54 things to do in Prague: The great Prague bucket list

Going on a trip to Prague and want to know all the best things to do in Prague? We have lived in Prague for over three years. In this guide we share with you all the best attractions in Prague to help you plan the ultimate trip.

The Czech capital is one of the most enchanting and beautiful cities in Europe and one of the  best preserved medieval old towns in Europe, a living, breathing fairytale.

In this guide I show you the very best things to do in Prague along with the many hidden gems. Many visitors don’t venture far off the ‘Royal Route’ from Prague Castle to the Old Town Square via the Charles Bridge. Prague is one of the most beautiful cityscapes on the planet, but everyone knows it – these places are swamped with visitors in the summer months. It’s over tourism on a Venice or Barcelona scale, but there is so much to discover close by.

As a Prague resident for over three years, I’ve had the privilege of uncovering the hidden gems and lesser-known areas of this captivating city.  Don’t miss the main iconic Prague sights, but venturing off the beaten path – even a little – will reap many rewards, showing you sides to the city you may not have otherwise seen.

Good to know: In this post, I begin with the best things to see and most popular activities in Prague. From there, I will move on to the best sights in Prague you’re less likely to have heard of.

I have organized them into different categories, including parks and gardens, museums, historic sites and neighborhoods, to make it easier for you to find what you’re interested in. I also suggest a selection of Prague sightseeing tours to help you the most of your time in Prague.

More recent times have also left their mark, with a beautiful Art Nouveau townhouse and the statue of religious reformer Jan Hus from the same period.

The Old Town Square also plays host to events throughout the year, the best of which are one of the Christmas Markets in Prague and the Prague Easter Market.

The Old Town Hall is one of the most prominent buildings on the Old Town Square. As the town council ran out of space, they simply purchased the property next door to make more room for themselves, hence the unusual mixture of architectural styles.

There’s a lot to see inside Prague Old Town Hall, with its underground cellars and grand halls. If you time your visit right, you can also see the parade of Apostles which appears when the Astronomical Clock strikes the hour from the inside.

One of the top things to do in Prague is the climb to the top of the Old Town Hall Tower. The viewing gallery commands some of the best views in Prague, including the houses on the Square and the spires of the Tyn Church.

Head around to the other side for the view of Prague Castle. It won’t take you long to work out why Prague is called the City of a Hundred Spires!

One of the most popular things to do in Prague is to watch the famous Astronomical Clock strike the hour.

The incredibly elaborate instrument, which was made in the 15^th century, is one of the symbols of Prague. It’s located on the south wall of the Old Town Hall, in the Old Town Square, and is one of the oldest astronomical clocks in the world.

Remarkably it displays the positions of the sun, moon, and stars, as well as the time of day. Crowds gather to watch it strike the hour between 9.00 am and 11.00 pm, when a parade of the Twelve Apostles appears from two doors above the clock.  

It’s a must do in Prague, at least once for everyone, though we think the grinning bell-ringing skeleton is the real star of the show.

Read our complete guide to the Astronomical Clock Prague

TheChurch of Our Lady before Týn, which overlooks the Old Town Square, is one of the most famous landmarks of Prague. This Gothic church, which dates back to the 14th century, is instantly recognisable thanks to its two spires which, if you look very closely, aren’t quite the twins they appear to be.

The Týn Church Prague is well worth exploring. You enter via a hidden passageway off the Square, immediately going back hundreds of years.

The Gothic interior had a Baroque-era restoration, hence the many ornate altarpieces and furnishings. One of the most peaceful places to go in Prague.

Prague’sJewish Town, known as Josefov, is a historic neighborhood in the northern part of the Old Town.

It is home to a fascinating collection of Jewish heritage sites, including several synagogues, and collectively (under the aegis of the Jewish Museum in Prague) they are among the best places to visit in Prague.

The Old-New Synagogue, which was built around 1270, is the oldest active synagogue in Europe, and the nearby Spanish Synagogue is a stunning Moorish-influenced building.

Close by, the Maiselova Synagogue has some wonderful interactive depictions of Josefov and Prague Old Town.

