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We recently spent 10 days petsitting in Prague and absolutely loved out time there. So we thought it was time to write a 2 day Prague itinerary for those of you wanting to visit.
Me and Katharina had both visited Prague in the past and although we liked it. Neither of us fell in love with the city on our first trip. To me, it felt too touristy and not a real city.
But during our most recent trip both of us gained a greater appreciation for Prague. It is such a beautiful city even when you are outside of the touristy downtown core.
It also has amazing cafes, great restaurants, friendly people and lots of Vietnamese food all at a great price!
In this article, I will outline what to do on a 2-day itinerary in Prague. If you have more time in Prague I recommend spreading the activities over more days.
Day One Prague Itinerary
1. Visit the Old Town Square
Any Prague Itinerary has to start at the old town square. This beautiful part of the city has been at the center of life in Prague for hundreds of years.
Europe is full of beautiful squares but I think that Pragues may be one of the prettiest. The edges of the square of full of beautiful buildings in various architectural styles.
My one big tip for visiting the Old Town Square in Prague is to try get there early.
On my first trip to Prague, I explored the Old Town Square during the middle of the day and it was full of hordes of tourists.
It is a bit hypocritical to complain about tourists when I am part of the problem! But I like to avoid crowds at all costs.
But on this trip I made sure to get to the Main Square just after sunrise and there was almost no one there.
It is a magical time to walk around the city as there are almost no tourists and you can truly appreciate the beauty of the city. Without having to dodge a person every 2 seconds.
One interesting thing I noticed while walking around town was it was a popular time to take wedding photos.
It was quite funny walking around Prague just after sunrise and seeing brides and grooms dressed like they were going to a ball all over the place.
So my main recommendation is to try and get to the main square before 9 am to avoid the crowds.
But no matter what time you visit the main square it is a beautiful place to wander around and admire the beautiful architecture.
If you would like one of the best views of the old town square you can go inside the town hall. The town hall is beautiful inside and you can get a view at the inside of the famous astronomical clock.
The tickets are fairly pricey at 18 USD so I would only go if you do not mind spending the money. You can buy tickets online here.
2. Listen to Prague’s Astronomical Clock
While at the Main Square one of the main attractions is the Prague Astronomical Clock.
This is a large colorful clock on the side of the Old Town Hall. It is called an astronomical clock because it not only tells the time but the position of the sun and the moon.
The clock has been operating for over 600 hundred years since 1410.
This makes it one of the oldest functioning clocks in the whole world. It is also one of the most anti-climatic tourist attractions in the world!
Every hour the clock puts on a ‘show’ where statues appear in the windows above the clock. The statues beside the clock also move around.
But every hour huge crowds of tourists will gather to watch the show. It is hilarious to go and see people confused about why they gathered to see something so anti-climatic.
The astronomical clock is still an interesting attraction and it is amazing that it has been operating for hundreds of years.
Just don’t worry if you are not there at the hour for the show as you are not missing much!
3. Have an Excellent Morning Coffee
If you are looking for a place to have your morning coffee after exploring the Main Square I recommend The Miners Coffee Old Town.
Miners have excellent specialty coffee so it is a great place to go if you enjoy high-quality coffee.
Prague is a great town if you like checking out cafes. We were surprised by the amount of high-quality specialty coffee stores.
If you are interested in visiting more cafes during your time in Prague check out our best cafes in Prague article.
4. Snap a photo of the Prašná Brána
Not too far from the main square is the Prasna Brana. This is another of Prague’s most iconic buildings it is a lovely walk from the main square to arrive here.
The Prasna Brana used to be one of 13 city gates into Prague. So it is an official border between the old town and the new town.
It is also known as the Powder Gate because it used to be used to store gunpowder for the city.
It is a beautiful tower and is also located next to the stunning Obecni Dum Theater.
The interior of the Obecni Dum theater is very beautiful and you can go an a tour inside for 320 Czech Krowns or 15 USD. You can book your tickets online here.
5. Tip: Walk through the Hidden Lucerna Passage
The Lucerna Passage is an old-school shopping tunnel that leads to a quirky statue in front of a movie theater.
The shops and decorations in the hallways will have you feeling like you have stepped back into the 1920s.
But the star attraction is a statue of a man sitting on top of an upside-down horse in front of a movie theater.
This statue was created by famous Czech artist, David Cerny. It is a parody of a famous statue that is near the Narodni Museum.
