Prague travel guide
Discover Prague and the Czech Republic, plan your trip, and get inspired with this travel guide!
A city recurrently voted as one of most beautiful in Europe, with an amazing Old Town, historical sites and picturesque sites.
Learn how to get to Prague, how to move around, and where to stay.
Budget your trip and find out the best seasons to visit Prague.
Discover travel and photography guides for the main tourist attractions in Prague.
How to get to Prague, Czech Republic?
Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic, a Central European country. It is situated at the heart of Europe and is one of the three cities that are part of so-called Europe’s Golden Triangle, together with Vienna and Budapest. Its name describes the city, a European gem that welcomes almost 7 million tourists every year. Germany and Poland are its neighbours in the north and west, Slovakia in the east and Austria in the South.
The Czech Republic is not a big country, with an area of almost 79.000 sq km (30,500 sq mi), but is big enough to have more interesting cities than just its capital. Although this travel guide focuses on Prague, its capital, there are many other cities worth visiting such as Brno and Ceské Budejovice in the south, or Karlovy Vary in the west.
Thanks to its privileged location, getting to Prague is easy and convenient, although not always cheap, due to its fame as a tourist destination. Consequently, Prague has the Václav Havel Airport (PRG), the main international airport in the country. It is located on the outskirts of Prague, and unlike almost all the capital cities in Europe, it is not directly connected by public transport to the city centre. Instead, there is a shuttle bus that connects the airport with the closest metro station.
Besides its airport, Prague has a good train and bus connection with its neighbouring cities. FlixBus, the main long-distance bus operator in Europe has regular connections between Prague and cities like Berlin (4h30′), Vienna (4h20′), Budapest (7h30′), and Munich (5h30′), or even Paris (15h). Moreover, thanks to the Eurail/Interrail passes, it is cheap and easy to get from other countries to Prague.
Moving around Prague
Prague is a city very easy to navigate. Thanks to its size and public transportation system, there is no need to rent a car unless you are interested in the Czech countryside. All the main tourist attractions are close-by, and it is easy to walk or take a metro/tram anywhere.
Metro, buses, and trams are efficient ways to get around. A 30′ ticket costs 30CZK (around 1,2€), while a 24h ticket costs 120CZK (almost 5€). Besides these two options, there are 90′ and 3-day ticket options.
Nonetheless, to fully experience the city, the best way to move around Prague is on foot. The Old Town and main points of interest are within a walking distance, and in most situations, the route will be almost as beautiful as the final location. For example, to get from Old Town Square to Prague Castle, you need to cross Charles Bridge, another main tourist attraction, as well as enjoy the beautiful views of the riverside. Walking in Prague is always worth it!
Yet, during the winter months, it may be less appealing to walk. Then, it is the time to take a scenic tram or a quick metro ride. Official timetables and fares here.
Other options to move around Prague are the famous electric scooters (Lime or other brands). However, Prague’s Old Town is full of cobblestone streets, which can make your ride not only uncomfortable but dangerous.
Where to stay in Prague?
Any Prague travel guide has to include a section on where to stay. However, when it comes to accommodations in Prague, the best advice to give is the closest to the city center, the better.
Prices can vary depending on many variables. The two most relevant, though, are the season and the type of accommodation. Hostels, hotels, and apartments are the most common accommodation options, and prices can range from 15€ on the lower end up to hundreds or thousands of euros per night.
Prague is divided by the Vltava river, and so is the Old Town. Most of the attractions are on the east side of the river, although some famous sites, like the Prague Castle, can be found on the western side. If you want to know if an accommodation is in a central area, look at which neighborhood is located. Prague neighborhoods are numbered. Anything located at Prague 1 (Praha 1) is centric, especially on the eastern side of the river, and your need for public transportation will be low or non-existent.
However, consider that this is also a very touristic area, so the closer to the river, the most activity and nightlife you can expect. Thus, depending on your travel goals, you can choose a place closer to the city center or a bit further away within the same neighborhood.