The best-known Jewish site in Prague is the Old Jewish Cemetery, a compelling centuries-old site full of crooked ancient gravestones. Visiting the Old Cemetery can be one of the most rewarding things to do in Prague, just try to time your visit for the beginning or end of the day when you can appreciate it without the crowds.

The Pinkas Synagogue next door has a moving memorial to the thousands of Prague Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust.

A walk across this iconic medieval bridge is one of the absolutely mandatory things to do in Prague. The Charles Bridge is one of the top two or three sights of Prague, spanning the Vltava River and offering astoundingly beautiful views of the city.

It is named after King of Bohemia and Holy Roman emperor Charles IV, and built between 1357 and 1402, and is part of the Royal Route between Prague Castle and the Powder Tower at the far end of Prague Old Town. There is a statue of him just below the Old Town end of the Bridge.

There is a tall medieval tower at each end of the Bridge, and you can climb both – they are among the best viewpoints in Prague. The Charles Bridge is also lined with statues of saints, which were mostly added in the late 17^th and early 18^th centuries,

If you visit during the daytime, you can expect the Charles Bridge to be very busy. It’s usually crammed with crowds of visitors, not to mention painters, caricaturists and even a New Orleans jazz band!

The best – and quietest – times to visit the Charles Bridge are at sunrise, when you may be joined by a few keen photographers, or in the evening when the hordes have dispersed for the night.

See our full guide to the Charles Bridge

One of the top things to do Prague has to offeris a boat trip along the Vltava River. It’s such a great way to see the city, and there are several routes to choose from.

Most Prague boat trips take you close to or even under the Charles Bridge, one of the most magical parts of the journey. One option is the Devil’s Channel Cruise, which only smaller boats operate, taking you along the small canals and historic mills of Kampa Island.  

It’s a wonderful way to see Prague architecture up close, the centuries-old houses rising high above the water.

Other Prague river cruises continue further upstream, using more side canals to negotiate their way as far as the Dancing House and even Vysehrad.

You can also opt for a Prague night cruise, when many of the main Prague landmarks are lit up, looking their most magical.

Prague Castle is one of the most beautiful castles    in Europe and is believed to be the largest medieval castle complex in the world. It’s one of the three things to do in Prague that, if you’re visiting for the first time, you should do everything in your power not to miss.

It’s the embodiment of the Czech nation, the residence of the Kings of Bohemia,and nowadays the President of the Czech Republic.

Prague Castle is a series of buildings, including palaces, medieval fortifications, St Vitus Cathedral, St George’s Basilica and more. There are also some wonderful gardens on the south side of the Castle which offer amazing views over the city.

St. Vitus Cathedral is the most prominent landmark in Prague, a Gothic masterpiece on the highest point of Prague Castle Hill.

It’s the nearest thing the Czechs have to a national church, as it’s the resting place of the country’s patron saint, Wenceslas.

The Cathedral took around 700 years to build, finally reaching completion in 1929. One of the last things to be added was its stained glass, some of which is from the early 20^th century Art Nouveau period.

For an additional fee you can also climb the Great South Tower of the Cathedral, which offers spectacular views over the rest of Prague Castle and large parts of the city.

The Golden Lane – Zlata ulicka in Czech – is   a small street located within the precincts of Prague Castle. It’s well-known for its tiny colourful houses, some of which date back to the 16^th century.  Residents included Castle guards and craftspeople including goldsmiths, after whom the street is named.

It’s one of the most picturesque streets in Prague, where some of the houses host exhibitions, while others are home to small craft shops.

One of the best houses is number 12, where the large film collection of Josef Kazda fills every cubic centimetre of space, including most of the staircase. 

Prague’s most famous author, Franz Kafka, also lived on the street – a small plaque commemorates his stay there in 1916-17.

The Royal Garden is a beautiful park located across the moat from Prague Castle. It’s one of the best free things to do in Prague, with a beautiful Baroque parterre garden next to the Renaissance period Queen Anne’s Summer Palace, one of the best hidden gems in Prague.

The other notable building in the royal garden is the Ball Games Hall of Prague Castle, the exterior of which is beautifully decorated with sgraffito art.

