Prague is full of interesting places to go and things to see for those who have visited for the first time.

I visit Prague quite often on business, and every time I ask myself what else to see, what to do, and where to go in the Czech capital?

It will take 2-3 days to run around all the landmarks, and a few more days if you visit museums.
Once we stayed in Prague for a month – we worked from home but walked every day, managed to see many new and already favorite places. We visited observation decks, walked in parks, went to the theater and several museums. Of course, we drank beer and wine, and got reacquainted with Czech cuisine.

I will talk about this in more detail below.

I advise you to read it: First time in Prague – what to see in Prague in two to three days

Viewpoints in Prague

Rome was built on seven hills. But Prague has nine hills, from which you can spend hours looking at the red roofs, spires, and towers of churches that seem to be floating in the air.

Photographers categorically state that without seeing the city from above, it is impossible to truly appreciate its scale and true beauty. There are more than a dozen good observation decks in Prague, both paid and free, from which you can see the city at a glance.

Free observation decks in Prague

1. At the walls of Prague Castle

If you want to jostle among the crowds of tourists, this is the place to go. The walls of Prague Castle is the most visited observation deck in Prague. The Old Castle Stairs lead to it, 183 meters long and with exactly 209 steps. The climb is quite steep, and at the end of it you will be rewarded with one of the best views of Golden Prague. But if you come here after sunset, the area will be empty, and you will be able to see the lights of the big city from the site.

2. Visegrad

A fortress and a temple on a hill above the Vltava, and a wonderful park above the river, which is well worth a few excursions. Romantic, quiet, peaceful. You’ll see more dog owners than tourists here.
The Vyshehradsky Hill offers an unusual view of the Vltava River and Petrshin Hill.

3. Letna gardens

Letna is a hill and park above the Vltava River. From here, in good weather, you can see up to seven or eight bridges in the Vltava River. The view is mesmerizing – a favorite place for photographers and artists. In bad weather, you can warm up with a cup of coffee in the restaurant located in the Hanavsky Pavilion.

The pavilion was built in 1891 to showcase the exposition of the Hanavsky Metallurgical Plant during the Zemstvo Industrial Exhibition.

There’s also a cool and inexpensive place to hang out with a glass of Czech beer – Zahradní reštaurácia Letenský zámeček. It’s a good place to sit with a glass of weighted wine (mulled wine ) in winter. And in summer, you can order a glass of cold beer at a small kiosk located here (wine – 45 kroons, beer – 40 kroons for 0.33 liters).

4. The site near the Strahov Monastery

On the way to Petrshin Hill, you can visit the free observation deck in front of the eastern wing of the Strahov Monastery. Below the monastery there is a garden and vineyards, and below you can see a great view of the towers of Prague Castle on the left and Pershing Hill on the right.

Be sure to check out the library of the Strahov Monastery: the halls, painted with paintings and frescoes, are lined to the ceiling with ancient tomes that are more than a hundred years old.

Bonus: Strahov Monastery Brewery – a glass of beer with a view of the city (0.5 beer 85 CZK). But the view is worth the money spent.

Paid observation decks in Prague

A large selection of paid observation decks, usually located in towers and churches. There are some that are really worth it – it’s not a pity to pay money for the view of the city.

There are some that I would definitely not recommend. The latter includes the tower in Clementineum. I paid 300 kronor to visit the center and the observation deck, and I was seriously disappointed. And the library in Clementineum can be seen only from the dirty door glass, the viewing room is so-so, the tour is not good.

The towers below are worth a visit.

1. The tower of the Old Town Hall

An iconic and postcard view of Prague’s most beautiful square opens from the tower of the Old Town Hall. The tower was built as an observation post: from it, guards watched day and night for fires in the Old Town.

There are stairs leading to the observation gallery, but an elevator was built long ago for the lazy. Outside the tower is the famous Orloi astronomical clock – under it, tourists wait every hour and impatiently for the chimes to make a cherished wish.

Ticket to the tower: for adults – 250 CZK.

3. Zhizhkovskaya TV tower

The Žižkov TV Tower has the status of the tallest (216 meters) and ugliest building in Prague. When it was built, it immediately received negative feedback from Prague residents that it was ugly and spoiled the city’s appearance. But from its observation decks, Prague is visible to all four corners of the world and at great distances. There is no need to walk – the elevator works.
Tickets: 250 CZK for adults.

Bonus – you can get free access to the panoramic restaurant on the Žižkov Tower. Coffee, pancakes, and champagne will be included in the price of visiting the observation deck. The experience is no worse, even better and more romantic.

4. Petrshin Tower

Petrshyn is the name of the hill and the observation tower on it, which is very similar to the Eiffel Tower, but 80 meters high. From it, Mala Strana and the Old Town are clearly visible. The Petřínská rozhledna observation tower has two observation decks located one above the other. They can be accessed by elevator (only for the elderly and disabled) or on foot using the stairs located along the outer perimeter of the elevator shaft. I walked – a simple way to get a good workout. The wind is blowing upstairs – take something warm to wear upstairs!

