Our what to see in Prague guide to the most important places and hidden gems of the beautiful capital of the Czech Republic. Here you will find all the most beautiful places in Prague, for a weekend in Europe not to be forgotten.
What to see in and around Prague? And what to do in this beautiful city of the Czech Republic? You will find everything in our guide of wonderful notes and discoveries, with ideas about what to see in the capital of the Czech Republic designed for you. If you are planning a trip to Prague and want to find out more about Prague’s places of interest, which museums to visit and where to eat in the city: this article might help you. We have collected all our travel notes on what to see in Prague absolutely, with some very special things to do in Prague.
It was like surfacing, breathing and blossoming after a long winter of dark skies, this trip to Prague. our first time in the Czech Republic, the first encounter with a new spring, colorful, passionate, beautiful. Prague is a chessboard of sharp palaces and lilac gardens, boundless meadows dotted with churches and thick shrubs, cut by that tail of a snake that is the Vltava, the sinuous and shining river that crosses it and that, under the harsh sun at the end of April, seemed to us to sparkle, clattering its scales of gold from bank to bank, phlegmatic and insolent.
Prague is not an exotic destination like a visit to Machu Picchu, but it is a daydream, that for a few days we kept between our fingers and that gave us wonderful moments. And, although the city had been there with its kind calls, and the echoes of novels and verses of writers and poets, the sweet notes of many composers, its melancholy light in the darkest years of our recent history, for centuries and centuries, always: never before had we thought we wanted to visit it. We made a big mistake for a long time. Prague is, in fact, a fascinating and grandiose city, discreet and deafening at the same time, because noisy, invincible, is its beauty. But where is Prague and what to see in Prague?
Below are our notes on what to see in Prague and all the places we have found during our three days in this beautiful capital. If you want to know what to do in Prague, but you are also looking for small hidden gems, this travel guide is for you. All you have to do is book your next flight to Prague and start exploring this magnificent city.
Let’s start with short overview of the city and explain where is Prague
Prague is a city with a thousand-year history. A cultural centre of world importance, it is one of the most enchanting European capitals, so much so that it has been renamed the “little Paris” for its romantic atmosphere and the extraordinary beauty of its monuments.
Returned to international tourist flows after decades of isolation under the Soviet political blockade, today is one of the most visited destinations of the Old Continent. With more than a million inhabitants, it offers a wealth of places to visit and a renowned nightlife full of fun and transgression. It is a few hours flight (or, if you like, even by car) from Italy. But precisely where is Prague?
Prague is located in the Czech Republic, in the Central Bohemia region, in the heart of Continental Europe. Lying on the Vltava River that divides it in two, it is the largest city and capital of the nation. It was also the capital of the former state of Czechoslovakia and the Holy Roman Empire.
Breakfast near Námestí Republiky
There are at least 3 places near Square of the Republic where you can have breakfast.
Staying at the Hotel K+K Central, we had included a rich breakfast, of which we have taken advantage for almost every day of stay in Prague. The last two days we have, however, decided to have breakfast in one of the “institutions” of the City, the Café Imperial, and the following day to the restaurant-bistro La Bottega Linka. If the Café Imperial has not made us a very good impression, both for the standard buffet and not very nice, both for the presence of hundreds of noisy tourists already in the early hours of the day, La Bottega has reserved an impeccable service, Cappuccino with coffee cream – something rare even in Rome or Brazil, these days – fresh pasta, fragrant bread with organic jams, eggs with Praga ham and freshly squeezed orange juice. There are several “La Bottega” restaurants in the city, so take advantage of them for some of your lunches and dinners: the quality of the cuisine is excellent!
Josefov, Prague’s Jewish Quarter
One of the things to do in Prague is to visit the labyrinth of synagogues and Jewish monuments in the Josefov district. So we decided to start our tour of the city with a tour of the cobbled streets and historical synagogues of the Jewish quarter of Prague. What we recommend you do is to head to the Jewish Museum in Prague and buy the ticket that allows you to visit all the Synagogues (except the Staronova Synagogue – the Old-New Synagogue) and start the tour of Josefov.
