“Wouldn’t it be amazing to visit Prague during Christmas?” I thought. And so did half a million people around the world. I am not even exaggerating: the official number is 750.000 visitors in December and early January. Even if you travel during quieter months, with only one day in Prague you’ll probably have to deal with crowds and long lines.
I wish I could tell you to go off the beaten path and check out less touristy neighborhoods, but I strongly believe major attractions are popular for a reason. If you only have one day in Prague, you simply must see the castle and the Old Town. I hope you come back for more because the city has so much to offer.
As for me, I spent 3 days in Prague, so this guide is the epitome of my experiences. Some streets in the center were so crowded, I felt like I was moving in a sea of penguins. That’s the best comparison I can come up with. Hope it makes sense. Still, my trip was enjoyable, especially after having a few cups of medovina at the Christmas market. Medovina, in case you are not familiar with the word, is warm honey wine. It’s heavenly.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you buy something by clicking the link I will earn a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you.
Start your one day in Prague early to get ahead of the crowds at the little, but cozy Sisters Bistro. This is where you are going to get your first taste of Czech food, more specifically: chlebíčky. Chlebíčky are open-faced sandwiches topped with anything from meats and cheese to vegetables. They are often served at celebrations and parties as an easy snack for big crowds.
At Sisters Bistro, you’ll find all kinds of chlebíčky imaginable: with crab salad, Hungarian salami, and pork tenderloin to name a few. They have two cafes in Prague. The one at Spálená 16 is a bit closer to the next stop on our itinerary.
Important: the cafe at Spálená 16 opens at 10 am on the weekends. If your one day in Prague happens to be on Saturday or Sunday, I’d go to the Dlouhá 39 location as it opens at 9 am. You’ll be a bit behind the schedule, but should still be able to accomplish the whole itinerary.
Sisters Bistro — Spálená 75/16, Nové Město or 39, Dlouhá 727, Staré Město
A 3-minute walk from Sisters Bistro at Spálená 16
Steps away from Sisters Bistro you’ll find the most unusual statue of Franz Kafka, who was born in Prague and had Jewish, Austrian, and Czech roots. This kinetic sculpture (meaning it uses movement to achieve special effect) was created by Czech artist David Černý and depicts the head of Franz Kafka made of 42 rotating stainless steel panels.
The head rotates every hour on the hour for about 15 minutes. You’ll be right on time for the show after having breakfast.
A 13-minute walk from the Franz Kafka Sculpture
Charles Bridge is one of the most recognizable landmarks of Prague, a medieval bridge over Vltava River that connects two neighborhoods: the Old Town and the Lesser Town.
It was built in the 15th century on commission of King Charles IV and was the only bridge connecting the two sides at the time. It is lined with 30 Baroque statues that were added a few centuries later, with the most famous being the sculpture of St. John of Nepomuk, a saint who was thrown from the bridge into Vltava River.
By 9.15 the bridge should not be too crowded and you can admire the beautiful architecture as well as the views. On both ends of the bridge are the towers one can climb for panoramic views. I didn’t include visiting the towers in this itinerary, but it is an option if you’d like to.
Tip: once you cross the bridge to Lesser Town, take the time to go under the bridge to see it from a completely new perspective and admire the stonework. Not to mention the amount of tourists here is drastically lower than on the bridge.
A 15-minute walk from Charles Bridge
Once you cross Charles Bridge, you’ll find yourself in the Lesser Town (Malá Strana). The main attraction in this neighborhood, without a doubt, is the Prague Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Important thing to know before your visit is that Prague Castle is not a standalone building, but rather a vast complex of palaces, churches, gardens, and courtyards. Given that you only have one day in Prague, it’s best not to try to cover it all. The most popular ticket to Prague Castle (main circuit) grants you entry into St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, and Golden Lane.
You can buy the ticket on the official website. There’s also an option to get skip-the-line tickets from a third party like Get Your Guide.
