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The Emblem Prague Hotel, Prague

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Prague

Updated 1 October 2026 · 15 things to do

Pictured: The Emblem Prague Hotel

Prague looks like a city that has been carefully kept in a box for a few hundred years. Gothic spires and Baroque domes crowd both banks of the Vltava, a castle the size of a small town sprawls along the hilltop, and a medieval stone bridge lined with saints links the two halves. It came through the 20th century largely intact, and it shows on every street.

The highlights sit close together, so walk everywhere: the Old Town and Josefov on one side of the river, Charles Bridge in the middle, Malá Strana and the castle on the other. Go early to beat the crowds, then spend the afternoons on Petřín Hill or in a beer garden, and keep a day free for Kutná Hora or Karlštejn.

Don't miss

  1. 1Charles Bridge
  2. 2Prague Castle
  3. 3Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock
  4. 4Josefov
  5. 5Petřín Hill

The big sights

A thousand years of history on both sides of the river.

  1. Charles Bridge

    Landmark

    Charles Bridge stretching across the Vltava, with Prague Castle beyond
    Photo: DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Begun in the 14th century under Emperor Charles IV, this stone bridge across the Vltava is lined with Baroque statues of saints, and it's the city's great promenade. By day it's a slow shuffle past painters, musicians and souvenir sellers; at dawn, with mist on the river and the castle glowing above, it's pure magic.

    Tip: Go at sunrise for an empty bridge, and climb the Old Town Bridge Tower for the classic view.

  2. Prague Castle

    Landmark

    Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral lit up at dusk
    Photo: Godot13, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Seat of Bohemian kings and Czech presidents, Prague Castle is one of the largest castle complexes in the world: a hilltop city of palaces, courtyards and churches. At its heart rises the Gothic St Vitus Cathedral, centuries in the making, with a stained-glass window by Alfons Mucha.

    Don't miss the vaulted Vladislav Hall in the Old Royal Palace, or Golden Lane, a row of tiny, brightly painted cottages built into the castle walls.

    Tip: Arrive early, or come in late afternoon, and walk up through Malá Strana via the Old Castle Steps.

  3. Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock

    Landmark

    Old Town Square with the twin spires of the Týn Church
    Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Prague's grand central square is framed by pastel facades, the twin dark spires of the Týn Church and the memorial to the reformer Jan Hus. On the Old Town Hall, the medieval Astronomical Clock puts on a short show on the hour as the apostles parade past and a skeleton tolls the bell.

    The show is brief and the crowd is big; the real treat is the view from the top of the Old Town Hall tower.

  4. Josefov

    Museum

    Crowded, tilting tombstones in the Old Jewish Cemetery in Josefov
    Photo: Jorge Royan, CC BY-SA 3.0

    The old Jewish Quarter holds some of the most important Jewish sites in Europe. The Old-New Synagogue is one of the oldest working synagogues on the continent; the Old Jewish Cemetery is a haunting jumble of tilted tombstones layered over centuries; and the walls of the Pinkas Synagogue are inscribed with the names of tens of thousands of Czech Jews murdered in the Holocaust.

    Tip: Most of the sites are run by the Jewish Museum in Prague on one ticket, and close on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.

Neighbourhoods and views

  1. Malá Strana

    Neighbourhood

    The red rooftops of Malá Strana and the Vltava seen from Petřín
    Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The Lesser Town, spread below the castle, is a Baroque stage set of palaces, gardens and cobbled lanes, crowned by the green dome of St Nicholas Church. Find the graffiti-covered Lennon Wall, then cross to Kampa Island, where an old millrace, the Čertovka, slips between the houses.

  2. Petřín Hill

    Nature

    The Petřín lookout tower on its wooded hill above the river
    Photo: Rogalo1, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A wooded hill rising above Malá Strana, with orchards, rose gardens and a lookout tower modelled on the Eiffel Tower. Climb it for a sweeping view over the red rooftops and spires, then wander back down through the trees. There's a funicular for the way up and a mirror maze for the kids.