Tickets: for adults – 60 CZK

Markets in Prague

I like to visit markets in different cities. There are very few stationary markets in the Czech Republic, but on weekends you can go to a Trg (market or fair). There are a few permanent markets, but they sell the same products as supermarkets.

It is important not to confuse Sunday or Saturday markets with tourist fairs. For example, the Havel Market with souvenirs. I’m talking about markets with farm products, hot and cold drinks, flowers and sweets, music, and good cheer. One of my favorites is the Saturday trg at Naplavka.

Navplavka is a promenade on the right bank of the Vlatva River. It is located between the railway bridge and the Palatsky Bridge. Every Saturday in the cold season and in the summer, almost every evening, it’s very fun, delicious, and drunk.

Cheeses, sausages, seafood and fish (imported but fresh), farm vegetables and fruits, Czech meat delicacies, sweets and pastries, wines and beers from local producers. Almost everything is local (which is valuable!), and more than half of the visitors are locals.

Music is playing, swans are coming to feed on ducks, there are tables and chairs in some places, and it’s very relaxed and fun, especially after a glass of alcohol.

Unusual places in Prague

There are very few hidden places in historic Prague, but it’s definitely worth trying to find them. For example, the narrowest alley in Prague is a place where only one person can pass. And not every person can pass through it, preferably without an extra large belly, because you can get stuck between two walls in a narrow alley. Traffic here is even regulated by traffic lights! You can find this place on U Lužického Street near the seminary in Malá Strana, not far from the Kafka Museum.

Another very famous narrow street is Zolota Street, which is free to visit in the low season. Free access to Zolota Street is available after 16:00 from January to March, and after 18:00 from April to November.

Then go down to the island of Kampa – in the evening you can see the glowing yellow penguins lining the Vltava River. This is one of the installations by the famous provocative sculptor David Cerny, whose works also include Kafka’s Hollow, sculptures of men peeing on a map of the Czech Republic, and many other artworks in Prague.

Cafes and restaurants in Prague

I have no particular love for Czech cuisine. It’s a little too heavy and simple for me. But! If you’re a fan of meat, gravies, and bread products, you’ll love the local specialties, which are perfectly diluted with Czech cheap and tasty beer. Therefore, here are a couple of places that have been tested several times.

For the information: the exchange rate of the Czech Crown to the Euro is 24 CZK = 1 Euro

First, there’s the Restaurace U Kristiána restaurant (Vltavská 787/8, 150 00 Praha 5-Smíchov), located right below the apartment we rented in Smíchov. Inexpensive, huge portions, great atmosphere and really tasty! So we went there once a week and enjoyed our dinner. The average check for two people – two hot dishes, a salad, and 2-3 mugs of beer – is 500 CZK.

Secondly, if your budget is tight, you can eat in local eateries – look for a sign with a jídelna. There are no interior frills, but huge portions, cheap and really tasty. For example, in the storied Havelská Koruna (Havelská 501, Staré Město) you can order soup for 35 CZK, roast beef for 90 CZK, and a glass of beer for 35 CZK. It’s easy for one person to invest 150 crowns.

If you want to eat right in the Old Town, and to be sure that it’s delicious (but not cheap), go to Hlavkuv dvur (Vodičkova 17, 110 00 Nové Mesto). Great beer and huge portions. The account per person is 250-400 kroons.

Czech national dishes: goulash with dumplings, candlelight beef with gravy and dumplings, duck with stewed sauerkraut (Zele), pork knee, various sausages, etc. Salads are also available in restaurants, but when ordering a main course, keep in mind that fresh chopped or boiled vegetables are served right on the plate with the main course. The portions are huge!

Beer is plentiful in Prague – prices range from 35 CZK for 0.5 liters to 110 CZK for a signature beer with a gorgeous view in a fancy restaurant. We used to go to ordinary beer houses. I liked Kozlovna Lidická (Lidická 796/20, 150 00 Praha 5-Anděl). From the name, it’s easy to guess that the Velikopopovitsky goat is poured here. A glass of 0.5 light costs 55 kronor. Appetizers from 85 to 150 CZK, hot dishes from 190 to 270 CZK.

Coffee and wine

Coffee – we mostly went to the Paul chain – good coffee, fresh pastries, almost proper croissants. It’s a French franchise, after all. Cappuccino – 65 CZK, Americano – 55 CZK, croissant – 40 CZK.

I give you a luxurious wine bar – Na Bregu Rhony (Na Hrobci 1, 128 00 Nové Mesto). There are no Czech wines here, but decent French ones. I really liked the style of the place: three lockers with white, red and rose colors. You take a piece of paper, a pencil, and a glass. You open any cabinet, pour the wine you like out of a box – each one has its own number and wine name.