There is also a great view across the Deer Moat to the northern side of Prague Castle, and another wonderful Prague park, Chotkovy sady, on the other side of the Summer Palace. 

The Renaissance-style Lobkowicz Palace in Prague Castle recently re-opened, and its artistic treasures make it one of the top places to see in Prague.

The magnificent 16^th century main hall, with its outstanding ceiling frescoes, is one of the highlights, and there is also an exhibition of old instruments, including some original Stradivarius violins, in the Music Room. 

It’s also worth visiting for the extensive art collection that includes works by the likes of Canaletto, Velazquez and Brueghel. Afterwards you can enjoy a drink at the Museum café and take in the awesome view of Prague from the terrace.

Old Town Prague is one of the best-preserved and most atmospheric cities in Europe, and walking down some of its narrow lanes, alleyways and arcades is the nearest most of us will ever get to stepping back in time to the Middle Ages.

So where better to embark on a thrilling and chilling ghost tour than the ancient streets of Prague? You meet your guide in the city center and stroll the cobblestone streets and alleys of Old Town Prague, visiting medieval monuments where tales of terror and terrible hauntings come to life.

You visit Gothic churches still under the spell of the undead, including one with the grisly remains of a human arm hanging from the ceiling, and visit haunted market squares and cemeteries. 

This tour is a perfect way to discover the dark side of Prague’s history and culture, and to experience the eerie atmosphere of the city at night.

Kampa Island in Prague is a peaceful oasis with the Vltava River on one side and a canal on the other. It consists of a few small streets, including the peaceful Na Kampe square beneath the Charles Bridge, and Kampa Park, which has wonderful views of the Charles Bridge and the river.

Take a walk around the Park, where you’ll discover a wonderful café in an old watermill and a statue of the Devil above the canal.

Kampa Island is also home to Museum Kampa, one of the best modern art museums in Prague. One of its exhibits can be found outside the building – three of Prague artist David Cerny’s Barcode Babies (which can also be seen climbing the Zizkov TV Tower).

Some visitors to Prague like to explore its recent history, when it was forced behind the Iron Curtain for the 40 or so years of the Cold War.

The Cold War Museum Prague offers an intriguing insight into life during the Cold War in what was then Czechoslovakia. It is set in a nuclear bunker below the Hotel Jalta on Wenceslas Square, a network of underground rooms where selected citizens could retreat in the event of a nuclear attack on Prague.

You’re taken around part of the bunker by a guide in contemporary uniform, and get to try out some of the enormous array of equipment.

You also see a switchboard used to listen in on guests’ telephone conversations in the Hotel upstairs.  One of the quirkiest unique things to do in Prague, for sure.

Mala Strana – which translates as Lesser Quarter – is the area between the Charles Bridge and Prague Castle hill, one of the most beautiful areas of Prague.

It’s a delightful area to explore, with its Baroque churches and gardens, cobblestone streets and backstreet restaurants and bars. It’s also one of the best areas to stay in Prague, a short walk from either the Old Town or Prague Castle, with a tram to take you up the hill if you’re not up to the climb.  

St. Nicholas Church in Mala Strana is one of the most beautiful churches in Prague, its elegant dome and tower a prominent Prague landmark visible from many places across the city.

The church dominates Malostranské náměstí, the busy main square of the district.  The interior is unrestrained Baroque extravagance, decorated with superb frescoes and marble statues.

The church was built in the first half of the 18^th century on the site of an earlier church by Christoph Dietzenhofer and then his son Kilian Ignaz. They are famous in Prague because of their many buildings in and around Prague, including the other St Nicholas Church in Prague, on Old Town Square.

It’s possible to climb the St Nicholas Town Belfry next to the church, which commands spectacular views of the surrounding area and across the river to the Old Town. 

During the Cold War the tower garret was used by the Czechoslovak secret police, the StB, as an observation and listening post, with the US and British embassies both close by.

Czech food bears some similarities to that of its Central European neighbours with its own regional twists.

If you’ve visited Germany, Poland, Austria or Hungary you’ll recognise some of the culinary influences, such as sauerkraut with roast pork and dumplings (German) or gulas (Hungarian).

