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Last Updated on January 7, 2026 by Eve Dawes
What’s actually worth doing in Prague
Prague is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, but not every “must-see” landmark and tour is actually worth your time. From scenic river cruises and candlelit cocktail bars to Prague Castle tours, cosy beer and wine spas and Old Town wandering, this guide shares the best things to do in Prague, tips for visiting, along with what you can confidently skip. Whether you’re planning your first visit or returning for another trip, these are, in my opinion, the experiences that truly make Prague unforgettable.
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Top things to do in Prague | Prague Castle Czech Republic
Yes, it’s super busy as it’s probably the most popular sightseeing spot in Prague but I still think this is a must-see place thing to do in Prague because of it’s scale and history. I also recommend doing this as a tour rather than wandering around by yourself so that you can learn more about it’s rich history and know what you’re looking at.
Definitely book your tour and get your Tickets for Prague Castle in advance. We took the ‘Small-Group Tour of Prague Castle’ which lasted 2.5 hours which was the perfect length. It was long enough to see everything but not so long you got overwhelmed with too much information. It took you through a few of the large courtyards, inside St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica and Golden Lane.
St. Vitus Cathedral (part of Prague Castle tour)
The line for St. Vitus Cathedral looks overwhelmingly long but moves fast and is worth the wait if you like history and architecture. The cathedral has been a work in progress since 925 when Prince Wenceslas (Václav) founded a Romanesque rotunda here with pauses to construction of centuries due to wars. It’s still subject to changes now (like the new organ). Inside you’ll find stained glass windows, the Golden Gate, the Royal Mausoleum below which is the royal crypt, and St. Wenceslas Chapel with the tomb of the most important Czech patron saint.
St. Vitus Cathedral is the largest and the most important temple in Prague. Apart from religious services, coronations of Czech kings and queens also took place here. The cathedral is a place of burial of several patron saints, sovereigns, noblemen and archbishops. hrad.cz
The Old Royal Palace was rather disappointing. I was expecting an ornate, grand palace but this is cold, stark and pretty much empty with not a lot to see. The same with St. George’s Basilica. I could appreciate the history but you can be in and out in 5 minutes and have seen everything.
Golden Lane was part of our Prague Castle tour but unless you’ve never been to a European city, you can skip Golden Lane altogether. It’s a very small, crowded lane with a few old buildings that now house tourist shops and museums. Head to a street like Míšeňská in Prague instead.
Tips for visiting Prague Castle:
- Book a small group tour to learn more about the history.
- Don’t lose your ticket, you’ll need it to enter each building and Golden Lane.
- Wrap up really warm in the Winter. The buildings aren’t heated so even inside is freezing!
- Give yourself enough time to visit. Expect crowds and be patient.
- Expect to be asked to remove your hat in St. Vitus Cathedral.
- Wear comfortable shoes for walking up and down the steps and hill to Prague castle.
Prague River Cruise
A river cruise is a scenic and relaxing way to see Prague from a different perspective and a great thing to do in any season. We chose to go at sunset so we could see the changes in light and Prague in both day and night and I highly recommend doing this.
There are a few different cruise companies and we wish we’d gone with another company as our boat was very old and tired looking. They’d also sold way too many tickets. It would’ve been fine if it was the summer and people were outside using all the deck space but everyone was crammed inside so it was hard to get a window seat. If you do go in the winter, be sure to get there early to line up. We got there 15 minutes before the start time and the line was already over 100 deep.
Tips for booking your Prague river cruise: We booked the 1 hour Prague Panoramic Vltava River sightseeing Cruise on Viator which if you’re looking for value is good but the boat was very old and crowded. I’d recommend checking out Prague Boats instead, as they looked a lot more modern and weren’t crowded. They also had much bigger windows for better viewing.
Prague beer and wine spa
Ok, so this might not be a Czech tradition or a traditional thing to do in Prague but it was very welcome on a snowy day in January and we absolutely loved it. We booked a private room and the wine option which included either a bottle of red or white Czech wine but if you book the beer option you literally unlimited amount during your treatment on tap right by your bath. I reviewed the wine spa and bath if you want to learn more about the experience and it’s benefits.
Old Town Square
Ok, if you’re in Prague, it goes without saying you have to visit the Old Town square, (Staroměstské náměstí). Yes, it’s super packed with tourists, especially when the Christmas Markets are there and on the hour when the Prague Astronomical Clock comes to life. However, it’s worth it for the history and beautiful architecture, from the Old Town Hall to the Gothic Church of Our Lady before Týn, Baroque Church of St Nicholas, Rococo Kinský Palace, Astronomical Clock, Gothic House at the Stone Bell and monument to Jan Hus.
I still don’t know how the Astronomical Clock works but it’s pretty and the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world (1410). If you go on the hour from 9 am – 11 pm, the twelve apostles appear with ringing bells by the skeleton figure. If you’re not worried about seeing this, avoid Old Town Square just before and after the hour to avoid the crowd who do.
