Prague—“the City of a Hundred Spires”—grew from a 9th-century fort into a cultural capital where Gothic cathedrals, Baroque palaces, and Cubist facades share the same cobbled lanes. It’s a city shaped by emperors and defenestrations, Beethoven and Kafka, Velvet Revolution crowds, and the steady clink of Pilsner mugs. You’ll feel the centuries in its stone bridges and the present in its lively café culture.

Across the Vltava, Prague Castle crowns the skyline, while spired churches and red roofs drift toward the river like terracotta waves. Old Town Square still stages the hourly spectacle of its Astronomical Clock. Stay long enough and you’ll discover neighborhoods beyond the postcards—Vinohrady’s leafy boulevards, Karlín’s hip bistros, and Letná’s breezy beer gardens.

Practicals: The currency is the Czech koruna (CZK), and contactless cards are widely accepted. Reserve popular restaurants and tours in advance for weekends. Keep an eye on your belongings in crowded areas, tip about 10% for table service, and pack good walking shoes for cobbles and castle steps.

Prague

Prague is a UNESCO-listed tapestry of eras: Romanesque foundations, Gothic towers, Habsburg grandeur, and Art Nouveau elegance. Highlights include Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge’s baroque statuary, the Jewish Quarter’s somber beauty, and riverfront promenades lined with cafés and music.

• Can’t-miss sights: Old Town Square and Astronomical Clock, Charles Bridge at sunrise, Prague Castle complex, Jewish Quarter (Josefov), Wenceslas Square, National Museum, the Municipal House, and Letná and Riegrovy Sady viewpoints.
• Why foodies love it: Crispy roast duck, svíčková (braised beef with creamy sauce), chlebíčky (open-faced sandwiches), tangy pickled cheese, and world-class lagers poured “hladinka” from fresh tanks.
• Fun fact: Prague’s Defenestrations—yes, out-the-window politics—sparked major European conflicts. Today, the only things routinely flying from windows are aromas of fresh koláče.

Where to stay (book with our partners):

• Luxury with river views: Four Seasons Hotel Prague
• Design-forward, great value: Motel One Prague-Florentinum
• Boutique warmth near the castle: Hotel Julian
• Quiet by the water on Kampa Island: Hotel Kampa Garden
• Social and central for solo travelers: Hostel One Home
• Compare more stays: Hotels.com Prague | Apartment stays on VRBO Prague

Getting to Prague (and around Europe): Fly or train into Prague using Omio (flights in/to/from Europe), Omio (trains in Europe), or Omio (buses in Europe). Sample times: Berlin–Prague by train ~4h30m; Vienna–Prague ~4h; Budapest–Prague ~6h45m; Munich–Prague ~5h45m. Buses can be slightly longer but cheaper. From PRG airport, taxi/Uber is ~25–35 minutes; bus 119 + metro reaches downtown in ~35–45 minutes.

Day 1: Old Town Arrival, Clockwork Legends, and a Flavor-Filled Evening

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with an espresso at EMA Espresso Bar (near Masarykovo nádraží; bright, minimalist, and serious about beans). Stroll to Old Town Square to watch the Astronomical Clock’s hourly show, then duck into the hushed Týn Church courtyard for a quieter moment.

Evening: Ease into Czech cuisine with a guided tasting in the historic center on the Award-Winning Prague Evening Old Town Food and Drink Tour—an excellent orientation to regional classics and hidden eateries.

Prefer a sit-down dinner? Try Lokál Dlouhááá (fresh “tank” Pilsner and homestyle svíčková), or Mlejnice (Old Town, cozy and hearty). Nightcap at Hemingway Bar (reservations recommended) for absinthe rituals and precise cocktails.

Day 2: Charles Bridge Dawn and Prague Castle’s Thousand Years

Morning: Cross Charles Bridge at sunrise when statues emerge from the mist and buskers still sleep. Wander Kampa Island’s canal-side lanes and see the Lennon Wall’s evolving palette. Breakfast at Café Savoy (buttery pastries, eggs Benedict under Neo-Renaissance ceilings).

Afternoon: Dive deep into the castle complex with skip-the-line context on the Prague Castle Tour Including Admission Ticket - 2.5 Hour, covering St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, and Golden Lane lore.

Evening: Reward your steps at Strahov Monastery Brewery (try the seasonal dark lager) and watch sunset from the Petřín hillside. Dinner options in Malá Strana: U Modré Kachničky (classic roast duck, game) or Malostranská Beseda (Czech standards in a historic house).

Day 3: Jewish Quarter Stories, New Town Energy, and a Night of Music

Morning: Coffee at Onesip (tiny, top-notch espresso) before exploring Josefov: the Pinkas Synagogue’s names of Holocaust victims, Old-New Synagogue’s medieval austerity, and the atmospheric Old Jewish Cemetery. For a lighter bite, grab chlebíčky (open-faced sandwiches) at Sisters on Dlouhá.

