What to do in Prague?
With so many attractions, it is easy to get overwhelmed. To help you get the most out of your time in Prague, we prepared a short list of the city’s top things to see, so you don’t miss anything important.
Walk around Prague’s Old Town Square
The Old Town of Prague is one of the most beautiful historical districts in Europe. A visit to Prague simply does not count unless you see its Old Town (in Czech: Staré Město). The district’s main point is Old Town Square. From here, you can already see a few of Prague’s most famous buildings. The Church of our Lady before Týn or Týn Church with its long dark towers is probably the most recognizable one. After that, there’s the Old Town Hall with the iconic astronomical clock from the 15th century. Other significant buildings here include the Kinský Palace and the Church of St Nicholas. For unbeatable views of the city center, we recommend visiting the Old Town Hall Tower.
Stroll across the iconic Charles Bridge
Exiting the Old Town via the Old Town Bridge Tower, you absolutely must see the Charles Bridge (Karlův most) that crosses the Vltava river. It is decorated with statues on each side and is one of the favorite spots to photograph in Prague. Back in the day (until approximately the mid-19th century), it was the only bridge crossing the river, linking the Old Town with Prague Castle. Today, it’s one of Prague’s most iconic and romantic attractions. A stroll across Prague’s Charles Bridge is a must for any visitor. Unsurprisingly, it can get very crowded, so try to visit early in the morning or late in the evening for the best experience.
Visit Prague Castle
Cross the Charles Bridge to see the other side of the city and its popular castle. Prague Castle is actually a large complex that takes hours to tour in detail. It consists of palaces, offices, gardens, churches, and more. Founded in the 9th century and built on a hill above the river Vltava, it used to be a residence of kings. Currently, it functions as the office of the president of the Czech Republic. The place within the castle that gets the most attention from admiring visitors is St. Vitus Cathedral, arguably the most important in the Czech Republic.
Get views of Prague and beyond
If you want to see views of the whole city and more, head to the Petrín Lookout Tower. Standing on top of Petrín Hill, this is a smaller version of the Eiffel Tower and it provides a great vantage point, especially on a clear day. In addition, it is surrounded by greenery and is a nice place to walk around if you want to get away from all the crowds and noise.
See the Jewish Quarter
While in Prague, many tourists decide to visit the city’s Jewish Quarter (Josefov). Situated within the city center, between the Old Town Square and the Vltava river, this quarter has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list since 1992. The main place that people visit here is the Old Jewish Cemetery. When you enter the cemetery, you notice a sea of gravestones, more specifically around 12,000 of them. However, it is estimated that more than 100,000 people are buried in this space as bodies were buried on top of one another – even up to 12 layers. In addition, the Jewish Quarter is home to a few synagogues, the Old-New Synagogue being the most popular and believed to be the oldest active synagogue in the world. Finally, if you’re a fan of Franz Kafka, you will find a monument dedicated to him in the Jewish Quarter, where he lived for a significant part of his life.
Enjoy the best Prague tours
Don’t miss anything important while in Prague. At MrShuttle, we offer some fantastic tours in the Czech Republic. Check out our Prague Highlights Tour or Prague in 2 hours tour to tick all the important sights off of your list. If you’re visiting with your second half, why not treat them to a Prague dinner cruise with music? Alternatively, you can opt for a medieval dinner for a unique experience. We also have great tours from Prague if you want to see more of the country. Visit the Karlštejn Castle or take a trip to Český Krumlov to see more great places in the Czech Republic.