  3. Vyšehrad

    Landmark

    The twin spires of the Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul at Vyšehrad
    Photo: Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA, CC BY 2.0

    South of the centre, this ancient clifftop fortress above the Vltava is where locals come to escape the crowds. Stroll the ramparts for river views, visit the twin-spired Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul, and the cemetery next door, where Dvořák, Smetana and Mucha are buried.

  4. The Dancing House

    Landmark

    Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunić's curvy riverside building, nicknamed Fred and Ginger, looks like a couple caught mid-twirl. It caused a stir when it went up in the 1990s among the Art Nouveau facades; now it's one of the city's favourite photo stops.

Eat, drink and nights out

  1. Czech beer

    Nightlife

    A glass of Pilsner Urquell
    Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/martavasco, CC BY-SA 2.0

    This is the home of pilsner, first brewed in nearby Plzeň in the 19th century, and the Czechs are famously serious about their beer. Order it in a traditional pub, poured with a thick, creamy head, or look for tankové pivo, unpasteurised beer served fresh from the tank.

  2. Svíčková

    Food

    Svíčková na smetaně, beef in cream sauce with bread dumplings
    Photo: Matyáš Havel, CC BY-SA 3.0

    The great Czech Sunday dish: marinated beef sirloin in a creamy root-vegetable sauce, served with slices of bread dumpling, a spoonful of cranberries and a dollop of whipped cream. Goulash and roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut are just as hearty, and all of them were made for a cold beer.

  3. Letná beer garden

    Nightlife

    On a summer evening, follow the locals up to Letná Park, high above the river, where a leafy beer garden looks out over the bridges of the Vltava. Nearby, a giant metronome swings where a statue of Stalin once stood.

  4. A classical concert

    Activity

    Prague is a city of music. Mozart premiered Don Giovanni at the Estates Theatre, the Czech Philharmonic plays at the Rudolfinum, and the National Theatre stages opera and ballet beneath a golden roof. Smaller concerts fill the churches most evenings.

    Tip: Book with the venues directly rather than through flyers handed out on the street.

Day trips

  1. Kutná Hora

    Day trip

    The Gothic St Barbara's Church in Kutná Hora
    Photo: Perituss, CC0

    Once rich on silver, this UNESCO-listed town east of Prague has the soaring Gothic St Barbara's Church, built by its miners, and, in the suburb of Sedlec, the eerie ossuary whose chandeliers and decorations are made from the bones of tens of thousands of people.

    Tip: Trains run from Prague’s main station; local buses link the station, Sedlec and the old town.

  2. Karlštejn Castle

    Day trip

    Karlštejn Castle above the trees
    Photo: Ввласенко, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Founded by Charles IV in the 14th century to guard the crown jewels, Karlštejn is a fairy-tale Gothic castle on a wooded hill south-west of the city, an easy train ride away. The walk up from the village is part of the fun.

  3. Český Krumlov

    Day trip

    The red rooftops of Český Krumlov seen from the castle
    Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0

    In the far south of Bohemia, this UNESCO-listed town wraps around a tight loop of the Vltava beneath a huge painted castle, a medieval jumble of lanes and red roofs. It's a long day trip from Prague; stay a night if you can.

Where to stay in Prague

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Prague →

Getting around

The historic centre is compact and best seen on foot, though the cobbles and hills are hard work. Trams and the metro are cheap, frequent and easy, and tram 22 runs up to the castle. You won't need a car; trains reach Kutná Hora and Karlštejn easily.

When to go

Spring and early autumn are lovely, with mild weather and fewer crowds. Summer is warm and busy. Winter is cold, sometimes snowy, and atmospheric, with Christmas markets on the Old Town and Wenceslas squares.

Questions about visiting Prague

What is Prague best known for?
Its beautifully preserved old centre, including Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock, along with Czech beer and classical music.
How many days do you need in Prague?
Three days covers the Old Town, Josefov, Charles Bridge, the castle and Malá Strana at a comfortable pace. Add a day for Kutná Hora or Karlštejn.
Is Prague worth visiting in winter?
Yes. It is cold, but the crowds thin out, the city looks wonderful in snow, and the Christmas markets fill the squares in December.
Do you need a car in Prague?
No. The centre is walkable and public transport is excellent. Day trips to Kutná Hora and Karlštejn are easy by train.

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