Food & Drink Tours
2 days works for the highlights, but 3 days is really the sweet spot that guides recommend for Prague – enough time to hit Old Town, Prague Castle, and the food/beer scene without rushing, plus room to explore quieter spots like Vyšehrad or a beer garden with a view.
Tour Guid, Prague Walking Tours
Rich with history, vibrant with culture, and boasting a stunning blend of Baroque, Gothic, Renaissance and Art Nouveau architecture, Prague is a must-do destination for a wide range of travellers. Whether for a city break, as a stop on an interrailing journey, or a longer trip, Prague has much to offer – oh, and it serves some of the world’s greatest beer too!
With so much to see and do, though, planning a 2-day or 3-day itinerary can become overwhelming. Not to fear, though. As experienced walking tour operators in Prague, we know the city inside and out and, because we talk to tourists every day, we hear all about their best discoveries and what they most enjoyed seeing and doing in Prague.
So, if you’re after some expert advice on how to plan your trip to Prague – including historical attractions, nightlife in Prague, the best places to try local cuisine, and more – then here’s our ultimate guide to how to spend 2-3 days in Prague.
3 days is ideally the minimum time to spend in Prague, but it is possible to see some key sites and get a reasonable feel for the Czech capital in 2 days, if needed.
At 496 square kilometres, Prague is broadly considered a mid-sized city. In terms of population, it ranks as 12th amongst cities in EU states, just a little smaller than Budapest and Vienna. Many key attractions are in close proximity, which makes it highly appealing for city-break travellers and interrailers, and is why 2 or 3 days in Prague is all you need to tour the city.
Old Town can be explored in just a few hours, especially with an Old Town walking tour. Our walking tour also includes the Charles Bridge and the unmissable Jewish Quarter. Prague’s infamous castle complex (the largest in the world, not to boast) is a must-see, for the architecture, for delving into the fascinating history of Prague, and for the stunning panorama of the medieval city below, and it takes approximately 3 hours to explore. Combined, that’s a full day of sightseeing with little time to catch your breath, so we recommend splitting this over a two-day stay, especially as you’ll want time in between seeing the sites to relax into the cafe culture and enjoy beers at at least one of Prague’s great pubs.
2-3 days in the Czech capital also gives you time for New Town (Nové Město). Here, you’ll find Wenceslas Square, the Dancing House, the National Museum and the New Town Hall.
As a noted capital of arts and culture, Prague is home to historical concert halls and legendary orchestras. If you wish to experience classical music concerts, ballet, or many of the city’s art galleries, then a 3-day stay in Prague would allow time to indulge in the arts.
2 days in Prague gives you enough time to see key historical sites, soak in some culture, sample some of Prague’s staple dishes and finest beers, and experience the real Prague.
For the first day, get familiar with Old Town. The streets of Old Town are a storybook tale of the city. Unlike many European cities, Prague was not subjected to the bombing of World War II and, despite defenestration, occupation and revolutions, the city remains incredibly intact. Most opt to explore Old Town on foot, which is certainly the way to do it, but without a guided tour, you risk losing out on the rich history these sites hold.
Guided tours are usually priced between €20 and €50, and some are centred around a particular quarter or theme. However, Prague Pulse’s Free Walking Tours (to be upfront, that’s us) are donation-based, so we only ask you to pay what you believe the tour was worth, after the tour. This, aside from our genuine love of the city, is one of the reasons our tours of Prague are fuelled with energy, in-depth knowledge and real expertise.
Our Iconic Free Tour of Prague’s Old Town, Jewish Quarter and Charles Bridge runs multiple times daily, is 2.5 hours, and covers several special sites including:
This tour is not designed to merely show you the sites, though; along the way, we provide the history and the stories that have made these places not just sights to see, but places worth learning about.
Part of a stunning castle complex, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle complex in the world and not to be missed. Founded in the 9th century, it has been the seat of power for Kings of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperors, and still serves as the official office for the President of the Czech Republic. Both the exteriors and interiors are remarkable, but another key reason for visiting the castle is the breathtaking views of the city.
The castle complex is a free complex to explore, however, to go inside any of the museums, you’ll need to purchase a ticket. This is priced at 450 CZK (about £16 or €18) for adults.
Alternatively, join our Prague Castle Free Walking Tour, and we’ll guide you through the history, including the torrid tale of the Second Defenestration of Prague, where several Catholic officials were thrown from a castle window.
Much like the UK, Prague’s most traditional cuisines can be found in pubs. Food in Prague is typically meat-heavy and often covered in thick, hearty sauces. There is also a deliciously gooey cheese dish for the vegetarians too. It’s good quality comfort food that’s perfect with a pint. Svíčková is a standout dish – steak and dumplings in a velvety cream sauce, or, for a meat-free meal, try smaženy syr.
Known for its affordable, quality beer, Prague is home to Pilsner, but has also developed a craft beer scene and just a few steps from Prague Castle you can find the Strahov Monastery Brewery, where they brew an amber lager, a dark lager, and an IPA, as well as a variety of seasonal craft beers. These can be enjoyed from their on-site restaurant, where you can observe the brewhouse at work.
