I had been to Prague as a child, for a New Year's Eve many years ago, together with my parents but I had wanted to go back and visit it again for a while since I kept very few memories of it. I therefore took advantage of a long weekend during the Christmas period which, in my opinion, is without any doubt the best period to visit the Czech capital: Prague definitely gives its best at Christmas.. the climate is quite cold, and the the probability that you will come across a beautiful snowfall is high, but I guarantee you that it will be worth it! So.. if you are looking for a destination for a nice weekend in Europe, Prague is definitely a valid destination. The center of the Czech capital is essentially quite circumscribed: it lends itself perfectly to a long 3-day weekend, in which it is absolutely possible to visit all the main attractions and points of interest well, always moving on foot between the four main districts: Malá Strana, Nové Město (the New Town), Staré Město (the Old Town) and Josefov, the Jewish quarter.
Here is the 3-day itinerary that my mum and I followed on our all-Christmas mini-trip to Prague!
Prague - 3-day itinerary
Day 1:
Prague Castle: Golden Lane, Torture Tower, St. George's Basilica, Royal Palace, St. Vitus Basilica + Pražský Hrad Christmas Market
Loreta
Nerudova - Gingerbread Museum
St. Nicholas Church
Malostranské square - lunch at the street food festival
John Lennon Wall
Kampa Island - Christmas Market
Petrin Hill
Strahov monastery
Charles Bridge by night
Dinner at U Pravdů
Day 2
Clementinum
Charles Bridge - climb of the tower
Astronomical Clock show
Old Town Hall
Lunch at Restaurace Mlejnice
Old Town Square - Christmas Market Staroměstské Náměstí
Church of Our Lady before Tyn - Kinský Palace
Powder Gate
Palladium Shopping Center + Christmas Market Náměstí Republiky
Synagogue of the Jubilee
Na příkopě
Original Beer Spa
Giorno 3
Jewish Museum Prague: Maisel Synagogue, Pinkasova Synagogue, Old Jewish Cemetery, Klausen Synagogue, Ceremonial Hall, Spanish Synagogue + Kafka Statue
Franz Kafka's Head
Lunch at U Fleků
Dancing House
Lucerne Palace
Wenceslas Square + Václavské Náměstí Christmas Market
National Museum
If you intend to visit many of the main attractions in Prague, I suggest you consider purchasing the Prague CoolPass, a paid card that allows free access and many discounts. If you are looking for a low-cost trip, plan the itinerary carefully and evaluate whether it is convenient or not based on the attractions you want to include in the program. To know more READ ALSO: Everything you need to know to plan a perfect trip to Prague
READ ALSO: What to eat in Prague - the 10 most delicious typical dishes and the best places to taste them
What to see in Prague district by district
》Hradčany
Hradčany is the hilltop district where Prague Castle stands, literally translated as Castle District.
Prague Castle - Pražský Hrad

Prague Castle is undoubtedly one of the places in the capital that you absolutely cannot miss. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague is the largest ancient castle in the world with an area of 7.28 hectares. This thousand-year-old fortified citadel overlooks Prague from the top of a hill on the left bank of the Vltava river and, in addition to the splendid view of the city you will enjoy from its walls, it contains real wonders inside that you can admire with a single ticket . The 250 CZK ticket - about 10€ (tour B) is in my opinion the best option to visit Prague Castle: you will have free access to the Golden Lane, the Torture Tower, St. George's Basilica, the Old Palazzo Reale and the splendid Basilica of San Vito.
The Golden Lane: the picturesque alley, located along the northern wall of the castle, consists of a series of small houses once occupied by the goldsmiths of the city;
Basilica of San Giorgio: impossible not to recognize it with its red brick facade;
Ancient Royal Palace: initially it may not seem worthy of its name but wait until you reach the splendid Hall of Vladislaus with its vaulted ceiling;
Basilica si San Giorgio interno ed esterno - Sale dell'Antico Palazzo Reale
Basilica of San Vito: undoubtedly the most beautiful part of the castle. It took almost 600 years to build and is one of the most beautiful and impressive cathedrals in Eastern Europe.
You can access the interior of the Prague Castle freely and for free, by visiting the Courts and the Torture Tower: only if you want to access these structures you will have to pay for the ticket by choosing the combination you prefer.
Don't forget that in the First Court the changing of the guard takes place on the hour on the hour, even if the most striking parade is at 12:00. In the square where we find the Basilica of St. George, the wonderful Pražský Hrad Christmas Market is held during the Christmas period.
READ ALSO: Discover the magic of Christmas in Prague, home to one of the best Christmas markets in Europe

