Prague.
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Overview

Prague (Czech: Praha) is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. The city's historic buildings and narrow, winding streets are testament to its centuries-old role as capital of the historic region of Bohemia. Prague lies on the banks of the beautiful, meandering Vltava River that reflects the city's golden spires and 9th century castle that dominates the skyline.

This historic atmosphere is combined with a certain quirkiness that embraces the entire city. From the Museum of Czech Cubism to the technicolour Jubilee Synagogue; the castle to the river, Prague is a Bohemian capital in every sense.

Districts

Several incompatible district systems dating from different historical periods are used in Prague, for various purposes – at least three schemes. Making things worse, a given district name can be used in all the systems, but with different meanings. In this guide, a simplified version of the "old" district system is used. Under this system, Prague is divided into ten numbered districts (Praha 1 through Praha 10). Its advantage is that it is used on street signs and house numbers throughout the city, so you can always easily determine which "old" district you are in. If you encounter a district number higher than 10, a different system is being used. For example, Praha 13 is part of the "old" Praha 5 district.

Praha 1 is the oldest part of the city, the original 'Town of Prague', and has by far the largest number of attractions. Praha 2 also contains important historic areas. In this central area, the "old" district system (or any of the newer systems) is too crude to be practical, and a finer division is needed. Traditional city "quarters" provide such a division. Their disadvantage is that they are somewhat incompatible with the modern district systems – although "quarters" are smaller than the "old" system districts, a single quarter can belong to two or even more districts. The advantage is that these central quarters are well known and widely used and identical to the homonymous cadastral areas shown on the street and house number signs along with the "old" district designation, allowing easy orientation.

Buildings in bigger cities in the Czech Republic are marked with two numbers, one blue and one red. The blue ones are the orientation numbers – it is the ordinal number of the building on its street. Historically these numbers always started from the end of the street which is closer to a river. The red numbers are related to the house register of the entire district (for example, Staré Město), and thus usually correspond to the order in which the buildings in that district were constructed. Most people do not remember them; if somebody refers to "Dlouhá street, number 8", they will usually mean the blue number. Red numbers usually have 3 or more digits.

Understand

This city of bridges, cathedrals, gold-tipped towers and church domes, has mirrored on the surface of the swan-filled Vltava river for more than ten centuries. Almost undamaged by World War II, Prague's compact medieval centre remains a wonderful mixture of cobbled lanes, walled courtyards, cathedrals and countless church spires all in the shadow of her majestic 9th century castle that looks eastward as the sun sets behind her. Prague is also a modern and vibrant city full of energy, music, cultural art, fine dining and special events catering to the independent traveller's thirst for adventure.

Regarded as one of Europe's most charming and beautiful cities, Prague has become the most popular travel destination in Central Europe along with Budapest and Kraków. Millions of tourists visit the city every year.

Prague was founded in the later 9th century, and soon became the seat of the Kings of Bohemia, some of whom ruled as Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. The city thrived under the rule of Charles IV, who ordered the building of the New Town in the 14th century. Many of the city's most important attractions date back to that age. In 1348 Prague became a university town, which it has remained ever since. The University, which is sometimes claimed to be the oldest in Central Europe was split into a German and a Czech language part in 1882 with the German language part shut down in 1945, thus ending the claim of the "oldest German university" Prague might have reasonably held until then. The city also went under Habsburg rule and became the capital of a province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It had a German-speaking majority well into the 19th century, and even after then, maintained a significant German-speaking minority until the expulsion of ethnic Germans from Czechoslovakia following World War II. During that period, Prague would give rise to several prominent German-language authors, perhaps the most notable being Franz Kafka, known for works such as Die Verwandlung (The Metamorphosis) and Der Process (The Trial). In 1918, after World War I, the city became the capital of Czechoslovakia. After 1989 many foreigners, especially young people, moved to Prague. In 1992, its historic centre was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 1993, Czechoslovakia split into two countries and Prague became the capital of the new Czech Republic.

The Vltava River runs through Prague, which is home to about 1.2 million people. The capital may be beautiful, but smog often accumulates in the Vltava River basin.

Prague has a humid continental climate, with relatively cold winters (around the point of freezing). Snow cover occurs between mid-November and late March. The snow cover rarely stays around for more than a week or two. Summers usually bring plenty of sunshine and the average high temperature of . Precipitation in Prague is rather low, the driest season usually being the winter. During late spring and summer heavy rain may occur, often in the form of thundershowers. Temperature inversions are relatively common around winter, bringing foggy, cold days and sometimes moderate air pollution. Prague is a windy city with common sustained western winds and an average wind speed of .

Tourist information is available online at Prague.eu.

The city has 3 tourist information centres (TIC) in the city and another 2 at both airport terminals:

TIC – Old Town Hall. The main tourist information right in the city centre.

TIC – Wenceslas Square. Information booth right on Wenceslas Square.

Talk

Czech is the official language of Prague and the Czech Republic. Simple words and phrases in other Slavic languages (for example Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian, Bulgarian and Polish) are also commonly understood. Slovak and Czech are very similar and mutually intelligible.

Most young people speak English, you will also have no problem speaking English at restaurants and bars. Many restaurants have English menus. Russian is widely understood by people who were attending school before the Velvet Revolution in 1989, but the language is too different from Czech to be understood without study. In addition, some people may dislike using Russian even if they know it because of the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and Communist history in general. Many Czechs also have some knowledge of German. People studying after 1989 and even some older people can speak English. However, learning Czech will surely endear you to the locals, and it's best to learn at least a few phrases to be polite when so many other tourists refuse to try at all, and act like they're entitled to be understood in their native language when abroad.

