22 Best Things to Do in Prague: Top Highlights & Map

Buy tickets for Prague’s sights online

Prague is one of Europe’s most popular city trip destinations. Long lines in front of the top attractions are totally normal — so buying tickets in advance for the most popular spots is a smart move.

These are the Prague highlights where we’d recommend booking ahead:

All Prague highlights on a map

Before we walk you through our favorite things to do in Prague, here’s a map with all 22 must-sees so you can get your bearings right away.

Highlights at Prague Castle

Prague Castle is actually a whole cluster of attractions — and you absolutely shouldn’t miss any of them.

Prague Castle Grounds

As the largest coherent castle complex in the world, set aside several hours for your visit. It honestly felt to us like a small city in itself — there’s an incredible amount to explore here.

The castle grounds sit on the hill of the Hradčany district, above Prague’s Lesser Town.

The complex brings together many of Prague’s top attractions, including the Golden Lane, St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica, the National Gallery, and the Old Royal Palace.

For visiting Prague Castle, you can choose from several ticket options.

Our tip: We recommend the so-called Main Circuit — especially if you only have a weekend in Prague. It covers the most significant sights within the castle complex, including St. Vitus Cathedral and the Old Royal Palace.

To Circuit B for Prague Castle

If you’d rather explore Prague Castle on a guided tour, we can recommend this option:

To the small-group tour incl. Prague Castle ticket

And even if you don’t want to go inside any of the sights, the climb up is still worth it. You can stroll through the grounds completely free of charge, admire the buildings from the outside, and soak up the fantastic panorama over Prague.

Our tip: Every day at noon, the changing of the guard takes place in the first castle courtyard — complete with drums, trumpets, and fanfares. If you want to catch the spectacle, get there early to secure a good spot.

St. Vitus Cathedral

St. Vitus Cathedral sits right inside Prague Castle and is the largest church in the Czech Republic. It dates back to 1344 and is considered a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Behind a small door with seven locks, you can marvel at the Bohemian Crown Jewels.

The entrance area is free to visit; the rest of the cathedral requires a ticket, which you can get with one of the Prague Castle circuit passes.

If heights don’t bother you, we seriously recommend climbing the 99-meter church tower — it has the best view in the city.

Golden Lane

Golden Lane runs along the inner wall of Prague Castle and is one of the most popular spots on the whole complex. The little alley gets its name from the goldsmiths who lived here in the 17th century.

Franz Kafka also lived and worked here at number 22. Today the narrow street with its colorful, tiny houses is lined with souvenir shops, cafés, and permanent exhibitions about life here in centuries past.

During winter (early November to late March) you can visit Golden Lane for free from 4 PM onward, and in summer (early April to late October) from 5 PM — though at those times you can only admire the houses from the outside.

Old Royal Palace

The Old Royal Palace served as the residence of the kings of Bohemia until the 16th century; today it houses the office of the President of the Republic.

This is where the famous Defenestration of Prague took place — three Catholic governors were thrown out of a window by Protestants, an event that triggered the Thirty Years’ War across Europe.

The standout features inside include the impressive vaulted ceiling of the Vladislav Hall, the adjoining All Saints’ Chapel, and a viewing balcony overlooking the castle gardens and the city below.

Historic Landmarks in Prague

Prague City Hall with Astronomical Clock

On the southeastern corner of Old Town Square — Prague’s central square — you’ll find Prague City Hall, with the famous Astronomical Clock mounted on its wall.

Every hour you can watch the clock’s fascinating display: the twelve apostles appear one by one in the upper windows, the grim reaper rings a bell, and a golden rooster crows.

A lot of visitors are a little underwhelmed at first — but remember, this clock was built in 1410. Once that sinks in, you’ll see it with completely different eyes.

Admission to City Hall — including the ceremonial halls, the tower, and a guided tour of the underground passages — costs **350 CZK** (approx. $20).

To the ticket for City Hall

Charles Bridge

Built in the 14th century, Charles Bridge is one of the oldest stone bridges in Europe and the ultimate symbol of Prague. It connects the Old Town with the Lesser Town, and the views over the Vltava River from here are stunning.

During the day the bridge is lively and crowded — tourists, street musicians, souvenir vendors, the works.

Want to photograph it without the crowds? Get there early in the morning. It’s a completely different experience.

