3 Days in Prague, Czech Republic – A No-Frill Prague Itinerary

More than just its captivating architecture which sends you right back to the medieval era, Prague has a rich and tumultuous history – every castle, cathedral and bridge tells a story. Its cobbled streets and winding river, the Vltava River, strikes visitors with its rustic allure.

This is probably why the Czech capital is the fourth most visited European city in the world.

The first impression I got when I stepped into Prague is that most of the locals there are unsmiling and look fierce. Communication proved to be quite a problem as most locals did not speak English.

In most restaurants, you can smoke both indoor and outdoor, so no matter what, you have to breathe in smoke while eating.

I also had a close shave with pickpockets, so be sure to keep your belongings close to you, and never put your wallet in your pockets!

However, my Airbnb experience more than made up for it. In fact, I would even consider this as one of my best Airbnb experiences.

For more travel tips on what to know do in Prague, I wrote about 16 things you should know before stepping into Prague.

Also, don’t miss out on our guide on where to stay in Prague if you’re planning a stopover in the capital city of Czech Republic.

This Prague travel guide shows 13 places to visit in Prague, including places to go, things to see, and food to eat.

Why should you visit Prague?

Before Prague became the ultimate travel destination that it is today, it was one of Europe’s most feared cities. Tourists and travellers alike were totally scared to visit Prague due to the fact that it was one of Eastern Europe’s most historic cities.

As communism was abolished in 1989, people were finally free to take a glimpse at what this beautiful city really had to offer.

Thanks to the people who wanted to experience Prague for themselves, this city’s tourism really exploded. Apparently, there were about nearly 8 million visitors who came to Prague in 2017 alone! Plus, low cost airlines around Europe have really made Prague the ultimate travel destination.

If you’re still not sold on the idea of visiting Prague, then just think about the architecture around the city built during the Baroque Period; there are buildings, churches, castles, towers and more.

Well, if you’re not really into the whole idea of ‘old’ architecture, then you might like Prague’s gastronomical adventure. There are different pastries and dishes that you can try in Prague, but their must-have is their beer selections. If this still doesn’t make you want to go to Prague, I don’t know what will!

History of Prague

 Prague was a bishopric city and it even held the seat of the Kings of Bohemia. Well, that was from the 10th century, yet even then, this city was wildly flourishing! It was the city where trading was made possible, and merchants from all across Europe went here to get their business done.

During the 14th century, Prague was ruled by Charles IV and the place became Europe’s third largest city; coming third after Rome and Constantinople. Charles IV also built the Charles Bridge, founded Charles University, and began the construction of Saint Vitus Cathedral in the courtyard of the Prague Castle. Charles IV was a great king and Prague really flourished under his rule.

In the 16th century, Prague was still one of Europe’s most thriving cities. Prague was under the ruling hands of Emperor Rudolf II. He then acquired a bunch of artists, alchemists, painters and poets. This was the time when Prague really was one of Europe’s leading culture capitals…but this glory did not last long.

By the 17th century, Prague’s population and status were quickly declining. It was all due to the Thirty Years’ War and due to the plague that spread around the city.

As the city healed, it had attracted noblemen yet again. Prague was full of Baroque palaces by the 18th century and it had regained its status as a European power.

In the 20th century, Prague was picked to be the capital of Czechoslovakia but it had been in the middle of war during the Second World War and the Cold War. Then in the 1990s, the Soviets left the city and Prague really picked itself up from the ashes.

Fast forward to today, Prague has really become one of Europe’s most historical and beautiful cities. It is quite underrated and it really is a must-see thanks to its long list of attractions like the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, the John Lennon Wall, the Jewish Quarter, and so much more!

3 days in Prague is a good time visit this city without feeling hurried or left out.

Best time to visit Prague, Czech Republic

First and foremost, let me tell you that Prague is beautiful all year long. Although if you’ll be visiting on a particular season, then here’s what you should expect.

Spring

If you’re wanting to visit Prague from March to April, then spring will gladly welcome you in its arms.

