Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and when we visited, it quickly became one of our favourite European cities that we had been to.
With the gorgeous Baroque-style architecture and the cobbled streets, Prague looks like something straight from a fairy-tale.
Prague has so much to offer, there is so much to see and do and, in our opinion, it’s the perfect place for a European city break.
Here’s what we think are some of the best things to do in Prague.
Quick Links
Prague Castle
Located within a few blocks’ walk of Charles Bridge is one of the biggest attractions in Prague – Prague Castle. The castle complex dates back to 870AD and includes some of Prague’s most stunning architecture.
Prague Castle is without doubt the main tourist attraction in Prague. Prague Castle was built in the 9th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to the president of the Czech Republic.
The castle complex is like its own little town and is even in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the world’s largest ancient castle at 753,474 square feet.
It is not just a visit to a castle, there are several different parts to visit.
The castle complex is made up of the spectacular St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica, Old Royal Palace and the Golden Lane.
The Golden Lane is a charming row of houses displaying what life would have been like in the 16th century for seamstresses, goldsmiths and more. There are also quaint little gift shops and cafes.
The castle is even in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the world’s largest ancient castle at 753,474 square feet.
TIP – We booked our tickets through Get Your Guide – Prague: Skip-The-Line Entry Ticket to Prague Castle | GetYourGuide
Old Town Square
Old Town Square is the vibrant heart of Prague and a great place to take in the city’s unique atmosphere. Here you’ll find the iconic Astronomical Clock, which dates back over 600 years and shows off intricate designs from the Middle Ages.
The Old Town Square is the most significant square in all of Prague. It is surrounded by many interesting and beautiful buildings which makes it the perfect place to wander around the heart of Prague, taking in the architecture and the surroundings.
If you love taking photos of beautiful architecture like I do, then you will be in heaven.
The Old Town Square used to be a marketplace in the 11th century and many historical events have occurred here. There are historical tours that you can do in Prague where you can learn more about the significant history of this Square.
The Astronomical Clock is probably the most famous attraction in the Old Town Square. The clock is said to have been built in the 1400’s and hundreds of thousands of visitors come to see it every year.
The clock performs a show every day on the hour, and this is definitely a must-see attraction in Prague.
Jewish Quarter
The Jewish Quarter, also known as Josefov, is a really historical and significant area of Prague.
Prague’s Jewish Quarter is home to some of the city’s oldest and most vibrant areas. The streets are filled with shops, restaurants, and synagogues, offering a unique perspective on the city’s history. Visiting this part of town will give you an insight into the fascinating culture of Prague.
The history of the Jewish Ghetto began in the 13th century when Jewish people were ordered to leave their homes and all Jewish people were to live in this area and were banned from living anywhere else in Prague.
The Jewish Quarter was pretty much untouched during the second world war as Hitler was said to have wanted to preserve the quarter as a “Museum of an extinct race” and even bought Jewish artifacts from other occupied territories to this part of Prague to form part of the “museum”.
There are several synagogues in this area to visit, along with the Prague Jewish Museum, and one of the most significant sites is the Old Jewish Cemetary. There are over 12,000 gravestones here dating all the way back to the 15th century, and the cemetery is so overcrowded that there are up to 10 people in each plot.
You can also do guided tours in this area to learn more about the history.
Ghost Tour
A ghost tour is a really great and fun thing to do in Prague.
You get the chance to learn more about Prague’s spooky history from a local guide but in a fun way.
On the guided ghost tour that we did, we got the chance to visit churches, cemeteries and even medieval underground dungeons.
TIP – We booked the following tour through Get Your Guide – Prague: Ghosts, Legends, Medieval Underground & Dungeon Tour | GetYourGuide
John Lennon Wall
The John Lennon wall is a bright, beautiful and colourful wall, filled with John Lennon graffiti and lyrics which started in 1980 shortly after John Lennon was murdered.
It is the only spot in Prague where graffiti is legal.
