What to See
8 highlights📍 Tap the pin for directions
Prague Castle (Pražský Hrad)
The largest ancient castle complex in the world, dominating the city from the left bank of the Vltava. The complex contains St. Vitus Cathedral (an extraordinary Gothic masterpiece), the Royal Palace, the Golden Lane (tiny historic cottages along the castle wall), and stunning panoramic views over Prague's red-roofed Old Town. Allow a full morning. Buy tickets at the castle entrance and prioritize St. Vitus Cathedral.
Charles Bridge (Karlův Most)
The 14th-century stone bridge across the Vltava, lined with 30 Baroque statues of saints. The single most photographed spot in Prague and deservedly so. Go before 7am — this is non-negotiable. At any other hour the bridge is shoulder-to-shoulder with tourists and street vendors. In the early morning, with the river mist and golden light catching the statues and the castle above, it's one of the most beautiful urban scenes in Europe.
Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí)
The medieval heart of Prague — Gothic churches, the Astronomical Clock (Orloj) on the Old Town Hall, and Baroque palaces surrounding the square. The Astronomical Clock performs on the hour (figures emerge and rotate) but the medieval mechanism itself is the real marvel. The square is beautiful at any time; most atmospheric in the early morning or evening.
Malá Strana (Lesser Town)
The neighborhood below the castle on the left bank — Baroque palaces, ornate churches, and garden terraces with views over the river. Quieter and more residential than the Old Town. Wallenstein Garden (Valdštejnský palác) is a beautiful and free Baroque garden largely unknown to tourists.
Czech Beer — The Best in the World
The Czech Republic has the world's highest beer consumption per capita and genuinely excellent beer culture. Pilsner Urquell is the original pilsner (invented in Plzeň in 1842). In Prague, local Bohemian brands Kozel and Bernard are excellent. A half-liter of draft beer in a local pub (hospoda) typically costs 40–60 CZK ($1.74–$2.61 USD). Go to a neighborhood hospoda rather than the tourist pubs on the main square.
Svařák — Czech Hot Wine (Winter)
In the winter months — roughly November through February — outdoor markets and street vendors serve svařák (hot mulled wine), which is Prague's answer to German Glühwein. Spiced red wine served warm in ceramic cups, it's a genuine cold-weather pleasure and deeply associated with the Christmas market atmosphere. The Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square markets are the most festive settings. If you're visiting in warmer months, svařák is generally not available — it's a seasonal drink.
Absinthe — and Where to Get a Genuine One
Absinthe is legal, celebrated, and genuinely excellent in the Czech Republic — one of only a handful of countries where it's part of real drinking culture rather than a novelty. The Czech style is typically higher proof and more herbal than French absinthe. For a proper preparation (louche, cold water, sugar cube), go to Bar Jekyll & Hyde (Mánesova 87, Vinohrady) or seek out Hemingway Bar (Karolíny Světlé 26, Old Town) — a world-class cocktail bar that serves absinthe the traditional way with ceremony and quality ingredients. Avoid the tourist-facing 'absinthe shots' in Old Town Square bars, which tend to be the cheap stuff lit on fire — a gimmick, not how it's actually drunk.
Cash Only Bar
Cash Only is one of Prague's best-kept bar secrets — a small, unpretentious cocktail bar that does precisely what the name says: no cards accepted, cash only. The cocktails are genuinely excellent and fairly priced by Prague standards, the bartenders know what they're doing, and the atmosphere is relaxed and local rather than tourist-facing. It tends to fill up by 10pm on weekends so arrive early or expect to wait. Verify before you go — small independent bars come and go, and while it was very much open and beloved as of our last update, it's worth a quick check before making it a special trip.