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After dwelling in Prague for just a few years, I’m lastly sharing my listing of surprising issues to do in Prague! If you need to reside like an area whereas visiting Prague — not within the boring means, however within the superior means — you will LOVE this listing.
Prague is an enormously well-liked metropolis to go to — however most vacationers come for just a few days and stick with town middle. They go to Old Town Square, the Charles Bridge, the Astronomical Clock, the Lennon Wall, Prague Castle, and possibly pop into the Vinohrady neighborhood for a meal in the event that they’re feeling a bit offbeat.
There’s nothing flawed with that, however consequently, it looks like Prague is 2 cities. The metropolis middle — the Old Town and New Town — is stuffed with vacationers and companies that cater to them. The surrounding neighborhoods, nevertheless, are almost 100% locals and have a very completely different vibe and feeling.
That’s an enormous distinction from Paris, Barcelona, or London, for instance. In these European cities, vacationers are inclined to enterprise out into completely different neighborhoods. But in Prague, even skilled vacationers have a tendency to stay to town middle and never enterprise far past.
As a end result, I’ve put collectively a listing of issues that my Prague mates and I like to do. You’ll discover lots of foodie issues on this listing, from the place to seek out Vietnamese egg coffees and essentially the most decadent větrník pastry on the town, in addition to some close by hikes and bike journeys that Prague locals love, quirky touristy actions just like the beer spa, and a few meals you’ll always remember.
Prague is a improbable place to reside — and with this listing of surprising issues to do in Prague, maybe you’ll begin feeling like an area your self.
So that is my name — transcend the usual issues to do in Prague! You’re going to find it irresistible right here.
This publish was revealed in April 2023.
Unusual Things to Do in Prague
Hit Up a Food Festival
If you’re visiting Prague on a weekend in spring, summer season, or fall, guess what — you’ll seemingly come throughout at the very least one meals competition! Food festivals are considered one of my favourite issues about dwelling in Prague — they’re well-liked and different and occur on a regular basis.
How do you discover meals festivals in Prague? I like to recommend looking at Facebook Events. They will all the time inform you what’s happening.
In the meantime, there are occasions you may hit up weekly, spring by means of fall — just like the Dejvice Farmers’ Market, which takes place at Trhy na Kulaťáku on Saturdays, 8:00 AM-2:00 PM. This market has a lot of meals sellers in addition to a lot of ready meals stalls and makes a fantastic spot for breakfast!
Another weekly meals market, Farmářské tržiště Náplavka, takes place on Saturday mornings and afternoons at Náplavka, on the banks of the Vltava River, on the japanese aspect simply south of Palackého náměstí.
If you’re visiting in late June: Prague Ice Cream Festival takes place the final weekend of the month at Výstaviště Praha, with extra ice cream than you would ever eat!
If you’re visiting in July: The French Market at Kampa takes place the week of Bastille Day (July 14), on the northern finish of the Charles Bridge, and contains a assortment of French meals stalls with reside music.
If you’re visiting in September: Americke Street within the stylish Vinohrady neighborhood turns right into a competition with meals from all around the world, reside music, good cheer, and good instances. (I satisfied Charlie to go to Chile for our honeymoon after we had the Chilean wine right here!) This normally takes place the second weekend of September.
If you’re visiting in May or September: Pivo a Burger (Beer and Burger) normally takes place as soon as in May and as soon as in September on Karlínske nam., in my neighborhood of Karlín! This competition options every kind of burgers, beers, and attention-grabbing surprises. (Beware the scorpion pepper burger. We really needed to go house to drink milk after attempting that one!)
Rent a Bike and Pedal Along the River
Czechs are very lively and outdoorsy folks, and a typical Czech weekend includes biking, mountain climbing or snowboarding, adopted by a pub go to. One of the methods I’ve a typical Czech weekend is to lease a motorcycle and spend just a few hours having fun with the surroundings.
I’m NOT comfy biking in cities — however Prague has an exquisite car-free biking path that runs alongside the japanese aspect of the Vltava River. And as a result of Prague is a small metropolis, it doesn’t take lengthy earlier than you’re surrounded by forests and mountains.
Rekola is a simple bike-sharing program in Prague. Just obtain the Rekola app and it’ll present you the areas of bikes all around the metropolis. Navigate your approach to one and it’s yours!
