Prague city guide: itinerary, costs and local tips

Day by day

Days 1–3 are the core trip. Staying longer? Days 4–5 carry on from the same base, with their own cost breakdown below.

1. Day 1 — Old Town, the Klementinum and Charles Bridge

   ~€215

   Morning.

   Old Town Square at 08:00, before the groups: the Týn church, the Gothic Old Town Hall and the climb up its tower (about 300 CZK / €12) for the roofs and the square from above. Havelské tržiště, trading since 1232, is two minutes away for fruit and a bakery koláč.

   Afternoon.

   The Klementinum guided tour (about 400 CZK / €16): the baroque library hall and the Astronomical Tower where Johannes Kepler worked, with the best balcony view over the Old Town. Then Charles Bridge in the late afternoon light — at midday it is shoulder to shoulder.

   Evening.

   Dinner in a beer hall two streets off the square: goulash, svíčková and half a litre of Pilsner for about 350 CZK (€14) a head. Lokál-style places serve tank beer and are full of Czechs.

2. Day 2 — Prague Castle, Malá Strana and the Lennon Wall

   ~€230

   Morning.

   Tram 22 up to Pražský hrad and in as the gates open. The grounds and the courtyards are free to walk; Circuit B (about 450 CZK / €18) covers St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace and Golden Lane.

   Afternoon.

   Walk down through the castle vineyards into Malá Strana: the Lennon Wall, Kampa island and the Church of St Nicholas. Lunch here costs a third less one street back from the main route.

   Evening.

   A classical concert in a church or at the Rudolfinum (€20–35 each), then a late dinner on the Malá Strana side with the bridge lit up on the walk home.

3. Day 3 — Vyšehrad, Náplavka and Vinohrady

   ~€175

   Morning.

   Vyšehrad fortress: the ramparts, the cemetery where Dvořák and Mucha are buried, and the quiet version of the city view. Free to enter and almost empty before noon.

   Afternoon.

   Down to the Náplavka riverbank — the Saturday farmers' market if your timing works — then coffee in Vinohrady and a slow hour in Riegrovy sady park.

   Evening.

   Final dinner in Vinohrady or Žižkov, where the same meal costs half what it does on the square, and a last beer in a neighbourhood pub.

4. Day 4 — Kutná Hora: the bone chapel and the silver townif you stay longer

   ~€130

   Morning.

   Direct train from Praha hlavní nádraží, about an hour and 110 CZK (€4.50) each way. Start at the Sedlec Ossuary — timed tickets now, book online, no photos inside.

   Afternoon.

   St Barbara's Cathedral and the terrace walk above the old silver mines, then lunch in the small square below. A combined ticket for the ossuary, cathedral and Our Lady of Sedlec is about 300 CZK (€12).

   Evening.

   Back in Prague by early evening for dinner in Karlín, the neighbourhood locals moved to when the centre got expensive.

5. Day 5 — Český Krumlov or the Vltava valleyif you stay longer

   ~€125

   Morning.

   Český Krumlov is three hours each way by coach (about 220 CZK / €9) — doable as a long day, better as an overnight. For a shorter option take the train to Karlštejn castle, 40 minutes out, or Terezín for the memorial.

   Afternoon.

   In Krumlov: the castle tower, the painted tower courtyards and the river loop. At Karlštejn: the castle tour and the walk back down through the village.

   Evening.

   Last night in Prague — beer garden at Letná with the whole city below you if it is warm, otherwise a tank-beer pub in Vinohrady.

Best time to visit Prague

May, June and September: warm, long evenings on the riverbank and the gardens open. December is beautiful for the markets but cold and packed. January to March is the cheapest and the castle is almost empty.

Getting in from the airport

Cheapest.

Bus 119 to Nádraží Veleslavín then metro A to the centre, 40 CZK (about €1.60) on one ticket, 35 minutes.

Fastest.

Airport Express bus to the main station, 100 CZK (~€4), or a pre-booked transfer for about €25, 30 minutes.

Where to stay in Prague

Old Town.

everything on foot, noisy at night — around €85–120 a night for two.

Vinohrady.

cafés, calm streets, two metro stops out — around €70–100 a night for two.

Malá Strana.

castle side, quiet after dark — around €90–130 a night for two.

Getting around

A 72-hour pass is 330 CZK (about €13) and covers metro, trams, buses and the funicular; singles are 40 CZK (~€2) for 90 minutes and must be validated in the yellow box, or the fine is 1,000 CZK (~€40). The centre is small enough that you may barely use it.

