Prague in 2 Days: everything you need to know

Ranked as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, if your next travel destination includes a two-day stop in Prague, you'll need to get organized to make the most of your time. Learn about the must-sees in the following itinerary.

Spend the first day of your trip to Prague exploring the area east of the Vltava River, where you will find two of the most iconic and oldest neighborhoods in the city: Staré Město, known as the Old Town, which makes up the Old Town of Prague, and Josefov, where historically the Jewish immigrants who inhabited the city formed a community.

Visit the Jewish Cemetery of Prague

In a tour of the Jewish quarter, one of the essential visits is the Jewish cemetery. This historic site consists of an old cemetery where it is estimated that there are approximately 12,000 tombstones; the oldest tombstone on record is that of Avigdor Karo from the year 1439.

With the passage of time and due to lack of space, new corpses were placed on top of the existing graves. The result is stone tombstones from different centuries piled one on top of the other, in total the mountains can reach up to 12 tombstones per section of land.

• Opening hours: From 9 am to 4:30 pm (from November to March) and until 6 pm (from April to October). The cemetery is closed on Saturdays.
• Entrance fee: The entrance fee to the cemetery is approximately 4,5€.
• Duration of the visit: About two hours on average.

Visit the Jewish synagogues

Continue your adventure in the Josefov Jewish quarter by visiting its traditional synagogues. An ideal plan after the tour of the Jewish quarter of Prague. In the vicinity of the cemetery you will find the most important ones, so you can visit one or more of them.

• Pinkas Synagogue: Located on Siroká Street is right at the entrance of the Jewish Cemetery; built in 1479 inside its walls are inscribed the names of more than 77,000 Jews from Czechoslovakia and murdered by the Nazis during World War II, you will also find hanging on the walls drawings that made the children locked up in concentration camps.
• Klausenc Synagogue: In the street U Starého Hřbitova at the exit of the Jewish Cemetery you will find another important synagogue; its date of construction is located in 1694 and inside you can find a magnificent collection of Hebrew texts and more drawings made by children in the concentration camp of Terezín.
• Staronova Synagogue: Located on Červenáe Street and built in 1270, it is considered the oldest functioning synagogue on the continent. Its exterior architecture shows traces of early Gothic, so it can be considered among the oldest Gothic buildings in the city.

Take a lunch break

Prague's gastronomic offer is characterized by quality and variety. Before continuing your adventure through the old town, take a lunch break in one of the best restaurants in the city or book a gastronomic tour in which you will learn about the most traditional dishes. If on the other hand you are looking for ideas of establishments close to the Jewish quarter, here are some of my favorites:

• U Parlamentu: Restaurant specialized in traditional Czech food.
• La Finestra in Cucina: If you are in the mood for first class Italian food, this is the place for you.

Explore the Klementinum Complex

Spend the first few hours of your afternoon exploring the second largest building complex in Prague, located in the historical center itself. It is located between "Karlova" street and "Křížovnická" street and was built between the 16th and 17th centuries. If you book the tourist bus you will have a stop very close by.

Clementinum is currently a center dedicated to education and culture with approximately two hectares of land. In the complex you will find the National Library, a beautiful work of Gothic interiors named the most beautiful library in the world; here manuscripts and books of incalculable historical value are exhibited.

• Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Admission fee: Approximately 13 € for an adult ticket.
• Duration of the visit: The exhibition space can be visited in about an hour.

Visit the Clock Tower and Old Town Square

Prague is known as the city of Towers. Specifically, the Astronomical Clock Tower is located just a five-minute walk from the Klementinum. Three important elements make up the Clock Tower: the astronomical quadrant, the animated figures and the calendar and all of them you will get to know in depth if you book a tour with tickets for the astronomical clock.

You can also go to the tower and wait for the sound of the chimes to watch from the ground as the 12 apostles parade through the windows in a small ceremony known as the Clock Parade, which takes place every day on the hour from 9 am to 9 pm.

Right next to the Clock Tower is the Old Town Square, a social gathering place for Prague's inhabitants since the Middle Ages. Like the rest of the city, the square is very well preserved, which gives it a cozy and charming air.

• Opening hours: From 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Mondays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Entrance fee: The entrance ticket to the Clock Tower costs about 10 €.
• Duration of the visit: 30 to 40 minutes if you want to climb to the top of the tower and admire the best view of the city.

Discover the Church of Our Lady of Týn

Czech name Chrám Matky Boží před Týnem is located just two minutes from the Clock Tower and you can also reach it comfortably with a Prague bike tour.

This impressive building is one of the most impressive works of late Gothic style. Its two towers, imposing towers rise above the rest of the buildings with its 80 meters high dominating the entire surrounding landscape.

In addition to its Gothic architecture, inside you can find several interesting elements such as: the tomb of the astronomer Tychon Brahe, a large collection of paintings in Gothic, Renaissance and early Baroque style; you will also find the oldest organ in Prague from the year 1673.

• Hours: Available for tours inside from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; in the winter months hours may vary.
• Admission fee: Voluntary contribution, a minimum contribution of 1.5 € is recommended.
• Duration of the visit: You can stay inside as long as you want, usually about 40-50 minutes are usually enough to tour it completely.