This is one of the most perfect times to visit Prague since there’s not many tourists around and the weather is extremely pleasant. It’s not too cold but it’s not too hot either…it’s just right.

Summer

It’s normally pretty hot in Prague during May to September. Although, not as hot as Southeast Asia, it’s hot enough for a country in Eastern Europe. There are a lot of festivals and events happening around the city and there won’t be a boring day if you go to Prague in the summer.

So if you’re craving for that terrific festival vibe in Prague, then summer is the best time for you to visit!

Fall

Just like in spring, the weather during the fall season in Prague can be quite terrific as well. Summer has gladly passed and winter is just around the corner, so the wind breezes a cool yet warm feeling. It’s unexplainable!

If you’re wanting to catch Prague in the fall, then you better head out from September to November. Since the summer season has ended, there might be a slump in tourism so if you’re wanting for a cheaper time to visit this spectacular city, then the fall might be the best time for you to go.

Winter

If you’re a fan of the cold and the snowy wonderland Prague becomes during the winter, this December to February is the perfect time for you to visit. It’s not really terrible to be in a freezing cold temperature during the holidays since Prague offers a lot of activities like the Prague Christmas Market and their New Year’s Eve celebration.

These are things that you need to experience in Prague and the only way to do it is by visiting during one of the city’s coldest seasons. It’s worth it though!

As I’ve previously mentioned above, Prague is a beautiful destination no matter what season you end up coming in. The only difference is the surroundings and the vibe that will welcome you. But hey, Prague is Prague and it’ll still be one of the best cities in Europe (if not the world).

So before planning your Prague itinerary, make sure that you know what you’re getting into weather-wise, because the weather can make or break your trip, so be wary of that!

What to do in Prague in 3 days – A Prague 3-day Itinerary

1. Prague Castle

Founded around 880 AD, Prague Castle is the largest medieval castle in Europe and was once the seat of the Kings of Bohemia. Today, the President of the Czech Republic rules from here.The Prague Castle complex covers over 7 hectares (18 acres).

A Changing of the Guard ceremony at the front gates reflects this. It takes place on the hour every hour during the day.

The Golden Lane dates from the 15th Century and has a beautiful, olden world quaintness about it. It comprises 11 historic houses, inside which period scenes have been created to show the life of the artisans who once worked, ate, drank and slept in them.

The Golden Lane

2. St. Vitus Cathedral

This Cathedral is the largest and most important church in the country, and is one of the prominent examples of Gothic architecture – something that you will come across quite a lot while in Prague. I was absolutely impressed when I entered the cathedral and saw light filtering through the stained glass windows.

Part of the Castle complex.

3. John Lennon Wall

Like many others, I was drawn to the John Lennon Wall because of its colourful graffiti. When we arrived, there were people sitting by the wall with their guitar, singing to songs from the Beatles.

But beyond its colourful facade and countless of OOTDs you see on Instagram with the wall as a backdrop, the John Lennon Wall holds a deeper and more symbolic meaning – the wall symbolises ideals such as peace and love.

At the height of the communist regime in the 1980s and John Lennon’s assassination, people started pouring their grievances and their desire for peace through graffiti art on the wall.

4. Charles Bridge

Prague’s most stunning bridge, the Charles Bridge, spans 16 arches and is lined with 30 Baroque statues of religious figures.

The bridge is made of 1,700 ft. (520 m) of cobblestones. Painters and hot-dog vendors can be seen fighting for space with hordes of tourists who themselves are also elbowing one another for the best views of the Vltava River.

If time permits, stop and watch the buskers on the Charles Bridge perform.

We even caught the sunset over the Charles Bridge and it was certainly one of the highlights of our trip to Prague.

5. Josefov (Jewish Quarter)

This town quarter was formerly the Jewish ghetto of the town. It is completely surrounded by Prague’s Old Town. Six synagogues, a Jewish Town Hall, a magical cemetery and the unique genius loci make Josefov a place no visitor of Prague will leave without checking out.

Some traditional Czech craft and statues seen in the push carts en route to the Jewish quarter.