I like to recommend choosing up a motorcycle and heading east (and north) alongside the Vltava River. Keep following the trail and shortly Prague goes from city buildings to inexperienced mountains and cute little cottages. You’ll move some bridges and a stretch of the river the place you may go whitewater kayaking, then proceed so long as you’re having fun with your self.
Once you move the kayaking space, you’ll see there are a LOT of tiny riverside pubs. These make a fantastic place to cease in for a beer or lemonade, then proceed additional down the river or head again to town!
Go Axe-Throwing
Axe-throwing has turn into a preferred offbeat exercise over the previous few years, and Prague now has its personal, very Czech axe-throwing spot: The House of Axes! Definitely one of many extra quirky points of interest on the town today.
Head into this basement venue and also you’ll be given your personal throwing vary with targets, together with a tutorial on methods to skillfully throw the axes in order that they hit the goal.
This is a superb exercise to do with mates, because it’s a aggressive exercise and also you by no means know which considered one of you would possibly turn into the axe-throwing prodigy. It has nothing to do together with your athletic capability! Some individuals are simply uncannily good, proper off the bat.
And sure, alcohol is served. My mates and I made a decision to go fancy and drank svařák — Czech sizzling mulled wine — out of cute little teacups in between our throws.
Enjoy a Fancy “Business Lunch” for Cheap
Here’s a secret — a few of Prague’s costly eating places have less expensive lunch menus. Remarkably cheaper lunch menus. And it tends to be solely locals that learn about them, however these are fabulous locations to splurge.
Two of my favourite eating places that do enterprise lunches are Taro and CottoCrudo.
Taro serves outrageously good fare, all served with seats dealing with an open kitchen, so it’s higher for one or two folks than an enormous group. (And the dinner menu is EXPENSIVE. Like, milestone birthday costly. Dinner was improbable, however lunch is much better worth for cash.) The four-course lunch menu is 750 CZK ($36 USD).
CottoCrudo is the restaurant on the Four Seasons. The small out of doors seating space has an ideal view of Prague Castle, and I’d suggest reserving forward there for the view, particularly in case you go to in summer season. Don’t miss the enjoyable cocktails, too! The two-course lunch is 525 CZK ($25 USD) and the three-course lunch is 625 CZK ($30 USD).
FIELD is one other high-end Prague restaurant with a enterprise lunch — they usually have a Michelin star — however they’ve just lately raised the value of their enterprise lunch. Now it’s 1100 CZK ($52) for 2 programs and 1350 CZK ($64 USD) for 3 programs.
FIELD remains to be price consuming at, and the service is improbable — however it’s not fairly as price it anymore as Taro and CottoCrudo.
Go Surfing on the Vltava River
If you’ve been to Munich, you’ve most likely dropped by Englischen Garden to observe the river surfers on the Eisbachwelle. But not many individuals know that Prague options river browsing as effectively!
This wave is a comparatively new improvement within the metropolis, and whereas it doesn’t draw the loopy spectator crowds of Munich, it’s simply one of many coolest uncommon issues to do in Prague. Definitely a novel expertise.
Since I doubt you packed a surfboard in your journey to Central Europe, I like to recommend becoming a member of a browsing tour that can present the gear you want. Biko Adventures gives browsing group excursions within the afternoons. You don’t must be an knowledgeable surfer; you solely must know methods to swim. Cowabunga!
Try a Beer Bath or Private Spa
The Czechs love beer a lot, you may even bathe in it. Well, sort of. The Beer Spa gives you an opportunity to wash in brewer’s yeast whereas having fun with ingesting Krušovice beer instantly from the faucet. Afterward, you calm down on a mattress of straw.
You can e-book beer baths for one or two folks, both sharing a bathtub or with separate tubs, 2000-3300 CZK ($93-154) for one hour. I’ve executed this and it’s enjoyable and distinctive, however simply understand that the extra you drink, the extra you’ll must pee.
And in case you’re not up for a beer tub, think about reserving a personal spa. There are a number of spas in Prague which you could e-book privately — your personal non-public sauna and jacuzzi for 2 hours. Look for the phrases “private wellness.” (Some include beds, Prosecco, and fruit and have a little bit of a love lodge really feel. Even so, I feel these are a number of the greatest locations for exhausted mothers who want stress-free time alone!)
