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Inspiring travel through photography

Home » Travel » Europe » Eastern Europe » 12 Fun Things to Do in Prague – a Mix of Old-world Charm and Innovation

12 Fun Things to Do in Prague – a Mix of Old-world Charm and Innovation

Last Updated: January 8, 2023 // by Rhonda Albom // 6 Comments
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One end of the Charles Bridge in Prague Czech Republic
The crowd as we came off the Charles Bridge on the other side.
As the clock strikes the next hour, the 12 apostles put on a show on the world's oldest astronomical clock still in operation. It is one of the many cool things to do in Prague, Czech Republic.
Enjoying the city views is one of the fun things to do in Prague
Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square, Prague, Czech Republic.

Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, is a mix of old-world charm, intricate architecture and innovation. It’s a city I wish we had more time to explore, as there are so many traditional and fun things to do in Prague.

From the first moment, I liked Prague. It is easy to explore, and it’s an affordable city (as long as you don’t drive in the pedestrian areas – more on this below).

Fun Things to Do in Prague

  1. Watch the animation on the world’s oldest working astronomical clock
  2. Cross the Charles Bridge
  3. Walk along the world’s narrowest pedestrian road
  4. Learn why Prague has such an extensive Jewish quarter
  5. Visit the Prague National Museum
  6. Visit the Prague National Museum
  7. Marvel at one of the world’s most beautiful churches: St. James the Greater (and wonder about the severed hand hanging on a chain)
  8. Spend time at the Prague Castle
  9. Take a tour of Prague
  10. Eat food from a street vendor
  11. Enjoy lunch at an outdoor cafe
  12. Treat your feet

First, let us inspire you …

Watch the animation on the world’s oldest working astronomical clock

At the stroke of nearly every hour, crowds stand in wonderment in Prague’s Old Town Square. They are looking up at the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still in operation. Specifically, during the hour (between 9 am and 11 pm) the attraction is the procession of the 12 apostles near the top of the clock. It is one of the top things to see in Prague.

The installation of the Prague astronomical clock was in 1410. The lower dial has one day for each day of the year.

Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square, Prague, Czech Republic.
Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square.

Cross the Charles Bridge

The historic Charles Bridge is one of Prague’s top attractions. Filled with statues and offering beautiful views, it crosses the Vltava river.

Bridge construction began in 1357. It was a long process with many delays. It wasn’t until the beginning of the 15th century that it was finally completed.

Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic
Our family on the Charles Bridge back in 2012.
One end of the Charles Bridge
The crowd on the other side.

Wait for your turn on the world’s narrowest pedestrian road

Whether or not this is actually the world’s narrowest pedestrian street is up for debate. However, it is so narrow that it requires a pedestrian traffic light, as two people cannot pass.

We couldn’t resist giving it a try, as we found it to be one of the more unusual things to do in Prague.

Take a look at our shot of Sarah walking up the street. The traffic control lights on this narrow pedestrian staircase show red, as I cannot go down until she completes her walk. Look on the wall; the red sign with the arrow points to the button one pushes to get a green light.

Narrowest pedestrian street in the world
Is this really the world’s narrowest pedestrian staircase?

Learn why Prague has such an extensive Jewish quarter

Prague’s Jewish Quarter is one of the oldest in Europe, and the museums are filled with artifacts that no longer exist in other towns. For us, the highlight of the Jewish quarter was the old Jewish cemetery.

With so much history, we opted for a tour of the Jewish Quarter. It was a good choice. We also got lucky as no one else showed up for our group tour, so it became private.

The tour we went on doesn’t exist any longer. However, if you are interested in the Jewish history of Prague, we believe this small-group tour led by a professional guide will have you visit many of the temples and sites (admissions included) in the Jewish quarter. Check the excellent reviews or book the Premium Prague Jewish Quarter Tour.

Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague, Czech Republic
Some of the grave markers in the Old Jewish Cemetery.

Visit the Prague National Museum

The National Museum is one of the best museums in Prague. Here we learned a bit of interesting Prague history and discovered a vast number of important things that were invented or researched by Czech scientists.

