Only spending one day in Prague? This is a great place to have a Euro city break since there are tons of exciting things to see and do! This itinerary will cover the essentials for enjoying a day trip to Prague, including getting to the city center from the Airport, where to stay, where to eat, and the best landmarks and experiences!
In a Rush? Here Are My Best Picks for Where to Stay in Prague, Czechia
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Ibis Praha Old Town – Check here for rates & availability
⭐️⭐️ Old Royal Post Hotel – Check here for rates & availability
⭐️ Hotel 1. Republic – Check here for rates & availability
My Tips for Visiting Prague in One Day
- Stay in Old Town – Prague Old Town (aka Staré Město) is in proximity to so many of the city’s landmarks and tourist attractions. So, it’s best to stay there on your day trip to minimize time spent travelling and maximize your time spent exploring the city
- Visit during off-peak or shoulder season – I’ve visited Prague during its off-peak season (January) and shoulder season (September), where accommodation and prices were much lower compared to peak season. I had a great time on both visits, although in January the weather was extremely cold. If you can visit during September, I would highly recommend it, as you still get to enjoy the summer weather with off-peak prices.
- Book tickets in advance – If you’re only spending one day in Prague, it’s best to know exactly what you’ll be doing to make the most of your time there. So, I would recommend booking tickets in advance so that you’re clear on exactly what you’ll be doing, when and where.
Getting From Prague Airport to the City Center
Getting from Prague Airport (Václav Havel Airport) to the city center (Old Town) is very easy. You can, of course, take a private taxi transfer or shared shuttle.
But there’s also the option to take the Airport Express (AE) bus if you’re on a budget. It takes around 40 minutes and only costs 200 CZK ($9.19/£6.91/€8.22) for a single ticket. To find the AE bus stop from Terminal 1, head straight outside the airport and walk to the bus stands. Turn right and walk down. You’ll see a bus stand labelled “AE” for Airport Express. From Terminal 2, you will also see the “AE” bus stand outside the airport as you exit.
One Day in Prague: The Perfect Itinerary
Now that we’ve covered the top tips for a Prague day trip and how to get from Prague Airport to Old Town, let’s get into the itinerary! This itinerary will assume that you have one full day to spend in Prague, so it will include all the must-see attractions and must-do activities!
Old Town Square & Astronomical Clock
Old Town Square is one of Prague’s most popular areas. It was the central marketplace for the city and is still famous for its market today, including the Christmas and Easter markets!
For this one day Prague itinerary, the main focus of Old Town Square is the Old Town Hall and Astronomical Clock Tower. The Old Town Hall dates back to 1338 and was used as the administrative centre of Old Town. Its clock tower, aka the Astronomical Clock Tower, is located on the south wall of the Old Town Hall and is one of Prague’s most popular attractions.
You can actually go inside the Old Town Hall and climb up the Astronomical Tower too, seeing Prague from a unique view!
BOOK HERE: Entry Ticket to the Old Town Hall & Clock Tower
Also, when you’re here, don’t miss the Astronomical Clock’s (free) parade show that happens every hour on the hour from 9 am to 11 pm! It begins with the skeleton (representing death) on the side of the clock ringing a bell and rotating an hourglass. Then, statues of the 12 Apostles appear at the doorways above the clock.
Visit the Infinity Book Tunnel
After visiting the Old Town Hall, climbing up the Astronomical Clock Tower, and seeing the parade show, make a quick stop at the Municipal Library of Prague to see the Infinity Book Tunnel!
This unique column (also known as the Idiom) is made of 8000 books and was created by the famous Slovak artist, Matej Krén. When you look inside, it creates an illusion where the tower of books goes on for infinity! It was dubbed the “Column of Knowledge” by Krén, representing the infinite knowledge that one can gain from reading!
Whether you’re in Prague during the busy season or shoulder/off-peak season, make sure you give yourself enough time to see the Infinity Book Tunnel, as you’ll be waiting up to 30-60 minutes to take photos and see inside! When I visited in January, I waited about 15-20 minutes to see it!
Walk on Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge is Prague’s medieval stone bridge that has a lovely charm to it! It connects Old Town Prague to Lesser Town (Malá Strana), with towers on each end! This bridge has amazing Gothic architecture as well as 30 Baroque statues of saints lining its sides.
This bridge does get pretty busy during the day, especially during peak season. But it’s worth having a stroll, especially since it’s one of the few medieval bridges still standing today. Plus, getting a photo in front of the towers (especially when there are fewer crowds) makes for an Instagram-worthy post for your Prague trip!
As you walk across it, immerse yourself in its history and the stories of the saints, and enjoy the views of Prague’s famous red rooftops too before heading to the next stop on the itinerary!
