A Weekend in Prague

Last Updated on April 4, 2024

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

By Jim Ferri

I’ll get right to the point: the first time I went to Prague, I spent only a weekend there. But I found it so incredible I’ve gone back again. And likely will yet again the next time I’m in the neighborhood. It’s that comfortable and interesting.

Prague is a great weekend trip since it’s only about a three-hour drive from Berlin, Vienna, or Munich. And it’s well worth the drive since no other city in Europe provides such a wealth of stunning, original, and authentic architecture. All, for the most part, untouched by war.

It’s so stunning that it’s long been a hot spot for directors seeking authentic Old World ambiance. If you’ve ever seen Amadeus, Les Misérables, Mission: Impossible, The Bourne Identity, and several other blockbusters, you’ve already had a sampling of the city.

But the great thing about Prague that sets it apart from other major cities is that it’s a city that’s exceptional in all seasons, not just the crowded summer months.

And since it’s eminently walkable, there’s a lot you can see and do on the weekend in Prague.

Need coaxing? Here’s a sampling of what I enjoyed in just two days in Prague. You’ll likely find our article on navigating the city’s transportation system helpful, as well.

Don’t Miss the Castle During Your Weekend in Prague

Sitting on a hill high above the Vltava River and the city (you can reach it via Tram #22), you can’t help but see Prague Castle.

What you can’t see from below is that it’s not one castle but a vast complex of buildings. Together they’re about the size of seven football fields. Nevertheless, it’s one of the best places to visit in the city.

Once home to Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II, it’s a fairy tale-looking complex. It includes churches, gardens, alleyways, and the Royal residence, making it the largest ancient castle in the world.

Inside its walls are the Old Royal Palace, the seat of Bohemian kings since the 11th century. St. George’s Basilica (the city’s most beautiful Romanesque monument) and numerous other buildings, including the beautiful St. Vitus’ Cathedral.

The castle complex is free, although you must purchase a ticket to view the interiors. You don’t need to pay a fee to see the guards change every hour, with special fanfare at noon.

Prague Castle

Admission: Adults: 250 CZK / Students to age 26 and 65+: 125 CZK / Family: 2 adults and 1-5 children under 16 years: 500 CZK
Guided Tours: (English, German, Italian, Spanish, French, Russian): 100 CZK per person / per hour
Opening Hours: 6am – 10pm daily
Prague Castle

Visit Beautiful St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle

With its distinct spires easily seen from all over the city, St. Vitus Cathedral is the focal point of the castle complex. It’s a place you should definitely see in the city during your weekend in Prague.

Before you enter, however, first walk to its right side to see the “Golden Portal,” originally the main entrance. It’s named for the beautiful 14th-century Venetian mosaic of “The Last Judgment” above it and is used on special occasions.

You’ll find one of the most spectacular churches you’ll see anywhere. When I first entered, I stood for a moment in total awe. Then, I just wanted to absorb the beauty of its Art Nouveau stained-glass windows.

Few people realize that Art Nouveau was introduced during the church’s construction. Although work on the cathedral began in 1344, its completion was in 1929.

In addition to the magnificent windows, the church is also the repository of the Crown Jewels of Bohemia. And it also holds the remains of Good King Wenceslas.

St. Vitus Cathedral

Admission: included with admission to Prague Castle
Opening Hours: Monday–Saturday 9am – 5pm / Sunday 12pm – 5pm
St. Vitus Cathedral

A Must-Do for Visitors: Walk Across Charles Bridge

After leaving St. Vitus, my wife and I strolled about the castle grounds for an hour or so. We then took one of the ancient narrow streets down to 13th-century Malá Strana, the city’s “Little Quarter.”

The area was once home to craftspeople and merchants who served the royal court. We meandered about the place before crossing the Charles Bridge back to the Old Town.

The Charles is a 600-year-old, 1700-foot-long Gothic-cobblestone-bridge built by King Charles IV and lined with Baroque statues of 30 religious figures. It’s one of the most famous bridges in the world and also one of the most popular.

A walk across it is a must-do for visitors, and it’s pretty interesting. As you might expect, more often than not, you’ll find many tourists, musicians, and numerous vendors on the bridge.

If you want to see it in a beautiful setting, visit it early in the morning as the sun rises.

Once on the other side of the Charles, we found it was a short walk to the Old Town Hall. There you’ll find the famous medieval Astronomical Clock, one of the city’s most popular things to see.