Some of the more interesting items were the first classification of blood types by Jan Jánský, the boat screw propeller by Josef Ressel and František Burián, who gave birth to the field of plastic surgery. Not to mention the work by Karel Raška in eradicating smallpox.

Prague Museum
The main building of the Prague Museum. Photo ©Melissa Albom

Enjoy the architecture on Wenceslas Square

Standing in front of the National Museum, we had a lovely view of Wenceslas Square.

Wenceslas Square in Prague Czech Republic
Looking out over Wenceslas Square.

Marvel at one of the world’s most beautiful churches: St. James the Greater

The church of St James the Greater, also called the St James Cathedral, is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful Catholic churches in the world.

St James Cathedral in Prague, Czech Republic
Inside the magnificent St James Cathedral.

Don’t miss the severed hand

Near the entrance to the St. James Cathedral hangs a severed hand from the 14th century.

The legend tells of a thief who got caught around the wrist by the Madonna as the thief tried to steal jewels from the high altar. The thief was stuck. Cutting off his arm was the only way to free him. The monks hung the severed hand as a warning for other thieves.

Severed hand from medieval days hanging from the ceileing
The severed hand that hangs in St James Cathedral.

Spend time at the Prague Castle

We opted for a guided tour of Prague Castle, and it brought history to life. We couldn’t enter through the main gates as they are used for dignitaries only. Tourists enter from the side.

Aside from the castle itself, there is a large gothic church on the grounds, as well as a fascinating weapons room and a frightening torture chamber.

Prague Castle should be a must-see on any list. It’s one of the most fun things to do in Prague with kids or just as adults.

Main gate to the Prague Castle in the Czech Republic
Main gate of the Prague Castle.
A church inside the gates of the Prague Castle in the Czech Republic
A gothic church at Prague Castle.
Prague Castle in seen from the Charles Bridge
Prague Castle as seen from the Charles Bridge.
View of the city from the Prague Castle
View of the city from a window in the Prague Castle.

Take a tour of Prague

Prague’s history and culture are extensive and you can see and learn about it by taking a tour. These tours are led by locals whose experience can give you understanding and insight into the city.

Eat from a street vendor

We are generally brave eaters and try to eat what locals eat. This particular street vendor always seemed to be busy with customers. We took the hint and enjoyed the sausages.

Sausages at a street vendor
Tasty sausages at a street vendor in Prague. We ate them twice, as they were so good. (Photo ©Melissa Albom)

Enjoy lunch at an outdoor cafe

Prague has so many adorable restaurants. We were glad our Lonely Planet guidebook made a recommendation.

Restaurant in Prague, Czech Republic
An outdoor cafe just on the other side of the Charles Bridge.

Treat your feet

Believe it or not, this is the first time saw garra rufa fish. Apparently, they eat dead human skin, and Melissa gave it a try. Twenty-five minutes later she had incredibly soft feet.

garra rufa fish in Prague Czech Republic
Melissa’s feet as the garra rufa fish remove the dead skin.

Pro tip: respect the police

As a general rule, we always respect the police. However, in Prague, we learned very quickly that some police officers will not only take cash payouts, but they will also ask for them. Our story:

We have rented an apartment on Wenceslas Square. Having just driven into the Czech Republic from Germany we have no koruna, the local currency. Our GPS sent us down a one-way street that ends on Wenceslas Square’s main road. A simple right turn will land us in front of our short-term rental. However, the street was closed to traffic, yet turning was the only option.

Paraphrasing the officer, “Are you aware that this morning we decided to make Wenceslas Square a pedestrian-only road just for today and only until 6 pm.” He continues, “The fine for driving on a pedestrian road is 2,000 Koruna” (equal at the time $120NZD or $100USD), but if you pay us 200 koruna in cash right now, that will cover it.”

When hubby confessed to only having Euros, the officer pointed out the ATM.

Police in Prague Czech Republic
This is what it looked like as we approached. They had two vans, and several officers in the street directing the foreign cars to pull over.

