Everything you need to know for a City Trip to Prague
Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and a perfect destination for a European city trip. Although Prague is a relatively large city with more than 1.3 million inhabitants, the city centre itself is surprisingly compact. There are plenty of things to see and do, and you can easily walk from one beautiful place to another. On top of that, the food and drinks are delicious and relatively affordable!
Planning a Prague city trip? In this guide, we share everything you need to know before visiting this beautiful city.
How to get to Prague?
Prague is easy to reach from many places in Europe. If you are travelling from the Netherlands, you can drive through Germany to Prague. From Utrecht, the journey takes around 9 hours without traffic. This is especially convenient if you are planning a road trip through Europe or are already visiting eastern Germany. Prague is only about a 1.5-hour drive from Dresden, making the two cities easy to combine.
Don't feel like spending that long in the car or only have a weekend to explore Prague? Flying is a much quicker option. A direct flight from (for example) the Netherlands takes only around 1.5 hours. From Prague Airport, you can travel to the city centre by public transport, combining the bus and metro, or simply take a taxi. Depending on traffic and your chosen mode of transport, the journey takes around 30 to 45 minutes.
Where to stay in Prague?
Most of Prague's main attractions are located in and around the historic city centre, which is easy to explore on foot. If you only have a couple of days in Prague, we recommend booking a hotel close to the city centre. This will save you quite a bit of time travelling back and forth.
If you have a little more time for your Prague city trip, staying slightly further away from the centre is also a great option.
How many days do you need in Prague?
Prague is a perfect destination for a short city trip. In 2 days, you can see most of the city's main attractions. If you prefer to take things a little slower or want to combine Prague with other destinations in the Czech Republic, you can easily stay longer. There is more than enough to keep you entertained for several days!
Practical information for your Prague City Trip
Although the Czech Republic is part of the European Union, the country does not use the euro. The official currency is the Czech koruna (CZK). You can pay by debit or credit card in many places in Prague, so you don't necessarily need to carry much cash.
The official language of the Czech Republic is Czech, but you can easily get by with English in most tourist areas of Prague.
Prague's city centre is quite compact, which means you can visit many of the main sights on foot. For longer distances, Prague has an excellent public transport network consisting of metros, trams and buses. You can buy individual tickets or choose a 24- or 72-hour ticket for unlimited travel on public transport.
What to do in Prague?
One of the best things about Prague is that most of its main attractions are located relatively close to each other. This makes it very easy to explore the city on foot.
One of the best places to start your Prague city trip is the Old Town Square. This beautiful square is surrounded by terraces and restaurants where you can enjoy some delicious food and, of course, a large Czech beer.
The square is also home to Prague's famous Astronomical Clock. Dating back to 1410, the clock puts on a small show every hour between 9:00 AM and 11:00 PM. It is attached to the Old Town Hall, where you can also climb the tower for a beautiful view over Prague.
On the other side of the square, you will find the beautiful Church of Our Lady before Týn, with its two impressive towers reaching around 80 metres high.
From Old Town Square, it takes around 10 minutes to walk to Charles Bridge. This beautiful bridge connects Prague's Old Town with the area towards Prague Castle. The bridge is particularly famous for the 30 statues lining it, as well as the many souvenir sellers and artists you will find along the way.
Another thing you will see literally everywhere in the centre of Prague is Trdelník. This sweet treat is made from dough that is wrapped around a cylinder and baked, giving it its distinctive round, hollow shape. You can order it with all kinds of fillings and toppings, including chocolate sauce, ice cream or fruit.
Best time to visit Prague
Prague is a great destination to visit throughout the year. During winter, it can be rainy and temperatures are usually quite low. However, if you visit Prague around Christmas, the city is beautifully decorated and you can explore its cosy Christmas markets.
Summer can get quite warm, which isn't always ideal when you spend most of your city trip walking around. For pleasant temperatures, spring is one of the best times to visit Prague. The weather is usually warmer without being too hot, making it perfect for exploring the city on foot.
