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Prague Travel Guide: How Many Days, Getting Around and Budget

SchengenCzech Republic (Czechia)City guide

Prague (Praha) is the capital of the Czech Republic , in Central Europe on the Vltava river, and two to three days cover the castle, Charles Bridge and the Old Town. We came for the Christmas markets  and stayed on Wenceslas Square; this Prague travel guide covers the airport, transport, budget and where we ate.

Top Sights in Prague at a Glance: Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town

14 stops
Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral from above, with the red roofs of Prague behind
1

Prague Castle

Tickets, Opening Hours and the View from the Hill

Historic siteMalá StranaCastle
Price
Basic ticket 450 CZK, grounds free
Tram
22 to Pražský hrad
Time
half a day

We walked up to the castle from Charles Bridge. We were told it takes 10 to 15 minutes, but nobody mentioned how many stairs there are; if you don't want to tire yourself out, take the tram up and walk down. Inside the castle walls you find St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace and Golden Lane, plus more churches, small museums and courtyards.

Don't leave without looking out over Prague from the viewpoints. Plan half a day; that is how long to spend at Prague Castle if you want to see inside the buildings too.

  • Castle grounds: 6:00-22:00
More about this stop

In our video we said entry is about 30 euros; the official price is lower. Prague Castle entry to the buildings is with the basic circuit ticket, which you can buy online or at the castle box offices. It covers St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, St.

George's Basilica, Golden Lane and Daliborka Tower: 450 CZK for adults, 300 CZK reduced and 950 CZK for a family. It is valid for two days, with one entry to each building. The castle grounds are open daily 6:00-22:00 and the ticketed buildings 9:00-17:00 (official info, October 2026).

We arrived at 18:12 and walked around without paying anything: most of the ticketed buildings had closed, but the courtyards and lanes were open. If you want to see the interiors, get there before 17:00.

The small coloured houses of Golden Lane (Zlatá ulička) at Prague Castle in the evening light
2

Golden Lane (Zlatá ulička)

Kafka's House at No. 22

In townMalá StranaHistoric lane
Price
Included in the castle ticket
Time
30 minutes

Small, colourful houses line this short lane inside the castle. The story we were told goes like this: King Rudolf II, who was obsessed with alchemy, brought the leading alchemists of his day here; the ground floors became workshops, the upper floors living space, and the king wanted one thing from them: gold.

They never managed it, and in time the lane was opened to the public. We are not historians; this is the story as it is told.

  • Inside Prague Castle
  • Included in the castle ticket
More about this stop

One famous resident was Franz Kafka, who used the house at No. 22 for a while; we show its door in the video. When we visited, the houses were closed; normally some are cafés and some are souvenir shops.

Golden Lane is included in the Prague Castle basic ticket (450 CZK for adults); ticketed hours are 9:00-17:00 (official info, October 2026).

The Prague Astronomical Clock (Orloj) up close on the Old Town Hall tower
3

Prague Astronomical Clock (Orloj)

Hourly Show and Tower Tickets

Historic siteOld TownClock and tower
Price
Tower 350 CZK, show free
Time
30 minutes

One of Prague's best-known landmarks, on the tower of the Old Town Hall; the history of the Prague Astronomical Clock goes back to 1410. Besides the hour, its dials track the Moon and the planets.

Every hour the 12 Apostles pass one by one through the two small windows at the top. There are figures on both sides of the clock; the one holding a mandolin is said to represent the Ottoman Turks.

  • Old Town Square
  • Show every hour
More about this stop

The most famous legend of the Prague Astronomical Clock says the master who built it was blinded so he could never make a more beautiful one; in revenge he broke the clock, and it was repaired only years later. Again, we are passing on the story as it is told.

The Apostles appear on the hour from 8:00 to 23:00. The tower gallery, 42 metres up, is 350 CZK for adults, 230 CZK reduced and 750 CZK for a family, with 50 percent off in the first hour after opening.

The tower is open 9:00-20:00 from April to December and 10:00-19:00 from January to March; on 24 December 9:00-15:00 and on 31 December 9:00-16:00 (official info, October 2026).

Halil Şımır in front of the Dancing House (Tančící dům) in Prague
4

Dancing House (Tančící dům)

Fred and Ginger

New TownArchitecture
Price
Free from outside
Time
20 minutes

When this building, dedicated to the dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, first went up, many people in Prague felt it didn't suit the city. Tourists loved it, it became one of the city's symbols, and the locals decided it could stay. Everyone stops for a photo in front of it; don't skip it.

