Last Updated on March 4, 2024
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Prague is often described as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and I have to admit, that the title is well deserved. With the stunning architecture, cobble stone streets and the Castle up on the hill overlooking the city, you are very likely to get some serious fairy tale like vibes when visiting Czech Republic’s capital. If you are looking for a European weekend getaway, 2 days in Prague is a great choice.
Besides being visually stunning, Prague is also a great value, especially compared to other European destinations. Accommodations will most likely be your biggest expense, while food, drinks and attractions are very affordable. Also, there are plenty of free things to do in Prague, many of which I included in this itinerary.
How to plan 2 days in Prague
Prague is a very compact city, but it does have a good number of attractions, many of which are must see, if it’s your first time visiting. The most popular sights are located in Old Town and Malá Strana, which are the 2 main parts of the historical center, separated by Vltava River. To make the best use of 2 days in Prague, I suggest exploring one side each day.
2 days in Prague itinerary – Day 1
Visit Old Town Square
Visiting Old Town Square is a great place to start exploring Prague. Having grown up in Poland, I’m no stranger to beautiful Market Squares. It’s very characteristic for a lot of European cities and Krakow and Wroclaw often make the list of top Old Towns in Europe. But I do have to admit, that Old Town Square in Prague is one of the prettiest I’ve seen.
Old Town square in Prague is large, lively and it’s the sight of a few of the city’s biggest attractions. That’s where you will find the Old Town Hall Tower with the famous Astronomical Clock and Church of Our Lady before Týn, one of the square’s most recognizable features.
As the heart of the city, the Old Town square is always bustling with action. It’s a great place to just wander around, grab an overpriced beer from one of the pop up bars and enjoy people watching.
Astronomical Clock
While you are in Old Town Square, you can’t miss one of Prague’s biggest landmarks, the Astronomical Clock. It was built in 1410, which makes it 600 years old. The clock consists of three parts: Astronomical dial, Apostles Figures and Zodiac dial. Every hour crowds gather near the Old Town Hall Tower to watch the famous mechanical performance, which is one of the top things to do in Prague.
While the Astronomical Clock is beautiful and quite impressive, I found the performance to be pretty underwhelming. And quite confusing. Maybe my expectations were a bit too high, but I’m definitely filing it under the overrated tourist attractions category. If you happen to be strolling through the Old Town Square at the hour, it’s worth to stop and see it, but I wouldn’t wait half hour for the 1 minute performance.
Climb the Old Town Hall Tower
After seeing the Astronomical Clock, go to the top of the Old Town Hall Tower, for some of the best views of Prague. While it’s of many viewing points, it was the absolute favorite during my 2 days in Prague. The views stretch for miles, and if you visit when the sun is about to start setting, the lighting is magical.
The Old Town Hall Tower is open daily 9 am – 10 pm ( except for Monday 11 am – 10 pm ) and the entrance fee is 300 CZK ( $13 ). Add an extra 100 CZK if you’d like to ride an elevator to the top. You can buy your ticket on the spot or purchase in advance.
Walk across the Charles Bridge
No visit to Prague is complete without a walk on the Charles Bridge at least once. This iconic bridge connects Old Town with Malá Strana ( Lesser Town ). It has 30 baroque statues mounted on both sides. One was especially getting a lot attention. The legend says if you touch the statue of St Josh of Nepomunk, it will bring you lots of luck.
Walking across Charles Bridge is one of the top things to do in Prague, which of course means it gets really crowded. If you want to enjoy without squeezing through the crowd of people, it’s best to visit early or later in the day.
Climb Old Town Bridge Tower or Lesser Town Bridge Tower
There is a Tower on each end of the bridge, Old Town Bridge Tower in the Old Town end of the bridge and Lesser Town Bridge Tower on Malá Strana side. Both are open to visitors, who want to climb to the top for great views of the Charles Bridge and the city.
It costs 190 CZK to climb each tower and the views are absolutely worth the fee. I recommend coming right after it opens at 9 am, not only to avoid crowds, but also save some money. There is a 50% discount if you come within the first hour it’s open ( 9 am – 10 am ). I don’t think you need to climb both towers, but if you do, you can get a combo ticket for 280 CZK.
Prague Swans
Most of the attractions during my 2 days in Prague were well planned, but I discovered this spot by accident. It’s known as Vltava beach, even though it’s not much of a beach, more like a small area by the riverbank. It sits close to the Charles Bridge and it’s the place to spot large groups of swans. Prague sure has its share of scenic places, but this one is one of my favorites. The swans, the river with the Charles Bridge and the city in the background make for a beautiful picture.