Spa Spa in Letná is one which I notably suggest. You can e-book a two-hour period for 2490 CZK ($116 USD) or in a single day for 5990 CZK ($280 USD).
Visit Sapa — Prague’s Enormous Vietnamese Market
As quickly as you get to Prague, you would possibly discover that there are Vietnamese eating places in every single place. Sometimes it looks like there are pho outlets on each block. There’s a purpose for that!
During the communism years, the Czech Republic supplied a visitor employee program to their fellow communist nation, Vietnam. Plenty of Vietnamese folks came visiting and selected to remain long-term, a lot of them opening eating places.
While most of those visitor employees got here from North Vietnam, a lot of them had kids who went again to Vietnam, traveled the nation, and opened new Vietnamese eating places in Prague that includes specialties from each nook of Vietnam.
But the most important Vietnamese hotspot in Prague is Sapa Market, positioned on the sting of Prague. Sometimes referred to as “Little Hanoi,” Sapa is a melange of Vietnamese outlets, cafes, and eating places — and it’s one of many largest Vietnamese markets outdoors Vietnam.
Spending just a few hours at Sapa is without doubt one of the distinctive issues to do in Prague, although take into accout this isn’t a vacationer attraction. Ask earlier than you’re taking picture of anybody. I like to check out what individuals are ordering on the eating places earlier than deciding what I would like. If you’d prefer to plan your journey forward of time, Taste of Prague has a good information to visiting Sapa, together with what to eat on the completely different eating places.
Kasárna Karlín
Here’s a spot that locals love that you just’ll by no means discover in a guidebook. Kasárna Karlín is an enormous open courtyard in my neighborhood of Karlín that was as soon as a barracks. Inside the courtyard are a number of cafes and bars, artwork galleries, playgrounds for youths, sculptures, a hearth pit, and out of doors sitting areas.
During the summer season months there are many occasions within the evenings — assume concert events, film screenings, and different reside performances. But even when nothing’s on, it’s a fabulously nice place to seize a beverage and sit back for just a few hours.
Some of my neighbors check with Karlín as “Small Berlin.” This place undoubtedly captures that feeling — it’s a inventive, different world. And that’s earlier than you get to the bar seating in a former swimming pool…
Learn How to Properly Pour a Czech Beer
If you don’t know by now, the Czech Republic is house to the perfect beer on this planet. And it’s low-cost, too. It’s not cheaper than water anymore (they handed legal guidelines about that awhile in the past, however guests love repeating this statistic), however it’s improbable nonetheless.
You can drink the beer just about in every single place — however in case you’re a beer aficionado, think about taking a beer-pouring class with Lokal. You’ll discover ways to correctly pour completely different sorts of Czech beers, from a standard na dvakrát pour to the mostly-foam mlíko to the blended mild and darkish řezané to my favourite, the teeny-tiny šnyt that appears too cute to drink.
At 3,800 CZK ($176), this course doesn’t come low-cost. But in case you’re genuinely involved in diving into Czech beer tradition past simply ingesting it, that is one of the simplest ways to turn into an knowledgeable, and one of many coolest uncommon issues to do in Prague.
Ride a Paternoster
Prague is house to a number of paternosters — open elevators that run constantly. They look intimidating to get on — the American me was questioning, “Is this even SAFE?!” earlier than we jumped on and had been whisked to the highest.
Of all of the paternosters in Prague, the one in Prague City Hall on Old Town Square is essentially the most well-known one, however as a substitute, I like to recommend you’re taking the one at Lucerna Palace (Palác Lucerna) simply off Wenceslas Square. This constructing is house to a spectacular rooftop terrace and beautiful views of the Prague metropolis skyline, and you may order drinks.
Hop on for a enjoyable experience and hop off while you attain the highest flooring! Admission to the rooftop terrace is 100 CZK ($5).
And in case you keep on, don’t fear — you gained’t be turned upside-down! You’ll keep right-side-up earlier than coming down once more. (Paternosters are a number of the greatest locations to get video for TikToks or Reels about Prague.)
