Discover the best things to do in Prague and discover why it tops many travelers’ bucket lists!
The Best Things to Do in Prague
Prague features an abundance of famous historical sites. Although we prefer the weirder side of the city, there are a few star attractions everyone needs to see when they visit.
When you plan your trip to Prague, be sure to check these out first!
Charles Bridge
The famous Charles Bridge crosses the Vltava River, connecting Old Town Square to Prague Castle.
Although the city now has 18 bridges connecting different parts of the city, Charles Bridge steals the show. The 14th-century marvel was the only way to cross the river until the 1800s. The simple stone arches betray the craftsmanship. It has stood for seven centuries as a gateway connecting Prague’s two halves.
The fascinating history makes the bridge famous, but while visiting Prague, you must walk across it to catch a perfect glimpse of the castle from the unobscured vantage point the bridge offers.
Prague Castle
Prague Castle proudly served the city for over a millennium. The 9th-century facility still hosts the official seat of the Czech Republic’s president.
The word castle may seem like a misnomer when you first visit. Though it looks like a traditional castle from afar, things seem different when you step inside the gates and explore the grounds. It’s nothing like the traditional medieval castles you see in Scotland, instead, it’s more akin to a medieval town center. Once inside, you’ll see a variety of structures and buildings, all built independently rather than as one unit. It’s one of the largest castle complexes of the period.
I loved that it wasn’t a movie representation of a medieval castle. It’s the real thing – a complex created to host the administrative duties of the state, rather than a massive show of force.
The Astronomical Clock
Prague’s marvel of engineering, the 15th-century astronomical clock, calls Old Town Square home. At the top of every hour, tourists gather around the instrument to watch the show.
When the clock ticks, figures burst from the clock in a wonderful little dance celebrating the hour.
Though parts of the clock date to the 1400s, it’s undergone numerous renovations and additions in its long life, the last of which was completed in 2018.
As the clock stands outside in the old town square, the hourly show is absolutely free. It’s one of the best things to do in Prague, so spare a few moments to watch the clock strike.
St. Nicholas Church
Although there are many churches in Prague, St. Nicholas is my favorite. Technically there are three St. Nicholas churches in Prague – but the one in the old town is the clear winner.
The cathedral features two iconic towers that stand out in nearly any photograph of Old Town Prague. The inside, with its stunning Baroque frescos and reliefs, is just as impressive as the outside. St. Nicholas Church is often considered the finest example of Prague Baroque in the world.
Though the current St. Nicholas dates to the 1600s, it was built on a holy site. The Gothic Parish Church of St. Nicholas stood in the spot from the 13th-18th century when it was demolished to make way for the new building.
Underground Tour
Humans have lived in the area surrounding Prague since the Stone Age, but the city as we know it today was founded around 900 AD. Back then, the city was lower in elevation, and prone to flooding from the nearby river.
Rather than leave, residents simply rebuilt on top of the ruins. Most of the current construction dates to the 19th century, when city engineers dumped the dirt from New Town into Old Town to raise the level and prevent future flooding.
However, you can still tour the older construction, now buried in the city’s depths, by embarking on an underground tour. Many of the old homes were transformed into basements, and others were lost to time, but there’s still a wide range of well-preserved underground dwellings to explore.
To see them, book an underground tour, where a guide can showcase the most impressive ruins and share the city’s untold history. It was by far my favorite experience in Prague.
Eat Street Food
Prague’s street food scene is popping. The delicious fare tops my list of the best street food I’ve ever had in my travels around the world.
When wandering the streets, you’ll suddenly be confronted with the most wonderful aroma wafting through the air around you. Following your nose, you’ll find a little stand with giant pans of food proudly displayed.
It’s not your typical street food. Though you’ll find skewers and sausage that’s easy to eat on the go, the best street food comes in little bowls, but it’s worth the extra effort.
Be sure to try Prague’s most famous street dessert: Trdlnik (chimney cake), a pastry rolled into a hollow tube (sometimes bursting with filling) that resembles a chimney.
Old Town Square
Old Town Square is everything you ever wanted from a historic European city. The small area features shops, churches, street food, mulled wine, and lively entertainment.
However, everything has a historic feel to it. The shops have real blacksmiths forging their wares, not commercial junk you can get from China. The food is homemade, and the Churches date to the Middle Ages. It’s everything good about an American-style Renaissance faire without any of the commercialized junk.
I love it.
Historic Walking Tour
The best way to explore Prague is by foot. However, the city has so much history that you’ll miss it if you don’t have a guide. To make the most of your trip, book a historic walking tour.
You’ll see the city’s most iconic sites and structures while learning the secret history of places like the Charles Bridge, the Jewish Corner, and Prague Castle. Numerous groups offer walking tours through Prague, but all of them cover the city’s most iconic places.
A walking tour is the best thing to do in Prague if you want to cover a lot of ground and hit the most vital sites in a short timeframe.
John Lennon’s Wall
During communist rule in Prague, John Lennon served as an inspiration. It began as normal graffiti all over the city, but after Lennon’s assassination, an artist rendered a memorial portrait of the fallen Beatle on a wall in Grand Priory Square, and a movement was born.
