Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is a city that perfectly preserves the charm of medieval Europe, where history, culture, and stunning architecture blend harmoniously together. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore Prague’s essential attractions including Petřín Hill, Strahov Monastery, Prague Castle, Lesser Town, Charles Bridge, and Old Town.
Table of Contents
Petřín Hill
Petřín Hill is one of Prague’s most scenic viewpoints. Located on the west side of the Vltava River, this hill offers various viewpoints including the famous Petřín Tower, providing breathtaking panoramic views of the city.
From the observation deck located halfway up Petřín Hill, you can enjoy stunning views of the Vltava River, the bridges crossing it, and the city’s iconic red-tiled roofs spread out below you.
Petřín Tower
This is quite a large park with the Petřín Tower standing prominently at the top, visible from anywhere in Prague. While the Petřín Tower observation deck is famous, I skipped it since there’s an admission fee.
Opening Hours
- January–March: 10:00-18:00
- April–May: 10:00-19:00
- June–August: 09:00-19:00
- September–December: 10:00-18:00
Admission
- Adults: 250 CZK
- Ages 16-26: 200 CZK
- Ages 6-15, 65+: 170 CZK
- Family (2 adults + up to 4 children): 500 CZK
Elevator
- Adults: 150 CZK
- 65+: 50 CZK
- Under 5: Free
Strahov Monastery
Strahov Monastery, built in the 12th century, maintains its medieval appearance to this day. Located near Petřín Hill, it’s perfect to visit both attractions together.
The Strahov Monastery Library is famous for its frescoes, but since there’s an admission fee, I only visited the adjacent church. The Baroque-style church was quite impressive as well.
The view from Strahov Garden, located on the southern slope of the monastery, is absolutely stunning. It’s a spot where you can see both Prague Castle and Old Town at a glance, so I highly recommend stopping by.
Opening Hours
- Daily: 09:00-17:00
Admission
- Adults: 190 CZK
- Ages 6-17, students under 26, 65+: 90 CZK
- Family (2 adults + up to 5 children under 15): 390 CZK
- Under 5: Free
Prague Castle
Prague Castle is one of the absolute must-see attractions in the city. Built in the 9th century, the castle is said to be the largest ancient castle complex remaining in Europe.
Opening Hours
- November–March: Daily 09:00-16:00
- April–October: Daily 09:00-17:00
- Prague Castle complex: Daily 06:00-22:00
The Prague Castle complex is free to enter
For up-to-date information and more details, visit Prague Castle | Prague City Tourism
St. Vitus Cathedral
As befits one of Europe’s largest castle complexes, the castle contains various attractions, but St. Vitus Cathedral stands out with its overwhelming presence.
Built in Gothic style, St. Vitus Cathedral is famous for its stained glass windows and intricate sculptures. Many of the stained glass works here have a distinctly different feel from those you’d see in other cathedrals.
The western entrance features a circular stained glass window nicknamed “the Rose Window.” In the afternoon, as the sun moves westward, you can see this window brilliantly illuminated. This creates a colorful, luminous atmosphere inside the cathedral, making it feel even more sacred. It gives off a similar vibe to Milan’s Duomo Cathedral.
Another reason St. Vitus Cathedral is famous is Alfons Mucha’s stained glass. Unlike typical stained glass, this one is based on Slavic mythology.
Opening Hours
- April–October: Daily 09:00-17:00, Sunday 12:00-17:00
- November–March: Daily 09:00-16:00, Sunday 12:00-16:00
Prague Castle Tickets
When I visited in 2023, I was able to enter St. Vitus Cathedral for free, but now you need to purchase an integrated Prague Castle ticket. While there seem to be many ticket options, the others don’t offer the main attractions, so you should buy the Main Circuit ticket that includes St. Vitus Cathedral entry.