Visit Únětice
While there are lots of cool day journeys from Prague, one that you just nearly by no means seen on lists is the city of Únětice (OON-ye-tee-tsa). This city is positioned on the sting of Prague, however getting there’s the enjoyable as a result of it includes an extended stroll or bike experience. It doesn’t have a ton of vacationer worth, however it’s one thing Czech folks like to do on weekends.
You can get to Únětice by driving a motorcycle or strolling. If you’re strolling, take the practice to Roztaky U Prahy cease, then stroll to the tip of a reasonably road referred to as Tiché údolí and comply with it till it ends. The road (it means “silent valley” in Czech) turns right into a mountain climbing path by means of the forest. After about an hour of strolling, you attain the city.
If you’re biking, lease a motorcycle as really helpful above and experience alongside the japanese aspect of the Vltava River, then cross it by the tiny ferry at Klecanky-Roztoky. From right here, head down Tiché údolí and comply with the trail till you hit city.
So what do you do in Únětice? Make like a Czech: park your bike and have a hearty lunch at Únětický Pivovar, the brewery, which dishes up a wide range of Czech dishes. My private suggestion? Get the potato dumplings stuffed with smoked meat — a number of the greatest issues on the menu. You may get duck with potato pancakes, goulash with bread dumplings, grilled pork tenderloin in pepper sauce, and vegetarian quiches and salads.
Afterward, head to a close-by cafe, U Lasíků, which makes a superb choice of koláčy (Czech muffins). Grab a koláč with a espresso or lemonade and take within the peaceable ambiance earlier than heading again to town. What a stunning approach to spend a day and get to take pleasure in one of many hidden gems of the Prague space.
Have a Větrník in a Hidden Garden
If you could have a candy tooth, it’s best to attempt my favourite Czech pastry — the větrník (VYET-er-NEEK). The větrník is much like a profiterole or cream puff — it’s two halves of a spherical choux pastry with two sorts of cream within the inside (vanilla and caramel lotions), topped with a layer of caramel sauce on prime.
Věterníky are SO good, however my favourite place to have one is Gardens Restaurant. It’s positioned proper off Wenceslas Square within the New Town, however it’s a bit hidden behind an alley. Once you arrive, you may benefit from the attractive inside of the little restaurant, or dine outdoors within the greenery-filled backyard. (I’m going for simply espresso and pastry, which is ok.)
And their větrník is much more excessive than typical, with three several types of cream, hazelnut praline, chocolate glaze, and caramelized nuts. It is completely decadent, and while you pair it with the magical setting, it makes a stunning factor to eat in Prague.
(Ready to attempt extra větrníky? I really like the basic větrník at Eska, an avant-garde restaurant and occasional store in my neighborhood. Sometimes they characteristic differing kinds — they as soon as had a scrumptious apricot větrník. Cafe Savoy is one other Prague restaurant that receives lots of accolades for his or her větrník.)
Join an Ecstatic Dance Party
Have you heard of ecstatic dance? These sober dance events are a sensation all around the world, however they’re actually beginning to turn into a factor in Prague! Ecstatic dance is all about letting the music transfer you, with none outdoors forces spoiling the expertise.
There are 4 guidelines to ecstatic dance: 1) Everyone is sober — completely no medication or alcohol. 2) No speaking, simply motion and dancing. 3) No photographs or movies. 4) You should be barefoot!
My pal Ondřey, whom I initially met whereas backpacking in Central America, now runs Ecstatic Dance in Prague! Parties happen each different Friday, typically on boats moored within the river, beginning at 7:00 PM with the dancing over by 10:00 PM (hell yeah, early birds).
You can see the web site right here, however it’s all in Czech. I’d suggest trying out their Instagram web page, which all the time has a hyperlink to the following occasion. Tickets are normally 500 CZK ($24 USD) in case you purchase upfront.
Visit a Cocktail Bar with a Secret Invisible Menu
Prague’s not simply in regards to the beer — we love our wines and spirits as effectively! Prague is wealthy with cocktail bars, that includes basic and unique libations made with native liqueurs.
One Prague cocktail bar particularly price visiting is Anonymous Bar. Hidden on a quiet road within the coronary heart of the Old Town, this mysterious bar has a darkish inside and servers who put on Guy Fawkes masks.
