Top Things To Do in Prague

Prague, Czech Republic

Prior to heading arriving, I had heard suggestions from a LOT of people for top things to do in Prague. I spent my days doing what I do best in big cities – wandering aimlessly without a plan or agenda. And? I fell head over heels in love with Prague! Yes, it’s quite packed with tourists, but the city is so stunning and is FULL of things to do, that you’ll soon forget about the chaos and selfie sticks. I spent nearly three full days exploring the city and I’ve compiled a list of my top things to do in Prague. Here we go! (And #sorrynotsorry for the length of and the amount of photos in this post. Once you see how stunning this city is, I think you’ll forgive me!).

Top Things To Do in Prague

St. Nicholas Bell Tower

Located across the river from Old Town, the St. Nicholas Bell Tower (Svatomikulášská městská zvonice) stands tall beside The Baroque Church of St. Nicholas. After climbing 215 stairs to the top- 65m high! – you’ll be rewarded with an incredible view of the surrounding areas. Get used to it,this is one of many amazing places in the city to get great views.

Location: Malostranské nám. 1/556, 118 00 Malá Strana

Price: 100CZK (~4EUR)

Hours: 10am – 10pm in the summer

More Info: St. Nicholas Bell Tower (check this website for year round hours)

Lookout Tower & Mirror Maze

If you get yourself a 24- or 72- hour transit card (110CZK and 310CZK respectively) you’re able to use it on much more than just the buses, trams, and metro! Get your money’s worth by taking the Petřín funicular up the hill from the Újezd tram stop! Be sure to ride the funicular all the way to the top (and not get off halfway  & have to hike the rest of the way up like some distracted dummy I know…). Once at the top, take a break (especially if you hiked up!) in the nice rose garden. Just beside the garden you’ll find the Petřín Lookout Tower (Petřínská rozhledna). The Tower stands tall at 63.5m and was modelled after the Eiffel Tower. You’ll climb 299 steps up to the very top where you’ll look out over all of Prague.

Tip: The glass panels at the top can sometimes result in a less than clear or reflection-filled photo. The tower is uncovered where the stairs are, so on your way up or down, you can sneak a fully unobstructed photo!

Right beside the Observation Tower is the Mirror Maze (Zrcadlové bludiště Petřín). The Mirror Maze is admittedly designed for children, but that didn’t stop this optical illusion-loving gal! The ‘maze’ part is a bit misleading. In total, the mirrored hallway is less than 20m long, but it sure is fun!! Take your time in there and get creative with picture taking!

Location: Petřínské sady, 118 00 Praha 1- Malá Strana

Price: 150CZK for the tower, and 90CZK for the Mirror Maze (Or combine the two for 210CZK)

Hours: 10am – 10pm in the summer

More Info: Check out this website for year round hours and more info about the tower (and maze).

Charles Bridge

For some reason or another, the Charles Bridge (Karlův most) is quite the phenomenon. Constructed in 1402, it’s the only pedestrian bridge that crosses the Vltava River in Prague, and I guess the 30 stone statues and brickwork, along with the bridge towers make it a little appealing. But I honestly liked looking at the bridge from a distance! Each of the neighbouring bridges (Mánesův Most and Most Legií) have sidewalks, and the views from there towards St. Charles paint such a lovely picture, especially with the old town in the background.

Tip: If you do decide to spend some time on St. Charles bridge, get ready for the crowds! The first time I crossed was at 3pm and the place was packed!! I went again another day bright and early in the morning and there were significantly less people.

More Info: Check out this website for a comprehensive overview of the bridge, as well as all of its 30 statues.

Bio Oko Theatre

If you’re looking to check  out something unique and different in Prague, be sure to stop by the Bio Oko Theatre. This theatre shows quirky, alternative, international films in its humble cinema. The chairs are a mix of recliners, beach chairs, classic movie theatre folding seats, and more. There’s a bar out front where you can get a beer before the show, and most films come with English subtitles. I saw a film called Ramen Teh – it’s about an orphaned Japanese man who tries to reconcile with his Singaporean family through food – namely, ramen. There was a separate ticket option to get a bowl of ramen (made on site!) before the show.

Location: Františka Křížka 15, Prague 7

Price: starting from 130CZK

Hours: there are films throughout the day, generally starting at 12pm until 8pm

Website: Bio Oko – check out their website for their film programs and more info.

Admire the Insanely Gorgeous Buildings

Have I mentioned how gorgeous all the buildings in Europe are? Oh I have? Severaltimes?? Well get used to it!! Prague was no exception, and I found myself with more than one almost-twisted ankle from tripping over cobblestones because I was looking up at beautiful facades. I could devote an entire blog post filled with pictures of buildings, but for the sake of everyone’s sanity, here were a few of my favourites:

The Castle & St. Vitus Cathedral

Standing on St. Charles bridge, you’ll no doubt gaze upon a huge structure across the river. Prague Castle (Pražský hrad) stands tall and domineering over Malá Strana, the neighbourhood across the river. Entrance is free (free!) here, making it a must-do for your time in Prague. Roam the castle grounds, the gardens, and around all the buildings. Tours inside the castle can be arranged for a fee (see prices here)

While you’re there, it’ll be hard to miss St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrála Sv. Víta). This monstrous church boasts an epic display of Gothic architecture and is an iconic feature of the skyline. Be sure to pop in and admire the incredible stained glass just inside. Again, it’s free to enter the cathedral, but you can pay for a ticket to further explore the cathedral and to ascend the Great South Tower.

