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]
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]
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)]
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)]
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)]
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)]
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)]
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
- The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023 –
- Fodor’s Paris 2024 –
Travel Gear
- Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack –
- Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage –
- Swig Savvy’s Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle –
We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.