Prague in 2 Days: everything you need to know

Ranked as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, if your next travel destination includes a two-day stop in Prague, you'll need to be organised to make the most of your time. Check out the must-see must-do's in the itinerary below.

Spend the first day of your trip to Prague exploring the area east of the Vltava River, where you'll find two of the most iconic and oldest neighbourhoods in the city: Staré Město, known as the Old Town, which makes up Prague's Old Town, and Josefov, where the Jewish immigrants who inhabited the city historically formed a community.

Visit Prague's Jewish Cemetery

On a tour of the Jewish quarter, one of the essential visits is the Jewish cemetery. This historic site consists of an old cemetery with an estimated 12,000 tombstones; the oldest recorded tombstone is that of Avigdor Karo from 1439.

Over time, due to lack of space, new corpses were placed on top of the existing graves. The result is stone tombstones from different centuries piled one on top of the other, with a total of up to 12 tombstones per section of land.

• Opening hours: From 09:00 to 16:30 (November to March) and until 18:00 (April to October). The cemetery is closed on Saturdays.
• Entrance fee: The entrance fee to the cemetery is approximately €4.5.
• Duration of visit: Approximately two and a half hours.

Visit the Jewish synagogues

Continue your adventure through the Jewish quarter of Josefov by visiting the traditional synagogues. An ideal plan after the tour of Prague's Jewish Quarter. You will find the most important synagogues in the vicinity of the cemetery, so you can visit one or more of them.

• Pinkas Synagogue: Located on Siroká Street, it is right at the entrance to the Jewish Cemetery; built in 1479, inside its walls are inscribed the names of more than 77,000 Jews from Czechoslovakia who were murdered by the Nazis during the Second World War; you will also find drawings of children imprisoned in concentration camps hanging on the walls.
• Klausenc Synagogue: In U Starého Hřbitova Street just outside the Jewish Cemetery you will find another important synagogue; it was built in 1694 and inside you can find a magnificent collection of Hebrew texts and more drawings made by children in the Terezín concentration camp.
• Staronova Synagogue: Located on Červenáe Street and built in 1270, it is considered the oldest functioning synagogue on the continent. Its external architecture shows traces of the early Gothic period, which makes it one of the oldest Gothic buildings in the city.

Take a lunch break

Prague's gastronomic offer is characterised by quality and variety. Before continuing your adventure through the Old Town, take a lunch break in one of the city's best restaurants or book a gastronomic tour to discover the most traditional dishes. If on the other hand you are looking for ideas of establishments close to the Jewish quarter, here are some of my favourites:

• U Parlamentu: A restaurant specialising in traditional Czech food.
• La Finestra in Cucina: If you fancy first-class Italian food, this is the place for you.

Explore the Klementinum Complex

Spend the first few hours of your afternoon exploring the second largest building complex in Prague, located in the historical centre itself. It is located between Karlova Street and Křížovnická Street and was built between the 16th and 17th centuries. If you book the tourist bus you will have a stop nearby.

Clementinum is nowadays a centre for education and culture with approximately two hectares of land. In the complex you will find the National Library, a beautiful work of gothic interiors named the most beautiful library in the world; manuscripts and books of incalculable historical value are exhibited here.

• Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm; Friday and Saturday from 10am to 5.30pm.
• Admission fee: Approximately €13 for an adult ticket.
• Duration of the visit: The exhibition area can be visited in about an hour.

Visit the Clock Tower and Old Town Square

Prague is known as the City of Towers. In particular, the Astronomical Clock Tower is only a five-minute walk from the Klementinum. Three important elements make up the Clock Tower: the astronomical quadrant, the animated figures and the calendar, all of which you will get to know in depth if you book a ticketed tour of the astronomical clock.

You can also go to the tower and wait for the chimes to ring and watch from the ground as the 12 apostles parade through the windows in a small ceremony known as the Clock Parade, which takes place every hour from 9 am to 9 pm.

Right next to the Clock Tower is the Old Town Square, a social meeting place for Prague's inhabitants since the Middle Ages. Like the rest of the city, the square is very well preserved, giving it a cosy and charming atmosphere.

• Opening hours: 9am-10pm; Mondays from 11am-10pm.
• Entry fee: The entrance ticket to the Clock Tower costs around €10.
• Duration of visit: 30-40 minutes if you want to climb to the top of the tower and admire the best view of the city.

Discover the Church of Our Lady of Týn

Czech name Chrám Matky Boží před Týnem is located just two minutes away from the Clock Tower and can also be reached comfortably with a Prague bike tour.

This impressive building is one of the most impressive works of late Gothic architecture. Its two towers, towering 80 metres above the rest of the buildings, dominate the surrounding landscape.

In addition to its Gothic architecture, inside you can find several interesting elements such as: the tomb of the astronomer Tychon Brahe, a large collection of Gothic, Renaissance and early Baroque paintings, and the oldest organ in Prague from 1673.

• Opening hours: Available for tours inside from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm; opening hours may vary in the winter months.
• Admission fee: Voluntary contribution, a minimum contribution of €1.5 is recommended.
• Duration of visit: You can stay inside for as long as you like, usually 40-50 minutes is enough time to go through the whole thing.

