Two Days in Prague Itinerary

charles bridge and prague castle
affiliate disclosure

If you are planning to spend at least two days in Prague, then you’ve come to the right place for your perfect itinerary. I spent an entire month in Prague during the summer of 2019, which makes me pretty much an expert on the best places to visit in Prague in 2 days.

But first: I don’t think that two days is enough time to visit Prague. It’s a gorgeous city full of fascinating history, good food (and even better beer!), and countless corners to explore. Even with as much time as I spent there, I didn’t see it all. If there is any way you can extend your trip, I highly recommend you do so, but if not, this two days in Prague itinerary will make sure you see the highlights.

In addition to an overview of the places to visit in Prague in 2 days, I will also include some recommendations for tours to participate in, if you have time. If you happen to be traveling with kids, I also have a few suggestions for must-see kid activities, too!

And who knows, maybe after reading my itinerary and seeing all the things there are to do, you will decide that two days in Prague is not enough and you will extend your trip…and honestly, that’s my goal. You won’t regret it!

Enjoy!

Two Days in Prague Itinerary | Day 1

Maybe you are coming from the international airport hub of Frankfurt or you’ve taken the quick four-hour train ride from Bratislava. Regardless how you arrive in Prague, make sure you are well rested and you’ve packed your walking shoes for your international trip as there’s a lot to see in this Prague 2-day itinerary.

Arrival

Upon arriving in Prague, one of the first things you will want to do is check into your hotel or at least drop off your luggage so that you can start exploring the city without carrying around your bags. The most convenient area to stay in during your short two days in Prague is Prague 1, which includes the Prague city centre. Booking.com is a great resource for finding accommodations, for all budgets, in the Prague city center.

Tip: I included Google Map links to each location to assist in navigating throughout the itinerary. If you download the Prague map for offline use before your trip, or when connected to Wi-Fi, you will be able to navigate to these locations without using international data. You know me – always trying to save you a buck!

Old Town Square

Arguably one of the most famous attractions in Prague, the Old Town Square is the perfect central location to start your two days in Prague. Getting there first thing in the morning will let you enjoy the square more, since it won’t be as busy, but regardless of the time of day, a trip to Prague is not complete without going to the Old Town Square.

two days in prague is not complete without visiting the old town square

The Old Town Square is essentially a large tourist trap that includes an over-priced beer garden, several places to buy trdelnik (basically an ice cream-stuffed donut), and your pick of souvenir shops. 

2 trdelniks in prague - donuts filled with ice cream
Tredelnik’s are popular treats found near Old Town Square in Prague.

While there are many restaurants in this area, they are all extremely overpriced and overrun by tourists. (Ex: The Hard Rock Café Prague is located in Old Town Square.) If you are hungry, I recommend walking a couple blocks away from Old Town Square to find somewhere to eat that is more affordable. For reference, take a look at the menus posted outside and try to find lunch (drink not included) for under 220 Czech Koruna, which is equivalent to approximately $10 USD.

Astronomical Clock

Adjacent to the Old Town Square is the Prague Astronomical Clock. It’s mounted on the Old Town Hall and at the top of every hour from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., a parade of wooden statues appears in the windows directly above the clock that makes for a huge—though honestly, significantly underwhelming—tourist attraction. If you’re in the square right before the hour changes, it’s worth watching, but don’t go there especially to see this, or you’ll be disappointed.

astronomical clock on the old town hall in prague

Old Jewish Cemetery

The Old Jewish Cemetery is located in the Jewish Quarter of Prague, just a few short blocks from Old Town Square. The Old Jewish Cemetery is one of the oldest Jewish graveyards in Europe and has 12,000 visible gravestones. Even more people are buried there, underneath other graves, since the cemetery struggled with a lack of space and people were buried on top of each other.  

The Old Jewish Cemetery and the entire Jewish Quarter should be regardless of your religious heritage due to its historical relevancy. It’s said that the area was saved from destruction in World War II because Hilter found it beautiful and wanted to use it as a “Museum of an Extinct Race.” Luckily for mankind, that never happened, and it now serves as an important historical monument .

