The Best Prague One Day Itinerary + Map, Tips & Guide

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How to spend one amazing day in Prague

Rich in culture, history, and stunning architecture, the City of a Thousand Spires is one of Europe’s most fascinating places.

Prague has been the seat of power for Bohemian kings, a medieval crossroads for east-to-west trade, and has a somber history of occupation during World War II and communism during the Cold War.

Today, the vibrant Czech capital thrives as part of the EU and attracts tourists from around the globe. You could spend weeks exploring the city and still leave things undiscovered, but if you only have 24 hours, this one day Prague itinerary and guide will show you all the highlights.

What to See & Do in Prague

Interactive Map

ROUTE: Charles Bridge – Prague Castle – Prague Castle Gardens – Manes Bridge – Jewish Quarter – Staré Mesto

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Prague Itinerary Notes

Morning

Stroll the Charles Bridge

Start your day in Prague by strolling across Karluv Most, or Charles Bridge, one of the city’s key landmarks and the most famous of its seventeen bridges.

Charles Bridge is an iconic stone arch bridge that crosses the Vltava River and brings you to the oldest part of the city, Mala Strana, beneath Prague Castle.

Construction of the bridge began in 1357 and finished in the following century. It’s lined with religious statues and dotted with artisans selling local goods and is a must-see Prague attraction.

Top Tip: The Charles Bridge becomes packed by mid-afternoon, so the earlier you begin your walk to the castle, the more you will enjoy yourself.

Admire Prague Castle

From the other side of the bridge, you’ll ascend Hradcany, or Castle Hill, towards the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Prague Castle and be rewarded with a more spectacular view with every step you climb.

Once you reach the castle grounds, you’ll find a queue to go through security, and if you’re lucky you can see the changing of the guards. Book your priority Prague Castle tickets online to avoid standing in line.

Visiting Prague Castle for the first time, you will be stunned by how much there is to do and see. One of the main attractions is the Golden Lane, a reconstructed row of dwellings that once housed castle laborers. It’s located along the castle wall opposite the entrance. 

Make sure to visit the strikingly beautiful 14th-century St. Vitus Cathedral, the final resting place of saints, including Wenceslas, the former Duke of Bohemia. You can also book skip-the-line tours of the Old Royal Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, and St. George’s Basilica, all contained within the Prague Castle walls. 

Top Tip: The ceremonial Changing of the Guard at Prague Castle, which includes the fanfare and flag ceremony, takes place daily at noon in the first courtyard of the Castle. The sentries at the gates of the medieval castle also change on the hour from 7am to 8pm in summer and from 7am to 6pm in winter, but without as much fanfare as the noon spectacle.

The Castle Gardens & Towers

The gardens below Prague Castle are open daily between April and October. They are free to visit and offer respite from the crowds. They are a wonderful place to find a few peaceful moments.

The Royal Garden was founded in 1534 by Ferdinand I and is historically the most valuable of all the Castle Gardens. Originally inspired by formal Italian design, you’ll find statues, box hedging, and restrained flower displays. One of its greatest treasures is the Singing Fountain, one of the most beautiful Renaissance fountains in Europe. 

The Southern Gardens, comprising the Paradise, Ramparts, and Hartig Gardens, are spread along the southern facade of the Castle and provide striking views of the Lesser Town (Mala Strana), Old Town, and nearby Petřín.

The Castle Towers

At the eastern end of the Castle grounds, you’ll find three towers; Daliborka, a castle tower that was once a prison and contains medieval torture devices; the Black Tower, which offers the best view of the city below the castle and is a great spot for a Prague cityscape photo, and the White Tower which is part of the Late Gothic fortifications and was a state prison from 1584.

Cross the Manes Bridge

After you leave the towers, descend the Old Castle Stairs and cross the river to Old Town over Manesuv Most, or Manes Bridge – a perfect stop to snap a few photos of the Charles Bridge upriver.