Charles Bridge

Admission: free
Opening Hours: 24 hours daily
Charles Bridge

See the Famous Astronomical Clock

Prague’s famous Astronomical Clock is beautiful and ingenious, with a 15th-century mechanism. It tells time and the movement of the planets around the earth, the sun, and the moon via signs of the zodiac.

Every day, on the hour, small statues dance, bells ring, and cocks crow above the crowd that gathers to watch the little spectacle. It’s really not much, but if you don’t see it, you’ll kick yourself later.

Do as we did: watch it and then grab a beer at one of the adjacent cafés. In fact, you may want to watch while you’re having a beer.

Astronomical Clock

Admission: free
Opening Hours: 24 hours daily
Astronomical Clock

One of the Best Places to See in Prague: Old Town Square

When you finish your beer, you’ll find you’re only steps away from Old Town Square. It’s the heart and soul of Prague and one of the most beautiful public squares in the world. It’s also where you’ll spend a fair amount of time on your weekend in Prague since it’s one of the most famous places to see in in the city.

Originally a marketplace, it miraculously has remained pretty much untouched since the 10th century despite numerous foreign invaders and World War II.

Like most city squares, it’s a stage for an ever-changing cast of characters, including musicians, protesters, vendors, and others.

It’s also quickly evident that the buildings surrounding the square were a pleasant jumble of architecture. They include Rococo (Kinsky Palace, home to the National Gallery), Baroque (St. Nicholas Church), and Gothic (Tyn Cathedral). Adding to the architectural cacophony was the row of small Renaissance-style houses that stand in front of the Cathedral.

If you look closely, you’ll see that the church’s architects made the south tower more prominent than the north one, which was the custom of the time.

Old Town Square

Admission: free
Opening Hours: 24 hours daily
Old Town Square

Another Place to See in Prague: the Old Jewish Ghetto

Behind Town Hall, we later walked through Josefov, the old Jewish Ghetto dating from the 12th century, where writer Franz Kafka spent most of his life.

Although a lovely area today, it was razed at the end of the 19th century after many Jews left and it became a slum. It was replaced with a bourgeois district, preserving only four synagogues.

They included the oldest in Europe, the 13th-century Old-New Synagogue (Staronová synagóga)), which is still used for religious services, and the Old Jewish Cemetery.

Whether you’re a Jew or not, walk about this area during your weekend in Prague. Like I did, I think you’ll find it quite fascinating.

The 15th-century cemetery was one of the few places available for the burial of Prague’s Jews. When it ran out of room, graves were added on top of one another. As a result, it’s estimated that about 200,000 are buried here, even though the final burial occurred in 1787.

The area often attracts many tourists. However, it is significantly quieter on Saturday (the Sabbath) when the Jewish Museum is closed.

Old Jewish Cemetery

Admission: The cemetery is part of the Prague Jewish Museum, and you are required to purchase an entrance ticket. Tickets are 420 CZK or 350 CZK, depending on the circuit.
Opening Hours: Open from April to October 9am – 6pm / November to March 9am to 4:30pm. Closed Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
Old Jewish Cemetery

Another Place to See in the City (Which Most People Miss): the Municipal House

After wandering about the warren of little streets in Old Town, we walked over to the Municipal House, a place two shopkeepers told us we shouldn’t miss. It turned out to be one of the city’s highlights and one of the best places to see in Prague.

Prague’s most beautiful Art Nouveau building, it was built 1905–1911 and is where Czechoslovakia was declared an independent state in 1918. It was restored in the 1990s after decades of neglect during the Communist era. You’ll find few places like it anywhere in Europe, or the world, for that matter.

At its heart, the beautiful Smetana Concert Hall is home to the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. But its exuberant Art Nouveau restaurants and bar really caught our attention.

In the basement, we found Plzenska, a beautiful Old-World Czech beer-hall-style restaurant with tile walls and stained glass windows. Next to it was the American Bar, a real old-style American bar where they’ll whip you up a Manhattan, Gin Fizz, or another cocktail of choice. It’s the oldest bar in the Czech Republic and, it claims, the second oldest in Europe.

But the real standout was the elegant restaurant Francouzska, a veritable dining museum of Art Nouveau exuberance, serving French, Czech, and International cuisine. You’ll find it worthwhile even if you only take a quick look at the building during your weekend in Prague.

I’d happily go back for another 48 hours, if just to enjoy a leisurely dinner there.

Municipal House

Admission: free
Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm daily.
Municipal House

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You may also enjoy: Things to Do in Prague…With a Map for a Walking Tour / Cesky Krumlov from Prague – A Great Off-Season Day Trip / Prague in Winter, a Perfect Time to Visit / Best Cities of Eastern Europe for a Day Tour

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