Opening hours Prague Castle is open every day of the week:
Castle complex (free admission) from 6:00 to 22:00
Hours of historic buildings:
April - October: 9:00 - 17:00
November - March: 9am - 6am
Sunday St. Vitus Cathedral opens at 12:00
I strongly advise you to visit the Castle in the early part of the morning, in order to avoid long queues at the ticket offices and the crowds of tourists inside the buildings. The ideal, in my opinion, is to arrive around 9:30-10:00 in order to watch the 12:00 parade on the way out!
Free tour of Prague Castle
If you would like to experience an interesting guided tour of Prague Castle I cannot recommend the Free Tour of Prague Castle by freetour.com
This Free Prague Castle tour concentrates fully on the area of Prague Castle and Castle District and is for everyone who wants to explore Prague Castle comfortably and learn about its history. The tour starts from Malostranska metro station, which is located right below Prague Castle, than you'll take a tram (you'll need a public transport ticket you can purchase it at the beginning of the tour) to the first stop, the statue of Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler, and you will walk from there (downhill). After about 15-20 mins. walk, we will reach Prague Castle Giant's Gate and then explore the best sights of Prague Castle.
This activity includes a visit (from outside) of: Loreto, Černín Palace, The Black Tower, St. George's Basilica, the Old Royal Palace and the Archbishop Palace, The Golden Lane, St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Castle, Národní galerie Praha – Schwarzenberský palác, the Change of Prague Castle Guards with Band of Castle Guards, the Chapel of Holy Cross, Presidential Palace, the Statue of Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe and the Castle District. This is an English walking guided tour in English of nearly 2 hours that you can book without any charge: at the end of the tour you will be asked to leave some tips (electronic or credit card payment is accepted to reward your guide).
This walking tour takes place every day at:
- 11 am - includes Change of Guards
- 3 pm - includes The Golden Lane
You will find your guide holding a large red umbrella with big white 100 written on it in front of the Malostranska metro exit.

Loreta
The Loreto Convent is located a few hundred meters from Prague Castle, on Loreto Square, and is a place of pilgrimage for the faithful which reproduces the home of the Virgin Mary in the Holy Land, but is also visited by tourists they go to admire the treasures kept inside. Unfortunately it was closed when we passed by so we couldn't go in, but it's usually open every day from 10:00 to 17:00 and the entrance fee costs 210 CZK - around €8.75 (includes a visit to the convent, the Treasury and Temporary Exhibitions).
》Malá Strana
Malá Strana is one of the main districts of Prague and is located on the left bank of the Vltava, at the foot of the hill on which stands the Prague Castle and Petrin Hill.
Nerudova
Nerudova street is the most important street in Malá Strana: you will find it just below the Prague Castle and it will take you up to Malostranské Náměstí. Nerudova is very famous for its characteristic buildings: noteworthy are the Golden Horseshoe House, the Three Violins House and the House of Saint Jhon Nepomuk. All have very special decorations, all to be found! On Nerudova you will also find the Gingerbread Museum, a gingerbread cookie shop.
READ ALSO: What to eat in Prague - the 10 most delicious typical dishes and the best places to taste them
Malostranské Náměstí
Malostranské Square is the heart of Malá Strana and is divided into two parts by the Church of St. Nicholas.
St. Nicholas Church
The Church of St. Nicholas, with its green dome, is the most beautiful place of worship in Prague in my opinion: too little visited for the magnificence of its interior, it was totally worth the ticket price 100 CZK (4€ ). The Apotheosis of St. Nicholas, the largest fresco in Europe, is painted on the ceiling of the Church: you can also admire it by climbing the stairs leading to the upper gallery.
John Lennon Wall

Despite various attempts to have it whitewashed, every time the John Lennon Wall was filled with political graffiti and Beatles lyrics, becoming a reference for young Czechs who saw John Lennon as a pacifist hero. By now they have given up on whitewashing it and the wall has become one of the main attractions of the city. In the courtyard located inside the wall there is a delightful, very particular craft and home decoration shop, with also a small area reserved for sought-after souvenirs of the John Lennon Wall (for example, t-shirts or canvas bags).
Kampa Island
Kampa Island is a strip of land between the Vltava and the Čertovka (Devil's Canal in English): it is a delightful and very quiet area of Malá Strana. Stroll through the small streets of Kampa, don't miss Na Kampĕ, the small square where a small Christmas market is also held, but above all admire the splendid mill on the Devil's Torrent, in the area that is also called the Venice of Prague.
READ ALSO: Discover the magic of Christmas in Prague, home to one of the best Christmas markets in Europe
Petřín Hill
Petřín Hill is about 318 meters high and is the ideal place to take a walk surrounded by greenery and admire the view over the city. From Kampa Island, we walked all the way from the base to the Petřín Tower, passing the Mirror Labyrinth and the Church of St. Michael, and then heading to the Strahov Monastery.

