The Ultimate Travel Itinerary: Prague (in 1 Day)

For travellers on a time limit, Prague is the perfect city for a one-day itinerary. The main highlights line up in a surprisingly neat route through the historic centre, making it easy to explore on foot over a relaxed 3-mile wander through some of its most beautiful streets. With an excellent public transport system, compact layout, and a strong focus on tourism, it’s everything you’d want from a short European city break.

What makes Prague especially rewarding is how much variety is packed into such a small area. Medieval streets, riverside views, grand squares, and castle panoramas all sit within easy reach of each other, meaning you can experience a huge amount in a single day without feeling rushed. Despite its rich history, the city remains highly accessible and visitor-friendly, allowing you to move easily between sights while still feeling like you’re discovering something new at every turn.

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The Route to Explore Prague

The route mapped out above can be taken in either direction, and on a non-stop walk, takes less than an hour. Therefore, it’s more than easy enough to be able to visit all the highlighted attractions with plenty of time to soak them in. If time really is of the essence, I’d recommend starting from the West of the city. This is the closest point to the airport.

Strahov Monetary

The farthest west highlight to find in the city of Prague is the Strahov Monastery, and possibly the best place to start your city-wide journey. Not only is it a landmark for the city of Prague, but it is also considered one of the most important in all of the Czech Republic. From here, you’re gifted with a spectacular view of the entire city from the higher peaks of the monastery.

Founded in 1140, the monastery includes the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Classical Philosophy Hall, and the Strahov Gallery. The latter holds one of the best selections of Gothic and Baroque art throughout Central Europe.

The monastery holds the record of being the oldest monastery in the region of Bohemia. It was specifically constructed to be alongside the road leading to the castle, being the first point where guards would be posted. This is where the monastery gets its name, from the Czech word “strahovat“, translated as to stand guard.

Although the grounds of the monastery themselves are a marvellous sight to behold, the true treasure is found within its walls. Within is the significant Strahov Library, which holds spectacular examples of medieval manuscripts, maps and antique globes as well as many thousands of religious and philosophical texts. The oldest of which is the Book of Gospels, which dates back to the 9th century, printed onto parchment.

Details

Address – Strahovské nádvoří 1/132, 118 00 Praha 1-Strahov, Czechia

Telephone number – +420 233 107 704

Open – 9 am – 5 pm (closed 12 pm – 1 pm), Closed 24th/25th December and Easter Sundays

Entrance Fees – Strahov Library: Adults – 120 CZK, Family (2 adults and 3 children) – 200 CZK, Photo Permission – 50 CZK, Video Permission – 100 CZK

– Strahov Library and Gallery: Adults – 200 CZK, Family (2 adults and 3 children) – 300 CZK, Photo Permission – 80 CZK, Video Permission – 150 CZK

Prague Castle

This UNESCO World Heritage site is arguably one of the biggest and best Prague has to offer, and a star of your itinerary. Visible from anywhere up to the river Vltava, this castle, built as early as 880, holds the record as the largest castle complex worldwide.

Founded during the Premyslid Dynasty under Prince Bořivoj, the castle complex itself holds several palaces and buildings of various designs representative of the periods of time during which this mighty castle complex has survived. These range from Roman designs to the more noticeable Gothic themes which pulsate through the city.

Details

Address – Hradčany, 119 08 Prague 1, Czechia

Telephone number – +420 224 373 368

Open – Summer: 5 am – 12 am (areas that require tickets: 9 am – 6 pm) / Winter: 6 am – 11 am (areas that require tickets: 9 am – 4 pm)

Entrance Fees – Long Tour: Adults – 350 CZK, Family – 500 CZK, – Short Tour: Adults – 250 CZK, Family – 300 CZK

Alchemist Museum

This is an incredibly quirky attraction which reaches back to the birth of human endeavours into the unrelenting superstition and mysticism of science. This early period of discovery sought to answer nature’s secrets and the mystery of the universe. Despite being designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, little is talked about this attraction. The Alchemist Museum is often left out of most “must-do” lists.

This well-hidden museum is found in the courtyard of a hotel, with old-fashioned wooden doors on either side. You’re met with the sight of one of the oldest surviving buildings on the original street, Haštalská number 1. Behind one of the squeaky wooden doors, you enter a room designed as an old-fashioned dungeon with the matching bubbling cauldron soundtrack. Inside are displays of old alchemist artefacts as well as the ticket office for the real attraction.

The real attraction is found at the top of a spiral tower, which holds the reconstructed alchemist laboratories, which have remained on display since their discovery. It belonged to Edward Kelley, one of the most revered alchemists of his time. Inside you’ll find the preserved remains of his laboratory, workshops, study and life. Inside, you’ll learn how this magnificent mind pondered the mysteries of creating an Eternal Youth Elixir, making the Philosopher’s Stone a reality and being a host for none other than William Shakespeare.

Being a smaller museum, it comes with a more personal touch. Upon entering, you’re offered a guided tour (free of charge and totally worth it).

Details:

Address – Jánský vršek 8, 118 00 Malá Strana, Czechia

Telephone number – +420 257 224 508

Open – 10 am – 8 pm

Entrance Fees – Adults – 170 CZK, Family – 390 CZK

KGB Museum

You’ll find this quirky little museum listed on every Prague itinerary as a unique interlude from the other medieval-themed sites. Despite its incredibly small size, it holds quite a reputation. This unassuming little building became the first place to display soviet era artefacts of the KGB. Some of the unique pieces found within include Lenin’s death mask, Beria’s radio and KGB laboratory equipment. The main attraction of the KGB museum is the photo exhibition on how the once Soviet-occupied capital of the Czech Republic looked.