While in Prague, we recommend trying some traditional Czech dishes, such as svíčková na smetaně (beef in cream sauce) or pecene na kachna (roast duck with red cabbage and dumplings). 

You’ll also come across pork knee in many places – leave plenty of space in your belly for this one!

Hradčany is the Castle district of Prague. The Castle is one of the most visited places in Prague, but you don’t have to venture far beyond the Castle precincts to find one of the most beautiful and untouched areas of Prague.

Hradčanské náměstí  is the square next to the west entrance to Prague Castle, and is home to some splendid buildings including the Renaissance Schwarzenberg Palace and the ornate Baroque Archbishop’s Palace.

As you move away from the Castle the houses tend to get smaller, as do the crowds, but the streets are if anything more picturesque, with wonderfully preserved medieval arcades on Loretanska and Pohorelec. The one on Loretanska has a couple of great cafes with views through the arches to the Loreta church.

If you continue around to Uvoz, you’ll be rewarded by some exceptional views over the Old Town, and there’s also a scenic pathway below the Strahov Monastery to Petřin Hill.

Petřin Hill is one of the top things to see in Prague, a hilly park made up of a series of gardens with Prague’s version of the Eiffel Tower on the summit. If you visit Prague in springtime, Petřin Hill is especially beautiful, with its many white and pink cherry blossom trees in all their glory. 

The Seminary Gardens on the lower slopes are one of the most romantic places in Prague, as there’s a tradition that couples should share a kiss under the blossom trees on the 1^st of May.

You can opt to walk up Petřin Hill or take the Petřin funicular to the top, this runs every 15 minutes during the daytime, taking you to gorgeous Rose and Flower Gardens, or to the Petřin Tower, which is the second highest vantage point in Prague.

It was built by the Czech Touring Club, who were inspired by their visit to the Eiffel Tower soon after its opening in the late 19^th century.

There are also some cafes and coffee vans around the Tower, and a Mirror Maze to discombobulate you before the journey back down.

Climbing some towers in Prague is a must-do for visitors as it offers breathtaking views of the city and its landmarks.

One of the best Prague towers to visit is the Old Town Hall Tower, which commands superb views over the Old Town Square and Tyn Church. We also recommend the towers at either end of the Charles Bridge – the Old Town Bridge Tower and Lesser Town Tower – both of which have amazing views over the Bridge, Vltava River and surrounding area. These are an essential part of any Prague sightseeing.

Some of the towers in Prague aren’t as well-known, but are just as worth a visit. The Powder Tower, on the eastern edge of the Old Town, has an amazing panorama of the Tyn Church, Prague Castle and the dome of Municipal House next door.

The Museum of Communism is a popular Prague attraction, drawing many for whom Prague is the first place they’ve encountered where Communism was enforced by the Soviet Union.

It’s a good introduction to Communism and life under the totalitarian system, taking you from the blood-soaked reign of Josef Stalin to the Velvet Revolution which brought the whole regime down in November 1989.

The exhibition is informative but rather small, and it is one of the more overpriced things to do in Prague – it’s even more expensive than the National Museum, by far the largest in Prague.

If you’re wondering where to go in Prague to escape the crowds, then Novy Svět is the place for you. It’s a very quiet street in Hradčany, the district around Prague Castle. Its name means ‘New World’ but it’s the closest thing you’ll find to stepping back in time a few centuries in Prague.

Novy Svět Prague is a small, cobbled street with Baroque (18^th century) houses at the bottom of a hill, below the Loreta Church. The main thing to do there is enjoy its peaceful and serene atmosphere, perhaps stopping by for a coffee or hot chocolate at one of the cafes.

If you’re visiting Prague with kids, you can also stop by at the hidden playground there.

Novy Svět is located at the bottom of an outer bastion of Prague Castle, and if you walk along the main road from the Brusnice tram stop you’ll reach a wonderful viewpoint, from which you can see the enchanting streets below, and the spires of St Vitus Cathedral and Prague Castle just a short walk away. One of the best places to visit in Prague.

See Also: Prague Streets – 17 Of The Most Beautiful Streets In Prague To Explore

Some of the best things to see in Prague are so well hidden away that you’d never guess they were there. The Vrtba Garden is a classic example, tucked away behind a doorway off a busy Prague street where trams rattle by every couple of minutes.