If you want to get up the hill without struggling, you can take the Funicular which leaves from Újezd every 10-15 minutes from 9.00 to 23.30 and will take you to the top of Petřín Hill in about 4 minutes. The price is that of public transport. The main attraction of Petřín Hill is undoubtedly the observation tower, also called the "Little Eiffel Tower", 63.5 meters high. You can visit it by paying a ticket of 150 CZK, unless you want to take the elevator (in which case you will have to pay an additional 150 CZK (6,25€). It's only 299 steps (after climbing the Eiffel Tower on foot, that's nothing), so put your legs up and reach the top to enjoy the panoramic view from the top: you can admire the whole city and, if the weather is good, even a good part of the Bohemian region.
Strahov Monastery

The Strahov Monastery is a real gem not so well known but still quite famous for the nave of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and the splendid Strahov Library, the largest monastic library in the Czech Republic. The peculiarity of this place are the two Baroque halls: the Philosophical Hall and the Theological Hall. Unfortunately it is not allowed (or almost) to enter the two rooms to ensure the conservation of the frescoes: the variations in humidity caused by the breath of visitors can in fact damage them. With the standard entrance ticket (250 CZK - about 10€) it is possible to look out over the threshold and admire them without entering.. if you want to enter you can only do so by booking a guided tour in advance.
I know that put like this you may think it's not worth it, but trust me that these two rooms are so spectacular that even seeing them from the doorway is a magical experience.
》 Staré Město
Staré Město is the oldest district of the city, it is no coincidence that it translates into the Old Town in English: the origins of this area of Prague date back to the 10th century. Staré Město is certainly the most touristic district, as it is full of splendid historic buildings.
Klementinum
The Klementinum is a complex of halls which today largely house the Czech National Library, but was originally a Jesuit college. It is possible to enter the internal courtyard for free but I recommend that you take the guided tour in English of about 50 minutes (it is the only way to visit the interior) which allows you to access the splendid Hall of the Library (the real highlight of this tour), to that of the Sundial and finally make your way up the narrow spiral staircase to the very top of the Astronomical Tower.

The Library Hall is absolutely wonderful, almost more beautiful than those at the Strahov Monastery: even here for a matter of conservation of the environment it is not possible to enter, the Hall can be admired from the door jamb which is only opened for a few minutes by the guide .
Entrance costs 300 CZK each (€12.50) and is only possible through a guided tour for a small group of people at a time as spaces are quite limited. I highly recommend it even just for the climb to the 68-metre high tower and from which you have one of the best views of Prague.
Charles Bridge - Karlův most

Charles Bridge is the symbol of Prague, the most visited and loved place by tourists from all over the world: it is impossible to visit the city without crossing it by browsing among the stalls of street vendors and artists who will try to make you a caricature, listening to the music of road and admiring the beautiful statues that run all along the bridge. Charles Bridge was finished in 1390 and was crossed by cars for 500 years (according to legend it is thanks to eggs mixed with mortar) while after the Second World War it became an exclusively pedestrian area.
The most beautiful and noteworthy part of Charles Bridge in my opinion are the two towers that are located at the two ends of the bridge. The most beautiful is the one on the Old Town side and it is the one I recommend you climb to admire Charles Bridge from above and enjoy a breathtaking view of the Vltava and Prague Castle. The ticket to climb the tower costs 150 CZK (€6.25) but if you arrive within 1 hour of opening you will get a 50% discount - admission is allowed from 10:00 to 18:00 every day!
Old Town Hall
The Old Town Hall was built in 1338 and consists of a complex of medieval buildings dominated by the tower with its marvelous Astronomical Clock. The main attraction of the Town Hall is certainly the climb to the top of the tower of the building which allows a breathtaking view of the Old Town Square at a height of 60 meters. However, the visit inside is made up of other interesting points such as the council rooms, the interior of the Astronomical Clock and the cellars. The entrance fee is 250 CZK (about 10€)
Astronomical Clock

