3 Days to Enjoy Prague

TL;DR

• Prague, a top European destination, offers a charming mix of history and culture. Spend three days exploring its highlights.
• Day 1 focuses on the city center: visit Henry’s Tower, Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, and enjoy street performances. Don’t miss the astronomical clock and Karlovy lázně for nightlife.
• Day 2 is dedicated to Prague Castle and surrounding attractions, including the Strahov Monastery and its library, with a chance to enjoy local cuisine and beer gardens.
• Day 3 includes shopping, exploring Vyšehrad Fort and Basilica, and relaxing at the river’s small islands, ending with a meal in a traditional restaurant.

With more than five million of tourists per year, Prague forms part of the most attractive European capitals. Hence, there are many ways to enjoy Prague. The city of hundreds spires, fashioned in a typical baroque style, is a charming place to visit and to live in.

In order to enjoy Prague to the fullest, here’s your itinerary for 3 days.

Day 1 – Visit the city centre

You can start at 9am from the top of Henry’s Tower, listening to the hundreds of melodies of the cities and admiring the great panoramic view. Saint Henry Tower was built between 1472 and 1975, and is the highest separate belfry of the city. Since the 17^th century, it was mainly used as an army guard tower.

Then you can take the street Senovážná to walk towards the clock tower Prašná brána and the municipal house. You will be really impressed by the beauty of the gothic art and the charisma of the buildings. Pass under the clock tower and walk down the street to the main square, admiring many typical Czech houses.

Arriving at the old town square, go to the centre and from there you will see the famous Church of Mother of God before Týn. I advise you to go inside, if only you want to be left speechless and fascinated. Indeed, the church, built from the 14th to 17th centuries is a showcase of Gothic, Renaissance and early Baroque styles. Plus its organ, added in 1673, is the oldest in Prague.

Afterwards, you can enter a baroque style Saint Nicholas Church. Take the Pařížská street and walk through the Jewish quarter. You can also visit the famous Jewish museum of Prague in the neighbourhood.

Then, you will most likely arrive at the river Vltava, from where you can admire the view of the castle. It’s probably high time for a lunch break!

Follow the river on the left until arriving to the famous bridge, the Charles Bridge. The construction of the bridge started in 1357 by Charles IV to replace the Judith Bridge and connect the castle and the city centre. The bridge is built of sandstone blocks, decorated with 30 statues of saints, including the statue of St John of Nepomuk.

Do not forget to hug all people giving “free hugs”, who you are bound to meet on the bridge as well.  Cross the bridge, admire the view (as well as the work of many painters and artists), listen to street musicians… And you can even get a caricature of yourself to go back home with. A personalized souvenir from Prague, right there.

If you want to, you can go to the museum of Ghosts and Legend at Mostecká 46/18. Otherwise, you can come back to the city centre, enter to St. Francis Of Assissi Church and take the main street, straight ahead from the bridge. Don’t be afraid to get lost in the little parallel streets. And if you want to visit a truly original museum, the sex machines museum is waiting for you there!

After that, you can come back to the old town square to admire the world oldest astronomical clock still operating (it was installed in 1410). Have a break and take time to eat the famous ‘Chimney Cake’ and enjoy Prague!

In the evening, you can party hard in one the biggest music clubs of central Europe, the Karlovy lázně.

Day 2 – Walking up the hill and visiting the castle

Starting from Memorial to the Victims of Communism, you can walk slowly through the park and go up to Vrch Petřín. Follow the path to the mini Eiffel tower, Petřín Lookout Tower and continue to the incredible Strahov Monastery. In the Premonstratensian monastery, founded in 1140, you can found the Strahov library and the Strahov gallery that gather hundreds of medieval works on all sorts and the most important Central European collection of Gothic, Baroque and Rococo paintings. From the monastery, you will also have a great view of the city.

Reach the Loretánská street, and from there you will see the Černín Palace. Take a moment to listen to the famous melody of Prague Loreto Church. Follow the street to the castle – you will pass the National Gallery in Prague, the Archbishop’s Palace, and you will also find another view point of the city.

Arriving at the castle, it may be really crowded but you will find the place magical and full of history anyway. You can go around the cathedral, take pictures with people dressed in traditional costumes, and try some typical Czech food. St. Vitus Cathedral is the largest and most important church of the country, being the perfect representation of Gothic Architecture. Walk around the castle and if you want to, you can also visit some of the museums of the castle to have a clear picture of its history. You just need to be patient because there are meters of queues to the museums (try to book a ticket in advance!).

Once you finish visiting the castle, you can go out to U Prašného mostu and visit The Royal Garden. Walk through the garden and continue to the Belvedere of Queen Anne, the Zahrada Kramářovy vily and the Pražský metronome.

Then it is time to enjoy Prague and its tasty beers at the many beer gardens on the hill, such as Letná Beer Garden.

Day 3 – Enjoy the city

Time for shopping! Start from Prašná brána and walk through the main shopping street Na Příkopě. When you cross the street Václavské náměstí, go on your right and walk straight to the typical market of Prague. There are many stands, on which you can admire traditional works of art. Go back to Na Můstku and straight to the Čelakovského sady. It is an incredible building – see it for yourself.

Now, you can go on the way to the southern part of the city, and visit the fort Vyšehrad, built on a hill. On the top of it, there is the Basilica of St Peter and St Paul, as well as the Vyšehrad Cemetery, where many important Czechs rest in peace. Visit the basilica – you’re not going to regret it. It was built in a neo-gothic style, which makes it really mysterious. Especially from the inside, where many works about history of art are collected.

After you visit the fort, you can come back to the city centre and cross the river again. You will soon reach the small islands. Take your time to have some rest and enjoy the silence. You can also rent pedal boat for some exercise! Then enjoy Prague’s cuisine in a typical restaurant for your last evening.