One weekend in Prague

Wanna plan a weekend trip to the ‘golden city’, one of the most beautiful historical cities in the world?

Prague’s history dates back over a thousand years and therefore it is filled with architectural gems. And if you were not convinced yet: people say they have Europe’s best (and cheapest) beer!

Good to know before you go:

From the airport:

The fastest way to reach the city center is by taxi. Never take the regular ones, but use an app like Uber or Bolt. It takes you approximately 20 minutes. (Insider tip: if you download the Bolt app and share a promotion code with a friend you both get 150 CZK discount on your ride which means it will only costs 8 EUR!)

However, this is not the cheapest option. You can take a public shuttle bus from the front of the arrival hall to the city center which departs every 30 minutes. A one way ticket costs 140 CZK per person. https://www.prague-airport-shuttle.cz/public-shuttle-bus/

Money:

As you were probably already wondering what CZK means: in Prague, the currency is Czech crown (CZK). An easy way to calculate back to euro is:

50 CZK = 2 EUR. When arriving in Prague, you can either:

Go to a currency exchange office. You can exchange your money for crowns even in the hotel where you stay. However, they too may charge some fees.

Get money from an ATM but be aware: this can cost up to 5 EUR per transaction

Pay with card in restaurants, although a lot of pubs only accept cash.

Where to stay?

The Emblem Hotel (boutique hotel which is close to the old town square) €€€

The Nicholas Hotel Residence €

Hilton Old Town €€

Hotel Maximilian €

The Dancing House hotel €€

Aria Hotel Prague €€€

Hotel Sax €

If you want to experience the city as a local and save some money, I recommend AirBnB in the district Zizkov, Vinohrady and Karlin. These areas are less touristy, cheaper and can be easily reached.

Yes, you’re set and ready to discover the city. But what to do!?

Day 1

Because it’s your first day in Prague, it is time to discover the highlights. Although it is cliche, seeing them is a must during your trip! In the morning, start with a walk through the Jewish Quarter. In this area you will find a Jewish cemetery and synagogues.

In the afternoon: visit the Prague castle: one of the biggest castles in the world. Go there around 12:00 PM, to see the famous ‘change of guards’. Next to the castle, the St. Vitus Cathedral is based which can be seen from everywhere in town.

Lunch: After your visit to the castle, walk up via the cosy streets towards the Strahovsky monastery. Seeing the Strahov library is definitely a must and afterwards, you can enjoy a traditional Czech lunch at restaurant Bellavista (€€) with a view over vineyards and the rest of the city.

Walk all the way down to the Charles Bridge and drink a cup of coffee or delicious lemonade in the courtyard of Style & Interier: an interior design shop.

Dinner: Grab a burger at Sad Man’s Tongue or the Be Bop Lobby Bar (in the Alcron hotel).

If you cannot decide what kitchen you prefer: go to the Manifesto Food market at Florenc to try different kitchens. They have a traditional Czech food stand too.

Drinks:

Letna: this is an urban park based on the hillsides where a lot of skaters hang out. It’s the perfect place to enjoy sunset and drinks with the best view over the city. It’s full with locals, during weekends there is a DJ that plays great techno and there is an outdoor bar (cash only).

Day 2

In the morning, you can visit the National Museum in Prague and after, go for a famous snack: the Trdelnick. This is pastry dough, wrapped around a stick, rolled in cinnamon-walnut and sugar mixture. Walk towards the river via the well known ‘Old Town Square.’

In the meantime, you will pass the 3 ‘islands’ in the Vlatva river. A classic activity in Prague is: pedal boats! You can rent the pedal boats at the island Slovansky Ostrov, close to the National Theatre.

Lunch:

My favorite island is Střelecký ostrov. Have a (warm) lunch on the PonTon boat, with a view over the Moldau river. For dessert, drink a cup of coffee with some sweets from the Coco Van (@cocovanacocovanka): a caravan! After a full day of sightseeing it’s time to relax a little (not during the winter).

Dinner:

Pass by Cafe Savoy to have an afternoon drink as a Parisian and after this walk slowly towards the other Manifesto Food Market in Smichov, all close to the river. From the islands it is only 20 minutes walking through Prague 5 which is a pretty neighborhood. Perfect for Instagram pictures!

Evening tip: at Zlute Lazne, they have an open air cinema during summer nights. This is a little outside of the city center but you can go there by tram or taxi.

Day 3

Time to explore the districts, restaurants and cafes where most locals hang out. Relax in the biergarten at the Riegrovy Sady park or go there and have a picnic with breathtaking views because the park is uphill.

Lunch: Parlor Cafe in Karlin, Cafefin or Coffeeroom in Vinohrady.

Dinner: Sangam Indian food in Karlin, Zluta Pumpa in (Mexican food), Pho Vietnam, Nota Bene (traditional Czech cuisine) or Olympos (Greek food) in Vinohrady.

Drinks: Cocktails at the Anonymous Shrink Office bar (speakeasy), Lokal Hamburk or Kaserna in Karlin, which used to be a fire station. During summer, they host open air cinemas as well.

Public transport:

Traveling through Prague is very easy: by taking the tram you can reach every district and the city center fast and in style if you are lucky to be in an old one which you see on pictures of Prague all the time! The trams start running at 4:30 AM and go every 10 minutes until midnight. Tram 22 is the best option if you would like to see Prague’s highlights.

Other options are:

• Metro, 3 lines only which makes it difficult to get lost

• Step is definitely the most fun (download the Lime app)

• By bike, the most sustainable (download the Freebike or Rekola app)