The Astronomical Clock is undoubtedly one of the symbols of Prague, much loved by tourists who flock under the Gothic tower where they can admire the show at every stroke of the hour (from 9 to 21 every day). The Clock was made in 1410 and perfected in 1490 by Master Clockmaker Hanuš who, according to legend, was blinded to prevent him from replicating his masterpiece elsewhere. The Clock Show consists of a short (it lasts only 45 seconds) parade of the 12 apostles on the hour while the bells are ringing.
Old Town Square
Old Town Square, also known as Clock Square, is the most important and crowded square in the city, it is the beating heart of Prague. Staroměstské Náměstí, as we have seen, hosts some of the most important historical buildings of the capital, including the Church of San Nicola, the Town Hall with the Astronomical Clock and the Church of Santa Maria di Tyn. During the Christmas period it is also home to the most beautiful Christmas Market in Prague.
READ ALSO: Discover the magic of Christmas in Prague, home to one of the best Christmas markets in Europe
Church of Our Lady before Tyn and Kinský Palace
The Church of Our Lady before Tyn is one of Prague's most famous and recognizable buildings: you'll find its two distinctive Gothic spiers towering over Old Town Square, despite being somewhat hidden by the Týn School. Despite the Gothic exterior, the interior has been remodeled in the Baroque style and houses a large gallery of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque works including altarpieces by Karel Škréta, the tomb of the astronomer Tychon Brahe and the organ which dates back to 1673 (it is the oldest in Prague). We were unable to visit it as it is closed to the public on Sunday and Monday, on other days it is open from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 17:00 with a free offer. Kinský Palace, located next to the Church of Our Lady before Tyn, boasts the most beautiful rococo facade in Prague and houses one of the branches of the National Gallery.
Powder Gate

The Powder Gate (Prašná brána) was completed in 1475 and is so called because it was used as a gunpowder store. It was one of the gateways to the Old Town, the one from which the procession of Bohemian kings departed for the coronation ceremony at the Castle. The Tower is 65 meters high but the panoramic terrace is at 44 and you can go up paying a ticket of 150 CZK (6.25€) but if you arrive within 1 hour of opening you will get a 50% discount - the entrance it is allowed from 10:00 to 18:00 every day!
》 Nové Město
Although Nové Město means New Town, this district of Prague is by no means new: it is only new in relation to Staré Město. Nové Město despite being rich in museums and places of interest is famous and very popular especially as the commercial heart of Prague.
Wenceslas Square

Wenceslas Square is more of an immense avenue than a ranking square and is located in the center of Prague.
It is famous above all as the site of crucial events for the history of the Czech Republic including the extreme gesture of protest by the Czechoslovakian student Jan Palach who set himself on fire against the occupation of his country by Soviet troops that crushed the Prague Spring, the democratic revolution demanded by the Czechoslovakian people. At the north end of the Square you will see the Equestrian Statue of St. Wenceslas, opposite which is the wonderful National Museum which you absolutely cannot miss and which we will talk about shortly. During the Christmas period, the Václavské Náměstí Christmas Market is located in the center of the square.
READ ALSO: Discover the magic of Christmas in Prague, home to one of the best Christmas markets in Europe
National Museum

The National Museum is housed in an imposing neo-Renaissance building designed in 1880 by Joseph Schulz as an architectural symbol of the Czech National Awakening and has recently been renovated and reopened. Initially it wasn't in the plans to visit the Museum but we had some time before catching the bus to the airport so we decided to pop in.. luckily! The National Museum is really splendid, I really enjoyed both the building itself and the exhibitions as it is similar in part to the Natural History Museum in London. Don't risk missing out and include it in your itinerary, you won't regret it! Admission costs 250 CZK (€10) and will allow you to visit various collections including one on Prehistory in the regions of Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia, a mineralogical and lithological exhibition, and then Paleontology, Osteology and Anthropology and Zoology. Even if you are not passionate about these topics, the building alone is worth the ticket: the fantastic interior is very elegant and the dome on the top floor is definitely not to be missed! Opening hours: every day from 10:00 to 18:00
Na Příkopě
Na příkopě avenue runs from the Old Town towards Wenceslas Square, on the side of the Můstek metro stop, and is Prague's shopping street as well as full of cafes and the headquarters of some of the most important banks including the splendid building of the Czech National Bank.
Lucerna Palace
Although the name may be misleading, when we refer to Palazzo Lucerna we mean the very elegant gallery that is located a few steps from Piazza Venceslao and winds its way inside Palazzo Lucerna. The peculiarity of this gallery is the Kun sculpture located in the atrium in front of the cinema: a sarcastic reinterpretation of the Equestrian Statue of St. Wenceslas.
Franz Kafka’s Head
The Franz Kafka head statue is located in front of the Quadrio shopping mall, at the Národní metro station. The work is impressive: it is 11 meters high and is made up of 42 moving mirrored stainless steel layers that create the face of the famous Czech writer Franz Kafka.
Dancing House
The Dancing House is a very particular work of modern architecture built in 1996 and whose curved lines have guaranteed it the nickname of "Ginger & Fred", with reference to the dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The building houses offices, an art gallery, a restaurant and a luxury hotel: I recommend that you admire it from the outside.