What to skip

• Skip the exchange booths in the tourist streets and the yellow Euronet ATMs — the rates are 10–20% worse. Use a bank ATM and decline conversion.
• Skip the astronomical clock show at the top of the hour; it lasts under a minute and draws the crowd pickpockets work. Climb the Old Town Hall tower instead.
• Skip unmetered street taxis around the Old Town and the main station — agree a price first or use an app.
• Skip trdelník: it is not Czech, it is tourist pricing, and a bakery koláč costs a quarter as much.
• Skip a full castle ticket if you only want the view — the grounds, courtyards and gardens are free.

Deep Research: verified sights & local spots

What travellers consistently praise and warn about, checked against recent reviews.

AI-generated synthesis of public reviews (Tripadvisor, Google Maps, Booking.com, Reddit); not Wayfare.live's opinion. Last AI analysis update: October 2026 · Review & rating disclaimer

Staying longer?

With 5 days add Kutná Hora and its bone chapel by train (an hour, about €4.50 each way), and either Český Krumlov if you are happy with a three-hour coach, Karlštejn castle at 40 minutes out, or the Terezín memorial.

Prague for couples: romantic spots

Prague is at its best in the hours no tour group keeps: the bridge at dawn, the castle gardens in the late afternoon, a long dinner in a neighbourhood nobody photographs. All three cost nothing but timing.

Charles Bridge before 07:00.

Empty, misty over the Vltava, with the statues to yourselves. By 10:00 the same walk is a slow shuffle between selfie sticks.

The castle vineyard terraces at golden hour.

Walk down from the castle through the Lobkowicz and Fürstenberg gardens into Malá Strana with the whole red-roof city below you. Free from the top side, and almost no one does it.

Letná beer garden at sunset.

Above the river bend, looking straight down the line of bridges. A beer costs about €2.50 and it is where Prague actually goes on a warm evening.

For dinner, Vinohrady, Karlín or Žižkov. Two courses each, a shared starter and good Czech wine or tank beer runs about €40–55 for two, against €110 on Old Town Square. Book a table — the good neighbourhood places are small and fill by 19:30.

Seeing Prague without feeling rushed

Prague is compact enough that the mistake is doing too much of it in the wrong hours. Front-load the famous sights before 10:00 and the rest of the day belongs to you.

Famous sights at opening time.

Old Town Square, Charles Bridge and the castle are all pleasant at 08:00 and exhausting at midday. Same ticket, completely different trip.

One side of the river a day.

Old Town and the Klementinum on day one, castle and Malá Strana on day two, Vyšehrad and the riverbank on day three. You never cross twice.

Ride up, walk down.

Tram 22 to the castle costs one ordinary ticket and saves the whole climb; the descent through the vineyards is the nicer direction anyway.

Give day trips the whole day.

Kutná Hora needs about six hours with the train, Český Krumlov a full twelve. Bolting either onto a museum morning is what makes a five-day trip feel rushed.

Worth knowing

• Prices are in Czech koruna, not euros. Pay by card wherever you can and always decline the terminal's offer to charge you in euros — dynamic currency conversion quietly costs 5–10%.
• Never use the exchange booths in the tourist streets or the yellow Euronet ATMs: the rates are dreadful and the machines push conversion. Withdraw koruna from a bank ATM (ČSOB, Komerční banka, Raiffeisen) instead.
• The castle grounds, courtyards and gardens are free. You only pay for the interiors, so Circuit B at about 450 CZK (~€18) is the one most people need.
• A 72-hour transport pass is 330 CZK (about €13) and covers metro, trams, buses and the funicular. Single tickets are 40 CZK (~€2) for 90 minutes — validate them in the yellow box or the fine is 1,000 CZK (~€40) on the spot.
• Agree the price before you get into a taxi, or use an app. Some visitors report unexpectedly high fares from street taxis around the Old Town and the station, so for more peace of mind prefer a ride app or an agreed price.
• Check the bill: a few central places add a 'service charge' or charge for bread and nuts you never ordered. Tipping is rounding up, or 10% at most.
• Tram 22 from the centre up to the castle costs one ordinary ticket and saves you the whole climb. Walk down instead of up.
• Tourist tax is 50 CZK (about €2) per person per night, usually charged at the hotel on arrival and not shown in the online price.

Prague questions, answered

How much does a trip to Prague cost for two people?

About €620 for three days excluding flights: €270 for three nights in a mid-range hotel, €180 on food and beer, €120 on sights and a concert, €28 on transport and €22 as a buffer. Five days with Kutná Hora and a second day trip comes to roughly €980. Add 50 CZK (€2) per person per night in tourist tax.

Is 3 days in Prague enough to see the city?

Yes. The centre is small and three days covers the Old Town and the astronomical clock, the Klementinum, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle and Malá Strana, plus Vyšehrad and the riverbank, without rushing. A fourth and fifth day are for day trips, not for the city itself.

What currency do you use in Prague and should you pay in euros?

