I often say that there are no compulsory paying visits in Prague. The „Golden City” is a veritable open-air museum, and you can have a great time just wandering around the pretty streets and numerous parks. It all depends on when you visit Prague. You’ll be more likely to shut yourself away in the dead of winter than in the middle of summer.
That said, the Castle, the old Jewish quarter and Clementinum (which you’ll find at the top of this top 12 list of things to do in Prague) are among the great classics.
To make things easier for you, I’ve listed here the 12 activities I think are the most interesting. I’ve listed them in order of preference, with a few links to help you book in advance (which is sometimes advisable !)
Er to organize your stay in Prague, you need to :
- book your plane ticket
- book your hotel
- book your transfer to and from the airport (info here!)
- plan and book 2-3 fun activities to make your 2 or 3-day stay in Prague even more enjoyable. Don’t forget, many activities are free! Like the classic crossing of the famous Charles Bridge (to be done late at night or early in the morning to avoid the crowds).
In this article, you’ll find
1- Prague Castle
2- Prague’s Jewish Quarter
3- The Clementinum
4- A classical music concert
5- A beautiful museum
6- A cruise on the Vltava River
7- A medieval dinner show
8- A black theater show
9- A beer bath
10- A themed guided tour
11- Tower climbing
12- A getaway from Prague
There’s no paintball or Kalashnikov shooting in this ranking (yes, there is! You can even drive tanks.) We’ll save these activities for EVGs. Activities often hated by the locals. Prague is succeeding in transforming the party tourism long associated with the Czech capital into responsible, cultural tourism.
No museums of torture, the KGB or sex machines either (these museums are among Prague’s most popular tourist attractions). All you’ll find here are fun and interesting activities. After many years living in Prague, I can easily list them. It’s more difficult when you don’t know the city, and of course some people are fooled (as with the underground Prague or the catacombs). In over 15 years in Prague, I’ve never heard of them!)
The best things to do in Prague, in order of importance (in my opinion!)
1- Prague Castle
If you’re not going to visit it (although that would be a shame), you should at least go up there for the view. It’s the largest old castle in the world, and covers almost 7 hectares! And after your visit, enjoy a good beer at Kuchyň, where the terrace offers a superb view of the city!
- For a guided tour ticket with optional audio guide, info here.
- For a Lobkowicz Palace Castle ticket (again, superb views from the café terrace!), info here.
2- Prague’s Jewish Quarter
What a delight to stroll through Prague’s former Jewish ghetto (Josefov)! These are some of the most sophisticated Art Nouveau facades in the city. And you don’t have to limit yourself to the magnificent and famous Rue de Paris (Pařížská), with its line-up of luxury boutiques and beautiful cars. You also have to lose yourself for an hour and a half in this district, which isn’t very big and whose streets you can stroll effortlessly. And a visit to the famous synagogues and the old cemetery is well worth it! In each synagogue, you’ll find an illuminating exhibition space.
- For a ticketed walking tour of the Jewish Quarter, info here.
- For a combined ticket for the synagogues and old cemetery, with optional audioguide, info here.
3- The Clementinum in Prague
I consider the Clementinum to be the 3rd classic visit to Prague. This vast complex built by the Jesuits in the 16th century is popular for its astronomical observation tower dominated by Atlas supporting the celestial sphere, its Chapel of Mirrors for small classical concerts in the evening (see here and below) and above all its incredible Baroque library! Even more beautiful than Strahov’s (which can also be visited). In both cases, and this can be frustrating, you can only park on the threshold of the library to admire it, you can’t walk through it because of the heritage value of the books and globes it houses (info here).
- For a guided tour of the Clementinum and its Baroque library, info here. (Beware, it sells out fast!)
