prague walking tour map

Self-Guided Prague Walking Tour: One Day in Prague

Prague, the capital city of Czechia, or the Czech Republic, is a popular destination for travelers worldwide. Known for its stunning architecture, rich history, and vibrant culture, it is a city with something for everyone. Walk through its millennial history with this self-guided free Prague walking tour I perfected myself. 

I studied in Prague for four years and would occasionally get family and friends visiting me. Therefore, I would always play a tour guide, showing them the best the city offers. Over time, I perfected the route to enable you to see the most iconic Prague landmarks within a day, leaving more time to enjoy other things such as shopping, nightlife, visiting its fascinating museums , or going on day trips , to name just a few. However, if you have more time, here’s your two-day itinerary for Prague to take it slower. 

This Prague self-guided and free walking tour starts from Wenceslas Square, goes to Prague Castle by crossing the Charles Bridge, and returns to Old Town Square through the other side of the Lesser Town. The free tour takes you through the city’s major landmarks, public buildings, cultural venues, and places of worship. 

This walking tour covers approximately 8-9 km of distance. You can easily make it your one-day Prague itinerary depending on when you start, your pace, and how long you stay in each location. The tour is flexible, so feel free to take a break or omit things that are of no interest to you. 

Besides providing the route of the best Prague walking tour, this post also covers accommodation, the best time to visit Prague, and what to pack when planning your trip here. And if you prefer guided walking tours instead of this self-guided Prague tour, I list a few of my recommendations below, too.

Prague Travel Essentials

Book a flight: I use Skyscanner or WayAway . The latter also offers cashback with its Plus membership.  Read more here .  Airport transfers: If you want to avoid hassles through public transport, book a private transfer with Welcome Pickups .  Reserve a hotel: I use Booking.com to book my hotels or apartments.   Find best-suited tours: book your activities on Viator or Get Your Guide .  Rent a car: DiscoverCars is one of the best car rental aggregators with a wide choice of vehicles.  eSIM: I use Airalo eSIM whenever I travel. Get 3 USD with code: BAIA2592 . Travel insurance: SafetyWing is my go-to travel insurance covering COVID. Now, they have add-ons for adventure sports coverage and electronics theft. 

This post includes affiliate links to products, which earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps to fund my blog and bring more authentic articles to you 🙂   Learn more

Prague walking tour map

For a more comfortable way of exploring the city and following directions, I have created a Prague walking tour map on Google Maps to save and use whenever you need it. The purple pins on the map mark the main stops on the walking tour, while the yellow pins are the significant locations that I explain within a territory. 

Self-guided Prague walking tour

Wenceslas square.

Václavské náměstí, or Wenceslas Square, is one of the main areas of Prague and a place for many locals to meet. It has also been a landmark of many historical events, such as demonstrations, celebrations, and other public gatherings. Named after Saint Wenceslas, Bohemia’s patron saint, the area is more of a 750-meter boulevard than a square.

Charles IV first created it in the mid-14th century as a horse market in the New Town. Today, the St. Wenceslas Monument sits on top of the boulevard with the National Muzeum on its background. 

Even though the square is old, the buildings lining up its street are not. The oldest dates back to the 18th century, and the others are much younger. Here, you’ll find gorgeous buildings of Art-Nouveau, Neo-Renaissance, Socialist Realism, and ultra-modernism buildings. 

The square is also home to various hops, arcades, clubs, and theaters built during the early 20th-century commercial boom. While walking down towards Old Town Square, pay attention to Wiehl House and the Grand Hotel Europa for their impressive facades. 

Upside-Down Statue of St. Wenceslas

The Art Deco-style Lucerna Palace hides a rather interesting sculpture of St. Wenceslas. Called King Wenceslas Riding on a Dead Horse, the monument is the work of the famous Czech sculptor David Černý. Some consider it a parody of a statue in front of the National Museum, but for some, it is an attack on Vaclav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic.

However, Černý never comments on this work; he does not need to honestly. If you see something extraordinary on your trip to Prague, like an old Soviet tank painted in pink floating on the Vltava, then you are a witness of Černys, another creation. Some of his other permanent art is also included in this walking tour of Prague. 

The Powder Tower

Once you finish walking down Wenceslas Square, turn to Na Prikope Street to walk to the Powder Tower or Prašná Brána. This imposing Gothic tower is one of the original city gates out of 13. It was intended to be a nice-looking city entrance as an alternative to a defensive tower. The name comes from when the city initials used it to store gunpowder.

It was also used for the coronation ceremonies, during which the Kings of Prague would walk through it and follow the streets leading to Prague Castle. It was rebuilt in the 19th century after being destroyed during the Prussian siege 1757. 

If you are up for a walk on a few dozen narrow stairs, you can go up on its viewing deck for some spectacular city views. 

Right behind the tower is a breathtaking Municipal Hall to check out. And if you fancy a classical music concert, you can attend one here.

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Astronomical Clock

From the Powder Tower, continue your walk on Celetná Street, one of the oldest streets in Prague, leading to the Old Town Square, or Staroměstské námesti. We’ll come back to the area at the end of this Prague walking tour, so instead, continue walking until you reach the Astronomical Clock.   

Orloj, in Czech, is a medieval clock installed in 1410. It is considered the third oldest clock in the world and the oldest one that still works. The clock, built by Mikuláš Kadaň, a clockmaker, and Jan Šindel, an astronomer, attracts hundreds of tourists each hour (from 9 am to 11 pm) to watch a marvelous mechanical performance of 12 apostles greeting the city, a skeleton ringing a bell, a miser with a purse full of money, a Turk shaking his head, and Vanity looking in a mirror. 

While looking at the clock, you can see the movement of the sun and moon through the signs of the Zodiac. It also tracks Sidereal time, Central European, and Babylonian times. 

If you want to go inside the oldest town hall and see the Gothic chapel, staterooms, go down to the underground, and inner mechanism of the astronomical clock, you should book this tour . 

House of the Minute

The House at the Minute is next to the Astronomical Clock as you walk on the Karlova Steet. 

One of the undoubtedly impressive houses, it was initially a late Gothic building of the 15th century that was renovated into a Renaissance style in the mid-16th century.

White sgraffito (imprints scored on a flat plaster wall to make a three-dimensional effect of depth and shade) decorations on the black background are pretty impressive and tell the story of the Habsburg rulers and scenes from Greek mythology. It also references Renaissance and biblical legends.

Charles Bridge

This self-guided free Prague walking tour continues through Karlova Street again to reach the most famous and spectacular bridges I’ve seen – Karlov Most or Charles Bridge. 

After floods washed away a few wooden and the first stone bridges, Charles IV decided to commission a new one in 1357. A 621-meter-long pedestrian Gothic bridge was the only means to cross the Vltava River until 1841; therefore, it was significant in connecting Prague Castle with the Old Town. 

Guarded by three towers, the bridge boasts 30 statues and statuaries, primarily made in Baroque and Gothic styles. For spectacular views of each side of the bridge, you can walk up the stairs of the towers. 

The bridge is a top-rated Prague attraction that brings many tourists, local musicians, and souvenir sellers throughout the day. It is equally beautiful both in the morning at sunrise and in the evening at sunset. 

Urinating sculpture

If you love the artwork, I have included a few stops along this free walking tour in Prague, and the next stop is another impressive sculpture by David Cerny. He is known for creating eye-catching, highly controversial, and humorous artwork. 

The Piss sculpture, close to the Franz Kafka museum , features two mechanical naked men taking a poss into a pool that resembles the shape of the Czech Republic. It indeed is one of the quirkiest yet thought-provoking attractions in Prague. 

Once you are here, remember to walk Prague’s narrowest alley between two buildings. It has a traffic light indicating when you can walk through.  

Kampa Island with crawling babies

Kampa Island was one of my favorite places to walk around when I was in the neighborhood. It is the largest of the Vltava’s islands, featuring cafés, a serene riverside park, old mills, and a playground. I would bring a blanket and enjoy a peaceful time reading a book, studying, or simply relaxing and watching people walk by. 

The iconic sight of Kampa Park is another masterpiece of David Cerny – three giant and faceless crawling babies you can climb on and take photos of. They are part of Cerny’s “Babies” project, another excellent example of them as they crawl up the Zizkov TV Tower. So, if you have time on your Prague itinerary, I recommend seeing it, too.  

Lennon Wall

Any guided or free walking tour in Prague is incomplete without visiting John Lennon’s Wall, a manifestation of freedom, peace, and love. The wall has different lyrics of Beatles songs or other forms of graffiti, making it an attractive spot for visitors. 

The whole concept started in 1988 by youngsters to demonstrate their thoughts about the communist regime. The authorities repainted the wall; however, the activists did not back down and redrew poems the next day.

The wall always experiences change, and the original portrait of Lennon is long lost. However, it contains various tags, writings, or drawings. And if you bring a marker, you can also put something on the wall. 

St. Nicholas Church

A Baroque church built between 1704 and 1755, St. Nicholas Church is a stunning place of worship and one of the must-visit attractions in Prague. 

Inspired by the chapel of St. Louis-des-Invalides in Paris, the church’s interior is breathtaking, while its characteristic giant green dome and tower dominating the skyline are visible from afar. You’ll see beautiful frescos on its ceiling showing biblical scenes. 

Nerudova Street

After a visit to the church, continue your way via narrow Nerudova Street, which is lined with many colorful houses and eventually leads to Prague Castle.

Named after Czech author Jan Neruda, his birthplace and a scene of many of his stories, the street was the final stretch of the Royal Route when the kings walked on their procession to being coronated at the castle. 

What distinguishes Nerudova is that the buildings here have emblems to differentiate them from each other before the street numbers were introduced to the city. 

As you walk up, make sure you look at the following houses: the Red Eagle at No. 6, the House of the Red Lamb at No. 11, the Three Fiddles at No. 12, the Golden Horseshoe at No. 34, the Green Lobster at No. 43, and the White Swan at No. 49.

Have your eyes pierced for a few stunning Baroque buildings at No.5 and 20, while further up at No.33 is a Rococo house. 

Schwarzenberg Palace

The next stop on this Prague free walking tour is the most distinctive Schwarzenberg Palace on Hradčany Square. The sgraffito on the surface makes this Renaissance palace easy to notice.

An Italian architect built it for the Lobkowicz Family in the mid-1500s in Florentine style. The Schwarzenbergs, the leading family in the Habsburg Empire, acquired the palace by marriage in 1719. Today, it houses the National Gallery’s exhibition of Baroque art.

Prague Castle Complex

Perched on top of Castle Hill, the stunning Pražský hrad, or Prague Castle, dominates the skyline like no other building. It is the largest coherent castle complex in the world, covering an area of almost 70,000 sq. meters. 

The complex, enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features large-scale palaces and ecclesiastical buildings, including four palaces, four churches, marvelous gardens, and a defensive tower, all done in different architectural styles. 

By the beginning of the 14th century, the complex was home to the royal palace, churches, and a monastery. Reconstructed during the rule of Charles IV, it was destroyed by fire in 1541, and later, most of the buildings were renovated in Renaissance style. Since 1918, the castle has been the residence of the President of Czechia.

You can wander the castle grounds free from 6 am to 10 pm, but many landmarks have different opening hours, and some require an entrance ticket. 

Please note that I deliberately haven’t included the most important buildings of the Prague Castle complex as separate listings in this post. Instead, I briefly explain their significance here and have included them as different spots for easy navigation in the Prague walking tour map provided above.

The Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral is the prominent landmark of the castle that used to be a place for kings’ coronations and is also home to the Bohemian Crown Jewels hidden in a dedicated room. Another noteworthy spot here is the St. George’s Basilica , founded in the early 10th century and believed to be the oldest surviving church in Prague. Its red Baroque facade makes it easy to recognize. 

Besides, the complex boasts a unique small street called Golden Lane , a collection of colorfully painted historical buildings. Despite its name, don’t expect to find gold-plated pavements or golden decorations here. It got its name after a goldsmith moved into one of the houses in the 17th century. 

The lane was also home to Franz Kafka’s sister, who rented house No.22 in 1916, which Kafka himself used for one year to write one of his books. Nobel prize-winning poet Jaroslav Seifert also lived on Golden Lane in 1984. 

Today, these houses are turned into shops and a museum displaying medieval armory, clothing, and torture devices. 

I suggest spending a reasonable amount of time exploring the complex grounds and enjoying panoramic city views from several viewpoints. Alternatively, you can join the Castle Tour with a Local Guide and Entry Ticket or the Prague Castle 2.5-Hour Tour, Including an Admission Ticket , to see everything and learn more about the castle grounds. 

Wallenstein Palace & Gardens

The Wallenstein Palace, one of Prague’s first and largest Baroque palaces, is an ambitious project of the military commander Albrecht von Wallenstein, who decided to build the palace in 1642 to overshadow other landmarks, including the Prague Castle to show his status as a commander of the Imperial Catholic armies during the Thirty Years’ War. 

To fulfill the project, he had to buy, destroy, and confiscate a brick kiln factory, three gardens, and many residential houses in the densely populated Lesser Town to give space for his palace. 

Nevertheless, it is absolutely stunning once you walk through the palace garden featuring monumental statues and fountains. It is wonderful during spring and summer when flowers bloom. 

• Opening hours: the palace garden is open from April to October. Mon-Fri from 7 am to 7 pm and Sat-Sun from 9 am to 7 pm. The palace is open on Saturdays only from April to October from 9 am to 4 pm. 
• Entrance fee: FREE for both the garden and the palace. 

When done exploring the palace gardens, walk towards the Manes Bridge to cross it and slowly go back to the Old Town. One of the first buildings you’ll notice after the bridge is Rudolfinum – one of the most important buildings with several concert halls and home to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. This late 19th-century building hosts various concerts, including the Prague Spring International Music Festival.

One interesting fact about Rudolfinum is that from 1918 to 1939, and a short period after WWII, it housed the parliament of Czechoslovakia. 

Josefov – Jewish Quarter

The former Jewish ghetto of Prague, Josefov, lies in Old Town. Besides being a reminder of the sad past, it actually is one of the upscale areas of the city, with Parizska Street having the most fashionable designer stores.  

The Quarter has six synagogues, a ceremonial hall, and an old cemetery. All of the landmarks of the area are within a few minutes walk from each other, enabling you to easily walk around to visit the museums or admire the beautiful architecture of these synagogues. Surprisingly, the area even survived the Nazi occupation as Hitler himself decided to save it as a “Museum of an Extinct Race.”

Similarly to the Prague Castle section, I haven’t included these synagogues and museums as separate listings in this post. Instead, I summarize the importance of each building and have placed the pins in the Prague walking tour map listed above.

Pinkas Synagogue is the second oldest synagogue in Prague from the 1500s and has been restored countless times over the centuries.  

Old Jewish Cemetery is another must-visit Prague attraction because it is the oldest surviving Jewish burial ground in the city that dates back to the mid-15th century. Back then, the laws prohibited local Jews from burying the dead outside of the ghetto, which obviously resulted in cramped and overcrowded gravestones that are eerie, surreal, and mindblowing to see. Around 12,000 tombstones are visible, but about 100,000 bodies are estimated to be buried below them, stacked up to 12 ground layers. 

Klausen Synagogue was established by Mordechai Maisel, a that-time Mayor of the Jewish Quarter, at the turn of the 17th century. It was constructed on the sight of the former Jewish school and a small prayer house. 

The Old-New Synagogue is another noteworthy spot on this Prague walking tour, standing as the oldest surviving synagogue in Europe. The synagogue, built in approximately 1270, managed to endure many fires, Jewish massacres, destruction of the ghetto, and even the Nazi occupation. 

Spanish Synagogue is the city’s newest Jewish religious building, constructed in 1868. The ornate facade, with its horseshoe arches, pseudo-minarets, and columns, is gorgeous to look at. Inside, the pseudo-Moorish design deliberately mirrors the Spanish Alhambra and contrasts with the other, simpler synagogues of the Quarter. 

Maisel Synagogue , built in Neo-Gothic style, was constructed at the end of the 16th century as a private prayer house for the Mordechai Maisel family, who got wealthy by lending money to Emperor Rudolph II to aid the wars against the Turks. He used the profits to develop and invest in the Jewish Quarter. 

Apparently, the original synagogue was the most ornate of them all and sadly, was destroyed by fire in 1689. It was then rebuilt to its current state at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, it houses an exhibition about the history of the Jewish community in the Czech Republic, documenting their lives here from the 10th to the 18th century. 

The Quarter is now part of the Jewish Museum in Prague and requires entrance tickets to the synagogues, museums, and the cemetery. 

• Opening hours: every day, except Saturdays and Jewish Holidays. More info . 
• Entrance fee: adults – 500 CZK gives you access to all the Prague Jewish Town attractions and is valid for three days. 

Kafka Monument

Franz Kafka, the famous novelist and short-story writer, was born in Prague, primarily in the Old Town and its Jewish Quarter, to a German-Jewish mother and a Czech-Jewish father. 

Because of his German and Czech parents, he was rarely accepted in any of these nationality groups and often lived in isolation and fear, and most of his works were not published in his lifetime. 

Ironically, as Kafka became world famous, now Prague has his face placed on mugs, magnets, postcards, T-shirts, and other souvenirs. 

The monument honoring him, located a few minutes from the synagogues, is one of the most bizarre sculptures you might see in Prague. It shows Kafka sitting on the shoulders of a headless figure, probably Kafka himself, and references his story Description of a Struggle written in 1912. 

Old Town Square

Following the fancy Parizska Street lined with luxury designer stores, you’ll return to Prague’s historic square.

Take some time now to wander around admiring beautiful pastel-colored buildings of different architectural styles, such as Art-Nouveau, Baroque, Gothic, Rococo, and Renaissance. 

Storch House , at number 16 south of the square, also called House of the Stone Madonna, has one of the most stunning painted exteriors. The Kinský Palace on the east is another noteworthy building with a white and pink stuccoed Rococo facade that today houses the National Gallery’s exhibition. 

Make sure to visit the Gothic Church of Our Lady before Týn that dominates the skyline of the Old Town Square. This 15th-century church has towers that shoot up 80 meters; if you look closely, you’ll see that these towers are not identical. 

Besides historical buildings, the square is lined up with various museums, restaurants, and souvenir shops for you to pop in.

You must be hungry after that walk, right? Take a look at the must-visit restaurants  for food lovers in Prague

Guided Prague walking tours

If you want to avoid the hassle of this tour and prefer to join guided walking tours in Prague to learn more about the history and culture of the city, here are a few recommended Prague walking tours:  

A 3-Hour Walking Tour of Old Town & Prague Castle takes you from the historic Old Town to Prague Castle with professional local guides who tell interesting stories and legends. 

Alternative Prague Walking Tour is great for those who prefer to see a different side of the city that passes through cool Prague neighborhoods, street art, and underground subcultures. 

