Travel Notes on Prague: Comprehensive Guide for Your Visit

In this comprehensive travel notes on Prague, we aim to provide you with essential information about the city, including answers to key questions such as “Where to stay in Prague?” and “What to do in Prague?”

General Overview of Prague

Prague is one of the most delightful cities in Europe, and a trip to Prague is best experienced over at least two days. With its abundance of sights and activities, Prague ranks among our most enjoyable travel destinations.

Prague is one of Central Europe’s richest cities, both in terms of culture and history. It’s also an incredibly romantic city, where you’ll find delightful and surprising details around every corner, making it a perfect destination for a well-planned trip.

What to Know Before You Go

Prague is a city that can be entirely explored on foot, so there’s no need to purchase daily tickets for 1, 2, or 3 days, etc. However, exchanging money can be tricky. You’ll find numerous currency exchange offices in the airport and city center with varying rates, but many of them are unreliable. In some places, you might even be given Hungarian Forints, which closely resemble Czech Korunas but are worth about 1/10th as much.

To avoid any hassle, we recommend the Exchange s.r.o. bureau, where we exchanged money without losing a single cent. The address is:

Kaprova 14/13, 110 00 Prague, just a 2-minute walk from the Old Town Square.

Walking is the best way to explore Prague, but if you need transportation, we recommend using Uber instead of haggling with taxi drivers.

Essential Tips for Your Trip

Keep track of what you eat and drink in restaurants to avoid any unexpected charges.
Use credit cards whenever possible, preferably for contactless payments, as card skimming incidents have been reported.

Getting to Prague City Center

There are several ways to reach the city center from the airport. Whether by Uber or the Airport Express Bus, it’s quite straightforward. The bus ride takes about 40-45 minutes depending on traffic. We opted for the bus, which was convenient and affordable.

Exploring Prague

Prague is a city best discovered on foot, making it easy and enjoyable to explore its various neighborhoods and attractions.

We highly recommend taking a Free Walking Tour in Prague. These tours operate on a tip-based system, where you pay the guide a gratuity at the end of the tour based on your satisfaction and appreciation.

We’ve mentioned Free Walking Tours in our travel tips for an enjoyable trip. If you are lucky enough to get a really good guide, it can turn into an incredible experience.

We were very pleased with the Free Walking Tour we linked to. The guide’s enthusiasm, knowledge, and the voluntary nature of the work really impressed us. We strongly suggest including a Free Walking Tour in your Prague travel plan.

Must-See Places in Prague

Old Town Square: Prague’s largest and most important square, visited by numerous tourists year-round. It’s a historical and architectural gem, with many notable sites including:
- Kinsky Palace

Tyn Church: One of Prague’s most impressive churches with Renaissance and Baroque influences. It’s free to visit, and its twin towers represent Adam and Eve.

Municipal House: A prime example of Art Nouveau architecture, now serving as a cultural center with a concert hall, French restaurant, Czech beer hall, traditional cafe, and more.
Powder Gate: One of the original 13 city gates, dating back to the 11th century, named after its use as a gunpowder store in the 18th century.

Celetna Street: A beautiful street lined with Gothic and Baroque buildings, ending with a notable example of Cubist architecture.

Astronomical Clock: A famous landmark known for its hourly show featuring four figures representing Death, Vanity, Greed, and Entertainment.

Prague Castle: One of the largest castles in the world, now the seat of the Czech government. The complex includes:

St. Vitus Cathedral
Old Royal Palace
Golden Lane: Once home to soldiers and later artists and craftsmen, with charming little houses, including one where Franz Kafka lived.

St. George’s Basilica and Convent

Charles Bridge: A historic bridge with stunning views, bustling with street performers during the day and romantically tranquil at night.

John Lennon Wall: A vibrant graffiti-covered wall in the Mala Strana area, although it was under renovation during our visit.

Franz Kafka Museum: Notable for its intriguing statues in the courtyard.

Narrow Street: The narrowest street in the world, featuring traffic lights to control pedestrian flow.

Where to Eat in Prague

While Prague may not be world-renowned for its cuisine, it makes up for it with excellent beer. Here are some dining recommendations:

Cafe Slavia: Located at Smetanovo nábřeží 1012/2, this historic cafe is famous for its Goulash and connection to literary and artistic figures, including a portrait of Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet.

Cafe-Cafe: A stylish cafe at Rytířská 10/10, known for its delicious Banoffee Pie.

Manifesto Market: A trendy food market at Na Florenci 23, offering a variety of international cuisines in a vibrant setting. Only credit cards are accepted, and tipping is customary.