Named after Joseph Manes, the local artist who painted the images of the twelve months on the Prague Astrological Clock, Manes Bridge was built before World War I and is considered a fine example of Czech cubism.

Afternoon

Visit the Jewish Quarter

The Jewish Quarter or Josefov, is the smallest district in Prague and was formerly the city’s Jewish ghetto.

In the 13th century, all the Jews in Prague were forced to leave their homes and live in this one small area. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to some of the oldest buildings and most beautiful streets in the city.

The Jewish Quarter is full of historic buildings like the Old-New Synagogue, the oldest active synagogue in Europe, which was completed in 1270 and is the home of the legendary Golem of Prague. 

In Jewish folklore, a golem is an animated anthropomorphic being that is created entirely from inanimate matter such as clay or mud. The most famous golem tale involves the 16th-century rabbi of Prague, Judah Loew ben Bezalel, also known as the Maharal, who reportedly created a golem out of clay from the banks of the Vltava River and brought it to life through rituals and Hebrew incantations, to defend the Prague ghetto from anti-Semitic attacks and pogroms.

Adjacent to the synagogue is the Jewish Town Hall, a picturesque building with two distinctive clock faces. Nearby is the Old Jewish Cemetery, a remarkable 15th-century graveyard with over 12,000 tombstones, unlike anywhere else in Europe.

Before you leave the Jewish Quarter, make a stop at the Spanish Synagogue, an ornate house of worship on the edge of the neighborhood. It’s the most modern synagogue in the Jewish Quarter and is next to the Franz Kafka Monument, which honors the Czech writer who once lived there.

To learn more about the Jewish Quarter, our recommended guided tour visits the Maisel, Pinkas, Spanish, Klausen and Old-New synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery. As you stroll, you’ll hear stories about Prague’s Jewish community and its most famous people.

Alternatively, visit the Jewish Museum in Prague, one of the oldest Jewish museums in Europe. This museum oversees four historical synagogues and various other important Jewish buildings and places. You’ll also find galleries housing over 40,000 artifacts and a library with over 100,000 books. 

Wander Staré Mesto

 In Old Town Square or Staré Mesto, you’ll find the final cluster of Prague attractions surrounded by stunning buildings with colorful art nouveau facades, such as Old Town City Hall, Týn Cathedral, and St Nicholas Church.

In the center of the square is the historic Old Town Hall with its famous Astronomical Clock, or Prague Orloj, which was installed in 1410. It is the third oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest clock still operating.

Wander the area as long as you need, but be sure to gather in front of the clock for the hourly show. The masterpiece of Prague’s Astronomical Clock really is a thing of beauty.

Wander the web of passages around Old Town Square and enjoy the exquisite architecture and secret corners. Further east, you’ll find the Gothic Powder Tower, the 65-meter-high historic town gate once a gunpowder store!

For the best experience, join this popular guided walking tour of Prague’s UNESCO Old Town and discover its history and landmarks, including the Old Town Hall with its panoramic tower views and hidden 12th-century underground complex.

Evening

Take a Vltava River Cruise

See Prague from a different perspective when you take a cruise along the River Vltava. Beautifully lit, the city is gorgeous at night, and cruising under the Charles Bridge, with Prague Castle above, is a perfect way to end your day in Prague.

Go Ghost Hunting

Prague has a long and well-documented history of ghosts, legends, and mysteries. Join a local guide on a ghosts and legends tour to hear all the ancient stories in Old Town, visit the underground dungeons and back alleys, and admire some of Prague’s landmarks at night.

Experience the Famous Prague Nightlife

Home to some of the best bars and clubs in Europe, Prague has something for everyone. Go dancing in Karlovy Lazne, the largest club in Central Europe, or join a pub crawl to meet others and let a guide take you to the best places.

