Prague in 5 Days: tips, what to see, and much more

I confess that five days to enjoy Prague is my perfect itinerary concept. When you get the right order of attractions to visit and events to attend you can not only see and do all that Prague has to offer, but you can also visit nearby attractions and towns. Want to know how to achieve this? Use the full five-day guide, from morning to evening, that I've put together for you.

Spend the first day of your Prague adventure exploring the neighbourhoods located on the western section of the river: Hradčany, known for housing Prague Castle and Malá Strana, famous for its antiquity and beauty.

Explore Prague Castle and the surrounding area

One of the best ways to start exploring the wonders of Prague is to visit one of its most iconic landmarks: the Prague Castle complex. The entrance queue is often long at certain times of the year so it can be a wise decision to buy tickets to Prague Castle before your trip or to book a guided tour of Prague Castle which usually includes an entrance pass.

Inside the walls you will find several attractions of great historical value such as St. George's Basilica and Convent, St. Vitus Cathedral, the former Royal Palace and Prague's iconic Golden Alley.

You can also take a tour around Prague Castle where you will find some of the most beautiful mansions and medieval houses in the city.

• Opening hours: the monuments are open to the public from November to March, daily from 9am to 4pm, and from April to October daily from 9am to 5pm.
• Entrance fee: around €16 per person.
• Duration of the visit: 2 or 3 hours.

Spend the afternoon getting to know Malá Strana

You can choose to have a nice lunch in one of the many restaurants located in the Castle Quarter and then start your walking tour of Mala Strana, famous for being one of the oldest areas of Prague and home to many attractions of great historical and cultural interest. The best part is that it's not too big an area so you can walk from one point to another. Although there is a lot to see and do in this area I will give you a list of the must-see attractions in Malá Strana:

• Small Town Square: the favourite meeting point of its citizens since its very foundation.
• Its churches: located in the vicinity of the Square you will find the two most emblematic religious monuments of the area, the Church of Our Lady of Victory and the Church of St. Nicholas.
• Kampa Island: the most beautiful and most visited garden area in Prague.
• John Lennon's Wall: a spontaneous work of art that served as a symbol of resistance to the Soviet regime's impositions on the Czech population.

Enjoy the sunset at the Petrin Tower

Located within the boundaries of Malá Strana, Petrin Mountain is a large green lung full of nature. I recommend ending your first day in Prague by exploring the surrounding area. Inside Petrin Hill you will find two attractions worth seeing: the Mirror Maze and the Petrin Tower. The Tower is one of the best places to get a panoramic view of Prague, so take your camera with you and wait for the sunset to capture some truly breathtaking photographs.

Spend your second day exploring the oldest neighbourhoods on the east bank of the river: Staré Město and Josefov.

Take a tour of the Jewish Quarter

Start the morning of your second day in Prague with a tourof Prague's Jewish Quarter. It is worth walking through its streets to learn about the history of the Jewish people in Czechoslovakia and also to admire their traditions and culture. Inside the Jewish Quarter stop to visit the Old Jewish Cemetery and the six synagogues. A tour of this cemetery for a few hours is highly recommended.

• Opening hours: from 9 am to 4.30 pm (November to March) and until 6 pm (April to October). The cemetery is closed on Saturdays.
• Entrance fee: approximately €4.5. You can get a pass to visit all the synagogues and the Cemetery for an additional fee.
• Duration of the visit: 2 to 3 hours.

Get to know the best of Staré Město

No visit to Prague would be complete without a tour of Prague's Old Town. You can spend the afternoon admiring the architecture and strolling along streets such as Kaprova, considered one of the most beautiful in the centre. As for architectural and historical landmarks in the Old Town you should visit:

Clementrium

After the Castle, the Clementinum is the second largest complex in the city. Inside you will find the Prague National Library, considered one of the most beautiful in the world thanks to its baroque interiors. There is also the Astronomical Tower, famous for being used for astronomical observations since the 18th century.

• Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday from 10 am to 5 pm; Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 5.30 pm.
• Admission fee: approximately €13 per adult.
• Duration of the visit: about one hour.

Old Town Square and surroundings

An 8-minute walk from the Clementinum will bring you to the Old Town Square. Around the square you should see the old town hall building with its Astronomical Clock Tower and the Church of Our Lady of Týn.

Sunset at the Powder Tower

Prague is called the city of a hundred towers for a reason: you will find several and all of them equally impressive. However, the Powder Tower is one of the most famous and most historic. If you arrive before sunset you can climb to the top and get fantastic views of the city.

• Opening hours: daily 10:00-18:00 (November to February). Every day from 10:00-20:00 (March and October). Every day from 10:00-22:00 (April-September).
• Admission fee: approximately €9.50 per person.

Enjoy a relaxing evening with tapas and beers

After spending the day touring the streets and monuments, spend the evening relaxing and enjoying a night of tapas and beer in one of its traditional pubs. This is a great opportunity to taste some of the best Czech craft beer in the world. Here is a list of places to eat good food and enjoy good Czech beer in the vicinity of Staré Město.

• U Zlateho Tygra or Oroc Tiger In Husova 228/17.
• Krcma En Kostecna 925/4.
• Lokal Dlouhaaa En Dlouha 731/33.
• U Parlamentu On Valentinska 52/8.

On the third day of your trip you will visit the ghetto on the outskirts of Prague, walk across the famous Charles Bridge and visit each of the statues.

Terezin Concentration Camp

As in many other European cities, the Second World War marked a turning point in the history of Czechoslovakia. In the vicinity of Prague, the backdrop to this dark episode was the Terezin Concentration Camp.

Established in 1941, the Theresienstadt Ghetto was in operation for three years, during which time it was mainly used as a transit camp to the main extermination centres in Poland and Belarus. The poor living conditions and forced labour were designed so that older or unhealthy Czech Jews would die here before arriving at other, if crueler, destinations.

If you are interested in the harrowing history of the Second World War, this is an excursion not to be missed. The Theresienstadt ghetto is less than an hour from the centre of Prague and you will find several companies offering tours to Terezin.

• Price: approximately €55 per person.
• Time: usually in the morning.
• Duration of the experience: With the transfer to and from the meeting point, reserve about 5 hours of your itinerary.
• More information: Day Trips to Terezin from Prague.

Go to Charles Bridge before sunset

After visiting the Terezin concentration camp you will arrive in Prague with enough time to see some of the sights that you may not have had time to admire in the previous days. If this is the case, make the most of the late afternoon and then head to Charles Bridge to walk along it and watch the sunset over the waters of the Vltava River.

We are talking about the oldest and most beautiful pedestrian bridge in all of Prague; it serves and has historically served as a connection point between two of the most beautiful and touristy areas: Staré Město and Mala Strana. Due to its privileged location hundreds of tourists cross it every day several times a day.

However, the Charles Bridge is, in itself, just another tourist attraction in Prague. Beautifully decorated with approximately 30 statues, you can walk around and admire each of them. Pay special attention to the Statue of Saint Nepomuk, a national martyr condemned by the King and whose statue is supposed to grant wishes. Due to its privileged location it offers incredible visuals - bring your camera ready!

Take the Prague Ghost Tour

One of the best experiences you can have in Prague after sunset is to <a href="link|text=take a "Prague ghost tour"|element=pa-1034">take a "Prague ghost tour"</a> through the historic centre. With the night lighting, the monumental Czech gothic buildings become even more impressive and if you accompany this with scary stories about local beliefs and legends you'll have a night to remember!

You can find tour options in English, however I recommend booking as far in advance as possible as the groups fill up fast. Some of the stops on the tour include: walking through the old alleys of the Jewish quarter, visiting small churches, convents and medieval houses.

