Last month I spent my third trip collecting more cool Prague experiences and next year I’ll be making my fourth. And let me tell you, that city is having! a! moment!
In the beginning I visited Prague for the interesting architecture, the virtual un-touched-ness of it all, and because I heard you can bathe in beer and I was obviously not going to miss that. Now I visit because, well, pretty much because I get paid to (join my tour at the bottom!). But that doesn’t change the fact that I always try to fill my trips with new and cool Prague experiences. A girl’s gotta sightsee, right?
Cool Prague experiences
The same way Iceland is not the uncharted tourism frontier it once was, so is Prague. It seems like everyone already knows what to do in Prague. However, the answer to such a question is so much more complex.
Prague is an endlessly interesting city with many layers–both like a cake and an onion. You can definitely do 3 days in Prague, but you can also do 3 years in Prague and never see half of what’s going on there. (Mostly because half of what’s going on in Prague is going on literally underground. If you’ve been, you feel me.)
There are the few particular “things to do in Prague” but there’s also a long list of cool Prague experiences you (and I) probably have never heard of.
And because a reader recently asked me for Prague recommendations seeing as how I was the only person he knew who had ever been there (yay! there’s still uncharted territory out there!), I’m going to cover everything. Including all of my favorites places to eat and drink in Prague, historical monuments, war memorials, museums, activities, and all the cool Prague experiences I get up to each October.
Fun fact
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Did you know the Czech Republic is now officially known as Czechia (pronounced Chek-ee-ya)? That’s right, they thought Czech Republic was too hard for English speakers to say. Forget about… oh, every single other word in the Czech language. Least of all the word for most inefficient which is nejneobhospodařovávatelnějšímu—a description in and of itself, no less.
Cool Prague food & drink experiences
I’m going to preface this by saying I am not a huge fan of Czech cuisine—in general—though I have had some great meals. Regardless, eating and drinking here are some of the cool Prague experiences you’ll take with you everywhere. (And this article only scratches the surface. But also beneath the surface. You’ll see.)
Now, I always recommend eating traditional, local dishes—even if they aren’t slow-jam worthy—but doing so in Prague does require a small bit of adventurousness. Czech cuisine favors intense flavors and all the animal parts. All. Of. Them. Also, decoding a Czech menu may require some serious research as things aren’t always what they seem. *coughcowbrains* And, as always, beware the clear cheese.
As far as Prague bars go, there are some really cool places to drink here. From medieval castles to drinking competitions to a real-life Fraggle Rock, the Prague bar scene has it all.
U Fleku
U Fleku is a 520-year-old brewery and restaurant smack in the middle of Prague. When you read descriptions of U Fleku, you see phrases like “after the fall of the regime”, “Knight’s Hall”, and “pilgrimage site” because that’s how legit this place is.
They serve traditional Czech meals and one kind of beer—it’s the same one they’ve been brewing since 1499 and black as the bottom of hobbit’s foot. Hey, I’ve been making the same grilled cheese sandwich since I was a wee ‘tween, I get it. Why mess with secret recipe perfection?
On the outside this place looks small and regular… but inside it’s like WHOA. U Fleku is enormous, complex, and hella interesting. It’s got hidden rooms, a real medieval castle vibe, and the place goes on forever in all directions in an entirely impossible fashion. Only the inside of Jeannie’s bottle is an accurate comparison.
Manage your expectations
The food here is… super Czech; the beers are delicious; the atmosphere is awesome; but the service you can only describe as “Soup Nazi-esque.” Of all the rude service I’ve had around the world, the service at U Fleku may be the worst. But is this place still worth visiting? Why yes, Master! Plus, your bill will look like this:
Pro tip
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Don’t let them bully you into drinking more than you want to. The thing at U Fleku is that the servers will come by and drop beers wherever they see a near-empty glass, whether you asked for it or not. Try to complain? “Come back one year! Next!” To avoid this, keep an eye on your beer and be firm about refusing another.
