beer flows fresher than milk, and neighborhood bistros reimagine classics like svíčková and roast duck. Walkable quarters—Old Town, Malá Strana, Hradčany, Vinohrady, and Karlín—offer different rhythms by the hour: morning bells, afternoon galleries, and jazz drifting over the water at night.

Practical notes: The currency is the Czech koruna (CZK). Cards are widely accepted; tip 5–10% in restaurants. Prague’s trams and metro are excellent—90-minute tickets ~40 CZK, 24-hour passes ~120 CZK, and 72-hour passes ~330 CZK. Pack comfortable shoes for cobblestones and prepare for year-round weather shifts.

Prague

Prague is a fairytale that earned its patina. Cross Charles Bridge at dawn, linger in the courtyards of Prague Castle, and let the Old Town Square’s Astronomical Clock remind you that timekeeping can be poetry. By night, beer halls and cocktail temples turn the city into a convivial salon.

• Top sights: Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square and Astronomical Clock, Jewish Quarter, Wenceslas Square, National Museum, Vyšehrad, Strahov Monastery Brewery, Kampa Island.
• Iconic experiences: Vltava river cruise at sunset, chlebíčky (open-faced sandwiches) for lunch, tank Pilsner in a historic pub, classical music in a baroque church, and a day trip into Bohemian sandstone valleys or storybook Český Krumlov.
• Neighborhood flavor: Malá Strana’s embassy lanes, Karlín’s café culture, Vinohrady’s leafy boulevards, and Letná’s park views.

Where to stay (book with our partners):

• Search vacation rentals: VRBO Prague
• Search hotels: Hotels.com Prague
• Luxury on the river: Four Seasons Hotel Prague (Old Town riverfront, views of the castle and Charles Bridge)
• Style + value: Motel One Prague-Florentinum (sleek design, easy tram/metro)
• Boutique comfort: Hotel Julian (friendly service, rooftop terrace near the river)
• Calm by the canals: Hotel Kampa Garden (Malá Strana, steps from Charles Bridge)
• Budget/social: Hostel One Home (Old Town vibes, nightly activities)

How to get to Prague (PRG) and around:

• Flights within Europe: compare fares on Omio Flights (Europe). London–Prague ~2h, Paris–Prague ~1h45, Rome–Prague ~1h50; typical fares from €40–€160.
• Long-haul to Europe: search global options via Trip.com Flights and Kiwi.com.
• Trains in Europe: book Berlin–Prague (~4.5h, €20–€60), Vienna–Prague (~4h, €15–€40), Budapest–Prague (~6.5–7h, €19–€50) on Omio Trains. Buses often undercut prices; see Omio Buses.
• Local transport: Metro + tram network is superb; buy a 24–72h pass and ride freely. Uber and Bolt fill the gaps.

Day 1: Arrival, Old Town First Impressions, and Czech Comfort Food

Morning: Travel day. If you land early, revive at EMA Espresso Bar (near Masarykovo nádraží) for precision-pulled shots and airy pastries from nearby bakeries.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs with a gentle loop: Powder Tower, Municipal House façade, then into Old Town Square for the Astronomical Clock’s hourly show. Duck down Týn Yard to see the twin spires peek over rooftops, then browse design stores on Kozí and Dlouhá.

Evening: Dinner at Lokál Dlouhááá—order beef sirloin in creamy svíčková sauce with dumplings, or schnitzel the size of a plate; the unpasteurized tank Pilsner is textbook-fresh. For something cozier, Mincovna on the square plates refined Czech fare (try roast duck with red cabbage). Nightcap at Hemingway Bar for rum and absinthe classics interpreted by world-class bartenders; reserve or go early.

Day 2: Prague Castle, Malá Strana, and Jazz on the Vltava

Morning: Breakfast at Café Savoy—flaky croissants, scrambled eggs with chives, and an old-world ceiling that begs a photo. Walk across Legions’ Bridge for a quieter river view, then ascend to Prague Castle for courtyards that span a millennium.

Afternoon: Join a focused castle visit with skip-the-line admissions:

Prague Castle Tour Including Admission Ticket - 2.5 Hour

Afterward, wander down through the castle vineyards to Malá Strana. Peek into St. Nicholas Church’s baroque interior, stroll Kampa Island’s riverside sculpture park, and snap the John Lennon Wall’s ever-changing mural. Late lunch at Malostranská Beseda (excellent goulash and airy potato pancakes).

Evening: Dine early with bridge views at Mlýnec (try the tasting of Czech classics reimagined). Then board a floating concert:

Jazz Boat Concert: Popular live Jazz cruise with optional menu

Glide beneath Charles Bridge as saxophones trade solos and castle lights ripple on the water.