Vyšehrad

Vyšehrad is the fortress right on the banks of the Vltava River, often called the second Prague Castle. It sits on a hill south of the New Town and is one of the best vantage points over Prague.

The Vyšehrad grounds include the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, several green spaces, underground vaults and passages, rotating exhibitions of contemporary art, and restaurants.

A true Prague local favorite within the Vyšehrad neighborhood is the cemetery, where many famous Czech personalities are buried.

You can easily spend half a day here without ever getting bored.

To the guided Vyšehrad tour

Wenceslas Square

Wenceslas Square is one of the largest squares in Europe — so large it feels more like a boulevard. It’s a popular hub packed with restaurants, bars, shops, and hotels.

You can sit at a sidewalk café well into the night, enjoy the buzz, and just watch the city go by.

We especially recommend a stroll through the Koruna Palace, a shopping arcade with a stunning glass dome from the 1920s. It’s one of our favorite activities in Prague.

Klementinum

The Klementinum was once a Jesuit monastery and is now home to the Czech National Library. The complex is an architectural masterpiece covered in frescoes and lavish ornamentation.

It also includes the Astronomical Tower — at over 68 meters high, it gives you a great view over the city. The tower houses an exhibition of old instruments used for astronomical measurements in the 18th century.

The Meridian Hall and the Mirror Chapel are both beautiful, but the real showstopper is the Baroque library hall. It’s considered one of the most beautiful libraries in the world — and honestly, it lives up to the hype.

The Klementinum is in the Old Town, just a stone’s throw from Charles Bridge, so it’s super easy to combine the two.

Our recommendation: A guided tour that includes the library and the Mirror Chapel. Tours run every 30 minutes, last about an hour, and you can join spontaneously without a reservation.

To the ticket for the Klementinum

Powder Tower

The Powder Tower is one of Prague’s most striking sights — its ornate Gothic façade looms over the entrance to the Old Town.

Built in the 15th century as one of the city’s fortification towers, it later served in the 17th century as a storage place for gunpowder — hence the name.

Today it’s a firm favorite with visitors, mainly for its observation platform.

Our tip: Climbing the Powder Tower is absolutely worth it. At 44 meters up, you get a great view over the Old Town, plus a small exhibition inside about the tower’s history.

To the ticket for the Prague Powder Tower

Loreto

The Prague Loreto is one of the Loreto chapels built across Europe, modeled after the Holy House — said to be where the Virgin Mary conceived the Christ child. It’s no surprise this place is also a pilgrimage site.

The Loreto houses a treasury with collections from the 16th to 18th centuries, including numerous works of art and a diamond monstrance set with 6,000 diamonds.

On the hour, you can also listen to a beautiful carillon — all 27 bells can play various songs.

Strahov Monastery

Strahov Monastery is a large complex made up of several attractions.

The roughly 900-year-old monastery is home to a significant historic library, a treasury, a picture gallery, and two churches. But it’s probably most popular for its monastery brewery, which has been active since the 13th century.

In the adjoining beer garden, you can enjoy Prague’s regional beers with a view of the city — said to be the finest in the Czech Republic.

Modern Prague

Not everything in Prague is historic — there are some really cool modern places to check out too.

Dancing House

The Dancing House is said to look like a woman dancing with a man in a hat. If you stand at just the right angle, you really can make out the abstract image.

It was one of the first modern buildings in Prague and has become one of the city’s best-known attractions — partly thanks to Instagram.

But it’s not just the façade that’s interesting — the interior is too. On the ground floor you’ll find exhibitions showcasing works by emerging artists.

General admission is free. For the gallery, you pay the individual entry fee of the current exhibition.

The Dancing House also has a restaurant and a rooftop bar with a wonderful vista over the Vltava River, which flows right alongside the building.

And if you’ve ever wanted to spend the night inside a landmark, you can book a room at the charming Dancing House hotel.

To the Dancing House Hotel

Franz Kafka Statue

One of Prague’s more recent points of interest is the rotating Franz Kafka statue.

It stands 11 meters tall, and all 42 layers of the sculpture can move in different patterns. With all that machinery, it’s naturally not completely silent.

Often the statue just shows spinning discs, but from time to time the head of the famous Czech writer takes shape. If you’re quick, you can snap a great photo where you can clearly make out his face.