Get in

Getting in from the airport By bus – Public buses and trolleybuses offer connections to several metro stations, from which you can travel to the city center in a total travel time of 35-45 minutes. Public transport tickets, which are valid on the buses, metro, and trams can be bought kiosks called Metro • Tram • Bus in the arrivals halls (07:00–21:00, credit cards accepted) or faster at the yellow vending machine next to the bus stop outside both terminals (cards accepted). A ticket valid for 90 minutes is required for travel to the city center (50 CZK from January 2026); another option is the 24-hour ticket for 150 CZK. Children under 15 and seniors (65 and older) travel for free. You can transfer between the buses, trolleybuses, metro, and trams for no additional charge as long as your ticket has not expired. Info on the schedules and routes can be obtained from dpp.cz or pid.cz. The following important buses run between the airport and metro stations (airport bus stops are called "Terminál 1" or "Terminál 2"):

T-Bus to metro station (17 min). Departures every 3-5 minutes, Sunday morning and every evening 10 minutes; 04:23–23:32. Main and generally fastest connection. Bus to metro station (18 min). Departures every 15 minutes, Sunday morning and every evening 20 minutes; 05:40–23:16. Bus to Na Knížecí bus station - slow and less frequent bus, though may be useful for trips to the western part of town, including the Anděl area. Also connects to metro A at . Night buses and - the only options at night. The 910 goes directly to the centre, with stops at Jiráskovo náměstí, Karlovo náměstí and I.P. Pavlova. By Airport Express – These buses leave the airport from public bus stop called "Terminál 1" (see above) every 15 minutes 08:00–18:00, every 30 minutes at other times, and every hour at night. Available from the driver (contactless accepted). The final stop will be Prague's main train station , which is commonly abbreviated in Czech as "Praha hl.n.". By taxi – The most comfortable method to reach the city centre with Uber Airport Taxi. They have an exclusive contract with Prague airport and taxis – black or white limousines – are waiting in front of the arrival halls of both terminals. Order through the Uber app or using self-service kiosks at baggage claim and nearby airport exits. Beware of the touts who stand in front of the airport wearing "Official Airport Taxi" or "Info" clothes, who may direct you to a taxi with a rigged meter. By rental car – If you are planning on exploring the Czech Republic beyond the city of Prague, you may want to consider renting a car at the airport. Numerous rental companies have their desks at the airport (in the ground floor of Parking C) and allow pickup and return directly there. By intercity bus - Regiojet stops in front of Terminal 1 on the route to Karlovy Vary

Getting money at the airport Credit cards are widely accepted in Prague and the rest of the country - it's likely you won't even need cash during your visit. A small amount of pocket money might be good to have though.

If not completely necessary, do not exchange money on the airport, especially in the baggage claim area. There is only one exchange company, Interchange, which runs all the exchange kiosks at the whole airport.

ATM withdrawal is almost always a better option. Use any ATM except those of Euronet, as these charge an extra fee and give only 1,000 Kč banknotes, which many businesses refuse to change. You can also pay your transportation tickets or taxi by card (including Google Pay and Apple Pay).

Prague is well connected to the European EC train network. However, there is no Czech high speed rail. Usually the average speed is about 70 km/h, while the maximum train speed is 120–160 km/h. While international and intercity services are generally reliable, be prepared for delays of more than a few minutes when using local trains.

This railway crosses Saxon Switzerland, and for a couple of hours the passengers are treated to a series of beautiful alpine river valleys, surrounded by rocky escarpments and mountains. Coming from Berlin, the best views are from the left side of the train. The route to Berlin also passes through Dresden, about halfway. Also operated by Regiojet trains. Also served by Regiojet trains. New trains of Regiojet and Leo Express to be launched in 2026. To be bought on Czech Railway website Brussels – European Sleeper, night train, thrice weekly.

Other, less frequently used bus stations are at , , , and .

Eurolines, Ecolines, RegioJet and Orange Ways connect Prague to major European cities. Since the liberalization of the German long-distance bus market almost all major operators offer routes to Prague. Flixbus goes from Berlin (via Dresden) as well as Linz Munich and Regensburg to Prague.

Regiojet operates frequent bus services between many large Czech cities (including famous Cesky Krumlov) and Prague for prices between 80 and 200 Kč per adult (reservation needed), it supposedly provides better service (steward, complimentary coffee and tea, free Wi-Fi, personal multimedia system in each seat) than its main competitor Flixbus.

By car Prague has highway connections from five major directions. Unfortunately, the highway network in the Czech Republic is quite incomplete and some underused motorways are in poor condition. Thus, the highway connection from Prague to the border of the Czech Republic is available only in three directions: south-east, south-west and north-west.

The south-western highway (D5; international E50) leads from highway A6 in Germany through Plzeň. Driving from the state border to Prague takes about an hour and a half .

The southeastern motorway (D1) is the oldest and most used motorway in the Czech Republic and its reconstruction was completed in 2021. It runs from Prague to Brno and then to Ostrava. It runs for , and usually takes over two hours. In Brno it is connected to the D2 motorway to Bratislava (Slovakia). It offers a good connection from Vienna, Budapest and all traffic from the east.

From the north-west, you can take E55 all the way from Sweden. In Germany it runs from Rostock via Dresden, the last stretch known as A17. After the border it continues as D8 (E55). It passes through Lovosice and Ústí nad Labem.

From the north-east, you can take highway D10 (E65). It leads from Liberec to Turnov. It is not regarded as an important access route, as there are no major cities in this direction (Zittau in Germany, some cities in Poland), but it offers a good connection to the Czech mountains Jizerské hory and Krkonoše (Riesengebirge) with the best Czech skiing resorts.

To the east, you can take the D11 (E67), which goes to Hradec Kralove. It leads in from Poland.

Unless there are road works, there are only seldom traffic jams on Czech highways, with the exception of D1 near Prague (and near Mirosovice (direction to České Budějovice and Linz, and Brno, too)).

Prague suffers from heavy traffic and on weekdays the main streets are one big traffic jam. Moreover, Prague doesn't have a complete highway outer ring yet. It is a really good idea to use the P+R (park and ride) parking places, where you can park your car for a very small fee and use public transport.

The P+Rs are situated near all highways and are well marked. Traffic wardens are rife, and parking in most residential streets in and around Prague city centre (even after dark) without a valid permit will result in a parking fine. In particular, avoid blue-marked areas which are parking-restricted area if you don't want your car to get towed away within the hour.

Get around

Public transportation is very convenient in most of the areas visitors are likely to frequent. Public transport buses do not enter the historic districts (Old Town, New Town, Lower Town, etc.) to prevent air and noise pollution. One must transfer to a cleaner and quieter electric-powered tram or a metro before reaching historic areas.

On foot Prague is renowned as a very walkable city. For those who enjoy seeing the old and new city by foot, one can easily walk from Wenceslas Square to the Old Town Square, or from the Old Town to Charles Bridge and the Castle District. However almost all of the streets are cobbled, rendering it very difficult for disabled or elderly travellers to get around effectively. Also, pedestrians should enter crossings carefully in Prague, as drivers are not as likely to yield as they are in other European cities.

Pedestrians are obligated to use a nearby pedestrian crossing, and jaywalking is punishable by a fine of 1000 Kč – this includes crossing the street on a "don't walk" signal (red man), even when there is not a single car around.

The historic center consists largely of cobblestone streets, so wearing comfortable walking shoes is highly recommended."

around Prague consists of three metro lines (, , ), over twenty tram lines (numbered 1–31 & 91–99 for night trams), trolleybuses (numbered 51–59), buses (3-digit numbers), ferries, a few train lines (numbered S1, S2, S49,…), all using the same time tickets.

The tram and bus schedules are posted at the stops, and the metro (its schedule is posted in station) operates from early in the morning (around 05:00) until approximately midnight. Buses (lines no. 100-299) and trams (lines no. 1-31) start earlier and end later to connect to metro. Around midnight, some trams carrying passengers take different routes to get to their garage. When traveling at night, always check schedules on-line beforehand, and you may even find a shorter route to your destination than normally available.

Add a few minutes to any journey time when using the metro – it is very deep as it was built as an atomic shelter in the communist era, thus getting down to the platform takes some time. Because of this, tram is a more convenient option when going only a few stops.

If you don't know the name of your stop, you can plan your journey either using Google Maps or with the local mapy.com. You can also look at several public transport maps, but be aware that at any given moment there are several lines closed for renovations, which is reflected by the online planners but may not always be included in the static maps. Official Route planner may help if you know the local names of the places.

Prague's public transport is fast and efficient when you know how to use it. Sometimes you have to change a few times – the schedule website or the official smartphone app is the best way to plan your trip. If you get lost, you can take any bus or tram, all lines pass through a metro station where you can orient yourself.

These tickets may be of interest to visitors (new prices from Jan 2026): 39 (36 in app) Kč – full ticket: 30 minutes (transfers allowed), not valid on the Petřín funicular 50 (46) Kč – full ticket: 90 minutes (transfers allowed), not valid on the Petřín funicular 150 (140) Kč – 24-hour ticket, 350 (340) Kč – 3-day ticket (72 hours) 315 (288) Kč - 24-hour ticket for all zones of PID (Prague integrated transport system) - covering all urban and suburban transport in Prague and Central Bohemian Region

All tickets are approx. 10% cheaper if you purchase them online in PID Lítačka app - see prices in brackets. Remember paper tickets must be validated (stamped) after boarding!

For longer stays, you may consider purchasing the 550 Kč 30-day pass, which can also be obtained through the PID Lítačka app (registration, uploading a photo and an initial setup in the app is needed to purchase such a pass). This will also let you use the bike sharing services (Rekola & Nextbike) in the city for up to 2 rides daily, 15 minutes each, for free (you need to link your Lítačka account in the respective bike provider's smartphone application). For these passes you can get a physical Lítačka card from the transport company, for easier ticket inspections.

Children under 15 and seniors (65 and older) travel for free. A proof of age is needed for children aged 10 to 14 and for seniors. Seniors from 60 to 64 can get discounted tickets. For 30-minute, 90-minute and 24-hour tickets, you can prove your age with your EU national ID or passport. 15 to 17 year olds cannot purchase discounted single or day tickets, but they can purchase very cheap monthly tickets (130 Kč).

When in doubt, you can visit one of the official points of sale, preferably one of the "Information centres" where the staff is likely to speak good English.

As you can see, the 24-hour or 3-day tickets are not economical unless you plan to travel more than 4 times a day for 90 minutes (6 hours).

Tickets can be bought at various places: the official smartphone app PID Lítačka (iOS, Android) – Recommended option. It is utterly important to know that the ticket becomes valid one minute after activation. When you do not follow this rule, i.e. buy the ticket and immediately enter the vehicle or the metro area (beyond the ticket validators), you might be fined. The app works in Czech, English and Ukrainian language and offers also tickets for suburban transport in Central Bohemian Region. During ticket inspection (or boarding some of suburban bus) you will show QR-code on your cellphone. ticket machines on the street – Most ticket machines accept cards (some only contactless) but although unlikely, you may still encounter an older ticket machine accepting coins only (but return change). In most central locations such as the central train station, there are new touch-screen ticket machines that accept coins, 100 Kč and 200 Kč notes, Visa and MasterCard credit cards ("classic" as well as contactless cards) and their debit versions. Problems can occur with foreign debit cards. ticket machines inside trams/buses – if you have contactless card you can buy ticket also inside all trams and buses – make sure to board through the middle door with sign of the ticket machine. Buy the ticket imminently after boarding, otherwise you risk getting fined. These tickets are valid right after they're printed (you don't have to stamp them in the validator) tobacco shops, convenience stores – usually 39 and 50 Kč tickets only Prague Public Transit offices – usually at Metro stations (and the airport), sell all kinds of tickets all Czech Railways ticket offices – sell the 150 Kč tickets (validity is printed on the ticket, so ask them to set it to the date and time you need) via SMS – service is available only for the Czech GSM operator customers, the tickets are more expensive and not valid on the S-Train services.

Validate your paper ticket by slipping it into one of the validators (ticket yellow boxes in the tram, bus, trolleybus, ferry or metro entrance), as soon as you board. In the metro, on the S-trains and on the funicular, the validators are in stations instead of the vehicles. After having changed the tram/bus, do not validate it again, as doing so will render your ticket in invalid. Keep it until it expires. If you are using the PID Lítačka ticket, make sure it is active before you enter the vehicle or the metro station (the ticket has 1 minute activation period, during which it isn't valid). Tickets of either type must be valid for the whole duration of your journey, or when you are in a metro station.

Tickets are not checked upon boarding, but uniformed or plain-clothed ticket inspectors often make the rounds asking to see your ticket. One problem is false inspectors who most often ride the trams between "Malostranské náměstí" and Prague Castle – these deceivers can be detected by asking for the identity card and badge which is possessed by every inspector. An unstamped ticket, or a ticket that has been stamped more than once, will incur fine up to 2000 Kč. Even though "riding black" seems easy in Prague, you should invest in the cheap ticket for the simple reason that Prague's transportation works perfectly and it functions on the honour system – help it stay that way.

Some buses (line number 300 to 499) and all S-trains go out of the city, so they work a little differently, because normal tickets are valid only within the city limits. You have to show your ticket to the bus driver (on some buses it is possible to get in through all the doors: you can tell by whether the driver opens all the doors or only the first) or train conductor when they approach you, and possibly buy another ticket from them, if you plan to go out of the city. The most popular site reachable this way is the Karlštejn castle (train S7, leaving the main station every 30 minutes). With a valid 24-hour, 72-hour or 30-day ticket/pass, you only need to buy the extension zones (1 to 11, 12,…) as your Prague leg of the journey (zones P, 0, B) is already covered by your Prague ticket.

Public transport continues at night and it's fairly extensive. Night trams or night buses (00:00 to 05:00; lines beginning with the number 9) usually come every 30 minutes (and every 20 min on Fridays and Saturdays). Every 15 (10) minutes during this time, trams leave the central exchange stop of Lazarská in the centre of Prague. All night trams go through this stop. You can easily change tram lines here if nowhere else. At all night exchange stops, trams and buses wait for the connecting tram/bus.

Do not underestimate how close to the footpath the trams will be when they reach the stop. It's safer to take a few steps back before the tram arrives, as wing mirrors could cause injury for taller people. In the Metro, you should stay behind the dashed safety line on the floor about half a meter from the edge of the platform. On an escalator, it is customary to stand on the right side and walk up on the left side. It is good etiquette to let elderly people, pregnant women or disabled people sit down on public transit.

By funicular Every 10 minutes a funicular will resume running to the top of Petřín Hill on September 22, 2026. The funicular has three stops, one at the foot of the hill, one halfway and one at the top. The full journey takes around 4 minutes and provides nice views of the city.

The 39 and 50 Kč tickets (see above) are not valid here, but 24-hour and 72-hour tickets (for 150 and 350 Kč) are valid.

Make sure that the ticket is validated correctly. Paper tickets must be properly validated in the ticket machine the first time they are used in order to be valid. You do not need to validate 24-hour and 72-hour tickets again at the funicular stop (if you do, the entire ticket becomes invalidated). Ticket inspectors are often stationed at the stop at the top and ready to catch anyone holding an invalid ticket to give out 1500 Kč fine. The free travel rules of Prague public transport also apply here, so you can travel for free if you are under the age of 15 or over the age of 65.

There's little reason to use taxis for sightseeing – public transportation is often a better option. But if you want to use taxis for any reason, your best bet is using one of the taxi apps, or major taxi services – and not trying to flag them on the road.

So in this case, there's little space for fraud. Both Uber and Taxify can get pretty expensive on Friday evenings though. Popular options include:

Liftago, the local equivalent to Uber, which uses official cabs and therefore without risk of conflicts with police. New clients get a 300 Kč bonus for signing up. The app is available for Android and iOS. Uber, the global taxi giant. If you already have an account from any other country, you can use it in Prague as well. The app is available for Android and iOS. As Uber is not an official taxi it can be slower in rush hours because it is not allowed to use dedicated lanes on the roads. Bolt, another large player. They often offer discount codes and are a little bit cheaper than Uber. The app is available for Android and iOS. Officially illegal like Uber but without any risk for passengers.

