How to Spend 2 Days in Prague

Prague is a bustling and vibrant city known for its stunning architecture, rich history, and lively cultural scene. It has evolved into one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting millions of visitors each year. Here is guidance on how you can spend two days in Prague and hit all the most enchanting places.

You can cover a lot of ground in two days in Prague. Look through the following history-centric itinerary and then tweak it for your interests.

Pro Tip: Get an early start to avoid crowds in the Old Town area and Charles Bridge. That said, check back at sundown despite the people because sunset on the bridge and lovely river will be breathtaking.

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DAY ONE MORNING IN PRAGUE

Head to Old Town Square

This is the heart of the city. Start at the Old Town Square to get a feel for the architecture and stand in the place where people have walked for centuries.

Look up at the twin spires of the Gothic church of Our Lady before Tyn. Built in the 14th century, this has been the main church for this area ever since. The towers soar 80 meters into the air. 

Watch the chiming of the Astronomical Clock

While you are in the Old Town Square, be sure to get a close look at the famous astronomical clock. It’s one of the oldest astronomical clocks still in operation. Time your visit for the hourly show.

Built in 1410, the clock features four figures that move when the clock strikes the hour. The skeleton, representing death, strikes the time. The doorways above the clock open to reveal the apostles. At noon, all 12 apostles appear. A calendar was added below the clock in 1490. Aim to stand right below the clock on the hour, if possible. You will be in a mass of folks, but the clock sits high on the City Hall, so just look up and you’ll be able to see it in detail.

Read this post for more about Old Town Square.

Stroll across Charles Bridge

Walk across this iconic bridge, with its statues and stunning views of the Vltava River. Look straight ahead and up the hill to Prague Castle.

The Charles Bridge carries a history involving flood after flood, battles, beheadings, and statues of saints. It is the oldest bridge across the Vltava River in Prague and was once the only connection between the Old Town on one side of the river with the Castle on the other side. This gave the bridge great significance for centuries. Today it is a prime place to visit in Prague, both for the bridge itself and the magnificent views of the city.

Read more about visiting Charles Bridge.

DAY ONE AFTERNOON IN PRAGUE

Visit the Jewish Quarter

A short walk from the Old Town Square, the Jewish Quarter is a must visit. Take an afternoon to explore this historic area with its significant Jewish heritage.

Walk through the Old Jewish Cemetery

Wander respectfully through one of the oldest cemeteries in Europe, with its layers of graves due to limited space. The cemetery here is picturesque but haunting. The tombstones, dating from 1439 to the late 1700s, sit nestled in crowded, lopsided clumps. The inscriptions are worn or long gone.

About 100,000 people are buried here. The Jews were restricted to burying their dead only within the ghetto walls, so for hundreds of years, this was the only place for graves. When one layer of ground was full, dirt was added and another layer was made. It’s estimated that 12 layers of graves lie here.

Pay respects in the Jewish Museum

The synagogues and the ceremonial hall offer insight into the history of Jews in Prague. One synagogue is adjacent to the cemetery. It is a memorial to the Jews taken from Prague in WWII. Care was taken to list the names of each person with the last known dates of their lives. It is so moving to visit this hushed place of remembrance.

Read this post for more about the Jewish Cemetery.

Take a Walking Tour to learn more about Prague in World War II

A good way to see highlights of Prague (and many other cities) is to take a walking tour with a guide to fill in some background on the sights. We chose the World War II in Prague tour, which I highly recommend. Our guide met us near the Old Town Square at the old Powder Tower and took us around the edges of the square, informing us of the Resistance activities during the war. When members of the Resistance were caught, they were shot, and we stood by the still visible bullet marks.

The most awesome part of this tour is that your guide has access inside the City Hall to the underground tunnels used by the Resistance and also through earlier centuries for various reasons. The building itself is worth a look, with its ornate ceiling, and then we went down into the underground. Our guide instructed us not to wander, as we could become hopelessly lost in all the darkened arms of the tunnel network.

The tour also includes a visit to Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, where the men who killed Reinhard Heydrich, the “Butcher of Prague” and the third most powerful Nazi leader. This Allied operation was code named  as Anthropoid. The basement of the church, where the final standoff took place, is now a museum well worth a visit.

Read more about Operation Anthropoid in this post.

Enjoy dinner near the Old Town Square

Take another walk through the bustling Old Town Square. Go a few blocks any direction to find a sidewalk cafe or a quaint restaurant where you can enjoy dinner without a wait..

DAY TWO MORNING IN PRAGUE

Explore sprawling Prague Castle

Make your way here after breakfast and spend the morning exploring the castle complex. Prague Castle dates back to 880 and is the largest castle complex in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site that includes palaces and churches of various architectural styles. 

Climb to the dome of St. Vitus Cathedral

Marvel at the stunning Gothic architecture and beautiful stained-glass windows of St. Vitus Cathedral. I climbed up to the dome for amazing views of red roofs and the river.

If you want to take a 75-minute tour in English of the crypt and St. Wenceslas’s Chapel, reserve your ticket before your visit. 

Old Royal Palace: Visit the historic halls and the famous Vladislav Hall of the Old Royal Palace.

Golden Lane: Wander through charming Golden Lane with its tiny, colorful houses. 

How to get to the Palace

Take tram 22 to wind up the hill. For detailed directions and map, visit the castle website.

Read this post for more about the Prague Castle.

DAY TWO AFTERNOON IN PRAGUE

You may still be exploring the vast area of the Prague Castle into the afternoon. Look for a unique place to relax and enjoy lunch.

Once you have seen all the fascinating sights there, head back down the hill by metro or tram.

Spend the afternoon walking across the Charles Bridge or wandering in the area of Old Town Square. Enjoy a yummy dinner and remember all the historic and intriguing sights you’ve seen in your two days here!

Book your train tickets with Trainline for easy and reliable service.

Renting a car? I can recommend renting with Auto Europe.

Pro tip: When in Prague, take time to look UP above the heads of people walking around and note the details of the buildings.

Where I Stayed

The Hotel Jungmann, named after a man who ensured that Czech would remain the language of Prague, is located just a few long blocks from the main square. The rooms are large, and a little sidewalk cafe is right outside. My favorite part was the breakfast room down a winding stairway into a stone room. There’s some history here, right? The hotel is not fancy, but it was the perfect location and very comfortable.

Book your train tickets with Rail Europe for easy and reliable service. 

Rail Europe partners with more than 230 train services such as SCNF, DB, and Swiss train lines. So, you can always find the transportation you need for your trip.

I hope you find this article helps you plan how to spend two days in Prague. You can rearrange the times and days of this itinerary to suit your schedule and energy. I’m sure you will want to return and revisit this city that’s full of beauty and history and delicious food. Prague is simply magical and in my opinion a must-see city of Europe.

Read these posts for more about Prague:

Visiting the Charles Bridge in Prague

Prague’s Old Jewish Cemetery

Prague Castle

Prague’s Old Town Square

Prague’s Heroes of WWII

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