- Adults: 450 CZK
- Ages 6-16, students under 26, 65+: 300 CZK
- Family (2 adults + up to 5 children): 950 CZK
The Main Circuit ticket allows entry to four sites within the Prague Castle complex: the Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, Golden Lane, and St. Vitus Cathedral. Note that access to the observation tower of St. Vitus Cathedral requires a separate ticket.
While the cathedral and other buildings are certainly impressive, the greatest charm of the castle is undoubtedly its views. The leisurely flowing Vltava River and the striking red roofs are truly memorable.
Lesser Town
Prague is divided by the Vltava River into Lesser Town and Old Town, each with its own distinct charm.
One famous spot in Lesser Town is “Prague’s narrowest alley.” It wasn’t as narrow as I expected, which was a bit disappointing, but the traffic light system is cute enough to make it worth a visit.
Near the Charles Bridge tower in Lesser Town, you’ll find the John Lennon Wall. The wall is covered in colorful graffiti that’s more vibrant than expected, catching your eye as you pass by.
Originally just an ordinary wall, it became what it is today after graffiti featuring John Lennon’s face—symbolizing freedom and peace—and anti-communist social criticism messages were painted on it, with continuous additions over time.
Location
- Prague’s narrowest alley: U Lužického semináře, 118 00 Malá Strana
- Lennon Wall: Velkopřevorské nám., 118 00 Malá Strana
Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge, Prague’s most famous bridge and symbol, was built by order of Emperor Charles IV, who also built St. Vitus Cathedral.
The bridge features 30 statues of saints on both sides, with the most famous being the statue of St. John of Nepomuk. He was executed and thrown into the river for refusing to reveal the queen’s confession even to the king, and legend has it that five stars rose from his body.
Charles Bridge attracts street musicians, artists, and vendors, offering various entertainment options, so it’s always crowded with tourists.
However, before 9 AM, most tourists haven’t started their activities yet, so if you want to enjoy a peaceful Charles Bridge away from crowds, I recommend visiting early in the morning.
Old Town
Church of Our Lady before Týn
Prague’s Old Town is where you can truly feel the medieval European atmosphere. Old Town Square is located in the city center, with the distinctive twin-spired Church of Our Lady before Týn rising prominently on one side.
Opening Hours
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 10:00-13:00, 15:00-17:00
- Sunday: 11:00-12:00
- Closed on Mondays, Free admission
St. Nicholas Church (Old Town)
With your back to the Church of Our Lady before Týn, you can see St. Nicholas Church (Old Town) with its bronze roof. The interior chandeliers and ceiling frescoes are impressive, and since it’s free admission, I recommend stopping by.
Note that this is different from St. Nicholas Church (Malá Strana) near Prague Castle. The other St. Nicholas Church in lesser town charges admission.
Opening Hours
- Daily: 10:00-17:00
Astronomical Clock
Old Town is home to Prague’s other landmark, the Astronomical Clock. Every hour on the hour, a puppet show featuring the 12 Apostles unfolds, with tourists starting to gather about 15 minutes beforehand, so secure your spot early.
The Prague Astronomical Clock shows not only time but also lunar and celestial movements. It’s amazing that this clock, installed in 1410, is one of the world’s oldest astronomical clocks still in operation.
Opening Hours
- January–March: Daily 10:00-19:00
- April–December: Daily 09:00-20:00
Admission
- Adults: 350 CZK
- Students (16-26): 280 CZK
- Ages 6-15, 65+: 230 CZK
- Family (2 adults + up to 4 children): 750 CZK
- Under 5: Free
Elevator
- Adults, students: 100 CZK
- 65+: 50 CZK
- Under 5: Free
Final Thoughts
Today, I’ve compiled essential tourist destinations you can’t miss when visiting Prague. I’ve introduced them in order from Lesser Town on the west side of the Vltava River—featuring Petřín Hill, Strahov Monastery, and Prague Castle—across Charles Bridge to Old Town with its Astronomical Clock. Following this route as a half-day itinerary would work well, so if you’re planning a Prague trip, I hope this guide serves as a helpful reference.
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