Top 10 Things to Do in Prague

The Old Town Square is Prague's historic heart, framed by the Church of Our Lady Before Týn's distinctive Gothic spires, the pastel Baroque St. Nicholas Church, and the famous Astronomical Clock. The medieval Orloj clock strikes the hour with its mechanical parade of apostles — best watched from the square below. The square hosts a Christmas market widely considered one of Europe's most beautiful each December.

The world's largest ancient castle complex covers 70,000 square metres on the hill above the Vltava River and contains St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, and the Golden Lane of tiny medieval artisan houses. St. Vitus Cathedral's stunning stained glass windows — including a celebrated Art Nouveau window by Alfons Mucha — are among the finest in Central Europe. Purchase the long tour ticket to access all castle complexes on a full-day visit.

Letna Park stretches across a plateau above the Vltava with spectacular views over the red rooftops of the Old Town, and its beer garden is one of Prague's most beloved gathering spots — a genuine local institution. Giant jugs of Pilsner Urquell at outdoor picnic tables overlooking the city make for an unforgettable summer afternoon. The park also houses a giant metronome on the site where a Stalin statue once stood, and is excellent for cycling and jogging.

Petrin Hill is Prague's answer to the Eiffel Tower — literally, as the Petrin Lookout Tower is a one-fifth scale replica built in 1891 that still offers the best elevated view of the city's spires and castle. The hill is covered in orchard gardens and walking paths and is a peaceful retreat from the Old Town crowds, just a short funicular ride up from Malá Strana. The Mirror Maze (Zrcadlové Bludiště) on the hilltop is a fun family diversion.

Prague's compact Jewish Quarter contains six historic synagogues, the Old Jewish Cemetery — where tombstones are stacked up to 12 layers deep — and the Jewish Museum, which together form one of the most important Jewish heritage sites in Europe. The cemetery's dense, tilted tombstones create a haunting and deeply moving atmosphere. A combined ticket covers all synagogues and the cemetery and is the most practical way to explore the quarter.

The "Little Quarter" beneath Prague Castle is a Baroque neighbourhood of palaces, walled gardens, and cobblestone lanes that feels entirely removed from the tourist bustle of the Old Town. The Wallenstein Garden is a free, beautifully restored Baroque garden with resident albino peacocks and regular summer classical concerts. Nerudova Street leading up to the castle is lined with Baroque palaces and independent craft shops.

These adjacent neighbourhoods east of Wenceslas Square are where Prague locals actually live, eat, and drink — far from the tourist circuit but full of excellent restaurants, wine bars, and the iconic Žižkov Television Tower adorned with giant crawling babies by artist David Černý. The tower has an observation deck and a one-room hotel suite inside for those who want the ultimate Prague novelty accommodation. Náměstí Míru square is a lovely hub for neighbourhood dining exploration.

The Mucha Museum in the New Town is dedicated to Alfons Mucha, the Czech Art Nouveau master whose sinuous poster designs helped define a global aesthetic movement. The intimate museum covers Mucha's full career from his Parisian commercial posters to his epic 20-painting Slav Epic cycle. The museum shop has excellent reproduction prints at accessible prices and is one of Prague's best souvenir stops.

More of a grand boulevard than a square, Wenceslas Square was the site of the 1989 Velvet Revolution and remains Prague's civic and commercial centre, lined with hotels, cinemas, and shops beneath a statue of St. Wenceslas at the upper end. The Memorial to the Victims of Communism at the top of the square is a sober reminder of the country's 20th-century history. The square comes alive at night as the starting point for Prague's renowned nightlife scene.

The Old Town Square is Prague's historic heart, framed by the Church of Our Lady Before Týn's distinctive Gothic spires, the pastel Baroque St. Nicholas Church, and the famous Astronomical Clock. The medieval Orloj clock strikes the hour with its mechanical parade of apostles — best watched from the square below. The square hosts a Christmas market widely considered one of Europe's most beautiful each December.

The world's largest ancient castle complex covers 70,000 square metres on the hill above the Vltava River and contains St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, and the Golden Lane of tiny medieval artisan houses. St. Vitus Cathedral's stunning stained glass windows — including a celebrated Art Nouveau window by Alfons Mucha — are among the finest in Central Europe. Purchase the long tour ticket to access all castle complexes on a full-day visit.

Letna Park stretches across a plateau above the Vltava with spectacular views over the red rooftops of the Old Town, and its beer garden is one of Prague's most beloved gathering spots — a genuine local institution. Giant jugs of Pilsner Urquell at outdoor picnic tables overlooking the city make for an unforgettable summer afternoon. The park also houses a giant metronome on the site where a Stalin statue once stood, and is excellent for cycling and jogging.

Petrin Hill is Prague's answer to the Eiffel Tower — literally, as the Petrin Lookout Tower is a one-fifth scale replica built in 1891 that still offers the best elevated view of the city's spires and castle. The hill is covered in orchard gardens and walking paths and is a peaceful retreat from the Old Town crowds, just a short funicular ride up from Malá Strana. The Mirror Maze (Zrcadlové Bludiště) on the hilltop is a fun family diversion.

Prague's compact Jewish Quarter contains six historic synagogues, the Old Jewish Cemetery — where tombstones are stacked up to 12 layers deep — and the Jewish Museum, which together form one of the most important Jewish heritage sites in Europe. The cemetery's dense, tilted tombstones create a haunting and deeply moving atmosphere. A combined ticket covers all synagogues and the cemetery and is the most practical way to explore the quarter.

The "Little Quarter" beneath Prague Castle is a Baroque neighbourhood of palaces, walled gardens, and cobblestone lanes that feels entirely removed from the tourist bustle of the Old Town. The Wallenstein Garden is a free, beautifully restored Baroque garden with resident albino peacocks and regular summer classical concerts. Nerudova Street leading up to the castle is lined with Baroque palaces and independent craft shops.

These adjacent neighbourhoods east of Wenceslas Square are where Prague locals actually live, eat, and drink — far from the tourist circuit but full of excellent restaurants, wine bars, and the iconic Žižkov Television Tower adorned with giant crawling babies by artist David Černý. The tower has an observation deck and a one-room hotel suite inside for those who want the ultimate Prague novelty accommodation. Náměstí Míru square is a lovely hub for neighbourhood dining exploration.

The Mucha Museum in the New Town is dedicated to Alfons Mucha, the Czech Art Nouveau master whose sinuous poster designs helped define a global aesthetic movement. The intimate museum covers Mucha's full career from his Parisian commercial posters to his epic 20-painting Slav Epic cycle. The museum shop has excellent reproduction prints at accessible prices and is one of Prague's best souvenir stops.

More of a grand boulevard than a square, Wenceslas Square was the site of the 1989 Velvet Revolution and remains Prague's civic and commercial centre, lined with hotels, cinemas, and shops beneath a statue of St. Wenceslas at the upper end. The Memorial to the Victims of Communism at the top of the square is a sober reminder of the country's 20th-century history. The square comes alive at night as the starting point for Prague's renowned nightlife scene.