Enjoy the sunset at the Powder Tower

You can't leave Prague without visiting one of its most famous towers. My recommendation is that you go at the end of your first trip, hike to the top of the tower (you will have to climb 168 steps) and enjoy the sunset over beautiful Prague. The view will be breathtaking to say the least so be sure to pack your camera.

Built in 1475 in late Gothic style, the Powder Tower was one of the 13 gates that made up the ancient fortified wall that protected the city for centuries.

• Hours: Every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (November to February). Every day from 10 - 20 h. (March and October). Every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (April-September).
• Entrance fee: The entrance fee is approximately 9,50 € per person, but you can book Prague CoolPass and get in for free.
• Duration of the visit: Arrive at least one hour before sunset.

Take the Prague ghost tour

If you want to end your evening with a tour out of the ordinary book a Prague ghost tour. In this type of experience an expert guide takes you through lonely streets and passages to tell the tour group the most intricate secrets and spooky stories.

Some of the stops included in this type of excursion are: a tour of the Jewish quarter and the old town, a stop to visit the church of St. Nicholas and the astronomical clock.

• Schedule: It may vary depending on the company you hire, usually start after sunset to know the Night Prague.
• Price of the experience: From 19 € per person.
• Duration: At least 2 hours of tour.

Wake up early on the morning of your second day in Prague to explore the area west of the Vltava River; you'll start with Mala Strána, one of the oldest areas of the city, and end the day at Hradčany, the legendary Prague Castle.

Visit Charles IV Bridge

Prague's most famous and oldest bridge is named after Charles IV. On the morning of your second day, I recommend you set out to walk its 500 meters and stroll over the waters of the Vltava River. This bridge was for centuries the only one that connected the two banks; on the east side is Staré Město and on the west side Malá Strana. Undoubtedly, it is a must-see tourist attraction on any visit to the city of the Thousand Towers. It is also a place through which the guided tour of Prague passes

In addition to offering breathtaking views and amazing photographs, the bridge is famous for its extensive collection of statues. Along the route you will find 30 statues, the most famous and oldest being the statue of St. John of Nepomuk; it is a tradition to approach the statue of the saint to make a wish by placing your hand on it.

Visit the charming Kampa Island

There are many Prague-Vienna-Budapest tours and one of the must-visits during your stay in the Czech capital is Kampa Island. Ranked as one of the best urban islands on the continent, Kampa is an artificial islet full of charm and romance. Visiting it in the morning hours will allow you to walk around it with more tranquility; this space is one of the best places in Prague to take pictures.

Located in Na Kampe Street, you will reach Kampa Island by crossing the Charles IV Bridge. Inside Kampa Island you will find several points of interest such as the Grand Prior's Mill, the Kampa Museum, dedicated to modern European art and the bizarre baby statues of the famous sculptor David Černý's.

Don't miss the John Lennon Wall

A few minutes from Kampa Island you will find a graffiti-covered wall that, during the 1980s constituted a peaceful response to the communist regime that ruled Czechoslovakia. Foreign music, as well as many other resources were forbidden by the regime, after Lennon's assassination in 1980 a mysterious anonymous graffiti with the face of the popular singer appeared on this wall.

Since then, the wall became a peaceful proposal and a symbol of resistance. Young Czechs left the lyrics of John Lennon's or The Beatles' songs on the walls. The wall has been preserved since then and has become one of the most photographed spots in Prague. If you want to know more, don't hesitate to book a communism tour in Prague.

Take a lunch break

After seeing the Lennon Wall, take a lunch break at one of the many restaurants near Prague Castle. On the way you can admire some of the Gothic churches on this side of the island: the Church of St. Nicholas and the Church of Our Lady of Victory. Some places where you can find delicious and quality food are:

• St.Martin
• St. Carlo Mala Strana
• Restaurant zur Müllerin

You also have the option to book a menu for the Hard Rock Cafe.

Explore the Old Palace in Prague

Whether you're traveling Prague in one day or two, visiting Prague Castle is a must on any excursion to the Czech Republic's capital. Not only is it the most important monument in the country, but it also holds the title of the largest medieval castle in Europe. The extensive complex consists not only of the palace but also of several structures dating back to the Baroque and Gothic eras.

Built during the reign of Bořivoj in the 9th century, the construction of the palace would be the element that would give the city of Prague its start. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Castle was once the seat of the kings of Bohemia; today it is the official residence of the president of the Czech Republic. In addition, if you book a tour of Prague Castle and surroundings you will visit:

• St. Vitus Cathedral: located within the Castle complex, St. Vitus Cathedral is the most important construction of Catholicism within the city of Prague. When visiting the complex it is best to book your tickets to Prague Castle in advance.
• Golden Alley: Prague's Golden Alley is a small area near the old city wall where a row of beautiful medieval houses painted in different colors were erected; legends tell that here lived goldsmiths and alchemists who were obsessed with finding the formula to turn metal into gold. Hence the particular name of the alley. However, the most impressive thing is how well preserved the whole area is, including the original stone street from the Middle Ages.

Here are the details of interest that you should not miss during your visit:

• Hours: the opening hours of the monuments are from November to March, every day from 9 am to 4 pm; from April to October the monuments are open to the public every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
• Entrance fee: The entrance ticket costs about 16 € per person.
• Duration of the visit: You will need a few hours to walk around the complex and visit the most important areas. Reserve between 2 or 3 for an excursion.