5 Days in Prague

Czech Republic or Czechia in short, is a rather small country in Eastern Europe occupying less then 80k sq. kms. Tourism is a big industry and Prague often ranks among the top 5 most visited cities in Europe.

Prague(or Praha) is among the most fascinating cities I have visited. The capital of Czech Republic is famous for its gothic and renaissance architecture, innumerable museums and baroque style churches and bridges. Many of the streets retain their medieval charm and that makes Prague a bit unique.

Vltava river flows through Prague. One side is the Prague Castle area and Lesser Town while the other side is Old Town, New Town and Jewish Quarter.

Travelling into Czech Republic

Vaclav Havel International Airport at Prague is well connected to destinations around the world but there are no direct flights from India as yet.

If Czech Republic is not the first stop but another country in Europe is, then Prague can also be reached by train. I travelled by train from Budapest and it was quite a scenic route. The train passed through Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.

Commuting within Czech Republic

I only visited Brno and travelled by train run by Ceske Drahy(Czech Railways). While prior reservations or bookings are not necessary, I preferred to book a day in advance. There was no need to print the tickets as electronic copies are accepted. First class is more comfortable and costs more but not really required shorter journeys within Czech Republic.

There is another operator RegioJet that operates trains between Prague and Bratislava via Brno.

Both Prague and Brno have more than one railway station. Be sure of your boarding and alighting stations. The main railway station is called Hlavni Nadrazi.

Transfers from Prague airport/Railway station

Prague airport is located about 17 kms from the city center. Taxis are most convenient to travel with luggage to city center. The journey takes about 30 minutes and costs ~INR 2 k. Prefer the official taxis such as AAA Radio Taxis. You can also book for private transfers online ahead of time, the cost is just about the same as official taxis or marginally more. I got my apartment reception to book the cab to the airport for me.

There are direct buses to city main railway station and to nearest metro stations and are the cheapest way to get into the city. There was no Metro connect to the airport when I visited. Other options include shared taxis (mini vans) and Uber. Credit cards are normally accepted else payment is required in local currency.

The main railway station, