3 days in Prague

The morning after we arrived we got out our maps and headed for the old town which was a few minutes walk away from where we were staying. We rounded the corner and were immediately hit with what was the most unreal scene in front of us. Prague is nothing short of a Disney set, with steeple churches, candy colored building, a clock tower and a castle on the hill to top it all off. They don't use the euro here either so everything is far more affordable. 

We arrived here from Berlin by bus (Meinfernbus) at around 9pm.

The city has a great train and tram system although if you're staying in or near the old town (which you should) you'll have no real need to use public transport. At the end of our stay we got an overnight bus from Prague to Amsterdam for 25 euros also with Meinfernbus which, if it hadn't been delayed in Hanover at 3 in the morning would have been a very pleasant and easy way to get there. 

I'd recommend around 3 days in Prague... As beautiful as it is there isn't a WHOLE lot to do here other than walk around and explore the beautiful streets. We were there in mid October and it was very cold, on our second day it was -2 at midday and it was forecast to snow!!

As far as food goes, we had a kitchen in our apartment so we cooked mostly for ourselves. There was a  massive supermarket at the back of the old town (opposite side of the Charles Bridge) where we stocked up on food. We did get noodles from one of the Wok places a few times when we were out and hungry (they were $6 a box). 

There are lots of street markets and in winter near Christmas they have some of the best Christmas markets in the world. So if you can, get yourself here at around that time! I can't wait to return to Prague in at Christmas time and frolic around in the snow in a fur coat and mittens!!

Where to stay

Even though it was last minute there were still lots of decent options for good prices on Airbnb. Our apartment wasn't the nicest place i've ever stayed in, but it was warm and had a kitchen and a big bed so we were happy. It cost $55 a night ($22 each) but i'm sure if you book a little further in advance you could find something much nicer and much cheaper. 

Make sure you're staying near or in the Old Town because that is where you'll want to spend all your time. Either side of the bridge is fine. Our accommodation was just over the big hill on the Charles Bridge side. 

What to do

The majority of our time in Prague was just spent strolling through the streets but there are a few things you shouldn't miss when you come here.

  • Make sure you walk across Charles Bridge (its kind of impossible not to).Until 1841, this was the only means of crossing the Vltava River and reaching Prague Castle from the Old Town. Today you’ll find musicians playing everything from classical pieces to blues, artists drawing unflattering caricatures, and vendors selling postcards and jewelry. 
  • Spend a few hours sitting the the Old Town Square and wonder how on earth something so ridiculous could actual exist. Picture Baroque and Art Nouveau buildings painted in beautiful pastel colours, old cobbled streets, and a huge Disneylike castle/church looming out from behind it all. Like with most popular attractions, this place gets very crowded during the day however, if you come by early in the morning you’ll have this place all to yourself.
  • Do a free walking tour. We did one of these on our last day (its usually best to do it the first day so that you can gather your bearings) and it was one of the most interesting that we did throughout all of Europe. I specifically enjoyed the section that focused on the Jewish Quarter on the outskirts of the Old Town. The area is home to many synagogues, many which date back to as early as the 16th century. Some of the synagogues have been converted into museums and memorials to the Holocaust victims, and you’ll also be able to find Europe’s oldest surviving Jewish cemetery in this neighborhood.
  • Eat a Trdelnik. I guarantee it wont be that great but you'll be surrounded by them the entire time and to resist will be impossible.
  • Watch the clock in  the square strike the hour. The clock was first installed in 1410, which makes it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still working! Every hour crowds gather with cameras in hand and watch the clock work its magic. A little skeleton rings a golden bell, the apostles make their appearance at the windows, and then a little golden rooster crows. While I had no idea how to properly read the “time,” it was fascinating to gaze at the dials and hands of the clock featuring the sun, moon and signs of the zodiac. 
  •  Climb up to Petrin Hill. Petrin is a hill on the left bank of the Vltava River and it offers great views of the city.