• Timetable: usually starts after sunset to get to know Prague by night.
• Price of the experience: from €19 per person.
• Duration: about 2 hours of sightseeing.

On day 4 in Prague you will see the best of Nové Město, learn about Prague's modern history and end the evening with a boat trip.

In the morning explore Wenceslas Square and the surrounding area.

Wenceslas Square Spend the morning of your fourth day exploring the surroundings of Wenceslas Square. An elongated square at the foot of the National Museum, it has been the scene[of protests and revolutions](escenario de protestas y revoluciones){target="_blank" rel="noopener"} that have defined Prague's modern history. In the immediate vicinity you will find a variety of commercial establishments including luxury hotels, fashion boutiques and fine restaurants.

National Museum of PragueLocated on the southern side of the Square, the National Museum of Prague is the largest museum in the city. Due to its impressive zoology collection it is a fun and educational stop when visiting Prague with children. The building itself is an attraction due to its Renaissance façade and fabulous interiors.

• Opening hours: daily from 10am to 6pm.
• Admission fee: approximately €10 for the entrance ticket.
• Duration of the visit: about two hours.

Grand Europa HotelBefore leaving Wenceslas Square head to the Grand Europa Hotel to admire one of the most beautiful Art Nouveau façades in the whole city. Take some pictures and continue your tour of Nové Město.

Explore the Vyšehrad Fortress

Spend the afternoon exploring and getting to know the Vyšehrad quarter, its famous fortress and the important architectural works inside. From the square you will find several transport alternatives, including the use of the metro or taxi; however, I advise you to use the tram: it is fast, cheap and on the way you can enjoy the beautiful views that the southern part of the city has to offer. From the square itself, take line 14 at Václavské náměstí station and get off at Ostrčilovo náměstí station, just a few minutes' walk from the Vyšehrad Fortress.

Perched atop a small hill, the fortress offers spectacular views of the river and the city. When touring the interior and its beautiful medieval buildings, be sure to pay attention to the following: the famous Vyšehrad Gallery, the St. Martin's Rotunda, the underground corridors and of course the Brick Gate.

• Opening hours: from November to March from 10 am to 5 pm; from April to October from 10 am to 6 pm.
• Price: approximately €5.

Take a night cruise on the Vltava River.

Climb aboard a boat in Prague harbour for a delicious dinner, accompanied by live music and spectacular visuals of the city of Prague at dusk. As night falls, the beautiful buildings are tinted with an artificial golden light. One of the most famous tours takes place on the Jazz Boat where the boat's musicians play fabulous jazz throughout the evening.

• Time: Meet at the meeting point for dinner time.
• Price: from €60
• Duration: at least three hours of your evening for this activity.

The last day in beautiful Prague is to explore beyond the city's borders and enjoy the Czech spas, famous for their beauty and healing properties.

Karlovy Vary Spa Excursion

Among the best excursions from Prague is a visit to the Karlovy Vary region for its famous spas and magnificent Baroque buildings. Founded by Emperor Charles IV, local legend has it that the emperor discovered the spas while chasing a deer in the waters of the reservoir.

There are many ways to get to the Karlovy Vary region, but the most convenient is to book an excursion to Karlovy Vary from Prague. There are many ways to get to Karlovy Vary, but the most convenient way is to book a tour to Karlovy Vary from Prague, and although the itinerary may vary depending on the company you hire, some of the things worth seeing in Karlovy Vary include: the twelve spas in Karlovy and Marianske Lazne, the historic architecture of Marianske Lazne and the fabulous Renaissance columns in Karlovy.

• Timetable: Excursions to Karlovy Vary leave from Stare Mesto early in the morning at about 9am.
• Price: around 100 €.
• Duration: The tour with transfer to and from the Karlovy Vary region from Prague will take approximately 10 hours and you should reserve a full day for this tour.
• For more information, please contact us: Day Trips to Karlovy Vary from Prague