Charles Bridge

The Charles Bridge is a 10-minute walk from the Jewish Quarter. This historic walking bridge crosses the Vltava River and is the oldest bridge in Prague, making it a main tourist attraction.

The bridge will be crowded as you walk across, with many people stopping to take pictures or browse items available from the street vendors. But the experience of walking across the bridge from Old Town to Lesser Town (the two areas of the city that the bridge connects) is a must when visiting Prague. All of the rest of today’s activities will be in Lesser Town which is just as beautiful as Old Town but a little less crowded.

people walking across the charles bridge in prague

Pissing Men Sculpture

I bet the Piss Sculpture, made by Černý, is probably not going to be on too many Prague 2 day itineraries. But that’s because not many travel bloggers even know about this amusing, yet controversial, statue.  The basin of the fountain is in the shape of the Czech Republic and there are two male statues standing inside the fountain peeing onto the country (I did mention that it’s controversial!).

While it’s not a typical tourist attraction in Prague, the Prague Post did rank it the strangest statue in Prague. It’s a quick three-minute walk from the end of the Charles Bridge, on the Lesser Town side, which makes it a quick, fun photo opp.

Piss Sculpture in Prague - sculpture of 2 men peeing while standing in a fountain in the shape of the Czech Republic.

Two Days in Prague | Break Time!

If you haven’t taken a break yet, now is probably a great time to grab a cappuccino or a pilsner. Luckily, there are several different options for taking a break here in Lesser Town, and all are much more affordable compared to Old Town Square.

I recommend heading to Café Club Misenska, a peaceful garden café that offers both coffee and alcoholic beverages. It’s the perfect stop regardless of what you are in the mood for and is more of a locals joint so you won’t see many tourists here!

Windows and door leading to cafe with table, chairs and patrons
The Cafe Club Misenska is is a great place to take a break during your two days in Prague.

Prague Castle

The final stop for day one of the itinerary is the Prague Castle. I am strategically placing the visit to the Prague Castle at the end of the day because it will be significantly less busy and the Castle grounds can be accessed for free until 10:00 p.m. daily.

prague castle

To get to the Prague Castle from Lesser Town, jump on tram number 22 and get off at the Pražský hrad stop. Since the Prague Castle is home to the official office of the President of the Czech Republic, you will have to go through a security check to access the complex. While the security check process usually causes long lines during the middle of the day, you’ll be visiting in the evening, when the line will be minimal.

Tourists in front of the official office of the President of the Czech Republic in the Prague Castle complex

While the Prague Castle complex is stunningly beautiful to explore on your own, I recommend considering a guided tour so you are given an overview of everything you are looking at. My husband and I took our kids on this evening walking tour and found it was well worth the cost of $28 USD per adult and $22 USD per child ages  7–17.

Be sure to take photos of the city from the Prague Castle, as the vantage point offers some of the best views of Prague.

Family of 5 with city of Prague in the background

Two Days in Prague Itinerary | Day 2

If you thought you covered a lot of ground in Prague on day one of this two days in Prague itinerary, wait until you see what is in store for day two! Today will start in Lesser Town, and then you’ll make your way to various other areas of the city via the public tram system or by jumping in an Uber.

John Lennon Wall

The John Lennon Wall is one of the coolest tourist sites in Prague. The graffiti-covered wall pays tribute to John Lennon, the Beatles, and current social and political causes. The history of the wall traces back to 1980 when an unknown artist painted an image of John Lennon along with some song lyrics following Lennon’s assassination. Since then the wall has been continually covered by graffiti art. Be sure to take a marker when visiting the John Lennon wall to sign your name or write a short verse from your favorite Beatles song. 

John Lennon wall in Prague. Wall filled with graffiti, people writing on wall.

Memorial to the Victims of Communism

The next stop after the John Lennon Wall is the Memorial to the Victims of Communism, which is a ten-minute walk south from the wall. This series of statues a series of men decaying before your eyes, which is supposed to represent what Communism, which was the ruling party in the Czech Republic from 1948-1989, did to its victims. While this isn’t one of the most uplifting stops on the itinerary, it’s an important part of the Czech Republic’s—and many other countries’—history, and the era should not be forgotten.

The Memorial to the Victims of Communism in Prague. A series of statues of a man decaying.