Prague Ghosts and Legends Walking Tour is an evening tour that lasts from 1:30 to 2 hours, where you walk through haunted streets and listen to mysterious stories of medieval Prague. 

Old Town and Jewish Quarter Guided Walking Tour walks through the Jewish Quarter, where you can listen to the history of Prague’s Jewish community and see its synagogues and the cemetery. 

Old Town, Medieval Underground & Dungeon Tour is ideal for those who’d love to see what is hidden below the Old Town with its rooms, cellars, and corridors. 

Where to stay in Prague

Prague offers a variety of neighborhoods and areas to stay in, depending on your preferences and budget. Old Town and New Town offer plenty of accommodation options for a central location, ranging from budget hostels to luxury hotels. These areas provide easy access to many of the city’s top attractions, including the Charles Bridge and Old Town Square. 

For a quieter stay, the Mala Strana and Vinohrady neighborhoods offer a more residential feel, with plenty of charming streets and local restaurants to explore. I have a dedicated post on where to stay in Prague that explains the neighborhoods and provides a list of some of the best hotels in Prague. 

Best time to visit Prague

Prague is a beautiful city that offers visitors a rich history, stunning architecture, and a vibrant culture. However, the city’s weather can vary greatly depending on the season, making it essential to plan your trip accordingly. 

The best time to visit Prague is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the crowds are smaller. The peak tourist season is summer, from June to August. The season is warm and sunny, bringing crowds of tourists, and hotel prices tend to go high.  

Winter is magical and another best time to visit Prague, especially around the holidays when the city is decorated with Christmas markets and lights. However, the weather can be pretty cold, with temperatures ranging from -5 °C to 5°C, and there is a chance of snow. However, snow-covered Prague is absolutely stunning. 

What to wear in Prague

Prague is a walkable city with cobblestone streets lining most of its central districts. Therefore, it is essential to know what to wear in Prague based on weather temperatures and the activities you plan to do. 

The weather in Prague can vary greatly depending on the season, so it’s important to pack clothing appropriate for the time of year you plan to visit. If you plan to visit during summer, pack lightweight and breathable clothing, such as t-shirts, shorts, flowy skirts , and long dress e s . However, bring a light foldable raincoat or umbrella for occasional rain showers.

Planning a trip for spring or autumn and want to know what to wear in Prague for those seasons? In that case, pack layers that will keep you warm during cooler mornings and evenings. A light coat or jacket , cardigan , or scarf can help you adjust to temperature changes throughout the day.

Winter in Prague is quite cold, and temperatures drop below freezing, so wear warm clothes like sweaters or hoodies and winter jacket . Remember a winter hat , scarf , and gloves . I typically opt for thermal leggings and t-shirts for winter travels that I wear underneath jeans and a hoodie. 

Since the best way to explore Prague is by aimlessly wandering its streets, comfortable footwear is essential, regardless of season. Bring comfortable walking shoes or sneakers that can withstand long days of walking on cobblestone streets. I always pack my Teva walking shoes and/or The North Face sandals for warmer climates. Bring waterproof winter shoes to navigate through snow and ice if you plan to visit during winter.

Remember to throw in these useful accessories in your bag:  

Camera or phone:  Prague is extremely photogenic city, so be sure to bring a camera (I have Sony a6300 ) or smartphone (I recently purchased Google Pixel 7 Lemongrass color) to capture all the sights.

Power bank:  I am sure you’ll be taking lots of photos and using maps to navigate around. Therefore, having an external charger to keep you on the go, is very important. I have this Anker power charger .

Universal adapter: If you are coming from outside Europe, you’ll need a universal adapter to be able to charge your devices.

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21 Comments

What a great walking (and virtual for now) tour! I love how much you are able to take in in just 6km!!! I will definitely refer back to this if I even make it to Prague.

i would love to visit prague! very high on my bucket list and love this itinerary

Ahh! I can’t stand not knowing the story behind something, now I really want to know about Černý’s Upsidedown statue of St Wenceslas! In any case it’s very interesting and I guess we can all make our own decision about what Černý’s trying to say with it.

Thank you for including a map! This helps a ton when trying to find out where to start! Old Town looks amazing…

I have only heard amazing things about Prague, and I love how you fit in so many things in this day trip! I cannot believe how big Prague Castle is. I can’t imagine exploring a place so large! Seems like there is just so much to do here!

I visited Prague a very long time ago and I would love to go there again! This self walking tour is such a great idea! Super useful, I am saving it for later! Thank you Baia!

Same here, would love to go back sometime soon!

Prague is so lovely!! This is such a great walking guide. I would love to come back and be able to explore more.

Happy you found it useful! 🙂

Simply in love with the photography here- I am a sucker for architecture and Prague has a veritable dose of that.

Hey Shalzmojo, yes the city has gorgeous buildings to admire 🙂

Great post!! Its pretty elaborate and so helpful in anyone willing to take a self-guide walk. Love the pictures also 🙂

Thank you so much! I am glad you found it useful 🙂

I love this idea. There is a lot to see in Prague and it’s easy to miss things so this is so useful and very comprehensive

Definitely! Prague has plenty of things to see and it’s very easy to miss some of them

This is great! I actually recognise some of it from when I wandered around the city myself. It’s an amazing place to be.

What a great walking tour of Prague! I would especially enjoy wandering old town, taking tons of photos of the clock and Charles Bridge! It definitely seems that Prague has a ton of charm and sights to see. 😁

This will be such a handy guide next time I’m in Prague! You really mapped out for us, thanks!

Happy to provide all the details 🙂

I love Prague so much. Easily one of my favorite cities. This is great itinerary, and it gave me a nice walk down memory lane!

Love this! Prague is one of my favourite cities and I can’t wait to visit again one day 🙂 I was lucky to have my friend that lives there show me around when I stayed with her but would like to go back to a few of the spots that I missed!

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7 Best Prague Walking Tour Ideas: Use Our Map or Book with a Guide

By: Author Betsy Wuebker

The best Prague walking tour can be done on your own, or you may want to book a guided tour from those we recommend.

A day spent walking around Prague is about as fine a day a traveler might imagine. We’d hoarded this day, giving it no specific plans, guarding against all sorts of temptations, and when it came we were ready to design the best Prague walking tour that would fit the time we had available.

Note: You might like our new Prague travel guide. Now available in e-book (Kindle) or paperback format, you can! Click here to buy from Amazon: paperback  or e-book (Kindle)

Note: See our comprehensive post: Prague Itinerary Plan: Things to Do in Prague and What Not to Miss (Prague First Timers Guide) for planning your stay.

We were staying at the Clarion Hotel – Old Town using points on this trip, so our room was free. Its location felt ever so slightly out of the way, but this also served as a daily reminder: there was far more to modern-day Prague than we were going to see on this trip. Setting out from the Clarion (the starting point A on this map ), we headed down Hradebni to Dlouha, which would angle our way in to Old Town Square .

Dlouha had been described as a “shopping street,” and there were a variety of establishments, high end and mid-range. We were taken with the antique stores whose wares awakened memories of dark fairy tales. There was an underlay of sadness with just a little danger in their energy.

The traditional marionettes wore garish facial expressions, faded fixtures could have been looted from who knows where. Outside, the building facades were ornamented with Baroque details, but the flavoring was still medieval. Even a modern-day sculpture, In Utero by David Cerny , felt a bit threatening in its provocation.

We’d had a late breakfast before starting. As we lingered in front of a restaurant menu for curiosity’s sake, we were approached by an attractive couple who said, “Oh no, please don’t go there, too touristy .”

Instead, we were invited to an early lunch with them at Katr , a block and a half away. We should have gone and had a coffee; I have a feeling it may have been a most interesting conversation. Instead we resumed our walk. Next time there is a serendipitous encounter, I’m going with it.

Prague’s Old Town Square has determined energy. It’s large, the center of things. A vibrant mix of Gothic and Baroque influences, it’s ringed by the Tyn Church, St. Nicholas Cathedral and the Town Hall, which has the famous Astronomical Clock. In the center is the Jan Hus monument.

There are numerous places to while away the hour before the astronomical clock strikes again. We wandered around in a rough circle before setting off toward the Charles Bridge.

When you’re walking around Prague, be aware the neighborhood gets a little rough in certain pockets between Old Town Square and the Bridge. This is one of the oldest parts of Old Town. There was a bit of mayhem here and there, and we saw our first Roma on the approach to the bridge.

King Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor was the grandson of King Wenceslas, appointed by Pope Clement after an alliance with his father, King John the Blind. King Charles reigned over the Golden Age of Bohemia, and is regarded as the father of their country by the Czech people.

Walking around Prague in the cold had done us for a loop when we found a little hidden gem: the Antique Cafe on Thunovska street in what is called the first step of the Lesser Town Castle ( item J on the map ).

The Mala Strana , or “Lesser Town,” is the district just below the Palace across the Charles Bridge from Old Town. One of its main streets is Nerudova, named for Jan Neruda , the patriotic Czech novelist from the 19th century.

You might like The Three Fiddles restaurant, which is located at Nerudova 12. The building was home to the Edlinger family of violin makers, whose instruments were played by Beethoven among others. We stopped at the restaurant in Zlate Podkovy Aparthouse ( “F” on the map ) for a hot drink and their famous roasted nuts.

Fortified for the climb to Novy Svet, our favorite street in Prague , we set off again, passing the beautiful Loreto, and then circling back toward the Castle.

Best Prague Walking Tours We Recommend

Consider a guided Walking Food Tour of Prague experience, where you and a small group will experience tastings with beer and wine at five different stops. Or, if you’d prefer, check out the Historic Pubs Tour with Drinks Included (new tour!) where you’ll visit four historically significant pubs.

You might prefer to book a Prague Castle Small Group Tour (best seller!) includes tram and skip the line admission, short security, and expert local guide. Explore St. Vitus’ Cathedral, the Old Palace, St. George’s Basilica and Golden Lane. For skip the line Castle entry tickets good for 2 days, click here .

As the winter afternoon waned, we made our way back towards the Charles Bridge through other historic neighborhoods where diplomats live and embassies flank the government. In no time, we were back across the river and home again. Walking around Prague on this day was a great way to scratch the surface of a new favorite city.

Tips: Sandeman’s free offering is the best free walking tour Prague offers. Choose specific neighborhood tours in the Castle district, such as a tour of Franz Kafka’s neighborhood haunts , or zero in on a tour of Prague’s synagogues and historic Jewish quarter . We chose to take a WWII specific tour a few days later, preferring this opportunity to wander about on our own.

A Kauai friend who lived in Prague recommended additional restaurants and bars pinned on the map . While we didn’t have time to visit them all, they range from edgy club to traditional Czech atmosphere, so there’s something for everyone.

Our Prague walking tour took us a full day from about 10am until about 5pm. We stroll and stop, as you will want to do, too. If you’d prefer one of the best Prague walking tours that takes you around by bus, foot and boat, click here .

Other fun things to do in Prague.

Where to stay in Prague.

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Wednesday 25th of March 2015

[…] After our big trip last year, I wondered just how much distance we logged, particularly on days like this one. It was evident that we lost weight, even while eating like pigs indulging ourselves with great […]

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Sunday 14th of September 2014

[…] Walking Around Prague […]

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Tuesday 9th of September 2014

A Cook Not Mad (Nat)

Saturday 9th of August 2014

I'm bookmarking this for future reference. There's nothing better than a day of walking around is there?

Betsy Wuebker

Sunday 10th of August 2014

Aloha Nat - I can't think of anything better, particularly in a new place. Hope you get to do it in Prague, too. :)

Linda ~ Journey Jottings

In winter, in particular, the 'ins' as well as the 'outs' make the trip so it was gorgeous to see not only the views of the city but the delicious hot frothy drinks with liqueur chasers you enjoyed tucked up in the warm :)

Aloha Linda - You're right, the day was about the combination of things. :)

The Best of Prague: A Prague Walking Guide

Medieval, magical and inviting… Prague is one of Europe’s most memorable cities that continues to awe me time after time, even after a handful of visits. The allure of the Charles Bridge on an icy morning in January, the beauty of a sunset in the warm summer nights and even the city covered in a thick layer of snow that brings your fingers to freeze through thick woollen gloves – there has been no time in Prague that I haven’t felt completely embraced by this intriguing city. And yet while Prague may look like a small town riddled with tales to span centuries, the city of Prague is sprawling with many different neighbourhoods offering their own unique flair. Here’s how to discover the best of Prague in a self guided Prague walking guide.

Know Before you Go: Prague for First Timers

If this is your first visit to Prague you have likely seen the postcard views, intriguing architecture, and perhaps fallen victim to the eery allure of the Charles Bridge on a winter’s morning. Each season brings a new feeling to the city of Prague, but in all honesty there is no bad time of year to visit. The first time I visited Prague was in a thick layer of knee-high snow in 2012, followed by a spring visit a couple of years later. The last time I found myself in Prague was at the end of Autumn and beginning of winter, but even an in-between season visit brought the magic of Prague I have come to know and love. It is without hesitation that I say the best way to see Prague is on foot, so be sure to pack some comfy shoes, a bottle of water, some cash for the endless amount of pitstops you are about to endure and get ready to see Prague!

Route walking time: 1 hour, 20 minutes without stops

Distance: 5.9 kilometres

1. Vrtba Garden

Although an unlikely and often unheard of point to commence your walking tour of Prague, Vrtba Garden is the perfect positioning to begin exploring the Prague’s lesser quarter. Built between 1715 & 1720, the garden was constructed in traditional baroque Italian style, with perfectly trimmed hedges in symmetrical formation. Not only is this a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle outside of the entrance, Vrtba Garden also offers magnificent views of the surrounding landscape, making it the perfect positioning to commence your walking tour of Prague. This is one of Prague’s few “lesser known” attractions that any visitor will tell you you cannot miss, so be sure to make the most of this insider tip and allow yourself a good hour here in the serenity!

What: Jardin vrtbovská

Where: Karmelitská 373/25, 118 00 Praha 1-Malá Strana, Czechia

2. St. Nicholas Church

From the Vrtba Gardens, take a left toward St. Nicholas Church, a short 350 metre walk away. This church serves as a central point in the lesser quarter of Prague, where you can see the livelihood of this neighbourhood at every turn. Step inside to marvel at the baroque architecture of this church, which replaced a 13th century gothic church that was also dedicated to Saint Nicholas.

What: Baroque Church in Lesser Prague

Where: Malostranské nám., 118 00 Praha 1-Malá Strana, Czechia

3. Prague Castle

From the Church of Saint Nicholas, get ready to begin your upwards climb towards Prague Castle. Be sure not to miss Pražská čokoláda (Prgaue Chocolate), located at the base of the stairs and famous for their chocolate covered almonds (with free samples!) Be sure to allow at least an hour or more to explore the Prague Castle complex, as there is much to see once inside. This is also one of the most confusing castles to visit in Europe (if you ask me), with no clear indication of where to head next, so be sure to consider a hosted guide or at the very least an audio guide if you wish to make the most of your visit. The 9th Century Castle attracts many visitors each year, all vying for their photo of the straight-faced guards placed at the entrance to the castle. Be sure to drop by Golden Lane for a look at some artisanal shops, before heading onwards to St. Vitus Cathedral.

What: 9th Century Castle

Where: 119 08 Prague 1, Czechia

4. St. Vitus Cathedral

Located next to Prague Castle you will find St. Vitus Cathedral, home to the Archbishop of Prague. The history of this Roman Catholic church is almost as old as Prague itself, so be sure to step inside for a step back in time.

What: Gothic Cathedral

Where: III. nádvoří 48/2, 119 01 Praha 1, Czechia

5. Lennon Wall

Heading back down-hill, be sure to stop by the Lennon Wall before stepping foot on Prague’s most photographed attraction: The Charles Bridge. Just before you cross the bridge toward the Old Town of Prague, you will find this graffiti wall inspired by John Lennon, complete with song lyrics and peace signs, which was created in the 1980’s.

What: Lenon-inspired graffiti wall

Where: Velkopřevorské náměstí, 100 00 Praha 1, Czechia

6. Charles Bridge

Onwards to the Old Town, you absolutely cannot miss the chance to walk across the Charles Bridge: the reason many visitors choose to visit Prague! This historic bridge crosses the Vltava River and is hands down the biggest highlight of the city. Although overcrowded on a good day, the best way to see the bridge is once in the morning, once during the day, and once in the evening. The bridge boasts 16 arches and is lined with a total of 30 Baroque statues and figurines.

What: Historic Bridge named after King Charles IV

Where: Karlův most, 110 00 Praha 1, Czechia

Completely surrounded by the Old Town, Josefov is a time warp neighbourhood previously known as the Jewish ghetto. As one of my favourite neighbourhoods to wander in Prague, today you will find an abundance of antiques stores, clock stores, postcards and souvenirs. One of the must see places in Josefov is the Hebrew clock on top of the Old Town Hall – located underneath the regular clock and running backwards.

What: Former Jewish ghetto

Where: Josefov (neighbourhood)

8. Old Town Square

As the historic centre of Prague, one absolutely cannot miss a visit (or a few visits!) to the Old Town Square of Prague. The various architectural styles are evident in one 360 turn, with an abundance of village life and attractions to visit within a short distance of one another. The best way to experience the Old Town is to wander through the many alleyways and boutiques without a plan or direction.

What: Historic Square in the Old Town

Where: Staroměstské nám., 110 00 Praha 1-Staré Město, Czechia

9. Prague Astronomical Clock

Whilst in the Old Town be sure to wander over towards the large crowds to get a glimpse of the Astronomical Clock – full of legends and mystery.

What: Medieval Astronomical Clock

Where: Staroměstské nám. 1, 110 00 Praha 1-Staré Město, Czechia

10. Wenceslas Square

After a complete history lesson of the oldest parts of Prague, head towards Wenceslas Square in “New Town” for a look at  real Prague  or more accurately, where you’ll find locals in one of the busiest shopping areas in the city. It is here where you will find many international brands and designers.

What: Main shopping area

Where: New Town, 110 00 Prague 1, Czechia

11. Prague National Theatre

Onwards toward the Vltava River, make your way to the Prague National Theatre. Along the way you will pass by Cafe Louvre – one of the gorgeous time-warp cafes I would recommend a pitstop at for a coffee or hot chocolate. Another great cafe stop is right by the National Theatre, named Cafe Slavia, one of the oldest cafes in Prague where a pianist plays in the evenings, coat check is a must and smoking inside is still fashionable.

What: National Theatre to enjoy Opera & Ballet

Where: Národní 2, 110 00 Praha 1, Czechia

12. Vltava River

Walking along the Vltava River, this is undeniably one of my favourite strolls in all of Central Europe! Along the way you can marvel at the architecture to your left, whilst taking in the gorgeous views of the Vltava River on your right.