6. Old Town Square

Journey 600 or 700 years back in time at this Old Town Square. It is one of two main squares in Prague.

Wenceslas Square is the other, just 5 minutes walk away. Spot all sorts of different buskers, from angels (who smoke, ironically) to gigantic balloons. It is also the meeting point of most of Prague tours. Thus, be on high alert for pickpockets.

Caught the smoking ‘angel’ in the act

7. Astronomical Clock

Situated right in the heart of Old Town Square, this Czech icon is fraught with meaning and symbols in its various dials. Constructed in 1410, the Orloj is the third oldest astronomical clock in the world, and the oldest one that is still working.

8. Church of Our Lady before Týn

Legend has it that the Tyn Church gave Walt Disney the inspiration.

If you take a close look at the two spires on the church, you’ll realise that they are not symmetrical. In fact, they represent the masculine and feminine sides of the world. This is characteristic of Gothic architecture of the period.

9. Vaclavske Namesti (Wenceslas Square)

Today, the Wenceslas Square is the main shopping street and commercial square of Prague. But back in 1989, the Wenceslas Square witness the historical protest by angry citizens, which led to the subsequent end of communist rule in Czechoslovakia, aka the Velvet Revolution. As its name suggests, the revolution was smooth and non-violent.

10. Farmer’s market

I love visiting farmer’s markets/ fleas. I’ve listed them down in accordance with the location for easy navigation:

Central

• Namesti Republiky
• Sklizeno

North

• Kulatak
• Dobra Farma
• Holeovice

South

• Karlinske Namesti
• Naplavka
• Nas Grunt
• Tylak
• Jirak

I highly recommend visiting those 2 markets in the central. There are plenty of local and interesting finds to discover, like…

11. Dancing House

The Dancing House is one of the more unique things I saw in Prague. It’s the first building built after the Velvet Revolution. The towers are inspired by the famous interwar dancing pair Ginger Rogers & Fred Astaire.

The unique architecture of the building is worth a visit as it stands out amongst Baroque and Gothic buildings which Prague is known for.

Prague, Czech Republic

12. Vysehrad

The Vysehrad is a historical fort located on the right bank of the Vltava River. It is also where many famous Czech historical figures were buried.

What to eat in Prague, Czech Republic

Don’t leave Prague without tasting their local specialty, the trdelnik!

Oh and did I not mention, they have some of the cheapest beers around Europe?

Or did you know about this nearby rival city of Prague, Kutna Hora?

How to get to Prague

If you’re travelling by air then you’ll probably land at Letiště Václava Havla Praha or the Václav Havel Airport Prague. The airport is about 20 minutes so it’s pretty close and you can even take the train instead of commissioning a pretty expensive taxi.

If you’re around Europe and you’re wanting to board a train, then that’s perfectly fine as well. You can even board a bus and a cruise ship, the options are out there!

How to get from Prague Airport to the City Centre?

If you’re flying from Václav Havel Airport, then getting into the city centre won’t really be a problem for tourists and travellers alike. There are different modes of transportations that you can always take since Prague is much like any other foreign metropolis.

You can take the train, a taxi, a ride-share, a bus or you can even rent a car, so let’s lay out the options!

Airport Express

The Airport Express is a bus that visitors and locals alike use in order to get from the airport and into Praha Hlavní Nádraží or Prague Main Station. This service is provided by the Czech Railways and it’s 60 CZK/ USD 2.75 per ride. It runs every 15 to 30 minutes and operates from 05:30 am up until 10 pm daily.

Shuttle Bus

Now, shuttles can be a bit more expensive than the usual public bus, but these ones can take you anywhere! In most cases, these can even drop you right in front of your hotels.

Normally, these can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes depending on how many people are aboard and depending on how many stops you’ll be taking during your journey. Oh, and it’s 291 CZK/ €11/ USD 13, which is a pretty good price!