Due to the very personal nature of the tiny museum, visits can only be done as part of a private tour group with designated times. The price of admission is also quite high, especially considering the entire museum consists of a single room.

Details:

Address – Vlašská 591/13, 118 00 Malá Strana, Czechia

Telephone number – +420 257 224 508

Open -10am – 5pm (closed Mondays)

Entrance Fees – 14-18 EUR for a tour

The Lennon Wall

Prague itinerary lennon wall — The Lennon Wall

Once an unassuming wall across the road from the French Embassy, the Lennon Wall is now decorated from one side to the other with John Lennon-inspired artwork, and others relating to worldwide causes. This began following Lennon’s 1980 assassination, when an unknown artist painted the very first portrait along with accompanying lyrics.

The freedom of expression which this wall provided came at a critical point in Czech history, as the country in the later years of the decade went through communist reforms. This naturally brought with it a significant amount of anger and resistance, to which the wall became a prime and fitting outlet. This expression was met with violence between oppressed students and local authorities along the nearby Charles Bridge.

From its inception, the wall has become a source of expression of oppression and freedom from throughout the world. The wall undergoes constant change and redesign, which comes with the global affairs of the time. Even within the last year, the events of Hong Kong’s fight for democracy and global warming have been the instigators for graffiti that dominate the walls.

Details:

Address – Velkopřevorské náměstí, 100 00 Praha 1, Czechia

Charles Bridge

This is the star of any Prague itinerary. This is the site that the entire city gravitates around, the point at which the city is split in two between the Old Town and Lesser Town (Malá Strana), with an immaculate Gothic stone bridge.

Prague’s oldest bridge was constructed under the watchful eye of the Czech king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in 1357. Fortified towers (Lesser Town Bridge Towers and Old Town Bridge Tower) at either end of the bridge have cemented this attraction as a world-renowned image.

Being such a tourist hot-spot, you’ll also find the regular tourist-cash-grabbing vendors scattered across and around it. Artists and caricature painters who themselves are as much a part of the bridge as the statues along it. Those regularly appointed statues across the bridge are dedicated to a number of saints. A few attract the attention of eager tourists queuing for their photo op. The most popular are easily recognisable as generations of people have polished the metal into a bright shine from years of lucky touches.

The statue which receives the most attention is that of St John of Nepomuk. According to folklore, it is here that the future saint was thrown into the river following his fatal torture. It was at this point that one of the bridge’s arches collapsed and was unable to be repaired despite several attempts. One of the men working on the bridge decided to make a deal with the Devil. In return for successful completion of the bridge, he promised the soul of the first person to step upon it.

Details:

Address – Karlův most, 110 00 Praha 1, Czechia

Torture Museum

Here’s another site not mentioned in the “must-do” lists. Perhaps, as it isn’t specific to Prague, similar attractions can be found in other cities. However, the selection found within the exhibitions and their proximity to the tourist centre make it worthwhile.

Here you’ll find 100 or so exhibits, historical artwork depicting the method of torture, as well as helpful wax figures depicting their use. With 3 full floors of attractions, there’s plenty to observe and ponder over.

Details:

Address – Křižovnické nám. 194/1, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia

Telephone number – +420 222 221 972

Open -10 am – 10 pm (closed Mondays)

Entrance Fees – ~8 EUR

Jewish Cemetery

Photo by © Jorge Royan / http://www.royan.com.ar

Following the destruction of a once prominent Jewish Quarter during the 19th century, the area was left with very few surviving remnants of Jewish culture. The Old Jewish Cemetery is one of the few. This particular cemetery is one of the oldest surviving Jewish burial grounds worldwide and is among National Geographic’s ten most fascinating cemeteries to visit.

One of these particularly dark times in history was the Nazi occupation. It resulted in an enormous amount of destruction of Jewish culture; the cemetery was left untouched. Unfortunately, it wasn’t for the morality, but rather a much darker significance. It’s believed it was to be preserved as a “Museum of an Extinct Race”, a historical document of the Aryans extinction of the Jews.

With the first resident buried back in 1439, the cemetery continued to expand as the Jewish Quarter did so too. It expanded until more than 12,000 graves and up to 100,000 bodies were put to rest within. Space in the cemetery was in such high demand that bodies had to be layered atop each other, in some cases 10-12 coffins deep. Jewish customs forbid the removal of old graves, so they’ll simply remain there as the development continues around them.

Details:

Address – Široká, 110 00 Josefov, Czechia

Astronomical Clock

The end of your city-long adventure brings you to one of the most popular and significant sites the city has to offer. Along with Charles Bridge, this is probably the most recognisable image when it comes to Prague. The immaculately designed 600+ year old astronomical clock is consistently surrounded by herds of eager individuals hoping to witness the changing of the hour. As the clock strikes the hour, this sets in motion the procession of the Twelve Apostles, miniature figurines which change with each strike of the bell.

The clock earns its astronomical namesake with features such as showing current positions of certain celestial objects, as well as a calendar dial on its lower regions. Be sure you get there early enough before each hour, as an immense crowd tends to form around the entirety of the clock. Even harder to get a decent picture. If not for anything else, at least it will help you keep track of your Prague itinerary better than anywhere else!

Details:

Address – Staroměstské nám. 1, 110 00 Josefov, Czechia

Telephone number – +420 775 400 052

Old Town Square

Photo by Kham Tran, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Directly next to the Astronomical Clock, you’ll find the old square with immaculate examples of architecture on either side. The Old Town Square is the centre of Prague’s historic district. Along with the nearby Astronomical Clock, there’s also the Old Town Hall. This particular town hall is unique in that it’s several interconnected medieval buildings rather than a single modern monstrosity. It’s the perfect place to bring your Prague itinerary to an end.