On sunny days especially, the polished metal reflects the surroundings beautifully, making the whole sculpture glitter.

John Lennon Wall

Not far from Charles Bridge, you’ll find one of Prague’s most unique highlights: the John Lennon Wall. A slightly odd name for a wall, right?

But once you’re standing in front of it, you’ll immediately get it. All over the wall, amid colorful images and text, you’ll find countless portraits of John Lennon and quotes from his songs.

The graffiti appeared shortly after his death as a tribute to the beloved singer. The socialist government at the time — which had banned Western music — was not happy about it and simply had the drawings painted over. But the graffiti kept coming back, no matter how many times it was covered up.

Today this colorful wall is one of Prague’s best-known attractions and one of the most popular photo spots in Prague.

Jewish Prague

Old Jewish Cemetery

The Old Jewish Cemetery dates back to the first half of the 15th century and was never expanded due to the cramped conditions in the Jewish quarter of Josefov.

Despite its small size, it’s estimated that over 100,000 Jews are buried here — which has given the cemetery an almost hilly landscape that adds to its magical atmosphere.

It’s one of the best-known Jewish cemeteries in Europe, and the narrow path winding through the gravestones and trees is a genuinely moving place to wander and reflect.

Note: The Old Jewish Cemetery can only be visited in combination with the Old-New Synagogue or the Jewish Museum — not on its own.

To the combo ticket for the Jewish Quarter

Prague Synagogues

In the Jewish Quarter, alongside the Old Jewish Cemetery, you’ll also find several remarkable historic synagogues where you can learn a great deal about Jewish history and architecture.

Pinkas Synagogue

The Pinkas Synagogue houses a memorial to the victims of the Shoah: its walls are inscribed with the names of those who were murdered.

Spanish Synagogue

Many consider the Spanish Synagogue the most beautiful in Prague. Built in Moorish style, its golden ornamentation almost feels like something out of One Thousand and One Nights.

Old-New Synagogue

The Old-New Synagogue has survived from the Middle Ages, making it the oldest Gothic synagogue still standing in Europe — and still the main synagogue of Prague’s Jewish community.

Maisel Synagogue

Built in the neo-Gothic style, the Maisel Synagogue dates from the 17th century and is today part of the Jewish Museum of Prague, with an exhibition about early Jewish life in Bohemia.

Jerusalem Synagogue

The Jerusalem Synagogue was inaugurated in 1906 and was designed by Viennese architect Wilhelm Stiassny. Like the Spanish Synagogue, it’s built in the Oriental-Moorish style.

Admission to the Jerusalem Synagogue costs **150 CZK** (about $6.50).

Our tip: If you want to visit several synagogues and other sights in the Jewish Quarter — including the Old Jewish Cemetery — a combo ticket for 19 euros is the way to go.

To the combo ticket for the Jewish Quarter

Into the Green

Need a breather from the city buzz? Prague has several green oases that are perfect for recharging.

Petřín Hill

Petřín Hill is home to a whole range of Prague highlights you really shouldn’t skip.

You’ll find the medieval Church of St. Lawrence, a Gothic-era fortification wall, and several gardens where you can wonderfully unwind after long days of sightseeing.

Also worth seeing is the Petřín Tower — about 60 meters tall and looking almost like a mini Eiffel Tower. A ticket for the observation tower costs **150 CZK** (about $6.50). Don’t fancy the 299 steps? An elevator to the top costs an extra **60 CZK** (about $2.60).

You can reach Petřín on foot or by a small funicular railway. The funicular is free with a day pass for public transit, or you can buy a single ticket for **32 CZK** (about $1.40).

The nearest tram stop is Újezd, served by lines 6, 9, 12, 20, 22, 57, 58, 59, and 91.

Watch out: Don’t get off at the very first stop — that’s only the intermediate stop at the Nebozízek restaurant. If you accidentally hop off there, you’ll have to walk the rest of the way up on foot.

Vltava River & Kampa Island

Running right through the heart of Prague, the Vltava is the longest river in the Czech Republic and splits the city in two.

It’s perfect for taking a break from the urban hustle — just stroll along the riverbank at a relaxed pace and let the city wash over you.

And while you’re at it, don’t miss a visit to Kampa Island.

