Ultimate 5-Day Prague Itinerary

Start in Staré Město. It is the old heart of the city. Everything radiates from Old Town Square. Look at the Gothic spires of the Church of Our Lady before Týn. The Old Town Hall complex is right there. It holds the Astronomical Clock from 1410. This machine tracks the time and the moon. It even follows astronomical cycles.

Walk into Josefov next. This is the Jewish Quarter. Visit the Old-New Synagogue and the Maisel Synagogue. The Old Jewish Cemetery is nearby. It is a place of memory and history. You'll see how the Jewish community contributed to Prague and how they suffered. Local guides can tell you the real stories.

End your first day at Charles Bridge. It was finished in 1503 to cross the Vltava River. Baroque statues line the sides. It connects the Old Town to the Lesser Town. Go at dawn. Go late at night. The bridge feels different when the crowds are gone. It stands strong against the river current.

Cross the river and head up. You are going to Hradčany and Malá Strana. Prague Castle is the main event. It is the largest ancient castle complex on earth. St. Vitus Cathedral is the centerpiece. It’s a Gothic masterpiece that took six centuries to build. Walk through the Old Royal Palace. Look for Golden Lane. Franz Kafka once lived there.

Leave the main gates and find Nový Svět. It's a quiet network of streets. The houses are small and colorful. Tycho Brahe used to live in this neighborhood. Nearby is the Strahov Monastery. It has a library that will stop you in your tracks. It is one of the grandest rooms in Central Europe.

Walk down into Malá Strana. It was founded in 1257. You'll see huge Baroque palaces and narrow alleys. Look for Vrtba Garden. It's a hidden terraced spot. See the green dome of St. Nicholas Church. Stop by the John Lennon Wall on Kampa Island. It’s a mix of royal history and local protest.

Move into Nové Město. Charles IV founded this New Town in 1348. It is the modern engine of Prague. Wenceslas Square is the anchor. The architecture changes here. You'll see the Art Nouveau Municipal House. Explore the passages of Lucerna Palace. It feels like a different century.

Head south to Vyšehrad. It's a fortress on a cliff. The park is quiet and has great views of the Vltava. Visit the Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul. It has two neo-Gothic spires. The Slavín cemetery is there too. Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana are buried in those grounds. Walk the walls to see the river valley.

Get a taste of real life at the Náplavka farmers' market. It happens on Saturday mornings on the river bank. Go between 08:00 and 14:00. You'll find organic food and local wine. The area stays busy into the evening. End your night in a jazz club in Prague 1 or 2.

Get out of the city for a day. Head to Kutná Hora. It’s an hour east and a UNESCO site. This town once rivaled Prague because of its silver. Visit the Sedlec Ossuary. It's a chapel filled with the bones of 40,000 people. Then see St. Barbara’s Cathedral. It is a high point of Gothic design.

Come back to Prague for the food. The city's kitchens are changing. Traditional Czech food is still there. But neighborhoods like Karlín are doing something new. Try Polévkárna for great soup. It uses local ingredients with a modern twist.

Eat your final meal somewhere with a view. Look for a spot near Strahov Monastery or a rooftop in New Town. The city lights make a great backdrop. It shows how Prague balances its history with new ideas.