The largest and most populated city in the Czech Republic, Prague is a beautiful city with everything from medieval castles, hearty cuisine to windy cobblestone streets. This city is one of the most affordable destinations in Europe and great place to visit no matter what season it is. Keep reading if you are planning a weekend break to Prague for a list of things to do!
Getting from the airport to the city centre for your Weekend Break to Prague:
Like most destinations, the easiest option to get from the airport to the city centre is by taxi. However, in Prague this is quite expensive (around €30 depending on where you need to go). You also need to be aware of taxi scams in the city if you decide to just grab one at the airport terminal. The best thing to do when booking a taxi is to book it through the hotel before you arrive. Taking a taxi is quickest option in Prague and the journey is usually 20 minutes into the centre.
A cheaper option is to take the bus and then the metro. It only costs 32CZK or €1.50 euros per person and takes about 45 minutes. At first is seems more complicated than it is but once you figure it out it’s nice and easy. I have put together a step-by-step direction below to make it easy to follow:
- Exit Arrivals at Václav Havel Airport (either Terminal 1 or 2)
- Cross the road to the bus station and look for bus number 119
- Buy your ticket at the ticket machine (you can pay with card)
- Select the ticket option for 90 mins and wait for it to be printed
- When you get on the bus you need to put the ticket in the machine to validate it
- Stay on the bus until the last stop (named Nádraží Veleslavín)
- Get off the bus here and walk towards the metro station
- You do not need to buy another ticket as the same one for the bus works here
- Look for the train going into the direction of Centrum or Depo Hostivar) and go to the platform
- Embark the train and get off at stop Mustek or Staromēstká (both are in the city centre)
Things to do during your Weekend Break to Prague:
Admire the Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square:
The first thing you should do in Prague is visit the famous clock in the middle of Old Town Square. It doesn’t matter whether you visit it at night or during the day, I recommend doing as it is so fascinating to see! The clock was built in 1410 and has so many features – the outer ring is the zoological signs; the second ring tells what hour it is but in Roman numerals and the inside changes from daylight to night time. There is so much more to the clock, and you could stand looking at it for ages!
Every hour you will notice crowds gathering around the clock to see the ‘show’ which is when the figures within the clock come out and dance. Right beside the clock you can visit Old Town Hall for any tourist information and go up the elevator to the viewing gallery. From here you get a bird’s eye perspective of the city and it costs 250CZK or around €10.
Walk Across Old Charles Bridge:
It’s not a trip to Prague unless you have walked across Charles Bridge! This medieval bridge spans over the Vltava River and was built back in in 1357. During the day the bridge gets quite crowded but there are some local artists and musicians with stalls on the bridge and the atmosphere is great!
When you get to the other side of the bridge I recommend trying out the local Czech treat Trdlo as there is a great café named Krusta Artisan Bakery on the right when you finish the bridge walk. You pick what base you would like, choose between ice-cream or cream along with lots of choice for sauces and toppings! You can also visit the Lennon wall which is just a 5 minute walk from here. John Lennon never visited the wall but since the 1980’s it is filled with his inspiring lyrics, symbolising freedom, free speech and peace.
Explore Prague Castle in the morning time:
Prague Castle is so beautiful and the most popular tourist attraction in the city. Because of this there are usually a lot of crowds so I recommend visiting early in the morning if you can. The gates open at 10AM every day and you don’t need to pay in to just roam around the grounds. Inside the castle walls you will find Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral, Romanesque Basilica of St. George, a monastery and several palaces, gardens and defence towers.
St. Vitus Cathedral is the biggest attraction of the Prague Castle because of its high glass mosaic windows that line up the walls of the church and the gothic architectural style of the building. I recommend seeing this during your visit and also sit in for a coffee in Lobkowicz Palace Café. They have an outdoor terrace where you can sip on your hot beverage and admire the stunning views looking down at the city and the Renaissance-style courtyard. The café is open every day from 10AM-6PM.
Check out the Dancing House:
The famous unique building is a must see during your weekend visit to Prague. Located in the New Town you won’t miss this building as it stands out with its curvy outlines. It is meant to look like two people dancing which is where it gets its name as the Dancing House. The building was constructed between 1992-1996 and is particularly striking in the city centre because it is a modern building surrounded by historic architecture.
The top floor of Dancing House is the only part of the building open to the public, and where you will find the Ginger & Fred Restaurant. They have a great international menu and while eating your meal you can take advantage of the magnificent views over the river, to Charles Bridge, and to Prague Castle.
Try out some traditional Czech cuisine:
When in Czech Republic, try out some local food and I promise you will not be disappointed! The restaurant that we tried was named Staromáček and located in Old Town Square. They have an impressive menu with Goulash served in a loaf of bread (a must try) and other dishes such as epřo knedlo zelo (roasted pork).
The best part about this restaurant is their special wine Medovina. This wine has a sweet taste and is served to you in a very large wine glass after the waiter heats it up on a blue flame. You need to leave it for a few minutes before tasting it because it will still be hot! I took the red Medovina, as I like a sweet tasting wine, and really enjoyed it.
Go out for dinner and for drinks:
Dinner: There are a lot of other great restaurants in the city that aren’t specialising in local Czech cuisine and sometimes it’s nice to stick to your favourite classic food while you’re away! The best restaurant we stumbled upon was El Gaucho Steakhouse. The service was incredible, and the food was reasonable for the quality. Below is a list of other highly recommended restaurants in the city,
- Staromáček – traditional Czech restaurant
- T- Anker – Good lunch spot with great views
- Matylda – Café on the water with amazing views
- Restaurace Mincovna – Cheap Czech food
- Ambiente – Restaurant bar area close to Charles bridge.
- Vallmo – Relaxed restaurant with wide variety menu
- Oliva Verde – Italian food with outdoor seating
- Pipca – Rotisserie chicken bistro
- Bellevue – Elegant restaurant with view of the PragueCastle,
- Bistro 8 – Modern French-style bistro
Drinks: After you’ve had a nice dinner in the city the next step is to visit a local bar! If you are visiting in winter, I recommend having some mulled wine or ‘Hot Wine’ as most Czech places call it. Old Town Square will be filled with different stalls where you can get a takeaway cup and most restaurants will have it on the menu too. Since Prague is quite cold in the winter it’s a great way to heat up and also to feel festive! Here is a list of some good bars and pubs to visit in Prague:
- L’ Fleur Mixology and Champagne – classy bar for cocktail and champagne lovers
- The Alchemist Bar – Good atmosphere and great selection of drinks
- The Banker’s Bar – 1920’s themed cocktail bar
- Letna Beer Garden – beer with a view
- Hemingway Bar – Cosy bar with good quality cocktails
- London Underground Bar – Live music at the weekends and cheap drinks
- Déjávu Music Bar Prague – Cosmopolitan bar with music
- Absintherie Franz Kafka – bar where you can try drinks with Absinthe!
- Caffrey’s – Irish bar in Old Town
- The Dubliner – Another Irish bar because there can never be too many!
Prague is certainly a beautiful city break to visit at any time of the year! It is one of the cheapest cities to visit in Europe and one of my favourite that I have visited. If you need inspiration for another city break in Europe, check out my Lisbon blog post!
Thanks for reading,
Jess x
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