In January of 2017 I kicked off my six-month long study abroad session by touching down in the former Czech Republic - now, Czechia. While many of my weekends were spent traveling all across Europe, I spent every moment outside of class exploring my new home & fell in love with this amazing city. Today I’m sharing tips, tricks & recommendations from a former (sort of) local. Na zdraví!

Old Town Square

Whether you’re looking to have excellent people watching, stop into shops or simply just wander around and appreciate everything about Prague I highly recommend taking time here to explore!

Staroměstské nám., 110 00 Josefov, Czechia

Charles Bridge

Walk across at least once when you’re visiting and take in the beautiful views & amazing archietcture all across the bridge. My favorite time to come here was before sun rise. It’s absolutly dead with only folks getting to work very early and it’s incredibly epaceful to take it all in while the city sleeps. Be sure to touch the statue of Saint John (John of Nepomuk) for good luck!

Karlův most, 110 00 Praha 1, Czechia

Prague Castle

Home to many of the attractions on this list, this is a must see if you are in Prague. Give yourself time to walk around and enjoy all the beauty that is the castle! You can purchase tickets JUST to see certain parts, or all inclusive tickets as well here.

Hradčany, 119 08 Prague 1, Czechia

Petrin Hill/Park

One of my favorite spots in all of Prague, especially in the spring. You can see so much of the city from the top and hike/walk up is seriously beautiful. Consider picnicking here if you have the chance!

118 00 Prague 1, Czechia

St. Vitus Cathedral

Located within the same area as the castle, the Cathedral is absolutely stunning and something you MUST see. Visiting the Cathedral is free and as such an iconic part of the Prague skyline really is a must. Be sure to give yourself time to explore the Cathedral and other portions of and around the castle.

III. nádvoří 48/2, 119 01 Praha 1-Hradčany, Czechia

National Theatre

While I only visited two times while living in Prague, both times were some of my favorite parts of the trip! Not only is the theatre absolutely stunning in its own right, it is an incredible venue to see the orchestra, plays and so much more. If you can purchase tickets to see a show of any kind, I highly recommend it - you can do so here!

Národní 2, 110 00 Nové Město, Czechia

St. Nicholas Church

Malostranské nám., 118 00 Malá Strana, Czechia

Jewish Quarter

One of my personal favorite areas of town, the Jewish Quarter is right between Old Town Square and the Vltava River is comprised of six synagogues, a ceremonial hall and the Old Jewish Cemetery. Unlike most of Europes historical places that were erased by the Nazi’s, the Jewish Quarter survives due to Hitler wanting to save it as a museum to the (not so) lost Jewish race. Now, the area honors the Jewish community & culture.

U Staré školy, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia

The Astronomical Clock

If you’re in Prague you MUST go see this. Take the time to stand in front of the clock and watch it at the top of the hour do its thing. Hands down I think this is one of the most special and magical parts of not only Prague but most of Europe. There’s something about seeing and experiencing this with a group of people - hearing everyone giggle and be excited together.

Staroměstské nám. 1, 110 00 Josefov, Czechia

Spanish Synagogue

One of the most beautiful interiors I’ve ever seen and something I visited multiple times when I lived there. If you’re in this area of town be sure to stop by!

Vězeňská 1, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia

National Museum

Beautiful on the outside & the inside, the national museum has quite a bit to offer and is a good taste to the various museums all across Prague.

Václavské nám. 68, 110 00 Nové Město, Czechia

Golden Lane

Originally where goldsmiths and other craftspeople worked during the days of the castle, this pretty little lane is filled with original, colorful houses that give a great look into how small buildings were back then!

Zlatá ulička u Daliborky 7/5, 119 00 Praha 1-Hradčany, Czechia

John Lennon Wall

Located in the Kampa neighborhood, the John Lennon Wall is a must see! Created toward the end of communism to air grievances & express their desire for love and peace. Now, it’s a colorful spot anyone can paint on!

Velkopřevorské náměstí, 100 00 Praha 1, Czechia

Wenceslas Square

As the setting of many historical events throughout Pragues history, Wenceslas Square is not only historical but incredibly beautiful and filled with so much to do and see! While a lot of the stores around here aren’t locally owned, it is a great place to walk around especially on a tour!

New Town, 110 00 Prague 1, Czechia

Dancing House

One of the most iconic parts of Prague are these fun houses that look all wonky but equally cool. Right next to these is the spinning head of Kafka!

Jiráskovo nám. 1981/6, 120 00 Nové Město, Czechia

The Kafka Museum

Named after native writer Franz Kafka, the museum shares stories & artifacts of his life and works. I visited here with a friend I made while studying abroad and we both loved it! It’s not too far from any stations & has lots to do near by!

Cihelná 635/2b, 118 00 Malá Strana, Czechia

National Monument

Located at Vitkov Park, this hill has played a huge role in the development of Prague over time. The monument has a statue of Jan Žižka - the defeator of Catholic King Sigismund in the 1400’s - and is home to Ceremonial Hall. This monument has excellent views of the city as well!

U Památníku 1900, 130 00 Praha 3-Žižkov, Czechia

If you’re looking to explore outside of Prague there are SO MANY amazing options for either day trips or even something a bit shorter or longer! I’m sharing some of my favorites below!

Kutná Hora: located in what was originally a silver mining town in medieval Bohemia, now is famous for its bone church, Sedlec Ossuary. The Ossuary contains between 40,000 to 70,000 bones and only takes around 15 minutes to see. Once you’ve seen the ossuary, be sure to head into town and see some of the many other attractions like the gorgeous churches, streets and town square.

