Top 5 Things to do in Prague Today!

If you’re visiting Prague for the first time you may be a little taken in by the city and unsure of what to go see first! So that is why I have created this list of Top 5 Things to do in Prague Today (or any day that you’re there)!

Prague, like many European city’s has a certain flare to it that continuously draws in visitors from across the world – and once you decide to visit you’ll understand why!

Here are five must-see places in Prague. You could easily visit all five places in two days and feel like you’ve done Prague justice which is great if you’re heading there for a short weekend break! Be sure to check the map below to see the location of each site!

1. Prague Castle

Easily the top choice for places to see in Prague – Prague Castle is a beautiful place to visit. It is located on the West side of the Vltava River and is right beside the Malá Strana neighbourhood.

From the metro station it is a short walk away but can be a little confusing. When you arrive at Prague Castle you have to go through a metal detector so queues can form and in the busy season they can be a bit of a wait, but once you get in, it’s worth it.

So Prague Castle is a full day outing, don’t think that you will get it all done in a few hours! When I talk about Prague Castle it is more of a small village encompassing cathedrals, old streets, museums, guard towers, and lots more.

Tickets aren’t exactly normal either, you purchase a ‘circuit ticket’ which then gets you into certain attractions within the grounds. If there is an attraction that you want to see but it isn’t marked on your ticket then you just pay at the entrance of that attraction.

There are discounts for teenagers, OAPs, people with disabilities, and children under 6 go in for free. The most expensive ticket for a single adult is approximately €14 which is very reasonable for what you are getting. If you manage not to see all of what you wanted in one day then you’re in luck your ticket gets you entry for two days,

There are a few places to stop and have a sandwich and dinner. But there was one lovely café called Cafeteria U Kanovníka where you could sit outside and enjoy a coffee amongst the beautiful buildings.

The castle and the grounds themselves are a lot of fun to explore and there is so much to do. My highlights are St Vitus Cathedral, The Story of Prague Castle, Rosenberg Palace, Golden Lane, the Great South Tower and the Treasury.

What’s even better is that when you leave you walk out through the “Wrestling Titans” gate with two army guards posted at each titan – Prague Castle is also the official office of the President of the Czech Republic – and then out into this beautifully designed courtyard where you can overlook the city of Prague. Prague Castle is the whole package and that’s why it’s first on the list of things to do in Prague today!

2. Charles Bridge

The construction of Charles Bridge started in 1357, was completed in 1402 and when you visit it you will see why it took 45 years for the bridge to be completed.

Up until 1841 it was the only means of crossing the Vltava River connecting Prague Castle with what is now Old Town Prague so it was essential to Prague and became a symbol of the historic city.

Charles Bridge shows its age in the same way that a patina on an old sword or gun adds a character to the item and each bump, chip, and stone holds hundreds of years of history.

When you cross such a historical bridge you become a part of a unique group of millions of people throughout the centuries who were in awe of this magnificent bridge.

During the day Charles Bridge is awash with people and performers enjoying the hustle and bustle, while at night the bridge goes silent; performers are replaced with couples soaking up the romance that has effervesced from this bridge throughout the ages.

It was so nice to just stop and look out over the River Vltava and see the boats below just floating along at their own pace and to take a moment to just exist, not worry about anything, and to remind yourself what life is about.

You can’t go to Prague and not see Charles Bridge which is why takes second on the list of things to do in Prague today!

3. Astronomical Clock

There are few clocks around the world that draw huge crowds but once you get up close and personal with the Astronomical Click you can understand why crowds gather every hour in the heart of Prague to witness the clock bringing in the next hour!

If you want to get a good spot during the day I would recommend getting there at least 15 minutes before the clock goes through its animation. On the one hand you have to stand there for 15 minutes but on the other you get to see a display that is truly a wonder!

The clock is made up of three components: the  dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details; statues of various Catholic saints stand on either side of the clock; “The Walk of the Apostles”, a clockwork hourly show of figures of the Apostles and other moving sculptures—notably a figure of Death (represented by a skeleton) striking the time; and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months.

The Astronomical Clock really provides a unique experience, one that you are unlikely to see anywhere else which is why takes third spot on the list of things to do in Prague today.

4. Lennon Wall

The Lennon Wall could just be mistaken as any other wall that a bunch of artists collaborated on but The Lennon Wall – called that as it is filled with quotes from John Lennon and lyrics from The Beatles – is steeped in history.

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In the late-80s it was a source of rebellion, freedom, peace, love, and art for people opposing the communist regime of Gustáv Husák.

It still remains to this day as a symbol of peace and love. Poems, images, thoughts, expressions of art make up much of the wall and while the original mural of John Lennon has long been painted over and is buried beneath multiple layers of paint, it stands as a poignant reminder that we as people too can go through changes in history yet still remain hopeful for peace and love to always come out on top.

It is a gorgeous place to go see and highly recommended which is the John Lennon wall takes fourth spot on the list of things to do in Prague today!

5. The Old Town Square

The Old Town Square is the oldest square in the historic city of Prague. It feels like the beating heart of the city and is where street performers, traders, food stalls, friends, family, and travellers alike congregate to take in the magnificence of Prague.

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It is here you will get a real feel of the city and fall in love with it. At night you will see the famous Prague pub-crawlers walking in large groups together, the Disney-like towers of the Church of Our Lady before Týn lit up, the stunning St Nicholas’ Church, and the Jan Hus monument all magnificent sights in their own right which is why it takes fifth place in my list of top five things things to do in Prague today.

So that is my list of top five things to do in Prague today, there really are hundreds of things to do and see in this gorgeous city but these five in particular really stood out for me. So I hope you have fun exploring and creating your own experiences, you’ll be able to locate all of the places in the map below!

While you’re here why don’t you read about the Beer Spa you can visit while in Prague? It’s guaranteed awesome!

Map: Top 5 Things to do in Prague Today!