Prague is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Located in the heart of Central Europe, in the Bohemian region, it is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. The city, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, runs along the banks of the Vltava. Find out what to see in Prague in 3 days.
Is it possible to visit the city in 3 days?
A trip to Prague in 3 days is possible, as long as you carefully select the places to visit. In the itinerary that we propose below, the places can be easily interchanged and you can choose to combine them as you wish.
What to see in Prague in 3 days
The visit to Prague is part of the well-known Imperial Cities Route, thanks to its proximity it is perfectly combined with Vienna e Budapest.
We try to divide the itinerary into zones so that the tour is a little more feasible, but as we said, the important thing is not the order, but to enjoy the city each at his own pace.
Giorno 1 (Old Town)
The Staré Město district, better known as the Old Town of Prague is probably the first settlement in the area. The reason: its proximity to the Vltava River, which facilitated daily life and trade with the inhabitants of the area. Even today, Staré Město still retains that medieval air that makes it one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in Prague.
The Powder Tower
The Powder Tower (Prašná brána) is the perfect place to start the tour and enter the majestic old town.
Built in 1475 it was originally one of the 13 gates of the walls, from which one entered the city. In 1541, it was destroyed by a great fire, but was soon rebuilt. In the seventeenth century, however, the tower was used as a powder warehouse, a circumstance from which its current name derives.
Today it is an excellent vantage point and you can go up for about 3,50 euros. If you buy the Prague Card, the ticket is included.
Old Town Square
The old part of the city of Prague is the medieval part. Its icon is the square, the heart of the historic center. The atmosphere and the magic of this place are unique. If you visit Prague during the Christmas season, take advantage of the Christmas markets and decorations that make the old city even more incredible.
Old Town Hall / Astronomical Clock
On the square the town hall building should not be missed. It is unique in that it houses a astronomic watch - dating back more than six centuries - which has a complex mechanical system that revives the clock as soon as the hour strikes.
From 9:00 in the morning until 21:00, whenever the clock shows the time, you can see the parade of the apostles coming out of a kind of window at the top of the clock. A real outdoor show. It is also possible to climb the building.
Church of Our Lady of Tyn
The church is a kind of museum considered national heritage. Its gothic style makes it particularly special. Half hidden behind the houses surrounding the Old Town Square, yours two pointed towers 80 meters high stand out against the sky of Prague.
Inside it preserves the oldest organ in Prague and some important Baroque paintings. Admission is free although a voluntary contribution is required.
Other historic buildings of interest
In the same area as the old town square, you can take a stroll around the Protestant church of San Nicola, the former Jesuit school Clementinum, which currently houses the Prague National Library, and contemplate the splendid architecture that abounds throughout the place.
The Jewish quarter Josefov
Another must-see in Prague is its Jewish quarter, Josefov. Although most of the Jewish quarter has been demolished, places like the Jewish cemetery or the Spanish synagogue are worth a visit.
Il cemetery it was for several centuries the only place where Prague Jews could be buried. Here thousands of graves are located one above the other in a small plot in the center of Prague.
The district also hosts several synagogues, among which the Spanish synagogue which took this name for its Moorish decoration, similar to that of theAlhambra of Granada. Its interior is amazing and worth a visit.
In Prague Card entrance to the 6 synagogues, the cemetery and the Jewish museum is included. Otherwise the tour has an approximate cost of 20 euros.
We also recommend strolling along the Paris street (Paris Streets), the most luxurious street in Prague, to see the statue dedicated to Franz Kafka, and to close the day at Summer Beer Garden, a park frequented by locals to enjoy a wonderful view over the city.
Prague in 3 days - Day 2 (Mala Strana and Nove Mesto)
Wenceslas Square
Wenceslas Square is the nerve center of the New Town or Nine Mesto. In reality, it does not have the usual shape of a square, as it is elongated, and rather looks like a wide boulevard, adorned with shops, restaurants and hotels.
Initially this space served as the site of a large horse market. The square is named after St. Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia. At the end of 1989 the square was the scene of the event that started the Velvet Revolution, a peaceful movement that ultimately led to the fall of the communist regime.
On the square you can see the National Museum of Prague, the most important museum in Prague with its imposing neo-renaissance building, Lucerne Palace and Grand Hotel Europe, in stile liberty.
Dancing house
Starting at the National Museum, you can head to the famous Dancing House, one of the most popular modern architectural works in the city.
Renamed Fred & Ginger due to the similarity of its shape with the figures of the two famous dancers, the Dancing House is made up of two intertwined buildings: the first is a glass tower that narrows towards the center; the second with misaligned windows and curved shapes, which contrast with the adjacent houses.
Stroll along the river
One of the most beautiful areas of Nove Mesto is the one located along the river bank and more precisely the one going from the Dancing House towards the Charles Bridge. There are beautiful Art Nouveau buildings to photograph and on the same street you can find the building that houses the Teatro Nazionale.
Carlo bridge
The Charles Bridge in Prague (Karlův Most in Czech) is the most emblematic place in the city and the most visited by travelers. It is 520 meters long, 10 meters wide and rests on 16 arches.
This medieval bridge, dating back to the fourteenth century and adorned with thirty statues, it crosses the Vltava River joining the districts of Staré Mesto and Malá Strana. It is the second oldest preserved bridge in the Czech Republic.
Little Country
Once you have crossed the bridge, you enter the neighborhood area Malá Strana (which means something like "small town"). This is the most fascinating district of the city, located at the foot of the castle. And also one of the oldest, as its buildings have withstood the passage of time quite well.