St Vitus Cathedral is a stunning Gothic cathedral where coronations of Czech kings and queens took place, as well as burials of some patron saints and sovereigns. It is currently the seat of the Archbishop of Prague.
While inside make sure to see the stained glass window created by Alfons Mucha and the tomb of St. Wenceslas, patron saint of the Czech Republic.
You can also climb the South Tower of the cathedral (287 steps) for panoramic views, but you need a separate ticket for that.
The Old Royal Palace is a residence building made primarily of wood. It has been originally built in the 9th century, but was modified and enlarged in the 14th century by emperor Charles IV to serve as a hall for state purposes. Further modifications took place during the rule of his son, Wenceslas IV.
Today, Vladislav Hall, a massive Gothic hall with vaulted ceiling, is the most popular place to see at the Old Royal Palace.
St. George’s Basilica is the oldest surviving church in the Prague Castle complex. It’s distinctly different from the St. Vitus Cathedral. It was founded in 920 AD and built primarily in Romanesque style.
Golden Lane is lined with pastel-colored houses originally built in the 15th century. They served as residences for the marksmen and goldsmiths at the time and remained inhabited up until the Second World War. It is now a museum street showcasing medieval life.
At the house No. 22, Franz Kafka briefly lived and worked during the First World War. Today, the house has been turned into a cozy book shop.
Since you are visiting the Prague Castle in the morning, you can witness changing of the guard that takes place in the first courtyard at 12 pm. You should arrive 10 to 15 minutes beforehand to get a better spot.
If for some reason you can’t make it at 12, there’s a smaller change of the guard ceremony that takes place every hour on the hour. But the one at 12 is definitely the main event that draws significant crowds.
Lastly, on your way out of the castle make a short stop at Vyhlídka Na Opyši, a scenic viewpoint from where you can see Vltava River and Prague skyline.
A 17-minute walk from the Prague Castle
There’s one more major attraction to see in the Lesser Town, and that is St. Nicholas Church. I know if you are traveling around Europe the prospective of seeing yet another church might not seem too exciting, but I promise this one will blow your mind. It is considered one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Europe.
Important: there’s another St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town (Staré Město). While lovely, it’s a lot smaller and less grand than the St. Nicholas Church in the Lesser Town. Don’t confuse the two.
A 6-minute walk from St. Nicholas Church
Time for a well-deserved lunch! Since you only have one day in Prague, it makes sense to go for traditional Czech cuisine. Lokál is a chain of pubs with 5 locations in Prague that serve beer and local specialties.
Lokál U Bílé kuželky in the Lesser Town is one of the most popular branches because of its proximity to the Prague Castle. It’s quite crowded (and touristy), so it’s best to make a reservation in advance.
My husband went for a chicken schnitzel, while I tried the goulash with dumplings. The food was good and the ambience lively.
Lokál U Bílé kuželky – Míšeňská 12, Malá Strana
A 17-minute walk from Lokál U Bílé kuželky
After lunch, walk back on Charles Bridge towards the Old Town (Staré Město). You’ll be happy you’d seen the bridge early in the morning: the crowds get much thicker in the middle of the day.
Old Town Square is the heart of the city where you’ll find yourself surrounded by grand beautiful buildings. I visited in December when the square was completely taken over by the Christmas market. By the way, if your one day in Prague happens to be during Christmas time, do try medovina, warm honey wine, sold at the market. It was my absolute favorite drink!
The Old Town Hall is made up of a series of Gothic and Renaissance buildings, the most prominent of which is an almost 70-meter-tall tower. You guessed it right, this is yet another spot from where you can get panoramic views of the city.
Mounted on the south wall of the Town Hall is the Astronomical Clock. It was installed in the beginning of the 15th century and is considered the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world (and the oldest still functioning! Pretty amazing, right?).
Every hour on the hour, you can see the clock come to life, with little mechanical figurines rotating. Come 10-15 minutes early if you want to see it, the show attracts quite a crowd.