What: Longest river in the Czech Republic

13. Fred & Ginger’s Dancing House

Finally, end your walking tour of Prague at the must-see-to-be-believed Fred & Ginger “Dancing House”. Although out of the way, it is here where you will see the sprawling size of the city of Prague, view of the old trams as they pass by and take in the views of the Vltava River.

What: Architectural marvel

Where: Jiráskovo nám. 1981/6, 120 00 Praha 2-Nové Město, Czechia

Over to you! What were your highlights from Prague!?

Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. She now divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries.

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Best things to do and see in Prague

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and it is known as the “City of a Hundred Spires” or the “Golden City.” This European capital is one of the most visited destinations by tourists in the entire world and not only because of its beauty, but because it is practically a museum where tourists can walk through its neighborhoods and witness Prague’s historic, architectural and cultural legacy. Few cities in Europe can compete with all Prague has to offer, culturally and in terms of its many monuments. Prague’s many squares and corners all have a rich story to tell, full of interesting local history that will bring your holiday to life and ensure you a visit that you will remember for a lifetime. 

When it comes time to plan out what to see in a city that is this packed with amazing monuments, it’s more important than ever to have some criteria based on how much time you’ll have to explore, this way you get to see all those must-see places on your list without missing anything too important. If you end up doing a free tour in Prague (in the morning, afternoon, or evening) with a local guide, you will have the opportunity to see the places that are most significant or emblematic, places like Prague Castle, Charles’ Bridge, the Cathedral, the Old Town Square, Wenceslao Square, the Dancing House, the Prague Astronomical Clock, The Jewish Neighborhood, the Spanish Synagogue, or the John Lennon Wall.

If you’d like to know more about the free walking tours in Prague in Spanish or English that are available, get online where you can read other walkers’ opinions and reviews they left about their gurus and their guided tours and find the best one for you. 

Free walking tour near Prague

Others cities to visit after prague, find other guruwalks in prague, where are you traveling to.

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View from Prague

18/10/2023 by Magdalena Marsden

Is Prague walkable? + 5 easy walking routes from the centre

Getting Around

Everything you need to know about walking in Prague, including practical walking tips and 5 easy walking routes from the centre as recommended by a local.

Planning your trip to Prague can be a little overwhelming, especially if you try to plan what you want to visit and workout the distances in between and how it’s going to fit into your travel schedule. On top of that getting your head around the local public transport might be just too much, so I completely understand if you are wondering whether Prague is walkable and whether you can manage the whole of your trip on foot.

The good news is that most of the popular and the must see attractions in Prague are within the inner centre which is compact and easy to walk around as it’s fairly flat and level walking. Most attractions are also close together, so you can see quite a lot in a short space of time.

I walk pretty much everywhere in Prague – especially in the centre – because the perfect way (for me) to explore the town is to get lost (on purpose) and I seem to always find something new! Getting lost in Prague is my favourite way to finding new places, enjoying the architecture and exploring the streets.

In this blog post, I wanted to share with you my favourite walks in the town and also tips on how to make the most of your visit to Prague by exploring the town on foot.

Is Prague walkable? The quick answer

Yes, absolutely! Prague is one of the best walkable cities in Europe (one of the top 5 actually) and the centre of Prague is pretty compact. A lot of the centre of Prague which is about 3-5 miles wide, is also pedestrianised and without much public transport, so you don’t have a lot of choice, but to walk there anyway.

• Self-guided walking tour of David Cerny sculptures in Prague >>

Can I walk everywhere in Prague? (without using public transport)

If you are in Prague for just a few days and staying in the centre (or close by), you can pretty much see all the main attractions on the foot and you don’t need to use public transport if you don’t want to.

You might not want to walk all the way up to the Prague Castle or Vysehrad Castle Area, but the rest of the centre of Prague is perfectly manageable on foot.

Is Prague easy to walk around ? Is it flat or hilly?

The centre of Prague such as the Old Town Square, the quirky streets and squares around it, Jewish Quarter are fairly flat and easy to walk around. It’s also very easy to walk across the Charles Bridge and walk around Kampa Island and the lower part of Lesser Town.

But, the other main attraction – the Prague Castle is on top of a steep hill. The good news is that you can take a tram 22 or the historic Prague tram no 42 up to the top of the hill and walk down afterwards.

If you have more than just a few days in Prague, you might like to explore other parts of Prague and some are again on other hills – these include the famous Petrin Lookout Tower, the large Letna Park, the trendy area of Zizkov district or Vinohrady or the Vysehrad Castle area . Whilst you can walk to all of these places from the centre of Prague (they would be a good 45-60 minutes walk) you can also hop on public transport and get directly there and then walk back to the centre of Prague.

Best places in Prague for flat level walking

If you want to keep level and don’t want to do a lot of hill climbing, then the centre of Prague is the best place to start. You can walk around the Old Town Square, Jewish Quarter, the streets around the Kings route, the beautiful Charles Bridge and Kampa Island with green park and streets around it.

You can also walk around the Vltava River, which has various points of interest on both banks, including the islands in the middle. You can start the loop around the river anywhere, but if you start from Old Town Square walk towards the Jewish Quarter and then turn into Dvorakovo Nabrezi. This will take you through a lovely park and you get a great view of Prague Castle. Cross the river on Manesuv Most – Manes Bridge (one of the many historic bridges over Vltava River) and continue walking towards the Kampa Island (you can get some amazing photos of Charles Bridge from there).

You can walk all the way to Smichov along the river or cross the river at Most Legii (Legionaries Bridge) to see the Shooter’s Island, National Theatre and then walk on the other side of the river to the modern building called the Dancing House and even further to Smichov Naplavka where you can visit the popular farmer’s market on Saturdays. And of course you can zig zag through Charles Bridge at any point and change the walk to suit you.

Pedestrianised areas of Prague

The centre of Prague doesn’t have much public transport on the surface (e.g trams tend to go around the centre and there are no buses) and only few underground stops (Staromestska, Namesti Republiky, Mustek).

• Old Town Square – and some streets around such as Celetna Street
• The Kings route through Old Town Square to Charles Bridge
• Charles Bridge (no bikes, scooters allowed)
• Prague Castle Grounds
• Na Prikope Promenade (from Wenceslas Square to Municipal House at Peace Square)
• Wenceslas Square (part of)

A lot of narrow streets in the Old Town look like they are for pedestrians only (because they are so narrow or small), but cars are allowed in, so you still need to watch out for traffic.

How to orientate yourself in Prague

I know that a lot of people would use google maps on their phone, but a good guidebook with real map is also useful if you run out of battery or don’t want to use your phone data.

I also use the Czech version of google maps called Mapy.Cz which you can download on Google Play and it’s available for both android and apple users. The benefit of the mapy.cz is that once you have it as an app on your phone, it works even if you don’t have a signal or don’t have your data switched on.

There is also fairly good signage on streets in main areas to take you to the most visited tourist attractions. You can also find displayed local maps, especially as you walk into the underground stations.

What walking shoes are best for walking in Prague?

Prague has a lot of cobbled stones, stone paved pavements and old quirky streets, which are quite hard to walk on. The streets and some older pavements are also not perfectly straight and level, so if you don’t have comfortable padded shoes, you can feel every little stone as you walk.

Because of that, I’d really recommend packing good quality trainers or soft padded shoes with enclosed toes for walking during the day and keeping strappy sandals or pretty high heels for the evening if you want to go out to a restaurant, theatre or club.

I found that soft padded trainers are the best for me, rather than actual walking shoes which can be quite hard to walk on and I keep them for my hiking trails in the Czech countryside.

My favourite walking routes in central Prague

These routes are not marked in any way, but make a great walks through a lot of historic places, parks and they really give you the chance to experience the city in a different way. There are of course many walking routes outside the centre of Prague, but the ones I’m mentioning here are accessible straight from the Old Town Square or by riding a few stops on a tram.

Walking the king’s coronation route to Prague Castle (3 km – 45 minutes)

If you want to have a good hike up Prague Castle and experience history first-hand, then the best way is to take the route that was taken by all kings on their coronation day. It starts next to the historic Powder Gate , which used to be next to the original Prague castle where the king would start the procession from.

The route will take you through the Old Town Square, Small Square and then through streets Jilska and Husova to Karlova Street taking you directly to the famous Charles Bridge . Once you are on the other side of the river, continue through Mostecka Street to Malostranske Namesti and up by the side of the St. Nicholas Church into Nerudova Street. Once you reach the top, turn right into the street ‘Ke Hradu’ which will take you to the main entrance to the castle grounds.

This is quite amazing route that will take you through the historic centre of Prague, where practically every house has its own history and it’s interesting to look at and you can also stop at many of the coffee shops and restaurants along the way.

This walk is about 3 km long, but most of it is up the hill, so it can easily take 45-50 minutes. If you want to walk slowly to admire the views or stop somewhere on the way, plan 1-2 hrs for your walk, so it doesn’t feel rushed.

If you like the idea of this walk, but don’t fancy the steep climb to the castle, you can also take this route down from the castle after you take the Prague Castle Tour (using the first option to get there using a tram 22 to get to the Prazsky Hrad stop).

• How to get to Prague Castle – by public transport, walking or getting taxi >>

Petrin Hill Walk (2-3 km 30-45 minutes)

This is my favourite way to walk to Prague Castle from my flat in Prague without using any public transport.

You can start at Svandovo Divadlo tram stop (close to Ujezd on tram no. 9, 15, 12, 20) and walk first towards the Kinsky Chateau (now the National Folk Museum with a rather lovely cafe and ice-cream place). Take any of the paths up the hill and walk through the Kinsky Garden and the historic Hunger Wall into the Petrin gardens until you reach the park around the tall Petrin Lookout Tower . If you didn’t want to walk up the steep hill, take the Petrin Funicular from Ujezd to the top of the hill. Carry on walking next to the Hunger Wall to Strahov Monastery and then either down through the park and streets to the Lesser Town Square or continue onto the Prague Castle.

Letna Hill Walk (3-4 km – 45-60 min)

As you walk on the Petrin hill, you can see the next hill stretching behind the Prague Castle. You can either get to it from the Prague Castle or you can travel first to the Letenske Namesti (tram no. 12 from Malostranska or Malostranske Namesti – Lesser Town).

Follow the signs to the Technical Museum or Agricultural Musem and then carry on walking through the large Letna Park, stopping at the popular Letna Beer Garden for some refreshments. You can get some lovely views of most of the famous Prague Bridges over Vltava River from the Hannau Pavilion (also cafe & restaurant) and then continue to Chotkovy Sady (Chotek Park), Bilek Villa (house of a famous sculpturer) and through the Royal Garden to the Prague Castle.

• The complete guide to visiting Letna Park – What to see and do >>

Stromovka to Troja Walk (3km – 45 minutes)

This is a really lovely walk through a large Stromovka Park and Vltava islands and river banks. It’s a flat level walk until you get to the popular Prague Zoo – if you want to continue to the Botanical Garden then you need to add extra 20-30 minutes and a steep hike at the end.

Take any tram to the stop Vystaviste (no. 12, 17 etc) Exhibition Palace & Grounds and walk through the Stromovka Park following the signs to Prague ZOO. You’ll cross a river canal and then Vltava River itself and you’ll arrive at Troja Castle (now Art Gallery).

Prague Zoo entrance is just another 5 minutes walk and the Botanical Garden and Fata Morgana Greenhouse are further up the steep hill. You can return back to the centre by frequent bus from the front of the ZOO.

• What to see in Stromovka Park – The visitor’s guide to attractions >>
• The Guide to Botanical Gardens in Prague >>

Karlin to Holesovice Walk

This walk will take you over the newly opened pedestrian bridge over the Vltava river. It connects Karlin with Holesovice district in the spot where the entrance to the Holesovice Market is.

You can start from Florenc – Underground Station (line B) or tram (or walk there from the Peace Square via Na Porici street and follow the main street towards Karlin. You can make a detour by exploring the Karlin Army Barracks, Karlin Main Square with the beautiful church and the pretty streets around.

The new pedestrian bridge over the river Vltava is tucked behind the new residential buildings opposite the main Karlin Square. Once you walk across you’ll see the entrance to the Holesovice Market with different shops, cafes, outdoor street food tracks and art galleries.

You can carry on exploring the Holesovice district by having a coffee (or a lunch) in Vnitroblok (amazing inner houses space with cafe, art gallery and artist workshops) and walk to the Marina to see the newer houses developed within the old boat yards. At any point you can take tram back to the Prague centre or continue walking towards the Exhibition Ground and Stromovka Park.

This blog post was originally written on 18 October 2023 and last updated on 18 October 2023

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The Best of Prague City Walking Tours in 2024

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How long is the walking tour of prague, which is the best month for walking tours, it’s the most practical way to view the city, walks are inspiring and nourishing to the spirit, walking tours are cost-effective, walking is a good way to maintain physical fitness, wwii tour of prague, explorations of the old city and the jewish district, the castle district, golden lane, and prague castle walking tour, the evening ghost walking tours, book a walking tour today.

The Prague city walking tour takes you to some of the city’s most famous landmarks. And due to the Czech capital’s prominence as the largest city and capital of the Republic of Czech, as well as its historical significance, Praha is visited by millions of people every year.

One of the best ways to get acquainted with Prague and its numerous world-class sights is to sign up for one of the Prague free walking tours . Some of the best free walking tour experiences in Prague include crossing the Vltava River, which divides the city in two; it is a sight to behold for anybody interested in the Middle Ages or Baroque styles of architecture. 

Prague is a visual and auditory extravaganza that is best explored on foot.

Everything you desire to learn about the Prague city walking tour , one of the greatest ways to explore the attractions in Prague, is right here.

Walking tours in Prague have grown in popularity in the past few years, as they offer visitors a low-cost and local way to see the city.

A walking tour of Prague is approximately 2.5 hours in length. However, there isn’t a strict time frame, so you can take as much time as you need.

You can’t go wrong with a trip to the city any time of year, although spring and autumn in Prague offer the most pleasant weather for walking tours. Temperatures are typically pleasant, and crowds are less than in the height of summer . 

Prague’s parks showcase their many facets at their peak in the spring. It is possible to save money on travel and hotel costs by planning a trip during this time. Autumn is also a great time to take your time and see what Prague offers.

What Are the Advantages of Walking Tours

The variety of excursions seems to be expanding, with options ranging from vehicles to bikes, taxis to trains. A walking tour is the greatest way to see a city, despite the benefits of other modes of transport. Why? More may be seen and experienced on a walking tour than on any other. 

Travellers experience a profound sense of wonder as they soak in the splendour of nature at their own pace. Hearing about the history of the area you’re touring and the people who lived there from a knowledgeable and engaging guide may be a moving experience. 

Walking tours are more cost-effective than other types of travel, such as renting a car or using a bus or train, because you get around using your own set of legs. 

Walking has several positive effects, including strengthening bones and muscles, improving balance, reducing body fat, lowering the risk of disease, and relieving anxiety and stress. 

The Best Walking Tour In Prague

Learn about the Nazi occupation of the Czech capital on this informative and free walking tour. The emphasis will be on the years September 1938 through May 1945, the worst in Prague’s history.

• In the span of 2.5 hours, you’ll learn about one of Prague’s most eventful eras. 
• You’ll find out why Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia ahead of the official onset of WWII in 1939.
• Learn why the Czech Republic was so vital to the Third Empire.
• Find out why Prague wasn’t attacked as hard as other European capitals. 
• Discover the unsettling history of Prague in World War II with the help of your native guide.
• Uncover the great deeds and heartbreaking losses of the Czech nation.

What is Included

• A native guide
• Stop by St. Cyril and Methodius Church, where Czech paratroopers put up their final stand

This tour is one of the best free walking tours in Prague . You will explore the Jewish Quarter and the historic Old Town of Prague in just over an hour. You should definitely check out the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Municipal House, the stunning Astronomical Clock, and more!

• Explore Prague’s ageless and often dark history on an informative walking tour of the Old Town and historic Jewish District.
• Learn the back stories of Powder Tower’s home signs and statues. 
• Visit the City Hall and admire St. Nicholas Church’s exterior. 
• See the Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square.
• Visit the centre of the Old Town before heading to the ancient Jewish Ghetto, where the tour guide will entertain you with strange tales of Rabi Loew’s famous monster Golem.
• Discuss Jewish customs and rituals, and recount the works and life of Jewish author Franz Kafka.
• Check out the city’s synagogues, notably Europe’s oldest. 
• Learn where the Jewish Community Center was erected. 
• Take a trip to the Old Jewish Cemetery to learn more about the origins of the Jewish community in Prague.
• The tour takes 1.5 Hours
• Optional entrance to the Jewish Museum
• Optional hotel pickup
• A professional tour guide

This guided Prague Castle walking tour is ideal for anybody interested in an in-depth introduction to Prague Castle and the surrounding Castle District. Your native guide can advise you on the best ways to spend your time there.

Highlights 

• Visit famous landmarks, including the St. Vitus Church and the ancient Royal Palace.
• In roughly fifteen to twenty minutes, you’ll get a brief overview of the castle and some helpful tips in English.
• Take a stroll through the Castle District and see Prague Castle. 
• Complete coverage of the attractions and their background history 
• Visit the castle’s features and the elegant Castle District, including Golden Lane.
• The introduction and basic castle orientation in 15 minutes
• Map of the area

Join a guided tour around Prague’s Old Town walking tour and prepare to be scared. Discover the shadowy side of Prague and go where the average tourist rarely goes.

• Go exploring in the narrow lanes and back alleys of Prague.
• Explore the strange history and mysteries of the city.
• Hear tales of the ghosts that are claimed to haunt the city’s historic district.
• Hear terrifying accounts of the past that really happened
• Prepare to be enthralled by the city’s spooky underworld
• A local guide
• Ghost walking tour

When visiting the Czech capital, there’s no better way to get your bearings than with a good old-fashioned Prague city walking tour. In a matter of hours, learn a great deal about this breathtaking city by visiting historical landmarks, hearing stories from locals, and exploring off-the-beaten-path spots that are known only to natives. 

And the greatest part is that the walking tours in Prague are led by English-speaking guides, so you can experience the best free walking tour in Prague .

• Sightseeing

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2 Days in Prague + Map | Perfect Prague Itinerary

Prague is an enchanting city with a fabulous history, Czech culture, and social scene. Look no further than this perfect itinerary for  2 days in Prague  to see the highlights of the “City of a Hundred Spires”.

Map of things to see in Prague

DAY ONE | 2 Days In Prague Itinerary

Free walking tour of prague old town.

For a short 2 days in Prague, starting with a walking tour is a great way to give you a good feel of the city, get inspired by Czech history, and see if there are any highlights you’d like to see in more detail for the rest of the trip. 

