Last Updated on December 4, 2020
JC and I went to Prague in August for a quick summer weekend getaway. We decided to do a city escape rather than a seaside trip, as we had just gone on a beach vacation in July to Croatia. It wasn’t too hot (it even rained one day), around 24 celsius during the day and 18 celsius in the evening, although August is the hottest month of the year in Prague. I was able to wear summer dresses during the day and cover-up with a denim jacket in the evening. The city is beautiful and picturesque with enough historical sites to occupy a full weekend. Read below to find out how to spend a weekend in the city of Prague, including what to do and where to eat.
Practical Information
How to Get to Prague
Prague can be reached directly by plane or train from within Europe. From Berlin, you can do as we did, and take the train, which is 4 1/2 hour journey one-way direct. We bought our tickets directly from the Czech Train website as it is cheaper than booking with third party sites such as Omio. Beware that if you do not pay to reserve a seat you are not guaranteed a seat on the train. On the way to Prague we managed to grab seats, but on the way back we had to stand for almost one hour before we could find free seats. Lesson learned — reserve your seats!
They Don’t Use the Euro
Something that you may not realize before traveling to Prague or elsewhere in the Czech Republic, is that, even though they are part of the European Union, they do not use the Euro as their currency. Instead, they have the Czech Crown (CZK). In general, Prague is quite inexpensive, and the exchange rate is very favorable to the EUR (~1 EUR=26 CZK).
Where to Stay in Prague
Prague is divided into districts: Prague 1, Prague 2, Prague 3, etc. The historic Old Town is in Prague 1. We stayed in an Airbnb for 29 EUR a night (private room) in Prague 2. We were 27 minutes walking from Old Town which was definitely doable for the price we were paying. If you want to save some money, I would suggest staying outside of Prague 1. However, if you want to stay near all the main sites and in the most beautiful area, I would recommend staying in Prague 1. Also, take into account the weather. We visited Prague in August, so the weather was perfect for walking. But if you are visiting in the winter you may want to stay closer to the touristic spots. Prague gets very cold after all!
How to Spend a Weekend in Prague: What to Do
Take in the Splendor of the National Museum
If you stay in Prague 2 and are making your way walking to Prague 1, you will pass the National Museum of Prague. Even if you don’t plan to go in, it is worth it to stop for a photo in front of the magnificent fountain in front of the museum.
Head to the Old Town Square
The oldest and most popular touristic square in Prague is the Old Town Square, located in the Prague 1 district. Visitors flock here to view the Astronomical Clock which is the oldest operating clock in the world, dating back to 1410. The gothic Church of Our Lady before Týn is another popular attraction in the square with its fantastically ornate exteriors. Beware that the square is often overcrowded, especially around the clock tower, with tourists fighting to get a glimpse of the 12 apostles when the hour strikes.
Visit the Prague Castle Hill
One of the most beautiful touristic sites in Prague is the Prague Castle Hill. It is the largest coherent castle complex in the world and was built in the 9th century. The complex is a mixture of churches, gardens, palaces and galleries. Entrance to the castle grounds is free, but if you would like to enter any of the buildings in the complex you must buy a ticket. One of the most beautiful buildings in the castle complex is the St. Vitus Cathedral, a gorgeously ornate Gothic cathedral. A trip to the Prague Castle grounds is worth it just for the views of the city from the hilltop.
Go to Golden Lane at the Prague Castle
If you are making a trip to Prague Castle Hill, you absolutely must visit the iconic Golden Lane. You do have to pay to enter Golden Lane (there are guards checking tickets at the entrance). The houses on Golden Lane were traditionally inhabited by the servants of the castle. Some of the houses are decorated inside with artifacts of the era; you can view the interiors with your admission ticket to Golden Lane. You can also view the Prague Castle armory, located in one of the houses on Golden Lane. It is easy to see why Golden Lane is such a tourist hit — the brightly colored miniature houses make for great photos. You can see just how short the entryways are in the photos (for reference, I am 168 cm or 5’6″ and JC is 178 cm or 5’9″).
Walk the Waldstein Palace and Gardens
Ten minutes walking from the Prague Castle is the Waldstein Palace and its gardens, which is the seat of the Czech Senate. Entrance is free, and it is a nice place to walk and enjoy the greenery on a beautiful day.
Take in the views from the Petrin Tower
The Petrin Tower in Prague, or Eiffel Tower look-a-like, is 64 meters tall and was built in 1891. Because of the hill it sits upon, it actually reaches an altitude higher than that of the Eiffel Tower in Paris at 378 meters above sea-level (but it is not structurally taller than the Eiffel Tower!). You can climb the 299 steps to the top observation deck or take the elevator and be treated to amazing views of the city from above. There was a huge queue when we went, so we chose just to take some pictures from ground level.
Pose in front of the John Lennon Wall
If you are a Beatles fan, or even if you are not, another iconic site in Prague is the John Lennon wall which is covered in graffiti with messages of peace and love and became a tribute to the artist in the 1980s.
Spot House Signs in Prague
Before house numbers were introduced in Prague in 1770, houses were identified symbols such as animals. It is fun to spot some of these signs as you wander the streets of Prague.
Cross the Charles Bridge at Sunset
Arguably the most iconic structure in Prague is the Charles Bridge. Construction on the bridge was finished in the 15th century and today it serves as a place for street artists to sell their work as well as connect visitors walking from Prague Old Town to the Malá Strana area on the other side of the Vltava river. From the bridge you can see the Prague Castle in the distance.
How to Spend a Weekend in Prague: What & Where to Eat
Eat at Prague Medieval Tavern en route to the Prague Castle
On our way to the Prague Castle, we stopped at the Prague Medieval Tavern for lunch. The place is dark and you eat by candlelight, just as you would during medieval times. The waitresses are dressed in traditional medieval dress and are incredibly rude– they actually go around hitting customers with a whip! While it sounds bizarre, it is an incredible experience! Food is what you would expect — soup in bread bowls, lots of meat– although, they do have one vegetarian plate. All in all, we highly recommend you make a stop here during your weekend in Prague!
Enjoy a beer and traditional Czech food at Strahov Monastery Brewery
We enjoyed lunch our second day in Prague at the Strahov Monastery Brewery. The restaurant is a restored 17th century brewery serving traditional Czech food and beers complete with outdoor garden. The seating inside is simple, consisting of wooden benches. We shared a wooden bench with another group. The place was packed! We waited at least 20 minutes for a table. Once finally seated, JC ordered svíčková, which is a very traditional Czech dish with beef in a cream sauce, and I had a vegetarian salad with camembert cheese (one of the few veggie options).
Have Trdelník or Chimney Cake for dessert
Trdelník, or Chimney cake, is a traditional sweet made in Eastern Europe made of dough grilled on a stick which is then topped with sugar. While walking to Old Town Prague we treated ourselves to a trdelník at an outdoor stand. You can also find shops throughout Old Town selling them, even some with ice cream inside, which is heavy but utterly delicious.
And in the below video, you can see JC trying trdelník with ice cream inside.
And that concludes our list of everything to do and eat for a summer weekend away in Prague! Have you been to Prague? Did you go in the summer or another time of the year? We have also heard that Christmas time is a great time to visit for the Christmas Markets. Please tell us if you have been in the comments below. And please be sure to comment with any other suggestions for how to spend a weekend in Prague!
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