Location: 119 08 Prague 1

Price: Free for the grounds, and anywhere from 100CZK to 350CZK for tours of the buildings

Hours: 6am – 10pm (and 9am – 5pm for the Historical Buildings)

Website: Prague Castle – visit this website for more information

Letná Park

With so many (beautiful) buildings and cobblestoned streets, one would think that green space would be hard to come by in a city like Prague! Well think again! Letná Park (Letenské sady) is located across the river from Old Town, and an easy walk from the Prague Castle. Among the benches, trees, and grass, you’ll also be able to find a cafe/bar, a Metronome statue, and one of the best views in Prague!

Divoká Šárka

If you want to experience nature in the city, but without the crowds, then head over to Divoká Šárka. Trams run frequently nearby and the park is full of trails to explore! There is also a lake to swim in or suntan near. I went there on a random Tuesday afternoon and I was surrounded by so many Czech families out enjoying the sunny day. If you’re into it, there’s a nude beach on the other side of the lake. The fee is 90CZK. If not for the gate and the toll booth, I would have wandered right over there! Instead I opted to eat my lunch and read my book fully clothed.

Some of the many trails will lead you up the massive hills that line the park. From the top you’ll get some pretty incredible views of the surrounding nature.

Art Installations

For such an old city, Prague sure has some incredibly modern art features. Most will recognize the Lennon Wall as a reminder of the clashes between the communist government and the capitalist youths in the 1980’s. If you’re in the city for more than a few days, it might be worth it to check out the wall – it changes almost daily as artists hone their craft on this free work space.

Location: Velkopřevorské náměstí (Grand Priory Square), Malá Strana

The Žižkov Television Tower had quite a unique art addition in 2000 – giant crawling babies! Artist David Černý created 10 giant babies out of fiberglass and attached them to the tower. Currently the babies are on tour, but you can see some up close! These three bronze statues of (quite frankly, really creepy) babies are on Kampa Island. They have barcodes instead of faces and are popular climbing structures for observers.

Right near the babies are the yellow penguins. Apparently at night these 34 birds light up and put on quite a show! The yellow penguins are all made of plastic bottles and are apparently waiting for their ship to Antarctica – a powerful reminder of the dangers of climate change.

Prague is full of statues and sculptures, many by artist David Černý. Check out this blog post for a whole rundown of his works. Also, be sure to check out the free sculptures at the Kampa Art Gallery.

Worth Mentioning

At the time of this blog post (July 2018), 1€ = 25.89CZK, $1USD = 22.07CZK, $1CAD = 16.77CZK. Cash is often preferred, but credit card is easily accepted at most places (especially tourist attractions).

Another site to see is the Astronomical Clock on the side of the Town Hall in the middle of the Old Square. Unfortunately, the whole building (including the clock!) was under construction when I visited. But from what I’ve read and seen elsewhere, it’s definitely worth a stop.

Vegan in Prague. I went to TWO vegan restaurants in Prague and would be remiss not to mention them.

• Vegan’s Prague is up many flights of stairs, but the effort is 100% worth it! They serve traditional (but vegan-ized) Czech dishes as well as some other exciting food. Be sure to sit on their patio if it’s open!

  • Website: Vegan’s Prague

  • Location: Nerudova 36, 11800 Praha

• Moment Cafe – Serving 100% vegan food, this cafe has a smattering of options to please even the pickiest palate.

  • Website: Moment Cafe

  • Location: Silesian 62, Prague 2

When planning out my top things to do in Prague, I looked to the following people/blogs for guidance:

Wild We Roam –  This couple – Dana & Lou – are incredibly talented and create beautiful videos and blog posts documenting their travels.

Rick Steves Audio Guide for Prague – Download your own personal audio guided walking tour either via his app, website, or on a podcast player. Be sure to download the accompanying map as well. Prague was my first time trying an audio guide, and I really enjoyed it! I do love a good walking tour, but with Prague being so crowded it was nice to go solo at my own pace.

Use-It Maps – This map was a godsend! The Use-It Maps are made by locals for young travellers and they help shine the light on the more interesting parts  of the city. If you want to save paper, they have an app you can download instead.

Map

I’ve indicated my favourite top things to do in Prague in this map, with things in green representing sites I wish I had seen. You can click this link to zoom in & scroll around.

And there you have it! My Top Things To Do in Prague! What do you think? Have you been to Prague? (Or are you totally convinced to go now?) What was your favourite thing to do there?

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