Weekend in Prague: 48 hours of historical adventures in the Czech capital
June 11, 2025
Prague, often called the 'Golden City' or the 'City of a Hundred Spires,' is one of Europe's most beautiful cities, where medieval architecture meets rich history and vibrant culture. Just two days in the Czech capital is enough to fall in love with its charming streets, majestic monuments and unique atmosphere. From the monumental Hradcany Castle to the romantic Charles Bridge to the bustling Old Town Square, Prague offers an unforgettable experience for any traveler. Get ready for a weekend full of fascinating discoveries, local legends and Czech beer that will make these 48 hours stay in your memory for a long time.
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Day One: Hradcany and the heart of old Prague
On your first day, start your tour with the most impressive complex in the city - Hradcany Castle. This monumental structure, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest castle in the world, has towered over the city for more than a thousand years. Covering an area of about 70,000 square meters, the castle complex has witnessed key moments in Czech history. It is worth knowing that Franz Kafka, one of the most prominent writers of the 20th century, lived on the famous Golden Street from 1916 to 1917.
Entering the castle courtyard, you will immediately notice guards in distinctive uniforms, whose ceremonial changing of the guard takes place every hour, and the main one every day at noon. As you walk around the complex, be sure to look out for the Old Royal Road, which Czech rulers used to follow to their coronations.
The heart of the complex is St. Vitus Cathedral - a Gothic gem that took almost 600 years to build! Started in 1344, it was not completed until 1929. Its majestic interior hides not only the tombs of Czech kings and emperors, but also the Chapel of St. Wenceslas, decorated with more than 1,300 precious stones. The cathedral's most spectacular feature is its stained glass windows, including the work of famous Czech artist Alphonse Mucha. The cathedral tower offers a breathtaking view of all of Prague - it's worth climbing the 287 stairs to experience it.
After exploring the castle, walk down towards the Charles Bridge, one of Prague's most recognizable symbols. This stone bridge, built in 1357 on the initiative of Emperor Charles IV, connects the Old Town with the Mala Strana district. The date on which construction began is no coincidence - according to legend, Charles IV, a believer in numerology, chose a specific moment: 5:31 a.m. on July 9, 1357, which gives the sequence 1-3-5-7-9-7-5-3-1. The bridge is adorned with 30 Baroque statues of saints, each with its own fascinating story. The most famous is the statue of St. John of Nepomuk - touching his figure is supposed to bring good luck and guarantee a return to Prague.
On the bridge you will meet street artists, musicians and souvenir sellers, but the real magic of this place is revealed at dawn or dusk, when the crowds of tourists are smaller. The bridge offers spectacular views of the Vltava River and the city skyline, especially captivating at sunset, when the last rays illuminate Prague's towers.
The Charles Bridge leads straight into the heart of the Old Town, where more attractions are waiting to be discovered. It's worth planning your time so that you arrive at the Old Town Square just before the full hour to see the famous spectacle of the Prague Astronomical Clock.
The Old Town Square and its treasures
The Old Town Square in Prague is the true heart of the city, bustling with life since the Middle Ages. This spacious square, surrounded by colorful townhouses representing various architectural styles - from Gothic to Renaissance to Baroque - provides the perfect stage for one of Prague's most fascinating sights - the Prague Astronomical Clock.
This remarkable timepiece, installed on the south wall of City Hall in 1410, is the third oldest astronomical clock in the world and the only one that is still in operation. It consists of three main components: an astronomical dial that shows the positions of the sun, moon and other celestial bodies; the 'Wandering of the Apostles,' a mechanical representation that runs every hour; and a calendar with medallions representing the months.
Legend has it that after the clock was completed, the Prague authorities blinded its creator, Master Hanuš, so that he could not create a similar piece for another city. In an act of revenge, Hanuš was said to have sabotaged the mechanism, which no one was subsequently able to repair for many years. Although the story is rather fictional (the real creator was probably Nikolai of Kadania), it adds to the mystery of this antique device.
Every hour, crowds of tourists gather in front of the clock to admire the 'procession of apostles' - mechanical figures of the twelve apostles that appear in the windows. The spectacle is also accompanied by other moving figures, including Death ringing a bell, symbolizing the passing of time. It is worth knowing that the clock was severely damaged during World War II, and its current mechanism is the result of careful reconstruction.
After seeing the clock, take time to explore the Old Town Square itself. In its center stands a statue of Jan Hus, the Czech religious reformer who was burned at the stake for heresy in 1415. His death sparked the Hussite Wars, which changed the face of Czech history forever. The monument was unveiled in 1915, exactly 500 years after Hus' death, and has become a symbol of Czech national identity.
