Prague

Understand

This city of bridges, cathedrals, gold-tipped towers and church domes, has mirrored on the surface of the swan-filled Vltava river for more than ten centuries. Almost undamaged by World War II, Prague's compact medieval centre remains a wonderful mixture of cobbled lanes, walled courtyards, cathedrals and countless church spires all in the shadow of her majestic 9th century castle that looks eastward as the sun sets behind her. Prague is also a modern and vibrant city full of energy, music, cultural art, fine dining and special events catering to the independent traveller's thirst for adventure.

Regarded as one of Europe's most charming and beautiful cities, Prague has become the most popular travel destination in Central Europe along with Budapest and Kraków. Millions of tourists visit the city every year. Prague was founded in the later 9th century, and soon became the seat of the Kings of Bohemia, some of whom ruled as Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. The city thrived under the rule of Charles IV, who ordered the building of the New Town in the 14th century. Many of the city's most important attractions date back to that age. In 1348 Prague became a university town, which it has remained ever since. The University, which is sometimes claimed to be the oldest in Central Europe was split into a German and a Czech language part in 1882 with the German language part shut down in 1945, thus ending the claim of the "oldest German university" Prague might have reasonably held until then. The city also went under Habsburg rule and became the capital of a province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It had a German-speaking majority well into the 19th century, and even after then, maintained a significant German-speaking minority until the expulsion of ethnic Germans from Czechoslovakia following World War II. During that period, Prague would give rise to several prominent German-language authors, perhaps the most notable being Franz Kafka, known for works such as Die Verwandlung (The Metamorphosis) and Der Process (The Trial). In 1918, after World War I, the city became the capital of Czechoslovakia. After 1989 many foreigners, especially young people, moved to Prague. In 1992, its historic centre was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 1993, Czechoslovakia split into two countries and Prague became the capital of the new Czech Republic. The Vltava River runs through Prague, which is home to about 1.2 million people. The capital may be beautiful, but smog often accumulates in the Vltava River basin.

Climate

Prague has a humid continental clima

Getting there

By plane

1 Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG IATA) (20 km (12 mi) north-west of the city centre. It generally takes about 30 minutes to reach the city centre by car.), ☏ +420 220 111 111, +420 296 661 111. The airport is a relatively safe place, but there have been reports of small item theft when going through airport security. You can largely mitigate these concerns by putting valuable small items within a larger bag.

Getting in from the airport By bus – Public buses and trolleybuses offer connections to several metro stations, from which you can travel to the city center in a total travel time of 35-45 minutes. Public transport tickets, which are valid on the buses, metro, and trams can be bought kiosks called Metro • Tram • Bus in the arrivals halls (07:00–21:00, credit cards accepted) or faster at the yellow vending machine next to the bus stop outside both terminals (cards accepted). A ticket valid for 90 minutes is required for travel to the city center (50 CZK from January 2026); another option is the 24-hour ticket for 150 CZK. Children under 15 and seniors (65 and older) travel for free. You can transfer between the buses, trolleybuses, metro, and trams for no additional charge as long as your ticket has not expired. Info on the schedules and routes can be obtained from dpp.cz or pid.cz. The following important buses run between the airport and metro stations (airport bus stops are called "Terminál 1" or "Terminál 2"):

T-Bus 59 to metro station Nádraží Veleslavín A (17 min). Departures every 3-5 minutes, Sunday morning and every evening 10 minutes; 04:23–23:32. Main and generally fastest connection. Bus 100 to metro station Zličín B (18 min). Departures every 15 minutes, Sunday morning and every evening 20 minutes; 05:40–23:16. Bus 191 to Na Knížecí bus station (Anděl B ) - slow and less frequent bus, though may be useful for trips to the western part of town, including the Anděl area. Also connects to metro A at Petřiny A . Night buses 910 and 907 - the only options at night. The 910 goes directly to the centre, with stops at Jiráskovo náměstí, Karlovo náměstí and I.P. Pavlova. By Airport Express AE – These buses leave the airport from public bus stop called "Terminál 1" (see above) every 15 minutes 08:00–18:00, every 30 minutes at other times, and every hour at night. Tickets cost 200 CZK and are not transferable, nor valid for any other service. Available from the driver (contactless accepted). The final stop will be Prague's main train station Hlavní nádraží C , which is commonly abbreviated in Czech as "Praha h

Getting around

Public transportation is very convenient in most of the areas visitors are likely to frequent. Public transport buses do not enter the historic districts (Old Town, New Town, Lower Town, etc.) to prevent air and noise pollution. One must transfer to a cleaner and quieter electric-powered tram or a metro before reaching historic areas.