  • Rašínovo nábřeží, on the Vltava
  • Free to see from outside
More about this stop

The Dancing House in Prague opened in 1996, designed by Vlado Milunić and Frank O. Gehry. The glass tower stands for Ginger Rogers and the stone tower for Fred Astaire (official info, October 2026). On the top floor is one of the most expensive restaurants in the city; the view from up there costs extra, and we couldn't find out the price.

14stopsThings to Do in Prague: Castle, Charles Bridge, Tickets and HoursSee all 14 places 

Prague Airport to City Centre, Public Transport and Trains

By Air

Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) is west of the city. How to get from Prague airport to the city centre (city center), the way we did it: bus line 59 from outside the terminal to Nádraží Veleslavín, then metro line A (green) to Můstek or Staroměstská. One 90 minute ticket covers the whole trip, and at about 35 minutes the airport is not far from the centre (official info, October 2026). Line 59 used to be bus 119; it became a trolleybus line in March 2024.

The AE Airport Express bus goes direct to the main station for 200 CZK in about 40 to 45 minutes; normal public transport tickets are not valid on it (official info, October 2026). A taxi from Prague airport to the city centre, or an Uber or Bolt, takes 20 to 30 minutes.

By Bus

Prague public transport (metro, trams and buses, under the PID system) uses one ticket for everything.

Prague public transport tickets in PID Lítačka, the official app for Prague public transport: 30 minutes 36 CZK, 90 minutes 46 CZK, 24 hours 140 CZK and 72 hours 340 CZK; paper tickets from the yellow machines cost 39, 50, 150 and 350 CZK (fares from 1 January 2026, official info, October 2026). You can also pay by contactless card on board.

Stamp a paper ticket in the yellow validator the first time you board, or it is not valid; an app ticket starts when you activate it. The centre is easy on foot; we used the metro from the airport. On our second day the sights were spread over both sides of the river, and the tram is the easy way between them.

By Train

Prague main station (Praha hlavní nádraží) is in the New Town. Prague to Vienna by train takes about 4 hours, direct or with a change at Břeclav; on our Christmas trip we went to Vienna on this train. Berlin is about 4 hours by direct train, about 340 km by road, and Budapest about 6 hours 50 minutes (official info, October 2026). Prague to Vienna train times and prices  Ad

Prague to Dresden: about 2 hours 20 minutes by train or about 2 hours by FlixBus. We took FlixBus from Prague’s main bus station; police stopped the bus at the German border and checked IDs, so keep your passport with you. Prague to Dresden train and bus times  Ad

By Car

You do not need a car in Prague; the centre works on foot, by metro and by tram. A car helps for towns in the south such as Český Krumlov, or for a road trip around the Czech Republic. Prague Airport car rental prices  Ad

How Many Days in Prague?

1One day1 day: A one day Prague…
3Three days3 days: Our 3 day Prague…
7Seven days7 days: A Vienna, Budapest and…

Where We Stayed in Prague and Which Area Suits You

5 areas

Hotels in Prague fall into four areas: the Old Town (Staré Město), inside the Christmas market; the New Town (Nové Město), with Wenceslas Square and the metro hubs; quiet Malá Strana across the bridge; and local Vinohrady.

Our own base for two nights was EA Hotel Rokoko on Wenceslas Square, a few steps from Můstek metro; from there the Old Town and the main station were both easy on foot, and the price was fair for that location. Area by area hotels are in where to stay in Prague .

Stay

Which Prague area suits you

four areas · pick in 30 seconds

First visit, short stay: Old Town. Moving on by train: New Town. Quiet: Malá Strana. Longer stay, better value: Vinohrady. Book early for the Christmas weeks, especially Saturday nights: on 15 October 2026 Booking showed 437 hotels available in Prague for Tuesday 8 to 9 December, but only 191 for Saturday 12 to 13 December.
See all Prague hotels  Ad

1

Old Town (Staré Město)

around the Astronomical Clock and the Christmas market

Walk everywhereFills up first at Christmas

Good for: first timers, short stays, and anyone who wants to wake up inside the Christmas market.

Keep in mind: the busiest and most expensive area; rooms facing the square are noisy until late.

2

New Town (Nové Město) and Wenceslas Square

where we stayed

Metro lines A and B meet hereWalk to the main station

Good for: arriving from the airport by metro and leaving by train for another city; plenty of restaurants and shops.

Where we stayed: two nights at EA Hotel Rokoko on Wenceslas Square; we walked easily to the Old Town. Rated 8.3 on Booking from 1,536 reviews, with 9.5 for location (Booking, October 2026).

Keep in mind: parts of the square are lively in the evening; ask for a quiet room.