The history of Prague’s “ghetto” is long and complex. From the anti-Jewish progrom of 1389, to the golden age under Maximilian II and Rudolf II, to the great fire of 1689, in which more than 300 buildings were burned and everything had to be rebuilt from scratch. In the 18th century there were both the Family Law (which established a maximum number of Jewish families) and the decree of Maria Theresa, which in 1744 expelled all Jews from the city and the entire Kingdom of Bohemia, threatening again the stability of the Jewish people in Prague.
In Prague you can visit also one of the best Christmas markets
But the sad story of the Jews of Prague could only see its bitterest epilogue in the monstrous events linked to the Second World War and the terrible events that followed the so-called “final solution”. The Jews of Prague ended up in the ghetto of Terezin and from there to the labour and extermination camps of Poland and Eastern Europe. More than 44,000 Prague Jews were deported, and only a few dozen were able to save themselves. A touching memorial to the Czech and Moravian victims of the Shoa is dedicated in the Pinkas Synagogue.
On your tour of the Josefov district, you will visit the Old-New Synagogue, one of the oldest preserved in Europe, built at the end of the 13th century; the Maisel Synagogue, the Klausen Synagogue (once the largest in the district), the Hall of Ceremonies; the Pinkas Synagogue, on the walls of which have been written the names of about 80,000 Czech and Moravian Jews who died in the Nazi extermination camps; the Jerusalem Synagogue; the Upper Synagogue; the Old Jewish Cemetery (accessible from the Pinkas Synagogue and not to be confused with the New Jewish Cemetery of Zizkov, where the remains of Franz Kafka are preserved) and, finally, the Spanish Synagogue, which we recommend you not to miss, because it was built in a flashy Moorish style with rich golden decorations and a really majestic central dome, which will capture your attention.
Statue of Kafka
Right next to the Spanish Synagogue, to the left of the main facade of the religious building, you won’t find it hard to notice the famous bronze statue dedicated to Franz Kafka, by the artist Jaroslav Róna. The sculpture, inaugurated in 2003, is located on Dusni Street, in the heart of the Prague Jewish Quarter, where the writer had lived and usually walked; where he would have spent many of his days. The statue represents a man on a horseback, on the shoulders of a faceless giant, and would be inspired by one of the passages of the novel Amerika, written by Kafka in his youth. One of the City’s many tributes to its most famous writer is among the attractions on our list of what to see in Prague.
The Old Town Hall of Prague
What to do in Prague if not explore his old town? Although it is almost always stormed by hordes of tourists, the historic centre of Prague is a jewel from which one cannot escape. The heart of the Old Town is its Town Hall (Staroměstská radnice s orlojem), which was established in 1338 and stands out, with its Gothic tower and iconic astronomical clock (Staroměstský Orloj), one of the most photographed attractions in the city. From the 70-metre-high Prague Old Town Hall tower you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the Czech capital. From the top of the tower, you can admire the churches of St. Mary of Týn and St. Nicholas, and look into Prague Castle in the distance. Full price ticket: 250 CZK (about 10 euros).
Lunch at Mincovna or Nase Maso
If you are in the historic centre of the city, and you are at the mercy of a traditional place to stop for lunch, you can make tapa at Mincovna, just a few steps from the Town Hall Square, where you can enjoy local dishes, Moravian wines and artisan Pilsen beer in a warm and informal atmosphere. If, on the other hand, you love meat and want to have a taste of Prague cuisine in a place that is truly hipster and loved by young people in Prague, what we recommend is to reach number 39 on Dlouhá Street.
Here you will find the friendly staff of the famous Naše Maso to welcome you and recommend the best, for a quick and tasty lunch. Sandwich with meat, ribs and hamburgers, tartare and pastrami, sausages of all kinds and grilled sausages… Buy your hot dish and eat it on the street with other customers of the restaurant. An informal lunch, typical and very pleasant, before setting off again to discover the city.
Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral and South Gardens
What to see in Prague, if not its wonderful Castle? And the Cathedral of St. Vitus? And the magnificent gardens overlooking the city? Perhaps few people know that Prague Castle (Pražský hrad), this imposing 19th century building (the largest in the world), is today the residence of the President of the Czech Republic. For centuries it has hosted the most important personalities in European history, from the Bohemian rulers to the Holy Roman and Habsburg Emperors. Inside, Prague Castle houses other beautiful and monumental buildings, which we recommend you not to miss.
First of all, the Cathedral of St. Vitus, an important religious site that houses the remains of the head of St. Luke and the tomb of St. Vitus, but above all a wonderful work of architectural art, with a late Gothic style to which are added Renaissance and Baroque elements during the nineteenth century. The thing that stands out most, once you pass the entrance and leave behind the decorations and spires of the beautiful facade, is the charm of lights and reflections, and an infinite play of colors, which radiates from the high windows. Among these, the masterpieces of the art nouveau artist Alfons Mucha.
After leaving the Cathedral of St. Vitus behind, continue your visit of the site around the Castle, heading towards the famous Golden Lane (Zlatá ulička), a very famous street near the Dalibor Tower and the White Tower. Here, at the end of the 16th century, Rudolf II of Habsburg had the residences of the Royal Guards built, which were later inhabited by craftsmen and goldsmiths (hence the name of the street).
The writer Franz Kafka also lived at number 22 Zlatá ulička for about a year (1916-1917). With its low houses side by side and pastel colours, this alley is today one of the most characteristic and beloved in Prague. To visit the Golden Lane you will have to pay for a ticket, or make sure you include it when you buy your ticket to visit the Castle.
The Castle district is also worth a visit for its beautiful gardens (South Gardens), overlooking the red roofs, bell towers and green domes of the city. Surely one of the things to see in Prague that we would advise you to add to the list. Treat yourself to a walk in the green, a good reading in the shade of young and slender shrubs, and enjoy what, in our opinion, is really the most beautiful view of Prague. An enchanting and romantic place, which will remain in your heart. Absolutely to be included on the list of what to see in Prague!
Other places not to be missed within the area of Prague Castle (Hradčany) are: the Monastery of St. George, the Basilica of St. George, the Castle Picture Gallery, the Daliborka Tower and the Royal Palace, the National Gallery (Salm Palace and Schwarzenberg Palace).
Petřín Hill
Be patient and wear comfortable shoes. There is a comfortable funicular to reach Petřín Hill, but you won’t want to miss the spectacle that awaits you along the way with difficulty, until you reach the top of this lush hill that blossoms in the heart of the city. Petřín, as you may have guessed from its Latin name, is a stony and rocky place, surrounded by meadows and shrubs and rose gardens. At the top of the hill you can reach the Petřín Lookout Tower (Petřínská rozhledna), built in 1891, inspired by the Eiffel Tower and over 63 metres high. In the winter season it is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., until 8:00 p.m. in the summer.
All around Petrin Hill there are parks and gardens that we recommend you not to miss, from the Nebozizek Garden to the Seminary Garden. If you have little time available, and you have to choose by force, do not miss the Rose Garden (Rosarium), a wonderful garden with over 12 thousand roses of all species, from all over the world.
Kinsky Garden
If you don’t feel like getting to the top of the Petrin hill, or if you just want to get a taste of the beauty of Prague’s gardens and be enchanted by one or more surprises along the way, visit the Kinsky Garden (Zahrada Kinských), a 19th century work by Prince Rudolf Kinsky. Where once woods and forests were located, today there are green terraces, meadows, paths and gardens covering an area of 22 hectares.
In the heart of the Kinsky Park you will find the Kinsky Summer Palace, today one of the seats of the National Museum with ethnographic art exhibitions. Stroll through the uphill tree-lined avenues and, among city views and lakes set in greenery, you will soon see the sharp silhouette of the beautiful Russian Orthodox Church of St. Michael the Archangel, completely made of wood and transported to this lush hill in the heart of the Czech Republic in 1929, to celebrate the annexation of subcarpathic rutenia (now Ukraine) to Czechoslovakia after the end of the First World War. A wonderful gem to go and find.