For the past few decades, people used the space to write song lyrics and slogans in memory of Lennon’s quest for peace. It served as a legal place for graffiti until 2019 when the owners decided to install a permanent memorial to John Lennon. However, there is still a dedicated space where anyone can write notes on the wall.
Enjoy the Night Life
Prague springs to life at night. The city bursts with quirky, themed bars, high-end lounges, and dance clubs.
You’ll find horror bars, alchemists’ closets, a zombie bar, and even an Anonymous-themed bar. Each establishment lives up to its name with a themed drink menu and decor bringing the idea to life.
The city also features an abundance of Jazz clubs, music venues, pubs, and more. There’s enough variety to whet everyone’s whistle!
The Best Quirky Tourist Attractions in Prague
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Everyone who visits Prague explores the top then. But some of the best things to do in Prague are the quirky weird attractions you won’t find anywhere else.
I love exploring a city’s hidden gems and eye-roll-inducing attractions. Prague has its share of strange and unusual tourist activities that tons of people skip – but they’re worth checking out, if just for the fun of visiting an odd attraction!
Here are five strange things to do in Prague that you should consider during your visit. Some are outdated, while others are just plain weird. I hope you find them as ridiculously entertaining as I did!
Museum of Torture
The Museum of Torture, located just off Old Town Square, was my favorite of Prague’s quirky tourist attractions. Its location in the creepy underground, a network of caverns under the city dating to the 14th century, provides an eerie backdrop to an already macabre subject.
Prague’s Museum of Torture holds real medieval artifacts used to express the worst aspects of humanity, with posters explaining, often in excruciating detail, how they were used. But why leave it all to your imagination, when they can also hang drawings graphically depicting the implements in use?
I appreciated the museum for its accurate portrayal of reality, which lays bare the horrors we heap upon ourselves, but examining each piece and considering the immense pain and suffering they wrought makes an impact. Don’t visit if you’re squeamish or faint of heart. It doesn’t shy away from humanity’s worst instincts
The only downside to the museum was that it had a recording of a woman screaming on repeat. The horrible noise lost its spooky appeal after the second or third time and became more of an annoyance than anything else.
Unusual Statues
Chicago had its cows on parade, and Prague has its weird statues. You’ll find faceless crawling babies, a guy hanging from a roof, two dudes peeing in a fountain, and more odd artworks while exploring the city’s streets.
Check out Parenthood and Passports for a guide to Prague’s weirdest statues.
Communism Nuclear Bunker and Cold War Museum
At the height of the Cold War, people all over the world built underground bunkers to stay safe in case of nuclear disaster.
One of Prague’s Cold War bunkers was transformed into a museum showcasing the worst aspects of the proxy war. Buried five stories below ground, the bunker serves as a reminder of the world on the brink. It’s filled with gas masks and other items representing the dichotomy of surviving the period: the constant fear of sudden death vs the mundane chore of daily life.
Museum of Sex Machines
Yes, this is a real thing. The Museum of Sex Machines stands proudly in the center of Old Town Square.
I didn’t know what to expect, but it caught my attention, and I had to check it out, I’m glad I did – it was fascinating!
As expected, the museum featured a wide range of sex machines. However, I didn’t expect to see such a large collection of artifacts from across time. The collection features pieces ranging from prehistory to the modern era. There’s a prehistoric dildo that anthropologists believe was really used for stimulation along with artifacts from Ancient Greece.
The proprietors of this museum did their homework, showcasing the machines from an anthropological and historical perspective.
Please don’t bring your children to this museum. Although it offers a bit of history, the focus is on BDSM machines (I guess that particular activity lends itself to machinery more than others), and you’ll find many graphic machines, photographs, and descriptions. Some exhibits are intense, so I wouldn’t recommend this attraction to anyone easily embarrassed or grossed out.
Despite the graphic nature of the museum, it’s an intriguing site for anyone interested in human sexuality or anthropology. Go in without any expectations, and you won’t be disappointed.
Museum of Ghosts and Legends
Prague is a very old city, and as such, has a plethora of myths and legends about ghosts, monsters, and other supernatural creatures. Many locals say it is the most haunted city in the world! Given this rich history of things that go bump in the night, I had high hopes for the Museum of Ghosts and Legends, located on the Prague Castle side of the Charles Bridge.
I was a bit disappointed by the outdated exhibits. Many figures and displays were so old and decrepit they were far more sad than spooky. Some interactive displays were so ancient they didn’t work properly anymore. I love hokey stuff, so I would have loved the old contraptions had they worked!
Despite the downsides, the museum was still worth a visit. It features volumes of texts recalling the city’s spooky history, allowing you to read the legends for yourself. I also enjoyed many of the sad, decrepit statues and exhibits, regardless of their dated nature. It’s a museum of ghosts – it shouldn’t have a modern feel. Some of the problems added to the mystique, and I think I’d be terrified if I was trapped there at night.
More Fun in Prague
Prague features an abundance of activities for the whole family. I didn’t have time to see everything, but I’m going to check out the mirror maze, virtual reality ride, and second torture museum the next time I visit the iconic city.
I’d love to hear about your experiences with any of these attractions!
Enjoy Prague
Prague tops my list of favorite cities. Everything about it seems magical, from the atmosphere at Old Town Square to the lively castle grounds.
Book your trip and discover the magic for yourself!