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Welcome to Prague: Prague Information & City Guide
Prague is the 'Jewel in the Crown' of Central Europe and tourism has played an important role in its economic development, transforming run-down buildings into fine restaurants, stylish hotels, vibrant bars and pumping clubs.This guide introduces you to Prague. It explains the layout of the city, covers the sightseeing and entertainment highlights, and contains information on where to stay. |
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Prague Castle | |
Prague is the capital city of Czechia (Czech Republic). The country lies at the heart of Central Europe, and is bordered by Austria, Germany, Poland and Slovakia. In the Middle Ages, Prague became the capital of Charles IV's Bohemian Kingdom, with Prague Castle the seat of the empire. The city has played a pivotal role in the region ever since. Prague's epic history has produced a city full of beauty, of stunning Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque era buildings, and of majestic squares. |
| | | In modern times, the statist communist era of the mid-20th century has given way to dynamic capitalism. Tourism in Prague has helped drive its regeneration, transforming grey, run-down buildings into fine restaurants, stylish hotels and vibrant bars; a virtuous circle, which encourages an ever greater number of tourists to visit the city. Prague Tourism Fact: In 1992, the entire historical centre of Prague, all 866 hectares, was listed in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Register. | | 
Old Town Square in Prague | |
Prague Highlights
Prague is a city to immerse yourself in, a place to explore captivating sights, discover fascinating history, and, when the moment is right, find a cosy café or pub to refresh yourself in. All the while, letting the worries of the world gently dissipate.
The city centre is compact, and many of its most beautiful areas are pedestrianised, so Prague is best explored on foot; from Wenceslas Square on one side of the city to Prague Castle on the other is just a 30-minute stroll (walking via the Old Town, across Charles Bridge, and through the Lesser Town). One of the first things to do in Prague, therefore, is simply to wander its cobbled streets and magnificent squares, admiring the stunning architecture and revelling in the unique ambience. |
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Prague river cruise | |
Making your way around Prague, your travels will soon lead you to the Vltava River, which runs through the heart of the city. Walk along its banks and over Charles Bridge to enjoy wide panoramic views across the water.
Taking a river cruise is the most relaxing way to discover the riverside attractions, with a range of lunch cruises, sightseeing boat trips and dinner cruises on offer.
You can also admire the river scene from above by visiting Prague Castle, which is set on the hillside overlooking the city, or by riding the Petřín Funicular to the top of Petřín Hill. |
| | | Tip for Visitors: If you're someone who likes to understand what you're looking at, Prague may be the best city in Europe to take a sightseeing tour early in your visit. A local guide can introduce you to the main sights and attractions, explaining the history and significance of everything you see. You'll find it both informative and entertaining - and it will set you up perfectly for the rest of your stay.
In terms of entertainment, classical concerts, opera and ballet are true highlights of Prague. Historically, it is a city steeped in music, with a wide variety of performances held daily in grand concert halls, Baroque palaces, ancient churches, and ornate opera houses and theatres. | | 
Estates Theatre in Prague | |
When choosing a concert, first-time visitors to Prague, or anyone unfamiliar with classical music, may prefer events featuring a mix of composers. Look out for concerts such as 'Classic Spectacular', 'Best of Classics' and 'Ave Maria & Arias', which include well-known pieces by Mozart, Bach, Handel, Pachelbel, and others, alongside works by renowned Czech composers Smetana and Dvořák. Vivaldi’s 'The Four Seasons' is also a popular choice. You will likely recognize many of the beautiful melodies performed at these concerts, as they feature in films, television, and advertising. |
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| For every day dining, Czech and pub-style restaurants serve hearty food and fast flowing drinks at very reasonable prices.
Appropriate for consumption at any time of the day, the world famous Czech beer is deeply embedded in the national physique. Put on your drinking boots, because you will find beer is enthusiastically consumed in cafés, pubs and beer halls throughout the city; the Czechs are the largest consumers of beer per capita in the world! | | 
Old Town Square at night | |
While the warm, cosy pubs may draw you in during the winter, on sunny days the action moves outside. Take a seat on the terrace or in the beer garden of one of the many bars or cafés, order a cold beer or a chilled glass of Moravian wine, and watch the world go by. You will find that time just slips away! For a non-alcoholic treat, join the locals at one of Prague's elegant traditional cafés, where coffee, hot chocolate, and cake are always the order of the day. |
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| Inevitably, at some point in your trip you'll wish to buy something tangible, whether that be a tourist souvenir or a new dress. Well, you are in luck.
Tourism and business investment has boosted the Czech economy dramatically in recent decades, which has led to increased consumerism, making shopping a national pastime!
Prague boasts a wide variety of shops and department stores, selling local and international branded clothing and apparel. |
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Layout of the City - Prague Map
Prague is made up of 22 administrative districts, numbered Prague 1 to Prague 22.Prague 1 is the city centre and is itself divided into several distinct areas spread across both sides of the Vltava River. On one side of the river are: • Old Town (Staré Město), centred around Old Town Square • New Town (Nové Město), centred around Wenceslas Square • Jewish Quarter (Josefov). Across the river are: • Lesser Town (Malá Strana), centred around Lesser Town Square • Castle District (Hradčany), on a hill above the Lesser Town, and home to Prague Castle. | |
Charles Bridge & Prague Castle | |
Charles Bridge is the main pedestrian route linking the two sides of Prague. It connects the Old Town with the Lesser Town, and ultimately with Prague Castle. The sights, tourist attractions, entertainment and nightlife are spread across all five areas of Prague 1. The city's compact layout makes it relatively easy for visitors to walk between them. |
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Where to Stay in Prague
The district of Prague 1 is the best place to stay in Prague.