On foot Prague is renowned as a very walkable city. For those who enjoy seeing the old and new city by foot, one can easily walk from Wenceslas Square to the Old Town Square, or from the Old Town to Charles Bridge and the Castle District. However almost all of the streets are cobbled, rendering it very difficult for disabled or elderly travellers to get around effectively. Also, pedestrians should enter crossings carefully in Prague, as drivers are not as likely to yield as they are in other European cities. Pedestrians are obligated to use a nearby pedestrian crossing, and jaywalking is punishable by a fine of 1000 Kč – this includes crossing the street on a "don't walk" signal (red man), even when there is not a single car around. The historic center consists largely of cobblestone streets, so wearing comfortable walking shoes is highly recommended."

By public transport

The public transport around Prague consists of three metro lines ( A , B , C ), over twenty tram lines (numbered 1–31 & 91–99 for night trams), trolleybuses (numbered 51–59), buses (3-digit numbers), ferries, a few train lines (numbered S1, S2, S49,…), all using the same time tickets. Public transport schedules and fares are integrated by Pražská Integrovaná Doprava (abbreviated PID). The tram and bus schedules are posted at the stops, and the metro (its schedule is posted in station) operates from early in the morning (around 05:00) until approximately midnight. Buses (lines no. 100-299) and trams (lines no. 1-31) start earlier and end later to connect to metro. Around midnight, some trams carrying passengers take different routes to get to their garage. When traveling at night, always check schedules on-line beforehand, and you may even find a shorter route to your destination than normally available. When planning a journey, if you know the names of your stops, you can use the official journey planner, the official smartphone app PID Lítačka (iOS, Android) which also sells tickets or an alternative smartphone app (three good ones for Android are Jízdní řády/Pubtran, which is free of charge but uses your data plan to find connections, Mapy.com or CG transit, which allows you to download the timetables into your phone for a small charge and then

See

Individual listings can be found in Prague's district articles Lesser Town offers beautiful streets leading to the Castle and churches (of which St. Nicholas Church is the most renowned). The Prague Castle is the biggest ancient castle in the world and offers beautiful views of the areas below. Also on site is the St. Vitus Cathedral with its lookout tower, the Castle Picture Gallery, several palaces and museums and the beautiful Royal Garden, among others. Petřín Lookout Tower has an observation platform. Two of the Czech National Gallery's most important collections are in the Sternberg Palace (up to the Baroque), and St George Convent (Czech Baroque and Mannerism) near and in the castle respectively. The third us in Veletržní Palace on the West bank, which exhibits 19th century and modern art. The Charles Bridge connects Old Town with Lesser Town. It is one of Prague's most beautiful structures. During the day, it is a bustling place of trade and entertainment, as musicians busk and artists sell their paintings and jewellery.

Old Town is Prague's historic centre, full of numerous historic buildings and monuments, most notably the famed Astronomical Clock, the pure Gothic Týn Church, the mural-covered Storch building, and the Jan Hus monument. Nearby, the Estate Theatre is a neoclassical theatre where Mozart's opera Don Giovanni was first performed. Old Town features many historical churches (St. James Church, Church of Our Lady before Týn among others) and some other interesting historical buildings like the Old Town Hall, and the Convent of St Agnes of Bohemia. The Museum of Czech Cubism is also in Old Town, while the Prague City Gallery is split between Old Town and the East bank. Josefov, the historic Jewish ghetto, is interesting for its well preserved synagogues. The Old New Synagogue (Czech: Staronová synagoga) is Europe's oldest active synagogue. The Spanish Synagogue is a very ornamental building of Moorish style. Other attractions include the Old Jewish Cemetery, which is the oldest in Europe, and Kafka's house. Prague Zoo, and the nearby Troja Chateau (Trojský Zámek) with a large garden displaying various sculptures and a Botanic Garden (Botanická zahrada Troja) with a tropical greenhouse. DOX Centre for Contemporary Art on the West bank is a gallery for modern arts, modern EU gallery style. There are plenty of smaller museums. Among them are the Museum of Miniatures at the Stahnov Monastery, Toys Museum and Musical Automata Museum at the Prague Castle, Postal Museum, and more touristy Wax Museum, Torture Museum and Beer Museums in the

Do

Individual listings can be found in Prague's district articles

Strolls Take a walk along the Royal Way of Prague.

