How to spend 2 days in Prague: A local’s guide to the best attractions & hidden gems

If you have two days in Prague, you can explore the centre of Prague first day as it’s all nice and flat (level walking) and the second day visit the Prague Castle and the Lesser Town area.

I think spending two days in Prague is just enough time to fall in love with the city. I’ve lived in Prague for a long time, and I know that while 48 hours might seem short, it’s actually perfect if you know how to skip the tourist traps and find the quiet corners that make this city so special.

If you prefer, you can leave out visiting the inside of Prague Castle (the actual exhibitions and stately rooms) and visiting inside the Jewish synagogues, which will give you more time to explore the areas or have a break for lunch or coffee.

Instead I’d recommend that you climb the Astrological Clock Tower because you can get some amazing views of the Old Town Square as well as seeing the clock from the inside and learning about its history.

In this 2-day itinerary, I’ve tried to create something a little different. I’ve included the top attractions in Prague, but also my favourite places and cafes I like to visit to show you a Prague that’s a little less touristy.

I’ve also grouped the attractions by location so you aren’t wasting your precious time crossing the river back and forth!

Getting Around & Eating during your 2 days in Prague

Transport: I highly recommend downloading the PID Lítačka app. It’s the easiest way to buy tickets and a little cheaper than the paper ones. You can buy individual tickets but for a 3 ticket equivalent, you can get a 24-hour ticket which costs 150 CZK and lets you hop on and off any tram, metro, or bus.

Food: To save time for sightseeing, look for traditional self-service canteens or artisan bakeries for a quick, delicious lunch. I’ve also listed my favorite historic cafes where you can enjoy a proper Czech cake and a coffee like a local.

Day 1 – Old Town, Jewish Quarter & Shopping Passages

Today is all about the historic heart of the city. Because you only have two days, we are going to explore the entire right bank of the Vltava River first. We’ll combine the medieval mystery of the Old Town with the elegance of the Jewish Quarter and finish with the hidden gardens and shopping passages that we (locals) use to take a short cuts through the town.

Main Stops: Old Town Square – Jewish Quarter (Josefov) – Convent of St. Agnes – Powder Tower – Municipal House – Wenceslas Square – Franciscan Garden

Starting Point: Staromestska Underground (Line A) or Tram Stop (2, 17, 18).

Day 1 – Morning: Old Town Square & Jewish Quarter

We will start our first day at Old Town Square, where you can admire the beautiful Gothic, Baroque, and Romanesque houses. But, the Astronomical Clock on the Old Town Hall is usually the main reason why people want to visit this square. If you arrive just before the whole hour, you can watch the figures move as they come out from little doors—it’s a bit of a tourist ritual, but a still a must-see thing to do!

For a morning coffee, I always like to head to the cafe at Scout Institute (Skautský institut). It’s right on the square, hidden inside a courtyard next to the house ‘U Minuty’ (look for the black and white sgraffito decorations where Franz Kafka once lived). It’s much cheaper and more authentic than the overpriced tourist cafes outside.

Next, walk back across the square and past the Tyn Church to Ungelt Square. This was a historic marketplace and feels like a peaceful medieval bubble. I usually stop at the cute retro car serving coffee to go or pop into Botanicus to pick up amazing natural soaps and cosmetics made right here in the Czech Republic.

Optional: If you have the time, you can also walk through Celetna Street (just off the Old Town Square) to have a coffee and a square Vetrnik pastry at the only cubist cafe in the world at the house of the Black Madonna.

From here, we move into the Jewish Quarter (Josefov). This is the smallest official area of Prague and is packed with history.

You have a choice here: you can buy a combined ticket (around 550 CZK) to see the interiors of the synagogues and the famous Old Jewish Cemetery (which would add at least 2 hrs to your itinerary), or you can simply walk the district to see the stunning facades and the Old-New Synagogue, which is linked to the legend of the Golem.

Don’t miss Paris Street (Pařížská), it’s Prague’s most luxurious street, lined with high-end boutiques and beautiful architecture, leading you toward the river.

Just off the Old Town Square you can also walk through the Franz Kafka Square, where the famous writer was born and carry on walking to the Marianske Namesti, which often has outdoor exhibitions in front of the New Town Hall.

If the queue is not too big, pop in to the city library to see the famous Idiom book tower and walk through the Clam Gallas Palace to explore the Kings route to the Charles Bridge. Return back through the Clementinum complex and head through the Jewish Quarter to the back of the Old Town.

Day 1 – Afternoon: Cloisters, Art Nouveau & Shopping Passages

To escape the midday crowds, we’ll head to one of my absolute favourite spots: the Convent of St. Agnes. Tucked away in the backstreets, this area is incredibly peaceful. You can walk through the cloister gardens and see excavated medieval buildings for free. There is a lovely museum cafe called Anezka (perfect for a lunch or an afternoon coffee) in the garden where I often sit with a book—it’s pure bliss and feels miles away from the busy Old Town streets.

Refreshed, walk back through the local streets (try Hastalska or Kozi) toward Namesti Republiky. Here you’ll find the Municipal House, an Art Nouveau masterpiece, which also has the most beautiful interiors. There are regular guided tours, but you can also walk inside to visit the cafe or the downstairs restaurant, which gives you plenty of ideas of how amazing the interior really is.

Right next to the Municipal House is the Gothic Powder Tower. If you have the energy, you can climb the tower for a panoramic view of the town, Petrin Hill and Prague Castle.

Optional: If you are interested in the history of Czech currency you can visit the free exhibition at the Czech Bank, which is just opposite the Powder Tower. You get to walk into a large money vault and see the second largest gold coin in the world which was made to celebrate the 100th years of Czech currency.