The square is surrounded by remarkable buildings, including the Church of the Virgin Mary in front of Tyn with its distinctive Gothic towers, which, according to legend, were the inspiration for Disney's castle. Also worth noting is the House Under the Stone Bell, a medieval building that was once a royal residence, and the Kinský Palace with its Rococo facade, which housed the school attended by Franz Kafka.
Also in the vicinity of Market Square is Josefov, a former Jewish quarter, with preserved synagogues and one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe. The cemetery, founded in the 15th century, contains some 12,000 tombstones, although it is estimated that as many as 100,000 people were buried here. Due to limited space, the graves were arranged in layers, sometimes up to 12 levels, creating an unusual landscape of tombstones rising out of the ground at different angles.
After a busy tour, the Old Town Square offers numerous cafes and restaurants where you can relax and enjoy traditional Czech delicacies. Especially worth trying is trdelník, a sweet pastry baked on a spit and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, or knedlíky, the distinctive Czech dumplings served as an accompaniment to goulash.
Day Two: Vyšehrad and the lesser-known face of Prague
The second day in Prague should begin with a visit to a place that, although less besieged by tourists, is of great importance to Czech national identity. Vyšehrad, or 'High Castle,' is a historic fortress located on a hill above the Vltava River, about 3 km south of Hradčany Castle. According to legend, it was here, rather than at Hradčany, that the original settlement that gave rise to Prague was founded. The mythical Prince Krok is said to have built the first castle here, and his daughter, Princess Libuša, prophesied the creation of 'a city whose glory will reach the stars' - that is, Prague.
Vyšehrad is a place where history mixes with legend. Walking through the vast grounds of the fortress, you can feel the spirit of the old days. The complex is surrounded by massive defensive walls from the 17th and 18th centuries, which replaced earlier medieval fortifications. One of the most striking landmarks is the Tabor Gate (Táborská brána), the monumental entrance to the fortress, which impresses with its austere military architecture.
The heart of Vyšehrad is the neo-Gothic Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, whose distinctive towers are visible from many points in the city. The current church was built in the 19th century on the site of a Romanesque basilica dating back to the 11th century. The interior of the church is decorated with fascinating Art Nouveau frescoes depicting scenes from Czech history and legend. Of particular interest is a painting depicting Princess Libuša foretelling the glory of Prague.
Right next to the basilica is the Vyšehrad Cemetery (Vyšehradský hřbitov), the resting place of the most prominent Czech personalities. Composers Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana, writers Karel Čapek and Jan Neruda, painter Alphonse Mucha and many other artists, scientists and politicians are buried here. The centerpiece of the cemetery is Slavín, the common tomb of distinguished Czechs, designed as a monument to national pride.
The walls of Vyšehrad offer spectacular views of Prague and the Vltava River. Particularly picturesque is the vantage point at the so-called Libušina láźni (Libuše Bath), from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city with Hradčany Castle dominating the landscape. It's an ideal place for photos and a moment of reflection.
One of the most mysterious places in Vyšehrad is the so-called Čertův sloup (Devil's Column) - a fragment of a Romanesque column about which there are numerous legends. According to one of them, the devil made a bet with a priest that he would bring the column from St. Peter's Basilica in Rome before the priest finished celebrating Mass. The devil almost won, but as he flew over Vyšehrad, he heard the bells announcing the end of Mass and out of anger dropped the column, which shattered into pieces.
After visiting Vyšehrad, take time to explore some of Prague's lesser-known but equally fascinating sites. One of them is the Lennon Wall (Lennonova zeď) in the Malá Strana district. This section of wall, covered with graffiti inspired by John Lennon's work and The Beatles' lyrics, became a symbol of freedom and resistance against the communist regime in the 1980s. Despite repeated attempts by the authorities to paint over it, the wall continued to be covered with new inscriptions and drawings. Today, it is a living monument that is constantly changing as new visitors add their artistic touches.
Ending your two-day adventure in Prague with a visit to Letenské sady (Letná Park), a sprawling park on a hill with one of the most beautiful views of the city and bridges over the Vltava River. The park features a distinctive metronome, which replaced a huge statue of Stalin that was torn down in 1962. Letná is also a popular spot among Prague residents, especially on warm days, when a seasonal beer garden operates here, offering excellent Czech beer and traditional snacks.
Prague is a city that, even in 48 hours, can enchant and leave unforgettable impressions. From the majestic monuments of Hradcany, to the magical Charles Bridge and bustling Old Town Square, to the legend-filled Vyšehrad, every corner of the Czech capital has a unique story to tell. While a weekend is definitely not enough to learn all the secrets of this fascinating city, it is certainly enough to make you want to return.
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