- Trolleybus 59 and metro line A reach the Old Town in about 35 minutes on one 50 CZK ticket
- The Prague Castle main circuit costs 450 CZK (2026) and is valid for two days
- Stay in the Old Town or Malá Strana for the sights, Vinohrady for value
- Prague charges a tourist tax of 50 CZK per person per night
- Airports
- Prague Václav Havel (PRG)
- Best time to go
- April-June, September-October and December
- Type
- City
Prague looks like a city from a storybook. Gothic towers, baroque churches and pastel townhouses line its cobbled streets, the Vltava river curves beneath a dozen bridges and a vast castle watches over it all from the hill. It escaped serious damage in the Second World War, so its historic centre is one of the best preserved in Europe.
It's also compact, walkable and still good value once you step away from the busiest streets, and flights from London take under two hours. Here is how to plan your trip. For the rest of the country, see our Czech Republic guide.
Why go
Prague has more than a thousand years of history packed into a small area: the medieval Old Town, the Renaissance and baroque palaces of Malá Strana, the Jewish Quarter and the grand boulevards of the New Town. On top of the sights, there's world-famous beer, a lively classical music scene, cosy cafés and excellent public transport. It also links easily with Vienna and Budapest by train; see our Prague, Budapest and Vienna by train itinerary.
Where to stay
- Old Town (Staré Město) – the historic heart, with Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock on your doorstep. Atmospheric but busy and pricier.
- Malá Strana (Lesser Town) – beneath the castle, with baroque palaces, gardens and quieter evenings. Romantic and central.
- New Town (Nové Město) – around Wenceslas Square, with good transport links and a wide range of hotels. Some streets get rowdy at night.
- Vinohrady – a leafy, elegant residential district with great cafés, restaurants and better prices, a few metro stops from the centre.
- Žižkov and Holešovice – more local and creative, with lively pubs, galleries and good-value stays.
Avoid hotels right on Wenceslas Square or the busiest Old Town streets if you're a light sleeper. Stag parties and late bars keep them noisy at weekends.
Top things to do
- Prague Castle – the world's largest ancient castle complex, including St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace and Golden Lane. The grounds are free; the main circuit ticket costs 450 CZK (2026). See our Prague Castle guide.
- Charles Bridge – the 14th-century stone bridge lined with statues. Visit at sunrise for a near-empty crossing. Read our Charles Bridge guide.
- Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock – watch the clock's procession of apostles on the hour, then climb the Old Town Hall tower for the view.
- The Jewish Quarter (Josefov) – synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery, covered by one Jewish Museum ticket. The museum closes on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
- Petřín Hill – a park with orchards, rose gardens and a lookout tower resembling a mini Eiffel Tower. Walk up from Malá Strana, or check whether the funicular is running.
- Letná Park and Vyšehrad – Letná's beer garden has some of the best views in the city; Vyšehrad is a peaceful clifftop fortress with a beautiful cemetery.
- A concert or the opera – classical concerts in churches and palaces run almost nightly, and the State Opera and National Theatre are good value by London standards.
- Day trips – the silver town of Kutná Hora (about an hour by train), Karlovy Vary's spa colonnades, or Český Krumlov if you can stay overnight.
Getting there and around from the UK
Direct flights from London and several UK regional airports reach Prague Václav Havel Airport (PRG) in about 1h50. Flights from the UK use Terminal 1. Prague's airport has no metro station, but trolleybus 59 runs every few minutes to Nádraží Veleslavín, where you change to metro line A for the centre: about 35 minutes in total on a single 90-minute ticket costing 50 CZK (46 CZK in the PID Lítačka app) in 2026. The Airport Express (AE) bus goes direct to the main railway station for 200 CZK. Uber and the airport's official taxi partner show a fixed price before you ride.
In town, one ticket covers metro, trams, buses and the Petřín funicular for its validity period; a 30-minute ticket costs 39 CZK and 24-hour and 72-hour passes are available. Buy them in the app, from machines or by tapping a contactless card where available, and validate paper tickets before you travel. Tram 22 is a scenic, cheap route past the castle.
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October bring comfortable temperatures and long walks without the summer crush. July and August are warm and very busy. Winter is cold, but the Christmas markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square from late November make December one of the most atmospheric times to go; see our best Christmas markets in Europe.
Budget tips
- Prague's tourist tax is 50 CZK per person per night (2026) for adults, collected by your accommodation and often not included in the online price.
- Wander the castle grounds, Charles Bridge and Petřín for free, and pay only for the interiors you really want to see.
- Eat a set lunch menu (polední menu) at a local pub for some of the best-value meals in Europe.
- Avoid currency exchange booths and "zero commission" signs, and always choose to pay in koruna on card machines.
- Book flights and hotels well ahead for December weekends, when prices rise sharply.
Top attractions in Prague
LandmarkCharles Bridge
Prague's 14th-century stone bridge, lined with Baroque statues and guarded by Gothic towers, linking the Old Town with…
LandmarkPrague Castle
A thousand-year-old castle complex above the Vltava, home to St Vitus Cathedral, royal palaces and the Czech…
Prague on the map
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Prague?
Three days lets you see the castle, Old Town, Jewish Quarter and Malá Strana at a relaxed pace. Add a fourth for Kutná Hora or a slower look at Vinohrady and Vyšehrad.
How do I get from Prague airport to the city centre?
Take trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín and metro line A into the centre, about 35 minutes on one 90-minute ticket. The AE bus goes direct to the main station, and taxis take around 30 minutes outside rush hour.
Is Prague expensive?
It's cheaper than most western European capitals for food, beer and public transport, though restaurants on Old Town Square charge tourist prices. Hotels are pricier in summer and over Christmas.
Do I need to book Prague Castle tickets in advance?
It isn't usually necessary, as main circuit tickets don't have timed slots and are valid for two days. Arriving soon after opening helps you avoid the biggest queues for security and St Vitus Cathedral.
Written by
Emma City breaks & deals editor
Emma plans city breaks the way other people plan the weekly shop: on a budget, with a spreadsheet and a backup plan. She covers city guides and deal-hunting.
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