Day 3: Old Town, Jewish Quarter, and a River Cruise with Czech Lunch

Morning: Start at the Estates Theatre where Mozart premiered Don Giovanni, then wander the Jewish Quarter’s lanes (pause at the Old-New Synagogue exterior). Snack on chlebíčky—open-faced sandwiches—at Sisters; the beet and goat cheese is a favorite.

Afternoon: See Prague’s highlights in one well-paced outing by foot, tram, and boat, lunch included:

Prague Guided Walking Tour and Cruise with Authentic Czech Lunch

Evening: Meat-lover’s paradise at Kantýna—order at the marble counter (ribeye, sausages, pork neck) and pair with pickled veggies and fresh bread; stand for a casual feast or grab a table in back. For dessert, Crème de la Crème scoops Sicilian-style gelato until late. If you fancy a quiet drink, Parlour’s menu-free cocktail bar crafts bespoke sips.

Day 4: Bohemian & Saxon Switzerland National Park Day Trip

Swap spires for sandstone. This all-day small-group adventure delivers movie-worthy vistas, stone bridges, and forest trails within two hours of Prague:

Bohemian & Saxon Switzerland From Prague-Travelers' Choice 2025

Expect a mix of viewpoints (like Bastei Bridge), short hikes, and photogenic rock formations. Bring layers and sturdy shoes.

Dinner back in Prague: U Kroka in Nusle is beloved for roast duck, potato dumplings, and Šumava sauerkraut; book if possible. Alternatively, Nejen Bistro in Karlín serves seasonal plates with a modern twist.

Day 5: New Town Stories, Bunkers, and a Medieval Feast

Morning: Coffee at Mǔj Šálek Kávy in Karlín (espresso is excellent; try a poppy seed koláč). Head to Wenceslas Square to trace 20th-century history, then step into the National Museum’s grand staircase and mineral halls.

Afternoon: Explore the city’s Cold War underbelly with a guide:

Prague Communism History and Nuclear Bunker Tour

Afterwards, walk to the riverfront Náplavka for swans, pop-up bars, and city views from the embankment.

Evening: For theatrical fun, book a banquet with jugglers and period music in a vaulted tavern:

Prague 5 Courses Medieval Dinner and Live Performances

Prefer something quieter? Book Mozart arias with dinner in a candlelit setting:

Mozart Concert and Dinner in Prague

Day 6: Český Krumlov’s Rivers and Rooftops (Full-Day)

Trade Prague’s avenues for a medieval maze curled around the Vltava in Southern Bohemia. Painted facades, a castle with a baroque theater, and postcard bridges await:

Cesky Krumlov Full day tour from Prague and back

It’s a long but rewarding day (about 2 hours each way). Wear good shoes for cobbles and castle steps.

Late bites back in Prague: Naše maso (butcher-shop burgers and meatloaf sandwiches) stays efficient and delicious; or split a goulash and bread bowl at Kolkovna Celnice.

Day 7: Vyšehrad Vistas, Vinohrady Cafés, and a Flavorful Farewell

Morning: Grab a last great espresso at EMA or La Bohème Café in Vinohrady. Head to Vyšehrad, the older hilltop fortress overlooking a quiet bend of the Vltava; walk the ramparts, visit the ornate cemetery where composers and writers rest, and inhale one last panorama of Prague’s spires.

Afternoon: Lunch in Vinohrady at Aromi for northern Italian seafood and risotto, or at Dish for gourmet burgers with Czech craft beer. Wander to the Žižkov TV Tower (spot the crawling babies by artist David Černý) for a quirky skyline view before departing in the afternoon.

Evening: If your flight is late, toast the week with a guided feast through Old Town’s hidden kitchens and cellars:

Award-Winning Prague Evening Old Town Food and Drink Tour

Expect artisan charcuterie, traditional soups, seasonal mains, and small-batch spirits served with local lore.

Optional add-ons if you have extra energy:

• Historic pub crawl with stories and suds: Prague Historic Pub Tour with Drinks Included



• See-it-all overview in one day with river boat cruise if you want a different format: One Day See-it-All Prague Tour & River Boat Cruise with PragueWay

Breakfast & coffee picks throughout the week: Café Savoy (grand café classics), EMA Espresso Bar (third-wave espresso), Café Letka (romantic nook near Letná), Antonínovo pekařství (still-warm loaves and koláče), and Etapa in Karlín (inventive veggie-forward plates and house ferments).

Lunch & dinner ideas to mix in: Lokál’s multiple outposts (crisp schnitzel, svíčková), U Modré Kachničky (duck-focused, candlelit), U Fleků (historic brewery—touristy but atmospheric), Strahov Monastery Brewery (amber lagers near the castle), and Eska’s sibling spots in the Ambiente group like Naše maso and Kantýna for carnivores.

After seven days, Prague feels both intimate and inexhaustible—its bridges and courtyards now part of your mental map. You’ve traced royal processions, sipped river-borne jazz, and tasted the spectrum from hearty pub plates to modern Czech cooking. Na shledanou—for now.