You order your first cocktail — maybe a signature cocktail that includes a hearth present, or the blood cocktail that is available in its personal blood bag (eek!).
Then it comes time in your second drink — they usually deliver you the key menu. It’s invisible, in truth — and there’s a black mild key that permits you to learn it. These cocktails are unique to individuals who stick round for a second drink — and I can guarantee you they’re a number of the greatest ones on the menu.
One cocktail that we ordered was served in an Elmo glass. The different was served in Wilson the volleyball.
(Interested in visiting extra Prague cocktail bars? Two I particularly suggest are Bugsy’s Bar and L’Fleur. They’re positioned across the nook from one another really easy to go to in a single outing!)
Climb Atop a Teeny Tiny Eiffel Tower
Standing on the sting of the river and looking out towards Prague Castle, you would possibly discover a tiny metallic constructing on the hill to its left. Is that…an Eiffel Tower? Kind of!
Petřín Lookout Tower, positioned on prime of Petřín Hill, was initially constructed in 1891 for the Jubilee Exhibition. While a replica of the Eiffel Tower, this model is barely 20% of the scale of the Parisian unique.
Today, you may climb the tower (know that it has 299 steps earlier than setting out). Climbing it prices 150 CZK ($7 USD); there’s an elevator which you could take for an additional price.
There’s a funicular that runs to the highest of Petřín Hill from Ujezd within the Malá Strana neighborhood. And don’t miss strolling across the prime of the hill — moreover the tower, there are many good gardens, playgrounds, and wooded areas price exploring.
Try a Vietnamese Egg Coffee
If you’ve been to Vietnam, you most likely dipped a toe into the nation’s sturdy espresso tradition, having fun with tiny cups spiked with sweetened condensed milk. And in case you had been actually fortunate, you might need come throughout the confection that could be a Vietnamese egg espresso.
The Vietnamese egg espresso, or cà phê trứng, is a candy dish that provides blended egg yolk to the sweetened condensed milk earlier than including the espresso, giving it a consistency extra like marshmallow fluff.
Vietnamese egg coffees are a bit robust to seek out in Prague, however there’s one place left the place I like to get them. Cà Phê Cổ is an elegant, fantastically embellished restaurant within the Vinohrady neighborhood that serves up egg coffees together with their scrumptious menu (I really like their Cơm Gà Hội An, Hoi An-style rooster and rice). They even have a location in Brno in case you’re heading that means.
Hike the Posázavská Stezka
Czechs like to get out and hike on the weekend, and there are many hikes inside a brief journey of Prague. An awesome average hike is the Posázavská Stezka, positioned inside an hour’s practice experience from Prague.
This is a stupendous and attention-grabbing hike that has lots of up and down, together with views alongside the Sázava River. It feels a lot farther from town than it really is.
Take the practice from Prague to Kamenny Přivoz station and take it again to Prague from Petrov u Prahi, which ought to provide you with 2.5-3.5 hours of mountain climbing. And the Czech custom is to complete your hike with a beer — so be sure you do this! There’s a pub proper on the Petrov u Prahi practice station.
A little bit of a warning: I used to be shocked to see a number of accomplice flags at bars on this strolling path. Judging by the Western decor that accompanied them, I feel the house owners had been trying “Americana” moderately than what the flag really communicates. Just hold that in thoughts.
(Want to do extra mountain climbing in Prague? A stunningly lovely place to go to, although a lot farther from town, is Bohemian Switzerland, which is technically within the Czech Republic, on the border with Germany. You can e-book a mountain climbing day journey from Prague with Airbnb Experiences right here.)
Try Exclusively Central European Wines at Veltlin
You might know your means round a wine bar, however have you ever had the perfect of what Central Europe has to supply? It may not be as well-known as Bordeaux or Rioja, however we make lots of respectable wines in South Moravia, Czech Republic.
An awesome place to pattern these wines in Prague is Veltlin, a small wine bar within the cozy, tree-lined neighborhood of Karlín. I reside in Karlín, and it’s the right place to have a non-touristy expertise in Prague.