How expensive is Prague?
Prague was once considered a quite cheap tourist destination within Europe. However, due to its rising popularity, prices have been steadily rising for the past years, although it still keeps its own currency, the Czech Koruna.
Nonetheless, it is still an affordable destination, especially if you choose wisely accommodation and flights (or if you avoid flying!).
Check my full guide on the travel budget for Prague for lots of information on how much you can expect to pay for food, accommodation, transportation, and tourist attractions, as well as on ways to save money during your trip!
A budget of 60€ per day is doable in shared accommodations like hostels or apartments. If you choose a private room, expect a daily budget of 80€. More information on the detailed Prague travel budget guide!
When is the best time to visit Prague?
Prague’s climate is an oceanic climate. This means cold winters with little sunshine and pleasant but not exaggeratedly warm summers. Although this might seem like an invitation to visit Prague during summertime, the city is home to some very famous Christmas markets during winter. So, what is the best season to visit Prague?
- Winter: Prague’s winters are cold, with temperatures below zero on average and occasional snowfall. However, especially during the weeks preceding Christmas, the city is one of the most common tourist destinations in Europe due to its famous Christmas Markets. If you are lucky and get some snow, Prague looks like a place taken from a fairytale in winter. However, the sunlight hours are still at an average of 1-2 per day.
- Spring: When the spring starts, the city blooms. Prague is full of parks, green areas, and magnificent viewpoints. From late March onwards, the city starts to get more hours of light and temperatures rise. of course, with spring comes the rainy season, but nothing is better than strolling through Prague’s Old Town after a May rainfall.
- Summer: The tourism season at its best. However, there are reasons why it is like that. Long days, pleasant temperatures, a bit of rain, and lots of green vibrant parks… Summer has to be one of the best seasons to visit Prague if you can manage the slightly higher prices and crowds.
- Autumn: Tourists start to leave, and so do the sun hours. Nonetheless, the city is still quite enjoyable, especially when the autumn tones get to the city parks and gardens. If you are looking for a different Prague experience, October and November might be a good choice. Oh, and maybe you get to see the first snowfall…
What are the best things to do in Prague?
No Prague travel guide is complete without a long list of attractions and activities. There are plenty of things to do in Prague, and although most tourist attractions are in the city center, one can spend a whole week in the city and leave with one or two things left to do. However, these are some of the must-do activities in Prague
- Explore the old town: get lost in the beautiful narrow streets of Prague’s Old town, full of history and cute places to discover. Try to avoid the main streets and you can find real hidden gems!
- Walk on Charles Bridge: the famous bridge that unites the two sides of Prague’s Old Town divided by the Vltava river is one of the places that every tourist visits. However, if you want it all for yourself, get ready to wake up really early! Don’t worry, the views are worth it.
- Enjoy its parks and gardens: Prague is quite a green city. There are many parks and gardens, perfect places to relax and take a break from walking around the city. Oh, and all of them (but one), for free!
- Discover its viewpoints: Towers, elevated points, and castles. This city has it all! Get the best views of Prague from its viewpoints, and admire the city from a different point of view.
- Try to understand how the astronomical clock works: a real nightmare, but one of the places that everyone visiting Prague will see. At the heart of the Old Town square, there is a 600-year-old clock. Don’t miss it!
- Visit the Prague Castle: dominating the city, the most impressive building in Prague is a must-visit spot. With amazing views over the city, it is home to the magnificent St. Vitus Cathedral.
Explore aniolvisuals Prague detailed travel guides!
Prague photography guides
Prague is a very popular destination for travel photographers. However, everyone can get amazing photos in Prague if they know the best spots and locations.
If you want inspiration, discover the best photo spots, detailed information on how to photograph some of the best locations in Prague, visit my Prague photography guides below!
From the best night photography spots to specific guides on how to photograph Charles Bridge and Prague Castle. Tips, exact locations, recommendations and much more.