The major taxi operators follow the rules, so you can expect them to (do insist) have the taxi-meter turned on, and to give you a printed receipt once you leave the taxi. The receipt should have the driver's name, address and tax identification number included. ). Here's a non-complete list of advisable services:

Green Prague. Škoda Octavia G-Tec cars, free wifi, cards always accepted;

TICK TACK. Audi A6 and Škoda Kodiaq cars, free wifi, free water, cards always accepted;

You can travel down the famous Vltava River, which inspired writers and composers such as Smetana and Dvořák.

The Prague Steamboat Company offers sight seeing cruises and trips to the Prague Zoo or the Slapy River Dam.

There also few small passenger ferries across the river, integrated with the Prague's public transport tariff. Some of them are even free.

Or you can enjoy travel by boat in the historic centre of Prague. The nice surroundings include Pražské Benátky. Try to travel with Pražské Benátky Company and enjoy historic cruises as well as way to visit Charles Bridge Museum (Muzeum Karlova Mostu). Avoid the touts selling boat tours to tourists in the Charles bridge area, and check for everything online.

By bicycle Prague is not a very bike-friendly city. Despite numerous bike paths and bike lanes, they start and end randomly without continuity, requiring you to enter general traffic with cars. Prague is also quite hilly, so going uphill can be a challenge. You can use the metro (not all stations have elevators that allow bikes, meaning you'll have to take your bike on escalators) or specific tram routes to help yourself uphill; more information about this can be found here on the official public transit operator website. Some drivers are actively hostile to bikers.

For navigating the city by bicycle you can use Mapy.com or Na kole Prahou to plan your trips.

In the city there are two major bike-sharing providers, Rekola and Nextbike. They both offer similar pricing, and if you connect long-term Lítačka public transit tickets you will get 2×15 minutes free every day.

Always be respectful to pedestrians. Bikes are not allowed in pedestrian zones ("Pěší zóna") or on sidewalks unless otherwise stated. Bikes do not have priority on pedestrian or bicycle crossings. You should cross tram tracks at an angle so your wheels don't get stuck. Tram tracks are very slippery when wet or icy.

There are some nice biking paths, such as the one connecting the main railway station an Krejcárek through lower part of Žižkov district or along the rivers.

See

Lesser Town offers beautiful streets leading to the Castle and churches (of which St. Nicholas Church is the most renowned). The Prague Castle is the biggest ancient castle in the world and offers beautiful views of the areas below. Also on site is the St. Vitus Cathedral with its lookout tower, the Castle Picture Gallery, several palaces and museums and the beautiful Royal Garden, among others. Petřín Lookout Tower has an observation platform. Two of the Czech National Gallery's most important collections are in the Sternberg Palace (up to the Baroque), and St George Convent (Czech Baroque and Mannerism) near and in the castle respectively. The third us in Veletržní Palace on the West bank, which exhibits 19th century and modern art.

The Charles Bridge connects Old Town with Lesser Town. It is one of Prague's most beautiful structures. During the day, it is a bustling place of trade and entertainment, as musicians busk and artists sell their paintings and jewellery.

Old Town is Prague's historic centre, full of numerous historic buildings and monuments, most notably the famed Astronomical Clock, the pure Gothic Týn Church, the mural-covered Storch building, and the Jan Hus monument. Nearby, the Estate Theatre is a neoclassical theatre where Mozart's opera Don Giovanni was first performed. Old Town features many historical churches (St. James Church, Church of Our Lady before Týn among others) and some other interesting historical buildings like the Old Town Hall, and the Convent of St Agnes of Bohemia. The Museum of Czech Cubism is also in Old Town, while the Prague City Gallery is split between Old Town and the East bank.

Josefov, the historic Jewish ghetto, is interesting for its well preserved synagogues. The Old New Synagogue (Czech: Staronová synagoga) is Europe's oldest active synagogue. The Spanish Synagogue is a very ornamental building of Moorish style. Other attractions include the Old Jewish Cemetery, which is the oldest in Europe, and Kafka's house.

Prague Zoo, and the nearby Troja Chateau (Trojský Zámek) with a large garden displaying various sculptures and a Botanic Garden (Botanická zahrada Troja) with a tropical greenhouse.

DOX Centre for Contemporary Art on the West bank is a gallery for modern arts, modern EU gallery style.

There are plenty of smaller museums. Among them are the Museum of Miniatures at the Stahnov Monastery, Toys Museum and Musical Automata Museum at the Prague Castle, Postal Museum, and more touristy Wax Museum, Torture Museum and Beer Museums in the Old Town.

New Town was established as an extension of Old Town in the 14th century, though much of the area has now been reconstructed. The main attraction here is Wenceslas Square, a rectangular commercial square with many stalls, shops and restaurants. At the top of the square is the Czech National Museum which is well worth a look (see below). Midway down this historic boulevard, you can find trendy discos and Art Nouveau hotels, as well as quaint parks and arcades, while just off the beaten path are some wonderful panoramic views (Henry Tower), romantic restaurants and the dazzling, Disney-colored Jubilee Synagogue. Prague Dancing Houses is one of the most fascinating architectural expressions of Prague. Prague City Museum has several branches throughout town. An absolute must-see for the incredibly detailed cardboard model of nineteenth century Prague by Anton Langweil. The detail is amazing, even down to the colour of the doorways and the design of the windowsills.