Private Hire

If you’re into the idea of having a private car to pick you up, then Welcome Pickups might be the thing for you. This is just like Uber but better, since they have a private driver who greets you when you arrive with your name and a bottle of water. Did we say that this is also quite cheaper than Uber? Yep, it is.

Welcome Pickups is a great option for you and you won’t have to worry about not speaking the local language since most drivers have a great command of the English language.

Taxi

Of course there are the normal taxis. Taxi drivers in Prague don’t have the best reputation around, but it’s still an option out there if you prefer.

Normally, a taxi ride from the airport to the city centre costs around 700 CZK to 850 CZK/ USD 30 to USD 40.

Uber

Uber is actually quite popular in Prague and it can be really convenient to explore the city. Although as we all know, Uber’s pricing is not stable since it can go really high during rush hour and then drop really low during lull hours.

Plus, Uber is generally better than a taxi since the amount is fixed and the drivers won’t try to scam you into paying more. You’ll also know that you’re going into the right direction because of the app’s tracker.

If I were you, I’d really stick to Uber over a normal airport taxi. It’s really better to be safe than sorry!

Public Transport

If this is your first time in Prague, don’t worry because they have a really great public transport. You can get around everywhere using it and it’ll only cost you as little as 32 CZK/ USD 1.50. That’s three times cheaper than a subway ride in New York City…how crazy is that?

You can get a ticket from the bus station and you can pay either by cash or by card. It’s pretty easy to get one so you shouldn’t have much problems navigating their public transportation system.

The bus runs every 6 minutes from Prague airport and the ride takes about 30 minutes (or less depending on the traffic).

Although, bear in mind that the public transportation is at a halt from 23:40 up until 04:00. So if you’ll be arriving in between those hours, then Uber might be your best option…

How to get around Prague, Czech Republic

By public transport

As I have previously mentioned above, Prague has a really great public transportation system, so you won’t have any troubles going around the city at all. This was the method of choice when I was visiting Prague.

You can basically go around the city aboard the Prague Metro and it’ll cost no more than 24 CZK/ USD 1.10 for a single ride.

if you’re thinking about exploring Prague for 3 days, I highly suggest you get a pass! For 310 CZK/ USD 15, you can get a 3-day pass. They also offer a day pass for 110 CZK/ USD 5, so it’s pretty affordable! It’s free for children aged 0 to 5.

The Prague Metro is really accessible if you’re wanting to squeeze a bit more of a packed itinerary in your day. It’s pretty easy to use, it’s cheap and it’s really convenient.

If you find yourself lost, download the apps IDOS and Jízdní Řády. These are free apps where you can check out all of Prague’s trains, public transportation and schedules to each one. It’s nice to keep them handy just in case you get tired of walking or get lost.

Just bear in mind that you always have to carry your pass with you since if you’re caught without one, the fine can be pretty hefty. Every single time you board the metro, your passes also need to be validated by being stamped by a machine on the terminal.

The Prague Metro runs all day from 05:00 to 00:00.

By foot

Just like any other European city, Prague can be a great spot to walk around in. I mean, the places to visit in Prague aren’t all close together but the scenery can be pretty majestic in itself.

It can be really great to simply put your walking shoes on and just enjoy a day about town. Plus, who knows what you’ll get to discover when you go walking around Prague? Most hidden spots can only be discovered by walking anyway.

Prague really is one of the most convenient cities to get around in. Not only do they have one of the world’s best (and cheapest) public transportation, the city is also very picturesque to walk around in. You’ll never get bored of this city and you’ll surely find more and more reasons to fall in love with Prague with every single day that you spend there. It’s simply magical!

Also, if you’re starting your great European road trip in Prague, then it’s really best to have a car at the ready. If not, then there really is no reason for you to rent one. The transportation in the city is quite great and there will be no need for you to drive around…trust us on that one.

Prague is a popular destination not just because it’s one of the most affordable cities around Europe, but also because the culture is significantly different from the rest of Europe.

If you only have 3 days in Prague, refer to this handy dandy Prague travel guide for some inspiration on what to do in Prague! If you really only have 2 days to spare, this alternative itinerary might suit you better.

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