The original statue has the horse standing up the right way and you can check it out after the upside-down version!
The statue was created in 1999 and it is thought it represents the changes in power structures that were occurring in the Czech Republic at the time.
The Lucerna Passage is not a well-known tourist spot and you will not see any tour groups here.
But I loved spending a few minutes looking around because it is a quirky attraction that is a little off the beaten track.
6. Chck out Wencesclas Square
Outside of the Lucerna Passage is Wencesclas Square. This busy square is one of the busiest pedestrian streets in Prague and is always packed with people.
To be honest I never enjoyed walking down Wencesclas Square. It is always packed full of tourists and most of the buildings and shops lining the square are not beautiful or nice to visit.
But at the end of the square, the Norodni Museum is a beautiful old building that you have to see while in Prague.
In front of the Norodni Museum, you can also see the Statue of Saint Wenceslas. This is the original statue that Daivd Cerny parodied in the Lucerna Passage.
I would recommend coming to Wencesclas Square to see the museum and statue. But I would not recommend hanging around here as it does not have the nicest atmosphere.
7. See a Wild Franz Kafka Statue
The next stop on your Prague Itinerary is the Frans Kafka statue another interesting piece of art created by David Cerny.
The statue is the head of a famous Czech author named Franz Kafka. The layers of the statue rotate to form and re-form the statue.
It is awesome watching it rotate particularly in the sun as all the stainless steel layers sparkle in the sun.
The books of Franz Kafka often featured characters who struggled with their identities. So the moving head represents the struggle with identity.
The statue has been in place since 2014 so is a relatively new attraction in Prague. But I loved it and it was one of my favorite pieces of art in the city.
8. Look at the Dancing House
After having a look at the Franz Kafka statue I recommend walking straight to the waterfront and walking towards the Dancing House.
This section of the city by the river is very nice and I really enjoyed walking along here on a sunny day.
Once you have walked down the waterfront for about 10 minutes you will arrive at your next destination on your Prague Itinerary the dancing house.
This unusual building was designed by famous architect Frank Gehry. It is very strange as it looks like it is about to fall over.
The building is supposed to represent two famous movie stars dancing. The glass section represents the woman while the solid section of the building represents the man.
I guess you really have to squint your eyes because it was not obvious to me!
Many people do not like the building because it is in stark contrast to the classical design of the rest of the buildings in the area.
But I quite liked the dancing house. There are thousands of classical buildings in Prague so I think one experimental design is ok.
There is a rooftop bar and viewing platform on top of the Dancing building if you want to see the view from the top.
If you would like to just see the view it costs 100 CZK or 4 USD. But if you buy a drink you can go out the viewing platform. So might as well buy a drink!
9. Have Lunch at the Farmers Market
If you happen to be in Prague on a Saturday then a great addition to your Prague Itinerary the farmers market on the river. It is a great place to try some local food and beer if you want!
The market is on the river just past the Dancing building. If you are hungry while walking past I recommend trying out a Czech sausage.
The sausage we had there was honestly one of the best sausages I have ever had in my life!
It is unfortunate that the market is only on Saturday because there was a nice atmosphere.
If the market is not on walking along the river is still nice and it is the best way to get to the next destination on your Prague Itinerary.
10. Walk through the Vysehrad Fortress
The Vysehrad Fortress is a large fort located on the top of a rocky cliff over the Vitava River.
It is close to the farmers market so is the perfect next stop if you visit the market.
The buildings at the top of Vysehrad fortress are not as spectacular as Prague Castle. But it is still an impressive place to visit and it is totally free.
Once you arrive at the fortress you will see a large gothic church. To the left of the church is a cemetery that I think is well worth visiting.
There are beautiful painted archways surrounding the cemetery and many beautiful and interesting tombstones.
The cemetary was actually my favorite part of visiting the fortress which was quite a surprise to me!
One of the other best things about visiting the fortress is the view down the river from the walls of the fortress.
The views from the walls are some of the best that i saw in Prague and the fortress is free from the huge crowds at other attractions which is nice.
If you feel like going on a tour while at the Fortress you can visit The Casemates and the Gorlice Hall.
This tour will take you into some tunnels underneath the fortress where some of the original statues from the famous Charles Bridge are stored.
The tour has mixed reviews but if you are interested you can book tickets via the email on this page. Just be warned that you have to book the tour a week in advance!
11. See the Hidden Grotto
The Grotto is a quirky attraction that I think you should add to your Prague Itinerary if you love getting a bit off the beaten path.