Old Town Square Prague

Prague’s Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí in Czech) is the heart of the city that has seen many historical events dating back to the 10th century but now is awash with tourists looking to learn about days gone by. With a unique mix of architecture, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in different cities as you spin around and examine the different influences. 

Jan Hus Memorial

Located in the centre of Prague’s Old Town Square is the Jan Hus Monument which celebrates the 14th-century Hussite reformer, Jan Hus. He criticised the corruption of the Catholic Church, named a heretic, and was burned at the stake in 1415. His sermons later became the basis of reform across many parts of Europe and the symbolic monument was completed on the 500th anniversary of Jan Hus’ death.

Prague Old Town Hall And Astronomical Clock

Established in 1338 as the administrative seat for Prague’s Old Town, it is now used for ceremonies. Consisting of five medieval houses decorated with an astronomical clock, a gothic bay window, and a large rectangular tower with tremendous views over Prague.

I won’t lie, I was mesmerised by the  capabilities of the Prague Astronomical Clock  or Prague Orloj! The medieval mechanical gem was installed in 1410 and is thought to be the third oldest in the world and the oldest one that still working to this day. 

The Astronomical dial shows the position of the sun and moon, the calendar with medallions represents the months of the year and the ‘Walk of the Apostles’ happens every hour, on the hour from 9 am-9 pm where the 12 Apostles and other figures move including the skeleton of Death making the final gong. Crowds gather in preparation to get a good view of the show.

What Else To Look Out For Prague’s Old Town Square

• The Prague Meridien  is a brass strip set amongst the cobbled stones that worked in conjunction with Marian column to cast a shadow to show high noon. This was in place from 1652 to 1918 when the column was taken down in a demonstration.
• The House at the Minute,  where Franz Kafka lived at the end of the 19th century, is a typical example of Czech Renaissance townhouse architecture with sgraffito facade depicting biblical and mythological scenes.
• Kinský Palace  is a Rococo building, formerly a palace to the Kinský family until 1945 and now a National Gallery Prague.
• House of the Stone Bell  was built in the 14th century and is located next to Kinský Palace. This Gothic building was hidden behind a Baroque facade for many years and has now been reconstructed to its’ former glory. The building now shows exhibitions for the Prague City Gallery.
• Štorch House (At the Stone Virgin Mary)  was built in 1897. A fine example of Neo-Renaissance architecture with its murals of Saint Wenceslas painted by L. Novak.
• Týn Church  (Church of Our Lady before Týn) is a 14th-century Gothic church with beautiful unsymmetrical towers 80m high that make this a prominent landmark in Prague.
• St. Nicholas Church  is an impressive Baroque church that I visited again during my 2 days in Prague.

Other Points Of Interest On The Walking Tour Of Prague Old Town

• House of Golden Melon  is a cultural heritage monument built in the Gothic era but renovated in the 19th century in Renaissance style and is now used as an event space.
• Stumbling Stones  can be found across the city and around the world outside the last residence of Jews incarcerated in concentration camps.  Stumbling Stones  is an art project by German artist, Günter Demnig.
• Jewish Quarter  is a formerly walled ghetto with religious sites and museums depicting the plight of the Jews. The area, known as Josefov, is compact and well-preserved.

East Goulash In Strahov Monastery

Strahov Monastery Brewery, Klasterni Pivovar, is a stone’s throw away from Prague Castle. Whilst the monastery was founded in 1142, it was only in the 17th-century, was this set up a professional brewery by the abbot.

The building was restored and reopened in 2000, with the former carriage hall, now as a microbrewery. The restaurant and courtyard are the perfect resting spots to test out some of their finest creations. Guláš in Strahov Monastery Brewery is a famous dish that you must try paired with their Saint Norbert craft beer.

Walk Over The Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge is one of the most  famous landmarks in Europe . This stone Gothic bridge which connects two popular Prague districts, the Old Town and Lesser Town (Malá Strana), and is the oldest bridge still standing over the Vltava River.

DAY TWO | 2 Days In Prague Itinerary

Have breakfast in cafe louvre.

This may seem strange to dine in a French-inspired restaurant in Prague but Cafe Louvre is a must-visit.

Opened in 1902, it has been frequented by Albert Einstein and Franz Kafka. The decor and retains the elegant cafe vibes, attentive staff, and the breakfast hit the spot.

Hunt For Crazy Art And Sculptures In Prague

As a big fan of unusual art, Prague is the perfect place to find it. Check out The Idiom in Prague Municipal Library, Hanging Man (Sigmund Freud), and the Head of Franz Kafka by David Cerny.

If you want to discover some of the crazy sculptures in Prague , I recommend you make a list of their locations to ensure you don’t miss them whilst you are self-guiding in your 2 days in Prague.

Visit The Jewish Quarter

After the brief overview of the Jewish Quarter (Josefov) on the Old Town Walking Tour, I felt this area is deserving a morning to explore in more detail.

VISITORS INFORMATION:

• Jewish Quarter is located in  Praha 1
• Open every day except Saturday and Jewish holidays: Summer 9 am-6 pm, Winter 9 am-4.30 pm
• Buy tickets for individual sites or a day ticket to cover all

Pinkas Synagogue

The Pinkas Synagogue was built in 1535 making it the second oldest synagogue in Prague. It is a memorial to the 77,297 Jewish victims of the Shoah from the Czech lands. The names painted on the walls are a stark reminder of the horrific genocide in WWII. 

On the first floor of Pinkas Synagogue, there is a permanent exhibition dedicated to children imprisoned and incarcerated at Terezin Ghetto. In secret, a Jewish Art Professor at the camp schooled the children helping them express their emotions through poems and drawings. Their work was hidden in a suitcase undiscovered by the Nazis and is displayed at the Pinkas Synagogue. Quite an emotional exhibition.

Old Jewish Cemetery

Enter the Old Jewish Cemetary by the Pinkas Synagogue where 100,000 Jews are buried between 1439 to 1787. You may wonder why the cemetery is jam-packed with 12,000 tombstones in a small area and not particularly well-laid out.

Prague Jews were not permitted to be buried outside the ghetto, and the Jewish faith do not allow moving the dead. For this reason, the deceased were buried on top of each other over the years creating about 12 layers, hence why the cemetery can be seen rising above the ground.

Old-New Synagogue

The building of the Old-New Synagogue was completed in 1270 making this the oldest building in the Jewish Town and one of Europe’s oldest synagogues that is still in use today. The Gothic structure is simple in design with two naves in the interior. Legend has it that the remains of the Golem are to be found in the attic of this synagogue, this area is restricted to visitors.

Maisel Synagogue

This Renaissance Synagogue was built in 1592 by Mordechai Maisel, mayor of the Jewish community. It was destroyed by the ghetto fire in 1689 and after several attempts to rebuild, it was finally replaced with the neo-Gothic version of the Maisel Synagogue in 1893-1905.

Maisel Synagogue is now a museum displaying artifacts, textiles, manuscripts, and books from the Bohemia and Moravia Jews between the 10th and 18th centuries. It is laid out in chronological order so if this is of interest, give yourself enough time to read how their plight unfolded.

Spanish Synagogue

Dating from 1868,  the Spanish Synagogue was the last house of prayer built in the Jewish Quarter. It is described as the most beautiful synagogue in Europe and you will see why when you enter. The eye-catching gold and detailed Moorish design with glowing stained glass are inspired by the Alhambra in Granada. It is worth a visit!

Nest to the Spanish Synagogue, have a look at the surreal  statue of Franz Kafka by Sculptor Jaroslav Róna .

See Little Venice And The Lennon Wall

Branching from the River Vltava, the canals of Little Venice are a delight to wander around with the Baroque houses and medieval mills. As you cross the bridges in this charming, lesser-known neighborhood, check out the love locks, one of the many cities where romantic gestures from couples are displayed. You can take a  cruise through the Devil’s Channel  to see the sights from the water’s perspective and hear more about the history.

Cross the Čertovka Water Wheel Bridge to find the  John Lennon Wall . You can’t miss it with the collection of tourists but the bright display of graffiti with Beatles song lyrics is pretty cool. Following the murder of John Lennon in 1980, an image of the singer was painted on the wall, and ever since it has become a place for political marking through the revolution. Now the Lennon Wall is a symbol of love and peace where you are invited to contribute along with artists making this a forever-changing piece of art.

Explore Kampa Park

Kampa museum.

This modern art gallery focuses on Central European but predominantly Czech artists. Located in the restored Sova Mills, there is an outdoor exhibition with unique sculptures which is free to wander around. The indoor exhibition with a large collection from František Kupka has an entry fee attached, the work is top class so I’d recommend it!

Giant Crawling Babies

Just outside the Kampa Museum are  David Černý’s Giant Crawling Babies  which seem to act as climbing frames for kids. The bronze sculptures look pretty strange but if you like controversial works of art, they’re a must-see.

Yellow Penguins

Created by Cracking Art Group in collaboration with Kampa Museum, you can spot 34  yellow penguins   that light up at night. Made from recycled materials, the message is about the issue of climate change and how wildlife habitats are being threatened.

Other Points Of Interest In Kampa Park

• Werich Villa  was once the home of Czech actor and writer Jan Werich who lived in this 17th-century mansion for 40 years until he died in 1980. After being severely flood-damaged in 2002, it is now renovated acting as an arts centre, and holds regular exhibitions and performances.
• Lichtenstein Palace  (Lichtenštejnský palác) belonged to the Princely Family of Liechtenstein and was the first large Baroque building in Prague. The stunning location is the venue for concerts, ballets, and operas.

Rooftop Beer In Prague Is A Must

You really are spoiled for choice with roof-top bars in Prague and my chosen one was T-Anker. You can reach the bar via the lift in the shopping mall Kotva. The terrace is ginormous, the biggest one in Prague, and luckily, got a table at the edge to make the most of the fabulous views of the Old Town and Prague Castle.

Whilst having a huge range of bottled beers from around the world, T-Anker supports microbreweries with some fine affordable Czech beers. You will pay a little more here I found than in other places but that view is worth a few extra korunas!

Located  nám. Republiky 656, 110 00 Staré Město  // Opens 11 am

Traditional Czech Lunch At Mlejnice Restaurant

With rave reviews, the Mlenjnice Restaurant seemed like the obvious choice to sample Pork Knuckle, a traditional Czech dish. You will find this rustic eaterie down a side street in the Old Town. The interior is authentically decorated with old farm machinery. Most importantly, the quality of the food was top notch and my mission to try the Pork Knuckle was a big success! If you are looking for a more  vegan experience in Prague , there are loads of restaurants to choose from!

Located  Kožná 488, Staré Město, Praha 1  // Open 11am-11.30pm

Watch The Sunset From Rieger Park

Sunsets never get boring! Head to Rieger Park (Riegrovy sady) in the Vinohrady district for a stunning sunset behind Prague Castle. The park has many wooded areas and grassy meadows but the hill makes this the perfect place to rest your weary feet and watch the magic happen as the sun sets behind Prague Castle.

The gardens in Rieger Park date back to 1904 and were mostly vineyards. There is a classical 1920s lookout tower that has been renovated and is now a restaurant. Enjoy some of the Czech ale whilst you wait from the Riegrovy Sady Beer Garden, what’s not to like?

Located in  Praha 2  // Beer garden opens daily from noon-2 am (April-October)

Nightcap At Illegal Beer Pivotéka

We didn’t go looking for the Pivotéka Illegal Beer, it is conveniently located across from our final resting place at  DREAM Hostel Prague  in Praha 1.

OK don’t get the wrong idea, this bar is definitely above board. The name derives from the Czech prohibition days and the simple decor certainly sets the scene. It’s a small establishment with 2 rooms, 1 with a bar and the other housing 6 tables. They serve top-class IPAs at super cheap prices and the friendly staff is more than happy to talk you through their craft beers to find one to suit your taste. We got sucked in and managed to try and few, it would be rude not to! When in Prague….

Located at  Ve Smečkách, Nové Město  // Open daily from 5 pm

FAQs To Visit Prague In 2 Days

Where to stay in prague.

The Old Town of Prague is the most centrally located and is one of the most popular areas for first-timers along with New Town and Mala Strana. With several  hotels in Prague  to choose from, here are some of the best-rated. 

BUDGET –  DREAM Hostel Prague  is a new and quirky residence that feels more like a boutique hostel. Located next to Wenceslas Square, you are 2 km away from the centre of Prague and the Jewish Quarter. //  Read my Review of Dream Hostel Prague  

MID-RANGE  –  Hotel Elite Prague  is a 4-star Baroque townhouse offering rooms with antique furniture and hand-painted wooden ceilings. There is a restaurant with a courtyard terrace, spa, hot tub, and sauna. The hotel is located a 10-minute walk from Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square, and Charles Bridge.

LUXURY  –  Aria Hotel Prague  is a music-themed residence giving you all tastes from Beethoven to Blues. This 5-star boutique hotel is located in the historical Mala Strana quarter in the historic centre of Prague.

Top tours In Prague

You will never be short of things to do with 2 days in Prague with a range of tours to cover culture, history, food and drink and some amazing day trips that will make you wish you were staying longer!

• Small group Sedgeway Tour of Prague
• Prague Ghost Tour: Dark Shadows of the Old Town
• 2-hour Lunch Cruise on the Vltava River, Prague
• 3-Hour Alternative Walking Tour of Prague
• Prague Beer Bath with Unlimited Beer
• Day Trip from Prague: Bohemia & Saxon Switzerland Full-Day Tour 
• Adrenaline-seeking adventures in Prague

How To Reach Prague

• Find amazing flight deals with  Skyscanner
• Explore the  bus and trains on Omio
• Hire your own wheels with  Discover Cars
• Go on a  group tour to Prague with G Adventures

Best Time To Go To Prague For The Weather

Prague is an all-year-round destination, although it depends on your preferred weather conditions and if you are opposed to crowds.

Generally, before and after summer are the best times to go. The weather from mid-April to May and September to mid-October is mild with a glimmer of sun. There will be fewer crowds and lower accommodation costs.

If you’re visiting Prague in the summer, you can expect glorious sunshine, more crowds, and the costs to hike up in the peak season.

Winter is fabulous in Prague to see the Christmas markets and get in the festive mood. Expect very cold weather though, this tends to keep visitors at bay in January and February so you can get some great deals on accommodation.

Best Time To Go To Prague For Festivals

• JANUARY  –  Short Film Festival
• FEBRUARY  –  Malá Inventura
• MARCH  –  FebioFest,  Prague’s international film festival /  Irish Music Festival  on St. Patrick’s Day
• APRIL  – On 30th April, celebrate Čarodějnice, or Witches’ Night, an old Czech tradition with bonfires in public parks, drum circles, and plenty of food and beer.
• MAY  –  Prague Beer Festival  
• JUNE  –  Prague Spring International Music Festival  /  Minibrewery Festival  at Prague Castle
• JULY  –   Prague Proms  is held in concert halls and open-air venues across the city throughout July /  Prague Folklore Days  to enjoy folk dancing and Czech culture.
• AUGUST  –   Prague’s Pride Festival  /  Castle-Château Night  is held at castles to bid goodbye to summer.
• SEPTEMBER  – Prague’s  Burgerfest  is the largest festival of burgers and barbecues in Europe.
• OCTOBER  – A 3-day event celebrating fashion and design with  Designblok  / See Prague light up for 3 nights during the  Signal Festival . 
• NOVEMBER  – On 11th November, start drinking wine at 11:11 and eating the traditional dish of goose at the  Feast of St. Martin  / 17th November marks the Velvet Revolution protest in 1989, and Czechs celebrate the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day with a candle-lighting ceremony in Wenceslas Square.
• DECEMBER  – Christmas Markets throughout the month / New Year’s Eve is a big party!

PIN FOR YOUR 2 DAY PRAGUE TRIP

Disclosure : This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you click a link and purchase something that I’ve recommended. It comes at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.

I'm a content creator for She Wanders Miles ♡ Digital marketer, photographer, hiker, and nature lover ♡ Passion for slow, sustainable and responsible travel ♡ Join me in discovering our beautiful world across 7 continents.

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I love how detailed this post is about visiting Prague! Such a helpful resource! Also love the little map thing, so easy to find things 🙂

So happy you find this a useful resource for your Prague travels, the map does make it super easy!

Looks like a fabulous itinerary! I’d esp love to visit a brewery! I am sure the beer is fantastic!

This is a fantastic itinerary for one of my favourite cities. All the more so, as there is so much to see, so it’s hard to condense everything into a two day itinerary. Another cool place in the city to check out would be Vyšehrad, the medieval fort south of the centre, which offers a nice slice of local history.

I walked my little socks off to cram all this into 2 days. I would be delighted to go back and explore more of the city as I really enjoyed it so your recommendation of Vyšehrad is on the list!

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Walking Tour of Prague

Old town, jewish quarter, and charles bridge.

The tour starts at Powder Tower and ends at John Lennon Wall.

This is the only free tour in Prague that covers all the main sights of Prague's historical center in 3 hours.

You will learn what the name Prague means, when and how was the Astronomical clock created, and why Rock'n'Roll saved Czechoslovakia from Communism.

We will start in front of the medieval city gate known as the Powder Tower, then visit the haunted church of St. James, and go see the Astronomical Clock and the Old Town Square. 

To feel like true Praguers, we will take a break in one of the cafes in the Old City.

After that, we will enter the Jewish Quarter, cross Charles Bridge, and finish at the John Lennon Wall.

Searching Availability...

Our groups are a maximum  of 25 people per tour guide .

That way you can hear your guide well, see more things on the way, and have more opportunities to ask questions.

All of our guides are LICENSED professionals with a Czech sense of humor, which we hope you will like!

We are looking forward to seeing you on our FREE TOUR!

SIGHTS WE COVER:

• Powder Tower
• Municipal House
• House of the Black Madonna
• Charles university
• The Estates Theatre
• Church of St. James
• Old Town Square
• Astronomical Clock
• Jan Hus Monument
• The Jewish Quarter
• Franz Kafka Statue
• Charles Bridge
• St. John of Nepomuk Statue
• Johannes Keplers house
• John Lennon Wall

COST:  This tour operates on the pay-what-you-wish model.

WHAT IS THE (OPTIONAL) BOOKING FEE FOR?

Due to the nature of the pay-what-you-like model, it is often very difficult for operators to know how many people with bookings will in actuality show up to a tour.

The booking fee is used to guarantee a spot on the tour.

100 Spires City Tours uses the number of guests who have paid the booking fee to gauge the number of independent, free-lance tour guides to offer to lead any one particular tour, and in order to maintain small group sizes.

While a partner company's intention is to accommodate all guests, those with a guaranteed booking will be given priority, in the event of a tour guide shortage or other unforeseen occurrences.

The booking fee is used by the organization to offset the costs of organizing the tours, including reservation system fees, city taxes, and the costs of providing general customer service.

