Top 10 Things To Do In Prague - Recommended By A Local

Prague Castle

While it seems that every Old Town in Central Europe boasts a castle, this one is a Prague must-see. Ignore the swarms of tourists; there is a reason they exist up at the castle and that’s because this is one of the best things to do in Prague.

The collection of Romanesque and Gothic architecture is breathtaking – you can expect to find yourself frozen to the spot, mouth agape as you gaze up at the gothic turrets of the cathedral or the sheer size of the palace. Prague Castle has been around since 880 and is the largest castle complex in the world, with a combined surface area of a whopping 70,000 m².

Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, it comprises of palaces and ecclesiastical buildings all of which have undergone significant and ongoing maintenance. St. Vitus Cathedral dates back to A.D. 925, and features neo-Gothic and baroque-inspired detailing.

As jaw-dropping as the outside might be, head inside for an altogether different kind of stunning; intricate silverwork and colorful art nouveau stained-glass window work. You may need a few hours to fully explore the entire complex, and if your visit is around noon you might witness the changing of guard.

Walk Up Petrin Hill

Take a pleasant walk to the top of Petrin Hill on the banks of the Vltava River – one of the greenest spaces in Prague – with an abundance of benches along the way to rest your legs and admire the view. Once you submit, you’ll be treated to a miniature version of the Eiffel Tower, a rosarium, and the Church of St Michael; a wooden building relocated all the way from Ukraine.

Other features of interest include the Nebozízek Garden, the Mirror Maze, and the Seminary Garden, boasting more than 2,100 fruit trees which, when blossoming, are very pretty.

Long ago serving as an execution site, it now makes for a romantic spot with the vineyards and lands that have been farmed through the centuries. Head up the 299 steps of Petrín Observation Tower, a miniature of the Eiffel Tower – though the locals will proudly tell you its height – for views of the entire city.

On sunny, cloudless days you can see most of Bohemia. If you didn’t ride the funicular railway all the way to the top, and decide rather take an easier stroll downhill, you could choose to ride it down, bringing you to Mala Strana; one of the oldest and the most beautiful neighborhoods in the city. Nestled beneath Prague Castle it is only a short walk to Charles bridge.

MeetFactory

If you’re wondering what to do in Prague as an art lover, this one's for you. The MeetFactory is the epitome of the international contemporary art scene in Prague – an unlikely venue that has been transformed into a meeting place for artists and art enthusiasts, a spot where creatives mingle and collaborate bringing ideas to life.

A glass factory pressed into the space between a highway and still active railroad, the venue was founded in 2001 by the creator of what most people around here consider the “weird baby sculptures” up Žižkov TV Tower, prominent and controversial Czech sculptor David Černý.

The MeetFactory houses art galleries showcasing the curated work of both emerging and established artists and is not only a meeting point for creatives across Prague but is also considered to be one of the best concert venues in the city.

With Černý’s sculpture “Meat” hanging off of the building, you would imagine that the musical repertoire might be somewhat alternative but in fact, the venue is geared towards a local and international music scene across genres. Along with the offering of Czech and international art and music, there is a theater, a flea market, and three art galleries to explore.

Drink A World Famous Czech Beer

Even if you’re not ordinarily a beer drinker, you might reconsider Prague, the world’s number one consumer of beer in the world. Perhaps this stat is due to the fact that here beer is oftentimes cheaper than water, or perhaps it is simply because Prague serves up some truly excellent beer!

Not only is it the perfect solution to a hot day of walking in Prague, but it is also a great starting point for planning what to do in Prague. Find yourself a cozy brewery or cellar bar, and you can easily lose a day to what I consider one of the best Prague activities; simply enjoying the taste of good beer with friends. Here, all meals start off with a beer, and with hundreds of cellar pubs and restaurants specifically famous for beer to choose from, you will be spoilt for choice.

With such passionate love for beer, you could only expect a resultant bar scene to thrive; and in that department (as in so many) Prague delivers in abundance, making bar-hopping an excellent nighttime activity where you can hope to enjoy light crisp Czech beers, among the newer, darker alternatives. If you love beer as much as Prague does, be sure to pay a visit to the Prague Beer Museum! Pro-tip; “Na Zdravi!” is how you cheers in Czech!

Visit the Jewish Quarter (Josefov)

Last, but not least on the list, is a visit to Josefov, Prague's historic Jewish Quarter. Not only a stunning stroll full of intrigue and myth, but this area is also home to fascinating history and several significant sites, including a number of important synagogues – such as the Spanish Synagogue and the Old-New Synagogue – and the Old Jewish Cemetery.

The oldest surviving cemetery of its kind and a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Old Jewish Cemetery is a truly humbling experience with 12,000 visible graves and countless more beneath. The cemetery was developed due to space limitations, and goes down as many as 12 layers, forming the final resting place for as many as 100, 000 individuals.

Be sure to do your homework before a visit to this district; there are centuries worth of truly striking and significant history embodied in these narrow streets, from Hitler’s proposal to create out of this area the “museum of an extinct race” to legends about the Golem of Prague.