Petrin Tower

The Petrin Lookout Tower resembles a smaller version of the Eiffel Tower and sits on top of the Petrin Hill in Prague. To reach the summit of the Petrin Hill, visitors can take the funicular railway which is part of the Prague public transportation system and is next to the Memorial to the Victims of Communism. The line to access the funicular, especially during the busy tourist season, can be long, but it beats the alternative of hiking up the hill.

petrin tower
The Petrin Tower in Prague definitely resumes the Eiffel Tower, doesn’t it?

Upon reaching the Petrin Tower, visitors can pay to walk up the 299 steps to the observation deck or can pay extra to take the lift. Note: this time, save money by taking the stairs, it’s an easy climb!

The views of Prague from the Petrin Lookout Tower are breathtaking and provide for another great photo opportunity!

View of buildings in Prague and Vltava River from the Petrin Tower
family of five on the observation deck of the petrin tower
Word of warning: if you are traveling Europe with kids, taking them to the top of the Petrin Tower will not count as an adequate substitute to visiting the real Eiffel Tower in Paris.  When we took our kids to Paris, they still wanted to climb all the steps of the real one.  

After finishing at the Petrin Tower, you can grab refreshments at the café or gift shop at the bottom of the tower before heading down the hill by way of the funicular or a brisk 30-minute walk.

Dancing House

The Dancing House is one of the top tourist places to visit in Prague in 2 days. It can be accessed from the bottom of Petrin Hill by taking tram 22, direction Nádraží Hostivař, from the Újezd stop (located by the funicular railway stop at the bottom of the hill), then getting off at Karlovo náměsti. Uber is another convenient and quick option.

The non-traditional deconstructivist style (“new-baroque”) architecture of the Dancing House resembles a pair of dancers, hence the building’s nickname. While the Dancing House is a top attraction in Prague, like the Astronomical Clock’s wooden statue parade, I found the buildings fairly underwhelming. Sure, the architecture is cool, but other than a quick photo opp, there isn’t much else to do at the location.

If you have extra time during your Prague 2-day itinerary to do a river cruise (more about that below), I recommend skipping going out of the way to see the Dancing House on your own, since it can be seen from the river cruise.

dancing house buildings in prague.

Letna Park

Last, but certainly not least, you must visit Letna Park to end your 2 perfect days in Prague. While you’ll see amazing views from the Prague Castle and the Petrin Tower, neither of those vantage points compare to those from Letna Park.

View of Prague and Vltava River from Letna Park.

Directions: Honestly, the easiest way to get to Letna Park (that doesn’t require hiking up a hill) is to take an Uber. But being the budget-savvy traveler that I am, I rarely took Ubers when we were in Prague; instead, we mastered the tram system. If you are comfortable making a transfer on the tram, then take tram 17 (direction Vozovna Kobylisy) from Jiráskovo náměsti, the stop that is directly across from the Dancing House. Get off on Strossmayerovo náměsti and then transfer to tram 8 (director Nádrazi Podbaba) or tram 25 (direction Bilá Hora) and get off at Letenske náměsti. From there, you still have about a 10-minute walk to the park , but at least it won’t be uphill. See what I said about Uber being the easiest way to get there?

Letna Park, perched high over the city, is perfect for both adults and kids. If you are visiting Prague when the weather is decent, be sure to check out the beer garden (which also offers non-alcoholic beverages and a wide variety of snacks) where the prices are cheaper than Old Town Square and the views are second-to-none.

people sitting on outdoor tables at the beer garden located in Letna Park
The beer garden at Letna Park is a popular spot on nice days!

Two Days in Prague Itinerary | Extras

If you are visiting Prague with kids and/or you have additional time in your Prague 2-day itinerary, below are some additional recommendations to fill your schedule.

Visit Prague in 2 Days with Kids

My month in Prague was spent with my husband and three children ranging from ages 5-12, so I know a thing or two about what there is to do in Prague with kids. While the entire above itinerary can be done with kids (we took our kids to all those places!), here are a few kid-focused activities to add to your two days in Prague itinerary:

Hamley’s

This giant toy store is near Old Town Square and surrounded by other amazing department stores (which is super convenient if you are in the mood for shopping!). Hamley’s has tons of kids’ activities, including a carousel, giant slide from the top floor of the store to the bottom, mirror maze, butterfly house, virtual reality attractions, and more!  This is a great place to take kids; it’s free to go inside and there’s so much to do that they may not even realize that they are in a toy store (which means they won’t make you buy anything!).