Malostranské náměstí Tower
It stands 65 metres high, in the heart of Malostranské náměstí Square, in the Lesser Town district, the Tower of St. Nicholas, next to the baroque church of the same name, which we recommend you visit. You can reach the top of the Bell Tower after climbing 215 steps and from there enjoy a magnificent view of the city. Another attraction to add to the endless list of what to see in Prague.
Kafka Museum
It’s not the most beautiful museum in the world, or at least, it hasn’t made us crazy. Maybe because we would have imagined something more monumental and grandiose, less dark and more engaging for Kafka, but in the end, the Kafka Museum remembers much of the character of the writer’s works, being in fact: twisted, imaginary, claustrophobic.
The Museum dedicated to Kafka is housed in the space of the Herget brick factories. Inaugurated in 2005, it has since been the reference point for all lovers of the great writer and for all those who are curious to find out more about the author of the “Trial” and “Metamorphoses”. Original letters and photos of Kafka are exhibited in dark and silent rooms, in a dizzying journey to the heart of the writer’s existence. Although the Museum is not one of the most beautiful you have visited, if you love Kafka like me, you will be moved by the sight of the first editions of the writer’s most famous works. One of the main attractions to add to your list of what to see in Prague.
Café Club Míšeňská
A few steps from the Kafka Museum and Charles Bridge, you’ll find plenty of cafes for a tasty break. What we recommend is the Café Club Míšeňská, a vintage place that invites you to enter already from the street. In spring and summer you can stay in the courtyard and enjoy an ice-cold beer, among the tables and chairs of this very “hipster” place, very special.
Charles Bridge (Karlův most)
Probably at the top of our list on what to see in Prague stands out him, seraphic and imposing, imperturbable and magnificent, stone embroidery on the Vltava: The Charles Bridge (Karlův most). The name of this bridge, which is over 500 metres long, comes from King Charles IV, who had it built at the beginning of the 15th century.
One of the most beautiful features of the Charles Bridge is the row of Statues of Saints, 30 in all and copies of the original ones, built by the Jesuits in 1700 and that give the bridge that unique Gothic profile, which you will want to photograph from every angle.
Yet, there are many curiosities about the foundation of the Charles Bridge.
According to historians, for example, the first stone of the bridge was laid on July 9, 1357 at 5:31 a.m. (135797531), as dictated by the astrologers of the time, in an attempt to create a magical Aura around the bridge and preserve it over the centuries.
Believe it or not to the legend, the Charles Bridge is continuously immersed in a dreamlike atmosphere and oscillating between reality and dream. The light that is laid on these centuries-old stones at sunset, gives unique moments and you will find it hard to forget.
Colloredo-Mansfeld Palace
Things to do in Prague of sumptuous and classic? One of Prague’s most beautiful attractions can easily go unnoticed, when located in front of the magnificent Charles Bridge and in the heart of an extraordinary city like this. It’s crazy, but it’s just like that. Few tourists wonder what’s behind Prague’s elegant palaces when you cross the bridge from Mala Strana to the Old Town. The Colloredo-Mansfeld Palace is one of them.
Built in the first half of the 18th century by Prince Heinrich Paul Mansfeld, on the remains of Gothic and Roman buildings, the Colloredo-Mansfeld Palace is a triumph of frescoed rooms and baroque splendours. It is very likely that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has also performed here in one of his private concerts, during one of his visits to the city and certainly where Miloš Forman shot some scenes of the Oscar-winning film Amadeus. Today, this Palace of mirrors, gilded stuccoes and frescoes by Gods of Olympus houses the exhibitions of Contemporary Art of the Prague City Gallery.
The entrance costs less than 3 euros. How can you miss it?
The Klementinum library
In the list of what to see in Prague we cannot but include one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, the Klementinum Library. A grandiose collection of over 20 thousand volumes housed since 1722 in what was once part of the old Jesuit University (now the National Library) and which still today collects manuscripts and books from the eighteenth century to the present day.
John Lennon Wall
As in New York and many other cities around the world, Prague has decided to pay its tribute to John Lennon. Following the artist’s death on 8 December 1980, the wall became a symbol of peace and brotherhood and a true point of reference for all young people in Prague in search of freedom, if only creative. The face of John Lennon, pacifist writings, graffiti and lyrics of the Beatles’ songs were painted on the wall of the wall, and are now a small attraction for many tourists visiting the city.
