Day Itineraries in Prague

Day 1: Prague Castle & Lesser Town

Morning (8:00-12:30):

• 8:00 - Early start to Prague Castle before crowds (pre-booked tickets). Enter via main gate for Changing of Guard photo ops
• 8:30 - Tour St. Vitus Cathedral - explore chapels, Mucha stained glass, consider tower climb (287 steps) for early views
• 10:00 - Walk Golden Lane - tiny colorful houses where castle guards once lived (Kafka lived at #22)
• 10:45 - Visit Old Royal Palace including magnificent Vladislav Hall and castle viewing terrace
• 11:30 - Explore St. George's Basilica - Prague's oldest surviving church
• 12:00 - Lobkowicz Palace Museum for private art collection and stunning café views

Afternoon (13:30-17:30):

• 13:30 - Lunch at castle café or descend to Malá Strana (Lesser Town) for traditional Czech restaurant
• 15:00 - Walk through Wallenstein Garden (free, peacocks roaming)
• 15:45 - Explore Lesser Town Square and St. Nicholas Church (Baroque masterpiece)
• 16:45 - Walk Nerudova Street (steep cobblestone lane with house signs) toward castle
• 17:15 - Visit Kampa Island and park along Čertovka channel (Prague's Venice)

Evening (18:00-21:00):

• 18:00 - Cross Charles Bridge toward Old Town during golden hour (less crowded than midday)
• 19:00 - Dinner in Old Town - try svíčková or vepřo knedlo zelo
• 20:30 - Evening walk through illuminated Old Town Square - Astronomical Clock lit dramatically

Day 2: Old Town, Jewish Quarter & Vltava River

Morning (8:00-12:30):

• 8:00 - Visit Old Town Square before crowds - photograph Church of Our Lady Before Týn
• 8:45 - Watch Astronomical Clock hourly show (9:00am performance)
• 9:15 - Climb Old Town Hall Tower for panoramic views and clock mechanism behind-the-scenes
• 10:00 - Explore Josefov (Jewish Quarter) with pre-booked Jewish Museum ticket circuit
• 10:15 - Visit Pinkas Synagogue Holocaust memorial (77,297 names inscribed on walls)
• 11:00 - Tour Old Jewish Cemetery (12,000+ gravestones in layers)
• 11:45 - See Spanish Synagogue (Moorish interior) and other synagogues on ticket

Afternoon (13:00-17:00):

• 13:00 - Lunch in Josefov or Old Town
• 14:30 - Visit Old-New Synagogue (separate ticket) - Europe's oldest active synagogue
• 15:15 - Walk Pařížská Street (luxury shopping) to Čech Bridge
• 15:45 - Explore Old Town narrow streets - discover hidden courtyards, cafés
• 16:30 - Visit Municipal House (Art Nouveau masterpiece) - optional guided tour or café visit

Evening (17:30-21:00):

• 17:30 - Board Vltava River cruise (pre-booked) for sunset/evening illuminated city views
• 19:30 - Dinner at riverside restaurant or return to Old Town
• 21:00 - Drink at rooftop bar for nighttime castle/city views

Day 3: Vyšehrad, New Town & Local Experiences

Morning (9:00-12:30):

• 9:00 - Metro to Vyšehrad fortress (Line C to Vyšehrad station)
• 9:15 - Explore Vyšehrad fortifications, walk ramparts with stunning Vltava River views
• 10:00 - Visit Church of St. Peter and St. Paul (Neo-Gothic)
• 10:45 - Tour Vyšehrad Cemetery where Czech luminaries rest (Dvořák, Smetana, Mucha, Čapek)
• 11:30 - Explore casemates (underground tunnels) with original Charles Bridge statues
• 12:15 - Walk through peaceful Vyšehrad parks - local favorite for picnics

Afternoon (13:30-17:30):

• 13:30 - Lunch at Vyšehrad café or metro to New Town
• 15:00 - Walk Wenceslas Square - historic site of Velvet Revolution protests
• 15:45 - Visit Museum of Communism for essential 20th-century Czech history context
• 17:00 - Explore Náplavka riverfront - farmers market (if Saturday) or riverside cafés/bars

Evening (18:00-21:30):

• 18:00 - Dinner in Karlín or Vinohrady neighborhoods (local dining beyond tourist areas)
• 20:00 - Experience Prague's beer culture at traditional pub like U Fleků (brewing since 1499) or hipster bar in Žižkov
• 21:30 - Optional: Jazz club (Reduta, AghaRTA) or classical concert in historic church

Day 4: Petřín Hill, Modern Prague & Hidden Gems

Morning (9:00-12:30):

• 9:00 - Take Petřín Funicular from Újezd to hilltop (included in transport passes)
• 9:15 - Climb Petřín Lookout Tower (299 steps) for Prague's best panoramic views
• 10:15 - Explore Petřín Hill rose gardens, orchards, and forest paths
• 11:00 - Visit Mirror Maze (fun house with distorting mirrors) nearby
• 11:45 - Walk down through Strahov Monastery - visit Baroque libraries (stunning frescoed halls)

Afternoon (13:00-17:00):

• 13:00 - Lunch at monastery brewery restaurant or Lesser Town eatery
• 14:30 - Visit Dancing House (Frank Gehry architecture) - rooftop gallery and bar
• 15:30 - Explore National Gallery location of choice (Veletržní Palace for modern art recommended)
• 17:00 - Walk through Letná Park to Letná Beer Garden for sunset preparations

Evening (18:00-21:00):

• 18:00 - Watch sunset from Letná Beer Garden with Prague's best views over Vltava bridges and Old Town spires
• 19:30 - Dinner in Holešovice (creative food scene) or return to favorite neighborhood
• 21:00 - Evening walk across Charles Bridge for nighttime photography without crowds

Day 5: Day Trip to Český Krumlov OR Kutná Hora

Option A: Český Krumlov (Full Day)

• 7:00 - Early bus/train departure from Prague (3 hours)
• 10:00 - Arrive Český Krumlov - UNESCO World Heritage medieval town
• 10:30 - Tour Český Krumlov Castle (second-largest in Czech Republic) with Baroque theater
• 12:30 - Lunch at traditional Czech tavern
• 14:00 - Explore medieval old town - winding streets, pastel buildings, Vltava River views
• 15:30 - Walk castle gardens and revolving theater
• 16:30 - Depart Český Krumlov
• 19:30 - Return to Prague

Option B: Kutná Hora (Half/Full Day)

• 9:00 - Train from Prague Main Station (1 hour)
• 10:00 - Visit Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church) - chapel decorated with 40,000+ human bones arranged in chandeliers, coats of arms
• 11:30 - Tour St. Barbara's Cathedral - Gothic masterpiece rivaling St. Vitus
• 13:00 - Lunch in Kutná Hora town center
• 14:30 - Explore historic silver mining town - former rival to Prague's wealth
• 15:30 - Optional: Czech Silver Museum and medieval mine tour
• 16:30 - Return train to Prague (or stay longer if desired)
• 18:00 - Back in Prague - relaxed evening, final dinner at favorite discovered restaurant