The Vrtba Garden (Vrtbovska zahrada) is a magnificent early Baroque Garden at the foot of Petřin Hill with terraces cut into the hillside, making ingenious use of the limited land available. 

There is so much to see, from the beautiful grotto-like Sala Terrena entrance on the lowest level to the extravagant Baroque statues on the upper terraces.

The higher you climb, the better the views of Prague become, especially of the nearby Baroque churches of St Nicholas and Our Lady Victorious. 

Cubist art became world-famous thanks to the likes of Pablo Picasso, but other forms of expression of Cubism – architecture and furniture – never really caught on outside what was then the province of Bohemia.

The Cubist Museum Prague is a must-see for art lovers and those interested in the Cubist movement. It is the only museum of its kind in the world, focusing on architecture and furniture, with a small selection of paintings. dedicated to the preservation and display of Cubist art and architecture.

It is housed in the House of the Black Madonna, possibly the most famous Cubist building in Prague and the world, designed by prominent Prague architect Josef Gocar. 

The building is also home to the Grand Café Orient, one of the great old Prague cafes from the 1910s which reopened in the 1990s.

There is also a Cubism Restaurant on the ground floor, the birthplace of the coronavirus cake in 2020.

Letna Park Prague is one of the best parks in the city, with one of the best views in the city, over the main bridges in Prague and the Old Town, from below the Baroque Art Nouveau Hanavsky Pavilion.

It’s located on a ridge above the river, and you can reach it either by a steep path from there or via the suburb of Holesovice.

Letna always attracts a varied crowd, from the skaters beneath the Prague Metronome (built on the site of a destroyed statue of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin) to families enjoying a picnic, or people stopping by for a beer.

We rate the Letna Park beer garden as one of the top Prague attractions. As well as superb beer (Gambrinus) there’s also food and amazing views over the city including the Old Town and Zizkov Tower.

The Municipal House (Obecni dům) is the jewel of Art Nouveau Prague a splendid building on the edge of Prague Old Town.

It’s sumptuous outside and inside, with a wonderful stained-glass entrance canopy and the Smetana Hall, one of the best concert halls in Prague.

You can also eat at either the Café or restaurant on the ground floor of this stunning Prague building.  Both are lavish and opulent, and among the best places to eat in Prague, ideal for a special occasion or celebration.

See Also: Municipal House Restaurant Prague Review – dining out in a spectacular Art Nouveau restaurant

Vinohrady is one of the best districts of Prague to visit, and it’s only around 2 km from the centre of town. It’s renowned as a popular expat area, known for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture and  green spaces like Riegrovy Sady and Havlickovy Sady.

Vinohrady is also well endowed with restaurants (Czech, Asian, Italian and Ukrainian among many) and its variety of shops, cafes and bars.

The main square, Jiřiho z Poděbrad (often abbreviated to JZP) is home to one of the best farmers markets in Prague, which is just outside one of the most intriguing churches in the city, the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord, which was completed by Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik in 1932.

The square is also very close to the retro-space-age Žižkov TV Tower, which also happens to have a gallery with superb views of Prague.

Both the main parks in Vinohrady are worth a visit, but of the two, Riegrovy Sady is one of the must sees in Prague.  

At the top of the hill you’ll find one of the best beer gardens in Prague, and if you take your drink outside, you’ll be treated to a fantastic view of the Prague skyline.

In summer many locals head there in the evening with a bottle or two to watch the sunset. There are also a couple of great playgrounds for the kids.

The Franciscan Garden (Frantiskanska zahrada) is a wonderful small green space a few steps away from the busy heart of New Town Prague. It’s one of the most popular Prague gardens among locals, who find a shady spot at lunchtime, accessible by the Světozor arcade.

This loveliest of Prague gardens is barely a minute’s walk from Wenceslas Square, one of the busiest places in Prague. Finding it is like walking through a time portal, a shady refuge with a superb view of the soaring Gothic Our Lady of the Snows church.

There’s also a small children’s playground and great ice cream from the café in the Světozor arcade.