Next, walk toward Wenceslas Square via the Na Příkopě shopping street. As you walk you can check out the many shopping arcades, such as Cerna Ruze, Slovansky Dum or Myslbeck.

When you reach the main Wenceslas Square, there are even more shopping arcades and I definitely recommend walking through the Lucerna Passage to see the “upside-down horse” statue by David Černý, the Felix Palace Passage or the Světozor passage.

One of the best fruit sorbets and ice-creams in Prague is in the Světozor passage. I’ve been coming here since I was a teenager! Take your ice cream and walk a few steps to the Franciscan Garden. It’s a hidden rose garden right in the city centre with plenty of benches to sit on while you plan your evening.

Day 1 – Evening: Art Installations & Sunsets

As the sun starts to go down, walk toward the National Avenue (Národní třída) to see the new Spitfire Butterfly Statues on the Maj Department Store and the Franz Kafka Rotating Head Statue nearby.

If you still have some “leg power” left, I’d recommend taking a tram up to Riegrovy Sady (in the Vinohrady district). It’s where the locals go to sit on the grass with a drink from the beer garden and watch the sunset directly over Prague Castle. It’s the perfect way to wrap up a busy first day before heading back to the Old Town for dinner or a jazz club!

Day 2 – Prague Castle & Lesser Town

Today we cross the Vltava River to explore the other side of the river. This side of Prague feels different, it’s almost grander, greener and full of hidden corners. We’ll skip the steep climb by using the tram to get to the top of the hill, then wander down through the castle grounds into the charming Lesser Town.

Main Stops: Pohořelec – New World Area – Prague Castle – Nerudova Street – Vrtba Garden – Kampa Island – Charles Bridge

Starting Point: Pohořelec Tram Stop (Tram 22 from the centre)

Day 2 – Morning: Hradcany & Prague Castle

We’ll start our second day at the Pohořelec tram stop. This is my favourite starting point because you get to see more than the tourists who get off right at the Prague Castle tram stop.

Optional: If you start your day early, it’s worth to explore the Strahov Monastery grounds first and then climb up to one of the best views of Prague on the other side of the monastery to the St.Mary’s statue (see my main first photo of this blog post).

From the Pohorelec we will walk down the street and first, take a peek at the Czernin Palace Garden (open only during Saturdays & Sundays during the main tourist season), a serene and not so well known garden next to the longest palace in the country.

Just opposite is the Loreta Church; if you time it for the whole hour, you’ll hear the clock chime a lovely melody played by dozens of little bells.

From Loreta Square, turn into the tiny streets of the New World Area (Nový Svět). This is a quaint, quiet part of Prague with narrow cobblestone streets and charming houses that most tourist miss entirely. I also think, it’s the perfect place for photos before the day gets too busy.

Next, we head to Hradčany Square to see Prague Castle. As the largest castle complex in the world, it’s a must-see. Saying that, I found the interiors a little underwhelming when I visited and fairly expensive too (450 CZK per ticket). Unless you are a huge history buff, I recommend just exploring the castle grounds, which you can do for free and you’ll save yourself time and money.

If you want to do something a bit different, you can get a separate ticket (250 CZK) to climb the tower of the beautiful St. Vitus Cathedral. You still get the atmosphere and the views without the long queues.

If you have the energy to come back after 5 pm, you can also see the famous Golden Lane for free (until then, it’s only accessible with the valid ticket for the whole castle).

Day 2 – Afternoon: Hidden Gardens & The Lesser Town

After admiring the view from the top of the New Castle Stairs, make your way down to Nerudova Street. This historic street is famous for its house signs, look for the “Two Suns” or the “Golden Horseshoe” above the doors.

For a sweet treat, stop at Cafe U Kajetana. Even though trdelník isn’t strictly “traditional” Czech pastry, their version with plum jam (povidla) is delicious!

From there, walk down toward the Lesser Town Square (Malostranské náměstí).

If you love Baroque architecture, pop into St. Nicholas Church, it’s the most beautiful of its kind in the Czech Republic. If you prefer something quieter, find Sněmovní Street, which leads to a peaceful little square that feels like a village within the city. If you are lucky, the wine bar will be open and you can sit at the square and just enjoy the peace for a while.

You can carry on walking towards the Malostranska Tram Stop and pop into the large Wallenstein Garden, which is beautifully landscaped and free for everyone. The Wallenstein palace is also free, but only open to the public on Saturdays (as it’s a government building).

Optional: If you want to get a bit of peace and quiet, I suggest a visit to the Vrtba Garden. It’s hidden behind a row of houses and costs 150 CZK to enter, but it is easily the most beautiful Baroque garden in the city. The garden is on different levels and you get the most spectacular views of the red rooftops of the Lesser Town and fabulous view of Prague Castle hill.

Day 2 – Evening: Kampa Island & Charles Bridge

We’ll finish our trip on Kampa Island, a peaceful park separated from the Lesser Town by the “Devil’s Stream” (Čertovka). You can visit the John Lennon Wall, a symbol of peace and freedom that is constantly changing as artists add new layers of art.

If the weather is nice, do what I do: grab a drink from the Scout Institute Rybárna cafe and sit by the river. In the summer, they often have local bands playing outside, and it’s the best place to watch the boats on the Vltava river.

To end your 2-day adventure, walk across the beautiful Charles Bridge back toward the Old Town. Crossing at sunset or in the evening light is magical, with the statues silhouetted against the illuminated Prague Castle. It’s the most amazing Prague view and the perfect way to say goodbye to the city.

This blog post was originally written on 8 April 2026 and last updated on 8 April 2026