4- A classical music concert in Prague
Many visitors (and rightly so!) include a short concert in their program. And even if, like me, they’re not great music lovers. Here, I’d like to point you in the direction of small, unpretentious, quality classical concerts. Prague has always had a strong connection with music. Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin or Liszt stayed in the Golden City at the invitation of the local aristocratic families, and the country gave birth to renowned composers such as Smetana, Dvořák or Janáček. Small concerts are held every day in many of Prague’s churches, and when you are handed leaflets for such events on the street, you should be aware that they are never a tourist trap! The ensembles are always top-notch, and the venues are always nice. Here’s a short list of emblematic venues to help you make your choice.
- For a concert at St. Nicholas Church on Old Town Square, info here.
- For a concert at Saint-Gilles Church, info here.
- For a concert at Saint-Sauveur Church, info here.
- For a concert at the Clementinum Chapel of Mirrors, info here.
- For a concert at the Spanish Synagogue, info here.
- For a concert at the Maison municipale, info here.
- For a concert at the Palais Palais Lobkowicz, info here.
- For a Mozart concert at the Grand Hotel Bohemia, info here (Mozart wrote Don Giovanni in Prague, where he premiered it in 1787).
And if you’re really resistant to classical music (which can happen), you can also enjoy jazz concerts at the Reduta Jazz Club (info here). The club is right in the center, in the building that also houses the famous Café Louvre. Bill Clinton took to the stage in 1994 to play a couple of sax tunes at the invitation of former president Václav Havel.
5- A pretty museum in Prague
Prague is full of lovely museums, and it would be a shame not to visit one. In winter, it’s a good idea to opt for a pass like the CoolPass for 2, 3 or 4 days or the City Pass. Here are my top 3 favorite museums in this top 10!
- The Music Museum. A very unusual building (a former convent) and superb collections.
- The Museum of Technology (info here). The Czechs excel in all things technical. The proof is in this pretty, child-friendly museum, housed in a large building of functionalist architecture.
- The Army Museum ( free, incredible building and collections, I always recommend it!) and the Museum of Communism (info here). If you’re interested in the Communist period, you can also take part in a themed tour (see below), which includes a visit to an anti-nuclear bunker (in English, info here).
- Prague National Museum, info here. What a view from the dome of this emblematic Prague building, erected in 1818 and enthroned at the top of Wenceslas Square! Superb!
- Vyšehrad, Prague’s other castle, info here. This was the home of the Czechs’ ancestors, the Přemyslids, and is probably Prague’s favorite place for a stroll.
- Franz Kafka Museum (info here). The great writer associated with Prague.
- The Mucha Museum (don’t miss the atypical statue of David Černý in the courtyard!) Alfons Mucha is a famous poster artist launched by Sarah Bernhardt and who worked for many years in Paris in advertising (his illustrations will surely speak to you). One of the greatest Czech artists of the 20th century.
- The Lobkowicz Palace Museum (info here. You can also attend the mid-day concerts held in the Palace (see above) and enjoy the superb view from its café.
- The Kampa Museum is a popular attraction. It houses modern art collections in an old mill by the river. Here, too, it stands next to statues (huge babies) by David Černý, the contemporary artist now inseparable from Prague.
- Prague’s National Gallery is also housed in a handsome functionalist building. Different sites and collections ranging from medieval to modern art.
- Last but not least, and very much in vogue, are the museums of illusions, which appeal to children and grown-ups alike. Prague Museum of Illusions, Prague Museum of the Senses and IAM Illusion Art Museum, take your pick!
6- A cruise on the Vltava River in Prague
A cruise in Prague may not be a must, but it’s still a great time. I was offered a ticket twice, and I didn’t regret it. Far from it. Personally, I prefer an evening cruise. It allows you to devote your time (precious when you’re traveling) to sightseeing and climbing, while an evening cruise allows you to relax and have a great time.
- For an evening cruise lasting almost an hour, info here.
- For a dinner cruise on a glass-roofed boat, info here.
- For an evening buffet cruise, info here.
- For a jazz cruise with optional dinner, info here (very nice!)