The fee is refundable in full if you cancel within 24 hours of the start of a tour.

This post covers the interesting things to see and do in Prague's Old Town district, formatted as a walking tour.

The walk is just over a kilometer - or a little less than a mile. 

If you're looking for guided tours of Prague, check out our post listing free walking tours . 

What is the Old Town?

Old Town is the picturesque historical center of Prague, covered in cobblestone streets, interesting architecture, and the city's most well-known landmarks.

You'll find layers of history and change all throughout Old Town, as Gothic buildings change toward Renaissance and Art Nouveau.

Even the famous Astronomical Clock has multiple numerals and symbols for telling time throughout the centuries!

Alternatively, you may also want to consider a self-guided exploration game that allows you to learn about Old Town Prague while attempting to solve a mystery!

HOW TO GET HERE

Our starting point is the Powder Tower, located at 5 Náměstí Republiky ( use this map ), right where Old Town and New Town meet.

It’s along the busy Na Prikope Street, so there are lots of ways to reach this spot by public transit.

The closest metro stations are Náměstí Republiky (Line B) and Můstek (Lines A, B)

Trams #6, #8, and #26 also stop at Náměstí Republiky. Trams #9 and #5 stop at Jindřišská.

There is an easy walk from the train stations Hlavní Nádraží and Masarykovo Nádraží to the tower as well.

THINGS TO SEE IN OLD TOWN PRAGUE

Below are 20 things to see or do in Old Town Prague. We've written it in geographical order so that you can also use this as a self-guided map. 

Click the image for a larger interactive map.

Our tour begins from the Powder Tower and ends at the Charles Bridge and includes stops in the Old Town Square and the Old Jewish Quarter.

The route is roughly 1 km (1.6 miles) and should take you between 60-90 min (unless you make extended stops).

TIP: We also offer a GPS-led audio tour of Old Town Prague and the Jewish Quarter (€1.99) that is more detailed than the content below.

Here's a sample.

There is no schedule (take this tour anytime you wish).

• Purchase an  audio tour from our Booking Page (scroll down to Prague).
• You’ll receive a confirmation email with a .pdf, Google Map link, and audio tour.
• Enjoy the tour(s).

1. Powder Tower

nám. Republiky 5, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia

The Powder Tower is the current and historic entrance to Old Town Prague, which was built in 1475. 

The Gothic structure is one of the original gates in the wall that used to divide Old Town from New Town.

Coronation processions would start here and cross the Charles Bridge before continuing toward Prague Castle. 

If you want to climb the Powder Tower, 100 CZK gets you a ticket, sold one floor up, to see a view of the differences between Old Town and New Town. 

• Price: 100 CZK
• Hours: 10:00 am - 20:00
• Find out more information . 

TIP: 2 walking tour companies start their free tours of Old Town from Powder Tower. Tours depart daily at 10:30 am, 11:00 am, and 15:30 (3:30 pm).

2. Municipal House

The Municipal House is connected to the Powder Tower, though their architectural styles are very different. 

There’s a concert hall inside, and if you’re a fan of Art Nouveau, it is a must-see. The rest of the building is accessible by booking a tour, available in multiple languages. 

• Price: 290 CZK
• Hours: 10:00 am - 20:00 
• Find More Information . 

TIP : You can even have a 3-course dinner in the Municipal House !

3. Casa Cubista / House at the Black Madonna

Ovocný trh 19, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia

The House at the Black Madonna is an example of Cubist architecture – a style better known to many in painting than in design, but this building offers Cubism inside and out. 

There aren’t many buildings of this kind in Old Town, but it was on the cutting edge, architecturally, of its time.

The Black Madonna statue is a remnant of the Baroque building that once stood on this corner.

The gallery space here is operated by the Museum of Decorative Arts.

• Price: 150 CZK
• Hours: 10:00 am - 18:00 from Wednesday - Sunday | 10:00 am - 19:00 on Tuesdays
• Find More Information .  

TIP : You can learn more about Cubist and Art Nouveau architecture on this tour .

4. Estates Theater

Železná, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia

The Estates Theater is most famous for its connection with Mozart, who personally conducted the premiere of his opera Don Giovanni here.

Today, the Estates is part of the Czech Republic’s National Theater, which hosts performances daily .

You can find theater, ballet, and opera, with a focus on Mozart.

5. Karolinum - Charles University

Ovocný trh 560/5, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia

Charles University is named after the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, who got permission from the Pope to found a university here in 1348. 

It continues to operate today, making it one of the oldest universities in Europe.

Jan Hus, the founder of the splinter Hussite religion, was a rector here. Students took part in the battle on Charles Bridge during The Thirty Years War.

It was even home to Albert Einstein’s physics department.

6. Celetna Street

Celetna Street gets its name from a style of bread that used to be made here. Bakeries, other trades, and the homes of influential guilds were located here in the 10th century. 

One trade that’s doing strangely well on Celetna Street today – is wax museums.

You’ll pass three in the short distance from the House at the Black Madonna to Old Town Square. 

• Waxworks and Chocolate Museum
• Price: 390 CZK Adult | 340 CZK Child & Senior
• Hours: 9:30 am - 19:00 
• More Information Here .

Madame Tussauds

• Celebrity Wax Museum
• Price: 290 CZK 
• Hours: 10:00 am - 21:00 

Museum of Torture and Torture Instruments

• Historical Museum with Waxworks
• Price: 160 CZK

7. Old Town Square

Staroměstské nám., 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia

Our first stop in Old Town Square is the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn. 

In medieval Prague, the priest of this church was also the priest of Charles University, and coronation marches would stop there for representatives of that university to swear oaths to the new king.

Originally a Catholic church, it later served the Hussites, with Jan Hus preaching here.

NOTE : Via Musica , a service that sells tickets to music events all over town, is on the path just to the left side of the church. 

8. Kinsky Palace

Staroměstské nám. 1/12, 110 15 Staré Město, Czechia

This 18th-century Rococo building was once a private palace for the Kinsky family and subsequently held schools, shops, and other public services.

Today it’s part of the Czech National Gallery, which operates from several sites.

• Price: 150 CZK 
• Hours: 10:00 am - 18:00 from Tuesday - Sunday

9. Jan Hus Monument

This monument is one of the newest additions to the Square – it was added in 1915, on the 500th anniversary of Hus’ death.

Nearby, you can see where the column with the Virgin Mary used to stand – on the ground, slightly back toward where you entered the Square, is a diagonal strip that cuts through the grid of stones. 

At noon, the column would cast a shadow along this line, and it was used to determine the exact local time. 

10. Storch’s House / House at the Stone Virgin Mary

Staroměstské nám. 16, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia

This building was named when many travelers through the streets weren’t literate – when buildings were named after distinctive elements of its façade.

The House at the Stone Virgin Mary, however, tends to be more noticed for its Art Nouveau painting of King Wenceslas than for its Virgin Mary statue.

It is the same King Wenceslas that is featured in the old Christmas song. 

11. Prague Astronomical Clock

Staroměstské nám. 1, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia

The astronomical clock has been a spectacle since 1410. 

The outermost ring of symbols has Gothic numerals reflecting the older form of local time. Modern time, then Babylonian time can be seen in smaller circles.

When the clock hits the hour between 9:00 am and 23:00, figures come to life for a quick pageant, including apostles and a trumpeter.

You can climb the clock tower , which is connected to Old Town Hall. 

You can also find Prague Underground Tours , which offers a broader view of the underground, a few steps further down on your left at 11 Male Namesti, inside the Art Passage.

12. St. Nicholas’ Church

Staroměstské nám. 1101, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia

St. Nicholas’ Church has an even more convoluted religious history than many of its neighbors – it’s gone from being Catholic to Orthodox and then to Hussite.

Today it is, like many others, a concert venue. 

While most people in the country don’t claim a religion at all, its churches are historic sites with incredible acoustics.

13. Maisel Synagogue

Maiselova 10, 110 00 Praha 1, Czechia

As historic as most of Old Town’s buildings are, Maisel Synagogue is one of the very few remaining landmarks of the old Jewish Quarter. 

During the Nazi occupation, this building was used to store property stolen from local Jewish families. 

Today, this building is part of the Jewish Museum, which includes historical exhibitions at several sites as well as tours of the neighborhood. 

• Price: 500 CZK Adult
• Hours: Open at 9:00 am daily, except Saturdays and Jewish Holidays
• Find More Info .

TIP : The Jewish Museum is included on a Prague City Pass .

14. Spanish Synagogue

U Sv. Ducha 9, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia

This is a 19th-century building standing on the site of what used to be called the Old Synagogue, built in the 12th century.

The “Spanish” part of the name comes from the Moorish style it’s designed in, and the beauty of all that detail alone makes it worth going inside.

It’s also home to another location for the Jewish Museum . 

15. Franz Kafka Monument

Dušní, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia

Franz Kafka’s face is everywhere in Prague.

This man, who is commemorated all over this city, published very little during his lifetime, wrote only part-time, died at age 40, and left his remaining work to a friend who he asked to burn it all unread.

His friend decided to publish it instead. 

Kafka is honored here because he grew up in the neighborhood, attended Charles University, and joined Albert Einstein at salons. 

16. Jewish Town Hall

Maiselova 250, 110 00 Josefov, Czechia

The Jewish Town Hall is another philanthropic contribution by Mordecai Maisel of the Maisel Synagogue.

Part of Jewish separation in cities like Prague was having some of their own government, including mayors and judges, and Josefov is still a separate administrative division within Prague today. 

17. Old-New Synagogue

Maiselova 18, 110 01 Josefov, Czechia

The Old-New Synagogue is the oldest working synagogue in Europe, built in 1270.

This one is called “Old-New” because when it was built, there was already the Old Synagogue on the site where the Spanish Synagogue is now, but lots of newer ones have also been built since.

The Gothic design continues into a much more elaborate interior. 

18. Old Jewish Cemetery

Široká, 110 00 Josefov, Czechia

Headstones in the Old Jewish Cemetery are spaced unusually close, reflecting centuries of burial in gradually elevating layers - soil has been added repeatedly to make space for new burials.

Dates span from 1439 to 1786, at which point much of Europe shifted to using cemeteries outside their city limits for fear of spreading diseases. 

Visitors can only enter the cemetery with tours run by the Jewis h Museum .

TIP : The Jewish Museum and Old Jewish Cemetery are included on a Prague City Pass .

19. Rudolfinum

Alšovo nábř. 12, 110 00 Josefov, Czechia

This is the home of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. On top of its multiple performance spaces, it also houses a contemporary art hall. 

The largest music venue here is Dvorak Hall, named for the late 19th/early 20th-century composer, who has a monument that sits opposite the Rudolfinum. 

20. Charles Bridge

Karlův most Praha 1, 110 00 Praha 1, Czechia 

This is the oldest and for a long time the only bridge across the Vltava River. Construction began in 1357 by its namesake, Charles IV. 

The bridge connects Old Town with the Lesser Quarter and Prague Castle. 

The statues along it are a 17th and 18th-century addition, mostly, although the ones you see now are replicas. 

If you're interested in exploring Prague Castle, we have a post that lists Castle Tours here . There are free walks that begin from Charles Bridge. 

We also have a more general list of excellent guided walking tours in Prague . 

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Ultimate Guide to Old Town Prague with Free Maps (2023)

Old Town Prague is one of the most beautiful areas in all of the city . With its Gothic architecture, colorful buildings, cobblestone streets, intricate spires, and of course, beautiful Baroque Halls and Churches – there’s no doubt it’s one of the must-see places in Prague .

Also called by locals as the Staromestske Namesti , Old Town Prague is the center of the city and chances are, if you’re visiting Prague, you have already set your eyes of discovering all the wonders and sights of this area in the city.

If that’s the case, this guide is exactly what you’re looking for. We discuss all the important facts and things to know when visiting Old Town Prague – from its history , how to get to there , where to stay , and finally, all the best things to do in Old Town Prague . 

At the end of the article, we also provide you with a free map of Old Town Prague and all the sights that we have mentioned in this guide so that you can simply download and import it into your google maps for future reference in case you want to go on a self-guided walking tour !  

Contents hide History of Old Town Prague How to Get to Old Town Prague Where to Stay in Prague Old Town Best Things to Do in Prague Old Town Walking Tour Map of Old Town Prague Final Thoughts on Old Town Prague

History of Old Town Prague

Old Town Prague has always played an important role in world history as early as the 10th century . It was once the center of world trade for different products like spices, gold, wheat and so much more.

A few centuries later, in the 1300’s, it became the imperial seat of the Catholic Church when King Wenceslaus (in reference to Wenceslaus Square ) was elected the Pope, or back then, what was called the Holy Roman Emperor.

More recently, in the second world war , Prague did not really suffer much air strike damage except for when the Allied Forces mistook the Prague for Dresden and accidentally dropped bombs in the 1940’s. 

The Czech Resistance held strong against the Nazi Army and most of the damage in the city actually happened in Old Town Prague when there was a standoff with the German military .

Today, in the 21st century, Prague is known to be one of the most powerful and beautiful capitals in Europe . People from all over the world travel far and wide to visit its many wonders such as Old Town Prague, the Prague Castle, New Town, and all of Prague’s trendy neighbourhoods.

How to Get to Old Town Prague

Travel to old town prague via metro.

Wherever you are in the city, it’s easy to travel to Old Town Prague via the metro or subway. There are two metro stations you should be looking at to get you to Old Town Prague.

The first metro station to look at is called Mustek , which serves Metro Lines A and B . From this metro station, it is a 5-6 minute walk to Old Town Prague.

The second metro station you can arrive at is called Staroměstská , which serves Metro Line A . From this metro station, it is a 3 minute walk to Old Town Prague. 

Travel to Old Town Prague via Tram

At first, the tram system in Prague may feel quite overwhelming when you first look at it. It’s probably one of the only cities in the world which has such a developed AND historical tram system.  

As overwhelming as it may be, we’re here to tell that if you want to get the closest to Old Town Prague there are two tram stations you should be looking at.

The first tram station that gets you the nearest to Old Town Prague is Náměstí Republiky which serves tram lines 6, 8, 15, 26, 91, 94, and 96 . 

From this tram station, it is a 7 minute walk to Old Town.

The second tram station that gets you the nearest to Old Town Prague is similar to the metro stop we mentioned earlier, that is, Staroměstská . It serves tram lines 17, 18, and 93 . 

From this tram station, it is simply a 5 minute walk to Old Town Prague.

Travel Old Town Prague via Bus

Although there are various bus lines that go to Old Town Prague , the nearest one to the square is Bus 194 , which literally drops you off to the Old Town itself, near the Old Town City Hall and Astronomical Clock.

Where to Stay in Prague Old Town

Below we have compiled a few hotels near Old Town Prague . They are all within walking distance to the square and have various room options for couples, families, and big groups. We have also given the budget expected for each hotel .

– Hostel Franz Kafka : The most budget friendly option at 100 meters away from the Square at Prague Old Town . This hostel offers double rooms with shared bathroom with  rates starting at 54 euros/night .

– Gorgeous Prague Rooms : Another budget friendly option situated 200 meters away from Old Town Prague’s Square . This historical building offers rooms with rates starting at 66 euros/night .

– Hotel U Tří Bubnů : Set at the heart of Old Town Square itself, this beautiful hotel building, which is classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site , offers rooms (including breakfast) with rates starting at 95 euros/night .

– Hotel Dar : Also at the heart of the Old Town Square itself, this historical hotel offers a rooftop garden with sweeping views of Old Town Prague . Rooms with breakfast have rates starting at 98 euros/night .

– Old Town Boutique Apartments : A thoughtfully-designed studio a few meters away from Old Town Prague , this apartment offers v iews of the Square, a terrace, and private kitchen with rates starting at 100 euros/night .

– Apartments by BHG : Another thoughtfully designed studio at the heart of Old Town Prague . This is our favorite pick because the hotel offers various apartment rooms with views of the square, a buffet breakfast, and a kitchenette with rates starting at 125 euros/night .

– Apartments Old Town Square 27 : Our final top pick at Prague Old Town , this two bedroom and four bedroom apartment is perfect for bigger groups of up to 7 people. It offers the most incredible view of the Astronomical tower, a balcony, and a private kitchen with affordable rates starting at 135 euros/night .

Best Things to Do in Prague Old Town

Enter old town prague from powder tower.

Located in the eastern corner of Old Town Prague is the historical Powder Tower . It’s one of the most important gates in Prague and a good way to know whether you’re in the Old Town or New Town.

Originally constructed in 1475, this dark Gothic structure, that resembles the same architecture in the Charles Bridge Towers, is one of the 13 original gates that surrounds Old Town Prague. It was initially used as a storage place for gunpowder in the 1600’s, hence, why it is called Powder Tower.

The tower also provides sweeping views of Old Town Prague and the rest of the city. But only if you don’t mind climbing its 186 steps.

Go Shopping at Havel Market

Located on the other side of Old Town Prague is a local’s gem called Havel Market . Here you can find gifts and unique souvenirs to take back home to your family from baked goods, wood craft, toys, spices, leather bags, and other local, artisan goods.

What’s even better is that Havel Market is an  open air market so it’s a pleasure to roam around whatever the season is. In winter , they even sell hot wine in one of the stalls. 

All in all, this market is the place to go if you’re looking for true, local, and authentic Czech gifts to bring home to your loved ones.

Enjoy the Views from Old Town Hall

One of the best views in the city , climbing up to the top of the Old Town Hall is a definite must-do when visiting Prague Old Town Square.

From up above, you’ll be able to see all the orange-colored roofs of Prague Old Town and its Square as well as the churches and spires around. You can even get a sight of Charles Bridge, the river, and the famed Prague Castle. 

To ensure you get a chance to enter the tower, make sure you  book your tickets in advance . It’s 10 euros per person and you can book via this link .

Listen to the Astronomical Clock Every Hour

On the Southern end of the Old Town Hall is the famous astronomical clock , which rings every hour . As early as 30 minutes before , you will probably see tourists gather around the clock to hear the bells chime, listen to the trumpets sound, and watch the 12 apostles do their mechanical walk through the windows.

Appreciate the Beauty of St. Nicholas Church

Although not as popular as the neighbouring Church of Our Lady Before Tyn, the Baroque St. Nicholas Church is still worth a visit. 

Situated on the northwest side of the square, it’s a beautiful example of how the Prague Old Town Square blends together different architectural styles, comprising of Baroque and Gothic.

The Church is open to public and free to enter. It even hosts classical music concerts on some days of the week if you’d like to enjoy local musicians and the local culture.

Outside of the Church, you can find horse carriages that can tour you around Prague Old Town Square .

