How to Spend 24 Hours in Prague


 

Prague Panorama – Diliff [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

You have one day – what are you going to do with it?

Sometimes when you’re traveling around Europe, you only have a short amount of time in each place. Whether it be due to scheduling, budgets, or layovers, a day is maybe all you have to explore a new city. Nonetheless, if you know where to go, you can see a lot in just 24 hours.

You can visit the most popular attractions, head to some local spots, and get a feel for the ambiance and vibe. Knowing the best spots to check out before getting there is crucial, since you only have a limited amount of time, and you want to make the most out of it.

Spending 24 hours in Prague is not nearly enough due to the beautiful buildings, friendly people, and numerous activities, but it will give you a feel for the Czech lifestyle and what makes Prague such a popular destination spot.

1. Start the day with an upscale breakfast or a specialty coffee

Brno Cafe Savoy – By Scotch Mist – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45782147

Waking up in Prague in a boutique hotel, or budget hostel, you have to figure out what your first move is. We recommend fueling up for the busy day ahead of you. Whether you are a traditional breakfast-eater, or more of a coffee on-the-go kind of person, there are unlimited spots in the city to choose from.

For some of the best breakfasts around, check out Cafe Savoy. Be aware, if you’re here on a Sunday you’ll definitely need to make a reservation – not only is this gem listed in many guidebooks and online sites for tourists’ eyes, but it’s also extremely popular among locals as well.

Located right in the Mala Strana section of the city, this easy-to-get-to spot is an upscale and elegant way to start your day. It’s a bit more expensive than most places in the city, but for an always-busy and super popular breakfast joint, what else can you expect.

If you’re more in the mood for something relaxing, head to Eska, a hip and trendy morning spot on the other side of the river, near Vitkov park. This place combines the best of a restaurant, coffee shop, and bakery all in one, creating one super-restaurant. The younger ambiance and hipster vibe will make you feel young again, and with your seat-neighbors ordering healthy options like porridge with almond milk, you might feel as if you’ve stepped into a L.A. boutique coffee shop.

If you’re more in the mood for just some coffee, we would head to EMA Espresso Bar, a shop using the best espresso machines in the world. Situated right near the Palladium, the strong brews here will be sure to kickstart your day. If that doesn’t make great coffee, we’re not sure what will. The Scandanavian-feel and minimalist interior makes for a clean and sleek look, and the always consistently-smooth espresso keeps people coming back for more.

Our last recommendation for a morning pick-me-up is Friends Coffee House, an unpretentious and laid-back setting to enjoy a fine cup of coffee and pastry before heading out to explore the city. Situated in the New Town area, you’re right around many attractions to see and explore, while your morning cup of joe can be enjoyed in a bright and homely space – with friends, of course. 

For more suggestions, read this article.

2. Walk over to Wenceslas Square

Prag Wenzelsplatz – By Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons / “Prag, Wenzelsplatz — 2019 — 6852” / CC BY-SA 4.0

After you’ve had some caffeine to lift your mood and energy levels, it’s time to really start exploring. Starting on the eastern side of the river, we’ll begin at Wenceslas Square. This historic 14th-century square boasts the National Museum, a massive museum that was built in 1818.

The buildings and architecture surrounding the square make for a lovely spot to just sit and marvel at the beautiful buildings. If you decide to enter the museum, you can hopefully catch one of the numerous events they feature inside, such as full-on immersive experiences into different time periods.

Wandering around the museum, you’ll find natural artifacts, history exhibits, and Renaissance architecture comprising the building. 

3. Onto the next square, this one in the Old Town

Prague View from Old Town Hall Tower – By A.Savin (Wikimedia Commons · WikiPhotoSpace) [FAL]

Once you have had your fair share of learning for the morning, you can walk from Wenceslas Square to Old Town Square, arguably the more famous of the two main squares in the city. This square has numerous historical buildings, such as the Church of Our Lady before Tyn, a 14th century church that towers above the cobblestoned streets.

The St. Nicholas Church is a Baroque-style church that also inhabits the square. Gazing at two different and expertly-built churches in the same area is amazing, being some of the most architecturally-beautiful buildings in all of the country. If you arrive at the square close to the hour mark, you’ll be able to see the mechanical change on the astronomical clock mounted on the Old Town Hall.

