Prague sits on the Vltava river in the middle of Czech Republic, a Gothic, beer-in-every-cellar, city break that delivers fairytale looks at incredible prices.
Prague Holiday 2026 highlights
🏰 The world's largest ancient castle: Prague Castle sprawls across 70,000 square metres above the river, more complex than fortress, with palaces, cathedrals and cobbled courtyards layered across a thousand years.
🍺 Beer culture at the source: this is the birthplace of pilsner lager. Locally brewed pivo costs under £3 a pint in city-centre bars, and the cellar pubs serve it fresher than anywhere else in Europe.
🌉 Walking the Charles Bridge: a 14th-century cobbled bridge lined with Baroque statues, street musicians and artists. Cross it at dawn for the empty, photogenic version or at dusk for the atmospheric one.
🕰️ The Astronomical Clock: mounted on the Old Town Hall tower, the Orloj has been telling the time (and putting on an hourly parade of apostles) since 1410. Climb the tower for the best Old Town view.
☀️ Good To Know
☀️ Prague has warm summers (around 25°C) and cold winters that often drop below freezing. Spring and autumn are ideal for fewer crowds
💶 The Czech Republic uses the Czech koruna (CZK), not the euro. It’s great value: expect £2–4 for a beer, £8–15 for a great meal (the food here is banging), and affordable public transport
🎭 Walking city: most of the historic centre is under three square miles, cobbled, car-free in parts, and easy to cover on foot. Metro and trams for anything further out.
🗣️ Local Lingo – Talk Like a Prague Local 🇨🇿
In Prague, Czech is the official language, and while it can look tricky, a few basics go a long way 😉
👋 “Dobrý den” (dob-ree den) – hello / good day
🙏 “Děkuji” (dyeh-koo-yee) – thank you
😊 “Prosím” (pro-seem) – please / you’re welcome
🍺 “Jedno pivo, prosím” (yed-no pee-vo pro-seem) – one beer, please
😎 “Na zdraví!” (nah zdrah-vee) – cheers! 🍻
🚆 Day Trips from Prague
Prague's perfectly placed for exploring more of Bohemia, and the train connections are brilliant. Here are the best escapes:
Český Krumlov 🏰 About 3 hours south, this UNESCO-listed town is like stepping into a fairytale. A massive castle towers over a gorgeous medieval old town wrapped in a loop of the Vltava River. It's touristy but absolutely worth it – go midweek if you can. The castle gardens and tower views are stunning.
Kutná Hora & the Bone Church 💀 Just an hour east by train, this former silver-mining town has two must-sees: the spectacular Gothic St. Barbara's Cathedral and the utterly bizarre Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church), where a chandelier made of human bones hangs from the ceiling. It's creepy, fascinating, and genuinely unlike anywhere else.
Karlovy Vary ♨️ Two hours west, this elegant spa town looks like something from a Wes Anderson film – pastel-coloured buildings, ornate colonnades, and hot springs you can drink from (they taste... medicinal). Famous for its film festival, Moser crystal, and Becherovka herbal liqueur. Proper fancy day out.
Pilsen 🍺 The birthplace of pilsner lager – need we say more? Tour the Pilsner Urquell brewery, taste beer straight from the barrel in the underground cellars, then explore the town's massive central square. About 90 minutes by train, perfect for beer lovers.
Karlštejn Castle 🏰 Only 40 minutes from Prague, this Disney-esque Gothic castle perched on a hilltop was built to protect the crown jewels. The village below is cute for a wander, and the forested walk up to the castle is lovely. Closed Mondays.
Terezín 🕯️ A sobering but important day trip. This former WWII concentration camp and Jewish ghetto is about an hour north of Prague. The museum and memorials tell the stories of those imprisoned here. A moving experience that deserves proper time and respect.
🏨 Where To Stay On Your Prague Holidays
Prague is divided into numbered districts spiralling out from the historic centre. Prague 1 is the tourist heartland (Old Town, Castle District, all the main sights); Prague 3, Prague 4, Prague 6, Prague 7 and Prague 10 are the surrounding neighbourhoods.
