Three days in Prague

Start off the trip with an early morning visit to the famous Old Town Square; most tourists don’t show up until after 9am, so you can get a glimpse of the beautiful architecture and the famous Astronomical Clock. Aim to get to the clock at nine on the dot so you can see the procession of the Twelve Apostles as the hour strikes.

From there, head over to Wenceslas Square and get a glimpse of the statue of Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of the Czechs. After that, you can head into the National Museum and spend the rest of the morning wandering about and learning about the history of this beautiful country.

If you’re feeling peckish after your museum trip you can eat at nearby Restaurace U Jindřišské věže, which serves up authentic Czech dishes and excellent beer. After you’re fed and watered head to the Jewish Quarter, where you can amble around the Jewish Cemetery and cross over the bridge to visit the birthplace of Prague’s most famous son, Franz Kafka, which is also home to the surreal Kafka Museum.

Cross back and have a wander through Lobkowicz Garden, heading up to Petrin Lookout tower to get the best views of the city. As dusk falls, head north to Strahov Monastery to get a glimpse of the Baroque architecture, before walking back through the gardens to the National Theatre (via dinner at Café Savoy). At night, the theatre looks astounding, and you can finish off your day with a walk over the famous Charles Bridge.

Day 2 of your Prague three-day itinerary is a for castles! In the morning head to Vysehrad, a historic fort that overlooks the river and has several historical buildings in the complex, including the Basilica of St Peter and St Paul, and the famous Vysehrad cemetery.

From there, walk up towards Mustek and catch a glimpse of the Head of Franz Kafka, a strange moving sculpture that typifies the weird and wonderful works of the author. After that, jump on the 18 tram and get off at Prague castle, where you can try to grab lunch at Kuchyn.

We say try as the restaurant is incredibly popular because of the prime location, delicious food, and reasonable prices, so booking two or three weeks in advance is recommended.

Then head for Prague Castle, the thousand-year-old structure that dominates this part of town. You can get guided tours or just wander around yourself, but either way walking around the largest ancient castle in the world will take up a good chunk of the afternoon. Also in the castle complex are several museums and galleries, the gothic St Vitus Cathedral, and the famous Golden Lane. If you’re interested in watching the changing of the guard, that takes place every hour.

If you feel like your inner culture vulture still needs to be fed, head to Kampa, an island in the middle of the river that can be accessed under Charles Bridge, where you can see the famous Lennon Wall and various statues from sculptor David Cerny. If you’re there early enough, Museum Kampa has a great selection of modern and postmodern artworks for your perusal.

After your day of culture, relax in nearby Letna Park. Head to the top of the hill, find one of the many kiosks that are serving beer (or even bring your own from a shop) and enjoy the view of the city and river with a delicious beer in hand; if you’re here in autumn,  this should be the perfect time to see the sunset.

Cross back over into the old town and grab dinner and drinks at Lokal, before heading to ultra-cool Vzorkovna, a maze bar that keeps the party going until the early hours. If you want to carry on until the sun comes up, then Steampunk is the best place to do it.

After a night on the tiles ease back into real life with a day of pampering and easy activities. Have breakfast at Nightingale 9, where the bacon and onion jam is a must-try. After that, a pedalo trip down the Vlatva should clear your head of any cobwebs, and if you’re up to it, you can usually take a couple of beers along with you.

Grab a bite to eat at U Pravdu, which is famous for local dishes, especially the half duck. From there, it’s a short walk to the strange yet interesting Dancing House, where you can grab some snaps of the perspective-bending building.

Make the afternoon one to remember with a trip to the Beer Spa, where you’re pampered for a couple of hours with classic spa treatments and unlimited beers. As the afternoon melts away into evening, walk down to Karlovo Namesti, a large medieval square with a grassy area to relax in.

Finish off your three days in Prague with dinner at U Fleku, another famous Czech restaurant that serves up authentic, local food at a reasonable price, although again it can get busy, so booking in advance may be wise. A good alternative is U Kroka, which is nearby and less busy, although no less delicious. End the day with one last walk through the Old Town square at night, so you can see it when it’s lit up.