You pour it, write down the number and how much you poured (100-200 ml). The price per 100 ml starts at 40 kronor. You spend the whole evening drinking and recording. You can order a cheese plate and snacks. In general, such a wine bar is a great place to get drunk with friends and save your weekly budget. But it’s delicious and cool!

I recommend reading it: Prague – coffee and wine

Parks in Prague

I’m not sure that many people who come to Prague for the first time will find time to walk in the parks. I was happy to wander through the quiet alleys. Moreover, there are hidden park gems among the stone, albeit ancient, jungle of Old Prague.

1. Franciscan garden

One of the most romantic parks in Prague, hidden a stone’s throw from Wenceslas Square (Vodičkova, 110 00 Nové Mesto). In summer it smells like roses, in winter it is very quiet, and there is a gorgeous view of the Church of the Virgin Mary the Snow Maiden. Buy ice cream in the summer and enjoy it while sitting on one of the white benches in the shade of the trees.

2. Military gardens

Peacocks walk on the lawns, and picnics are organized in hot weather. A beautiful free park at the foot of Prague Castle.

3. Petrshin Hill

The largest city park in Prague, with a rose garden, an observatory, and a small but nice replica of the Eiffel Tower. You can climb the hill on foot or by funicular, which costs the same as a regular tram fare (24 CZK). The top offers magnificent views of Prague.

4. Botanical Garden and Vinice sv. Kláry

This place is quite far from the center. But it is a must-see for all lovers of good wines. Yes, you can drink more than just beer in Prague; vineyards grow here (Pod Havránkou 34/7, 171 00 Praha-Troja) on the slopes above the Vltava River and produce excellent wines. You can combine a walk in a beautiful botanical garden with wine tasting. Riesling, Pinot Noir, Moderate Portuguese, Muller Turgau and Red Traminer are grown and produced here.

In winter, the entrance to the botanical garden is free, in summer it costs 100 kroons. The wine and the view from the garden are wonderful!

5. Streletsky Island

A good place for a summer picnic: green lawns, a kiosk with refreshments, you can rent a catamaran or a boat (100-150 CZK per hour).

Please note: when buying takeaway drinks, you will be served in plastic reusable glasses or glasses. They require a deposit of 50 crowns. If you want to return it, you will get your money back. If you don’t want to, you can stay next time. Many people walk around with their containers, especially at fairs.

Unusual transport in Prague

Prague has a free cable car that takes you to Smichov Hill. The funicular station is located in the lobby of the NH Prague City hotel (Mozartova 261/1), but the trip is available to everyone.

Don’t forget to ride the old and very unusual paternoster elevator – it has no doors and moves without stopping. Such extracts were invented more than a hundred years ago, and one of them is preserved in the Prague City Hall.

Everyone is allowed to ride the amazing elevator here – the main thing is to be careful and hold the handrails while moving.

Safety in Prague

In terms of safety, Prague is fine – it’s one of the safest cities in Europe!

You can walk around all night long – no one will pick on you. The only exception is drunken locals, marginalized people who can walk down the street at night or during the day while drunk, shouting in a voice not their own, and spitting at your feet. The police can check such a person’s documents, but there are no grounds for detention. In general, ignore it and don’t pay attention. They hang out most often in the center, where it is easier to beg.

In general, Czechs are polite, calm, constantly greeting their neighbors in the stairwell, and apologizing whenever they see them.

Try to learn a few Czech greetings: Dobry den! – good afternoon, Hesky vechеr – have a nice evening, Promiňte prosim – excuse me, please.

Secure currency exchange and ATMs in Prague

As for money, you can pay with a card in most places in Prague. Cash is mostly available at tourist kiosks, and there are already card readers there.

Attention!!! Don’t use ATMs labeled ATMs to withdraw cash from your card – they charge a huge fee for cashing out.
Be careful with exchange offices, read the exchange conditions carefully – often the exchange rate is unfavorable and the commission is high (up to 40%).

In general, go to Prague and enjoy the places where there are few tourists. Of course, there is no point in avoiding the most popular sights: Charles Bridge and Old Town Square, St. Vitus Cathedral and Prague Castle. But if you visit the quieter parts of the city, you can take a break from the tourist bustle and relax, just like the local Mashkans do.

It is most profitable to withdraw CZK from a Ukrainian hryvnia card at ČSOB ATMs.

Be careful: most exchange offices charge a large commission. If you do need to change currency, the best rate is at Change Mango exchange offices on the corner of Wenceslas Square (Jindřišská, Nové Město, 110 00 Praha 1).

Useful articles and links:

Booking of hotels and apartments – Booking.com
Car rental – I am looking for inexpensive options on Rentalcars.com

What to see in Prague if it’s not your first time here

Viewpoints in Prague