Practical travel tips for when you visit Prague

  • Prague has an easy-to-use public transit system that runs on an honour system of sorts. You must have a validated ticket in your possession when you ride. Police checks are not uncommon, the fines are fairly steep.
  • Eat the street food – don’t think about how long the sausages may have been hanging there before it was yours, just enjoy it.
  • Be sure to visit the astronomical clock right on the hour. Getting there early for a great viewing spot isn’t too important, as it is high up on the wall in sight of everyone.
  • Stay on Wenceslas Square. We stayed in an apartment, but there are plenty of great hotel options.
  • When you are leaving St. James Cathedral, be sure to look up and to the left and notice the severed hand hanging over the door.
  • Pay the fine and don’t let it wreck your day. Actually, if you are headed to the Czech Republic, Mexico, Morocco, Chicago or Fiji you may as well just add “bribe” as a budget item.

Save on your trip with these resources

We use these aggregator companies to save time and money. They do the work for us by providing a list of options, prices, and reviews for anywhere we are travelling worldwide. Plus, we have personally had positive customer service experiences with all of them: 

  • Flights: we use Expedia for the best and cheapest flight options.
  • Hotels: we use Booking.com as they consistently return the best rates and their reviews are from actual guests. However, for self-contained lodging, use VRBO
  • Cars: we use RentalCars to find the best deals and dealer ratings.
  • Private guides: we often hire private guides from Tours by Locals
  • Travel Insurance: we start at InsureMyTrip as they are the best option to compare plans and find the right coverage for you.

Before you book the rest of your trip: Check out our travel resources page for more companies that we use when you travel.

We believe this list to be the best in each category. You can’t go wrong using them on your trip too.

Save for your visit to Prague

If you enjoyed this article, please share it on Pinterest and other social media.

Enjoying the city views is one of the fun things to do in Prague

Which of these fun things to do in Prague will you do first?

Other places to visit in Southern Europe:

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Things to Do in Cordoba Spain: More than Just La Mezquita

Chapel of Bones around the world

Chapel of Bones Evora and Other World Ossuaries

Santillana Del Mar, rustic stone buildings dripping with colourful balcony flowers.

Northern Spain Road Trip: From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean

Roman Forum, one of many stops as we attempted to see the highlights of Rome in a day, Italy

Italy Cruise Ports: One Day in Rome, Florence, Naples, or Venice

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Category: Eastern EuropeTag: Bridge, Castle

About Rhonda Albom

Capturing the essence of travel through photography, Rhonda Albom is the primary author and photographer at Albom Adventures. She is an American expat based in New Zealand. She travels the world with her husband.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Linzey

    November 24, 2021 at 1:40 am

    Prague is at the top of my list for our World Tour in 2022; this list is perfect! Thank you for putting this together. I am excited for the St. Charles Bridge and that church looks stunning. Interesting information about the police; glad you mentioned it and told that story. Thank you for sharing this! – Linzey @thefamilyfuntour

    Reply
  2. Nancy

    September 22, 2021 at 9:19 am

    Oh my! That would be a wonderful place to visit!

    Reply
  3. Dế Việt

    September 26, 2018 at 7:48 pm

    I really like Prague, I have been there twice and still look forward to next time. Your photos are beautiful too

    Reply
  4. Tony Payne

    May 19, 2012 at 3:49 am

    Prague always looks amazing, I would love to go there.

    Those weapons look rather dangerous – I wouldn’t like to bump into one of those while bending over!

    Love the giant pretzels too. So pleased you are all feeling better 🙂

    Reply
  5. Joyce

    May 18, 2012 at 2:19 pm

    Judy’s boyfriend studied abroad in Prague while Judy studied in Haifa. She spent her Spring Break in Prague and fell in love with the city. Glad you’re enjoying it.

    Reply
  6. Lynne

    May 18, 2012 at 11:22 am

    Have I said that Prague is one of my favourite cities. How envious I am right now!

    Reply

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