Carousel and toys in the Hamley's in Prague.
The giant carousel that is located in the Prague Hamley’s.

Prague Zoo

According to Trip Advisor, the Prague Zoo is the 5th best zoo in the world. After visiting the zoo, I understand how it received that lofty spot. Not only is it huge, but it has a wide variety of animals and exhibits, and it’s also very affordable to visit. Adult admission is less than $10 USD and children ages 3-15 are less than $7 USD (plus there is discounted pricing for families!).

2 children standing in front of the tiger exhibit at the Prague Zoo.

Stromovka Park

Considered the Central Park of Prague, Stromovka Park is a great place to take the kids to cool off in the summer or to let them run around in while you enjoy a beer from the adjacent beer garden.

pond in Stromovka Park in Prague
kids playing at the playground in Stromovka Park

Tours to Take for 2 Perfect Days in Prague

While self-guided tours and itineraries allow you to stick to your own schedule and keep costs low, I did find a few tours that were worth the cost and recommend that you check them out if you have time during your two days in Prague itinerary.

Game of Prague

The Game of Prague is city-wide scavenger hunt that is such a unique and fun way to experience the city! While it will take at least four hours of your day, you’ll see some of the main Prague highlights plus other off-the-beaten path attractions and have a great time. If you have time during your two days in Prague, I highly recommend this activity. It’s great for families, groups, or couples and you can coordinate the best time to start “the game” based on your schedule.

Pricing depends on the size of the group but ranges from about $18 – $28 USD per person. Even though my family and I participated in the Game of Prague for free, I would still be more than happy to pay because we had so much fun and learned a ton about the city. Plus, the hosts of the game buy everyone a beer (or non-alcoholic beverage) when it’s over. Win-win!

Family looking at the hints for a scavenger hunt in the Game of Prague.
Our family had so much fun participating in the Game of Prague!

Free Walking Tour

You can never go wrong with a free walking tour! Not only is it free (though you should tip the guide at the end), it also gives you a high-level overview of the city. There are several companies that offer free walking tours including Free Walking Tours Prague, White Umbrella Tours, Discover Prague, and Sandemans.

The different options available will allow you to pick the best tour for your schedule. While we typically love the free walking tours by Sandemans, we opted for the Discover Prague free tour because it’s operated by a local company and they offer several free tours per day which gave us more flexibility.

Underground Tour

Believe it or not, there’s an entire underground system in Prague because the city built on top of itself after flooding. If you are looking for something to do in the evening, there are several underground tours to choose from that give you access to some of the hidden underground areas in the city.

We went on the Prague Old Town and Medieval Underground Evening Walking Tour because it aligned with our schedule, was affordable, and only lasts a little over an hour (which is the perfect length for our kids’ attention spans!). We enjoyed being able to see the history of what’s below some of the buildings we were walking by and how flooding has impacted the city.

underground location on a tour in Prague.

Vltava River Cruise

Like many of the cities in Europe that have a river flowing through the center of town, there are several river cruises to choose from in Prague that show off the city’s highlights. The length of the Vltava River cruises varies from one to two hours, making them short enough to squeeze into your Prague 2-day itinerary.

The one-hour cruise options travel under the Charles Bridge and show off the Prague Castle, Prague Metronome, and many other sights. The two-hour cruise also goes through the locks, which is fun to experience, and passes by the Dancing House, which eliminates the need to make it a stop on your itinerary.

Charles bridge and vltava river
A view of the Charles Bridge from a Vltava River cruise.

So, have I convinced you to stay longer than two days in Prague? I hope so! Though even if your schedule only allows for two days, you will still have the most amazing time seeing all of the highlights that are included in this itinerary. Cheers, or better yet—Na zdraví!

48 hours in Prague pin for Pinterest with image of Old Town Square
Pin for later!