❤️ For couples
Prague City Centre (Prague 1) is the move for a first romantic trip. The Old Town, the Astronomical Clock, the Charles Bridge and Prague Castle are all within walking distance, and evening strolls through the cobbled lanes or along the Vltava are genuinely the reason most couples come here.
Prague 7 is the quieter, artier alternative on the north bank, home to Letná Park with its legendary city-view beer garden and Holešovice with its galleries, cafés and independent restaurants. Couples on a second visit, or anyone who wants a local-feeling stay with a 15-minute tram into the centre, should look here.
👨👩👧👦 For families
Prague 6 is the city's leafiest, calmest residential district, west of the centre and close to the airport. Wide streets, big parks, quiet nights and solid tram links back into the centre make it an easy-going base for families who want to come back to somewhere peaceful at the end of a sightseeing day.
Prague 7 also works well with kids, Prague Zoo is inside the district (one of Europe's best) and Letná and Stromovka parks give the little ones space to run around between city days.
🎉 For groups
Prague 3 (Žižkov) is where a group should be looking. It's famously got the most pubs per square kilometre of any neighbourhood in Prague, a scruffier-and-edgier character than the tourist districts, and a proper local atmosphere rather than a tourist one. Cheaper hotels, easier big-table dinners, and the Old Town is 15 minutes on the tram if you want to head into the lights.
💰 For value
Prague 4 is the largest district and the cheapest central-ish option, residential with a mix of modern and older housing, good metro connections on Line C, and a short hop into the centre. Not touristy, not trying to be, but the right pick if the room is just somewhere to sleep and the budget matters.
Prague 10 is the even-quieter option further east, purely residential, cheap, and connected to the centre by tram. For a second visit where you've already done the tourist trail and want to save the budget for the restaurants.
What Are The Best Hotels In Prague?
Thought we were all about that beach? Well, sure. But we can do cobbled charm and city chic too. See all hotels in Prague or browse our picks below for the top spots to hang your hat.
👨👩👧👦 Families
Luxury Family Hotel Royal Palace does exactly what it says, five-star comfort built around family-friendly extras, with a full spa, sauna, hot tub, Egyptian cotton sheets and a central Lesser Town location that puts the Lennon Wall, the Charles Bridge and the castle within a short walk.
Grandior Hotel Prague is within walking distance of all the major sights, with its own bar and bistro, and breakfast omelettes that can set up a full day on foot. Room sizes work well for family bookings.
Comfort Hotel Prague City East has a games room (foosball and table tennis), bright, quirky rooms and a rooftop terrace that hosts summer barbecues. A few stops on the metro from the centre, and the games-room set-up earns its keep with older kids.
❤️ Couples
Grand Hotel International is a restored 1950s landmark with swanky rooms, private gardens and a rooftop bar with skyline views over the city. One of the more distinctive addresses in town, and properly romantic at sunset.
987 Design Prague Hotel is a design-led boutique with an indoor pool, a restaurant and cocktail bar, and a style that leans more Manhattan than Mitteleuropa. A good choice for couples who want a bit of a scene.
Hotel Elite Prague backs up its name with a cracking central location, comfortable rooms and a proper lobby bar. Walking distance to Wenceslas Square and the Old Town.
✨ Luxury
Four Seasons Hotel Prague is the gold standard, riverside in the historic centre with unobstructed views of Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge. Rooms spread across four interconnected buildings, flawless service, and the kind of stay that quietly turns a city break into an occasion.
Augustine a Luxury Collection Hotel is a Marriott Luxury Collection property set in a former monastery in the Lesser Town, a few steps from Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge. Beautifully landscaped monastery gardens, a vaulted-hall café-bar, and rooms that retain genuine historic character.
The Grand Mark Prague is a 17th-century Baroque palace turned five-star hotel, with a private walled garden, full spa (whirlpool, sauna, steam bath, Thai massage studio) and rooms that balance original detail with modern comfort.