You van find Vltava beach close to the Charles Bridge, on Malá Strana side. Once over the bridge, head to the right, past Franz Kafka Museum and head towards the river.
Dancing house
Another attraction you will find on pretty much every Prague itinerary is Dancing house, a building, that sure stands out among all the others in the city. It’s addition to Prague”s landscape sparked quite a controversy back in the 90s, due to its modern design. Some people love it, others hate it, but there’s no denying, that Dancing house is one of Prague’s landmarks.
If you wanted to see something other than old European architecture during your 2 days in Prague, Dancing house is definitely worth a stop. For most people, it’s just a cool photo op, but you can also go inside and visit the terrace, a restaurant and a gallery. You could also stay in the Dancing House Hotel, that opened a few years ago.
2 days in Prague itinerary – Day 2
Explore Prague Castle
One of the most beautiful views in Prague is one of the Castle perched up on the hill, above Vltava River. Prague Castle, or Pražský hrad as it’s called in Czech, is one of the most important sights in the city. It dates back to 9th century and it’s the largest ancient castle complex in the world. It’s a must visit during your 2 days in Prague.
Visiting Prague Castle will take you between 2-3 hours depending on how much of it you want to see. I strongly recommend making it the first stop of the day, as it’s one of the most popular places to visit and it gets really crowded later in the day. Most buildings in the complex open at 9 am, but you can get there earlier and enjoy the gardens beforehand, as the grounds open at 6 am.
PRO TIP: There are 3 entrances to the Prague Castle complex. Head to the one near Malostranská metro station and take the Old Castle Stairs ( Staré zámecké schody ) for an insanely scenic route to the castle.
As I already mentioned, Prague’s Castle is a large complex, that includes the Old Royal Palace, St Vitus Cathedral, St Georges Basilica, Golden Lane and Rosenberg Palace. You can see it all or pick what interests you. There are 3 different combinations of tickets to choose from, depending on what you want to see.
- Circuit A includes: St Vitus Cathedral, The Old Royal Palace, St George’s Basilica, Golden Lane, Powder Tower Rosenberg Palace and Exhibition ” The Story of Prague Castle “
- Circuit B includes: St Vitus Cathedral, The Old Royal Palace, St George’s Basilica, Golden Lane
- Circuit C includes: The Exhibition ” The Treasure of St Vitus Cathedral”, Prague Castle Picture Gallery
More Prague Castle information here
I opted for the Circuit B, which I thought was the best choice for what I wanted to see. Whichever one you choose, just know, that there isn’t a ton of information as you navigate through different parts of the complex. Prague Castle is so rich in history, it’s a shame the ticket doesn’t come with an audio guide. If you are interested in learning more about the complex, this 3 hour Prague Castle Small Group Tour is a great choice. You get to explore the Castle with a local guide, skip the ticket line and the admission ticket is included in the price.
Out of all the buildings within the Prague Castle complex, St Vitus Cathedral was the most impressive one. The Gothic style Cathedral dates back to 1300s and it’s the largest and most important church in Prague. Many coronations of Kings and Queens took place in it, and it’s also the final resting place for many of them.
Golden Lane is a small cobble stone street is a very picturesque part of the Castle complex. It’s lined with tiny, colorful houses, that date back to the 16th century. Back in the day, there were used as houses for the castle guards, servants and seamstresses. One of them was once occupied by Franz Kafka.
PRO TIP: Golden Lane requires entrance fee ( included in both Circuit A and B ticket ), but it’s FREE after 5 pm. Also, you’ll get to enjoy it with far less people around.
Malá Strana
Your visit to Prague would not be complete without spending a considerable amount of time exploring Malá Strana. This is one of the oldest, most picturesque and my favorite part of the city.
The best way to explore Malá Strana is by simply walking up and down the beautiful cobble stone streets. The most famous and what comes with it, the most crowded is Nerudova Street. Named after the Czech writer Jan Neruda, the historic street was part of the Royal Route. It starts at Charles Bridge and the uphill walk leads to the main entrance of Prague Castle.
There’s no denying, that Nerudova Street is a feast for eyes. It’s lined with beautiful, historic buildings. Even though you can’t deny its charm and beauty, make sure to explore other less popular streets in Malá Strana. There are so many quaint alleys, that will be equally beautiful, but less crowded, some even completely empty.
Stop at John Lennon Wall
Not far from the Charles Bridge, on the Mala Strana side, there is street with a wall dedicated to spreading messages of love and peace. Back in 1980, right after John Lennon’s tragic death, young people found an empty, white wall to write tributes to the late musician. Even though people not happy with it try to stop it by repainting the wall white, it ends up being covered by signs and paintings the next day.