Culture Opera and ballet have quite a tradition in the city, even though there are often overlooked by young locals and instead frequented by tourists. The main opera and ballet venues are operated by the National Theatre company, which is owned by the government. Tickets can be bought on the company website, the best seats tend to sell out, so it is better to shop in advance. It is customary to wear decent clothing when going to National Theatre venues (black suit), but this is not enforced. The National Opera hosts mainly operas and ballets. The Estates Theatre is the oldest theatre building still standing in the city. Mozart's Don Giovanni opera is often on the repertoire, as are other operas, plays and ballets. There are many other theatres in Prague, but they usually only offer plays in Czech language. Classical music concerts are often conducted in numerous churches, especially in the centre.

Festivals 1 Prague Spring. The most famous classical music festival in the Czech republic. Prague Advent Choral Meeting. Signal Festival. A weekend in October, during which many historic buildings are lighted by spectacular video-mappings and many light-and-sound installations are set up at different places in the city centre, Vinohrady and Karlín. (updated Oct 2023)

River cruises

River cruises are both popular and varied, from one hour cruises to long evening cruises with dinner or music. To get the right price, find a boat only, do not buy anything from the touts near Charles Bridge. If you want to cruise the river for the smallest price possible, you can use a public transportation ferry.

Wine Boat, ☏ +420 777 221 514, [email protected]. The 1-hour cruise includes a visit of Prague Venice river canal as well as wine tasting of local wines. Prague Steam Boats (Pražská paroplavba), ☏ +420 605295111, [email protected]. Offer one hour cruises, as well as cruises to the Zoo and full day cruises to Slapy water dam. If you have the time for a 3-hour dinner cruise, you will certainly enjoy viewing the city from the river, while savouring a great dinner. (updated Oct 2018) Cruise Prague. Offers a wide range of regular and private cruises. EVD. JazzBoat. Combines cruising and jazz concerts.

Sports Football. The city's leading soccer team is SK Slavia Praha. They play in the First League, the top tier, and often qualify for European tournaments. They play at the 21,000 capacity Fortuna Arena, which is also the usual venue f

Buy

Money The official currency of the Czech Republic is the Czech Crown (koruna), abbreviated as Kč, with the international abbreviation CZK – read more here.

ATMs These ATMs throughout Prague do not charge a fee for withdrawing money: Fio banka and KB (Komerční banka). All other banks and ATM chains take 99–150 Kč and/or a 6–15% fee for currency conversion for a withdrawal. In addition, any ATM might trick you into accepting Dynamic currency conversion (see DCC) — Euronet is notorious for this. Always decline DCC, as there is a big markup fee included in the offered exchange rate that will never compensate for any exchange rate insecurity. According to EU law, ATMs must always tell you if there is a fee or markup before confirming the transaction or exchange, so you can always cancel beforehand.

Foreign money Sometimes it is also possible to pay with euros (hotels in the centre of Prague, McDonalds, KFC, Marks & Spencer – also accepts British pounds, Albert and Billa supermarkets, etc.), but the exchange rate may be slightly unfavourable and change is almost always given only in Kč. Dm-drogerie markt (cosmetics and health food) and New Yorker (clothing) stores accept euros at good rates, while souvenir stores take euros and US dollars at poor rates.

Money exchange In Prague, especially around tourist sights, there are plenty of exchange offices with very bad rates and misleading advertisements (often advertising 0% commission, but providing only nearly half of the official exchange rate). Good rates are found for example:

eXchange sro is the main currency exchange office used by expats in Prague. The VIP rates advertised outside the offices likely aren't available to tourists, but non-VIP rates inside tend to only have 1% spreads. The main office with best rates is located at Štefánikova 203/23 and a second office with worse but also fair rates is close to the Old Town Square (Kaprova 14/13). Banks such as Česká spořitelna have acceptable rates, but charge a commission. Around Main Railway Station (Hlavní nádraží): exit the station, go left across the park to street "Politických vězňů". There are about 5 offices, mostly Arab-owned, and offer very good rates even for smaller amounts, and even better or negotiable for higher (over €1000, US$1000 or such). Actively avoid offices inside the main station: exchange rates are abysmal there. By law, if you keep your currency exchange receipt, you have 3 hours to return to that exchange office to reverse the transaction in case you fell victim to a bad exchange rate. Make sure you do not exchange money

