4 days in Prague

Day by day

1. Day 1: Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral

   Prague Castle, St Vitus Cathedral and Strahov Monastery and Library, then Charles Bridge in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Prague Castle

      Allow 3–4 hours (mid-priced). Arrive at opening or late afternoon; the courtyards are free to walk, and the noon changing of the guard in the first courtyard draws big crowds.

   2. Late morning

      St Vitus Cathedral

      The Great South Tower can be climbed for views over the castle and city.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Svíčková

      Traditional pubs and restaurants across the city; often on weekday lunch menus.

   4. Afternoon

      Strahov Monastery and Library

      Allow 1–1.5 hours (low cost). Combine it with Petřín Hill, which is almost level with the monastery, and walk down through the orchards.

   5. Evening

      Charles Bridge

      Cross at sunrise for an almost empty bridge, then return after dark to see the castle lit up.

2. Day 2: Old Town Square and Old Town Hall and Astronomical Clock

   Old Town Square, Old Town Hall and Astronomical Clock and Municipal House, then Žižkov in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Old Town Square

      The Jan Hus Memorial stands in the centre, and in winter the square fills with the city's main Christmas market.

   2. Late morning

      Old Town Hall and Astronomical Clock

      Allow 1 hour (low cost). The hourly show is brief and the crowd is thick with pickpockets; the tower view is the better experience.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Roast pork, dumplings and sauerkraut

      Old-style pubs in Žižkov, Vinohrady and the New Town, where it is cheaper than in the Old Town.

   4. Afternoon

      Municipal House

      Guided tours visit the ceremonial halls, the Smetana Hall hosts concerts, and its café and restaurants keep their original interiors.

   5. Evening

      Žižkov

      A dense mix of cheap, smoky old pubs and craft-beer bars favoured by students and locals.

3. Day 3: Klementinum and Jewish Quarter (Josefov)

   Klementinum, Jewish Quarter (Josefov) and Petřín Hill and Lookout Tower, then Vinohrady in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Klementinum

      Allow 1 hour (low cost). Visits are by guided tour only; book ahead in summer.

   2. Late morning

      Jewish Quarter (Josefov)

      The Pinkas Synagogue's walls list the names of Czech and Moravian Jews murdered in the Holocaust, alongside drawings by children from Terezín, and the Moorish-style Spanish Synagogue is richly decorated. The Old-New Synagogue, from the 13th century, is still in use.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Czech goulash

      Pubs throughout the city; the version served in a bread bowl is mostly for visitors.

   4. Afternoon

      Petřín Hill and Lookout Tower

      Allow 2 hours (low cost). Walk up through the orchards from Malá Strana or from Strahov Monastery, which is almost level with the top.

   5. Evening

      Vinohrady

      Wine bars, cocktail bars, cafés and the centre of LGBTQ+ nightlife around Náměstí Míru and Riegrovy sady.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Kutná Hora

   About 1 hour by train each way. Getting there: Train from Praha hlavní nádraží, then a local bus or walk.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Kutná Hora

      About 1 hour by train (Train from Praha hlavní nádraží, then a local bus or walk); about 80 km.

   2. Day

      Kutná Hora

      A medieval silver-mining town with the Gothic Cathedral of St Barbara, the Italian Court mint and the Sedlec Ossuary, a chapel decorated with the bones of tens of thousands of people, including a chandelier and coat of arms made of bone. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

   3. Evening

      Back in Prague

      Dinner: try Fried cheese.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Prague Castle and Klementinum before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 nights, Old Town keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Malá Strana ($$$$) suits couples, first-timers, luxury and culture. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–17 hours of visiting over 4 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.1 hours in December to 16.4 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Prague
• 2 days in Prague
• 3 days in Prague
• 5 days in Prague
• 7 days in Prague

Questions travellers ask