A city trip to Prague is never boring! Prague is one of the most beautiful European capitals. The Czech capital has colourful squares and winding streets, centuries-old churches, hip cafes in hidden corners and romantic parks with stunning views of the city centre and the Vltava River. Whether you stay for a day or a week there is plenty to discover. These are tips for a 48 hour city trip.
Day 1 – Morning
Start the morning with a coffee in one of the historic coffee houses in the city centre, such as the art deco café Slavia, art nouveau Café Obecní Dům, café Imperial or Grand Café Orient in the House of the Black Madonna. As soon as you step in here you will see the staircase in the shape of a light bulb and the cafe itself is designed in cubism.
Start your sight-seeing tour at the Old Town Square. There is a special site everyone visiting Prague has to see: The Old town square with the astronomical clock. In November this square turns into a festive spot with stalls selling handmade Christmas items and food and drinks. Then walk over to the Charles Bridge, where you will enter the picturesque quarter called Lesser Town with old streets and city palaces. Don’t forget to visit the baroque St. Nicholas Church and the beautiful garden Vrtba. On the castle hill of Prague Castle, you will see the majestic Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral as well as the picturesque Golden Lane. In summer, the gardens of the Prague Castle are open, providing a beautiful view of the whole city.
Day 1 – Afternoon
Close to Prague Castle you can find the romantic parc Petřín. On the top of Petřín is an elegant lookout tower inspired by the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris. After having conquered the 299 steps you will have a great view of the city and the Vltava River, slowly flowing through the city centre. Petřín is a great place for a picknick or a walk with an romantic view of the roofs of the Lesser Quarter. You can decide to walk down the hill or take the funicular. Alongside the riverbanks of Vltava you can visit Kampa Museum, the John Lennon Wall or cross the river to the unique building called ‘Dancing House‘.
Day 1 – Evening
Náplavka is a true Prague place of life, located on the banks of the Vltava between the Dancing House and Vyšehrad. It has recently undergone an architectural rehabilitation with the construction of 20 vaults within the river wall. These former 19th century warehouses have been converted into cafes, workshops, galleries and bars. Six these vaults are accessible through elliptical turnstiles made of organic glass with a thickness of 7 cm and a diameter of 5.5 m, making them the largest in the world.
Day 2 – Morning
The second day in Prague you can explore the lesser known areas of Prague in the morning, such as the neighbourhood Karlín or Vinohrady. Vinohrady does not have such a long history as Old Town and Lesser Town, but it is definitely worth a closer look! The name Vinohrady comes from the vineyards that were grown here in the Middle Ages. The center consists of Peace Square, Vinohrady Boulevard with the Square of Jiří of Poděbrad and Riegrovy Gardens. Deserving special attention are the 216-meter high Žižkov TV tower and the St. Ludmilla church on the square Náměstí Míru. In Vinohrady you can also find numerous cafés, bistros and cosy lunchrooms.
Day 2 – Afternoon
Back in the city centre near Old Town Square lies the Jewish quartier. Few European cities can boast a better preserved Jewish Ghetto than Prague. Six synagogues, a Jewish Town Hall, magical cemetery and the unique genius loci make Josefov in Prague a place which you should certainly not leave out when you are wandering around the “Golden City”. Get to know the unsettled history of the Prague Jews, their architecture, traditions, customs and stories, which rank among some of the most tragic of the 20th century.
Day 2 – Evening
One of the best locations for watching the sunset is in Letná Park at Metronome which was built shortly after the Velvet Revolution in 1991. Also there are many excellent restaurants and cafes nearby or visit the beer garden in Letná Park.
