5 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

      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. (3–4 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      St Vitus Cathedral

      The entrance area just inside the door is free to view; buy a circuit ticket to walk the full nave and see the chapels up close. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Svíčková

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

   4. Afternoon

      Strahov Monastery and Library

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

   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

      Step into the side streets for coffee; the terraces on the square charge a premium. (1 hour, free).

   2. Late morning

      Old Town Hall and Astronomical Clock

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

   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

      If you skip the tour, have coffee in the ground-floor café to see the interior, then walk under the Powder Tower next door. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Žižkov

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

3. Day 3: Jewish Quarter (Josefov) and Petřín Hill and Lookout Tower

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

   1. Morning

      Jewish Quarter (Josefov)

      The sites shut on Saturdays and Jewish holidays; buy the combined ticket and allow time for the Pinkas Synagogue. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Petřín Hill and Lookout Tower

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

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Czech goulash

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

   4. Afternoon

      Vyšehrad

      Take metro C to Vyšehrad and walk in through the Tábor Gate, then come down the riverside stairs towards Náplavka. (2 hours, free).

   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. Best for first-timers and culture.

   3. Evening

      Back in Prague

      Dinner: try Fried cheese.

5. Day 5: Wenceslas Square and the National Museum and Dancing House

   Wenceslas Square and the National Museum, Dancing House and St Nicholas Church, Malá Strana, then Old Town in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Wenceslas Square and the National Museum

      Look for the small memorial to Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc in front of the museum. (1–2 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Dancing House

      Combine it with a walk along Náplavka, the riverside embankment just to the south. (30 minutes–1 hour, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fried cheese

      Pubs and snack stands everywhere; also sold in a bun from takeaway counters.

   4. Afternoon

      St Nicholas Church, Malá Strana

      Evening classical concerts here are a good way to hear the acoustics; buy tickets at the church rather than from street sellers. (45 minutes, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Old Town

      Cocktail bars, jazz clubs and big multi-floor clubs, busy with visitors and groups.

Before you go

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

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 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 18–22 hours of visiting over 5 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
• 4 days in Prague
• 7 days in Prague

Questions travellers ask