Need to know
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The honey schnapps are not complimentary. Though they want it to appear that way, the shots are not on the house. After sitting, a server will come around with a tray of shots and try to force one on you. Al they’ll make it seem as though they’re free. Well, they’re not. Nothing in life is, remember?
Glass Bar
On your list of things to do in Prague is already, probably, a visit to the Dancing House—a newly (by European standards) constructed building in Prague’s New Town said to resemble a dancing couple. And on the rooftop of the Dancing House is a modern cocktail bar called Glass Bar.
And since the building is often referred to as “Fred & Ginger,” the Glass Bar is then the pretty, pretty crown atop Ginger Rogers’ head. In what you can also refer to as the Anti-U Fleku, Glass Bar features modern décor and design, fancy drinks, and AMAZING views of Prague (especially at night). It boasts an indoor area, completely engulfed in glass as you can imagine, and an outdoor rooftop area surrounding what can only be a recycled Atlasphere from American Gladiators.
U Sudu
U Sudu, not to be confused with U Fleku, is also a super unique place. Unique in that ain’t no way in hell America would allow this kinda way.
U Sudu, a former winery, resulted from converting all the old cellars into what we commonly refer to as an underground cave-like labyrinth. How can I best describe U Sudu in a way you’ll understand? It’s Fraggle Rock!
The place is indeed underground, cave-like, and as labyrinth-y as you can get without David Bowie in skin-tight pants (may he rest in peace). It’s a series of caves that have been converted into cool places to hang out—strictly for non-claustrophobic drinkers.
U Sudu is one of the most interesting bars I’ve ever been to but it’s disorienting as hell. In the words of Uncle Traveling Matt: “Dear nephew Gobo, WTF kind of bar is this anyway? I’m lost AF.”
Need to know
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Just a heads up, they allow smoking inside the cave bars of U Sudu. I have no earthly idea how anyone thought that was a good idea, but there it is. If you’ve ever dreamed of chillin’ with Doozers beneath the land of the Silly Creatures, you’ll overlook this little obstacle. The trash heap has spoken.
You can find pictures of U Sudu’s awesome cave bars on their website under ‘Gallery.’
La Republica
The restaurant La Republica is a great introduction to traditional Czech cuisine—it’s got tons of Czech favorites but with enough of the normalcy you’re used to so you don’t run screaming back into the loving arms of Germany.
They offer common dishes like Caesar salads, pork ribs, salmon filets, and they actually specialize in duck. But their menu also features pâté samplers, beef tartar, and “brawn with fresh onion” to remind you you’re not in Kansas anymore. By the way, brawn is a meat jelly made with the flesh from the head of a calf or pig. Served in an unnatural shape from a gelatinous meat mold. With raw onions. Just making sure you know that.
Now, I’ve already told you I’m not a general fan of Czech cuisine, but the food at La Republica is wonderful. It’s just unusual enough to make your parents feel you’re really embracing your international adventures.
The atmosphere at La Republica, the friendly service, and the live 1920’s-style jazz band all score super high marks in my book. Which, by the way, is a graphic novel all about the random places in which I’ve done “the Charleston.”
Personal recommendations at La Republica:
- “Selection of our starters served on a wooden board with traditional accompaniments and a bread basket (duck terrine, Prague ham, smoked venison sausage)” under Cold Starters
- “Creamy cabbage soup “Kozí brada” with potato and smoked sausage” under Soups
- “Pulled pork knee burger” under Main Dishes
Need to know
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There’s an ATM in the lobby of La Republica, but before you use it (and others like it around Prague), watch this PSA.
Lokal Dlouhááá
After dinner at La Republica, walk the seven minutes over to Lokal Dlouhááá for a beer or 45 (you’ll see). Lokal is a local chain with five locations around Prague… but this one is my favorite.
Lokal Dlouhááá (which is actually the name of the street it’s on—don’t ask me how to say that) offers an extensive and super-Czechy food menu from which I haven’t tried a single thing… and you’ll see why when you read it. However, it’s a seriously interesting bar for beer alone.
You get to watch the bartender filling and passing out mugs of beer faster than the taps could pour them. It was like, BAM here’s beer, BAM here’s a beer, BAM here’s a beer!