The John Lennon Wall is located in Velkopřevorské námestí, in the so-called “Priory’s Square” and is the property of the Knights of Malta. The Order of the Knights of Malta has tried several times to paint the wall, but without success. In a few days the walls of the Lennon wall were filled with drawings, graffiti and phrases for Peace. Nobody cares about painting that wall anymore and everyone has finally resigned to the idea that those messages of peace should stay there. Maybe forever.
Kampa Park and Kampa Museum
Thanks to the Spring, so frivolous and generous here in Prague on a weekend in late April, we fell in love with Kampa Island, set like a shining pearl between Charles Bridge and the trendy district of Mala Strana. A wonderful space that slides along the flanks of the Vltava, among pastel houses, lilacs, sunny meadows and the two giant children (Bronze Babies) of that genius of David Černý. Absolutely to be included in the list on what to see in Prague!
In spring and throughout the summer, the small Kampa Park explodes with the colours, scents and sounds of children chasing each other on the grass. A walk in the park is a must and, if you have time and are fond of modern art, you can also visit the small Kampa Museum in the heart of the park. The Kampa Museum houses the largest collection of works by František Kupka and other artists from the Eastern Bloc. The cost of the ticket is about 15 euros, so if you are not a fan of the genre, we would advise you to use them for another attraction. It deserves, but it’s for real fans.
Café Savoy
There are many historic cafes in Prague, but at least a couple you absolutely must not miss. Together with the Café Louvre, Café Savoy is on our very own list of what to see in Prague absolutely and one of those ancient places, with charm still untouched, that will fascinate you and leave you a pleasant memory.
Café Savoy is located just a few steps from the island of Kampa, on the left bank of the Vltava River, and has been in operation since 1893. With its elegant appearance and Art Nouveau interior, renovated in 2001, Café Savoy is the perfect place for a hot tea, a cappuccino, a glass of bubbly or just to put something delicious in your belly, from tasty salads, to slices of Sacher-Torte and Medovnik (like Russian Medovik), a simple, yet amazing, layered cake made of honey and nuts.
Dancing house
Another of the top addresses in the city and at the top of the list of international tourists on what to see in Prague is this crazy architectural work, which you should not miss. The Dancing House is one of Prague’s cult venues and a must-see if you’re in town. Designed by Milunić and Gehry, at a sunny crossroads overlooking the Vltava in the Nové Mesto district, it is now one of the country’s main and most touristy attractions. If nothing else, its sinuous and bizarre shape, soaring among the elegant and austere palaces of Prague, makes it an iconic and friendly place. In our shot, all the luck of having immortalized The Dancing House at the passage of an old tram. A perfect moment, fixed forever.
Nová Scená
This modern sculpture-building is part of the National Theater of Prague and was built with about 4,000 blocks of glass, designed by the Prague architect Karel Prager, who could have completed the construction of the building in time for the date set by the City Council (November 18, 1983), “parading” the project to Svoboda and Kuna, originally in charge of the construction of the Nová scéna. Today, with its characteristic and indisputably odd shape, Nová scéna is still one of Prague’s most talked about architectural projects, if you imagine it among the other elegant buildings on Národní Street. On the way from the river to the Café Louvre, you’ll find it on the right. You can visit its interiors, made of glass and Cuban marble, or peer at its shapes from the square in which it was set, like a black man in asphalt.
Café Louvre
If there was only time for a coffee in Prague, we should all make sure it was at the Café Louvre. A jewel of the Belle Epoque that since 1902 still sparkles with its historical signs and the many artists who passed through here, between its still elegant rooms and tables set up well. This place of wonder overlooking Národní Třída (National Avenue) is one of the few remaining “Gran Cafés” in the world and one of the few that can boast a past of glories and illustrious regulars, from Franz Kafka and Max Brod (who were notoriously regulars of other cafes in the city, including Café Arco), to Albert Einstein, who used to spend Tuesday nights here with his colleagues from Prague’s German University.