The Church of Our Lady before Týn is one of the most recognizable buildings in Prague, with its twin Gothic spires dominating the skyline. Inside, you can admire the richly decorated interior, a Baroque altarpiece, and a 17th century organ.
Klementinum is actually the one thing in this guide that I didn’t get to do myself, but I hope you will! It is a former Jesuit college occupying an entire block in the Old Town. The Baroque Library Hall located inside is reason enough to book a guided tour (just Google photos of the library, it’s stunning, I promise!). And yes, a guided tour is the only way to go inside. Apart from seeing the library hall (from the doorway, but still), you can also climb up the Astronomical Tower on the tour.
Last but not least, we have the Jewish Quarter to explore. This part of town known as Josehof is one of the most historically significant and moving parts of Prague. You can come here and walk around for free. However, if you’d like to see the historic sites (of which there are many), you need to buy entry tickets. For example, you’ll need a ticket to see the Old Jewish cemetery, a number of synagogues (including the Pinkas, Spanish, and Old New Synagogue), and the Ceremonial Hall.
It is possible to buy separate tickets, but the easiest way is to get a combined ticket on the official website of the Jewish Museum in Prague. They also offer guided tours of the Jewish Quarter. There’s a 16.00 tour which you could easily fit into this itinerary for one day in Prague.
It was on a guided tour of the Jewish Quarter that I learned about the so-called stumble stones (from German Stolpersteine). Look down while you walk around and you will inevitably see little brass squares in front of the buildings.
Engraved on the squares are the names of the people who were deported from their houses to be killed by NSDAP just before and during the WWII. Apart from the names, you will also find the year of birth, the year of deportation, and the name of the concentration camp where the person was deported, if known.
After this trip to Prague, I started noticing Stolpersteine in Germany where we had moved a few months prior.
An 8-minute walk from the Jewish Quarter
Naše Maso is not just a restaurant, but a butchery with the highest quality standards. As described on their website, the meat “comes from the animals of domestic breeders, and in the case of Wagyu, from the Torikai farm in Japan, whom the butchers know personally. They ensure that the animals live a happy life before overseeing their slaughter.”
For dinner, you can order from their daily menu that features such gems as Wagyu burger, Pastrami sandwich, and steak. We tried the burger and the meatloaf, both of which were excellent.
They get quite busy at lunch and dinner time, but we managed to get a table nonetheless. Mind you, it’s a casual place with just a few tables, so you won’t be able to spend much time here.
Naše Maso Butchery – Dlouhá 727/39, Staré Město
A 6-minute walk from Naše Maso
If you still have the energy to keep exploring, the Museum of Communism is located steps away from Naše Maso. It is conveniently open until 8 pm every day, so you can make the most of your one day in Prague. The museum offers an insight into the life of Czechoslovakia under the communist regime after the end of WWII. You’ll also learn about such important events in the country’s history, as the Prague Spring and the Velvet Revolution.
Alternatively, if your one day in Prague happens to be in summer, head to Letná Park. You’ll have to cross the bridge over Vltava River again; the walk is about 20 minutes from Naše Maso. The park provides gorgeous views of the river and the historic center of Prague.
Explore other less touristy neighborhoods, like Vinohrady known for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture and Karlín, with its many trendy cafes.
Check out this list of unusual things to do in Prague written by Adventurous Kate who currently lives there.
Visit Terezin Concentration Camp on a guided tour to learn more about the history of WWII.
I write stories about food, travel, and my life as a mom of two boys. Home is Russia, but somehow also Sri Lanka and Hamburg, Germany. Go figure.
@2025 That’s What She Had - Food and Travel Blog | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions
Designed by wpauthors.com
thank you for this post—so helpful for planning our trip in January!
Hey Sadie!
Sorry for my late reply, holidays were a bit wild :) Hope you have a wonderful time in Prague!
Yulia