The Czech koruna (CZK), not the euro. Some places accept euros but at a punishing rate. Pay by card in koruna, and when the terminal asks whether to charge in euros, always say no — that option adds 5–10% to the bill.

Where is the best place to exchange money in Prague?

At a bank ATM, not an exchange booth. The booths in the tourist streets advertise 0% commission and then use a rate 10–20% worse than the real one, and the yellow Euronet machines do the same. Withdraw from ČSOB, Komerční banka or Raiffeisen and decline conversion.

How much do Prague Castle tickets cost and what is included?

Walking the grounds, courtyards and gardens is free. Circuit B, at about 450 CZK (€18), covers St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, St George's Basilica and Golden Lane — that is the ticket most visitors want. Go at opening time; by 11:00 the cathedral queue is long.

Is the Prague astronomical clock show worth watching?

Not really. The hourly show lasts under a minute, the apostles are hard to see from the ground and the square fills with crowds and pickpockets just before the hour. Look at the clock face itself and spend the money on the Old Town Hall tower instead — the view down over the square is the better memory.

What is the best way to get from Prague airport to the city centre?

The cheapest is bus 119 to Nádraží Veleslavín and metro line A into the centre, 40 CZK (about €1.60) on one 90-minute ticket, roughly 35 minutes door to door. The Airport Express bus to the main station is 100 CZK (~€4). A pre-booked transfer is about €25 and makes sense with luggage or a late arrival.

Do you need a transport pass in Prague?

Only if you plan to move around. The historic centre is walkable end to end in 30 minutes. A 72-hour pass is 330 CZK (€13) and pays for itself at about three rides a day; otherwise buy 40 CZK (~€2) singles and validate each one in the yellow box as you board — inspectors are frequent and the fine is 1,000 CZK (~€40).

How much is a beer in Prague and where do locals drink?

Half a litre of tank Pilsner is 55–75 CZK (€2.20–3) in a neighbourhood pub and 110–150 CZK (~€4–€6) on Old Town Square. Locals drink in Vinohrady, Žižkov, Karlín and Letná, where beer and food are half the price and the rooms are full of Czechs rather than stag parties.

What food should you eat in Prague?

Svíčková (beef in cream sauce with dumplings), goulash with bread dumplings, roast duck with red cabbage, smažený sýr for a cheap bite, and chlebíčky open sandwiches from a deli. Trdelník is not Czech and is sold only to tourists — a koláč from a bakery costs a quarter as much.

Is Prague safe for tourists?

Very safe for violent crime and risky for your wallet. Pickpockets work Charles Bridge, the astronomical clock crowd, tram 22 up to the castle and the main station. Some visitors report surprises with unmetered taxis, some exchange booths and some Old Town bars — check it before you pay.

When is the best time to visit Prague?

May, June and September: warm days, long evenings on the riverbank and the gardens open. December is beautiful for the Christmas markets but cold and packed. January to March is the cheapest time of year and the castle is almost empty.

What should you add on days 4 and 5 in Prague?

Day 4 is Kutná Hora: an hour by direct train for about €4.50 each way, with the Sedlec bone chapel (timed tickets, book online) and St Barbara's Cathedral. Day 5 is Český Krumlov if you are happy with three hours each way by coach, or Karlštejn castle at 40 minutes out, or the Terezín memorial.

Can you do Prague on a smaller budget?

Yes. A room in Vinohrady or Žižkov out of season, pub lunches at 180–250 CZK (~€7–€10), the free castle grounds instead of a full circuit ticket, Vyšehrad and Letná instead of paid viewpoints, and beer away from the square bring the same three days closer to €420 for two.

How do I get from the airport into Prague?

Bus 119 to Nádraží Veleslavín then metro A to the centre, 40 CZK (about €1.60) on one ticket, 35 minutes. If you would rather not carry bags on public transport: airport express bus to the main station, 100 czk, or a pre-booked transfer for about €25, 30 minutes.

Is Prague walkable?

Largely, yes — this plan is built so each day is walkable with at most a couple of short transport hops. A 72-hour pass is 330 CZK (about €13) and covers metro, trams, buses and the funicular; singles are 40 CZK (~€2) for 90 minutes and must be validated in the yellow box, or the fine is 1,000 CZK (~€40). The centre is small enough that you may barely use it.

Where should I stay in Prague?

Old Town for everything on foot, noisy at night (€85–120 a night); Vinohrady for cafés, calm streets, two metro stops out (€70–100 a night); Malá Strana for castle side, quiet after dark (€90–130 a night). This plan budgets €90 a night for two.

Working to a fixed budget? Read our step-by-step guide to planning a trip on a budget.

Still torn? Read our Vienna vs Prague comparison →

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