Marvel at the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn

The Church of Our Lady Before Tyn is perhaps the most notable structure in all of Prague Old Town . With its intricate spires and Baroque architecture, it’s a top attraction of the city that actually  took centuries (14th to 17th century) to construct , design, and complete.

You can enter the Church for free or with a voluntary payment of 25 CZK. 

Learn the History of the Jan Hus Monument

Right at the center of Old Town Prague is the monument dedicated to one of Czech’s most significant historical figures , Jan Hus . 

Jan Hus is known for his battle towards reforming the Church and paving the way to Protestant beliefs. This eventually led him to being burned at the stake for heresy against the Catholic Church.

Following his death, his followers called the Hussites rebelled against the Roman Catholic Church, and after, defeated five papal crusades.

The current monument was eventually built in the early 1900’s as a memorial to the martyrdom of Jan Hus. It’s also a known  symbolism of resistance even in the years that followed, especially during World War II.

Visit Old Town Square's Christmas Market

If you get the chance to visit Old Town Prague on the month of December, then your trip wouldn’t be complete without visiting the famed Old Town Square Christmas Market . 

This Christmas Market has been named one of the best in the world and it’s no mystery why. There is something magical about roaming around the streets of the square with fairy lights all around, a huge Christmas Tree towering over the whole market , and the beauty of the Old Town Prague’s architecture around. 

Stalls line the square selling different products to visitors and locals alike such as chimney cakes, hot wine, beer, Czech sweets, and so much more. There’s even a skating rink for families and the younger crowds to enjoy. 

Watch an Opera at the Estates Theater

Another incredibly stunning building that is situated in Old Town Prague is the Estates Theater . This theater is a popular hub for opera shows and classical music concerts.

Historically, it is also one of the last operational theaters in the world that was, a matter of fact,  built as early as the 18th Century. 

One other interesting fact about the Estates Theater is that Mozart presented his famed operas, “ The Marriage of Figaro ” and “ Don Giovanni “, in this theater. Today, you can still catch these two operas playing regularly.

Discover the Josefov District (Jewish District)

The Jewish Square, also known as Josefov (the Jewish Quarter) , is a small neighborhood that is a minute away from Old Town Prague .  This area gives travellers a peek into the history of the Czech Jewish Community . 

From historical statues, the old Jewish Cemetery, and various synagogues like: Pinkas, Maisel, Klausen Synagogue, and our personal favorite, the Spanish Synagogue – you are sure to experience an in-depth tour to the life of Jewish People back then here in Prague. 

The Old-New Synagogue also lies in the heart of Josefov. What’s interesting about this synagogue is that it is known to be the oldest active synagogue in all of Europe.

For the best experience, we recommend booking your tickets in advance and going on a walking tour to learn more about the history of the Jewish (Josefov) Quarter.

Sunset at Charles Bridge

Just a stone’s throw away, your tour of Old Town Prague wouldn’t be complete without ending it (or starting it) at Charles Bridge . And if you end up coming at the end of the day, make it a sunset session.

When one thinks of visiting Prague, they immediately think of this iconic landmark.  Constructed in 1357, Charles Bridge is situated in Vltava River  and connects Old Town Prague to Lesser Town . 

On each side of this bridge also stands two  Gothic towers and the walk across is a discovery of 30 Baroque statues that represent  famous Religious people in Czech history.

Walking Tour Map of Old Town Prague

Below you can find a free map of Old Town Prague and the mentioned activities and sights discussed in this article.

As a recommendation for your walking tour , we recommend either starting from Charles Bridge , heading to the Jewish Quarter, then ending at the Old Town Square.

Otherwise, you can also do it the other way around by ending at Charles Bridge during sunset and starting at the Old Town Square.

For this part of Prague, we only recommend that you do a walking tour. There’s no need to take public transportation to get around to all the different spots . 

For us, it’s a much more enjoyable experience to stroll through the city and discover everything that it offers.

Final Thoughts on Old Town Prague

So there you have it! We hope this helps you figure out your itinerary and potential travel plans for visiting Old Town Prague in Czech Republic.

This incredible area of Prague is full of history, beautiful architecture, and exciting activities all year round.

The Prague Old Town Square is a definite must-visit and is at the heart of the entire city. We also recommend that you spend at least one full day doing a walking tour of all the wonderful attractions and sights this part of Prague offers.

So there you have it! Now it’s your turn to tell us: Have you ever been to Old Town Prague? What was your experience like and did you love it? 

Let us know your thoughts and any other questions you may have about visiting this place in the comments below!

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How to visit budapest on a budget: 4 days for €100, 6, 7 or 8 hour layover in warsaw poland – ultimate guide you need to know, 8 thoughts on “ultimate guide to old town prague with free maps (2023)”.

I want to visit Old Town Prague and I think you covered all the must-sees for first-time visitors. Your info is really helpful and useful. It’s interesting to learn that Old Town Prague was once the center of world trade and Mozart’s presented his two famed operas in Estates Theater. So much history for sure.

I was reading your bio on this page and we have VERY similar travel tastes. Prague is such a beautiful city. It’s on my wish list! I enjoyed the bit of history that you included here.

This guide really covers all the essentials for a visit to Prague. I have visited the town several times as it is not far away from Berlin where I live. Places I I often go back to are the Jewish quarter and Havel market. Maybe it is time for another visit.

I like the old town of Prague. I usually visit them in the off-season, in winter when there are fewer tourists. Your guide is very detailed. Perfect hints for first-time visitors! It’s great that you have added so many interesting tips and maps. It is indeed easy to travel around the city by subway. I agree that one of the most exciting views is definitely the one from the top of the Old Town Hall. St. Nicholas Church is also worth a visit. Josefov District is one of the most magical places for me.

I still haven’t made it to Prague even though it’s not far by plane. I know it’s touristy to say but I’d most like to see Charles Bridge and the astronomical clock. The maps make it really helpful to navigate around the city too.

Old town Prague is such a beautiful place in Checzk republic with its ancient Baroque and Catholic churches and world’s oldest functioning team line in place. The Jan Hus monument signifies the sacrifice laid for Protestant beliefs and the Jewish quarters of Josefov coonects us to the history Checzk Jews. And a walk down the Charles bridge is definitely gives charming vistas of the Old town and the gothic towers.

Prague has definitely been on my travel list for a while already. But pandemic has slown down our trips a lot. We would for sure love the medieval buildings and especially the old town there. We also like to try some local foods and find great cafes in Europe. I will bookmark this for future travels.

Wow I knew Prague was beatiful but had no idea it was this stunning. I also didn’t know much about its pre war history other than it once being home to holy emperor. It’s really amazing to know that it was so important in the trades of spices, gold etc. I’d love to see the powder tower in particular and other gothic architecture. I am also amazed by the astronomy clock.

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The Ultimate Walking Tour of Prague’s Peaceful Petrin Hill

High atop the rooftops of Prague , there is a secret pathway with one of the best views you can find across the entire city. This hidden gem is called ‘ Petrin Hill’ . Locals like to call it Peaceful Petrin and for a good reason . From here you can look out not only across Prague itself but far off to the countryside as well. Compared to the packed streets of Old Town Prague, this park high above is so quiet, and sometimes you’ll be the only one walking its paths.

How to Get there

To get to Petrin Hill you have two options. You can walk or take the funicular . The walk takes about 30 minutes; it’s a bit steep but your path through the woods as you climb is a lovely experience well worth the effort. But if the weather is a bit chilly or rainy, the funicular is a great option and a really neat way to see some of the history of this area.

History of Petrin Hill

Petrin Hill rises over 130m above the Vltava River. In ancient times, the hill was covered in rocks, which were later excavated and used to build the city. With the absence of these stones, the people of Prague built atop the hill. In 1360 the Hunger Wall was put up as a medieval defensive system to protect the town from invaders. During the 1891 Jubilee Exhibition, the Petrin Tower was built, a miniature version of the Eiffel Tower for the people of Prague who had come to love the one in Paris.

Map of Petrin Hill Walking Tour

Petrin Hill Funicular

The Funicular railway is free if you’ve purchased a public transport ticket that day. Take the tram to stop “Ujezd” (trams No 12, 22, 23) to arrive at the Petrin Hill Funicular station. Keep your transfer from the tram, and you’ll be able to get onto the funicular for free! If you walked to the Petrin Funicular station or took a cab, you can still buy tickets inside the station. Remember that you need to go inside, buy your ticket, and then come back out to wait in the long line to get onto the funicular.

Many people wait in the long line expecting to buy tickets at the front of the queue and are unfortunately told to go back, purchase the ticket and wait in line once more. Tickets cost the same as the regular public transport, 24 CZK or $1 USD. The funicular dates back to 1851 and as such is quite slow so even with a short line, expect to wait around 10-20 mins to get to the front of the queue. When we visited we decided to take the funicular up to the top but then walk all the way down, it is the best of both worlds.

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Petřín Rose Garden

After you get off the tram, take a walk through Petřín Rose Garden. The Rose Garden covers over six hectares, and it is said there are over twelve thousand roses in bloom in the summer months! Dotted along the garden are dozens of benches should you want to rest your feet and enjoy the sweet smells of the flowers.

The Štefánik Observatory

The Štefánik Observatory is located inside an assuming neo-baroque building and if it weren’t for the giant domed telescopes, you’d never imagine what could be inside. The observatory was built in 1928 but even to this day, the telescopes draws people in to take a look up into the skies. Entry is only 90 CZK ($4 USD) and especially if you have kids or are interested in space, you’ll really find the price to be more than worth it!

There is rarely a line and you can take a look at the sun, various usually hard to spot planets as well as stars, nebulas, star clusters or galaxies. The staff speak English as well as Czech and are happy to help answer all your questions with a cheery attitude for the subject they love.

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Magic Cavern Prague

If you’re looking for a trippy and whimsical place to visit, you should check out Prague’s Magical Cavern . This building houses a collection of paintings by artist Reon. Inside this cavern-like museum are over 80 of his paintings depicting his imaginary realm called Argondia. in addition to the paintings, there are sculptures throughout and plaster to create an otherworldly dreamscape. It’s a bit cheesy but super fun! Admission is only 100 CZK for adults and 50 CZK for kids. It is cash only, so keep that in mind. Open daily from 2 pm to 7 pm.

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Petrin Tower

The Petrin Tower may only 60m tall, but after climbing the 299 steps it takes to reach the top, you have a fantastic view of the city of Prague below. Tickets are 150 CZK ($6.5 USD), but the lineups for the stairs can get very long since the number of people allowed to go up is pretty minimal. The best way to get in without a wait is to visit early or late in the day and not on the weekend. Once you’re at the top of the tower it’s interesting to know that although not as tall as the real Eiffel Tower, you are actually at the same altitude as the real Eiffel Tower.

Snacks on the Hill

Since it was a chilly morning, we couldn’t resist getting a warm treat to heat up our hands. We had seen this circular treated being cooked up all over the city and couldn’t resist trying one for ourselves. Little did we know that this one taste would get us hooked for the rest of the trip. These pastries are called ‘Trdelník’. A Trdelník is a sweet pastry made from rolled dough that is wrapped around a stick, then grilled and topped with sugar or nuts. There is a small coating of sugar and eggs that is applied when it is grilled which results in caramelization of the sugar.

The ones we had on the hill were actually very delicious. A word of note, they are not a traditional Czech treat as many believe it is. The trdelník was first created in the Slovak town of Skalica. The name trdelník comes from “trdlo” (a wooden tool used for pounding materials in a hollowed-out log). They have caught on like wildfire in Prague and sold to tourists falsely as “local treats.” Many of these sellers in Old Town square are overpriced and usually not very tasty. But this one surprised me!

Hall of Mirrors

Beside the Petrin Tower is a small palace-like building, called the Hall of Mirrors . Inside the Mirror Maze, you’ll find just that. A maze full fo mirrors. You’ll bump into a few walls, but it’s an antiquated attraction worth poking your head inside. In the Victorian era, people were obsessed with these types of game rooms. It all was all they had before the days of Instagram and Tiktok.

In addition to the maze, you’ll also find the “Hall of laughter” where you can stand and take your photo in front of a mirror which warps the look of your body into all sorts of funny shapes. Kids get a kid out of this one. Oddly enough, the Maze finished with a lifesize depiction of the Thirty Years War, set on the Charles Bridge in 1648. I can’t tell you why this element was added, but I suppose it leaves the viewer with a piece of history to go alongside all the frivolity.

Cathedral of St. Lawrence

Opposite the Mirror Maze is the amber painted, St Lawrence Cathedral.  The baroque facade and bright colouring make it stand out against the greens and browns of the rest of the park. There are stories that once this was the site of high importance for ancient pagan Slavs which was the destroyed to make room for the new religion. The interior is rather modern but the exterior is still work a long look.

St. Michael Church

Beside St. Lawrence Cathedral is St. Michael Church. A wooden church from the second half of the 17th century. Although I could not go inside, I sat on the cold stone steps and marvelled at this simple church. There wasn’t anything elegant about it or regal, but there was something immensely charming about its quaint appearance.

Seminary Garden

Head down towards Strahov Monastery and walk through the Seminary Garden. The Carmelite monastery gardens once belonged to the archbishop of the seminary in the 18th century, hence its name. There are over 2000 fruit trees and 800 almond trees which spread out across the gardens.  As we walked through the park and out to the gardens we would repeatedly get lost and then found again, over and over as the streets twisted and turned. The weather was crisp and it was a weekday so there was barely anyone out for a walk. We seemed to be the only ones from time to time. It was so romantic, walking hand in hand through these beautiful fruit trees.

When we finally got out to the clearing, we could see far across the gardens and out across the city. It was breathtaking, it seemed so clear like we could see forever. Far in the distance, we could see the dark towers of Prague Cathedral surrounded by the pastel coloured houses of Mala Strana.

Klášterní Pivovar Strahov

Klášterní Pivovar Strahov or The Strahov Brewery was established in the 1600’s, and the monks would work and produce beer to create income their order. Even today you can visit the brewery and drink a glass sitting in their scenic beer garden. We made sure to make a pit stop here before heading to the library. Like all beer in Prague, it is cheap and delicious! And the view is unbeatable, look out over the valley and across to Prague Castle.

Strahov Monastery Library

The Strahov Monastery   was first established in 1140. Throughout the years it was destroyed and rebuilt, time after time, war after war. Many of their precious books were stolen, and despite this, every time they rebuilt it, they sought to rebuild their libraries, even grander. Creating a space of importance and preservation for the tomes within. Today, the Monastery and the library stand as a jewel of the Baroque era. Even from afar their bright red-tiled roofs and copper spires, aged to a brilliant teal colour, contrast the grey skies.

Strahov Library

Don’t leave Petrin Hill without a visit to the Strahov Library. The library has three parts which visitors can explore.  The Grand Philosophical Hall,   The Baroque Theological Hall  and  the Cabinets of Curiosities. The Grand Philosophical Hall  is the jewel of the monastery. Looking from floor to ceiling at this ornately designed library will literally take your breath away. It contains over 42,000 ancient philosophical texts, sprawling along the room like a wave of knowledge.

Petrin Hill is definitely one of the calmer and quieter parts of Prague, so if you’re in town during a high tourist season, an escape out to Petrin Hill will be a welcome rest from all the busy crowds.

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Europe ‎ >  Prague > Prague Jewish Quarter Walking Tour

‎ Prague Top Tourist Tips ‎ | Suggested Itineraries For Prague

• Old Town Walking Tour
• Castle & Little Quarter Walking Tour
• Charles Bridge Walking Tour
• Jewish Quarter Walking Tour
• New Town Walking Tour
• Best Day Trips
• Helpful Visitor Tips
• Suggested Itineraries
• Reading An Astronomical Clock
• Getting From/To The Airport

Jewish Quarter Walking Tour:

Location :  Prague’s Jewish Quarter ( Josefov ) Cost :  Free ( optional costs below ) Style :  Self-guided walking tour Start :  Pařížská Street End : Old Town Square Note :  Jewish synagogues are closed on Saturdays Walking Distance : 0.85 miles Time :  30 minutes for the walk ( with sights 3-4 hours ) Fun Scale :  9 out of 10

Jewish Quarter Overview:

Bordering the Northside of Old Town, the Jewish Quarter is one of the most historic places to visit in Prague.  The former Jewish Ghetto has been inhabited for over one thousand years, grew to be self-governing, and once made up 25% of Prague’s population.  Through re-developing at the turn of the 20th century and the atrocities of WW2 most of the medieval homes and tens of thousands of residents are gone forever but the Jewish Quarter lives on.  Among the sights on this tour, you’ll find Europe’s oldest synagogue, collections of priceless artifacts, a timeless cemetery, kosher restaurants, plenty of history, and insight into local Jewish culture.  We hope you enjoy our Prague Jewish Quarter Walking Tour!

History of Prague’s Jewish Quarter:

Jewish people have been living in Prague since  as early as 970 AD , but have walked a tough road to gain acceptance and safety.  At first, the Jewish community grew on both sides of Vlata ( Moldau ) River with most of the development below Prague Castle.  During the 1st Crusade in 1096, the Jewish population in Prague first started to face violent opposition from Christian groups and they were ravaged during the Siege of Prague Castle in 1142.  To gain a safe foothold in the Prague, the Jewish community began to consolidate in the right bank of the river forming the Jewish Quarter later known as the Ghetto.

The Jewish Quarter provided a much safety net and King Otakar II gave them rights to administer themselves in 1262, although the residents had limited rights.  The population quickly grew to over 3,000 but then during the assault on Easter Sunday, 1389 over half of the Jewish Quarter’s residents were murdered by a mob.  It was a rough time and the Jewish Quarter had its gates locked at night by the city and residents weren’t allowed to leave after dark.

In the 1500s, the Jewish Quarter finally started to hit its Golden Age when  Jewish Mayor  Mordechai Maisel  was elected Prague’s Minister of Finance.  Maisel’s election not only helped to give the Jewish quarter a voice, but also helped them get much-needed financing for development.  These developments included paving the Jewish Quarter’s streets to building many new Synagogues and the Jewish Town Hall.  The growth was tremendous as the Jewish community quickly double to 10% of Prague’s population with 7,000 people.

This Golden Age ended abruptly 200 years later when Austro-Hungarian Empress Maria Theresa expelled the Jews from Prague in 1745.  When Empress Maria Theresa’s son  Joseph II  took over he became the Holy Roman Emperor you would think life would get even harder for Prague’s Jews, but the opposite happened.  Joseph II led a large number of reforms throughout Christendom that helped to improve the lives of European Jews by officially recognizing their religion.  They were allowed to come back to Prague’s Jewish Quarter and had the restrictions of their movements lifted.  The Jewish Quarter was even able to shed its Ghetto status and became an official district of Prague.  Because of his these reforms, the Jewish Quarter became known as Josefov in Emperor Joseph II’s honor after it was annexed into Old Town 1850.

