By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 22nd September 2018 | Updated: 13th December 2024
Looking for a 3 day Prague itinerary? Well, how does waking up to the sound of church bells chiming and discovering the City of Spires, i.e. Prague in the Czech Republic sound? We spent a weekend there exploring the markets and wandering the historic old town so here is an itinerary of what to do, eat and see for your first time visiting Prague.
📍 Day 1 – Staré Mesto / Old Town
📍 Day 2 – Malá Strana & Prague Castle
📍 Day 3 – Vinohrady
Planning Your Trip? Use our favourite travel resources below:
Accommodation: We recommend Booking.com
Rental Car: We recommend Rentalcars.com
Flights: We recommend Kiwi.com
Tours: We recommend Get Your Guide & Viator
Currency Conversion: We recommend Wise
Travel Insurance: World Nomads
3 Days in Prague Itinerary Map
3 Days in Prague Itinerary
If you are planning on a city break to Prague then be sure to check out the Prague Official City Pass or the Prague Coolpass, for discounted rates for tickets to attractions throughout the city, (some up to 50%!) and free public transport for the duration of your ticket. On top of that, you also get exclusive offers and savings on tours, cruises, shopping and dining.
3 Days in Prague Day 1 – Staré Mesto / Old Town
For the first day of the Prague itinerary, it is all about exploring the east side of the river and the beautiful old town of Prague. Known as Staré Mesto, this lively cobblestoned area is full of incredible medieval sights as well as a few rather lovely restaurants. Think gothic churches surrounded by quaint alleyways and hidden cafes just waiting to be discovered!
Start the day by grabbing breakfast at Café Louvre a 100-year-old café serving traditional Czech food, but make sure you either make a booking or get there really early as it is very popular and will fill up quickly! The apple meringue pie and the Gugelhupf cake are both delicious. After your fill of breakfast next it’s time to head into the heart of the old town to the Old Town Square.
Staroměstské náměstí or the Old Town Square is truly the heart of the Old Town of Prague. From here there are some incredible sights to behold, such as the Pražský orloj, Prague Astronomical Clock, National Gallery Prague, Kinsky Palace, and the Church of Our Lady before Týn, Chrám Matky Boží před Týnem. Unfortunately, when we visited the Prague Astronomical Clock was covered up with scaffolding for renovation, but the Old Town Square is well worth a wander around even without the clock.
We happened to be visiting Prague during Easter and unbeknownst to us, that means incredible markets throughout the Old Town Square, full to the brim with Czech delicacies, handmade egg presents and beautiful easter decorations. Just be aware that in the Czech Republic whipping with sticks of willow is a common occurrence over Easter, so don’t be alarmed if you see any going on!
One place you can’t miss when exploring Staré Mesto is Celetná Street. Get lost around this area, it is full to the brim with beautiful churches such as the Church of St. Gallen, historic architecture, museums and art galleries. There are also a few sculptures and cafes dotted around to find throughout this area too.
For dinner head to Terasa U Prince, a rooftop bar and restaurant. This is a must-stop place in the centre of the old town of Prague with incredible views over the Old Town Square. Why pay to climb the astronomical clock tower when you can sit, eat and indulge in the view over Old Town Square from a rooftop bar?
Planning your own trip to Prague? Be sure to download Wise by far the best currency conversion app around. We use it daily living on the border of two countries and it is a game changer when travelling!
3 Days in Prague Day 2 – Malá Strana & Prague Castle
The day 2 Prague itinerary is all about the Lesser Town, or Malá Strana, so start off at the Café Kavárna Divadla Na zábradlí before heading up the river edge to the Old Town Bridge Tower or Staroměstská mostecká věž. Climbing this tower has got to be one of the highlights of a trip to Prague, with 360-degree aerial views over the historic city of spires and down to Karlův most. Just be warned it can be a little windy up there!
After taking in the view from above, head down to Karlův most, also known as St Charles Bridge, to experience the bridge first-hand and walk across it. It can get a little busy but enjoy the street performers, artists and tourists that flock to this famous bridge all the while wandering your way across to Malá Strana.