The beer tanks are in the glass bar (check out their website for pictures), the walls are covered in a bunch of other stuff I can’t read, the employees are super friendly, and it’s on one of the hippest streets in town.
They have two kinds of beer—pilsner and a super dark kozel—though in my experience I’ve only seen the one. Reservations are recommended for late night drinking but if your party is small or, like, your one friend who survived accidentally eating cow brains for dinner, you should be able to walk in and find a place to hang out.
It’s a super local joint with interesting wall art and an even interesting-er way of keeping tabs.
How to drink beer in Prague
Did you know there are actually three different ways to order your beer in Prague? If you’re into cool Prague experiences, you can ask for:
- Hladinka – the standard beer pour—mostly beer, small bit of thick head on top—that’s refreshing and crisp. If you just ask for a beer, this is what you should get.
- Šnyt – pronounced ‘schnit.’ Defined as two parts beer/three parts foam/and one part empty glass—believed to be more refreshing for pairing with hearty food
- Mlíko – Czech for ‘milk’ and literally an entire glass of beer foam with like a sliver of beer at the bottom, I kid you not. I don’t get it, but you’ll see people drinking their beer like this all over Prague. If any of these should be called schnit, it’s this one.
I swear I’m not making this up–check out Lokal’s explanations by going to their main website, clicking on “Gallery” on the left, then on “beer.”
Letna Beer Garden
The Letna Beer Garden—also known as Letenský Zámeček—is located across the Vltava River, high up on a hill. So, yes, your ass will have to climb your way up there. But don’t let the potential heart palpitations fool you! This place is incredible and well worth the easy walk.
Letna Beer Garden will put you in mind of the great beer gardens of Yore Bavaria only with the most incredible view of one of the most interesting skylines and fewer octogenarians in leather shorts.
Here, you can grab a local beer and some delicious snacks (and by that I mean fried cheese and fried potatoes, naturally) and hang out under the trees admiring the views but mostly trying to lure all the surrounding puppers to within reach.
Absintherie
Of all the cool Prague experiences involving alcohol (wow, there are a lot of them), drinking some proper absinthe ranks high up near the top. If you’ve had absinthe here in the U.S., you haven’t had absinthe. If you’ve hallucinated your way through a night out that ended in a beer bath, mehhh, chances are better that you have.
Absinthe, for those of you on life’s straight-and-narrow track, is a high-ABV anise-flavored spirit that’s typically green, presented through a cloud of pomp and circumstance, and is a historical favorite of such characters as Edgar Allen Poe, Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, and Vincent van Gogh—the guy famous for slicing off his own ear. So yeah, you’re worshiping all the right idols. *covers face, walks away*
The ingredient in absinthe that’s said to cause its hallucinogenic effects—wormwood—has been banned here in the U.S. and in many other countries throughout Europe. However, due to the removal of certain restrictions on the beverage’s production, true absinthe is alive and well in the Czech Republic.
At the Absintherie in Prague’s Franz Kafka Square, you can choose from a wow-this-is-way-too-big absinthe menu. They have filtered and unfiltered (?), absinthes from all over the Czech Republic and surrounding countries, and a happy hour you just can’t miss.
The bartenders in this intimate and well-decorated joint are trained in the artistic and elaborate presentation of the Green Fairy. There will be fire, there will be grown men giggling, and there will be an angry wife somewhere missing a few singed nose hairs.
Strahov Monastery
The Strahov Monastery is the least hidden of all the hidden Prague gems. It’s enormous, just a few minutes’ walk from Prague Castle, and absolutely worth a stop to fill your empty stomach. Strahov Monastery is an entire complex of buildings and sights to see. However, my favorite part is their restaurant, Velká klášterní restaurace.
The monastery is huge, sure, but this 500-seat restaurant alone is the largest old-Bohemian restaurant in all of Prague. They serve equally huge meals (mostly of the traditional and hearty variety) and is the exclusive restaurant location for the Matuška brewery (a lil more IPA, a lil less PILS). The site has so much more to offer (which we’ll get to) but stop in for lunch on the patio first.