The darkest time for Prague’s Jewish Quarter came when  the Nazis occupation started  in 1939.  Within a year of the Nazis seizing power, most Jewish businesses were confiscated and public life became segregated.  Jewish citizens were restricted to the Ghetto, and thousands were deported.  Most of the deportations either involved sending people to other Ghettos in Nazi-controlled areas to split up families or by sending people directly to death camps.  Before WW2 Prague’s Jewish population had grown to 25% of the city’s population and had the largest numbers of Jewish residents of in any city in the world with over 90,000.  During the Holocaust, it is estimated that nearly 70% of the 100,000 Jewish people “deported” from greater Prague during the war died.  In total over 250,000 Jewish people who lived in Czech Lands before 1938 were killed under Nazi rule.

With all who died, luckily numerous groups of Jewish children in Prague were rescued during the war through a secret British adoption ring run by Nicholas Winton.  Also during those hellish days, many Jewish artifacts were hidden from the Nazis  and had been preserved for future generations.  We touch on these and many more interesting things below in our Jewish Quarter walking tour.  After being liberated in from the Nazis, the Jewish Quarter in Prague still had struggles under Communist rule ( 1948-1989 ).  Of the 15,000 Jewish people who returned to Prague after the war 50% fled Communist oppression to Israel.   Today only 5,000 Jewish people remain in Prague, but the Jewish Quarter has slowly recovered to become a vibrant and delightful neighborhood to visit.

1. Paris Street ( Pařížská ):

About Pařížská Street :  Connecting Prague’s the with Old Town Square with the Jewish Quarter, Paris ( Pařížská ) Street has high-end shopping that rivals the Champs-Élysées in Paris and 5th Avenue in New York City.  This tree-lined shopping paradise has everything from Prada, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Swarovski, and more to get your high fashion on.  We love how the greenery makes this street feel so peaceful compared to other shopping areas that are more chaotic.

Originally this boulevard was called Mikulasska Street ( photo ) and was filled with tightly packed Medieval homes.  After the Jewish Quarter became part of Old Town Prague in 1850 controversial re-development started and the neighborhood.  From 1893-1914 many of the small historic Jew Quarter homes were demolished for huge fancy buildings leaving only some of the more significant Jewish monuments standing.  The huge buildings that sprung along Pařížská Street slowly became attractive to locals thanks to the use of eclectic design styles ranging from neo-Baroque to Art Nouveau with mixes of Gothic elements.

From 1897-1914 a number of huge attractive buildings sprung up on the new Pařížská Street in eclectic styles ranging from neo-Baroque to Art Nouveau.   The changes started right on the edge of Prague’s Old Town Square when the 3-story-tall Krenn House ( built in 1409,  photo ) was torn down in 1901 opening up views of large Church of Saint Nicolas.  At the opening of the shopping street, the Neo-Baroque mansion called the Schier’s House ( Pařížská 1 ) was built by Rudolf Krizenecky who was an architect and professor at the Technical University.  The white mansion you see today had a large corner tower ( photo ), but it was lost from a fire in WW2.

As you reach the first intersection of Pařížská Street three corner houses were designed by local architect Jan Vejrych.  He was influential to Prague’s architecture by combining the Art Nouveau style with Medieval and Renaissance elements.  The massive Mer-Kur building  ( Pařížská 9 ) housing the Gucci store is the most interesting of these buildings as it has motifs depicting different trade professions.

Theater Cost :  480 CZK.   Theater Hours :  Shows are typically at 8pm but they sometimes add a second performance at 6pm.   Address :  Pařížská 4.   Theater  Website :  ( HERE ).

2. Golem Restaurant ( U Golema ):

About Golema Restaurant :  At the first cross-street on Pařížská Street, take a left and in a short block you’ll be at the historic Golema Restaurant which opened in 1967.  This themed restaurant is based on the fabled Golem  created by Rabbi Yehudi Loew in the early 1600s to protect the Jewish Quarter from anti-Semitic attacks.  It’s said that the Rabbi molded the Golem out of clay from the banks of Prague’s Vltava River then brought it to life through rituals and Hebrew incantations.  It’s said that the body of the golem is stored in the attic of the Old New Synagogue ready to be restored back to life again if needed.

Images of the Golem can be found in the design of the cobblestone in front of the restaurant and the playful sign on the door.  The food is only okay, but the decor creates intrigue with street lamps, Golem figures, and exposed brick that helps give it an old-world feel.

Address : Maiselova 62/8.  Hours :  Daily 10am-8:30pm.   Restaurant  Website :  ( HERE ).

3. Maisel Synagogue & Jewish Museum :

About The Maisel Synagogue :  In the late-1500s, wealthy resident Mordechai Maisel became Mayor of the Jewish community and gained a lot of influence when he was appointed Minister of Finance for Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II’s royal court.  Using this influence, Maisel was able to profit off loans to the King and invest in the neighborhood he represented to help revive it.  His renovations spread to buildings such as the Town Hall in 1586 and even to many streets themselves which can still be seen today.  These works helped the Jewish community grow into its golden age and also made Maisel a revered leader in Prague.  He even used his position to loan money to Emperor Rudolf II for his battles with the Turks which made Maisel one of the richest people in Prague .

With his newfound wealth, Mayor Mordechai Maisel had a Synagogue built here in 1592 as a private place of worship for his family which still bears his name.  The family really wanted their Synagogue to be immaculate they filled it with a wealth of gold and silver which has been lost over time.  Originally built as a Renaissance temple, the Maisel Synagogue has been rebuilt twice due to fire with the biggest one being in 1689.

Since 1995 the Maisel Synagogue has been part of Prague’s Jewish Museum celebrating the heritage of Jews in Bohemia and Moravia from the 900s through the 1800s.  The Jewish Museum carries over exhibits for the period between the late-1800s until 1945 in the Spanish Synagogue which we will see later on this Jewish Quarter walking tour.  The ticket that you buy to enter the Maisel Synagogue also covers most of the rest of the sights on this Jewish Quarter tour with only the Old New Synagogue needing a supplemental ticket.

Hours :  Sunday-Friday 9am-6pm; closed at 4:30pm November-March; Closed Saturdays for the Jewish Sabbath.   Cost : 530 CZK for Adults; Children 6-15 & students under 26 are 370 CZK; Kids under 6 are free.  Entrance fee covers all 5 Jewish Museum Synagogues ( Old New Synagogue is an extra 220 CZK ), the Old Jewish Cemetery, Ceremonial Hall, and Robert Guttmann Gallery.   Address : Maiselova 62/8.   Website :  ( HERE ).

4. Jewish Education & Cultural Center :

About The Education & Cultural Center :  The Education and Cultural Center is often overlooked by most tourists, but is a great resource for the more scholarly of you .  It contains detailed manuscripts with information on Judaism with a focus on the history of Jewish people of Bohemia and Moravia.  The Cultural Center is a great addition in the Jewish Quarter, especially for local youth, as the teaching of local history and customs was great suppressed through Nazi and Soviet rule.  Symbolically the Cultural Center opened in 1996 on the 90th anniversary of the Jewish Museum’s founding.

Sitting below the Cultural Center is the  Information Office for the Jewish Museum.  They sell tickets to the local sights, can answer any questions you have about the history, and can put you in touch with in-person guides and events.  While the office is a good resource, you would have already bought your Museum ticket at Maisel Synagogue following our suggested route for the self-guide Jewish Quarter walking tour.

Hours :  Sunday-Friday 9am-4:30pm; stays open until 6pm April-October; Closed Saturdays for the Jewish Sabbath.   Cost :  Typically Free; 2-4 day seminars available at an additional cost.

5. King Solomon Restaurant :

About King Solomon Restaurant :  King Solomon Restaurant truly is king when it comes to Kosher Restaurants in Prague. They are a little bit pricier than most of the tourist restaurants, but it is the only way to get the truly traditional Jewish experience.  SHALOM Kosher Restaurant  ( website ) inside the Jewish Town Hall may be the most popular Kosher Restaurant in the Quarter, but King Solomon’s has a little more high-end food.  King Solomon has some great meat fillets and dishes not to mention a pretty solid wine selection.

Hours :  Sunday-Thursday Noon-11pm; Friday opens at Noon but Dinner is by reservation only; Saturdays only open for Lunch by reservation.   Cost :  Best deal is the 3-course meal for 550 CZK.   Facebook Page :  ( HERE ).   Restaurant  Website :  ( HERE ).

6. Pinkas Synagogue ( Pinkasova Synagoga ):

About Pinkas Synagogue :  The small, house-like Pinkas Synagogue first opened as a private place of worship for the family of the wealthy Aron Horowitz in 1535.  As Prague’s second oldest surviving Synagogue, it was named after Aron’s grandson Pinkas Horowitz and has become a very powerful place to visit as a tourist.

ost of the emotion from visiting Pinkas comes from the nearly  77,297 names  inscribed on the walls of Jews from Bohemia and Moravia that were sent to die in concentration camps by the Nazis in WW2.  The staggering number of nearly 80,000 names followed are by their birthdays and last known day they were alive.  Because the names are pretty much in alphabetical order by their last name, you can see that many families were all killed on the same day, likely by gas chambers.

It is sad and emotional when the scale of all 77,297 names hit your eyes from every corner of the Synagogue’s interior, but it is an important reminder of the past.  Making the experience even more powerful is the fact that the names are read out loud in between religious singing over the speakers.  If you are wondering why the names on the ceiling are so much more faded than the walls it is because the ceilings are original and the walls had to be re-written in 1992 after being taken down during closure ( 1968-1989 ) under Soviet rule and again from flooding in 2002.  When the post-Soviet restoration started, Pinkas formally joined the Jewish Museum which had been established in 1906.

Maybe even more emotional then the names of the victims are touring the drawings and finger paintings in the  Children’s Art Exhibit .  The art in the Exhibit was made by children in the  Terezín Labor Camp  from 1942-1944 under the direction of teacher Mrs. Friedl Dicker.  Before being sent to her death at the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, Dicker hid 4,500 of the works of art in her luggage which was later found and moved to Pinkas.  It’s powerful to know that  only 120 of the children involved survived  as most were sent from Terezín to the gas chambers in Auschwitz shortly after making this art.

Hours :  Sunday-Friday 9am-6pm; closed at 4:30pm November-March; Closed Saturdays for the Jewish Sabbath.   Cost : 530 CZK for Adults; Children 6-15 & students under 26 are 370 CZK; Kids under 6 are free.  Entrance fee covers all 5 Jewish Museum Synagogues ( Old New Synagogue is an extra 220 CZK ), the Old Jewish Cemetery, Ceremonial Hall, and Robert Guttmann Gallery.   Website :   Here .

7. Old Jewish Cemetery ( Starý Židovský Hřbitov ):

About The Old Jewish Cemetery :  After the Jewish Garden ( just South of Old Town Prague ) was closed by King Vladislaus II in 1478, the Old Jewish Cemetery was the only place Prague’s Jews were allowed to bury their dead until 1787.  The oldest grave dates back to 1439 ( scholar and poet Avigdor Kara ), and a season of tombs with gnarled headstones spreads out in every direction.

Over 350 years the Old Jewish Cemetery with room for 1,200 plots, found itself with 12,000 headstones and up to an astonishing 100,000 estimated buried bodies .  Because Jewish traditions saw not to move bodies after they are buried, they literally had to pile new layers of dirt over the old tombs to make more room.  In some places, the places are said to be 10 bodies deep and the settling of the ground over time has created tilted tombstones beautifully pointing in every direction.  Centuries over capacity, the Old Jewish Cemetery was closed for burials in 1787 after reforms by Joseph II  ( whom Josefov is named after ) allowed for a new cemetery in the suburb of Žižkov.

Because of its tangled headstones, the Old Jewish Cemetery is one of our favorite places in Prague to take photos.  While the color and type of stone each headstone is made out of indicates what era it is from, they also have symbols with hidden meaning.  Obviously, many of the tombs are marked with the Jewish Star of David, but some have other symbols telling you they either highly respected or a Rabbi.  You may even notice loose stones placed on the tops of the headstones which are in homage to the days in early Jewish history where bodies buried in swallow desert sand were layered in rocks to keep them covered.  People often ask for wishes when placing peddles on the headstones, but you must bring them to the cemetery from your home or it’s bad luck.  Because the Jewish community views cemeteries as gateways to the afterlife, small notes with prayers are also left under these loose stones and in cracks in the cemetery’s walls.

It is kind of strange to find a pre-WWII Jewish Cemetery still surviving in a country once heavily occupied by the Nazis as they would often rip the headstone out to use them for shooting practice.  Hitler grew found of Prague’s Jewish Cemetery and decided to leave it untouched, not out of endearment, but because he wanted it to served as a reminder of the extinct race after he killed all of the Jews.  Hitler really was a sick man, but in this case, his twisted mind left the headstones for us to admire in peace today.  Among the most famous headstones is Rabbi and scholar  Avigdor Karo  ( 1439 ) who has the oldest grave, Mordechai Maisel ( 1601 ) the Mayor of the Jewish neighborhood who  helped spur development, and  Rabbi Loew  ( 1609 ) who is attached to the legend of the  Golem  explained later on this Jewish Quarter walking tour.

Hours :  Sunday-Friday 9am-6pm; closed at 4:30pm November-March; Closed Saturdays for the Jewish Sabbath.   Cost : 530 CZK for Adults; Children 6-15 & students under 26 are 370 CZK; Kids under 6 are free.  Entrance fee covers all 5 Jewish Museum Synagogues ( Old New Synagogue is an extra 220 CZK ), the Old Jewish Cemetery, Ceremonial Hall, and Robert Guttmann Gallery.  There aren’t any good free viewpoints to really take in the Cemetery.   Website :   Here .

8. Klausen Synagogue ( Klausová Synagoga ):

About The Klausen Synagogue :  The Klausen Synagogue was built as a prayer house, bathhouse, and hospital in 1604 in honor of a visit to the Jewish Quarter by Emperor Maximilian II.  Although it was the 2nd largest Synagogue at the time in the Jewish neighborhood, it was given the name Klaus ( meaning small in German ), because it was smaller than the recently built Maisel Synagogue.  It may seem weird that the synagogue has a German name, but local Jewish residents often spoke German as their second language behind Hebrew instead of Czech since they weren’t fully integrated into Prague’s society.

Klausen Synagogue has been reconstructed a couple of times over the years and today houses an excellent exhibition on Jewish festivals and traditions.  The festivals are joined by other celebrations in Jewish life such as childbirths, male circumcisions, youth bar mitzvahs, and traditional weddings.  Like at the Maisel Synagogue, will see plenty of long silver arms with pointer fingers out on display which are used to turn the pages of the Torah since is not supposed to be touched.  Until we visited  Klausen , we had always thought the metal arms contained relics.

9. Ceremonial Hall ( Obradni Sin ):

About Ceremonial Hall :  Like the Klausen Synagogue next door, the Ceremonial Hall also focuses on local customs, but mainly centered around death rituals.  The surprising young Neo-Romanquese Ceremonial Hall ( built from 1908-19011 ) was established by the Burial Society as the Cemetery’s mortuary to wash the dead and prepare them for burial.  With an aged exterior and terracotta shingles, the Ceremonial Hall reminds us of the beautiful ancient Orthodox Churches that litter old town Athens Greece.  If you venture inside, a series of paintings shows how Prague’s Burial Society took care of the sick and dying.

Hours :  Sunday-Friday 9am-6pm; closed at 4:30pm November-March; Closed Saturdays for the Jewish Sabbath.   Cost : 530 CZK for Adults; Children 6-15 & students under 26 are 370 CZK; Kids under 6 are free.  Entrance fee covers all 5 Jewish Museum Synagogues ( Old New Synagogue is an extra 220 CZK ), the Old Jewish Cemetery, Ceremonial Hall, and Robert Guttmann Gallery.   Website :   Here .

10. Old Cemetery Street ( U Starého Hřbitova ):

About Old Cemetery Street :  This narrow lane is the main artery of Prague’s Jewish Quarter and today is lined with stands selling souvenirs . You can find everything from Rabbi figurines to textiles and even booze claimed to be made with cannabis.  The street is also a great place to buy traditional donut cones filled with ice cream called Trdelnik

A plaque on the wall at the start of the shopping stalls is dedicated to  Pavel Tigrid who published Exile Magazine With Testimony.  His magazine significantly contributed to the fall of Communism and the renewal of Democracy in the Czech Republic through the Velvet Revolution in the late-1980s.

11. Jewish Town Hall ( Židovská Radnice ):

About The Jewish Town Hall :  The Jewish Town Hall ( Židovská Radnice ) is was built by Mayor Maisel in 1586 as the start of a community revival.  It is a fairly common looking building on the surface mainly because the Synagogues are much more important in Jewish life than a Town Hall.  The most striking feature at the Town Hall is the central tower with  2 separate clocks  stacked above one another.  The higher one is a traditional clock with Roman numerals while the lower clock uses Hebrew numbers and spins counter-clockwise to represent the Hebrew language being read from right to left.

The clocks were added to the Jewish Town Hall as a gift for the after the community helped Prague fight off invading Swedes in 1648 during the Thirty Years War.  Although they got a clock with Hebrew characters, they still didn’t gain real rights and were even being briefly expelled from Prague by Empress Maria Theresa in 1745.  When Mari Theresa’s more supportive son Joseph II ( whom Josefov is named after ) took over in 1764, the Jewish Town Hall’s tower received a Rocco as it had been damaged by the fires of 1689 and 1754.

Inside the Town Hall is the  SHALOM Kosher Restaurant  ( website ).  The Jewish Community of Prague directly runs the SHALOM Kosher Restaurant which specializes in both Czech and Jewish cuisine.  It is open daily for lunch 11:30am-2pm which is great as some Kosher restaurants don’t open to the public on Saturdays.  At really traditional places like this, you are not allowed to pay for your food during any Shabbat meals ( daily dinners and Saturday lunch ).  Because of this, you must pay in advance during lunchtime Sundays-Friday if you are going to dine during Shabbat times.  Because this block was the location of the kosher butchers for hundreds of years you know the food is going to be authentic.

12. Old-New Synagogue ( Staranová Synagoga ):

About The Old-New Synagogue :  Welcome to the oldest active Synagogue in Europe which was built in 1270.  Becuase the Jewish population wasn’t allowed to build anything at the time, they had to have the Christians from the nearby Convent of Saint Agnes help with the construction.  Legend says that some stones used in the construction were from the ruins of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem ( 516BC-70AD ).  It was called the New Synagogue as it was much younger than the Old School Synagogue ( Alt Schul, 1142-1867 ) which once sat at the site of today’s Spanish Synagogue.  As the Jewish Quarter started its Golden Age in the late-1500s other newer Synagogues were built and the name Old-New Synagogue stuck.