Once over the bridge, it’s time to get exploring. The Kafka Museum sculptures and the narrowest street in Prague, Nejužší pražská ulička, are hidden gems worth finding on this western side of the river. The old town around the area is also full of beautiful architecture and quaint waterways lined with love-lock-filled bridges.
After wandering the narrow streets and exploring the local artwork head up the Old Castle Stairs, Staré zámecké schody, to Prague Castle, Pražský hrad via the Vyhlídka u Černé věže Observation deck. It takes a bit of walking up through the beautiful old town via a lot of steps, (seriously there are a lot, you won’t want to see steps again for a while), but once at the top not only is the castle incredibly beautiful but the views are something else. In particular, the Starbucks just outside the castle has a great view.
For the route down from Prague Castle, head in the opposite direction to which you came up via the Plečnikova Vyhlídka Observation deck, before walking down the incredibly beautiful Nerudova street with its historic colourful buildings lining the road. Try not to stop in too many shops en route! Then walk alongside the river through Kampa Park before finishing off the day at Cafe Savoy for some delicious Czech food to die for.
We paired our trip to Prague with a visit to Paris, check it out here: How to spend 3 days in Paris
3 Days in Prague Day 3 – Vinohrady
For the final day of the Prague itinerary, it is a bit more relaxed exploring an area less known to the tourists. Begin at Tančící dům or the Dancing House located in the New Town before heading into Vinohrady, a more residential area of Prague, which is full of parks and eateries. Spend the day wandering through Náměstí Míru, or Peace Square and the surrounding streets with its outdoor markets and impressive gothic Church of Saint Ludmila, Kostel sv. Ludmily.
When in Prague make sure you try traditional Czech goulash with potato pancakes but be warned if there are hoards of tourists in the restaurant it probably isn’t the best food that Prague has to offer. Luckily, we have a lovely friend, (hi TJ!), who has lived in Prague for years, to show us around the best restaurants and bars that the locals frequent including the great Restaurant Na Brezance, and Restaurant Pivnice Na Břežance.
If you’re after some local beverages after all that food, try some craft beers and Slivovice plum pear brandy a traditional Czech spirit. They will all go down rather nicely… you have been warned!
Where to stay in Prague
Whilst in Prague we stayed in a wonderful area of Mala Strana near Petřínské sady, west of the river, which was the perfect base for exploring Prague and within easy access to local tram routes. Being out of the main city centre this area can also be quite a bit cheaper for accommodation as well as eating.
Check out the best accommodation options for Prague below.
3 Days in Prague Itinerary FAQs
How to get to Prague & How to get from Prague airport to Prague city centre
The easiest way to get to Prague is to fly to Václav Havel Airport then take a 30-minute bus transfer to the city centre. You can also take the train to Praha hlavní nádraží, the main station in Prague centre, but there are a couple of other train stations you can use to get to Prague with only a short walk to the city centre – Prague-Smíchov to the west of the river and Praha Masarykovo nádraží to the north of the main city.
Check out Kiwi.com for the best flight deals for your trip to Prague, or thetrainline.com for the best train fares.
How to get around Prague
Getting around Prague is simple by either foot or public transport. Hopping on the subway, trams or buses is one of the easiest ways to explore the city but beware you will need to find the ticket machines! (This stumped us on the first trip we did, and it was only after we found a yellow ticket machine by accident, we realised what you have to do).
You can then either buy a ticket to last 30 minutes, 90 minutes, 1 day, 3 days or 1 month.
One thing you must do is forget the maps, stop looking at your phone and just get lost in the beautiful colourful streets of the Old Town. The colours and baroque style architecture throughout the area is a city break travellers dream!
Is the Prague Card / Prague Coolpass worth it?
If you want to save even more money on your trip to Prague then check out the Prague Official City Pass or the Prague Coolpass, (it was called Prague Card previously), which offers not only free public transport but free access to over 70 top attractions around the city as well. On top of that, you also get exclusive offers and savings on tours, cruises, shopping and dining.