Personal recommendation at Velká klášterní restaurace: Get the pork knuckllleeeeee
Fun fact
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The word for ‘brewery’ in Czech is pivovar. And you’ll see this word a lot since the Czech Republic is the beer-drinking-est country in the world.
The Pub Praha
In another example of “America would die if it saw what we were doing right now,” the Pub Praha is the place to go if drunkenly one-upping strangers is your jam.
At the Pub Praha, each table comes equipped with its own tap, where you pour your own beer. The tap itself keeps track of how much everyone is drinking and prorates your bill accordingly. Umm, is this the perfect system or what?
Additionally, how much you and your friends consume is tallied and displayed on a big screen at the front of the restaurant where you’re pitted against all the other tables in the restaurant. Let the games begin!
Dang it, this is where I should’ve made the American Gladiators reference… (#Gauntlet) Drinking this way is super fun, but I can see this going south faster than a plane full of sorority girls during Spring Break. I mean, it’s all fun and games until a 13-man bachelor party walks in the door. “Czech please!”
But wait! There’s more! Not only do you compete against the other beer drinkers in the restaurant, but your restaurant as a group competes with the other Pub locations around Prague. And you thought your cool Prague experiences were going to be limited to tourist sites and history lessons, pshh!
Pro tip
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In the Czech Republic, the beer taps default to pouring Mlíko–and nobody wants that. It will take some time to figure out how to pour your own beer. But know this: you can adjust the flow using the small lever on the right side of each tap.
U Supa
U Supa, not to be confused with U Fleku and U Sudu, is a full-scale brewery just around the corner from Prague’s Old Town Square—AKA, the center of everything. The U Supa brewery dates back to the 1400s sooo obviously they know a thing or two about beers and bites.
Unfortunately, I haven’t eaten at U Supa yet but the food *looks* amazing and I was told it is hella delicious. (I mean, I almost fought them to stay open so I could eat some of their mashed potatoes.)
Also, everyone I traveled with swears their cherry beer is the bomb diggity (people still say that, right?). However, because of my Sheldon Cooper-level fruit allergies, I had to refrain and stick to the regular ol’ Sup 12 Světlý Ležák (light lager). Oh good, people are still saying ‘sup.
Need to know
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The “cherry beer” is not an U Supa original, but everyone says to get it. My friends ordered it by saying they wanted “the cherry beer.” However, officially it’s Kasteel Rouge from the Kasteel Brouwerij Vanhonsebrouck in Belgium.
Starbucks
Yes, I mean it. Obviously I always preach spending your money at local businesses and avoiding worldwide chains when you travel; but this is different.
The Starbucks at Pražský Hrad, Kajetánka, Hradčanské nám., 118 00 Malá Strana, Czechia (that’s an address btw) is one of a kind. You can find it right outside the front gates of Prague Castle, high up on a hill overlooking this gorgeous city. Grab a cappuccino and head out onto the patio for the sexiest coffee experience of your whole trip.
Cool things to see and do in Prague
So if half of all cool Prague experiences take place underground, the other half takes place high above the city. Like, literally nobody hangs out at ground level here—that’s so 21st century. You think I’m joking—just you wait and see. In this town you’ve got cellars and you’ve got towers. Even when you’ve got a massive hill overlooking the city, you must put a tower on top of that too.
Fun fact
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The historic center of Prague (comprised of Old Town, New Town, and Lesser Town) is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to a few criteria including: being “an urban architectural ensemble of outstanding quality, in terms of both its individual monuments and its townscape, and one that is deservedly world-famous.”
Climb Petrin Tower
So yeah, across the river from Old Town you’ll see, wayyy up on the highest hill, is what looks like a downsized replica of the Eiffel Tower. Go up there. Yes, you’ll have to first climb a large hill to then climb a tower, but you saw the size of that pork knuckle right? Time to offload a few thousand calories, bro.
Atop Petrin Hill is Petrin Tower, a 299-step observation tower that provides the best. views. in the city. From here you can see Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, Old Town, New Town, Funky town, and, on a clear day, an elderly woman behind the counter in a small town.