This is the oldest astronomical clock in the world, and you can climb the Old Town Hall tower to catch some panoramic views of the nearby buildings. This square is known by many as the heart of the city, and is a must-see for all tourists visiting the area. 

4. Walk across the pedestrian-only Charles Bridge

Prague 2016 View from Petrinksa Tower – A.Savin (Wikimedia Commons · WikiPhotoSpace) [FAL]

Departing Old Town Square, we can cross the Charles Bridge to the western half of the city. This bridge is a Gothic, stone bridge that connects the Old Town with Mala Strana.

The construction of the bridge began in the middle of the 14th century, and features Baroque statues at either side of the bridge, and lamplights all along the sides, lighting up the bridge during nighttime hours. Walking across this bridge you’ll find numerous people taking photos, Czech artists painting pictures, musicians playing live music, and vendors selling Czech souvenirs.

Hitting the bridge earlier in the day offers the chance of walking with less crowds, and giving you a full-daylight view of the river on either side. 

5. A quick city-break at Vojanovy Sady

Vojanovy sady – By Dezidor [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)]

Once you’ve safely made it across the bridge, we’ll walk through Vojanovy sady, one of the city’s many green spaces and public parks. This relaxing park has frequent peacock sightings, walking paths, and fruit trees, creating a serene and peaceful setting that directly juxtaposes the ever-busy city streets. 

6. Pretend to be a royal at the Prague Castle

Prague Castle at Dusk – By Andrew Shiva / Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29032210

Once through the park, we’ll continue north to the Prague Castle. The Prague Castle is a masterpiece of architectural beauty that is a true work of art. You’ll get plenty of steps in walking around this historical landmark – it is the largest ancient castle in the world.

Occupying almost 70,000 square meters, you can be rest assured that you won’t be bored exploring this castle. Within the castle walls, there are other landmarks to see. St. Vitus Cathedral is a Gothic style cathedral containing tombs of kings and emperors. The architectural build of this cathedral later influenced many buildings in Central Europe, due to the Late Gothic style used.

Nowadays, people from all over the world flock to see the largest and most renowned church in the country. Exiting the cathedral, you can walk over to St. George’s Basilica, the oldest remaining church building within the castle area.

There are dozens of other buildings within the castle walls in which you can explore, making this castle much more than just one building, but rather the remnants of an old society protected by the high walls.

After a couple of hours wandering around the castle complex, you can walk back down the hill and find yourself in the heart of Hradcany. Walk down Golden Lane, take photos and enjoy the brightly-colored historical houses, before finding a spot for lunch. 

7. Head into Hradcany for some lunch

Carp fillet in a poppy seed coat with potato salad – By Benreis – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80367741

Checking out spots in Hradcany and Mala Strana, you’ll find a few spots that will ease your growing hunger. For the health-conscious out there, you can stop at Vegan’s Prague, a fresh restaurant – both in ambiance and in food – that will be sure to satisfy plant-based eaters and meat-eaters alike.

The renovated lofts turned restaurant gives a bright and trendy vibe, while the always healthy menu combines vegan food and traditional Czech cuisine into one. Traditional potato goulash gets a vegan twist, and the menu adds other worldly dishes like sweet potatoes and guacamole or zucchini lasagna. Pair one of these creative lunch items with a glass of cold white wine or beer and you’ll be sure to be satisfied until dinner.

For those wanting a more traditional Czech restaurant, you can stop at U Glaubicu – I mean, where else can you dine in a 700-year-old cellar? With numerous places to sit and enjoy your meal, like the cellar, tavern, or street seating, no matter the weather this place has you covered – literally.

Serving up traditional Czech cuisine, this restaurant prides itself on giving you old, traditional, and popular cooking. Despite seemingly simple dishes, the pride and care that goes into each dish is noticed with high-quality food presented in front of you.

Our last recommendation in the area is Ferdinanda, a more modern-like pub in Mala Strana. Located near the Malostranske Square, this pub serves up traditional dishes in a unique setting. There are lots of small rooms off of the main dining area, complete with a cellar area to cool off during warmer days.

The traditional dishes are reasonably priced, making lunch an affordable and quick stop, giving you plenty of time to sight-see during the remaining daylight hours. 

