When you ask avid travelers and backpackers of their key locations to visit, almost every list will include the historical city of Prague. With its beautiful architecture, rich cultural sights and never ending attractions and things to do, it is no wonder so many love it.
The problem with going to Prague for only a few days is that you are bound to miss out. The average trip to the city lasts around four nights, which is hardly long enough to get a real feel for the atmosphere. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to do so. What you should be doing is planning out each day to take in as much as this Czech Republic treasure can offer.
Here are four days in Prague and how you can make the most of them by dedicating them to four major elements of the experience.
Day One – Shopping
Prague is a great city for shopping, especially if you like second hand finds that are unique and trendy. They have a number of massive shopping areas, such as Novy Smichov, an enormous open area of shops similar to a mall. There are also many tiny shops all through the city that provide used clothes, antiques, strange trinkets, electrical goods and more.
For the usual tourist experience be sure to check out Golden Lane, the 16th Century collection of quaint little shops built from old cottages along the northern castle wall. But if you would prefer an outdoor marketplace without the crowds of visitors, try the still-popular Prazska Trznice.
Day Two – See The City
Just a walk through Prague is worth it for the feel you can get from the city. But if you want something a little more interesting there are a number of tours that can give you what you are looking for.
For the avid cyclist that would like to ride a bike as they see the sights, try Viator’s Prague bike ride. You will cycle through the city for approximately two hours with a thirty minute break in a pub in between halves. They move at a nice pace so even kids can keep up.
Feeling lazy? The same company features a rather humorous Segway version of the tour, where you and a group of people will move around Prague on the wheeled machines.
For a more traditional sightseeing tour, check out the bright yellow kiosk near the metro from PST, who handle a number of options for tourists in the city.
Day Three – Entertainment and Nightlife
Obviously, there are a number of excellent restaurants and street vendors where you can get some grub. But if you are more interested in finding some entertainment, you are also in good hands.
There are dozens of theaters, symphony halls, live music bars and cafes, clubs and comedy clubs. Which means it would be a bit of a waste to try and name a few here, since you can pretty much walk down the street and run into something. But there are a few that are worth mentioning.
Created in 1958 despite heavy monitoring by local forces during the Communist era, Reduta is the oldest Jazz Club in Prague. They have regular shows and plenty of good times, and the history alone makes it worth a visit.
Laterna Magika is hard to describe. It is a dance studio, but one that has been recognized globally thanks to their unique blend of multimedia and music styles, such as rock, techno and opera. Their programs are amazing, so check them out.
Day Four – History and Culture
Artists, musicians, historians and scholars have long since been enamored with Prague. There are hundreds of sights to see in this city, and choosing a few will inevitably be a very difficult undertaking. Of course, some are more popular attractions that you won’t want to miss.
First, of course, is Charles Bridge. The problem with this location is how busy it becomes. Between locals and tourists, by mid-morning it is pretty much crammed until nightfall. Most who have been to the region suggest going across is early in the morning, before or at dawn.
Then, there is the Astronomical Clock. Master Hanus built this incredible sight in the 1490’s. It sits in the Old Town Square, and has a clock above it that is much simpler for telling time.
One of the sights I tend to recommend is visiting the grave of Franz Kafka, one of the greatest and most renowned surrealist writer’s of all time. His body is buried in the Jewish Graveyard on Vinohrady. Lonely Planet gives some great instructions on finding it.
Planning Your Trip: Tools!
Getting there is hard enough to spoil the whole trip with the wrong accommodation choice. Here are a few suggestions we’ve been playing with:
– Get this smart phone app (supports iPhone, BlackBerry, Bada and many others) for headache-free traveling using Prague underground;
– Install the awesome iPhone app listing all places you want to visit in the city.
– Prague To Go is another possible alternative for well-planned Prague traveling.
– Here are more travel apps to save on your trip to Prague
Conclusion
Four days and so much to see and do. Whatever you decide, it is worth going onto a travel site and planning your time carefully to make sure you get the most out of your time in this magnificent city.
Featured images:Creative Commons image source 1, image source 2, image source 3, image source 4, MyBlogGuest.
By Jessy Troy
Jessy Troy is the professional blogger and travel geek tweeting as @JessyTroy