Sightseeing passes If you are visiting several attractions, you may be able to save money by buying a tourist card. Be discerning, as the passes often list as inclusions destinations that are free to visit anyway, and include lesser attractions. Make sure you will save money on the places you want to visit.

Prague Visitor Pass. The official city pass providing free public transport, a free ticket to ride on the vintage tram line 42 as well as free entry to various city attractions.

Prague Cool Pass. An unofficial pass available for 1, 2 or 3 days. Includes a bus city tour and a river cruise. Free entry to Prague Castle – St.Vitus Cathedral, Royal Palace, Golden Lane, St.George's Basilica. Free entry to Jewish Museum – synagogues and famous Old Jewish Cemetery (6 sites). In total, free entry to 50 attractions and discounts on over 30 attractions. Free guidebook with information about the attractions in 7 languages.

Prague City Pass. An unofficial pass providing free entry to various attractions in Prague within a 30 days period, various 25% discounts, sightseeing tours. Prague Castle – Old Royal Palace with Vladislav Hall, St. George‘s Basilica, Golden Lane with Daliborka Tower, St. Vitus Cathedral. The ticket is valid for 2 days from first entry. Jewish Museum in Prague – Maisel Synagogue, Spanish Synagogue, Pinkas Synagogue, Old Jewish Cemetery, Klausen Synagogue, Ceremonial Hall. The ticket is valid for 7 days from first entry.

National Gallery Gift Ticket. If you are an art lover and you are staying in Prague for a longer time, a dárková vstupenka (gift ticket) for National Gallery may save you money. The ticket is valid for a year and is valid in all exhibitions (both permanent and non-permanent) of National Gallery. Number of visits is not limited. For 240 Kč you can have one-person ticket valid for two days in all "Old Art" exhibitions of National Gallery (Šternberk Palace, Schwarzenberg Palace, St.

Do

Strolls Take a walk along the Royal Way of Prague.

Culture Opera and ballet have quite a tradition in the city, even though there are often overlooked by young locals and instead frequented by tourists. The main opera and ballet venues are operated by the National Theatre company, which is owned by the government. Tickets can be bought on the company website, the best seats tend to sell out, so it is better to shop in advance. It is customary to wear decent clothing when going to National Theatre venues (black suit), but this is not enforced.

The National Opera hosts mainly operas and ballets. The Estates Theatre is the oldest theatre building still standing in the city. Mozart's Don Giovanni opera is often on the repertoire, as are other operas, plays and ballets.

There are many other theatres in Prague, but they usually only offer plays in Czech language. Classical music concerts are often conducted in numerous churches, especially in the centre.

Prague Spring. The most famous classical music festival in the Czech republic.

Signal Festival. A weekend in October, during which many historic buildings are lighted by spectacular video-mappings and many light-and-sound installations are set up at different places in the city centre, Vinohrady and Karlín.

River cruises are both popular and varied, from one hour cruises to long evening cruises with dinner or music.

Wine Boat. The 1-hour cruise includes a visit of Prague Venice river canal as well as wine tasting of local wines.

Prague Steam Boats. Offer one hour cruises, as well as cruises to the Zoo and full day cruises to Slapy water dam. If you have the time for a 3-hour dinner cruise, you will certainly enjoy viewing the city from the river, while savouring a great dinner.

Cruise Prague. Offers a wide range of regular and private cruises.

JazzBoat. Combines cruising and jazz concerts.

Football. The city's leading soccer team is SK Slavia Praha. They play in the First League, the top tier, and often qualify for European tournaments. They play at the 21,000 capacity Fortuna Arena, which is also the usual venue for international matches; it's 5 km southeast of the old city centre. The city's other First League sides are AC Sparta Prague (at Generali Arena, 1 km north of the centre) and Bohemians at Ďolíček stadium in Vršovice district. FK Dukla Prague (at Stadion Juliska in the northern suburb of Dejvice) play in the National League, the second tier.

We Bike Prague. With We Bike Prague team you can easily discover the city of Prague and the area around. Very good quality bike to rent for you self guided trip in the city and multidays trip through the countryside. We Bike Prague is also specialized in long distance bike trip. Good bikes, panniers and maps can be rented for your cycling holiday in the Czech Republic.

BIKO Adventures Prague. BIKO offers mountain bike, road bike and outdoor activities off the beaten track in Prague and in the Czech Republic. From easy to advanced. High end bike rental: touring bikes, hardtail and full suspension MTB, road bikes, e-MTB.

Prague Tours Center. A free offer for the visitors of Prague: the Prague Tours Centre is offering free connection and charge up of your electric bikes and Segway PT. While connected, the devices are guarded by a supervisor and, in the meantime, you can take walk around Prague, visit a museum or your preferred restaurant. In the Prague Tours Centre the tourists have a possibility of depositing their bikes together with baggage which they do not want to carry or leave in the streets. The Prague Tours Centre also offers facilities for washing your bike or borrowing a complete bike repair kit for free.

Running Tours Prague. Activity for those into running who want to explore the city and stay fit. It shows runners of all abilities around the city's musts while on the run. A traveling runner introduces the best of the Prague to their running shoes and feels just like a local runner. It usually takes 50–120 mins and . Your running in Prague is 100 percent customizable as to date, time, pace and distance.