It costs the equivalent of just a few dollars to get to the top, there are separate up staircases and down staircases (claustrophobes and impatients rejoice!), multiple observation levels, and a gelato shop at the bottom. Time to replenish those lost calories, babe!
Soak in a Prague beer spa
One of the topics I get asked the most about when talking Prague (no less that time I was quoted in, uh-huh, Playboy) has to do with Prague beer spas. Is it as hilarious and fun as it sounds? ABSOLUTELY. Is it magically therapeutic? Well… that’s still left up to interpretation. Do you actually bathe in beer? Yes, but also no. What size bunny ears should we send you? Extra small, please. And put a rush on that.
Prague beer spas are the ridiculously entertaining chance to soak in an oak barrel full of hot bubbly beer ingredients (hops, malted barley, water, yeast) while pouring unlimited actual beer from your own personal tap. Sitting in a hot tub beer machine drinking cold beer with your husband and best friends? I mean, is this real life?!
Yes, it is, and everyone can do it. But first, check out my post devoted entirely to this only-in-Czechia phenomenon, the hilarious Czech beer spa experience.
Need to know
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Prague Beer Spas are incredibly popular, and while you may be able to squeeze into someone’s cancellation if you walk in, reservations made well ahead of time are highly recommended.
Explore the Strahov Monastery
So back to the Strahov Monastery… After you’ve had more meals impaled with spears than you had anticipated, check out the rest of the complex. Namely, a beautiful basilica, a mini museum dedicated to things people thought were super mysterious hundreds of years ago, and two lovely libraries. There’s also an art museum, a shop, a viewing terrace over the vineyards, and it’s really just too adorable.
Strahov Monastery is just a few minutes’ walk from Prague Castle, and from the monastery you can follow the Monastery Garden Path to Petrin Tower to look at all this beauty from hundreds of feet up.
Visit Prague Castle
Prague Castle is probably the #1 tourist attraction in the entire city. It is one of the coolest of the pretty cool Prague experiences, but you should know it’s not like your typical castle.
Prague Castle is actually a complex made up of many sites—most of which you can visit. You can choose an admission ticket based on which locations you wish to visit for all different prices but really, just get Circuit A. It’s got everything. Don’t be fussy. It’s only the equivalent of $15 USD. The Changing of the Guard ceremony is fuh-ree!
With this ticket you can visit St. Vitus Cathedral (the massive, pointy building you probably thought was “Prague Castle” this whole time), the Old Royal Palace and Rosenberg Palace, St George’s Basilica, Golden Lane, and more. For even more amazing views, (kinda the theme here, just go with it), pay the extra few koruna to climb the tower at St. Vitus Cathedral.
Pro tip
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To avoid the unreal crowds outside Prague Castle, enter through the back entrance that seemingly no one knows about. To get here, walk up from Prague’s Old Town via the Old Castle Stairs. The views are incredible and the crowds are all up front pushing and shoving and waiting in line to get in. Suckers.
Walk across Charles Bridge
I’m gonna be honest here—walking across the Charles Bridge is something you have to do, just because it’s a thing to do. Like visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris or getting licked on the subway in New York City. It’s not all that enjoyable, I’m pretty sure half the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd up there is actively trying to steal your wallet, and there are plenty more bridges if you just need to get to the other side of the river.
However, the bridge is lined with what I’ll call “ancient” statues. There are souvenir vendors and street performers and sometimes a guy with an 8-foot boa, so that’s neat. (The kind that’ll squeeze you to death in your sleep, not the kind worn by 8-year-olds trying to look either like their fancy old grandmother or Elton John.)
The Charles Bridge is free to cross—unless you lose your wallet in the process—and is open all hours of the day and night. Guys, it’s a bridge.
Watch the show at the Astronomical Clock
Prague’s Astronomical Clock is located in the Old Town Square and was first installed back in 1410. The fact that this thing is still working is the most impressive part of the whole deal.