- For a small boat cruise on the lovely Canal du Diable, info here.
7- A medieval dinner and show in Prague
I have to say that all the visitors who experienced this were delighted. Prague really mattered in the Middle Ages, with silver mines in the east of the country making the city rich. Since then, a sort of medieval nostalgia has been cultivated in the Czech Republic. In addition to medieval dinner shows, many typical restaurants serve robust meat dishes directly inspired by medieval recipes, and there are castles everywhere in a country where historical re-enactments are particularly popular (the most accessible and not least important castle is Karlštejn, see the escapades from Prague below).
- For a medieval dinner show, info here. Again, beware, it sells out fast.
8- Black theater in Prague
Black theater often pleases, sometimes disconcerts, but has the merit of being unique to Prague. This type of show was performed in China thousands of years ago, and is still performed today in small theaters in Prague. The Magic Lantern, with which black theater is often confused, offers more occasional shows. Below, you’ll find links to several small black theater venues.
- For a show at the Srnec Black Theater, info here.
- For a show at the Black Light Theater of Prague, info here.
- For a show at Wow Black Light Theatre, info here.
- For a show at Image Black Light Theater, info here.
9- A beer bath in Prague
Locals and visitors alike appreciate the concept. According to the operators of this type of activity, the beer bath has been around since the Middle Ages, and is said to have many curative virtues… To be honest, I only tried it once, and that was after a good hike in the mountains. Suffice to say, it was pleasant! Not to mention unlimited beer consumption (and it’s not just bath water, there’s a fountain next to the bath). The most popular beer baths are offered by brewer Bernard. And if you’re skeptical about the concept, there’s Pilsner Urquell: The Original Beer Experience, which tells the story of this now world-famous pils (3 beers are on offer, which almost covers the cost of the ticket).
10- A guided themed tour of Prague
Depending on your taste for architecture, history or culture, you can take part in a themed tour. The most popular are those associated with Art Nouveau, Prague legends, history and the Communist period)…
- For a tour of Prague Art Nouveau in French, info here.
- For a tour of Prague’s ghosts and legends, info here.
- For a tour of Communist Prague , including a visit to a bunker (in English), info here.
- For a tour of Prague by bicycle (electric or otherwise), info here (Mind you, I don’t think the city is ideal for this, but it’s a trendy way to get around).
- For a tour of Prague with David Černý’s works as a common thread, info here.
11- Climbing a tower in Prague
If you absolutely must climb one or two hills (whether Petřín, Vítkov, Letná or Riegrovy sady) while in Prague, I’d also strongly recommend climbing a tower. Isn’t Prague known as the city of 100 or 1000 towers? Both I and my children have always enjoyed this tour!
- To climb the Poudrière tower, info here.
- To climb the bell tower of St. Nicholas (where the StB, the political police, spied on neighboring embassies under Communism), info here.
- To climb the clock tower in Old Town Square, info here.
- To climb the Clementinum astronomical observation tower (see above, info here. Attention, limited capacity!)
- Climb the Petřín „Eiffel Tower” (the labyrinth of mirrors), info here.
- To climb the television tower, info here.
12- An escape from Prague
Prague is an inexhaustible city (5 x Paris in area). There’s plenty to see and do. For a 2 or 3 day stay in Prague, it’s not essential to leave the city, but for a longer stay, a half-day or full-day getaway may be worthwhile. Here are the classic escapades:
- Kutná Hora and its impressive ossuary (half-day), info here.
- Karlštejn Castle, one of the country’s most important castles (half-day, in English), info here.
- To visit Terezín, a concentration and transit camp during the Second World War, information here or here.
- To visit Karlovy Vary, the country’s most famous spa town, info here.
- To Český Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (day trip), information here or here.
- Bohemian Switzerland (day trip, in English), one of the country’s most beautiful nature destinations, info here.
- Czech Paradise (full day), a superb nature destination near Prague and the country’s first UNESCO geopark, info here.
