St. Nicholas Church is a beautiful, Baroque church. It is located in Mala Strana just down the hill from Prague Castle.

I have no idea how to pronounce the name of this cute place I found online when planning our trip. It's located across the water from the Old Town, not too far from Kampa and the Charles Bridge, and serves pastries, salads, pasta, pancakes, a wide range of wine and more.

Located at an elevation of 1,073 feet smack dab in the center of the city, Petrin Hill is a great place to begin your weekend in Prague. Easily the city’s largest green space, Petrin is covered in parks, and offers exceptional views of the Malá Strana, Prague Castle, and the Vltava River.

U Kocku Palace is the perfect place to stay if you want to enjoy some of the finer things in life but on a smaller budget. The hotel is located in a newly renovated Baroque style building just a few moments from Old Town Square. Each room is decorated in a simple and elegant manner, is comfortable, and spotless. 

As we left the square, we made our way towards the Powder Tower, one of the 13 original city gates that separate the Old Town from the New Town (which, founded in 1348, is still really old).

I recommend starting your first day in Prague in Republic Square (Náměstí Republiky), on the Eastern edge of Old Town. Take a close look at the beautiful mosaic above the entrance of the Art Nouveau-style Municipal House (Obecní dům). It was here in 1918 that the former Czechoslovakia declared independence from the Austro-Hungarian empire.

History buffs will appreciate the tumultuous and critical role Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) has played over the last century. Named after the patron saint of Bohemia, Saint Wenceslas, the square is part of Prague’s New Town (Nové Město) and is a recognized World Heritage Site.

Although booking accommodation in Prague's Old Towns — Staroměstská or Malá Strana — will put you in the middle of the city's main sites, we actually prefer staying in one of the nearby neighborhoods. They provide a more local feel with more non-touristy pubs, cafes, restaurants and shops. Recommended Prague neighborhoods to stay in include: Vinohrady, Vršovice, Holešovice, Žižkov, or Dejvice.

As the crown jewel of Prague sightseeing Prague Castle (Pražský hrad) has literally stood the test of time since it was first built as a fortress in 970 AD. Throughout the centuries, it gained prominence as a seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of former Czechoslovakia. Today, it is the official office of the current Czech president, and according to the Guinness Book of World Records, it is the largest castle complex in the world.

A nice spot to visit in the afternoon is Letenský profil, a beautiful building north of the river in the setting of Letna Park. Be sure to stop by the Prague Metronome while you’re in the park too. And it's exactly what you'd expect, a giant metronome.

Petrin Hill, situated in the beautiful Petrin Park, is the highest point in Prague. Located directly on top of the hill is the aptly named Petrin Tower. Standing 63-meters high, Petrin Tower is a miniature replica of Paris’ Eiffel Tower and was built in 1891 as part of a major exhibition. In the 1930s, the giant structure was moved to Petrin Hill where it now serves as a popular tourist attraction.

Josefov, Prague’s former Jewish Quarter, houses several interesting museums. The Jewish Museum and Museum of Decorative Arts are both worth a visit. You can also see the birthplace of Franz Kafka next to the Spanish Synagogue and visit the Old Jewish Cemetery. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.

The terrain determines Prague’s urbanism. The magnificent River Vltava divides the city between the east and the west. The left bank is home to the Castle District – Hradčany and Malá Strana or Lesser Town. The city centre sits on the right bank: Staré Město or The Old Town and Nové Město or the New Town. Most of the historical monuments are located within these four densely populated medieval boroughs that make up Prague 1 District. The other historical districts are Prague 5 south of Malá Strana, Prague 6 and 7, .....north of it, and Prague 2, 3 and 4 south and east of the Old and New Towns. Massive socialist blocks from the late 20th century surround the city. Except the medieval core the rest of the city is pretty disperse interspersed by several green belts separating the neighborhoods. Show less

Locals are known to mix red wine with cola. That might sound barbaric but there’s a reason. Czech wine comes in two varieties: cheap and largely not worth drinking, or quite expensive. An exception to the rule is if you’re in a wine region in Moravia. They’re only half joking when they say they keep the best stuff for themselves. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to splash out on a Czech red, bear in mind it won’t be as full-bodied as what you might be used to. The climate .....just isn’t right for wines like those in Spain, Italy or California. Show less

8 am Grab a coffee and wander through the neighborhood of Novy Svet. Walk to Prague Castle. Don’t be intimidated by the line, it is for security and moves fast. The entrance to the castle grounds is free but does not include entrance to the buildings of Prague Castle. Take a break in the castle café and enjoy the moment. Be sure to see the crown jewels at St Vitus Cathedral before leaving the area.

I arrived in Kutná Hora, with friends I’ve met through CIEE, around 1 pm (after missing our earlier train - oops!). Traveling from Prague to Kutná Hora is incredibly easy. I recommend taking the Cesky Drahy train, which takes less than an hour and will only cost you $5. 

Don’t have much to time to explore Czech Republic? No problem at all! Mariánské Lázně is home to Boheminium Park, located on the Eastern edge of the town. Here, we get to walk through the Czech Republic in less than 2 hours and see all historically & culturally significant buildings of the Republic – such as Karlštejn Castle – in miniature.

All three cities make for a perfect start to your journey but Vienna International Airport offers more flight options and sees nearly as many annual passengers than both Prague and Budapest combined. You can easily see Vienna in three days.

Prague is a big city and it’s no mean feat to figure out where to stay in Prague especially on your first trip. Ideally, you don’t want to be too far from all the exciting things to do in Prague in 2 days, but also be able to find suitable accommodation within your budget. As a first time visitor, it’s a good idea to have some basic knowledge of how Prague is divided into different small districts so you can choose the one that suits you best. For your ease .....of understanding, I have shortlisted the following neighbourhoods in Prague that are perfect for spending 48 hours in Prague. Show less

A beautiful Art Nouveau cafe that dates back to 1893 not far from the river and Kampa Park. This beautifully renovated restaurant will make you feel like you've gone back. Café Savoy was a favorite of ours for long breakfasts with friends, but their lunches are also quite good with hearty soups and central European fare (e.g., roasts, schnitzels, etc.). Not to mention that their cakes and sweets are also rather tempting. Just a beautiful place to spend a few hours.

Probably Prague’s best kept secret this vast expanse of green on hill slopes across river Vltava. It will take you away from the bustling city in peace of nature. It has gorgeous view of the river, the bridges and the city to make climb visually pleasing. And to make the deal even sweeter there is a beer garden right on the top of the hill dashing out Gambrinus to be savored with views of the city.

Just down the Vlatava River from Prague Castle is the lesser-known 10th century castle of Vyšehrad. In addition to offering great views of the Vltava River and the city, Vyšehrad features grassy grounds stocked full of locals having picnics with family and friends.

It's not really not a museum, but it does serve close to 30 different beers on tap from small to medium breweries across Czech Republic. This is the place to learn about Czech beer the old fashion way — by drinking it. The owner is meticulous about buying only small kegs, keeping the keg lines clean and changing the beer menu every three months. Just be careful and pace yourself — mixing heavy beers can have a devastating effect the next day.