Today, many of these stately buildings are occupied by embassies and other government agencies, so Malá Strana has few residents and is not very lively at night while during the day it is one of the busiest neighborhoods in Prague (and certainly the most touristy).
The center of Malá Strana is the piazza Malostranské náměstí, around which the other attractions of the neighborhood are distributed.
The island of Kampa
Kampa Island is an artificial island located on the western side of the Vltava River, connected to the Charles Bridge through the stairs. The island, also known as "The Venice of Prague" due to its particular shape, is part of the district Malá Strana, from which it is separated by an artificial canal.
This area is one of the quietest in Prague and has several interesting things. Walking through its streets you can admire the incredible architecture of the most emblematic houses and buildings.
Prague in 3 Days - Not to be missed
- The old and huge Mill of the Grand Prior dating back to 1400.
- Il padlock bridge or of love where lovers hang a lock and throw the key into the river to manifest eternal love.
- Il John Lennon wall. The graffiti began with the murder of the artist, and today it is one of the most photographed places in Prague.
- Il Franz Kafka museum and Kampa Museum.
- Certovka Winery which is the narrowest street in the world. It measures between 50cm and 70cm wide and is so small that 2 people together cannot cross it.
Prague in 3 days - Day 3
Prague Castle
Known in the original language as Prague castle, this castle which completely dominates the old city and Malá Strana is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest ancient castle in the world.
Now the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic, Prague Castle is not a classic castle, it is rather a series of properties, gardens and buildings linked together by small streets.
Prague Castle is considered today the most extraordinary monument in the Czech Republic and the tourist attraction in Prague that receives the most visitors. It takes several hours to visit it completely, so we recommend that you plan your time well so that you can visit it all.
These are its main monuments:
The old royal palace - First construction used for the headquarters of the kings and whose building is completely made of wood and where the Ladislao Hall stands out.
Vitus Cathedral - Building that stands out with its 3 towers that reach almost 100 meters. It is the largest and most important church in the country. The cathedral also houses the Crown Hall, where the Czech crown jewels are kept.
Basilica of San Giorgio - It is the oldest church inside the Prague castle.
Golden alley - It is a very popular street with tourists, full of charming colorful houses that once hosted important characters, including Franz Kafka. The name probably derives from the 16th century, a time when the area was home to several alchemists who were trying to produce gold here.
La White Tower, prison of nobles and aristocrats, and the Black Tower, known by this name for its blackened appearance due to a fire.
Il Convent of San Giorgio, the first monastery of Bohemia, and the Basilica of San Giorgio, with a suggestive Baroque facade. They are right in front of the cathedral.
Palazzo Lobkowitz, which houses one of the best private art collections in the Czech Republic, with works by Velázquez, Rubens or Canaletto.
Admission to the castle is free, however almost all buildings are subject to a fee.
Book a tour to visit the castle
At the entrance to the castle, which is located next to the Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk monument, you can witness the changing of the guard, which takes place with a brass band every hour between 5:00 and 23:00.
Continuing with your 3-day Prague itinerary tour, your next visit will be:
Torre Petrin
Mount Petřín is the most famous viewpoint in Prague and one of its inhabitants' favorite places to stroll, relax and escape the hustle and bustle of the old town.
It is a hill almost 140 meters high, located very close to the Prague Castle. It is easily accessible by taking a walk from Strahov Monastery if you are in the castle area or da Malá Strana taking the funicular from Újezd street.
The most visited attraction in the Mount Petřín is its tower, which is quite reminiscent of the Torre Eiffel. It is also made of iron, although it is much lower (only 63 meters), but being located on the hill, more than 200 meters above Prague, it offers one of the best views over the city. At night the views are even more impressive.
Mount Petřín is home to the Labyrinth of Mirrors, another fun space if you are traveling with children. Near the bottom of the funicular that goes up to Mount Petřín you will find a space that is worth seeing. This is the monument to the victims of communism, a sculptural ensemble designed in 2002.
What is the best season to visit Prague?
There is no better or worse time to visit Prague in 3 days; the city always looks perfect at any time of the year and always has so many things to see and do.
Winter (November-February)
These are the coldest months, but their main advantage is snow. Seeing Prague covered in white and with a Christmas atmosphere is an unforgettable experience. Prices are generally a bit higher than in the low season, but lower than in the summer.
Spring (March-June)
Spring is considered to be the low season in Prague. The influx of tourists decreases considerably compared to the summer and prices tend to be cheaper than the rest of the year.
The best month to travel to Prague in spring is May, as the weather is very pleasant, the days are slightly longer and the rains are not as abundant as in March and April.
Summer (June-August)
The prices are higher and there are a lot of tourists. Humid heat can be annoying. So it is not the most advisable time to travel to the capital of the Czech Republic, however it has 2 major advantages: the tourist offer is at its best and the days are generally very long.
Autumn (September-November)
This time of year is similar in time and price to spring. The best month to go to Prague in autumn is definitely September. The temperatures are very pleasant and even if there is a little rain you can do all the outdoor activities without problems. The prices are very affordable and there are not too many tourists.
Practical information
What tours to do in Prague in 3 days?
The beer and inns tour
Cruise on the Vltava
Tour to Kutna Hora and the Chapel of Bones from Prague
Visit to Český Krumlov: UNESCO World Heritage Site
Visit to the Terezín concentration camp
Where to sleep in Prague
Prague is a European metropolis and, as such, offers different types of accommodation each with its own advantages, particularly depending on the district chosen. The choice will necessarily depend on the profile of each traveler.
Obviously, those on a good budget will opt for a hotel room in a chic building in the historic center and its surrounding areas with marked charm.
For more information you can read our article dedicated to Where to sleep in Prague: best areas and hotels.
