Last updated on September 14th, 2024

The essential top 10 Prague travel tips are based on my traveling experience when visiting Prague. Hopefully, my top 10 tips for visiting Prague will help with your Prague traveling plan.

The beautiful and historical Prague has been famous for years, and a lot of travel tips or a handy guide are available online from lots of travel experts. Thanks for those handfuls of travel tips, my Prague trip did not have any trouble and I really enjoyed my traveling time in Prague during my past few visits.

Looking through a bunch of travel tips, some may apply and some may not depend on your planning. Read through Top 10 Prague Travel Tips for visiting Prague before embarking on your Prague travel and you will thank me later.

Top 10 Tips For Visiting Prague

Here are the essential Top 10 Prague Travel Tips on how to plan your Prague travel trip:

• Plan your Arrival and Departure Transportation
• Get Your Local Currency in Smart Way
• Best Transportation in Prague – On Foot
• Plan Your Trip in Smart Way
• Where to Stay In Prague
• Avoiding Crowds in Prague – Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, And Prague Castle
• Safety in Prague
• Don’t Save Your Money – Just Eat and Drink
• Tipping in Prague
• Nightlife at Prague

Tips#1: Plan your Arrival and Departure Transportation

Don’t underestimate the nickname of “Prague, The Luggage Killer”. Almost 90% of the streets in the city center are mostly cobblestoned especially for those to stay at Old Town Square. 

During my first visit to Prague, my luggage wheel get spoiled when I am the first day traveling Prague from the airport to the hotel and it has been jeopardized the rest of the entire trip. So, I higher recommended traveler takes the shuttle service or private transfer with door-to-door service from the airport.

Learning from my previous experience, I have been using the Prague Airport Transfer, one of the reliable companies providing door-to-door service from the airport to the airport for my next visit. The transportation fee is not expensive at only 290 CZK / €11.5, which is at a reasonable price. If you have more than two people, the fee will be even cheaper with the private transfer of 625 CZK / €25. It not only saves you a lot of traveling time but also energy.

Check out the latest promotion here.

Tips#2: Get The Local Currency in Smart Way

The Czech Republic is using its own currency which is called Koruna. A credit card is acceptable even for the smallest purchases which usually allow credit or debit card purchases.

However, we still recommended getting some Koruna for your trip usage for convenience. Spending in the euro is acceptable but they will give back the change in Koruna and also at a weaker rate. So getting local currency in a smart way is somewhat important.

• Make sure you don’t exchange your money on the street when a random person comes over and offers you to exchange your money. They might offer Hungarian Forint instead of Czech Koruna.
• The exchange office is one of the alternative ways, but don’t be cheated by the “0% commission” or higher rate display. Ask for the exact amount you will get after all charges and then only sign on the exchange agreement form.
• Withdraw money from “Bankomat” instead of the “ATM” machine. Euronet ATM machine is all over Prague and this is known that a higher rate and additional charges will be applied if you withdraw money from Euronet ATM. Instead, chose the “Bankomat”, which is also ATM from the local bank like Raiffeisenbank, UniCredit, and Moneta Bank. Trust me, the exchange rate and some minor fees charges from your bank are the best conversion rate.

Tips#3: Best Transportation in Prague – On Foot

The best transportation to explore Prague is on foot. The majority of the Prague attraction is in Old Town Square and all can be easily reached by foot. Even in the Prague castle, travelers can be reached by walking follow the trails all the way to the castle.

If you are tired of walking, the transportation fee is so cheap that you can get a combined ticket for the metro train, tram, and even buses with a 30-minute ticket for 24 CZK and a 90-minute for 32 CZK. A full-day ticket is for 110 CZK, which only makes sense if you’re making more than 4 journeys.

Make sure to validate your ticket before entering the public transport as you’ll be slapped with a hefty fine if you get caught without a valid ticket.

Tips#4: Plan Your Trip in Smart Way

Plan less, enjoy more. It is very easy to get fun in Prague with so much of hidden gems all over the city. However, make sure you avoid these touristic things in Prague, calm down, and enjoy Prague with one beer, or maybe two at a time. Just spending a day for Prague castle visit with a leisure walk, heading to Charles Bridge at the correct time to avoid the crowd. You may also head to the local market to get some true local souvenirs.

Here is the perfect 3-Days Prague itinerary:

• Day 1: Exploring and wandering around Old Town Square
• Day 2: Wake Up earlier and head up to Charles bridge and continue to Prague Castle hill
• Day 3: The modern look of Prague like Petrin Hill Lookover Tower, Dancing House, Wenceslas Square

Alternatively, for first-time visitors, you may feel free to join the walking tour to know more about the history of Prague within 2-4 hours spent. The walking tour is free but they solely rely on voluntary tips. Give as much as you feel it was worth.