3

Malá Strana

between Charles Bridge and the castle

Quiet and romanticClosest to the castle

Good for: couples, and anyone who wants to see the bridge and the castle before the crowds.

Keep in mind: cobbled slopes are hard with a suitcase, and there is only one metro stop.

4

Vinohrady

southeast of the centre, a local neighbourhood

Lower pricesNáměstí Míru Christmas market

Good for: longer stays, away from the tourist crowds, in a neighbourhood full of cafés and parks.

Keep in mind: you reach the Old Town by tram or metro, so plan your way back in the evening.

Is Prague Expensive? Daily Budget in Koruna

On a Budget
1,000-1,300 CZK · 40-€55

A 24 hour transport ticket, the free sights (Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, the castle grounds, Kafka's rotating head), a simple restaurant meal at lunch and dinner, and a trdelník at the market.

Mid-Range
1,800-2,300 CZK · 75-€95

The castle Main Tour and the Astronomical Clock tower, breakfast at a café and two restaurant meals. A classic Prague day sits in this range.

Luxury
3,500-4,500 CZK · 145-€185

The castle and museums, a guided tour, and a set menu dinner with a show such as U Pavouka. The dinner show is the item that pushes the total up most.

Per person, for one day. These figures include food, but not your hotel or flights.

Food is from our own bills (two mains and a drink at the goulash restaurant 800 CZK, U Pavouka 2,150 CZK per person); tickets and transport are from the official fares. Euro amounts are rounded at €1 = 24.465 CZK (Czech National Bank, 2 October 2026).

Is Prague expensive to visit? It is cheaper than Vienna, but prices in the Old Town are high. The figures below are from official fares and our own bills (official info, October 2026).

Public transport: in the PID Lítačka app 30 minutes cost 36 CZK, 90 minutes 46 CZK, 24 hours 140 CZK and 72 hours 340 CZK; paper tickets are 39, 50, 150 and 350 CZK. You can also pay by contactless card on board (official info, October 2026).

Tickets and tours: prices are on the cards above. The castle Main Tour, the Old Town Hall tower, the Kafka Museum and the Powder Tower together come to 1,300 CZK (about €53). Prague tours and tickets with current prices  Ad

Food: our bills are in the note under the food section.

Free: Charles Bridge, Old Town Square and its Christmas market, the Astronomical Clock show on the hour, the castle courtyards, the Dancing House from outside, Kafka’s rotating head, the upside down horse statue and the narrowest street.

Where We Ate in Prague: Trdelník, Goulash and Duck

5 food stops

The best known Czech dishes are goulash (guláš) with knedlík (sliced, boiled bread dumplings), roast duck (pečená kachna) with red cabbage and dumplings, and beef in a creamy vegetable sauce (svíčková). The sweet of the Christmas markets is trdelník; it started as the Hungarian and Transylvanian kürtőskalács and is now Prague’s street pastry. What we tried: trdelník, goulash in bread, duck leg and knedlík. What we did not try on this trip: svíčková.

Trdelník turning over the coals at the Prague Old Town Square Christmas market
1

Trdelník

Where to Eat Prague's Chimney Cake

MarketsOld Town
Per person
130 CZK with chocolate, 170 CZK with ice cream
Address
Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí)

You can't walk through a Prague Christmas market without eating trdelník. The dough is wrapped around a spit, rolled in sugar and turned slowly over the coals until it is crisp. They fill it with chocolate, fruit, cream or ice cream.

More about this place

At the Old Town Square stall the sign in our video said 130 CZK (about €5.30) with chocolate and 170 CZK (about €6.90) with ice cream; prices change from stall to stall. Looking for the best trdelník in Prague?

We only tried this Old Town Square stall, and it was good. Trdelník is one of my favourite sweets, but it is not originally Czech: it comes from the Hungarian and Transylvanian kürtőskalács, and we liked the cinnamon version we ate in Budapest even more.

Want to stay nearby? The market is right in the middle of the Old Town (Staré Město); stay here and you can walk over when the lights come on in the evening.

Window tables overlooking the Vltava at Café Slavia, Prague
2

Café Slavia

Coffee with a View of Prague Castle

CafésOld Town
What to order
coffee and the river view
Address
Národní 1, opposite the National Theatre

A grand old café right on the Vltava. From the window tables you look across the river to Prague Castle . The Turkish poet Nâzım Hikmet is said to have spent much of his Prague years here writing; we came for that story and stayed for the view.

More about this place

Come to Café Slavia in Prague for the coffee and the view rather than for a meal. If you can choose your table, take one by the window.