🎉 Groups
Grand Majestic Plaza Hotel is a 10-minute stroll from the centre with suites, an on-site restaurant and a modern cocktail bar, a solid base for groups who want comfort without the Old Town prices.
Ibis Praha Wenceslas Square puts a bigger group right on Wenceslas Square with modern, reliable rooms and a strong daily breakfast, handy for late-night returns after a dance-club night.
💰 Value
Ibis Praha Old Town is 10 minutes on foot from Old Town Square, with modern rooms, a solid breakfast buffet and the Ibis reliability at the lowest centrally-located price point.
Hotel Merkur is a quiet city-centre spot near Namesti Republiky (the main bus and train station is 200m away), with its own garden, on-site restaurant and a proper Czech breakfast included.
Plaza Prague Hotel sits in Prague 7 near the Holesovice exhibition centre and Prague Zoo, with newly refurbished rooms, a gym and a bus-and-metro stop 200m away that puts you in the centre in 10 minutes. Properly cheap for what you get.
🗺️ Prague Holidays 2026/2027 Travel Guide
❤️ Things to do in Prague for couples
🌉 Charles Bridge at sunrise or sunset: free, empty at 6am, packed and gorgeous at golden hour. The statues are best seen in raking light.
⛵ Vltava river cruise: one-hour evening cruises leave from Čechův Bridge with dinner and live music, around £40 per couple. Alternatively a daytime cruise with drinks runs about £20 a head.
🍷 U Sudu or Vinograf wine bars: Old Town wine cellars where Czech varietals (Moravian rieslings, the weird-and-good orange wines) go for £5 to £8 a glass. Low-lit, long-dinner-length energy.
🌃 Rooftop cocktails at T-Anker or Terasa U Prince: the skyline-view move. Cocktails £10 to £14, and you're paying for the view as much as the drink.
💆 Beer spa at Original Beer Spa: yes, really. Actual hot tubs filled with dark beer and hop extract, with a tap at the side for drinking. 60 minutes for around £55 a person. Properly odd, properly memorable.
👨👩👧👦 Things to do in Prague for families
🐘 Prague Zoo: consistently ranked in Europe's top ten, with genuinely well-designed enclosures across a hilly, forested site. A full day out, around £12 per adult and £8 per child.
🚋 Tram ride on the 22: tram 22 loops past most of the main sights including Prague Castle, and a 24-hour pass costs about £5 per adult. Kids ride half-price and love it.
🏰 Prague Castle and the Changing of the Guard: the noon changing-of-the-guard includes a fanfare and flag ceremony, and the castle grounds are free to wander (entry to the buildings is £10 per adult).
🎭 National Marionette Theatre: Prague's puppet tradition is genuinely old and genuinely good, traditional Don Giovanni shows for under £20 a ticket.
🧸 Toy Museum (Muzeum Hraček) at Prague Castle: two floors of toys from the last two centuries, including a huge Barbie collection. Small, cheap, loved by six-year-olds.
🎉 Things to do in Prague for groups
🍻 Pilsner Urquell brewery tour: the brewery tour in Pilsen (90 minutes by train, covered in Day Trips above) ends with an unfiltered pint drawn straight from the oak lagering tanks. About £18 per person, books out at weekends.
🎳 Bohemian Bowls & Beers: a three-floor entertainment complex in New Town with bowling lanes, pool tables and an underground club. Group-rate lanes from £15 an hour plus drinks. Absolutely chaos in the best way.
⛵ Party boat cruise on the Vltava: two-hour cruises with unlimited drinks and a DJ run Friday and Saturday nights from April to October. Around £30 per person, a civilised way to start a big night out.
🎯 Jumpark: Prague's biggest indoor trampoline park, good for the more active group bookings (stag dos, hen dos). £12 per person per hour, a short tram from the centre.
🏎️ Go-karting at Freezone: indoor karting on a proper track out in Prague 9, around £25 for a 15-minute session. One of the most-booked stag-do activities in the city.