8. Confess your sins at Strahov Monastery

Vltava River, Church of Saint Nicholas at Mala Strana, Mala Strana Bridge Tower, Basilica of the Assumption in the Strahov Monastery – Ввласенко [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

After your lunch break, we recommend heading to Strahov Monastery. Here, you can even cool off during the summer and check out their adjacent beer garden, giving you a panoramic view of the city. If you visit during the colder months, head inside and check out the beautiful surroundings, getting glimpses of the extravagant library and the detailed ceiling paintings that encompass entire rooms. These paintings give Michelangelo a run for his money, and you have to check it out to see why.

9. Enjoy the lush grass at Letna Park

Vltava from Letna Park – By ekeidar [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Venturing back out into the sunlight, head towards one of the most famous green spaces in the city, Letna park. On the Vltava river bank, this park has numerous walking trails, people skateboarding by, and people picnicking on the soft grass. You can also head up the hills and check out the amazing views over the river, the buildings, and the Charles Bridge.

Letna also has one of the best beer gardens in the city, giving you great views and some shade under a canopy of trees. Hanging out here in the afternoon is sure to provide you with the best views before the sun sets. 

10. Become Czech for a day and drink some Pilsner

Jorge Láscar from Australia [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]

As the afternoon begins to fade into evening, we’ll do what Czechs do best – drink some beer. There are beer gardens, pubs, bars, underground drinking venues, and many more spots to enjoy a cold one. For some great indoor watering holes, we start with The Pub. Sure, this place is a bit unconventional, but it is designed for the drinker in mind.

With six locations, this pub features self-service taps at your own table – be careful who you go with, as this can get competitive. Your table’s beer drinking abilities are compared to others from around the world, in locations like Germany and Romania. You’ve been warned.

Next up, Vinohradsky Pivovar is a local favorite when it comes to microbreweries. This location brews their beer on site, making the five beers on tap extremely fresh.

If you want to stay outside to enjoy a pint, you can head to Naplavka, and enjoy some Pilsner along the riverbank. Retrieving a beer from the tank floating in the water, you can sip on your beer and watch the boats go by.

Another outdoor spot to have a beer and enjoy the views is T-Anker. We recommend trying to get here a little before sunset, so you can grab a spot on the rooftop and watch the sun go down, while sipping on one of the rotating craft beer specialties. 

If you’ve made it this far, it’s time to go out on the town…

Prague – By Guillaume Baviere from Uppsala, Sweden [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]

After you have a few beers at the aforementioned spots, if you want to go out for more – well, Prague has got you covered.

The famous Anonymous Bar is filled with great cocktails, cheap prices, and servers wearing masks, creating an atmosphere that resembles a spy movie or a speakeasy, instead of a local bar.

Hemingway Bar, modeled after the famous author, serves beautifully crafted cocktails in a relaxed, lounge space. Staff dressed in suspenders and speakeasy-vibes have made this a popular spot, frequented by both tourists and locals.

Kasarna Karlin serves up cups of alcoholic-hot chocolate in a former swimming pool of an army barracks – yes, you read that right. This arts complex serves a variety of drinks, along with a variety of entertainment, in unique spaces.

Topping off this list, we have Beer Geek – providing you with 32 microbrews on tap for even the snobbiest of beer drinkers. After a few pints from one of these spots, I’d say it’s time to head back to your accommodation so you don’t miss your flight the next day. 

Time to say goodbye to this magical city

By DXR – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51022139

Even though 24 hours isn’t nearly enough to see all that Prague has to offer, we’re hoping if you follow this guide you can at least see some of what has made this city so attractive to tourists, especially in recent years.

The beautiful architecture, unique restaurants and bars, and plentiful outdoor spaces provides activities and attractions that anyone would enjoy.

As you wander around the cobble-stoned streets during your day in the city, anywhere you look will be filled with locals, tourists, children, and people from all walks of life, all exploring and taking in what this city has to offer – which is at least 24 hours of bliss. 

Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !


These are Dz’-Բ travel products that you may need for coming to Paris.

Bookstore

  1. The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023
  2. Fodor’s Paris 2024 –

Travel Gear

  1. Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack –
  2. Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage –
  3. Swig Savvy’s Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle –

We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.