The Wallenstein Garden is a beautiful and historic Baroque garden located in the charming Malá Strana neighborhood below Prague Castle, and we rate it one of the best places to visit in Prague.

It was built between 1623 and 1629 at the same time as the Wallenstein Palace, which is now home to the Senate, one of the two chambers of the Czech Government.

One part of the Garden faces the Palace, the main pathway lined with extravagant statues. Continue along the path to the Palace and the three tall arches – this is the Sala Terrena, the ceiling decorated with superb frescoes.

The other end of the Wallenstein Garden is dominated by the Hercules Fountain, where the resident white peacocks can often be found. Don’t miss the view from there towards the domes and spires of the Malá Strana skyline. 

Even under Communism, Prague had a vibrant cultural underground, and once the shackles were thrown off by the Velvet Revolution it has flourished. 

This tour is a great introduction to Prague’s street art, independent music scene and much more. It takes you to places you generally wouldn’t find unless someone pointed them out to you or you did a lot of research beforehand.

You get to see some of the best street art in Prague, visit a wonderful café hidden away in a former Habsburg imperial army barracks, a Vietnamese market and a steampunk club.  It’s one of the more unusual things to do in Prague, but one of the most rewarding.

Prague is home to several castles and chateaux, and the second most famous lies less than two miles upstream from, and within sight of, Prague Castle.

Vyšehrad Prague is hugely important to Czech identity, as it’s the legendary home of the Přemyslid dynasty that ruled Bohemia until the early Middle Ages.

The original Castle is long gone, but it’s still a formidable fortress overlooking the Vltava River, and one of the best parks in Prague. It’s a treasure trove of sights, including the oldest church in Prague, the Neo-Gothic-meets-Art-Nouveau Basilica church, and Vyšehrad Cemetery, where a great many famous Czechs are buried.

It also has superb views of the city and one of the best beer gardens in Prague.

This small private museum in Prague offers another perspective on the Cold War – in this case the much-feared KGB, the secret police of the Soviet Union.

The KGB employed over 400,000 people, and they would have had a hand in enforcing Soviet rule in Prague and elsewhere behind the Iron Curtain.

The owner conducts the hour-long guided tour, showing the Museum’s collection of KGB artefacts including the death mask of Lenin and the weapon used to kill Leon Trotsky in 1940.

His tour also includes vivid demonstrations of methods the KGB used to kill their quarry – from the point of view of both perpetrator and victim.

You could get more than a hint of the Middle Ages by taking a walk around the back streets and alleyways of Prague Old Town. Or you could go the whole hog and indulge in a full-blown medieval dinner in an atmospheric underground tavern in the heart of Prague.

You can enjoy a 3 or 5-course meal with unlimited drinks, all the while being entertained by swordsmen, jugglers, and belly dancers, all set to the backdrop of live music. Immerse yourself in the medieval atmosphere and savor a delicious meal as you get transported back in time. One of the most fun things to do in Prague.

This former royal hunting ground in the west of Prague is another of our favourites,  and one of the best attractions in Prague if you have kids.

It’s essentially a large forest with some great playgrounds, and at the far end there’s a large open space with one of the most unusual buildings in Prague, the star-shaped Renaissance period Letohradek (Summer Palace).

The Park is open year-round, as are the playgrounds. The Summer Palace hosts art exhibitions between May and October, and the adjacent café is also open during these months.

See Also: Obora Hvězda Prague

Mozart was a regular visitor to Prague, and the city is a great place to experience some of his music. This concert is held in one of the most beautiful venues in the city, the sumptuous Baroque style Boccaccio Ballroom in the Grand Hotel Bohemia.

The music is performed by members of the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, accompanied by two opera singers. You also get to enjoy a delicious three-course dinner during the set intervals. Definitely one for your Prague to do list.

The National Heydrich Memorial in Prague is one of the most important Prague World War 2 Sites. It’s located in the crypt of the Orthodox Cathedral of SS Cyril and Methodius, the scene of the final shootout between the group that carried out Operation Anthropoid, assassinating the brutal Nazi Reichsprotektor, Reinhard Heydrich, and the Nazi authorities.