🌍 More Destinations to Explore
Vienna – imperial palaces, coffee houses, and classical music 🎻
Budapest – thermal baths, ruin bars, and Danube views ♨️
Berlin – edgy nightlife, history, and street art 🎨
Kraków – medieval square, culture, and food scene 🍽️
Bratislava – compact capital with castle views and café culture ☕
Popular Prague hotels
More Prague hotelsWeather in Prague
JAN
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From June to August, Prague is properly warm, typically 22 to 25°C with long daylight hours and plenty of outdoor terraces. Peak tourist season is July and August, when the Old Town lanes are busiest.
Spring (April and May) and autumn (September and October) are the calmer seasons for walking the city without the heat, temperatures sit in the mid-teens to low twenties and the parks genuinely reward the wander. May has the most festivals stacked into one month.
November to March is properly cold, expect sub-zero nights, occasional snow and a daytime high of 2 to 7°C. The payoff is the Christmas market season (late November to early January), which turns Old Town Square into a proper winter scene. Winter layers genuinely required.
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FAQs
What currency do they use in Prague?
What currency do they use in Prague?
The official currency in Prague is the Czech Koruna, otherwise known as the Czech Crown. OK, queen.
What language do they speak in Prague?
What language do they speak in Prague?
The official language spoken in Prague is Czech.
How long does it take to fly to Prague?
How long does it take to fly to Prague?
It takes around 2 hours to fly to Prague from the UK/Ireland. That's just about enough time to get through one-tenth of Taylor Swift's (epic) back catalogue. Choose wisely.
What's the time difference between the UK and Prague?
What's the time difference between the UK and Prague?
The local time in Prague is one hour ahead of the UK, so it shouldn't throw you off too much.
What dates will the Prague Christmas Markets run in 2026 / 2027?
What dates will the Prague Christmas Markets run in 2026 / 2027?
Prague is one of the biggest destinations on our Christmas markets line-up, with several markets that all open in late November and run into the New Year:
🎄 Old Town Square Market: late November 2026 to early January 2027, the biggest and most photographed.
🎄 Wenceslas Square Market: late November 2026 to early January 2027, slightly smaller but equally festive.
🎄 Republic Square (Náměstí Republiky): late November to late December 2026, known for artisan craft stalls.
🎄 Na Kampě Square: late November 2026 to early January 2027, the prettiest location (on a small island under the Charles Bridge).
Do people speak English?
Do people speak English?
Yes, especially anyone under 40 and anyone working in tourism or hospitality. You'll be fine in Prague without any Czech, though learning "děkuji" (thank you) and "pivo prosím" (beer please) goes down well.
Can I drink tap water in Prague?
Can I drink tap water in Prague?
Yes – the tap water is perfectly safe and tastes fine. Save your money and skip the bottled stuff.
What do I need to know about Prague's beer culture?
What do I need to know about Prague's beer culture?
Beer is central to daily life in Prague and costs less than water in most pubs. A pint of the local pilsner (say "jedno pivo, prosím" to order) runs about £2 to £3, and the standard size is a half-litre rather than a pint. Locals tend to stick to one brand at a time, most pubs serve just one or two on tap: Pilsner Urquell, Budvar, Staropramen and Kozel are the classics. Leave an empty glass on the table and a fresh one usually appears without asking. Small round by 10%, or drop an extra 20 Kč for good service. Čau na zdraví!
Can I eat vegetarian or vegan in Prague?
Can I eat vegetarian or vegan in Prague?
Yes, far more easily than you'd expect for a city built on roast pork and dumplings. The old-school Czech menu is meat-heavy but almost every central restaurant now has at least a few vegetarian options, and Prague has a growing vegan scene centred on places like Moment in Vršovice, Estrella in New Town, and Country Life (two city-centre branches). Even traditional tavernas reliably do smažený sýr (fried cheese), bramboráky (potato pancakes) and vegetable soup. Dumplings are almost always vegetarian but check whether they're served with gravy from a meat-based dish.