Karlštejn Castle: south west of Prague, this castle & surrounding areas are primo for a day trip including hikes, a beautiful castle and tons of amazing little shops and restaurants. Also, nearby is Lom Velká Amerika, an abandoned quarry & gulag is perfect for hikes and views with some history.

I wouldn’t say globally many people know about Czech food but that doesn’t mean it isn’t delicious. If you like either types of European food like Austrian, German and so on you will love their dishes! I recommend trying the following:

SVICKOVA - a vegetable sauce with cream, carrots, celery and parsley with beef pierced with speck and that it is served with bread dumplings.
KOPROVKA - dill sauce famous (or infamous depending on the person) in Czech cuisine
SCHNITZEL WITH POTATO SALAD - just like it sounds & insanely yummy
FRIED CHEESE - think of a patty sized mozzarella stick. My favorite, most delicious bite in Prague I miss!
GOULASH - If you don’t have this dish in Eastern Europe, did you really go to Eastern Europe
KOFOLA - cutely known as Communist Coke this is a fun regional try if you enjoy soda / Coca Cola!
TRDELNIK - also known as Czech Chimney Pastries are hands down my favorite part of any time I was in Prague! They’re available everywhere and should be tried with or without ice cream & other fillings! The perfect warm treat in the winter (or any time).

Now that you know WHAT to eat, be sure to stop by these places:

U Medvidku is a place I highly recommend for a meal but you can also stay at their hotel, take a beer bath & explore Prague’s smallest brewery!
Pivovarský klub was right below my apartment when I lived in Prague and their food OR beer list never disappoints. Incredibly friendly & a cozy environment I highly recommend!
Den Noc is a breakfast place you can not miss! To this day I (and everyone I know who has ever been there) dreams about their pancakes! My favorites are the goat cheese, mushroom unions & thyme or the cinnamon sugar, butter and bananas!
Lokal is a place I stopped in pretty regularly for traditional Czech food! Super yummy!

Like many cities in Europe, Prague is a fun place to be for drinks and night life! This is by no means an exhaustive list but a few myself & friends loved when we lived there!

Hemmingway Bar Karoliny Světlé 26, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia
Bukowski’s Bar - Super cozy & do sangria specials on ladies night! Bořivojova 689/86, 130 00 Praha 3-Žižkov, Czechia
James Dean V Kolkovně 922/1, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia
Karlovy Lanze Novotného lávka 198/13, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia

Unlike many cities, Prague truly is one best explored on foot. There are so many hidden gems, beautiful architecture and more thats gone untouched for decades and shouldn’t be missed. Beyond sightseeing, I also highly recommend utilizing public transit to get around. From the tram to the train to the subway and busses you can’t go wrong and it is incredibly inexpensive. If you opt to use public transit I recommend purchasing a card.

To get from the airport (PRG) to the city center, take bus line 119 to Nádraží Veleslavín metro station (Green Line - A) or consider taking an uber or lyft. By all means DO NOT TAKE TAXIS. Literally unless you are in a bad situation and need to get somewhere safe, opt for Uber & Lyft or better yet - public transit. The subway, busses and tram are safe and ideal ways to get around. Unless you plan on heading out more so to the country, you’ll be just fine getting around this way.

Prague IS considered a pretty safe place for a city of its size! When you’re there your number one thing to really look out for is pickpockets. Don’t feel the need to buy a hidden fanny pack or some other gimmicky travel accessories, just be mindful of you belongings & how easy they are to get into when smooshed into people on public transit!
Want to do a walking tour but don’t want to pay big bucks? Try a FREE walking tour! In Prague (and all over Europe) I’ve booked tons of free tours and have yet to be disappointed. Some companies I suggest are Free Tours By Foot, New Europe, ETC. PLEASE be sure to tip your guides if you enjoy them & leave them reviews on Google, etc.
The best time to visit is late spring and early fall! The weather is gorgeous during these times but also expect it to be very busy with tourists. If you go during off season - such as the winter like when I moved to Prague - nearly everything is available to do AND you will get to experience the legendary Christmas & holiday markets!
While on the Subway/Getting to the Subway… If you’re from somewhere with robust public transit you know how important etiquette is when traveling. While taking stairs and escalators up or down be mindful of walkers on the left and those standing on the right. If you’re standing on the left someone will shove you (this is true most places but was something horribly annoying to be on my morning commute). Be courteous and kind of other travelers on board with you and always follow public transit laws.
How are the Czech people? While you may have no preconceived notion of how the people are I can tell you from living there, amongst the people - learning from them, becoming friends with them - they are more reserved (especially in comparison to Americans) however they are some of the friendliest people you will come across. If you need directions or assistance, ask kindly and gently with formality (that’s a big one!) you’ll be set!
Phrases to know (and use!) Czechs are especially kind to travelers giving their language a go! Be respectful but try out these phrases - they WILL help you! Want to learn more? Check out DuoLingo!
- Dobry Den (Hello, Good day)
- Ano (yes) No (Ne)
- Prosim (Please, Here You Are, You’re Welcome, Come Again?)
- Dekuji (Thank you)
- Rozumim (I understand) Norozumim (I don’t understand)
- Mluvite Anglicky? (Do you speak English?
- Na zdraví (Cheers)

I hope you’ve enjoy all my tips, tricks & recommendations for Prague! Be sure to save pins to be able to revisit the post easily on your next adventure! Na zdraví!