Hours: Monday to Saturday 9:00-23:00, Sunday 9:00-22:00 (official info, October 2026).

Halil Şımır at the entrance and sign of U Pavouka medieval tavern in Prague
3

U Pavouka

Medieval Dinner and Show in Prague

RestaurantsOld Town
Per person
set menu about 2,150 CZK
Address
Celetná 17, Old Town

The medieval tavern U Pavouka (Krčma U Pavouka) is the medieval dinner in Prague that most visitors end up at. We had no reservation, called, and they told us to come straight away.

You eat by candlelight at long shared tables; at ours there were Americans, Germans, Brits, Poles and Greeks, and everyone talked to everyone. Fire shows and live folk music start between the courses.

More about this place

The set menu had a starter platter, duck and turkey, and small side dishes. It is so dark that we couldn't show the food on camera, and plates keep arriving. The bill came to about 2,150 CZK (about €88) per person, drinks included. Touristy, yes, but great fun for one evening; at Christmas, book ahead.

Beef goulash served in a round bread bowl at Mlejnice restaurant, Prague
4

Mlejnice

Where to Eat Goulash in Prague

RestaurantsOld Town
Per person
Goulash, duck and a drink about 800 CZK
What to order
goulash in a bread bowl, duck with knedlíky
Address
Kožná 14, a few minutes from Old Town Square

For authentic Czech food in Prague, a few minutes from Old Town Square, try Mlejnice; it was the best Czech food in Prague on our trip, and where we would eat again in the Old Town.

More about this place

Goulash is originally Hungarian, but Prague loves it too. The Hungarian version is spicier; the Czech one is milder and comes inside a round loaf of bread. Think of a slow cooked beef stew in a thick sauce, topped with red onion. We ordered the beef goulash; there is also a pork version, so ask when you order.

Is it the best goulash in Prague? We only tried this one beef goulash in Prague, and we would order it again. For cheap Czech food in Prague it is not the cheapest, but it cost far less than our medieval dinner at U Pavouka.

On the side we had a duck leg. The white slices on the plate are knedlíky, the boiled bread dumplings Czechs serve with meat and sauce. I'm not a big fan of duck, but this one was tender and well seasoned. Goulash, the duck leg and one drink came to about 800 CZK (about €33) in total.

Food Tip

What we paid: lunch at Mlejnice came to about 800 Kč, and dinner at U Pavouka about 2,150 Kč per person. What we ate at each place, and the prices, are in our what to eat in Prague  guide.

5placesWhat to Eat in Prague: Czech Food, Trdelník and GoulashSee all 5 food stops 

Prague Travel Tips: Money, Tickets and the Cold

Tips

Prague travel tips

six things

Money, tickets and the cold change your plan the most. Christmas market dates are in the Christmas section below.

1

Careful when you change money

“no commission” exchange offices

Cards work in most places3 hour right to cancel

The Czech Republic is in the EU but does not use the euro; Prague’s currency is the Czech koruna (CZK). Exchange offices may say “no commission”, yet the cut can reach 12 percent; we brought euros and paid by card almost everywhere.

If you have already changed money and the rate was bad: according to the Czech National Bank, you can cancel an exchange of up to €1,000 at the same office within 3 hours, free of charge (official info, October 2026).

2

Stamp your paper ticket on first boarding

the yellow validator

No stamp, no valid ticket

Push a paper ticket from the yellow machine at the airport or at a stop into the yellow validator by the door the first time you board a bus, tram or metro; otherwise it does not count. An app ticket starts when you activate it. Fares are in the budget section.

3

Thermals and gloves for December

do not leave them in the suitcase

December average 0.6 to 4.8 °C

We arrived late and left our gloves in the suitcase; our noses froze on the bridge. The next day we went back to the hotel to put on thermals. The December average in Prague is just above zero (Klementinum records, 1991 to 2020), and by the river the wind makes it feel colder.

4

The walk up to the castle is tiring

uphill from Malá Strana

Comfortable shoes

We were told 10 to 15 minutes on foot, but nobody mentioned how many steps there are. Wear comfortable shoes and do not squeeze the castle into the late afternoon; the winter opening hours are on the castle card.

5

Do you need a visa for Prague?

Schengen and the new entry system

SchengenEES: fingerprints and photo

Prague is a Schengen city, and your passport decides whether you need a visa at all; who needs one and how to apply is in our Czech Republic visa guide . The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully running since 10 April 2026: at your first entry the border check takes fingerprints and a face photo, so the queue can be longer (official info, October 2026).