Buy

Money The official currency of the Czech Republic is the Czech Crown (koruna), abbreviated as Kč, with the international abbreviation CZK – read more here.

ATMs These ATMs throughout Prague do not charge a fee for withdrawing money: Fio banka and KB (Komerční banka). All other banks and ATM chains take 99–150 Kč and/or a 6–15% fee for currency conversion for a withdrawal.

In addition, any ATM might trick you into accepting Dynamic currency conversion (see DCC) — Euronet is notorious for this. According to EU law, ATMs must always tell you if there is a fee or markup before confirming the transaction or exchange, so you can always cancel beforehand.

Around Main Railway Station (Hlavní nádraží): exit the station, go left across the park to street "Politických vězňů".

You are likely to end up with worthless currency, such as expired Belarusian rubles or Bulgarian leva, and no way of getting your money back. Although not as common anymore, some smaller stores may attempt to con you by providing similar-looking Belarusian rubles as change.

The streets around the Old Town are full of gift shops geared towards tourists, selling Bohemian crystal, soccer shirts and other mass-produced memorabilia. If you are looking for some decent souvenirs, try to get off the beaten path. Street vendors can have some unexpected treasures and there are plenty in the Charles Bridge area. Prints of paintings and good quality photos are very popular, and a really good way to remember Prague. Don't bother buying overpriced furry hats and Matryoshka dolls, though – they have nothing to do with Prague: they are Russian in origin, and their sellers are just trying to capitalize on unknowing tourists. Generally, assume that anything physical that you can buy in Old Town is mass produced somewhere else, and is at best a symbolic reproduction of something that has anything to do with Prague.

In December, the squares host Christmas Markets selling a mix of arts, craft, food, drink and Prague memorabilia. The markets are an attraction in their own right and a great place to pick up a more unique memento of the city. There is a small market in front of the Palladium Mall that is open even in the spring.

If you are looking for souvenir shops, you will find them in the city's historical centre – mostly around Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square and Prague Castle. There are many other shops offering Bohemian crystal, especially in the centre near the lower end of Wenceslas Square.

The other typical (if rather expensive) Czech goods is the garnet jewellery. Typical Czech garnet stones (gathered near the town of Turnov) are dark red and nowadays are produced by a single company, Granat Turnov, and if you buy genuine traditional Czech garnet, you should get a certificate of authenticity. "Pařížská" street goes from Old Town Square towards the river and includes some of the most luxurious (and expensive) boutiques in Prague.

Eat

Lunch is traditionally the main meal in Prague. Czech cuisine is typically based around pork or beef with starchy side dishes such as dumplings, potatoes, or fries. Fish is not as popular, though these days it is widely available. Svíčková, beef simmered in a thick sauce made of cream and a variety of vegetables is probably the classic traditionalist Prague meal. Popular Czech desserts include fruit dumplings (ovocné knedlíky), crêpes or ice cream. Trdelník has become popular in Prague among tourists, with many small bakeries selling the sweet bread encrusted with sugar and chopped walnuts, but it is not a traditional Czech dish, likely originated in Transylvania and only started appearing in the 1990s; most locals avoid it, and Trdelník is sometimes used as a synonym for "simpleton" in Czech. Most restaurants become very crowded during lunch and dinner, so consider making a reservation or eating earlier than the locals.

Tipping is generally not expected, and it's primarily used as a sign of appreciation when the food and service is good. It's common to round up the bill by a few crowns to make it even (289 Kč to 300 Kč for example).

Many restaurants in heavily-touristed areas (along the river, or with views near the castle) will charge a cover or "kovert" in addition to your meal charge. If this is printed in the menu, you have no recourse. But a restaurant will often add this charge to your bill in a less up-front manner, sometimes after printing in the menu that there is no cover. Anything brought to your table will have a charge associated with it (bread, ketchup, etc.) If you are presented with a hand-scrawled bill at the end of the meal, it is suggested that you take a moment to clarify the charges with your server. This sort of questioning will usually shame the server into removing anything that was incorrectly added. Some waiters might be impolite especially to people from eastern Europe. Pay no attention to this, and simply find another restaurant.

If you're on the look out for fast food, you won't be able to move without tripping over street vendors serving Czech style hot dogs and mulled wine in the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square in New Town. If you're after Western-style fast food, the major chains also have a large presence in Wenceslas Square and the area immediately around it. Most beer halls also serve light snacks or meals. Definitely try the hot dogs (párek v rohlíku) – they're very different to the version you get in the West. Small, hollowed-out French baguettes are used for the bread, filled with mustard and ketchup, and then the frankfurter is inserted afterward. This turns the bread into a convenient carry-case and means you don't get ketchup all over your hands. Make sure you get mustard, even if you don't normally like it – unfortunately the hot dogs are somewhat flavourless and need that extra bit of kick. Prices range from around 15 Kč for a small one to 45 Kč for the terrifying-looking 'gigant' (as of 2010). Note that the size of hot dog relates to girth rather than length. Another local snack to look out for is chlebíček, a small open-faced sandwich with a wide variety of toppings to choose from. This can be found at supermarkets and in specialist shops.

Be careful when ordering food without looking at the prices. There are many places in the centre that are known for charging horrible prices from people who did not look into the menu. Charging more than 250 Kč (July 2022) for a basic local lunch is too much, even in tourist-heavy areas. Especially restaurants with large outdoor spaces at Old Town square are known for charging extraordinary prices for a simple meal. If a restaurant touts itself as "Czech" and "traditional", it might be another sign of potential rip-off – truly traditional restaurants never advertise themselves as traditional. If outside tourist areas, meals can be found for 175 Kč or less (July 2022).

