How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in Prague (Off the Beaten Path)

Are you going to Prague for a weekend and are looking for some inspiration? We’ve got you covered. Prague is the perfect city to spend a weekend in because there are so many fun things to do there.

In this post, you can find everything you need to know for your upcoming weekend in Prague including where to stay, all the sights and tours you shouldn’t miss, and where to get the best food in Prague.

This Prague weekend itinerary is going to help you have an awesome trip, and we hope you have the best time exploring Prague and checking out the city. We love this city so much that we ended up moving to Prague after visiting a few times. Who knows, maybe you will too?

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What does the perfect weekend in Prague look like?

Since you’re probably only going to have about 48 hours in Prague you want to make the most of your time there. For this Prague itinerary, we’ve included a few tours we love, some sights you have to see, and of course some amazing food places in Prague that you have to try out.

Some of the sights, tours, and restaurants will be in the more touristy areas but a part of this weekend trip is also bringing you to some of the less touristy and more expat-y parts of time.

This includes Vinohrady and Zizkov which are two of our favourite neighbourhoods in the city. Vinohrady was actually nominated as one of the 40 coolest neighbourhoods in the world in 2023 by TimeOut.

1st day in Prague (Friday itinerary)

If you’re lucky enough to catch an early flight into Prague then you’ll have most of Friday to do some exploring. We have some ideas for you to check out if you have a bit of extra time. If not, then maybe you have a late flight Sunday and can visit some of these places then.

Check in to your accommodation

There’s a section at the bottom of the post about where to stay in Prague.

Day 1 in Prague (Friday afternoon)

Let’s head to the cool and hip neighbourhood of Karlin!

Head to the metro and take the yellow like/ B line to “Krizikova” which is in Karlin. 

Karlin is this really cool up-and-coming neighbourhood full of life. Back in the day, it was a bit more of an industrial and less attractive part of town but now with all the delicious restaurants, cafes, and microbreweries, it’s become really popular. 

Spend some time exploring the cool shops around the main square in Karlin. We highly recommend stopping by Dva Kohouti for a quick drink if you’re thirsty. It’s a small microbrewery right in the heart of Karlin. They produce and make all the beer right in front of your eyes!

Lokal Hamburk is right next to Dva Kohouti and it’s the place to eat if you want to try a local and proper Czech meal.

There’s a good chance that there’s some sort of event happening at the main square in Karlin as well. If you’re lucky there may be a beer or coffee festival going on. Sometimes there’s some nice live music as well.

Day 1 in Prague (Friday evening)

Make your way to the metro or take the tram to the JZP “Jiriho z Podebrad” stop. The JZP metro stop is right below JZP square so it’s super easy to get to.

This is one of our favourite areas in Prague! The vibe is awesome and there are so many great places to eat. Oh, and it is just a short walk away from one of the best sunset spots in Prague. That’s exactly where we recommend you end up.

JZP square is filled with cafes, pubs and restaurants. For dinner, we have two recommendations that are totally different. The first one is Pho Vietnam Slavikova right at JZP. They only offer take-away so we usually take the food and find a nice spot at the square on one of the benches or something. The food is delicious and #12 on the menu is our go-to every time. Please note that this place takes cash only.

The second option is to start walking towards Riegrovy Sady park (the sunset spot). Next to the park is one of our favourite food places in Prague called The Tavern. If you’re lucky enough to find an empty table (or if you book a table in advance) then you have to try it.

The Tavern is American-inspired and has some of the best burgers in Prague along with great cocktails. The convenience about eating here as well is that it’s only a 5-minute walk to the sunset spot we mentioned. 
If you end up eating at Pho Vietnam or The Tavern or find another tasty place to eat you can put Riegrovy Sady View into your Google Maps and then follow that to the beautiful sunset.

We also want to let you know that in Prague, you are allowed to drink in public, so feel free to grab a beer or bottle of wine and bring it with you.

Enjoy watching the sunset over the castle. This spot has definitely become more popular over the years with locals and expats always hanging out in groups of friends, enjoying the views.

That wraps up Friday! You can always find some pub nearby (Beer Geek Bar might be an option) if you’re having a good time. Saturday’s a big day though! 😉

2nd day in Prague (Saturday itinerary)

For Saturday, we’re spicing it up a bit with a few tours and even a boat cruise if you’re up for that. Again, there’s so much to see and we believe it’s better to spend more time in one area and place than just trying to see everything quickly. Plus it’s an excuse to come back again one day.

Day 2 in Prague (Saturday morning)

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? So start it off right by heading to Marty’s Kitchen or Sweet and Pepper in Vinohrady. Since you’re already in the area you can check out the famous Namesti Miru where you’ll find the Church of St Ludmila.