The solemn memorial honours the seven men who died there, heroically fighting off hundreds of Nazis who eventually resorted to flooding the crypt.

Their killing was part of a series of reprisals, which included a massacre in the nearby village of Lidice and the hamlet of Lezaky to the east of Prague. The assassination and subsequent events are depicted in the 2017 movie Anthropoid.

It’s possible to visit the Heydrich Memorial as part of a guided Prague World War 2, which also includes locations where the Prague Uprising was fought during the very last days of the War.

See Also: Heydrich Assassination Site Prague

Czech beer has a legendary reputation. The country gave the world pilsner and, I have to say, many of the best beers I’ve ever tried. You could seek out some Prague pubs for yourself or opt for a gentle steer in the right direction.

One of the most famous Czech beers, Staropramen, is brewed in Prague, and you can join a Staropramen brewery tour in Smichov.

You could also join a Prague beer tour, sampling a selection of Czech craft beers at atmospheric Prague pubs, with the option of a traditional Czech meal as well. If you come across it, try some Gambrinus, which has become my favourite Czech beer since I began living in Prague three years ago.   

For art and architecture lovers, the Strahov Monastery is one of the best Prague tourist attractions. The historic complex, dating back to 1140, features stunning Baroque architecture and impressive art collections, including works by famous painters such as Rubens and Cranach.

The main reason to visit Strahov is to see the Monastery’s two breathtaking Baroque libraries. You have the option of seeing them unimpeded from the doorway or walking around them on a guided tour – a better experience than the wonderful Baroque library in the Klementinum in the Old Town. 

Strahov Monastery’s precincts are also beautiful, and there’s a restaurant serving traditional Czech dishes and the excellent St Norbert beer brewed on site. There’s also a restaurant just below the Monastery with a terrace and jaw-dropping views of Prague.

Wenceslas Square – Václavské náměsti – is the heart of modern Prague, with many of the city’s flagship stores and top hotels, and it has also played a hugely significant role in Czech history.

The square is named after St Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia of Good King Wenceslas fame. His statue is one of the main sights on the Square, just below the imposing National Museum at the end of the Square.

It’s not the most attractive of Prague squares – there are few less than salubrious characters around – but it’s very much a Prague must see. It has been the site of many important events, especially demonstrations.

It’s believed that up to half a million people gathered there in November 1989 as the Velvet Revolution gained momentum. These hastened the end of the Communist regime which had ruled Czechoslovakia for 41 years.

Divoká Šárka, which means Wild Sarka, is by far the wildest park in Prague. It’s a serene valley in the north-west of the city, close to the airport, with a stream winding its way between steep cliffs and rugged rocky outcrops.

There is also a lake and an outdoor pool where you can go swimming in summer, and there are cycling tracks along the valley floor and hiking trails up the hills.

A big part of its appeal is that it feels a world away from the busy Prague tourist sites, and having lived in Prague for over three years, we’d have to say that it is the best place to experience and explore nature around Prague. 

It’s definitely one of the best things to do in Prague for outdoors types, a 30-minute tram ride from the city centre.

DOX is a brilliant art museum in the Prague suburb of Holesovice, and one of the best things to do around Prague for art aficionados.

You can’t miss the building from outside – it has a Zeppelin-style airship on the roof! And one of its halls – which you don’t see from the street – looks like a 1980s sofa from the outside.

They have an ever-changing series of exhibitions, installations, talks and programs, and are open Wednesdays to Sundays.

Manifesto Market in Smichov – across the street from the Staropramen brewery and Na Knizeci bus station – has quickly become one of the best places to eat out in Prague over the last couple of years.

The restaurants are all small pop-up affairs, and there’s something for most taste buds, from Czech to chilli, burgers to Brazilian, Mexican to Hawaiian, with a couple of bars serving Czech beers too.

Stromovka Park is the largest park in Prague, and sometimes referred to as ‘the Central Park of Prague’ by US expats.

We have visited Stromovka many times, and rate it one of the top attractions in Prague. There is so much to see and do there, including some easy hikes through the woodland (especially beautiful if you’re visiting Prague in autumn) and some lovely lakes where you can set up a picnic.