Much more impressive than the actual show it puts on every hour, on the hour (from 9:00 am – 11:00 pm). A skeleton rings a bell, 12 apostles appear one by one through small windows above the clock on which I have absolutely no idea how to tell time, and the same people who clapped when your plane landed are now clapping for this clock.
About 15 minutes before the clock comes to life, enormous crowds gather in front of the clock in an area more conducive to 1400s-size crowds. All I gots to say about this is watch your belongings.
Any time you see large crowds packed in together, rest assured some piece of sh*t lowlife is taking advantage of the fact that tourists are distracted. Is it obvious I have PTSD from that time I was robbed yet? If you want more proof, ask my therapist for her notes.
Climb the Old Town Hall tower
Or better yet, watch the crowds watching the clock from high up above it (and then later just this YouTube video).
Of all the towers I’ve climbed in Prague the Old Town Hall Tower is my favorite. Being right in the center of Old Town you can get some great views of the whole city and get away from the astronomical Astronomical Clock crowds.
Unlike, oh, every single other medieval tower in Europe, the Old Town Hall Tower has a wide open ramp leading up to the top instead of a narrow, dark, dingy staircase with slippery, worn down steps and someone having a panic attack blocking the way.
There’s a neat-o red light/green light situation to maintain capacity at the top and there aren’t any annoying fishnets or bars at the top blocking your view. ‘Tis the favorite of photographers and claustrophobes alike!
Need to know
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The Old Town Hall Tower is the only medieval tower in Prague that is completely wheelchair accessible.
Climb all the towers
Did you know: Prague is known as “the city of a thousand spires?” And Although the Old Town Hall Tower is the best, I do want to add that you should just go ahead and climb them all to be sure.
You’ll see towering church spires and towering, well, towers all over the city of Prague. And many of the top cool Prague experiences happen at the top of these. Up here, the views (of the other 999 spires) are simply stunning and it’s a quick and easy step back in time. In short, if you see a tower, climb the tower. The trips up are quick and typically only cost a few bucks. Some of my favorites are:
- Old Town Hall Tower – we’ve established this, just drilling it in deeper
- Old Town Bridge Tower – the huge tower at the start of the Charles Bridge, on the Old Town side
- Lesser Town Bridge Tower – the big tower at the other end of the Charles Bridge
- Petrin Tower – not medieval, still badass
- The Powder Tower – on the border of Old Town and New Town
- The tower at St. Vitus Cathedral – the huge gothic cathedral inside Prague Castle
Stroll around Old Town Square
After climbing the Old Town Hall Tower, spend some time checking out Old Town Square—the large, historic town square around which most of Prague is centered.
Here you can check out the Astronomical Clock, various art museums and amazing examples of architecture, and my favorite Prague building, the Church of Our Lady Before Týn. There’s a grand centerpiece and usually a few street performers (but, like, better than normal, expect a lot of fire and sometimes bubbles) and it’s big enough that you don’t feel sardine-d in.
The square is lined with food vendors as well so take this opportunity to try out such Prague street delicacies as “swirly potato chip on a stick” and “swirly, sugary ice cream bread bowl” (Trdelník) and even “your own portion of this giant pig on a spit.”
Pro tip
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The later in the day you go, the more pleasant (i.e., less crowded) it will be. Old Town Square at blue hour is simply magical and late at night the square is even more lovable.
Take a Vltava River Cruise
There are two things that are always at the top of my itineraries, regardless of destination: climb to the highest point, and take a sightseeing river cruise. (There’s always a river.) The river flowing through Prague is the Vltava and a Vltava river cruise is a pleasant (and cheap) way to spend an hour in the city away from the crowds.
For my cruise I used Prague Boats, paid 14 euros (yeah, they take euros, I dunno), and spent an hour sailing under the many Prague bridges and checking out the scenery. The cruises leave from the dock at Čech Bridge either every half hour (from March to November) or every hour (November to March). Check the official timetable here.
Need to know
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Have no fear, the boats have beer! So kick up your feet, relax with a brew, and sail blissfully down the river.
Hang out in Wenceslas Square
Another of Prague’s largest squares is Wenceslas Square, named for Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia, and dating back to the 1300s.