From the Vysehrad Fortress it only takes 20 minutes to get here by public trasnport and it is a fascinating little area away from the crowds.
Located in Gerbovka Park the grotto was created in the late 1800s. Apparently, during this time rich people had a fascination with creating artificial caves.
So they created one in the park and it looks pretty cool to me!
There is a beautiful fountain in front of the grotto and it is a peaceful place to admire for a few minutes with the colorful buildings behind.
You can also walk up some stairs through the caves at the top of the grotto. It does not take long to explore but I really liked visiting the Grotto as it is unique and much different other attractions in the city.
12. Explore Vinohgrady
Vinogrady is a cool neighborhood near the Grotto that is a great place to go out for something to eat. We stayed in Vinogrady while we were in Prague and it was one of our favorite areas in the whole city.
There are tonnes of good cafes and restaurants in Vinogrady. Also despite it being outside the main tourist area, there is still a lot of beautiful architecture.
The area is popular with expats and young professionals which adds to the nice atmosphere in the area.
Because of the expats and young professionals, it is also where some of the best restaurants are for dinner on day two of your Prague Itinerary.
13. Option 1: Enjoy Vietnamese Dinner
If you love Vietnamese then Prague is a great city for you. There are tonnes of great Vietnamese restaurants in Prague which came as a surprise to me!
The reason that there are so many Vietnamese people in Prague is that during the communist era many workers came from Vietnam to Prague.
So Prague is now blessed with lots of tasty Vietnamese food. If you like Pho and Vietnamese food then I can recommend ANAN Asian Restaurant. They make an excellent pho and the waitresses were super friendly.
14. Option 2: Have Czech Food at Hajnovka
If Asian food is not your thing then there are also some great Czech Restaurants in Vinohrady.
Hajnovka is a great option. They serve some traditional Czech food as well more standard food such as burgers.
At Czech restaurants, I always love to order the goulash it is always so full of flavor. The goulash at Hajnovka costs around 11 USD so it is quite affordable.
15. Sunset In Riegrovy Sady Park
If you are visiting Prague in summer then the best place to watch the sunset in the whole city is from Riegrovy Sady Park.
The park is an awesome place to visit in summer as the beer gardens are full and there is often live music.
While we were in Prague we stayed in Vinogrady next to the park. Every time there was nice weather we went up to the park and never got sick of watching the sunset over Prague.
If the weather is nice in summer it is the perfect way to finish off day one of your Prague Itinerary.
Day Two Prague Itinerary
1. Crosst the Charles Bridge
Dat two of your Prague itinerary starts at the Charles Bridge.
After the old main square, the most common place in Prague to see hordes of tourists is the Charles Bridge. So if you want to escape the crowds I recommend getting here before 9 am.
This is a beautiful statue-lined bridge that connects the old town of Prague with the Prague Castle.
The bridge was built in the 1300s and for many years was the only bridge connecting the old town with the castle.
it is a beautiful bridge to walk across and gives you awesome views of Prague Castle, the old town, and the other bridges down the river.
I recommend getting there early because the Charles Bridge also gets super crowded with tourists during the day.
That’s why I recommend walking to Charles Bridge after Main Square. If you walk across the bridge before 10 am you should miss most of the crowds.
Fun Fact : The statues along Charles Bridge are all replicas. The originals were put in place in the 1700s. But they were removed to protect them from the elements. You can see some of the originals on the Casemates tour at Vyserhad Fortress.
2. Explore Mala Strana
Once you arrive at the other side of the Charles Bridge you are in Mala Strana which means Lesser Town. But this is definitely not the lesser part of Prague.
The Mala Strana is almost like a second old town in Prague. In some ways I liked Mala Strana better than the main old town of Prague.
When you walk around the Mala Strana there are the same narrow streets with beautiful architecture. But without the trashy bars and other tourist attractions, you can find on the other side of the river.
One of the reasons it is so quiet and peaceful is that most of the embassies in Prague are located here. It means there are fewer bars and restaurants but it also means the streets are much calmer and free of drunk tourists!
3. See the John Lennon Wall
Once you are in Mala Strana one of the first points of interest many people head to is the John Lennon Wall.
This is a wall covered in colorful graffiti that has a painting of John Lennon buried deep underneath.
Since the 1960s the wall was a place where locals would write messages speaking out against the communist regime controlling the country.