This little island on the Vltava lies between Charles Bridge and the Legion Bridge, and it’s seriously charming — colorful houses built right on the water, which is why the neighborhood is also nicknamed Prague’s Venice.

It’s a genuinely wonderful spot to relax, and you can even set up a picnic in the green of Kampa Park.

There are also a few restaurants and cafés on the island. We especially loved the Anicafe by Anife, with its view of Prague’s magnificent National Theater.

Our tip: The Vltava is also perfect for getting a first overview of the city on a boat tour in Prague. With the buffet cruise, you can even combine it with dinner on the water.

To the buffet cruise

The Best Museums in Prague

Rainy days are made for museum visits in Prague. But even in good weather, if you’re into art or history, a museum is always a great call.

National Museum

The National Museum is housed in a magnificent building with a large dome and is the Czech Republic’s leading museum for cultural and natural history. On top of the country’s history, it also covers zoology, anthropology, and paleontology.

Even if museums aren’t really your thing, this one is worth a visit — the building alone is absolutely stunning inside and out.

It sits at the upper end of Wenceslas Square, giving you a great vantage point over the entire boulevard.

Our tip: On GetYourGuide you can book a combo ticket that includes museum admission plus a guided tour of Prague. If you were planning to do both anyway, you’ll save money and time — the ticket also lets you skip the separate line at the museum’s ticket desk.

To the guided tour with National Museum admission

National Technical Museum

Prague has no shortage of museums, but the National Technical Museum is one of the most significant and largest.

Through countless exhibits, you can trace 100 years of technological development in the Czech Republic.

The permanent exhibitions cover a wide range of technical fields, from transportation to timekeeping.

The real highlights? The oldest Czech automobile and the world’s smallest typewriter — it’s genuinely no bigger than a pocket watch!

Jewish Museum

Founded in 1906, the Jewish Museum is one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the world. Thousands of valuable objects from synagogues across the country were brought together here.

Visitors can learn about the history, traditions, and customs of Prague’s Jewish community. In addition to the permanent exhibitions, the museum also hosts themed exhibitions and concerts.

The main building is in the Spanish Synagogue, but the museum also has branches in Prague’s other synagogues, all containing their own exhibitions.

A ticket for the Jewish Museum grants you access to most of the other synagogues too. Only the Old-New Synagogue requires an additional fee.

General tips: How to make the most of your time in Prague

Before you head off on your city trip, here are a few practical pointers to help you plan.

#1 Stay in the Prague 1 district

Especially if you only have a few days, book your accommodation in the Prague 1 district. You’ll be super centrally located and can reach almost all the top attractions on foot.

There are also plenty of restaurants and shops, and the main train station is right nearby — handy for reaching the airport or catching onward trains and buses.

#2 Buy the Prague Card (for three days or more)

If you’re planning to visit a lot of Prague’s attractions from the inside, the Prague Card is worth it from 72 euros.

It comes in three versions: two days, three days, or four days. You get free admission to the most important sights plus up to 50% off tours and shows. A free bus tour and boat tour are also included.

Our honest take: only get it for stays of three days or more, since public transportation isn’t included. In two days, you won’t be able to cover enough ground on foot to make it pay off.

If you want to do a bus tour and a boat tour, take an extended tour of the castle complex, and visit at least two or three museums — then the card is absolutely worth it. But you’ll need closer to three days to do all of that.

You can buy the Prague Card here

#3 Take a guided tour

If you only have a few days in the city, a guided tour is really worth your time. You can cover all the key things to do in Prague within just a few hours with a knowledgeable local guide — and actually learn something along the way.

Here are some of the most interesting tours through Prague:
City tour of Prague — Old Town and Prague Castle: Perfect if you’re visiting Prague for the first time and want to hit all the essentials. It lasts three hours and is led by an English-speaking guide.

Best of Prague: Walking tour, bus tour, and boat trip: A six-hour experience including a sightseeing bus ride, guided tour of Prague Castle, and a boat trip with snacks and drinks on the Vltava. The guide then continues with you through the Old Town.

City tour of Prague: Ghosts and legends of the Old Town: An evening tour for thrill-seekers and anyone who already knows Prague well. Your guide takes you to all the spots in the Old Town that are said to be haunted or connected to tragic events in Prague’s history.