HOW TO SPEND FOUR DAYS IN PRAGUE

HOW TO SPEND FOUR DAYS IN PRAGUE

Prague is a destination that always seems to be in vogue. It’s been on the tourist map for a long time, and the crowds show no signs of abating.

Prague is a gorgeous, well-preserved medieval city coupled with a rich history, expansive parks, Vegas-style nightlife, and a hint of romance. The city holds a special place in my heart: it was the first city I backpacked through on my round-the-world trip in 2006. It was where I stayed at my first genuine hostel, the first place I was on my own, and the first place I went to where signs weren’t in English. I grew as a traveler here.

After many years away, I was happy to come back not once, but twice this year. A lot has changed — there are more tourists, prices are higher, the food is more international, and more foreigners live in the city. But the city’s essence — all the cliché stuff (cobblestone streets, quaint medieval houses, incredible charm) that makes Prague Prague — is still there, and I was happy to reconnect with the city.

After spending weeks roaming the city, today’s blog post puts the best Prague has to offer into a manageable four-day itinerary. If you are looking for a way to organize your trip, this itinerary, like previous ones I’ve put together, will help you do so.

Day 1

Take a free walking tour
Walking tours are a smart way to orient yourself to a new city, learn some history, and hear about the main attractions. There are a TON of free walking tours in Prague, so you’ll have plenty of options. All the tour companies meet near the astronomical clock in the Old Town Square at 10 a.m. and last about three hours. They will give you an overview of the main sites like the Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the Jewish Quarter, and more.

My favorite company is New Europe. They operate free tours around Europe and tend to have upbeat guides and lots of historically accurate information.

Visit Prague Castle

The famous Prague Castle is the next logical place to visit, since all the walking tours end near this popular sight. The castle, which lords over the city, consists of multiple sections: St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, The Story of Prague Castle, St. George’s Basilica, Golden Lane with Daliborka Tower, the Powder Tower, and Rosenberg Palace. You can buy a ticket to any or all of these sights from the box office. The most famous structure is St. Vitus Cathedral — this is the large building you see when you look up at the castle from outside the city walls.

Walk around Petrín Park

Petrín Park is the city’s biggest and most beautiful park, with sweeping views of Prague. You’ll find a garden, a maze, and a lookout tower that looks like the Eiffel Tower. What I love about this expansive park is how easy it is to get lost among the trees. Paths meander throughout, and it’s a relaxing contrast to the crowds of the historic center. Keep in mind that this park is on a big hill and walking to the top can be strenuous. There is a funicular that can take you down (and up) the hill if you don’t feel like making the trek.

Visit the John Lennon Wall

After Pet?ín Park, head down towards Kampa, a neighborhood by the river, and visit the John Lennon Wall. Toward the end of Communism in the 1980s, students started writing John Lennon lyrics on this wall as a way to air their grievances. Today, the wall represents love and peace. Tourists are allowed to write or paint on it too.

Day 2

Explore the Old Town Square

Though you got an overview of the Old Town Square during your walking tour, today you can savor the square’s attractions in detail. Some of the highlights include:

Hanging out in the square — The people-watching is unbeatable as tourists, families, students, and touts pass through the square. Sit on one of the benches, eat a sandwich, and enjoy! Moreover, there are a number of talented musicians — ranging from jazz musicians to Scottish bagpipe players, and everything in between — that perform in the square.
Astronomical Clock — Watch the most overhyped attraction in all of Prague! While the hourly chime that people line up for is anticlimactic, the detail and artistry of the clock make it one of the most beautiful in Europe.
Visit the churches — The beautiful Tyn and St. Nicholas churches ring the square. St. Nicholas is open all day, but Tyn is only open in the mornings and late afternoons.
Explore the catacombs — Under the Old Town Hall, you’ll find a series of catacombs worth exploring. They were the first level of the medieval houses that used to be in the square. Now, they are an exhibit (enter through the tourism office) showcasing medieval life.

Take an underground Prague tour

Prague Underground Tours runs an underground tour of the medieval houses in the city center. There are many catacombs in Prague, and this tour, though short, provides detailed history about medieval Prague.

Day 3

Take a day trip to Kutná Hora

Kutná Hora was an important center for silver mining in medieval Bohemia. It helped keep the kings of Prague rich. Now the town is famous for its creepy bone church, Sedlec Ossuary, which contains 40,000-70,000 bones. Since the church takes only about 15 minutes to see, head into the historic city center to see some of Kutná Hora’s other attractions, including marvelous medieval churches, overlooks, well-preserved streets, and a large town square. It’s a small and quiet town that feels like Prague without the crowds.

Day 4

Walk up the river back into town

From the castle, you can take a nice walk along the river back into the center of town. There are walking and bikes paths as well as places to stop, sit, and maybe read a book. It’s mostly locals around here, despite it being about 20 minutes from the city center.

Visit the Powder Tower

Back in town, be sure to check out this medieval tower, one of the original 13 city gates. Construction began in 1475 and, during the 17th century, the tower used to store gunpowder. It was heavily damaged in 1757 and most of the sculptures on it were replaced in 1876.

Prague has been one of my favorite cities in the world since I first visited in 2006. Though there is a constant mass of tourists, Prague’s magnificence will always make this touristy city one worth visiting. And hopefully this itinerary will help.Read more