Things to Do in Prague

About Prague

Prague announces itself with the scent of roasting pork and the clatter of tram wheels on cobblestones. This city wears its history like a stone cloak — a thousand Gothic spires piercing the low sky, their shadows stretching across the Vltava River at dusk. The Charles Bridge, lined with Baroque saints blackened by centuries, swarms with tourists by day but belongs to the locals by 6 AM, when the only sounds are the slap of joggers' feet on wet stone and the groan of the river barges. You can spend 300 Kč ($13) on a mediocre tourist meal in Staré Město's Old Town Square, or walk five minutes into the grid of Josefov's Jewish Quarter to find a hospoda (pub) where a plate of pork knuckle, two dumplings, and a half-liter of Pilsner Urquell costs 180 Kč ($7.80). The catch: the postcard perfection of Malá Strana's winding lanes comes with crowds that bottleneck in the summer heat, turning the city into a slow-moving queue for Instagram shots. Come for the castle views from Letná Park, but stay for the moment you duck into a courtyard off Karlova Street and find yourself alone with the echo of your own footsteps.

Travel Tips

Transportation: Prague's trams are your lifeline — they run on a grid so efficient you'll wonder why your city doesn't copy it. A 30-minute ticket costs 30 Kč ($1.30), a 24-hour pass is 120 Kč ($5.20), and both work on all trams, buses, and the metro. Download the PID Lítačka app to buy tickets instantly and avoid the undercover inspectors who fine tourists 800 Kč ($35) on the spot for not validating paper tickets. The metro's three lines (A, B, C) intersect at central stations like Můstek and Muzeum, getting you anywhere in 20 minutes. Avoid taxis hailed on the street near tourist spots; they tend to run meters that move suspiciously fast. Instead, use the Bolt or Liftago app for fixed fares.

Money: The Czech crown (Kč or CZK) is king here — euros are accepted in some tourist shops but always at a terrible rate. Withdraw cash from bank ATMs (look for Česká spořitelna or Komerční banka) to avoid the sketchy Euronet machines that charge exorbitant fees. A half-liter of local beer in a proper hospoda runs 45-65 Kč ($2-$2.80), a decent sit-down lunch 250-400 Kč ($11-$17), and a tram ticket 30 Kč ($1.30). Card payments are widespread, but keep 200 Kč ($8.70) in coins for public toilets (usually 10-20 Kč), lockers at museums, and the occasional cash-only market stall. Tipping is expected — round up to the nearest 50 or 100 Kč at restaurants, or add 10%.

Cultural Respect: Prague is formal until it isn't. A simple "Dobrý den" (Good day) when entering a shop or "Na zdraví" (Cheers) before your first sip of beer goes a long way. In pubs, eye contact during a toast is considered essential — breaking it is said to bring seven years of bad luck. Don't compare the Czech Republic to other Eastern European countries; the history here is distinctly Central European and fiercely proud. When visiting churches, cover your shoulders and knees — this is enforced, especially at St. Vitus Cathedral. And while the city might feel like a playground, remember people live here: keep voices down in residential areas after 10 PM.

Food Safety: The rule is simple: eat where the locals are eating. A crowded pub with wooden benches and a chalkboard menu is a safer bet than an empty restaurant with an English menu displayed outside. Street food is generally excellent — a trdelník (chimney cake) from a cart is fine, but the real move is a klobása (sausage) from a butcher's window, like those at Naše maso in Dlouhá street. Tap water is perfectly safe to drink, and you'll save a fortune asking for "voda z kohoutku" instead of bottled. For a truly authentic (and safe) experience, head to a hospoda for lunch between noon and 2 PM when the daily menu (denní menu) is served fresh and fast to office workers.

When to Visit

Prague's weather splits the year into three distinct acts. April through June is likely your best bet — days are long, temperatures hover between 15-22°C (59-72°F), and the chestnut trees along the river burst into white blooms. Hotel prices, however, start their steep climb in May. July and August bring the heat (25-30°C / 77-86°F) and the crowds; the Charles Bridge becomes a slow-moving human river, and accommodation costs peak. That said, the beer gardens — like the one sprawling across Letná Park — are in full swing, and the city stays lively until past midnight. September and October offer a reprieve: the summer hordes thin, the leaves in Petřín Park turn gold, and temperatures dip to a crisp 10-18°C (50-64°F). This is the sweet spot for photographers and walkers. From November to March, Prague turns Gothic in earnest. Mornings start with fog clinging to the Vltava, temperatures drop to -1 to 5°C (30-41°F), and the Christmas markets (late Nov-Dec) fill the Old Town Square with the smell of mulled wine and grilled sausages. January and February are cold and dark by 4 PM, but hotel prices can drop by 40% compared to summer highs, and you'll have the castle courtyards nearly to yourself. If you're on a tight budget or hate queues, come in the shoulder months of March or November — you'll trade perfect weather for affordability and space.