Petřín Hill
There are two reasons you might want to put Petřín Hill on your Prague itinerary. For one, visiting this open space park is a great break from the hustle and bustle of the city. And trust me, if you visit Prague in high season, you will need a couple of hours away from the crowds.
However, the main reason most people head to Petřín Hill is for yet another spectacular view of Prague, this time from the Petřín Lookout Tower. The views from the top of this steel framed structure are often described as the best in Prague, which is not surprising given its location on the hill. The resemblance to Eiffel Tower is not accidental, as it was intended as a small copy of the Paris’landmark. You can either climb the 299 steps to the top or take an elevator.
Petřín Hill is about a 30 minute uphill walk from the city center. If you want to save your energy for climbing the Petřín Lookout Tower instead, you can take the funicular that runs from Újezd Street to the top of the hill. You will need to purchase a public transportation ticket for that ride.
Watch the sunset at Letná Park
If you were looking for a great spot to watch the sun set over Prague, head to Letná Park. It’s a great, fun spot on top of Letná Hill, not far from the Old Town. Once the weather turns nice, both locals and tourists head there to enjoy a beer with one of the best views of the city.
You can easily get to Letná Park on foot. From the Old Town Square, take Pařížská Street, which is sort of the 5th Avenue of Prague. You’ll know you’re heading the right way, when you pass all the fancy stores. Continue straight all the way until you cross the bridge, where you run into stairs leading up the hill. After a short climb, you’ll find yourself in Letná Park.
Where to stay in Prague
Even though Prague is not a small city, it is fairy walkable, if you stay in or near the historical center. Both Old Town and Malá Strana are the most central neighborhoods, close to all major attractions. Not surprisingly, that’s where the accommodations are also most expensive. If you want to save some money and don’t mind being a bit removed from all the action, Vinohrady or Nove Mesto are good choices.
Having said that, with just 48 hours in Prague, I would recommend to stay in either Old Town or Malá Strana. Both of these neighborhoods are very convenient, close to most attractions, especially those you want to see if it’s your first time in Prague. While both are very central, Malá Strana is the quieter neighborhood.
Hotels in Prague – Old Town
- Hotel Liberty – this reasonably priced hotel is in a great location, just steps away from the Old Town Square.
- Hotel Josef
- Hotel Kings Court – if you don’t mind splurging on your Prague accommodations, this hotel is a great choice. It’s located in an impressive building, that was once the Czech Camber of Commerce. Hotel Kings Court is a very central location, just a short walk away from Old Town Square, yet removed enough, to ensure it’s quiet.
Hotels in Prague – Malá Strana
- Hotel Pod Věží – boutique hotel in an amazing location, right beside the Charles Bridge.
- Romantik Hotel u Raka – this small, family run hotel is tucked away on a side street, away from the noise of the city, yet close enough to most of Prague’s landmarks.
- Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa – this luxury, boutique hotel is located just steps away from the Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge.
- Golden Well – this beautiful hotel sits beneath the Prague Castle. The views from the roof top restaurant are spectacular.
How to get from the airport to city center
Václav Havel International Airport is located about 17 km west of the city, and it takes 30-50 minutes to get to the city center, depending on which option to choose.
- Airport Express Bus – at 100 CZK one way, the AE bus is a cheap way to get from the airport to Prague’s city center. You can buy your ticket at the Information booth at the airport or directly from the bus driver. The Airport Express Bus runs daily, every 30 minutes and the journey takes about 35-45 minutes, depending on traffic. It has stops at both Terminal 1 and 2, and goes directly to the Main Train Station ( Praha Hlavni Nadrazi )without making any other stops. You might need to transfer to a subway, depending on your hotel’s location.
- Private Airport Transfers – this is a private taxi and a most convenient way of getting from the airport to your hotel. You can pre-book the service online and the driver will be waiting for you in the Arrivals hall.
2 days in Prague – How to get around Prague
- Walking – this is always my preferred way of getting around and it was no different in Prague. If you stay in the central location, you can easily explore the city on foot.
- Metro – Prague has a great and easy to use subway system. It consists of 3 lines A ( green line ), B (yellow line), C ( red line). Tickets can be purchased at a yellow ticket machine for either 30 min ( 30 CZK ) or 90 min ( 40 CZK ), and can be used on Metro, trams and buses. If you plan on taking public transportation a lot, it might make more sense to get a 24 hour day pass ( 120 CZK ) or 72 hour day pass ( 330 CZK ). Be sure to validate your ticket!
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