What makes Veltlin particular is that they’ve relationships with all of the wine suppliers that fill their bar — completely Central European wines, taken from the boundaries of the previous Hapsburg Empire. Ask for a glass of white they usually’ll pour you what they’ve chosen that day — maybe one thing Czech, however it might simply be Austrian, or Slovenian, or Hungarian.
Round out your go to with just a few nibbles — cheeses and meats that come from native producers. And they typically placed on group tastings, that includes the works of a winemaker or specializing in a small area or varietal.
(Interested in visiting one other wine bar in Prague? Vinograf is considered one of my favorites and near the middle.)
Ride an Antique Car Boat on the River
Walk over a bridge on the Vltava on a pleasant day between spring and fall and also you’ll see the river dotted with boats. You’ll see some common paddle-boats, some big swans — and a few vintage automobiles which were remade into paddleboats!
The automobiles are the best ones of all, and renting considered one of these is unquestionably one of many extra uncommon issues to do in Prague.
My one large suggestion is to put on ample solar safety — there’s completely no shade while you’re out on the river. Sunscreen, a hat, and a long-sleeved shirt or jacket will serve you effectively right here.
There are just a few completely different firms with boat leases primarily based on Slovanský ostrov, one of many islands within the Vltava. Rentals begin at 300 CZK ($14) per hour.
Feast on Dinner Off the Bone at Kantyna
Kantyna is considered one of my favourite eating places in Prague and a real, native Czech expertise. This butcher store restaurant serves a number of the greatest native meat within the Czech Republic, and is a carnivore’s delight. (Don’t come right here until you eat purple meat and/or pork.)
But essentially the most particular factor Kantyna does is “Dinner Off the Bone” — the butcher’s dinner that they placed on just a few nights every week. At this dinner, you might be served a multi-course feast that includes a lot of Kantyna’s greatest cuts, together with a number of uncommon and lesser-loved cuts. You’ll additionally get a welcome drink and a tour of the kitchen, all for 1,980 CZK ($92 USD) every.
Be able to eat adventurously! At this dinner I’ve had luxurious crispy pig’s ears and the perfect tripe I’ve EVER had wherever. Because it’s Kantyna, all the pieces is completed tremendous, tremendous effectively. One of the pleasures is having carpaccio sliced in entrance of you by hand.
Note that today Kantyna are now not taking particular person bookings, and as a substitute require a gaggle of 6-12. But in case you have a sufficiently big meat-loving group visiting Prague, that is considered one of my favourite celebratory dinners within the metropolis.
And don’t overlook the standard issues to do in Prague.
And now that we’re on the finish, I’ll add some extra frequent issues to do in Prague. Of COURSE it’s best to go to Old Town Square and watch the Astronomical Clock because it chimes the hour. (Just don’t get a beer proper on Old Town Square. Those cafes are massively overpriced.)
You ought to stroll throughout the Charles Bridge to Malá Strana, taking within the views, and go to Prague Castle (price touring the fortress grounds!) and Petřín Hill. Tour Prague’s Jewish Quarter, Josefov, and go to the outdated Jewish cemetery. Take within the wealthy historical past of town and see why Historic Prague is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Wenceslas Square is on lots of itineraries however it isn’t THAT nice…it’s the worst elements of Times Square with none cool neon. And whereas a lot of locations go all in on absinthe, it’s not almost pretty much as good because the cocktail bars I discussed above.
On the identical degree, don’t really feel a necessity to go to the Museum of Medieval Torture Instruments or the Sex Machines Museum. There are higher issues to do in Prague.
See the Dancing House, designed by Frank Gehry, and have a drink within the cafe on the prime. Have a beer on the beer backyard in Letna Park. Take a photograph in entrance of the John Lennon Wall in case you really feel compelled to take action.
Prague’s Christmas Markets are beautiful, although I’ll be trustworthy — Vienna’s and Munich’s are significantly better.
Go on a Prague meals tour (they embody Kantyna!), or a historic pub crawl, or a historic strolling tour. Even the different Prague strolling tour for a guided tour in regards to the Prague of right this moment — not the Prague of the previous.
But whether or not it’s your first time in Prague or your tenth, I hope this listing has impressed you to go a bit past the standard Prague itinerary and get off the overwhelmed path. Enjoy your time in my adopted metropolis!
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Have you been to Prague? What’s your favourite uncommon factor to do? Share away!