Tour Prague Castle
After crossing the Vltava River via Charles Bridge, you’ll find yourself in Lesser Town Prague. And just a 15 minute walk away is Prague Castle. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site sitting on about 70,000 square metres of land. Getting up here is a real challenge, as the castle stairs have 220 steps, but when you reach the castle grounds, you’ll see that the journey is so worth it!
Prague Castle’s grounds have the most beautiful buildings with stunning architecture! It features St George’s Basilica, Old Royal Palace, St Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane, and an exhibition called The Story of Prague Castle. If you visit during the summer, you’ll also be able to explore the Royal Garden, South Garden, and Stag Moat!
Exploring the castle grounds is completely free, but the best way to immerse yourself in the beauty that is Prague Castle is through a guided tour! This place has so much history, so it’s worth having a local guide take you through Prague Castle and explore its fairytale-like structures!
BOOK HERE: Prague Castle Tour with Local Guide and Entry Ticket
Climb Up Petrin Tower
After exploring Prague Castle, head to the Petrin Tower to overlook the city. This Eiffel Tower-inspired structure has one of the best views of the city, and even getting there is exciting too!
You could just take a hike up to Petrin Hill where the tower sits. But since you’re only spending one day in Prague, you’ll probably be on a time crunch. So instead, take a ride on the Petrin Funicular Railway (aka the funicular Újezd tram). This is a cable car that takes you up to Petrin Hill to get to Petrin Tower.
I love cable cars, so I think it’s really fun taking a ride on it, but it’s also super convenient! It’s only a 5 minute ride compared to a 30 minute walk to the top of Petrin Hill. A one-way ride costs 100 CZK, which you can buy at the ticket machines at the funicular stop. Additionally, the entrance to Petrin Tower is 250 CZK, which you can buy at the ticket desk. The tower is 58.70m high, so if you don’t want to climb to the top, you can take the elevator for an extra fee of 150 CZK.
Petrin Tower is the last landmark to visit on this one day Prague itinerary, simply because it overlooks the whole city with 360 views and everything! I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s the perfect way to admire a city after spending the whole day exploring it!
Medieval Dinner
Prague is a very Gothic city with medieval structures, so it only makes sense to end your day trip to Prague with a Medieval Dinner, including unlimited drinks! This dinner is one for the European travel books as you enjoy a 5-course evening meal and a 2.5-hour medieval performance.
I’m talking a dinner tailored to your dietary preferences and a performance with snakes, music, and fire dancing! A proper fun, dungeon-like experience. And they aren’t kidding about the unlimited drinks; they offer beer, wine, and soft drinks to have for the entire time!
BOOK HERE: Prague Medieval Dinner with Unlimited Drinks
Where to Eat in Prague
You may be only spending one day in Prague, but that doesn’t mean you should skip out on some good food while you’re there! Here are a few of my favourite food spots in the city:
- The Spot Malá Strana | Brunch place offering a range of both sweet and savoury food, including shakshuka and acai bowls (my favourite on the menu is the French toast with fruits)
- VENUE | Cafe and brunch spot that’s also famous for its cocktails
- Etapa | My favourite bistro in all of Prague, serving all-day breakfast and yummy pastries (the grilled cheese sandwich and the hot apple juice with cinnamon are amazing)!!!
- Cafe Nod | Restaurant that’s part of a Metropolitan hotel, serving American, Mexican, and Southeast Asian-style street food
- Mr Falafel/Palestinian Restaurant Prague | Palestinian-owned restaurant serving authentic shawarma, hummus and falafel
- Matzip | Korean-owned restaurant serving the best traditional Korean food in the city
Is One Day in Prague Enough?
If you’re looking for a quick city break, then spending one day in Prague is a great introduction to local Czech life. This itinerary aims to cover most of Prague’s must-see attractions and activities so that you can explore as much of Prague as you can in one day.
Where to Stay in Prague for One Day
Although there are many great places to stay in Prague, since you’ll only be taking a day trip, the best location to stay would be Old Town Prague (Staré Město). I stayed at Ibis Praha Old Town, and it’s the perfect location in the heart of Prague, as it’s within walking distance of everything else mentioned on the itinerary!
Alternatively, you can browse some more hotels to stay at on the map below!
One Day in Prague: Final Thoughts
Even if you’re spending one day in Prague, there’s so much you can see and do during your limited time here! From Old Town and the Astronomical Clock Tower to the Infinity Book Tunnel, Prague Castle and having a medieval dinner, this itinerary will give you a day trip to Prague that you’ll love!
Staying in Prague for more than one day? Check out my itinerary for spending 2 days in Prague!
Like this itinerary? Pin “One Day in Prague: My Tips For a 24 Hour Trip” for later!
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