Eat

Individual listings can be found in Prague's district articles

Lunch is traditionally the main meal in Prague. Czech cuisine is typically based around pork or beef with starchy side dishes such as dumplings, potatoes, or fries. Fish is not as popular, though these days it is widely available. Svíčková, beef simmered in a thick sauce made of cream and a variety of vegetables is probably the classic traditionalist Prague meal. Popular Czech desserts include fruit dumplings (ovocné knedlíky), crêpes or ice cream. Trdelník has become popular in Prague among tourists, with many small bakeries selling the sweet bread encrusted with sugar and chopped walnuts, but it is not a traditional Czech dish, likely originated in Transylvania and only started appearing in the 1990s; most locals avoid it, and Trdelník is sometimes used as a synonym for "simpleton" in Czech. Most restaurants become very crowded during lunch and dinner, so consider making a reservation or eating earlier than the locals. Tipping is generally not expected, and it's primarily used as a sign of appreciation when the food and service is good. It's common to round up the bill by a few crowns to make it even (289 Kč to 300 Kč for example). Taxes are always included in the price by law. Many restaurants in heavily-touristed areas (along the river, or with views near the castle) will charge a cover or "kovert" in addition to your meal charge. If this is printed in the menu, you have no recourse. But a restaurant will often add this charge to your bill in a less up-front manner, sometimes after printing in the menu that there is no cover. Anything brought to your table will have a charge associated with it (bread, ketchup, etc.) If you are presented with a hand-scrawled bill at the end of the meal, it is suggested that you take a moment to clarify the charges with your server. This sort of questioning will usually shame the server into removing anything that was incorrectly added. Some waiters might be impolite especially to people from eastern Europe. Pay no attention to this, and simply find another restaurant. If you're on the look out for fast food, you won't be able to move without tripping over street vendors serving Czech style hot dogs and mulled wine in the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square in New Town. If you're after Western-style fast food, the major chains also have a large presence in Wenceslas Square and the area immediately around it. Most beer halls also serve light snacks or meals. Definitely try the hot dogs (párek v rohlíku) – they're very different to the version you get in th

Drink & nightlife

Individual listings can be found in Prague's district articles Pubs (in Czech "hospoda") abound throughout Prague, and indeed are an important part of local culture. The exact brand of beer usually vary from pub to pub, and recommendations are difficult to give as natives are usually willing to argue at lengths about their preferences. The most internationally recognized beers are Pilsner Urquell (Plzeňský Prazdroj) and Budweiser Budvar (Budějovický Budvar). There are other brands famous among Czechs like Svijany. If you are looking for a beer brewed in Prague, go for Staropramen. Usual prices for a half-liter glass are between 25 and 40 Kč, based on the brand and locality, while certain restaurants at tourist areas like the Old Town Square are known to charge more than 100 Kč for a euro-sized glass. There's also a booming craft beer scene with many brewpubs in the city. In Prague it is customary, especially at beer halls, to sit with a group of people if there are no free tables, so go ahead and ask if you can join. There are also numerous night-clubs in Prague. Not all of them are good, it is often quite difficult even for locals to find the right one, as some are often overpriced, empty or just bad. Locals tend to go to clubs at around midnight, mostly on Friday and Saturday, but Wednesdays and Thursdays are often also OK. In summer, any day of the week should be fine, as there are many foreigners. Most of the night-clubs are in the centre of Prague, although there are some a bit further, mostly aimed at local students. Nightclubs are generally much more expensive than pubs, with beer costing between 50 and 100 Kč. Entrance fees should be small, do not pay more than 100 Kč for entrance unless there is some really good DJ playing. It is very common to see people drinking outside. It is forbidden to drink at many public places. There are however many public parks where it is not forbidden to drink and where it is very popular to drink. Young people often predrink in parks or at riversides and then head to some club in the center. Even if you drink on places where it is forbidden, police will probably not bother you, but they might use it against you if you are too disruptive to your surrounding. Prague has also many excellent tearooms (in Czech čajovna) which serve different kinds of teas from around the world. Shishas (hookas) are often smoked in these tearooms (smoking ban does not apply to shishas) .