Another common scam connected to food is charging for food by weight. This is especially common at the Old Town square, at the stalls with 'Prague Ham'. Requests for smaller portions will generally be refused unless you get a local to buy it for you.

For specific restaurant suggestions in the popular Old Town neighbourhood, have a look into the dedicated article.

Drink

Pubs (in Czech "hospoda") abound throughout Prague, and indeed are an important part of local culture. The exact brand of beer usually vary from pub to pub, and recommendations are difficult to give as natives are usually willing to argue at lengths about their preferences. The most internationally recognized beers are Pilsner Urquell (Plzeňský Prazdroj) and Budweiser Budvar (Budějovický Budvar). There are other brands famous among Czechs like Svijany. If you are looking for a beer brewed in Prague, go for Staropramen. Usual prices for a half-liter glass are between 25 and 40 Kč, based on the brand and locality, while certain restaurants at tourist areas like the Old Town Square are known to charge more than 100 Kč for a euro-sized glass. There's also a booming craft beer scene with many brewpubs in the city.

In Prague it is customary, especially at beer halls, to sit with a group of people if there are no free tables, so go ahead and ask if you can join.

There are also numerous night-clubs in Prague. Not all of them are good, it is often quite difficult even for locals to find the right one, as some are often overpriced, empty or just bad. Locals tend to go to clubs at around midnight, mostly on Friday and Saturday, but Wednesdays and Thursdays are often also OK. In summer, any day of the week should be fine, as there are many foreigners. Most of the night-clubs are in the centre of Prague, although there are some a bit further, mostly aimed at local students. Nightclubs are generally much more expensive than pubs, with beer costing between 50 and 100 Kč. Entrance fees should be small, do not pay more than 100 Kč for entrance unless there is some really good DJ playing.

It is very common to see people drinking outside. It is forbidden to drink at many public places. There are however many public parks where it is not forbidden to drink and where it is very popular to drink. Young people often predrink in parks or at riversides and then head to some club in the center. Even if you drink on places where it is forbidden, police will probably not bother you, but they might use it against you if you are too disruptive to your surrounding.

Prague has also many excellent tearooms (in Czech čajovna) which serve different kinds of teas from around the world. Shishas (hookas) are often smoked in these tearooms (smoking ban does not apply to shishas) .

Save your money and find the bars yourself – you might be surprised at the discoveries you make away from the tourist circus.

Sleep

Prague has a wealth of accommodation options, many of them within walking distance of the town center. Peak season generally runs from April to October and a major influx of visitors can be expected during New Year as well. Prices for accommodation can be up to twice as high in the peak season and reservations are advised. Otherwise, the main train station, Hlavní nádraží, has an accommodation booking service for hotels and hostels upstairs.

Around Hlavni Nadrazi, the main train station, there are many touts offering cheap accommodation. Many are Czech residents renting part of their apartment for extra cash. Prices don't vary much between them, but some may not be trustworthy so be cautious.

Prague has its share of rough and ready youth hostels with a party vibe, but there are many with a more relaxed atmosphere and some housed in beautifully restored buildings as fancy as any hotel. Many hostels also offer private rooms, with or without shared bathrooms, for much cheaper than a pension or hotel room. There is a boutique design hostel movement with many hostels rivaling hotel accommodation.

For those looking for something a little different, a 'botel' (boat hotel) may be an appealing option. Usually relatively well placed, with gorgeous views. Most are moored on the south of the river in Praha 4 and 5, but the best is to stay in Prague 1, next to monuments to visit by foot, in the Lesser Town district (Mala Strana) or in the Old Town (Stare Mesto).

For specific sleeping suggestions in the popular Old Town neighbourhood, have a look into the dedicated article.

Work

Prague is probably the best place for foreigners to look for a job because there are many multinational and English speaking companies. It is also easy to get a job teaching English because of a high demand. For more information on working in the Czech Republic, see Czech Republic#Work.

Respect

Because of Prague's liberal attitude and cheap prices, it's often considered "the drinking capital of Europe". This has raised many issues, with tourists being loud and making the centre of Prague generally unlivable. This issue has spread to local politics, and it's likely that it will cause many regulations, with great impact on both tourists and party-going locals. Some regulations have already been enacted. However, it's possible to party in Prague without angering locals too much. To do so, it is often enough to use common sense, but please keep the following in mindː

When staying in a residential building, such as via short-term rental, be mindful of your neighbours. If you are loud, your neighbours might call the police on you – this will not just cause problems for you, but also for this kind of lodging business overall. If you go to Prague to party, it might be worth considering staying in a party hostel (there are many of them) and leaving short-term rentals to couples and families. If you head to a pub or club, use their smoking room (clubs have them) or just don't smoke. If you really need to smoke outside, be quiet (especially after 22:00). Crowds of loud people in front of a club or pub might cause them to be fined or even closed. When renting an electric bike or similar, use designated routes for cyclists or streets. Inconsiderate or illegal use of bike, such as riding on the sidewalk or in pedestrian zones, could lead to them being banned, as happened with Segways, or e-scooters. The rider may also incur a large fine.

If you are quiet and polite, the police probably won't mind your drinking alcohol in the street or smoking weed openly, even though this is forbidden. If you are not, you won't just run the risk of a run-in with the police but also might contribute to Prague losing its liberal attitude.