This may sound crazy but you have to try Creme de la Creme ice cream if it’s sunny out. It doesn’t matter that it might be 10 am. This ice cream will put the biggest smile on your face!

Day 2 in Prague (Saturday afternoon)

This post isn’t all about food! Now it’s time to do a tour and learn about some Czech and Prague history. And what’s a better way to do that than by going on a tour!? It’s the perfect way to learn a little bit about the city and the people and how everything came to be.

In all honesty, we’re usually not that into history, but we do think that Prague has a really interesting past. With WW1 & 2, communism, and Czech Republic’s physical location in Europe, there is just so much history you can dive into!

There are plenty of tours in Prague you can do that will show you beautiful locations while teaching you about the history of the city and country. For that reason, it might be hard to decide which tour to go on. We recommend two in specific that we have personally tried and loved.

The first tour option is with an awesome tour company called One Prague Tour. This tour is a bit more private and includes beer, a public transport ticket, and some food. Plus you get to visit a few places that you wouldn’t on the majority of the other Prague tours. If you want an authentic experience with awesome guides this is it!

Jakub and Ondra (the owners + guides) are both locals who have travelled abroad so they know a ton about the city and country + their English is great. If you end up going with One Prague Tour, you can use the code RWA10 for 10% off!

The second tour is actually a free walking tour which is very common to go on in most cities around Europe. You basically just go on the tour for free and then you can tip the guide at the end. It’s a great way to learn about Prague and meet other friendly people on the tour since they are usually quite busy. This is, however, also the downside of a free walking tour. If the group is too big, it’s hard to hear everything and get your questions answered.

Both tour options are great but quite different. So depending on your budget and the type of trip you’re going for you can pick the one you prefer!

If you’re looking for a third option, you can check out all sorts of other Prague tours on GetYourGuide as well.

Day 2 in Prague (Saturday evening)

It’s time for another tour! One of the best things to do at night in Prague is to go on an evening buffet river cruise. At night you get to see the city lit up and it’s so beautiful. The boat tour passes by some famous landmarks including the famous Prague Castle and at night all lit up it looks stunning. 

There are quite a few different boat tours that operate for the dinner cruises. Most tours are similar and the price difference is usually just based on the quality of the food and drinks. 

We personally would go with this Prague dinner cruise with the glass roof! It means you can see much more of the city, and the price is decent – especially when you look at what’s included. A bonus to this cruise is that vegetarian and vegan options are available.

If a boat cruise isn’t for you then head across the famous Charles Bridge to Old Town Prague in the evening and see the Old Town come to life. 

There are plenty of slightly overpriced restaurants in Old Town but U Parlamentu is not one of them. It’s fairly priced and the delicious traditional Czech food is what makes this place stand out.

There’s so much to do and see in Old Town but in the evening after dinner just roam around and see what little gems you can find. There’s plenty of pubs and bars with lively music, comedy, or something else going on.

3rd day in Prague (Sunday itinerary)

It’s not actually fair how fast a weekend trip goes by! Hopefully, you still have time to roam around the city this Sunday because this itinerary includes a full day planned for Sunday. Might as well make the most of it right? 

Day 3 in Prague (Sunday morning)

Today we’re going to explore Letna! An area just east of the famous Prague Castle. We used to live in this neighbourhood actually and absolutely love it because there’s so much to do.

Start with breakfast at Cafe Letka and enjoy a nice meal + good quality coffee. It does get really busy for brunch on weekends so try and book a table in advance if you can. They have delicious food and drinks and just the vibe inside is awesome. A very rustic but fancy little cafe.

You can also look at this list of other amazing cafes in Prague if this one is too busy!

Day 3 in Prague (Sunday afternoon)

Alright, it’s time to enjoy the last bit of Prague. Since you’ll most likely be in Letna there are two places that are totally worth exploring. 

The first one is Letna Park and the beer garden. It’s a beautiful park in Letna that overlooks the Vltava River and Old Town Prague. The beer garden is always busy with expats and tourists hanging out and enjoying the beautiful view. It’s Sunday though so they got other stuff as well! 😉

The park is beautiful to walk around and if you have time then make your way to this viewpoint at Letna Park. It’s hands down one of the best viewpoints in Prague.

The other option is to explore the National Technical Museum which is only a shot walk away from Letka Cafe. In our opinion, it’s one of the most underrated museums in Prague and you can get lost in there for hours. 

If it’s raining or you want to learn some interesting stuff then spend the rest of the day in the museum before your flight back home. 

Both of these options are great ways to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Things to know for your weekend trip to Prague

Now that you have your itinerary, let’s talk about some of the stuff you can prepare for before your trip: where to stay, what to bring, and all that exciting stuff!