Pubcrawls Save your money and find the bars yourself – you might be surprised at the discoveries you make away from the tourist circus.

Individual l

Sleep

Prague has a wealth of accommodation options, many of them within walking distance of the town center. Peak season generally runs from April to October and a major influx of visitors can be expected during New Year as well. Prices for accommodation can be up to twice as high in the peak season and reservations are advised. Otherwise, the main train station, Hlavní nádraží, has an accommodation booking service for hotels and hostels upstairs. Normally, tax and breakfast are included in the room rate. Around Hlavni Nadrazi, the main train station, there are many touts offering cheap accommodation. Many are Czech residents renting part of their apartment for extra cash. Prices don't vary much between them, but some may not be trustworthy so be cautious. Even during peak season, dorm rooms in hostels close to the city center can be had for around 350 Kč (€14) per person per night. Prague has its share of rough and ready youth hostels with a party vibe, but there are many with a more relaxed atmosphere and some housed in beautifully restored buildings as fancy as any hotel. Many hostels also offer private rooms, with or without shared bathrooms, for much cheaper than a pension or hotel room. There is a boutique design hostel movement with many hostels rivaling hotel accommodation. For those looking for something a little different, a 'botel' (boat hotel) may be an appealing option. Usually relatively well placed, with gorgeous views. Most are moored on the south of the river in Praha 4 and 5, but the best is to stay in Prague 1, next to monuments to visit by foot, in the Lesser Town district (Mala Strana) or in the Old Town (Stare Mesto). Prices vary from €20 to €120 per person (as of 2010). For specific sleeping suggestions in the popular Old Town neighbourhood, have a look into the dedicated article.

Go next

Buses and trains are frequent and quite inexpensive and can get you to even the smallest village. UNESCO listed places:

Český Krumlov is the second most visited place in Czechia by foreign tourists. Beautiful historic town with a castle on a rock above Vltava river in South Bohemia. Best reachable by frequent buses of Regiojet (2 hr 50 min, from 179 Kč) or Flixbus (2 hr 35 min -3 hr 15 min, from 199 Kč), train requires one change in České Budějovice. Overnight stay recommended. Kutná Hora - A once prosperous silver mining town in the 14th and 15th centuries with the fantastic Saint Barbara church, and the Sedlec Ossuary in the suburbs, decorated with the remains of 40,000 human skeletons who were largely plague victims. Reachable by train (0h50 to main station for Sedlec district or 1 hr 6 min with a transfer to Kutná Hora město for city centre) or suburban bus 381 from metro station Háje (1 hr 42 min). Karlovy Vary in West Bohemia is the biggest spa town in central Europe. Enjoy beautiful spa architecture with many colonnades, sources of mineral water and walks in the surrounding forested hills. Very alive and crowded during the international film festival in early July. Easily reachable by frequent buses of Regiojet (2 hr 15 min from Florenc bus station or 1 hr 45 min from Prague Airport, from 149 Kč) or Flixbus (2 hr, from 139 Kč). Mariánské Lázně is another spa town being part of West Bohemian Spa Triangle. Reachable by direct trains of České dráhy via Plzeň (2h20 min). Žatec is the world capital of hops growing, key ingredient of beer. Easily reachable by suburban bus 405 from metro station Zličín (1 hr 32 min). Olomouc is former capital of Moravia, beautiful old city, famous medieval astronomical clock. Reachable by frequent trains of České dráhy, Regiojet and Leo Express (2 hr 20 min). Kroměříž - nice town with a chateau and gardens in Moravia, reachable by train only with a transfer Other UNESCO places are more difficult to reach from Prague. Interesting places around Prague (half-day trips):

Karlštejn is a famous castle established in the 14th century where royal jewelleries were stored in the past. Easily reachable by frequent trains between Prague and Beroun. Surrounding area is also great for hiking - you can hike along Berounka river, to cave monastery in Svatý Jan pod Skalou or beautiful former mine Velká Amerika. Lidice is a village near Prague Airport which was burnt out by Nazis during World War II. Today there is a memorial place with rose garden and museum. Reachable by suburban bus 322 from metro station Nádraží Veleslavín going