Book a hotel in any of its five areas and, with a good pair of walking shoes, you'll find it easy to explore the entire city centre on foot.The two most popular areas to stay in within Prague 1 are the Old Town and New Town. A third option is the Lesser Town across the river, which is quieter and offers pedestrian access to the other two via Charles Bridge. With plenty of hotels and apartments in Prague 1, prices are highly competitive. Accommodation in Prague's other districts is generally cheaper, and from most of them, getting into the city centre by public transport - metro and tram - is straightforward. Public transport is particularly good in the neighbourhoods of Vinohrady and Vyšehrad (Prague 2), Smichov (Prague 5), Holešovice (Prague 7), and Karlin (Prague 8). These outlying areas have an up-and-coming vibe and offer access to local shops, bars and restaurants. | |
How Many Days Do You Need in Prague?
A 4-day/3-night stay is ideal for a Prague city break. This gives you ample time to explore the main sights and tourist attractions, enjoy leisurely food and drink breaks, and experience the city's varied entertainment and nightlife.
Of course, many visitors opt for a whirlwind 2-night trip, while others prefer a more relaxed 4- or 5-night stay. You could easily spend a week in Prague and uncover new, interesting places and experiences each day.
If you are short on time, flight times can influence how many nights to book for. Arriving in Prague in time for lunch means you can start exploring that afternoon and enjoy dinner and drinks in the evening - making a 2-night stay perfectly feasible. In contrast, arriving on an evening flight means missing out on that first day, so you might want to stay an extra night.
With longer stays, visitors can explore lesser-known sights and neighbourhoods, attend events such as festivals or exhibitions, and take day trips outside Prague to discover more of Czechia. | |
| | | To dine with a view, see restaurants with a view or riverside restaurants. | |
| | | For a full list of places, view our guide to the Prague sights and tourist attractions. | |
Czech Language
The official language spoken in Prague and throughout Czechia is Czech. It is a consonant-rich Slavic language that uses the Latin alphabet, supplemented with several diacritical marks such as č, š, ž, ě, and ř.
Czech is widely regarded as one of the more challenging European languages to learn, particularly for speakers of Latin-based and Germanic-based languages. Although Czech is a phonetic language - meaning words are generally pronounced as they are written - native English speakers may find certain sounds difficult, especially the unique ř sound, along with mastering Czech's rhythm and stress patterns. Fortunately for visitors, thanks to the demands of tourism and globalisation, English is widely spoken in Prague, especially among the younger generation. | |
Czech Phrases & Pronunciation
Good day / Hello = Dobrý den (Dobree den)
Good evening = Dobrý večer (Dobree ve-chair)
Goodbye = na shledanou (Naskledanou)
Hi / Bye = Ahoj (Ahoy)
Yes = Ano (Ano)
No = Ne (Neh)
Thank you = Děkuji (Dyekooyih)
Cheers = Na zdraví (Na-zdra-vee)
Where's the toilet? = Kde je záchod (kdeh-yeh zaakhot)? | |
Prague, Czechia in Europe | |
Prague in Czechia
Czechia (Czech Republic) covers 78,864 square kilometres (30,449 square miles), and is divided into 14 regions. Prague is in Central Bohemia, the largest region of Czechia.The highest mountain in Czechia is Snezka (1604m). The longest river in Czechia is the Vltava River (434km), which flows from the Bohemian Forest in the south of the country to meet the Elba at Mělník in the north. On its journey, the Vltava passes through heart of Prague. |
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Czech People
The population of Prague is 1.4 million. The population of Czechia is 10.9 million.Czechs belong to the West Slavic group of peoples, along with Poles, Slovaks and Lusatians. Romanies (or Gypsies) form the most conspicuous minority in Czechia. They are thought to descend from Indian migrants in the 15th century.
Migration
Over recent decades, a significant number of individuals from Central and Eastern European countries have migrated to Prague to work in the city’s booming tourism and construction sectors - particularly from Slovakia, Russia and Ukraine.The Vietnamese community represents the largest non-European ethnic minority in Czechia. Additionally, there is a small but steadily growing population of Arabic-speaking newcomers, especially concentrated in Prague. | |
St. Nicholas Church in Prague | |
Tourism in Prague: Visitor Numbers
Tourism in Prague is hitting record highs, with around 7.5 million visitors arriving each year. Visitor numbers are growing by nearly 10% annually.The largest groups of tourists come from Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The highest increase in tourism to Prague is from Asia, particularly from Israel, South Korea, China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. To meet rising demand, Prague Airport has expanded its network of direct flights to more Asian cities. |
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Religion in Czechia
Christianity is the dominant religion in Czechia, with the Roman Catholic Church being the largest denomination. Several Protestant churches are also present, including the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and the Evangelical Church. | | | |
Additional Information
For practical information, including advice on when to visit Prague, the weather, what to wear, and currency exchange, view Prague Tourist Information.
For travel information, view Getting Around Prague by Public Transport and Travel to Prague.
For a hassle-free way to plan your Prague trip, the Prague Package includes hotel accommodation, airport transfers, sightseeing, and entertainment.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
Read what visitors to Prague enjoy doing in our Prague Experience reviews, where you'll find feedback on tours, trips, attractions, and memorable experiences shared by travellers:
Latest (2025) Prague Experience Reviews - Visitor Feedback - Things To Do in Prague |
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 CURRENCY GUIDE |  | | £1 = 27 CZK |
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