Monument to Kafka
One of the city’s tributes to its greatest writer is just a short walk from the Louvre café that Kafka, and many other famous names in 20th century literature and science, visited with pleasure. Since 2014, the year of the 90th anniversary of his death, a giant steel head of about 11 meters, the work of David Černý, has been raised in the heart of the Business Centre Quadrio to celebrate the memory. A total of 42 overlapping steel layers rotate continuously, reconstructing the face of Franz Kafka on either side of the square. A show that will only take a few minutes, but to be added to the list of what to see in Prague.
Wenceslas Square and Dinner at Dish
After spending the whole day discovering Prague’s most important attractions, we recommend you take the last stretch of the road to Wenceslas Square, one of the city’s main squares, and then find a small place nearby for dinner. There are plenty of cheap places and restaurants in Prague, along with brasseries, bistros and even more expensive and refined places, but for this evening, after walking far and wide without stopping for hours, we would say that you deserve a super burger! Stop by Dish, one of Prague’s restaurants recommended by the locals, and spend a wonderful evening. Tomorrow we’ll go back to discovering the city!
DOX – Centre for Contemporary Art
If you’re wondering what to see in Prague and you love art and design like me, take advantage of the time left in the city to visit the Museums and Galleries of Contemporary Art in the East of the city. We suggest you start your tour by visiting the DOX – Centre for Contemporary Art, in the district of Holešovice, nestled between residential buildings and old industrial plants of the last century, in part, completely renovated. This squared museum, as white as a milk box (by the architect Ivan Kroupa), owes its name to the Greek word DOXA, or “opinion”, relative knowledge of things, and presents itself as a multi-functional centre dedicated to the visual arts, but also as a place for the investigation of social problems and collective phenomena.
The museum houses works of contemporary art by international artists and can be visited in about 1 hour. With the ticket, you can also have access to the extraordinary architectural work that is the Gulliver Airship, a 42-meter long airship, made of steel and wood, “landed” on the roofs of the buildings of the Museum and become a place for reading, debate and discussion. If you visit Prague and have free time, we advise you not to miss it.
VNITROBLOCK, The Chemistry Gallery and Forbidden spot Gallery
If you are a true art and design enthusiast, there are still two or three other addresses where you can stop after visiting the DOX and include them in your travel guide on what to do in Prague. Vnitroblock is a cultural center housed in an old industrial shed, where you can find cafes, a small cinema, showrooms and kiosks of local artists, fashion designers and booksellers. You can also visit the Chemistry Gallery and the Forbidden spot Gallery for a taste of what contemporary artists (not just from Prague) can do, from graffiti to design, from cooking to the art of tattooing.
Prague National Gallery
Continue your artistic tour of Prague, in the eastern part of the city. After visiting the DOX, it’s time to take a detour to the Prague National Gallery, housed in the Trade Fair Palace, one of the world’s largest trade fair buildings at the time of its construction in the 1930s. The collection of the National Gallery of Prague is distributed in various buildings of the city, but here you will find the largest collection of works of modern and contemporary art of the greatest international artists (also of the wonderful works of Schiele). In all, 4 floors of wonders, a shop and a sunny cafeteria, where you can take something warm and tasty, before getting back on the street. Among the museums to list on what to see in Prague.
Park and Gardens of Letná
What to see in Prague if not the waters of the Vltava cut the city into banks of red roofs and cobbled paths? There are plenty of parks and scenic views to enjoy the city from in Prague, but one of our favourites is Letná Park (Letenské sady). There are 4km of tree-lined avenues, peach blossoms and plane trees, as well as gardens and shady paths, where you can stop for a romantic picnic, overlooking the city from above and securing one of Prague’s most beautiful views. Among the main attractions of Letnà Hill is the Great Metronome designed by Vratislav Novak, which since 1991 has marked time with its long red steel arm and bears witness, where once stood the largest statue of Stalin ever seen in Europe, the “weight of history”.
Eska Restaurant
Whether you are on the first or last day of your trip to Prague, a stop at the Eska restaurant is definitely recommended. Karlín, the district where the restaurant is located, is one of the less central ones, where international Tech companies, industries and offices of young professionals have their headquarters. A district that is finding new life in the creativity of young people in Prague and that these days has also become very trendy.