Prague Christmas markets
We were so excited to see the Prague Christmas markets and I think that was the problem. When you go with such big expectations they can often fall flat. Yes, they’re pretty but they’re so busy and there really wasn’t anything special to shop for. Go to check it off your bucket list, but maybe just walk around the outside, unless you’re dying to eat or drink something from there.
The Prague Christmas markets are located in the Old Town Square and a neighboring street between Old Town Sq and Wenceslas Square. There used to be lots in Wenceslas Square before the construction but now’s there’s only about 10 market stalls there along with a small ice rink.
Climb a tower for panoramic views of Prague
We decided not to do this as it was so cold and we’d already seen panoramic views from Fly Vista rooftop bar and Prague Castle but if you have time there are a few towers to choose from for incredible views.
- The Old Town Hall Tower / Astronomical Clock Tower book skip the line ticket
- Old Town Bridge Tower (an integral part of the Charles Bridge you can climb the tower and then walk over the bridge).
- Lesser Town Bridge Tower (the other side of Charles Bridge).
- Powder Tower (7 minute walk from Old Town Square).
- St. Nicholas Church Bell Tower (Malá strana).
- Archway of the Lesser Town Bridge Tower (frames a picture perfect view into Malá Strana).
Wenceslas Square
It’s debatable whether this is a yes or no and will depend on what’s important to you. Our hotel was on Wenceslas Square but we didn’t spend anytime there besides that. We were disappointed with it as it felt very touristy with lots of chain stores like Marks & Spencers, Starbucks and Costa Coffee. So I wouldn’t personally recommend this as a thing to do in Prague. However, many historical events have occurred in this square (built during the founding of the New Town in 1348) and you may want to go to visit the National Museum and Josef Václav Myslbek’s statue of the national patron St. Wenceslas from 1912.
Please note if you’re visiting in Winter there are only a very few Christmas Markets in Wenceslas Square due to the construction and we were told they won’t be anymore afterwards either.
Eat traditional Czech food
We skipped the traditional Czech dinner tours that seemed like tourist traps with very heavy food in favor of a modern local restaurant ‘Mlynec‘ which we highly recommend for the food, service and views. It offers modern Czech and international cuisine and overlooks the river and Charles Bridge. Pro tip: request a window or outside table (weather permitting).
The Christmas markets are also a good place to try local foods like marzipan, cheese or fried cheese, Czech wine, and pastries.
Best places to take photos in Prague
If you’re on Instagram I know you’ve seen Terasa U Prince on top of the Hotel U Prince everywhere and this is probably the most popular photo spot in Prague right now. However, I’m here to say avoid it! Nothing against the place, the view is fabulous but the wait isn’t and they don’t take reservations. We waited an hour for a table, and then it would have been another hour wait for a photo with a limited menu and no heating. Even as a content creator I’m not that desperate for that photo, so we gave up and left.
Instead head to:
- Old Town Square and take a photo at any of the 4 corners there to capture fabulous landmarks in your background.
- On Charles Bridge.
- In front of St. Vitus Cathedral.
- ‘Swan Spot’ on the North side of Mala Strana (just look for all of the swans).
- Padlocks, on the Old Side of town, next to Charles bridge tower, there’s a small garden with benches.
- Old Town Bridge Tower.
- Slight Uncertainty Man (AKA The Hanging Umbrella Man).
- Powder Tower.
- In the beer and wine spa for an old world feel.
- Fly Vista Bar (inside, on the balcony, or on the roof).
- W Prague exterior (was Grand Hotel Evropa) when construction is done.
I wouldn’t be much of a luxury lifestyle editor if I didn’t mention the duty-free shopping. Most of the luxury boutiques are right off of the Old Town Square on Pařížská Street. Besides saving money shopping duty-free, I like finding pieces that will always remind me of my trip. Prague airport is small, so you should find scanning your duty-free receipt and getting a customs stamp quick and easy but leave extra time just in case.
Your quick check list of best Prague things to do in Prague
- Prague Castle – Yes.
- St. Vitus Cathedral – Yes.
- The Old Palace – Skip unless you’re a die hard history fan.
- St. George’s Basilica – Skip unless you want to see tombs of members of the ruling Premyslid dynasty.
- Golden Lane – Skip unless you’ve never seen a historic street but Prague has lots.
- Charles Bridge – Yes (either walk across or dine at a restaurant with views).
- Astronomical Clock – Yes (on the hour to watch the 12 Saints appear).
- Old Town Square – Yes.
- Duty free shopping – Yes.
- Petřín Lookout Tower – On our list to visit next time.
- Powder Tower – On our list to visit next time.
- Wenceslas Square – Maybe (National Museum is right behind the Statue of Saint Wenceslas, once construction is complete).
- Explore Malá strana – On our list to do next time.
- Grab a drink at a rooftop bar – Yes.
We visited Prague in Winter and are looking forward to planning a trip in the summer when we can walk around areas like Malá strana and explore more. We managed to do a lot in 3 days but there’s still towers to climb for panoramic views and restaurants to try.