Check out our Perfect Prague itinerary for 3 days.

Tips#5: Where to Stay In Prague

Thanks to its picturesque position on the Vltava River, there is the largest range of hotels, apartments, and guesthouses available for travelers from budget to luxury. Location is one of the major concerns and the majority of tourists choose to stay in Prague 1 area so they can easily walk to and from the Old Town.

Tips#6: Avoiding Crowds in Prague

Prague is one of the most beautiful cities and I wish to visit Prague many years ago. The same goes for many people. The mass crowds of people are walking down the famous Charles Bridge and the main streets of Old Town.

If possible, avoid weekends or peak seasons. Head over Charles bridge in the early morning, probably 6 am to 7 am, it’s almost empty with travelers with the same purpose as you. Take an amazing photo with a nice walk in a slow pace, you’ll fall in again with the magical and romantic Charles Bridge. Go to Prague castle and get your ticket before 10 a.m to avoid the long queue. Alternatively, you may also get the skip-the-line ticket here.

Tips#7: Safety in Prague

Prague is a safe city to travel to and it’s perfectly safe for somebody even one person to walk alone at night. Same for other Eastern European countries, Prague is also famous for tourist scams and the three main tourist scams are pickpockets, money changers, and taxi drivers.

• Pickpockets: Please pay attention to your valuable item and don’t show belonging openly then everything will be fine.
• Money Changers: Be sure to ask around and find a reputable money exchange or take the money from a local bank’s ATM, called “Bankomat”.
• Taxi Driver: Taxi rides are the biggest scams in the country, especially in Prague. Prague is so easy to explore by foot or using public transport. If you must, ask your help from the hotel or hostel reception to call a legit company. Uber and Liftago are highly recommended.

Tips#8: Don’t Save Your Money – Just Eat and Drink

The living cost of Prague is so cheap, and you probably only need to spend around $40-50 a day if you’re doing Prague on a budget.

Check out Czech local cuisines like roasted pork with dumplings and cabbage, goulash, and a wide variety of sausages. Alcohol tends to be cheap in Prague compared to other European nations with Pilsner Urquell is so cooling and cheap with only 2.

By spending around $70-80 a day, you can basically spend your money freely.

• Beer: Pilsner Urquell, Budweiser Budvar, Staropramen
• Soup: Goulash, Onion soup
• Main Dishes: Duck leg, huge Pork Knuckle, bowls of sausage in dark beer sauce
• Street food: trdelník, a huge hot dog with a bunch of different sauces
• Drinking water: Free. Directly from tap water is almost always fine to drink.

Tips#9: Tipping in Prague

Tipping in the country is not compulsory but usually expected. The same restaurant will have a service charge already included in your bill, so remember to check your bill. So you may round up your bill to the exact amount for tipping.

If you are not sure, ask the waiters and they will willing to provide information, of course. A tip of 10% is customary.

Tips#10: Nightlife in Prague

The nightlife is the bar is so happening with tons of bars, beer gardens, casinos, and nightclubs available. The nightlife in Prague starts late at the night, probably starting from 10 p.m. Reminder to traveler, don’t get drunk and get into trouble in an unknown country.

How To Travel Prague In Three Days

Prague is a city famous for its world-class castle, wonderful square, delicious food, and refreshing beer. A trip to Prague can be done in one, two, three days, or even longer. Hopefully, my top 10 tips for visiting Prague will give you some inspiration for planning your Prague itinerary.

Spending three days in Prague is wonderful and fun by exploring the old town square, visiting Prague Castle and Charles Bridge, wandering around Wenceslas Square, and more.

How To Spend Three Days at Prague – A Perfect Itinerary

More Prague Travel Posts:

• Essential Prague Top 10 Travel Tips
• Top 10 Things To Do and Not To Do At Prague
• How to get to city center from Prague Vaclav Havel Airport
• Prague Food Guide – Where and What To Eat in Prague
• Where To Stay in Prague: Popular Areas with Best Hotels

Alternatively, a day trip to Cesky Krumlov is also very convenient and highly recommended as part of your Czech republic travel. Free feel to read also my Cesky Krumlov itinerary and travel guide.

• Things To Do In Cesky Krumlov
• Medieval Feast at Tavern Restaurant, krčma v šatlavské ulici
• Where To Stay in Cesky Krumlov: Best Hotel and Pension

Last updated on September 14th, 2024

Prague is one of the most visited cities with more than 7 million visitors each year. The ancient city is full of amazing experiences but also tourist traps all around. Check out our Prague travel guide with Top Things To Do and Not To Do when visiting Prague.

Prague also called “Praha”, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world with world-class architecture and breathtaking views. It is the capital of the Czech Republic and a compressed city with all the major sign-seeing attractions that can be easily reached by foot.