Enjoy the sunset at the Powder Tower

You can't leave Prague without seeing one of its most famous towers. My recommendation is to go at the end of your first trip, hike to the top of the tower (you'll have to climb 168 steps) and enjoy the sunset over beautiful Prague. The view will be breathtaking to say the least so be sure to pack your camera.

Built in 1475 in the late Gothic style, the Powder Tower was one of the 13 gates that made up the ancient fortified wall that protected the city for centuries.

• Opening hours: Every day from 10am to 6pm (November to February). Every day from 10 - 20 h. (March and October). Every day from 10am - 10pm (April-September).
• Entrance fee: The entrance fee is approximately €9.50 per person, although you can book a Prague CoolPass and get in for free.
• Length of visit: Arrive at least one hour before sunset.

Take the Prague Ghost Tour

If you want to end your evening with a tour out of the ordinary, book a Prague Ghost Tour. On this type of experience an expert guide takes you through lonely streets and passageways to tell the tour group the most intriguing secrets and spooky stories.

Some of the stops on this type of tour include: a tour of the Jewish Quarter and the Old Town, a stop to see the Church of St. Nicholas and the Astronomical Clock.

• Timetable: The timetable may vary depending on the company you hire, usually starting after sunset to see Prague by Night.
• Price of the experience: From €19 per person.
• Duration: At least 2 hours.

Wake up early on the morning of your second day in Prague to explore the area west of the Vltava River; you'll start in Mala Strána, one of the oldest areas of the city and end the day in Hradčany, the legendary Prague Castle.

See Charles IV Bridge

Prague's most famous and oldest bridge is named after Charles IV. On the morning of your second day I recommend you set off on a 500-metre walk over the Vltava River. This bridge was for centuries the only bridge connecting the two banks; on the east side is Staré Město and on the west side Malá Strana. Without a doubt, it is a must-see tourist attraction on any visit to the City of a Thousand Towers. It is also a place through which the guided tour of Prague passes

As well as offering breathtaking views and stunning photographs, the bridge is famous for its extensive collection of statues. Along the route you will find 30 statues, the most famous and oldest of which is the statue of St. John of Nepomuk; it is a tradition to approach the statue of the saint and make a wish by placing your hand on it.

Visit the charming Kampa Island

There are many Prague-Vienna-Budapest tours and one of the must-visits during your stay in the Czech capital is Kampa Island. Rated as one of the best urban islands on the mainland, Kampa is an artificial islet full of charm and romance. Visiting it in the morning hours will allow you to explore it at your leisure, and it is one of the best places in Prague for photography.

Located on Na Kampe Street, Kampa Island is reached by crossing the Charles IV Bridge. Inside Kampa Island you will find several points of interest such as the Grand Prior's Mill, the Kampa Museum, dedicated to modern European art and the bizarre baby statues of the famous sculptor David Černý's.

Don't miss the John Lennon wall

Just a few minutes from Kampa Island you will find a graffiti-covered wall which, during the 1980s, was a peaceful response to the communist regime that ruled Czechoslovakia. Foreign music, as well as many other resources were banned by the regime, and after Lennon's murder in 1980 a mysterious anonymous graffiti with the popular singer's face appeared on this wall.

Since then, the wall became a peaceful proposal and a symbol of resistance. Young Czechs left the lyrics of John Lennon's or The Beatles' songs on the wall. The wall has been preserved ever since and has become one of the most photographed spots in Prague. If you want to know more, don't hesitate to book a tour of communism in Prague.

Take a lunch break

After seeing the Lennon Wall, take a lunch break at one of the many restaurants near Prague Castle. On the way you can admire some of the Gothic churches on this side of the island: the Church of St. Nicholas and the Church of Our Lady of Victory. Some places where you can find delicious and quality food are:

• St.Martin
• St. Carlo Mala Strana
• Restaurant zur Müllerin

You also have the option to book a menu for the Hard Rock Cafe.

Explore Prague's Old Palace

Whether you're travelling Prague in one day or two, a visit to Prague Castle is a must on any trip to the Czech Republic's capital. Not only is it the most important monument in the country, but it also holds the title of the largest medieval castle in Europe. The extensive complex consists not only of the chateau but also of several structures dating back to the Baroque and Gothic periods.

Built during the reign of Bořivoj in the 9th century, the construction of the chateau was to be the starting point of the city of Prague. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the castle was once the seat of the Bohemian kings; today it is the official residence of the president of the Czech Republic. In addition, if you book a tour of Prague Castle and the surrounding area you will visit:

• St. Vitus Cathedral: Located within the Castle complex, St. Vitus Cathedral is the most important Catholic building in the city of Prague. When visiting the complex it is best to book your tickets to Prague Castle in advance.
• Golden Alley: Prague's Golden Alley is a small area near the old city wall where a row of beautiful medieval houses painted in different colours were built; legends tell that here lived goldsmiths and alchemists who were obsessed with finding the formula for turning metal into gold. Hence the particular name of the alley. However, the most impressive thing is how well preserved the whole area is, including the original stone street from the Middle Ages.

Here are the details of interest that you should not miss during your visit:

• Opening hours: The opening hours of the monuments are from November to March, every day from 9am to 4pm; from April to October the monuments are open to the public every day from 9am to 5pm.
• Entry fee: The entrance ticket costs around €16 per person.
• Length of visit: You will need a few hours to walk around the complex and visit the most important areas. Book between 2 or 3 for a tour.