As you step down into the beautiful cave-like entrance of the Old-New Synagogue, you can see how the street level outside has risen by almost 5 feet over the last 800 years.  The Medieval atmosphere of the interior alone is worth the price of admission.  After paying the stand-alone entrance fee, you will be offered thin fabric Yamaka ( actually called a Kippa or Yarmulke ) to where on the crown of your head.  While some Jewish men wear them all the time as a reminder that God is above them, Kippas are also worn by non-Jewish male visitors inside places of worship out of respect.  The free Kippahs are a little cheap feeling, but add the authenticity of your visit and make for a great souvenir even though they are difficult to keep from falling off.  Before moving on from the entrance, make sure to check out the coffer safes which were used to keep the communities money in preparation for the city tax collector in the Middle Ages.

Once inside the main nave of the small synagogue, you’ll feel like you are in a Medieval movie set with hanging wrought iron candle lanterns hanging from Gothic arches.  The closed off Bimah area in the center is where the Torah read stands during services and is under a Medieval flag of the Jewish Quarter.  Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III had awarded the Jewish Quarter their own banner in exchange for their help in fighting off the Swedes during the Thirty Years War in the 1600s.  Notice the pointy yellow hat inside the Flag’s star of David.  In 1215, Pope Innocent III declared that all Jewish and Muslim people must wear identifying clothing in Christian lands and these Jewish Hats ( Judenhut ) were commonly worn in public through the 1400s.  The back Eastern wall holds a similar red banner which was used during parades in the Middle Ages.  Behind the banner is the Shine of the Ark which holds old scrolls from the Torah ( first five books of the bible ).  On the side walls are Hebrew inscriptions which serve as a reminder of the massacre of 3,000 Jewish citizens in 1389.

The coolest folklore surrounding the Old-New Synagogue, and maybe in all of Prague, is of Rabbi Yehudi Loew ( 1512-1609 )  and his Golem .  Rabbi Loew wanted a way to stop bloody attacks and mass killings of local Jewish people so he created a Golem creature out of clay from Prague’s Vltava River and brought it to life with a magic stone and Hebrew incantations.  The Golem did its job but started to become unstable causing havoc around town so the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II asked the Rabbi to stop it and in exchange, he would call for an end to the persecution of the Jews.  The Rabbi agreed and the persecutions ended, but the Golem was stored in the attic of the Old-New Synagogue for safekeeping in case they ever need it again.

This folklore is great fun and can be seen all around Prague in different forms from statues to paintings and a ladder on the Eastern exterior of the synagogue is said to lead up to the Golem.  In full disclosure, Emperor Rudolf II stepping in to end the persecution had a little more to do with the Jewish major lending him money to fund battles against the Turks at time, but the story is still a great one.

Hours :  Sunday-Friday 9am-6pm; closed at 4:30pm November-March; Closed Saturdays for the Jewish Sabbath.   Cost :  Not covered by Jewish Museum Pass.  The standalone ticket is 220 CZK.

13. Restaurant of the Old Synagogue :

About The Restaurant of the Old Synagogue :  On the backside of the Jewish Town Hall is a beautiful curved Art Nouveau castle built in 1907 to replace a quaint house that once sat on the valuable corner.  Designed by Richard Klenka ( Knight of Vlastimil ), the building looks like a Gothic castle from Medieval Transylvanian.  Klenka was an architect teaching at the School of Applied Arts and brought new designs into Prague after working in Paris which were called bizarre at the time.  The brownish grey exterior under a Medieval tower is peppered with floor to ceiling windows, has balconies with bright gold embellishments, and is capped off with blazing orange roof tiles.

Formerly known as the Restaurant of the Old Synagogue ( Restaurace U Stare Synagogy ), today the castle houses the Italian restaurant  Cantinetta Fiorentina  and the Bubbles & Oysters Seafood Bar ( website ).  It is popular with professional photographers and marks the Northern end of the Paris ( Pařížská ) shopping Street.

14. The Four Corners :

About The Four Corners : As you reach where Paris ( Pařížská ) Street and Wide ( Široká ) Street meet, you’ll notice each corner of the intersection has its own huge castle-like apartment complex.    Starting on the Northwest corner ( on your right ) is a huge yellow manor which looks like it is straight out of the Middle Ages called The House At Saint George  ( Široká Street #11 ).  This Gothic masterpiece was built in 1905 by Josef Blecha and has tons of fine details.  The centerpiece and namesake of the building is a statue of Saint George slaying the wielding dragon on the corner.  Legend has it that in the 3rd Century Lybia, George defeated the dragon to save the life of a princess who had been chosen as a human sacrifice.  In Medieval times the dragon was also connected as a bringer of the plague.  Above the statue are a series of Medieval crest flags and old world bastions.

The salmon-colored apartment building to the side of The House At Saint George ( Široká Street #9 ) was built in 1908 as the home of artist Vítězslav Karel Mašek .  The stately mansion has an interesting cast iron doorway with two large angel sculptures flying out of it.  Mašek is best known for his 1893 painting The Prophetess Libuse which is on display at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.  Legend has it that the Pagan Princess Libuse ruled Bohemia from 700-738 and founded the city of Prague after having a vision of a man building a stone threshold here.

Moving back to the Southeast corner of the intersection is a white complex with a very modern Bulgari store ( Pařížská 14 ).  Outside of the store on the sidewalk, what is often mistaken for a telephone booth is actually a unique outdoor toilet .  A lot of tourists check the cramped toilet out for the novelty, but it isn’t usually very clean.  We don’t know much about the large brown apartment across the street with the Rolex store ( Pařížská 16 ), but the corner tower jutting out of the facade is easy to admire.

Completing the circle around the square to the Northeast corner is the  House at Two Small Russians ( u ovou malorusek ) which is home to the Prada store.  The building got its name because the original owner when it was built in 1905 was from Ukraine ( Small Russia ).  The statues of the two young women on the corner of the building are quite intriguing.

15. Church of the Holy Spirit ( Kostel Svatý Duch ):

About The Church of the Holy Spirit :  The statue of St John of Nepomuk marks the entrance to this large Catholic Church that was built for Prague’s Benedictine convent in the 1300’s. The Church was built at the boundary of the old Jewish Quarter and served as a stark dividing line between communities. Through the 1300’s the clashes got worse and attacks on Jews was very common. The biggest attack came during the 1389 assault when an astonishing 1,500 Jews were murdered, but it would have been even worse if it wasn’t for the Jewish Quarter to fall back on. It was a rough time and the Jewish Quarter had its gates locked at night by the city of Prague and residents weren’t allowed to leave after dark.

When Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I (1503-1564) took power Prague’s Jews were required to attend Catholic services at the Church of the Holy Spirit. This raised the drive in many of the communities Jews to retake their heritage and by the end of the 1500’s Prague’s Jews were free to worship and the Jewish Quarter began its Golden Age. Today the Churches close proximity to the Jewish Quarter serves as a symbol of peace in a melting pot of a city even though it has a divisive past.

16. Franz Kafka Monument :

About The Franz Kafka Statue :  Author Franz Kafka lived on the opposite side of the street, at 27 Dusni Street. Finished in 2004, 80 years after his death. The Statue depicts a smaller version of Kafka riding on the shoulders of a headless full-sized Kafka in a suit which was inspired by Franz’s early short story “Description of a Struggle”. The location was chosen not only because of it’s location to Kafka’s house but also for the location sitting right between a Catholic Church and a Jewish Synagogue.

Many of the characters in Kafka’s short stories were lived life under overpowering by bureaucracies with feelings of helplessness just like he had early in his life in Prague. These types of characters were easy for people to identify with changing the landscape of early 20th Century writing and leading to the term Kafkaesque for characters like this.

17. Spanish Synagogue ( Španělská Synagoga ):

About The Spanish Synagogue :  The stunning Spanish Synagogue was built in 1868 over the site of the Old School ( Alt Schul ) Synagogue.  Before it was torn down in 1867, the Old Schul had been the oldest synagogue standing in the Prague and marked the true beginning of the Jewish Quarter.  There had been Jewish people living on both sides of the Vltava River in Prague since 970 with most living below Prague Castle.  After being decimated by members of the 1st Crusade in 1096 and again during the Siege of Prague Castle in 1142 ( in which their first synagogue was burned ) the remaining Jewish residents congregated here.  The Old Schul was built as their new place of worship and the new Jewish Quarter built up between it and the right bank of the river

Replacing the Old Schul, the design of the Spanish Synagogue was inspired by the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain.  Most of Spain was controlled by Islamic groups including the Moors from 711 to 1492 who not only had iconic architecture but were also fairly tolerant to their Jewish population.  After Spain’s Jews were expelled during the Inquisition they kept Moorish elements in some of their future buildings around Europe.  From curved entryways, geometric patterns, and colorful trim, the architecture at the Spanish Synagogue reminds us of some of the wonderful synagogues we’ve visited in Budapest.

Today the Spanish Synagogue is part of Prague’s Jewish Museum celebrating Jewish heritage from the late-1800s to 1945  in Bohemia and Moravia.  On the upper floor of the Synagogue, we love the huge collection of historic photos and maps of the Jewish Quarter from 1900-1906.  The upstairs also has a full treasury of over 200 silver artifacts on display which had been taken from decimated Jewish home in the Czech countryside.  The exhibits here are carried over from the Maisel Synagogue which covers local Jewish heritage from the late-900s-1800 AD.

Hours :  Sunday-Friday 9am-4:30pm; stays open until 6pm April-October; Closed Saturdays for the Jewish Sabbath.   Cost :  300 CZK covers all 4 Jewish Museum Synagogues plus the Old Jewish Cemetery and the Memorial Hall.   Website :   Here .

18. Robert Guttmann Gallery :

About The Robert Guttmann Gallery :  On the backside of the Spanish Synagogue, the Guttmann Gallery finally gave the Jewish community of Prague a permanent place to display local artists.  The Gallery is named after the famous local painter Robert Guttman who died in the Jewish Ghetto in 1942 just 3 years after the Nazis arrived.  Guttman was beloved not only for his talent, but also for his commitment to Jewish heritage and Zionism.  Guttman’s work was featured at the grand opening and while most of the featured works are from between the late-1800s to early-1900s they also work in many up and coming young artists.

For us the real highlight of visiting the Guttmann Gallery are looking at all of the  old Hebrew books .  With colorful illustrations, these early printed books dating from the 1500s through the 1700s.  The oldest Hebrew work on display is an old prayer book printed in 1512.  To put it into perspective, this was three years before Martin Luther started protesting the Catholic Church in Germany.

Hours :  Sunday-Friday 9am-6pm; closed at 4:30pm November-March; Closed Saturdays for the Jewish Sabbath.  Cost :  50 CZK; 20 CZK for Students.  Combo Ticket : 530 CZK for Adults; Children 6-15 & students under 26 are 370 CZK; Kids under 6 are free.  Entrance fee covers all 5 Jewish Museum Synagogues ( Old New Synagogue is an extra 220 CZK ), the Old Jewish Cemetery, Ceremonial Hall, and Robert Guttmann Gallery.   Website :   Here .

19. Museum of Alchemy ( Speculum Alchemiae ):

About The Museum of Alchemy :  Underground cellars from the 1400s were found in 2005 after flooding the area.  Had been used as Rudolf II’s hidden alchemist laboratory in the 1500s.

Hours :  Daily 10am-6pm; 30 minutes tours start every half hour.   Cost : Adult 200 CZK; Kids 70 CZK; Family 500 CZK.   Website :   Here .

20. Old Town Walking Tour :

About Old Town Prague :  The central heart of Prague is the highlight of our  Old Town Prague Walking Tour . If you have enjoyed the Jewish Quarter then you are surely going to fall in love with Old Town. Make sure to follow our free walking tour to get the full experience and including all of the neighborhood’s best-hidden gems you would miss otherwise.

Other Nearby Sites:

21. national theater ( rudolfinum ):.

About The National Theater :  Construction on the Rudolfinum was started in 1876 and it served as a large concert hall for many performances including the Czech Philharmonic since 1896.  The Philharmonic’s first performance was under the baton of famed conductor Antonín Dvořák whom the main music hall,  Dvořák Hall , is named after.  As the Hapsburg’s Austro-Hungarian Empire fell after WWI Rudolfinum’s initial run as a concert hall was cut short as the newly formed Czechoslovakian government turned it into their House of Commons in 1919.  Luckily they decided to keep the concert hall pretty much as and the large area in front of the beautiful organ is where the parliamentary leaders would presided over the Commons while in session.  This was mainly done to save money in remodeling the Hall but also allowed everything t stay well preserved.

When the Nazi’s took over during WWII they were able to quickly turn Rudolfinum back into a concert hall. For all of the horrible atrocities that the Nazi’s committed around Europe, they seemed to have an appreciation of music halls even though they didn’t allow much freedom of expression in the performances.  Although it continued to function as a concert hall when the Nazi’s were kicked out, it took all the way until 1992 for it to be restored to its present glorious state.  Even if you can’t make a show, the Rudolfinum has two great spaces to rent for events, parties, and receptions as well as a wonderful  art gallery .  The pink  West Hall  has large drapes and the feeling of a grand French Palace, but it is the blue  Presidential Salon  with its Turkish feel that we like the most.  Before leaving the Theater make sure to check out the large bustling square in front of it called  Jan Palach Square .  Jan Palach was a student at nearby Charles University who burned himself alive in New Town’s Wenceslas Square while protesting Communist rule.

Musical Performances :  Performances are common, but you’ll have to check the website for the current schedule.   Art Gallery Hours :  Even if you can’t make the show they have a great gallery open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday-Sunday from 10am-5:30pm; Thursday 10am-7:30pm; Closed Mondays.   Art Gallery Cost :  120 CZK for Adults; Seniors, Students and kids 70 CZK.   Theater Website :  ( HERE ).

22. Museum Of Decorative Arts :

About The Museum Of Decorative Arts :  Right across the road from the Opera House is the Museum of Decorative Arts ( founded in 1885 ) which is housed inside a stunning Neo-Renaissance building from 1897.  The Museum of Decorative Arts, unlike traditional art museums, mainly focuses on decorative household arts.  From stain glass windows, metalworks, jewelry, glassworks, clocks, pottery, textiles, and fashion, museum buffs will love how they are able to show the beauty in 50,000 everyday items .

As you enter the museum visitors are welcomed by an impressive staircase that features ornately decorated ceilings and leads up to the permanent collection.  The clothing is exceptional as it covers Prague’s fashion scene from 1900 until Communism took over in 1948.  The Museum of Decorative Arts is also home to the  largest collection of Czech photography from the 19th century and an important glass exhibit highlighted by 6,000 items donated from Adalbert of Lanna’s personal collection in 1900.

Museum Hours :  Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm; Closed Mondays.   Museum Cost :  Permanent collection and exhibition 300 CZK for adults; 500 CZK for families; Kids 180 CZK; Children under 10 are Free.   Museum Website :  ( HERE ).

Other Jewish Sites Around Prague:

23. jubilee synagogue :.

About The Jubilee Synagogue :  Also known as the Jerusalem Synagogue for its location on Jerusalem Street, the Jubilee Synagogue is by far the most colorful and vibrant in all of Prague. This awesome Synagogue was built in 1906 and is as wonderful inside is out making it a favorite among photographers. It gets it name from the  50th anniversary of the rule of Franz Josef I . Its bright pink, blue, and yellow colors gleam on a design that blends Moorish and Art Nouveau architectural styles. It wasn’t until 2008 that this popular beauty finally opened its doors to non-Jews and tourists, but we are glad they finally did. The detailed interior with elegant ceilings, bright colors, and arabesque art will make you feel as if you are in an exotic Mosque in Istanbul. Jubilee is a treat that really will make you feel jubilee and since it is right by the train station you have no excuse not to check it out.

Hours :  Sunday-Friday 9am-4:30pm; stays open until 6pm April-October; Closed Saturdays for the Jewish Sabbath.   Website :  ( HERE ).

24. Memorial of Nicholas Winton :

About The Memorial of Nicholas Winton :  Nicolas Winton is one of the most famous people to help the Jewish population in Prague. In 1979 Nicolas’ wife Greta found a box in her attic with lists of Jewish children from Prague and letters from their parents, but had no idea why they were there. It turns out that 41 years earlier her husband, then a 30-year-old clerk in the London Stock Exchange, saved the lives of 699 Jewish children and  Greta never even knew  about it. Nicholas had visited Prague in 1938 became concerned about the increasing amount of Jewish refugees and the oncoming march of Hitler’s army toward the Czech capitol.

Through his connections in the British government, Nicholas arranged trains to help children of Prague escape before the Nazis got there and even found them foreign foster homes. In order to find enough foster parents Britain agreed to pay British families a whopping 50 Pounds to take a child in which was a lot back then. Winton set up shop secretly in the Hotel Evropa and Jewish parents quickly showed up to get their kids on the list to save them. Nicholas managed to get 8 trains out of Prague with 699 children before the Nazis showed up. When the 9th train left on September 3rd is was intercepted and all 250 children were killed ending Winton’s efforts on what was also the same day Britain entered WW2.

In the end, the 699 kids that Winton saved sparked the  Kindertransport Movement  which saved an additional 10,000 children in Europe. After decades without recognition sculptor, Flor Kent added a statue of Nicholas Winton seeing two kids off with a suitcase as a memorial in 2009 symbolically at Prague’s train station where the kids departed from. At the other end of the line in Liverpool Street Station in London, Kent installed another statue entitled “Für Das Kind Kindertransport Memorial” which was unveiled in 2003.

25. Old Jewish Garden :

About The Old Jewish Garden : Today this lively square is home to a very huge modern art piece depicting author Franz Kafka’s head in rotating layers of metal.  The block on the Southern end of the square was once the site of the Old Jewish Garden which was the Jewish cemetery outside the city walls from the 1200s until it was closed by King Vladislaus II in 1478.  in 1869 the name was changed to the Sunny Garden. Initial excavations from 1997-2009 found over 500 graves, bodies, and headstones. They also found a stone well, silver plated Medieval coins, pottery, and many of iron nails used to close the wooden caskets.

26. Jewish Cemetery in Žižkov :

About The Jewish Cemetery in Žižkov : Located near the train station, this large Cemetery originally started as a place of mass graves for the victims of the Plague in 1690.  After burial restrictions for Jewish people in Prague were lifted in 1787, became the new primary place of burial for the Jewish community.  Inflated by the number of local Jews killed in WII the Cemetery now holds over 40,000 graves.  This number would be even much, much larger if most of the Holocaust victims weren’t buried as mass graves at the concentration camps.

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Disclaimer: Information on this page and in our walking tours were deemed accurate when published, however, details such as opening hours, rates, transportation, visa requirements, and safety can change without notice. Please check with any destinations directly before traveling.