Then after John Lennon’s death in 1980 a painting of John Lennon appeared on the wall. This was because John Lennon spoke about peace and unity which many people wished for during the communist era.
Once the painting appeared the wall became known as the John Lennon wall. The wall has been the site of many protests over the years.
But today you are still allowed to write your own message on the wall. As long as the message is related to peace and love.
The John Lennon Wall is interesting because of its history and is a bit different than the rest of the attractions in Prague. But you can also skip it as part of your Prague Itinerary.
I did not find it to be the most interesting place, but that is just my opinion!
4. Visit Prague’s Castle
After the John Lennon Wall, you can go up to the Prague Castle. It is a fairly steep climb up to Prague Castle but the streets are beautiful and the climb is well worth it.
Prague Castle covers a huge area and is the largest castle in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
The castle is not a single building as you imagine in your head when you think of a castle. But it is a collection of palaces, churches and other buildings. It almost feels like you are walking around the center of a small town when you are in the castle.
It is free to enter the grounds of the castle and have a look around. But you will have to pay to enter buildings and certain areas of the castle.
My favorite time of day to explore the castle is early in the morning. I ran up to the castle one morning at 7:00 am and you are free to walk around. There was barely anyone else on the grounds and it was an awesome time to walk around while the sun was rising.
However, I know many of you will not be early risers so you will just have to explore with the crowds later in the day.
The biggest decision you will have to make at Prague Castle is whether to buy a ticket to enter all the buildings.
A full ticket to enter all of the buildings at Prague Castle costs 18 euros. Depending on your budget this may be a little pricey.
My advice is that if you are trying to watch your budget you will have a good time just walking around the outside of the building. But if your budget is not too tight buying the ticket will be well worth it.
Tickets to Prague Castle can be bought online here.
5. Get Village Vibes at Novy Set
Novy Set is a pretty little street with colorful buildings and cobblestone streets behind Prague Castle. It is a cute little area to stroll around away from the crowds of the castle
There are a couple of nice cafes and a restaurant here. So it is a great place to stop for a rest after all the walking that you have done.
I really liked exploring Novy Set because it suddenly felt like you were walking around a small village somewhere. Rather than just being right next to the Prague Castle.
Nove Set is not the most mindblowingly beautiful street but it is worth going for a quick stroll.
6. Stroll through Letna Park
After visiting Novy Set the next stop on your Prague Itinerary is Letna Park. You can either get there by taking a tram or you can walk.
The walk takes about 30 minutes and is nice on a sunny day. Most of the walk is through a beautiful park called the Deer Moat and there are also some interesting buildings to check out.
So if you like walking I highly recommend it!
The Park beside Prague Castle is called the Deer Moat because one of the Emperors of the castle introduced deer into the area so he could go hunting. As Kings and Emperors liked to do back in the good old days.
A tunnel was also built in the deer moat in the 1780s. This tunnel has been turned into a beautiful walkway connecting two parts of the park.
While walking to Letna Park you can also stop at Queen Annes Summer Palace. This beautiful building that was completed in 1560 has unique views of Prague Castle and a free art exhibition inside.
Fact : Queen Anne was never able to enjoy her Summer Palace. The Palace was built by Ferdinand 1 of Habsburg for his wife Queen Anne. Unfortuntely she died in 1547 and the palace was only completed in 1560.
From Queen Anne’s Summer Palace it is an easy walk to Letna Park. This is one of the biggest parks in Prague and has great view points over Prague.
It also has a big beer garden that is popular with tourists and locals. So it is a good place to sit down with a cold drink if it is a hot day.
Just remember to bring cash! The beer garden does not accept cards and there is only an atm with high charges nearby.
7. Option 1: Czech Dinner at Lokál Dlouhááá
If you would like to finish off your Prague Itinerary with a Czech meal and beer. Then I can recommend Lokal Dlouhaaa.
I have no idea how to pronounce the name but it looks interesting!
Lokal Dlouhaa is not a local spot by any means. You will see loads of tourists in here.
But what I liked about Lokal Dlouhaa is that the service was fast. The food and beer were reasonably priced and the staff spoke english but the food was still authentic.
You also get given a hilariously big card to count how many beers you have drank.
8. Option 2: Czech Dinner at U Pivrnce
If you would like to visit a trendier restaurant to have some Czech food you can try U Pivrnce.
This restaurant is located in a pub with low ceilings covered in graffiti and artowrk. It creates a cool atmosphere and the food looks really good.
Unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to visit U Pivrnce while we were in Prague. So if you go let us know how it is!
If you are visiting U Pivrnce on a Friday or Saturday you may want to make a reservation. It can get busy and on some days you will be turned away without a reservation.
9. Go on a Prague Castle Night Tour
If you still have energy on the last day of your Prague Itinerary. You may want to consider a Prague Castle Night tour.
This tour will take you around Prague Castle at night when there are barely any other tourists around.
A guide will then tell you some history and stories about the castle. You may have had too much sightseeing to do it. But it will give you different perspective on the castle.
That brings us to the end of my Prague Itinerary. If you keep reading below there is more information about how to get around Prague, arrival details and where to stay.
Where to Stay in Prague
Tip: Petsitting In Prague
When we were in Prague we stayed for free because we were petsitting.
While traveling around the world we loved to petsit. Because you get to look after amazing pets while staying in areas you would not consider staying if you were paying for your accommodation.
There are not many petsits available in Prague but it is always worth checking out.
If you are interested in signing up for petsitting the website that we use is Trusted House Sitters. It is an excellent platform with thousands of petsits all over the world.
Sign up to Trusted House Sitters for free + use code HAPPYHEALTHYNOMADS at checkout for a 25% discount on your yearly membership!
Prague Hotels
Below are a few affordable Prague Hotels in good locations to explore the city.
Hotel Claris is a basic old hotel in Vinogrady, my favorite part of Prague. Rooms start around 65 USD so it is hard to beat for price.
Vincanto Rooms Old Town – has large spacious rooms right on the edge of the old town. It is an easy short walk into the old town and rooms start around 100 USD.
Rose Suites and Rooms – is another great option with rooms starting at 61 USD. It is located on the edge of Vinogrady and will take about 20 minutes to walk into the old town.
Chill Apartments – is great if you would prefer your own apartment with a kitchen to cook. They have beautiful apartments starting at 96 USD per night.
Prague Hostels
Prague is a great place to be a backpacker as there are many affordable and high quality hostels.
Plus Hostel – is one of the cheapest hostels in Prague. Dorms start at 15 euros per night. But the hostel has a wide range of facilities. There is an indoor swimming pool, gym, kitchen, pool table and more. It is very good value considering the price.
Little Quarter Hostel – is another budget hostel starting at 17 euros per night. It has a 9.3 on hostelworld from over 2400 reviews. The location is also awesome as it is located right next to the Charles Bridge and Prague Castle.
Elf Hostel – is a great hostel if you want to socialize and meet other backpackers. The beds also have curtains which is something I am always looking for in a hostel bed. Dorms start at 22 euros per night.
How to Get Around Prague
When you are exploring the old areas of Prague the best way to get around is by walking. One of the reasons Prague is such a popular city with tourists is that the beautiful streets are so pedestrian friendly.
But if you want to travel longer distances Prague also has excellent public transport. There are trams and an underground that will take you anywhere you want to go in the city.
Using public transport in Prague is super simple thanks to the Pid Litacka app. All you have to do is search for where you want to go on public transport in the app and then buy your tickets.
The ticket will allow you to travel on public transport for a certain time period. So you need to buy the ticket when you want to travel so that it is valid for when you get on the transport.
Arriving in Prague
By Train
If you arrive in Prague by train it will be easy to find you way to your accommodation. The train station is located close to the old town and is walking distance to many hotels.
So from the train station you can either walk, or take a quick taxi or ride on public transport.
By Plane
To get into Prague from the airport you can either take an airport express bus, taxi or public transport.
Airport Express Bus
The airport express bus is one of the best ways to get into Prague City Center. The bus leaves from the airport every 30 minutes and takes about 40 minutes to arrive in Prague.
The bus will drop you at the Prague Train station located close to the center of the old town.
Tickets for the Airport Express Bus cost 100 CZK or 4.50 USD and can be bought from the airport.
Public Transport
If you want to spend as little money as possible then you can take a public bus into the city.
You can take buses 907 or 910 into town. The bus will take 45 minutes and the ticket will cost 40 CZK or 1.80 USD.
You will need to download the Pid Litacka app to buy tickets for public transport in Prague.
Have Fun on your Prague Itinerary!
Prague is such a beautiful city and I think it lives up to the hype. The city has so much to offer and has the perfect blend of culture, beautiful architecture and affordability.
I hope my Prague Itinerary helps you to have an awesome trip. If you want more tips about travel around Europe check out our other articles below.
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