If you are a fan of The Beatles and John Lennon, then this is a must-visit spot in Prague.
The wall symbolizes freedom of speech and peace and is a significant political and historical symbol in Prague.
The wall has changed over the years and the original artwork can no longer be seen under the layers of new paint that has been added.
Charles Bridge
One of the most iconic spots in Prague, Charles Bridge spans the Vltava River, connecting Old Town with the Mala Strana. It’s home to many stunning statues and offers beautiful views of Prague Castle.
Charles Bridge is a definite must-see in Prague. It is the second oldest bridge still standing in Prague, built in 1357, which crosses over the Vltava River and connects the old town with the Mala Strana. There are many myths, legends and historical stories surrounding the bridge.
The bridge is full of gothic style statues, pillars and decorative lamps, and it’s easy to see why it is one of the major tourist attractions in Prague, it is simply beautiful.
Mala Strana (Lesser Town)
Mala Strana, also known as the Lesser Town, is the opposite side of the Charles Bridge to the Old Town Square.
Although it is known as the Lesser Town, it doesn’t mean that it is any less special, Prague Castle and the John Lennon Wall can be found on this side of the bridge.
The charming, cobbled streets are filled with restaurants, cafes, attractions and shops and the Baroque and Renaissance architecture is just as stunning as any other parts of Prague.
We definitely recommend exploring this side of the Charles Bridge as much as the Old Town side.
Eat Czech Food
No trip to Prague would be complete without trying some authentic Czech food. From hearty dishes like goulash and dumplings to delicious desserts like trdelnik, there’s something for everyone here.
Eat Chimney Cake
Chimney Cakes are iconic in Prague and with good reason, they are absolutely delicious!
You will find this street dessert all over the place in Prague, they are just so popular. They are called a chimney cake because the shape of them resembles a chimney.
A chimney cake is made from a sweet yeast dough, coated in melted butter and sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. The dough is then filled with ice cream with different toppings.
You definitely need to try one (or several) of these when you visit Prague!
Summary
Prague has certainly become high up on our list of our favourite cities to visit in Europe.
It is a city full of history, stunning architecture and so much to see and do.
We completely fell in love with the city in the 48 hours that we spent there and wished we could have spent longer. We would recommend spending at least 3 days in Prague, to really take it all in and to see and do all that Prague has to offer.
If you are looking for a location for your next European city break, then we would suggest you make it Prague.
Keep up with our full-time van life travels over on our YouTube channel! If you enjoy our videos, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to our channel – Three As A Bird – Vanlife Travel – YouTube
You can take a look at some of our other van life posts which include lots and lots of hints and tips on all things van life here – Van Life – Travel Information, Hints, Tips and Advice (threeasabird.com)
If you’d like to follow more of our adventures or keep up to date with our travel hints and tips, please join our Facebook group, we’d love to connect with you all! –https://www.facebook.com/groups/309295536220437
Also, if you have Pinterest, please give us a follow for your van life travel inspiration! –https://pin.it/770Cq1Q
I love everything about travel, from seeing new places, learning about new cultures and trying new foods! I believe that travel is one of the best forms of education you can get, I have learnt so much about myself and about the world from travelling all over. Travel is something I feel so passionately about, and I love the fact that we are now lucky enough to have this opportunity to do what we love as much as we can, it’s a dream come true.
Before we started travelling, I worked in local government in administration. I had been in this job for several years and had reached a complete brick wall where I was so fed up, but didn’t know what else to do. The only thing I knew that I wanted to do was to travel, and had wanted to do that for many years.
There were hundreds and hundreds of places on my wishlist that I wanted to go to, and I knew that going on a weeks holiday maybe twice a year if we were lucky wasn’t going to cut it.
After being in lockdown due to the Covid pandemic, and working from home staring at the same 4 walls every day, 2021 seemed like the perfect time for us to take the risk to finally do what we had dreamed of for so long.
It was a hard decision to completely change our lives, but so far it has been the best decision we have ever made!
Leave a Reply