If you prefer your nightlife a bit quieter, wander the city at your own pace, enjoying local beers and wines in whichever spots take your fancy. Beer aficionados should go to U Kunštátü in the Old Town, where over 100 beers are on offer from independent local breweries.

Wine lovers should head for Vinograf in Mala Strana, where the focus is firmly on wines from Czech and Bohemia. Ask for a tasting of Czech wines and they’ll be happy to show you the whole spectrum of what Czech winemakers can offer.

Where to Eat in Prague

Café Culture

Prague was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire for over 400 years, and inevitably, the Viennese café culture extended beyond the borders of the imperial city and gained a foothold in Prague.

Cafés were not just places to have coffee and cake; they were meeting points for cultural societies, actors, poets, and writers, and in the communist era, dissenters and plotters also met there.

There are three types of cafés in Prague: the gorgeously ornate and decadent early 20th-century coffee houses, which were mostly shut during the communist era and have since been restored, like Café Imperial; the utilitarian cafés which sprung up post-1948, like Café Slavia; and the more modern iterations which you see in every city across the globe.

Our favorites are Kavarna Obecni Dum, or the Café of the Municipal House, for its sparkling Art Nouveau decor, and Café Savoy, just over the Most Legii or Legion Bridge because we enjoyed a very gloopy and delicious hot chocolate there in March many years ago, just after we got engaged in Petřín Gardens!

Krcma

The best place to have lunch in Prague’s Old Town is Krcma, a traditional Czech eaterie in a vaulted basement. It has a casual tavern vibe, authentic cuisine, and a laid-back atmosphere.

If you’ve never had Czech food before, you’ll find a lot of potatoes, gravy, pork, and dumplings on the menu. In the Czech Republic, lunch is traditionally a bigger meal than dinner. Don’t be shocked if the meal seems larger than you’re used to in the afternoon; since you’re in Prague, you can have a lighter dinner.

Lokal

A perfect authentic dinner destination in Prague is Lokal, a local favorite for light fare with a beer hall atmosphere. As mentioned, a Czech dinner is usually a smaller portion than you’d expect at lunch.

A simple basket of schnitzel and fries with a mug of cold beer is a typical evening meal. You’ll find that locals will linger at tables for an after-dinner beer as well, so make the most of your night in Prague and stick around.

Top Five Prague Travel Tips

More Than One Day in Prague?

If you have extra time in Prague there are a number of fantastic museums that you can easily spend a few hours enjoying.

Hit the City’s Lesser Visited Museums

From the KGB Museum and National Technical Museum on the edge of beautiful Letna Park, to the Museum of Alchemists and Magicians of Old Prague, there are plenty of educational places in Prague to visit.

Explore Petrin Gardens

Petřín Gardens, situated on the slope of Petrin Hill, are the largest green space in the center of Prague. They have hidden corners that provide stunning views of Prague Castle, the Old and New Town, and the Nusle Bridge.

The 510-meter-long Petrin funicular connects the lower station Ujezd with the upper station Petrin via the Nebozizek stop over 130 meters of elevation gain. The original cableway was commissioned for the Jubilee Czech Exhibition in 1891, along with the Industrial Palace at the Prague Exhibition Grounds and the Petrin Observation Tower. Standard public transport tickets can be used, and bicycles can also be carried.

The funicular railway passes through the Hunger Wall, built by Charles IV in the 14th century as part of the city’s fortifications. According to legend, he decided to build the wall to provide a livelihood for Prague’s poor citizens during a famine.

Discover the John Lennon Wall

Make a point to visit the John Lennon Wall. It’s a graffiti-covered spot that’s popular on Instagram and served as a beacon of resistance during the Soviet occupation of Prague.

Take a Day Trip to Terezin Concentration Camp

If you take one day trip from Prague, make it this highly recommended and well-organized small group guided tour of the famous Terezin Concentration Camp with a historian.

You’ll tour the site of the concentration camp and the barracks while hearing about how the former garrison town transformed into a camp. Learn about how Terezin changed dramatically when the Nazis renamed it Theresienstadt and sent the first Jewish transports there in November 1941. 