6

Market stalls close early in the evening

after dinner the market had shut

Plan dinner early

When we came back to the square after dinner, most of the stalls had closed. Market hours are in the Christmas section below; do not leave restaurants too late either, and book at weekends.

Festivals and Events in Prague

Xmas

Christmas markets from 28 November to 6 January

Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square host the biggest

Free entry

Both big squares keep their stalls open daily 10:00 to 22:00 until 6 January 2027 (they open on 28 November), long enough for a New Year trip too; the smaller neighbourhood markets close on Christmas Eve (official info, October 2026). We were on Old Town Square when the lights came on in the evening, and on our second morning there were stalls and an ice rink on Wenceslas Square, right outside our hotel.

Dates and hours for every market, and what to eat, are in our Prague Christmas markets guide ; the route on to Dresden and Vienna is in the best Christmas markets in Europe .

Frequently Asked Questions About Prague

Where is Prague?

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic (Czechia), the country it belongs to, and is located in Central Europe on both banks of the Vltava river. On a map of Europe it sits between Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia, so Prague fits easily on one route with Dresden and Vienna. Until 1993 it was the capital of Czechoslovakia.

How many days in Prague is enough?

Two days are enough for the castle, Charles Bridge, the Old Town and the Astronomical Clock. A one day Prague itinerary (1 day in Prague) fits the castle in the morning and the Old Town in the afternoon. Our 3 day Prague itinerary adds the Kafka Museum, the Dancing House and the cafés, and a 4 day Prague itinerary or a Prague itinerary of 5 days leaves time for day trips to Dresden and Český Krumlov.

For a Vienna, Budapest and Prague itinerary, this is how many days in each city works for us: about three in Prague and two each in Vienna and Budapest, and a Budapest and Prague itinerary without Vienna works the same way.

When is the best time to visit Prague?

The best time to visit Prague, Czech Republic, is spring (about 10 to 21 °C) or autumn (about 9 to 20 °C), when the city is best for walking. Summer is warm, around 24 to 27 °C, and busy. Prague weather in December is cold, about 0 to 5 °C, but from 28 November to 6 January the Christmas markets are open; book hotels early for December weekends.

The best time to visit Prague and Vienna, or Prague and Budapest, on one trip is the same: spring, autumn or December, when all three cities have their Christmas markets.

How do I get from Prague airport to the city centre?

Take line 59 from outside the terminal to Nádraží Veleslavín, then metro line A to Můstek or Staroměstská; one 90 minute ticket (46 CZK in the app) covers it, about 35 minutes. The AE Airport Express bus to the main station is 200 CZK, and a taxi or Uber takes 20 to 30 minutes (official info, October 2026).

Is Prague expensive?

Less than Vienna, though the Old Town costs more than the rest of the city. Our daily budget without the hotel runs from about €40 to €55 per person on a simple day to €145 to €185 with a dinner show; the breakdown is in the budget section. Watch the exchange offices: the ones that say "no commission" can take up to 12 percent.

How far is Prague from Vienna, Budapest and Dresden?

Vienna is about 335 km by road and about 4 hours by train. Budapest is about 527 km, close to 5 hours by car and about 6 hours 50 minutes by train. Dresden is about 146 km, about 1.5 hours by car, 2 hours by bus or 2 hours 20 minutes by train (official info, October 2026).

Do I need a visa for Prague?

It depends on your passport. Prague is in Schengen: if your passport is visa-free, you can stay 90 days in any 180, and if not, you need a Schengen visa before the trip. Who needs one, the 90/180 rule and the Entry/Exit System are in our Czech Republic visa guide .

What should I buy in Prague, and is there an outlet?

Puppets are one of the symbols of Prague, and you see them in souvenir shops everywhere, as we show in the video; we did not shop ourselves. Fashion Arena Prague Outlet is in Štěrboholy, east of the city (Zamenhofova 440, Prague 10), open daily 10:00 to 20:00 (official info, October 2026); we did not go.

Prague Quick Facts
Weather6°C
Local time03:09
VisaSchengen
Czech Republic (Czechia) visa guide 
LanguageCzech
Czech phrase guide 
InterneteSIM guide 
CurrencyCzech koruna (CZK, Kč); about 24.5 CZK to €1 (Czech National Bank, 2 October 2026)
PlugsType E, 230 V
Country code+420
Best Time to Visit Prague: Weather by Season
Apr-MayBest
10-21°C
Jun-AugGood
24-27°C
Sep-OctBest
9-20°C
Nov-MarGood
0-5°C

Prague Travel Map

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How We Made This Guide

Prices were checked on site or with official sources. Prices and opening hours can change, so confirm with official sources before you go.

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