There is also a splendid late medieval palace (the Governor’s Summer House) overlooking the lakes, and an array of cafes and restaurants dotted around the park’s perimeter.

Our son loves the children’s island on one of the lakes, where the kids have to pull themselves across the water on a rope raft.

There are plenty more things to see including the Prague Planetarium and the Exhibition Grounds next to the Park.  It’s easily one of the best places to go in Prague for families.

Troja Castle is a gorgeous 17^th century Baroque chateau on the outskirts of Prague, across the street from Prague Zoo and down the hill from the Botanical Garden.

The Chateau is home to a branch of Prague City Gallery, but the building itself is perhaps the most impressive work of art.  The frescoes in the Main Hall are the highlight, depicting the defeat of Ottoman Turkish forces outside Vienna in 1683.

While there, take a walk in the beautiful Garden. If you happen to be visiting in early April, one of the most romantic things to do in Prague is to take a walk beneath the stunning cherry blossom trees, some of the best we’ve ever seen.

During the warmer months, one of the best things to do in Prague at night is to take a walk along the riverbank between Palackeho namesti and Vyton tram stops. At this time of year (usually May to September) Naplavka is the hub of Prague nightlife, as all the boat bars and restaurants open up.

Naplavka is a wonderful place to spend the evening as the sun sets across the river, behind Prague Castle.  You can stop by for a Czech beer or two, try out food from Czech to Italian to Asian, sip on cocktails or even play a game of beach volleyball on one of the floating courts.

There is also a farmers’ market on Naplavka every Saturday morning, where you can find a great range of local produce.

St Agnes of Bohemia Convent in Prague is a magnificent site located in one of the quietest corners of Prague Old Town. The Gothic complex was founded in the 13th century but now serves as a branch of the National Gallery of Prague.

It’s an extraordinary exhibition space, hosting the gallery’s collection of Bohemian and Central European art.

There is also a beautiful Garden in the grounds of the convent, and we still find it unbelievable that this amazing place is less than ten minutes’ walk away from the crowds on Old Town Square.

It’s one of the true hidden gems of the city, and one of the very best attractions of Prague.

The Infant Jesus of Prague statue is located in the Church of Our Lady Victorious in the Mala Strana district.The statue is believed to have miraculous powers, particularly healing, so attracts a steady stream of pilgrims. 

The 16^th century statue is originally from Spain, and has been venerated ever since its hands were broken off. It is said to have spoken to a monk, saying that he would confer blessings if his hands were repaired.

When it comes to historic theatres, Prague has serious pedigree. The Estates Theatre, in the Old Town, was the location for the world premiere of Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni in 1788, and in partnership with the nearby National Theatre and State Opera it stages many major concerts and performances in Prague.

The National Theatre (Narodni divadlo), overlooking the Vltava River, was built in the 19^th century, and is home to three main branches – Opera, Ballet and Drama. Each ensemble performs a wide range of productions, from classic works to contemporary pieces, both in Czech and foreign languages.

The building is one of the most beautiful Prague landmarks, and the older part is neo-Renaissance in style. The auditorium is a breathtaking sight. You’ll also notice a modern addition, the Laterna Magika, which was added in the 1980s.

The Estates Theatre (Stavovske divadlo) pre-dates the National Theatre by almost a century. It was completed in 1783 and is one of the most beautiful theatres in Europe. If you can’t attend a performance, it’s well worth booking a guided tour of one of the theatres, which last about an hour.

The John Lennon Wall in Prague is one of the most overrated things to do in Prague, and this comes from a lifelong fan of the Beatles.

The Lennon Wall was a rallying place for protesters from the 1960s, with anti-Communist messages regularly written there. It became associated with John Lennon following his murder in 1980 when someone painted a likeness of him on the Wall.

People continued to paint messages on the Wall up until the 1989 Velvet Revolution and beyond, after which the tradition took on a whole new lease of life.

The wall has been painted over countless times since.  For me it has become a bit of a cliché, its meaning lost the more someone scrawls a message on it.

Recently a measure was introduced whereby visitors could only write or paint messages on certain parts of the Wall.