Eska is a very modern and essential restaurant, with dishes by talented chefs, made with local products. The menu in the restaurant is constantly changing, but you should always be able to find soups, fish of the day and the delicious Naše maso sausages served with mustard, horseradish and freshly baked bread. Don’t forget to try the homemade ice cream: a super treat! On the ground floor you will also find a bakery, a bakery and cafeteria from which to take away fragrant bread, a steaming cappuccino and a slice of coffee cake (as well as preserves, jams, salads, etc…).
What NOT to do in Prague: tourist traps and avoidable behaviour
As in all tourist destinations in the world from the beautiful beaches in Spain to not so famous Sintra in Portugal, Prague is always in danger of running into a travel scams. But don’t worry! Now we’ll tell you where they are and how to defend themselves, as well as giving you valuable advice on how to save time and money and what to avoid.
Before proceeding, a quick premise: Tourist traps, i.e. those commercial activities designed to draw money from tourists, are concentrated in the most visited areas of the city. The highest concentration is in Via Karlova, the street that leads from Piazza dell’Orologio Astronomico to Ponte Carlo.
Don’t leave unprepared: be careful what you put in your suitcase
The Czech Republic has a moderately continental climate, with cold winters, temperatures often falling below zero and fairly hot summers. If you don’t want to risk an illness or to pack useless things, it’s a good idea to find out in time.
Don’t underestimate the danger of pickpockets
Czech capital is quite safe and not particularly dangerous when compared to other capitals in the world. Unfortunately, thieves and pickpockets also infest Prague and you have to be very careful, especially in places frequented by tourists. So eyes open and backpacks, bags or pouch bags closed!
Don’t change the money on the street.
As we all know, the currency used in Prague and the Czech Republic is not the Euro but the Czech Crown (CZK). Probably one of the first things you will do as soon as you land is to find out who to turn to: before changing the euro into kroon check carefully the exchange rate and any commission costs.
Be careful not to fall into one of the most classic tourist traps: Avoid changing your money from people who offer to do so at rates more advantageous than the exchange-currency authorized.
NEVER take a taxi from the historic centre
If you need to travel by taxi, it is always advisable to leave the historic centre: the rates applied are higher than those applied by taxis in the areas immediately outside the historic centre of the city.
Don’t go shopping in Karlova Street
The elegant and crowded Karlova Street can be considered the “Mecca” of tourist traps. Shop prices are significantly higher than in other parts of the city. Better not to buy anything.
No smoking in public places
Since 31-05 -2017 the Czech Republic has been banning smoking in public places, so it is no longer possible to smoke freely in pubs, breweries and restaurants but only in the smoking rooms used. Smoking is also strictly prohibited in the metro, including underpasses.
Do not take public transport without a ticket.
Checks are frequent, for example if you are surprised on the underground without a ticket, you will be taken to the nearest ATM and you will pay the fine with a receipt. If you don’t have any money and don’t have a card to make the withdrawal, the fine will be delivered to your home with an increased price.
Don’t stop in the first restaurant that happens (especially in the center)
Always check that there are prices displayed on the menu at the entrance, if they are not there is not a good sign. The advice? if you have the opportunity do not stop in restaurants in the immediate vicinity of major places of interest. Usually the prices are higher and the quality of service poor.
Don’t buy Prague ham in the vans on the square.
Although it is not easy to resist, do not fall into temptation! The prices of Prague ham sold in street vans, refer to 100g of product risk, therefore, is to pay even €50 for a single portion. For the same amount you can enjoy a romantic lunch or dinner in one of the nicest restaurants in town.
Don’t venture into the city’s large green spaces at night
If you stop in a park while exploring the city and it is late, always check where you are. Some parks are really huge and in the dark it can be difficult to find your way out. In any case, it is better to avoid them at night.
Do not walk down the street without paying attention to the tram!
Do not walk in the street with your head in the clouds! If you do not want to risk being run over, pay attention to the tracks and the tram. In some parts of the city it can be very dangerous.