True foodies will want to ensure they bypass the tourist traps and sample the best and most authentic food and drink in Prague, and our Ultimate Prague Food Tour serves up just that. We begin in a little-known place in Old Town, tasting some famous Czech starters (aka, bar snacks) before moving on to a traditional Czech restaurant where you’ll be served a platter featuring the Czech classics. All food is served with beer, wine or soft drinks, and we close the tour with a visit to a traditional Czech bakery for pastries. The experience lasts 3 hours, and you must book in advance.
If classical music is a passion of yours, or if you’re curious to find out if it is, then a classical concert in Prague should be on your to-do list. St Nicholas Church is a Baroque church in the Lesser Town and is well worth a visit on its own. However, it also hosts one-hour orchestral performances from late afternoon into the evening. A similar experience can also be enjoyed at Lobkowicz Palace in the Prague Castle complex.
If you are interested in a longer, more formal performance in a similarly magnificent setting, the Czech National Theatre (Narodní Divadlo) runs three major stages – The Estates Theatre, National Theatre, and State Opera. Book ahead to see famous operas and ballets.
For a 2-day trip to Prague, we recommend the following itinerary, feeding your appetite for history, culture and mouthwatering food:
3 days in Prague is ideal for sightseeing and soaking in the culture. We still recommend a tour of Old Town and Prague Castle, taking in key sites like the Jewish Quarter, Charles Bridge, Wenceslas Square and the Astronomical Clock, alongside a food tour for the best traditional dishes and an evening at the theatre or a classical concert.
On a 3-day itinerary, though, you also have time to explore beyond the typical tourist routes. So, for your 3rd day in the city, here are the highlights we deem worthy of consideration:
There is so much to see in Prague, but there is also more of Prague to see, and for that you need an excellent viewpoint. For this, there are three strong contenders:
Letna Beer Garden – Letna is a lesser-known part of Prague and so can be a welcome change of pace from the bustling tourist centre. Located just across the river, around a 25-minute walk from Old Town Square to the top, Letna Beer Garden is an excellent place to enjoy a beautiful view of the city and a laid-back atmosphere, brew in hand.
Riegrovy Sady – Lie back amongst the greenery of Riegrovy Sady’s park and gardens and observe the storybook city below. Just a 25-minute walk from Wenceslas Square in New Town, there is a peacefulness here that simply can’t be found in the centre. Getting here does involve a steady uphill climb, but there is yet another beer garden to greet you and the promise of a drink. Alternatively, trams or the metro can deliver you to Riegrovy Sady.
Vyšehrad – Take a 30-minute walk from Charles Bridge, and you can discover Vyšehrad, an incredibly interesting fort dating back to the mid-10th century. Here, you’ll see the Gothic church of St Peter and St Paul, some Baroque statues formerly from Charles Bridge, the oldest rotunda in the Czech Republic and the cemetery, where you can find the graves of composer Antonín Dvořák, writer Karel Čapek, and Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha. Again, the views from Vyšehrad are stunning, but this viewpoint probably tops our list because Vyšehrad itself has so much to offer, rich with stories and with a sense of romanticism.
Old Town draws the crowds for good reason, but New Town is too often overlooked when, in fact, it’s equally worth exploring, and also not really that ‘new’. This part of the city was founded in 1348 by Charles IV, an enlightened ruler credited with making Prague the magnificent city it became under his leadership.
Head to New Town Hall to learn about the first defenestration of Prague in 1419, and see the spire from which multiple officials were thrown to their deaths in an act of revolt that led to the Hussite Wars.
Wenceslas Square is home to the National Museum. Before venturing in, though, see if you can spot the bullet hole traces on the neoclassical facade, from the 1968 Prague Soviet-led invasion. In fact, as one of the main rallying points in Prague, this square has been where much of the city’s history has unfolded.
For anyone wanting to delve deeper into the history of Prague, covering Nazi occupation and communist control, consider joining our free walking tour – Nazis & Communism: How Prague Survived. Here is where we explore much of the New Town.
Starting at 10.30 am and taking you mostly around the New Town, we relay the history and show you the key sites, but more importantly, we tell the real stories of the real Czech people who lived through this dark century in Prague.
For a 2-day trip to Prague, we recommend the following itinerary, feeding your appetite for history, culture and mouthwatering food:
Sit down for dinner at Pivovarský dům Benedict on Karlovo náměstí, serving traditional Czech food and house-brewed beer
Hop on the metro (Line C, direct from Muzeum station) to Vyšehrad
Take the tram (Line 22) over to Strahov
You can view the meeting point on the map here.
A range of starters, mains, and desserts, plus beer, wine, or a soft drink with your starter and main, and coffee with dessert. You’ll also have an expert guide with you throughout.
The tour runs for 3 hours.
Daily at 2:45 pm.
We keep it small for a more intimate experience.
Comfortable shoes and an appetite!
Yes — it’s suitable for all fitness levels, with frequent stops along the way.
Emily Dauris is a freelance writer, content strategist and travel enthusiast based in the UK
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