Prague Practicalities

When to Visit Prague

Because there are so many things to do in Prague in one day, there’s hardly a bad time of year to visit. It’s not a seasonal destination with beaches or ski slopes, but there are pros and cons for each season. 

Spring

Spring in Prague offers a transitioning city to explore, with Easter markets and a blossoming landscape. You may be lucky enough to catch countless events and festivals during your trip to Prague.

Temperatures can fluctuate in the spring, so the weather is good but not optimal, however, the spring crowds are much easier to navigate compared to Prague in the summer months. 

Overall, the shoulder season is ideal for planning your trip to Prague. Late March through May and September through early November will have the best weather and crowd sizes in Prague.

You won’t be lacking in things to do, and you get all the best attractions that Prague has to offer.

Summer

If you visit Prague in the summer months, be prepared for the city to swell with tourists. At this time of year, you’ll have to get up early to walk across the Charles Bridge without it feeling overrun.

Expect queues to enter Prague Castle, and you may not be able to find a table for dinner without a reservation.

Still, this is a great time to visit Prague if you want to experience the famous nightlife with plenty of international visitors by your side.

It’s also the most comfortable weather with loads of sunlight, longer days to fill with activities, and comfortable temperatures to be outside and walk around the historic city. 

Fall

Autumn in Prague is one of the best times to visit the city. During the fall months, there is a noticeable difference in crowd size, and you’ll feel freer to tour the city without long lines and strangers walking in front of your photos.

Because of the large student population, the city has a buzz about it during the fall – it’s like a “back to school feeling” all around town.

Prague in the falls feels more authentic than when you visit at the height of the tourist season. The autumn months may have cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours, but that’s the trade-off for visiting the city with fewer crowds and queues. 

Winter

During the wintertime, temperatures in Prague will be cold, and the daylight will become scarce.

Some activities, like Vltava River cruises, are limited or closed altogether. Instead, they’re replaced with other winter activities like the atmospheric Christmas market in Wenceslas Square and holiday bazaars around Prague.

There are more tourists in the city for these holiday attractions, but it’s still not as crowded as the peak days of summer. You’ll feel a favorable difference in the crowd levels but have less daylight and colder temperatures in which to tour Prague in one day.

RELATED POST: Discover the Magic: 32 of the Best Christmas Markets in Europe

Getting to Prague

Václav Havel Airport Prague, formerly Prague Ruzyně International Airport, is the international airport of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, and sits around 15km to the west of the city. You have several options to get into downtown Prague:

Where to Stay in Prague

Luxury: The Hyatt Andaz Prague is a luxury lifestyle hotel located in the heart of Prague, known for its unique, contemporary design and locally inspired experiences. The hotel is housed in the historical Sugar Palace, blending rich Czech heritage with modern luxury making it the perfect spot for a special stay

Mid-Range: Three Storks is a boutique hotel located in the heart of Prague, blending historical charm with modern luxury. This 5-star hotel sits in the Lesser Town (Malá Strana) area, just below Prague Castle, offering spectacular views and close proximity to many of the city’s most famous landmarks, including Charles Bridge and St. Nicholas Church.

Budget: Hotel Prokop Square is a modern boutique hotel located in Žižkov, a vibrant district of Prague known for its artistic, alternative atmosphere and proximity to the city center. While this hotel offers a comfortable stay, it tends to attract travelers who prefer staying in a more local, authentic neighborhood slightly outside of the main tourist areas but still close enough to explore Prague’s iconic attractions.

Hostel: Hostel Little Quarter is a charming and well-located hostel in the heart of Malá Strana, one of the most picturesque and historic neighborhoods of the city. Between Prague Castle and Charles Bridge, the hostel offers both backpackers and budget-conscious travelers an ideal mix of affordability, convenience, and historic charm.

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