What used to be a horse market, is today the administrative and commercial center of Prague—hosting numerous retail shops, restaurants, the Czech National Museum, and a bar where you can get your beer delivered to you via a model train. (Drinking beer in Prague is an adventure in itself, if you haven’t picked that up yet.)
Besides train beers (though, do we really need much else?), there’s also a great outdoor market here in the fall featuring live music and performances, food vendors, craft vendors, and more: St. Wenceslas Market. Think: Christmas market, but autumnal, so only one scarf, no hat and gloves. It happens annually in the middle of September, the final day occurring on St. Wenceslas’ national holiday.
Meander through the Mucha Museum
For a quick glimpse into the historic art scene of Prague, head to the Mucha Museum, the only museum in the world dedicated to Czech’s most famous artist: Alphonse Mucha.
A visit here won’t cost you more than the equivalent of 10 dollars and about half an hour of your beer drinking time. The museum is small but well organized, located near many other cool Prague experiences, with a gift shop and tons of examples of Mucha’s awesome artwork.
Yeah, I didn’t know who the guy was either until I looked him up. But after seeing examples of his work, I was like, “oohhh yeahhh I’ve seen that!”
Pay your respects at the Operation Anthropoid Memorial
If you’re into World War II history, there’s one site in Prague you need to check out: the Operation Anthropoid memorial. (Though I also recommend a day trip from Prague to the Terezín concentration camp as well if you have the time.)
Operation Anthropoid was the (spoiler alert: successful) mission to assassinate Reinhard Heydrich, top ranking Nazi official, leader of the SS, architect of the “Final Solution.” The story itself is mindboggling—watch the movie Anthropoid (2016) starring Christian Grey of 50 Shades fame for an accurate representation of events.
There are memorials both inside and out of the Saints Cyril and Methodius Cathedral, a small museum dedicated to the operation, and you can even go down in the crypt of the church where the final battle went down. I have an entire post on visiting the Operation Anthropoid Memorial in Prague on my other site which you can read in that link.
Take a day trip to Kutná Hora
Ok, ok, ok, ok (read that in your best Joe Pesci/Lethal Weapon voice for full effect)… I hate when I read lists of things to do in a city and they all suggest things that are in other cities. However, if you’ve already had your fill of cool Prague experiences and have extra travel time, I highly recommend getting out of Prague. Specifically, by taking a day trip to Kutná Hora, Czechia–a UNESCO World Heritage Site in and of itself.
Kutná Hora is just an easy one-hour train ride from Prague and is interesting enough to fill a good amount of your day. The main draw to Kutná Hora (and the reason I went in the first place) is to see the famous “bone church” AKA the Sedlec Ossuary.
The Sedlec Ossuary is located beneath a centuries-old church and houses the skeletal remains of over 40,000 people. All used to form elaborate decorations, pieces of artwork, and even a chandelier. I know, it sounds too crazy to believe–you must Czech it out.
In addition to the Sedlec Ossuary, you can visit the beautiful St. Barbara’s Cathedral, have a beer on a patio overlooking the vineyards, tour the silver mines, and simply stroll about this beautiful, crowd-free Bohemian city.
Viator even offers this super affordable day trip to Kutná Hour from Prague tour. It includes transportation, a professional guide, and admissions to the Cathedral and the Sedlec Ossuary.
Need to know
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For detailed instructions on how to get to Kutná Hora from Prague, check out this page.
Cool Prague experiences: Where to stay
Old Town Square Apartments
On my first trip to Prague I stayed at the Old Town Square Apartments (not to be confused with the Old Town Apartments where my friends book instead and, therefore, did not stay with us).
There were five of us in this apartment that could easily fit about 62 people. The apartment was super huge, ultra modern, brand newly renovated, complete with everything, tallest ceilings I’ve ever seen, and unbelievably dirt cheap. Like, after three years I’m still pretty sure someone did some math wrong.
I cannot recommend this place enough. For the price, the location, the service, the unreal quality and value of what we received, and for the Jacuzzi tub. For more details and images, check out Masna 19.
