Prague, 2 Days

The Petřín funicular has been closed for reconstruction since September 2024 and isn’t due back until sometime in the third quarter of 2026, so if you’re planning on riding the little tram up the hill, check current status before you build your afternoon around it. Until it reopens, getting up to Petřín Tower means a genuine 30-minute uphill walk from Malá Strana, which is fine as exercise but worth knowing in advance so you don’t show up expecting a five-minute ride.

Day 1

Start at Old Town Square by 9am, before the tour groups fill it in. The Astronomical Clock’s hourly show is a minor spectacle at best, a few wooden figures rotating past a window for under a minute, so don’t linger waiting for something dramatic; the real draw is just standing in the square itself, ringed by Gothic and Baroque facades.

For lunch, Eska in Karlín, run by the Ambiente group, is worth the tram ride out of the center for its bakery-forward, modern take on Czech ingredients, and it’s a good way to see a neighborhood most two-day visitors skip entirely.

In the afternoon, walk Charles Bridge slowly, ideally more than once given how different it feels in daylight versus early evening once the day-trippers thin out. Note that St. Nicholas Church is not actually on the bridge itself; it sits in Malá Strana Square on the western side, a short walk past the bridge tower, and its Baroque interior is worth the detour on your way toward the castle.

Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle complex in the world by area, fills the rest of the afternoon comfortably. The standard ticket circuit covering St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, and Golden Lane runs a few hundred crowns, and if you’re doing more than a handful of paid sights across your stay, the Prague Visitor Pass, priced from around 90 euros for 72 hours, can work out cheaper since it bundles the castle circuit, the Astronomical Clock tower, Petřín’s lookout and mirror maze, and unlimited public transport into one purchase. It only pays off with heavier sightseeing though, so skip it if you’re mostly planning to walk and eat.

For dinner, Café Imperial on Na Poříčí is a genuine Art Deco landmark from the early 20th century, all mosaic tile and ceramic detail, and the Czech menu holds up well against the setting.

Day 2

Reach Petřín Hill in the morning, on foot given the funicular closure, and budget more time than you would in a normal year. The 299-step climb up the tower itself rewards you with views on par with the real Eiffel Tower at a fraction of the size, and the surrounding gardens are one of the more peaceful green spaces in central Prague once you’re past the crowds near the base.

For lunch, look for a proper Czech kitchen serving svíčková or goulash with bread dumplings rather than a tourist-menu spot; ask your hotel for their honest local pick rather than trusting the restaurant with the most English signage.

Spend the early afternoon at Wenceslas Square, less a square than a long boulevard, home to the National Museum and the statue of St. Wenceslas, patron saint of Bohemia, where the 1989 Velvet Revolution protests culminated. It’s also the city’s busiest commercial strip, so treat it more as a walk-through than a lingering stop.

Finish sightseeing in the Jewish Quarter, Josefov, where the surviving synagogues and the old Jewish cemetery form one of the most historically significant Jewish heritage sites in Central Europe. The Spanish Synagogue, with its ornate Moorish interior, is the standout of the group and worth the separate ticket if your time is limited elsewhere.

For a final dinner, La Degustation Bohême Bourgeoise offers a Michelin-starred multi-course tasting menu built around traditional Czech dishes reworked with genuine technique; book this one well ahead, since walk-in tables essentially don’t exist.

Where to stay

Base yourself in Old Town or Malá Strana for walkability if budget allows, with options spanning boutique hotels to comfortable mid-range stays. Hostels cluster more toward the edges of the center and are the better call if you’re prioritizing budget over location.

Getting around

The metro is fast and covers the city’s major axes, trams fill the gaps especially around the castle and Petřín, and the center itself is compact enough to walk most of it if your feet hold up. Cycling is workable but Prague’s cobblestones and hills make it less comfortable than flatter European cities.

Practical notes

Prague tap water is safe to drink straight from the tap, meeting EU standards, so skip buying bottled water out of habit; most locals drink it at home. The koruna (CZK) is the local currency, and while some tourist-facing spots quote prices in euros, you’ll generally do better paying in koruna. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including on public transport. Dress and behave respectfully inside working churches and synagogues, and keep your bag zipped and visible on crowded trams and in Old Town Square, where pickpocketing is the main practical risk for visitors.