Where to stay in Prague

Personally, there’s no better place than to stay in either Vinohrady or Zizkov. They’re not completely in the center but they’re close to lots of the places mentioned above. Plus when you do want to visit the center it’s a quick metro or tram ride away.

Budget option: The Czech Inn Hostel

If you’re a solo backpacker and want to meet some people then the Czech Inn Hostel is the perfect place for that. It’s one of the best hostels in the city because of its vibe and common area where people always get together and travel around the city.

The Czech Inn also has great options if you’re on a budget but still want a private room. Their private rooms are super nice and cheaper than hotels and other similar accommodation options. Plus you still get the community aspect of staying at a hostel and all the events connected to that!

When we stayed at the Czech Inn in September 2021, we were in a 4-bed dorm with a shared bathroom and it was perfect for what we needed.

Mid-range budget: Hotel City Bell

Hotel City Bell is the perfect option if you want something more private without breaking the bank. City Bell is perfectly located in Vinohrady and is only a short walk from public transport. 

You will absolutely love this area and the spacious rooms inside City Bell. All packages come with breakfast included which we love (we’re suckers for hotels with breakfast). It’s a great mid-range hotel if that’s what you’re looking for!

High-end budget: Residence Vocelova

Residence Vocelova is an absolute gem in Vinohrady. The staff really takes pride in their place and it’s perfectly located right near Wenceslas Square.

It is a little bit on the pricier side but if you’re looking to splurge for a weekend then check out Residence Vocelova.

How to get from the Prague Airport to the city centre

There are a few different ways to get from Prague airport to the city center. Depending on how much you want to spend and how quickly you want to get to your hotel or hostel, you can pick the option that works best for you.

You can also read this guide on how to get from Prague Airport to the city center.

Prague Airport to city centre by taxi

There isn’t an official fixed price for the whole trip from the airport to downtown. The price of the trip will depend on the distance of your trip.

On average it will cost about 700 CZK ($30) which honestly isn’t that cheap if you compare the time and convenience it takes via public transport. If you go by public transport is only a little bit slower and way cheaper. More on this below.

Prague Airport to city centre by bus and metro

Once you leave the airport, you’ll be on the hunt for bus number 119. You will take it all the way to the last stop at Nadrazi Veleslavin and from there you will go down the escalator and hop on the Metro Line A (green). This is the only metro that leaves so you don’t have to worry about getting lost. Once you’re on the platform, hop on the metro on the right side. This will bring you to the city.

The bus leaves every 15 minutes and takes approximately 20 minutes to get to the metro. From Nadrazi Veleslavin you will take the metro and stop either at Můstek or Museum station depending on where your accommodation is. The metro will take another 20 minutes.

A 90-minute ticket is 40 CZK (around $2) and is valid for both the bus and the metro. You just have to stamp the ticket after you’ve purchased it. You do this in the yellow machines in front of the bus stop at the airport or as soon as you hop on the bus.

As you can see, taking public transport is so much cheaper than taking a taxi. It really isn’t that difficult to get downtown by public transport either.

To summarize the trip by public transport:

1. Take bus number 119 to Nadrazi Veleslavin (Green Metro Line A). 20 minute journey.
2. Take the metro to either Mustek or Muzeum. Another 20 minute journey.

In total if you time the bus and metro right you can get from the airport to the city centre in under 45 minutes which isn’t too bad. The taxi will take at least 20-30 minutes depending on traffic so you’re not saving that much time. Plus it is much cheaper to take the bus and metron.

Packing list for a weekend in Prague

What to bring, that is the question! In case you’re looking for some inspiration, we actually have a whole post dedicated to this. You can check out our Prague packing list here. It includes all the stuff you’ll need for the weekend.

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• 7 Awesome Day Trips From Prague You Need to Do
• 35 Exciting Things to Do in Prague on a Budget

Quick Recap on the weekend trip to Prague

Hopefully, by now, you have enough information to make your weekend in Prague unforgettable! There’s so much to do and see and another great option we want to mention is that you can get a Prague City Card. If you’re planning to visit a bunch of places, this card comes in handy. There are so many awesome discounts with the card and you can buy a 2, 3, or 4-day card.

We hope the weekend itinerary for Prague has helped you plan your trip and given you some inspiration on what there is to do in Prague. The list of things to do never ends there so if you’re looking for more inspiration, you can find 35 exciting things to do in Prague here.

If you have any questions about Prague then feel free to DM us on Instagram or leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you ASAP. Have an amazing time visiting this historic city and make the best of your weekend by eating delicious food, sampling Czech beer, and learning a little bit about the country.

Have fun!

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