Read more reviews here on Tripadvisor or just go ahead and book it for yourself before someone else does!
K+K Hotel Central
Another place I regularly stay in Prague is the K+K Hotel Central. It’s on the border of Old Town and New Town, within walking distance to so many of these cool Prague experiences, but just enough out of the tourist center that you feel like you’re really living the local Prague life.
The staff here is really friendly and the hotel itself is super luxury but still affordable (because this be Prague after all). There’s a fitness center and sauna (and free ice cold water), a great breakfast spread (the best I’ve had in Europe actually), and the rooms are huge and modern even if the futuristic doors are a little hard to figure out.
The hotel is decorated in a gorgeous art deco style with unique features like this fancy-ass elevator (it’s the oldest art deco building in Prague actually). The place is enormous and a great retreat after a day battling the crowds out on the street of Prague.
Read reviews here on Tripadvisor or just go ahead and book yourself a room!
Cool Prague experiences still on my list
As much time as I’ve spent in Prague, I still haven’t done all the things yet. Based on what I’ve heard from friends and other travelers, these cool Prague experiences are still on my list:
Prague Food Tour
This is the #1 thing people always tell me to do when I visit Prague (but stubborn me has yet to do it). As someone who is not an enthusiastic fan of Czech food, I think I could actually benefit from a Prague food tour. You get to try new dishes at cool eateries and learn the history and culture behind them which may make the fact that you’re eating the flesh of a pig’s head a little easier to stomach.
Tour of the Jewish Quarter
Said to be one of the most impressive parts of the city and certainly one of the oldest. I’m not a huge expert on the subject (hence the need for a tour) but I continue to hear great things! Check out this highly-rated Jewish Quarter walking tour.
Wallenstein Palace and Gardens
Wallenstein Palace + Gardens is a huge palace complex from the 1600s featuring beautiful gardens that are open to the public and some pretty showy albino peacocks.
Relief Restaurant
Some friends of mine had lunch at Relief Restaurant on my latest trip to Prague last month and couldn’t stop talking about it. Amazing food, great service, all in a totally unique setting–the crypt of a church in Lesser Town.
Day trips to other cool Prague towns
…Like Plzeň (or Pilsen, birthplace of pilsners), Karlovy Vary, Brno, and, thanks to my friend Amanda, Český Krumlov.
Optional tours for more cool Prague experiences
One of the coolest Prague experiences there is, is letting yourself just be dragged around town and fed information without doing any of the work yourself. Enter: the tour group. Here are my recommendations for some tours in and around Prague:
Prague Food Tour
This 4-hour tour run by Eating Prague has nothing but 5-star reviews. This is the one I’ll be taking on my next trip to Prague. (Vegans need not apply–vegetarians, you can be accommodated though.)
Prague Old Town and Medieval Underground Evening Walking Tour
I said you were going to be underground for most of your cool Prague experiences… might as well keep the theme going. Some friends of mine did this tour just last month and had nothing but great things (and cool tidbits) to say afterwards!
Prague Hop-on/Hop-off Bus Tour
As cheesy as these things seem, they really are great for seeing as many sights as possible and also for getting around town quickly and easily. I always recommend these!
10-day Beer or Bust Tour
Or simply join me on MY next trip to Prague! This 10-day tour starts at Oktoberfest in Munich, then spends three days in Prague, followed by two days in magical Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and finishes up at the Stuttgart Beer Festival in Stuttgart, Germany. And I’m your tour guide!
Many of these cool Prague experiences are covered on my tour and the rest is up to you. But hurry – spots fill up fast (I mean, it is Oktoberfest after all)! Mention me when you book!
More info to enjoy these cool Prague experiences
- Hotels: Find great places to stay in Prague here on Booking.com. (But Hotels.com and Expedia are worth checking out too.)
- Rental cars: Find the best local rental car deals here.
- Travel planning: Pick up a Prague guidebook for more cool Prague experiences, and this must-have Czech customs and culture guide for everything else.
Which of these cool Prague experiences are on your list?
Let me know below!
But first, pin me ⇣⇣⇣