Travelers can enjoy ancient bridges and historical squares, beer at a cheap price, and bohemian food at nice restaurants at fairly affordable prices. Follow our Prague 3-days itinerary with fun and excitement.

Here are the things to do and not to do in the Prague travel guide.

Top 10 Things To Do In Prague

Looking for what to do in Prague during your visit? Here are the top 10 things to do in Prague:

• Visit Prague Castle
• Visiting Charles Bridge Before Sunrise And Sunset
• Wandering in Old Town Square
• Go Shopping at Local Farmer Market
• Enjoy Your Beer Time Together With Czech Cuisine
• Enjoy A Paddle Boat Ride At the Vltava River
• Try Trdelník, A Typical Street Food In Prague
• Posing With Dancing House
• John Lennon Wall
• Petrin Hill Look-over Tower

1. Visit Prague Castle

One of the largest and most famous castles in the world consists of multiple sections: St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, The Story of Prague Castle, St. George’s Basilica, Golden Lane with Daliborka Tower, the Powder Tower, and Rosenberg Palace.

You can visit the grounds for free, but you’ll have to buy a ticket to go into most of the buildings. There are a few different options for tickets depending on what you want to see and we recommended circuit B tickets which include the most famous structure St. Vitus Cathedral.

If you want priority access to skip the huge lines, especially in summer, you should buy the Skip the Line: Prague Castle Ticket.

2. Visiting Charles Bridge Before Sunrise And Sunset

Walking across the Charles Bridge is one of the MUST DO Things in Prague when visiting Prague. This 700-year-old bridge is remarkable day and night time. If you wish to see the real beauty of Charles Bridge without the tourist crowd, wake up early and get there before the sunrise. You will be impressed by how beautiful of this living piece of history has spanned the Vltava river and connects Old Prague Center to Mala Strana.

Don’t forget to come back again during sunset or nighttime with a magical atmosphere and musical performances, which show you the different beauty of Charles bridge.

3. Wandering in Old Town Square

One of the most spectacular squares in Europe with Gothic buildings dating back to the 14th century. The highest tower in Prague City is the Old Town Hall, constructed in early 1400 together with one of Prague’s most identifiable icons, the Astronomical Clock.

Some dancing mechanical dolls will show up for some mechanic show to attract dozen of visitors to flock by every hour on the hour. This minute’s show was voted as 2nd most disappointing tourist site in Europe. But if you are there, just spend a few more minutes seeing the show. Maybe you will have a different point of opinion.

Additionally, you can also pay 250 Kč to ascend to the top of the Old Town Hall tower for a spectacular view of Prague city center-surround you.

4. Go Shopping at Local Farmer Market

Head over to Havel’s Market (Havelske Trziste) for unique souvenirs and gifts to bring home. Havelské Street Market is open every day from 6 a.m. and is located on a street nearby Wenceslas Square.

Find some time to walk around the market for some local artists and genuine craftwork. It is also a nice place to look for souvenirs instead of buying from the souvenir stores at Old Town Square.

5. Enjoy Your Beer Time Together With Czech Cuisine

Drink a world-famous Czech beer, or two! Czech beer is amazing, especially after long hours of walking tours. Remember, beer is cheaper than bottled water in Prague.

Be sure to try classic dishes such as roasted pork with dumplings and cabbage, goulash, fried cheese, and a wide variety of sausages. It might not a world-famous cuisine, but surprisingly I love Czech cruise taste.

6. Enjoy A Paddle Boat Ride At Vltava River

Enjoy the magnificent view of Prague Castle from the river by renting a paddleboat. There are three to four places offering paddle boat rental onto the Danube. Spend one to two hours experiencing the different beauty of Prague city. The price is not expensive and the paddle at the Vltara river is very easy.

I have so much fun when other paddle boats are around you make it very enjoyable. The view from the middle of the river would have been spectacular.

7. Try Trdelník, A Typical Street Food In Prague

Trdelník, a popular sweet pastry, with filling such as ice cream or chocolate has been spreading in Prague since 2010. This is not Czech traditional food and is known made for tourists, but they still taste delicious and I recommended to try one.

It is interesting to see the yeast dough glazed in sugar, wrapped around a spindle called “trdlo” and then rotated continuously over an open flame until the dough is cooked in golden brown color perfection with sugar caramelized.

A fresh, warm trdelník is a treat well worth savoring.

8. Posing With Dancing House

The Dancing House (Tančící dům) is one of the most interesting Prague buildings, designed by American architect Frank O. Gehry. This stunning building is surrounded by historic architecture, making it one of the unique buildings in Prague city.

Pose for pictures in front of Prague’s Dancing House together with the unusual shape of the building.