Best time to visit Prague
The city of Prague is a must-visit any time of year, but we have to say visiting when there are markets, be them for Easter or Christmas, will make your visit even better. We visited in early April and although it was still quite cold it was lovely to wander around the city and the Easter Markets before heading into a café to warm up.
Prague Easter markets
Prague Easter Markets, which are held from mid-March through to mid-April depending on when Easter falls, are one thing you should try and plan your Prague itinerary around. Taking place in the Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square and the Square of the Republic, there are plenty of market stalls to explore and wares to be tempted by, including the beautiful Kraslice, (real eggs with the inside blown out that have been expertly decorated). Just be sure to steer clear of any willow whipping taking place on Easter Monday!
Prague Christmas markets
From late November through to early January, Prague holds its annual Christmas Markets, drawing in tourists from far and wide. The Old Town Square is home to the largest Christmas Market, (and the tallest Christmas Tree), with markets also being held at Prague Castle and Square of the Republic. Be sure to grab yourself a mulled wine and a Tredelnik, (a sweet pastry), whilst wandering through market stalls filled with traditional Czech products and handmade decorations.
Why visit Prague?
Prague is one city in Europe that has such an array of architecture it is a must-visit for architecture lovers and historians alike. If the stunning architecture doesn’t draw you in then the cheap cost of exploring the city, (and drinking!), might well do the trick.
How many days do you need in Prague?
We spent 3 days in Prague, and it was the perfect amount of time to really get to grips with the city. Prague is really quite a small European city compared to others like Paris or London, so you can easily see a lot of sights in a short space of time. You could definitely spend a little longer, but after you’ve seen the sights and stopped by a few of the lovely cafes and restaurants to sample the local delicacies, you could easily call it a long weekend in Prague done.
Are 3 days enough for Prague?
3 days in Prague is the perfect amount of time in the city if you want to see the main sights as well as have some time for relaxation, shopping for souvenirs, and of course, eating all the local delicacies.
Is Prague worth visiting?
Prague is definitely worth a visit. With the beautiful old town full of history and impressive architecture, the incredible cafes and squares to sit in and watch the world go by, and of course the local food and drink to taste, Prague should be on everyone’s list of places to visit. It is also relatively cheap so makes for a great city break that won’t break the bank.
Is Prague cheap?
Prague is one of the cheaper European destinations, alongside the likes of Poland and Slovakia, with the average cup of coffee costing 95CZK, ($4.20 / £3.30 / €4.30), a pint of beer costing 45CZK, ($1.90 / £1.60 / €1.60), and main meal in a traditional Czech restaurant costing 160CZK, ($6.80 / £5.30 / €5.90).
Is Prague safe?
Prague, like any other major European city, is very safe as long as you are sensible with your belongings, don’t venture down dark side streets at night and in general just be aware of your surroundings. There is a slightly higher risk of pickpocketing on b7sy metro routes but generally Prague is generally a very safe city to visit.
Is Prague or Budapest better?
Whilst both Prague and Budapest are fantastic historical cities to visit, Prague is great if you want to experience medieval architecture, Budapest on the other hand is filled with thermal baths and a vibrant night life.
What currency does Prague use?
Prague uses the Czech koruna for its currency, (CSK).
What language do they speak in Prague?
The official language in Prague is Czech, however nearly all places within the tourist areas will speak English as well.
What city to combine with Prague?
On our visit to Prague we combined it with a trip to Paris as the flights between the two cities are 1 hour 50 minutes long. However, if you are looking to combine your trip to Prague with another destination in the Czech Republic we would suggest Cesky Krumlov.
Best Tours in Prague
Why not add a tour to your Prague itinerary? Get Your Guide have some great tours on offer, and having used them throughout Europe, we can highly recommend you book with them!
Conclusion: 3 Days in Prague Itinerary
And there you have our 3 day Prague itinerary guide for the first time visitor. From the well-known sights to the food recommendations and everything in between, 3 days in Prague is 3 days well spent.
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.
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