Afternoon: Walk Wenceslas Square—scene of 1989’s Velvet Revolution—to the National Museum’s grand staircase. History lovers can add a Cold War lens on a local bunker tour (book ahead). Lunch at Kantýna (temple to Czech meat; order at the butcher counter) or Naše Maso (juicy burgers and sausages).

Evening: Hear Dvořák or Smetana in their hometown: check programs at the Rudolfinum or the Municipal House. Dinner with river views at Mlýnec (modern Czech plates) or a relaxed pint and pork schnitzel at V Kolkovně. For cocktails, Black Angel’s pairs Gothic ambience with classics.

Day 4: Day Trip to Bohemian & Saxon Switzerland National Park

Trade spires for sandstone. Join the top-rated small-group 2025 Best Reviews: Bohemian & Saxon Switzerland from Prague to see rock bridges, forest trails, and cinematic viewpoints with hassle-free transport and lunch included.

Back in town, graze at Manifesto Market Anděl (global street food stalls and local drinks) or settle into U Kunštátů for a curated flight of Czech craft beers in a vaulted celler.

Day 5: Karlín to Vyšehrad, Then Parks and Panoramas

Morning: Start in Karlín at Etapa (seasonal, veggie-forward breakfasts) or Můj šálek kávy (specialty coffee pioneer). Walk up to Vítkov Hill for the vast equestrian statue and sweeping city views, or head straight to Vyšehrad fortress for legends, casemates, and a tranquil riverside park.

Afternoon: Lunch in Karlín at Nejen Bistro (modern Czech-Med) or Kro Bistro & Bar (fried chicken and sides that punch above their weight). Then hop to Vinohrady: stroll tree-lined streets, grab a pastry at Cukrárna Myšák, and catch golden hour at Riegrovy Sady’s viewpoint facing the castle.

Evening: Beer garden time at Letná—order a draft and watch the Vltava’s lights unwind. Dinner at U Kroka (near Vyšehrad; honest Czech cooking, book ahead) or wine and small plates at Vinograf. Jazz lovers should check out JazzDock’s floating stage.

Day 6: Art Nouveau Splendor, Hidden Passages, and a Medieval Feast

Morning: Breakfast at Café Louvre (since 1902; think cakes, eggs, billiards, and history). Admire the Municipal House’s Art Nouveau flourishes and the Powder Tower next door. Thread through Prague’s network of passages from Na Příkopě to Wenceslas—arcades lined with shops, cafés, and old-school neon.

Afternoon: Book the Klementinum tour for the Baroque Library and Astronomical Tower, then ride the funicular up Petřín or climb Old Town Hall Tower for a cinematic sunset sweep across the city.

Evening: Time-travel at a rollicking banquet on the Prague 5 Courses Medieval Dinner and Live Performances. Expect fire shows, period music, and hearty courses in a vaulted tavern right in Old Town.

Day 7: Markets, Last Bites, and Riverfarewells

Morning: If it’s Saturday, browse Náplavka Farmers’ Market along the riverside embankment; otherwise pop by Havelské tržiště for seasonal fruit and wooden toys. Grab a classic koláč from Antonínovo pekařství or a sweet buchta from a neighborhood bakery.

Afternoon: Brunch beneath ornate tiles at Café Imperial or keep it quick with soup and a slice at Havelská Koruna (old-school Czech canteen). Savor a final stroll along the Vltava embankments, then depart for the airport or station—check schedules and tickets on Omio Trains, Omio Buses, or Omio Flights.

Local tips to travel like a pro: Buy a 24-hour pass for trams and metro if you’re sightseeing all day; validate on first use. For beer, look for “tankovna” pubs serving unpasteurized Pilsner (silky, fresher flavor). Skip tourist trdelník and try authentic Moravian koláče, tvaroh (quark) pastries, or poppyseed makovec instead.

Optional upgrades and alternates: Swap Day 4’s hike for a full-day Český Krumlov excursion (UNESCO fairy-tale town), or add an evening Vltava dinner cruise for night-lit bridges and palaces. If rain hits, enjoy museum time at the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art or the National Gallery’s Trade Fair Palace.

How to book your essentials quickly: Flights/trains/buses within Europe: Omio Flights | Omio Trains | Omio Buses. Stays: Hotels.com Prague and VRBO Prague.

One more excellent full-day option if you want a single guided overview: Combine Charles Bridge, Old Town, Jewish Quarter, and a river boat segment with the Prague Guided Walking Tour and Cruise with Authentic Czech Lunch on a different day if you’d rather condense highlights.

Seven days in Prague lets you see the icons and the intimate: sunrise bridges, monastery beers, Art Nouveau splendor, and forested cliffs beyond the city. With this itinerary, you’ll eat and wander like a local—and carry Prague’s skyline home in your mind’s eye.