9. John Lennon Wall

A quick stop to John Lennon Wall for a colorful photo if you’re in the area. Lennon Wall has been continuously painted over and over again with John Lennon-inspired art and Beatles lyrics among other graffiti.

The vibrant rainbow of the John Lennon Wall is the only place in Prague where graffiti is legal.

10. Petrin Hill Look-over Tower

Petrin Hill Look-over TowerOne of the best places to view the city of Prague from above is the Petrin Hill Lookout Tower. This 63.5-meter tall steel-framework tower on Petřín Hill is the highest point in Prague and was inspired by the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris!

There is a small fee of 50 CZK to climb the tower, but it’s worth it.

Top 5 Not To Do in Prague

Before starting on our travel guides, below are some of the general NOT TO DO lists when traveling in Prague, take a look to have some idea on what to do for safety and scam in Prague.

Top 5 NOT TO DO in Prague:

• Do Not Exchange Money On The Street
• Do Not Trust the “0% Commission” From Exchange Office
• Do Not Take Money From “ATM” but “Bankomat” from Local Bank
• Do Not Take a Taxi On The Street
• Do Not Show Your Valuable

The local currency of the Czech Republic is Crown (CZK or Kč) and locals called it “Koruna” instead of “Crowns”. Most locations in Prague do accept euros but they will return you in CZK after converting to a weaker rate. So we will still advise you to exchange or take some money from ATM for trip usage but try not to keep Koruna as it can be used in the Czech Republic only.

1. Do Not Exchange Money On The Street

Commonly, people will approach you to exchange your money on the street but at a weaker rate. Please approach to reliable exchange office or take money from the ATM from the local bank.

2. Do Not Trust the “0% Commission” From Exchange Office

Like many of Europe’s cities, most of the exchange offices claim for “0% commission” or a high exchange rate with a nice display to attract customers but in the end charge an exorbitant “exchange fee” when you exchange with them.

Remember to ask for the final amount you will get but not the exchange rate. Also, beware not to sign an exchange rate agreement before you make sure of the amount that you will get.

3. Do Not Take Money From “ATM” but “Bankomat” from Local Bank

The “ATM” is also one of the horrible currency exchange scams in Prague. You will surprise by tons of ATMs at every corner of Prague city center. Most of them are EuroNet ATMs with horrible rates or additional fee charges include.

Use “Bankomat” which is also ATM in local Czech from the Czech Republic local banks like Raiffeisenbank, UniCredit, and Moneta Bank for money withdrawn from your debit card. Your local bank might charge you some additional fee, but trust me, the exchange rate and charges are way better than you use EuroNet ATM.

4. Do Not Take a Taxi On The Street

Tourists getting ripped off by taxi drivers in Prague is becoming more and more common. Try to avoid taking taxis on the street especially those parked around trains or bus stations, even with metered taxis. You will be surprised by the final price when you reach the destination.

App-based taxi services in Prague, Liftago provide similar transport services to Uber and guarantee a cheaper fare. It helps travelers from being scammed by taxis.

5. Do Not Show Your Valuable

Remember to keep your valuable belonging with you and avoid busy carriages on metros and trams. Pickpockets are one of the problems in the major tourist area in Prague. Pay more attention to your belonging to avoid unwanted bad things happening.

What To Eat In Prague

• Beer, Everywhere!
• Pork knuckle- The most famous dish in Czech cuisine! Try pork knuckles together served with horseradish, mustard, and pickled vegetables. The taste of this is fabulous!
• Trdelník – Sweet pastry with your choice of filling like ice cream, chocolate, fruits, and more. Look for stalls that are serving them hot off the fire.
• Chlebíčky (an open-faced sandwich) – baguette-like bread with different toppings like cucumber, egg, salami, and ham at many deli shops across the city.
• Grilované klobásy (grilled sausage) – The fabulous grilované klobásy is grilled sausages placed inside a roll and served with a bunch of different sauces. Go perfectly together with a glass of a cold Pilsner beer!

Prague Food Guide – Where and What To Eat in Prague

Continue Read On: Traveling In the Czech Republic

Hopefully, my Prague travel guide with things to do and not to do can give you some idea during your visit to Prague. Don’t forget to continue reading on our Prague travel blog including the itinerary, best food to eat, and transportation guide when traveling to Prague.

• How To Spend Three Days at Prague – A Perfect Itinerary
• Getting To City Center From Prague Airport
• Essential Prague Top 10 Travel Tips
• Where To Stay in Prague: Popular Areas with Best Hotels

If you have more time, free feel to plan a day trip to Cesky Krumlov from Prague.

• Things To Do In Cesky Krumlov
• Medieval Feast at Tavern Restaurant, krčma v šatlavské ulici
• Where To Stay in Cesky Krumlov: Best Hotel and Pension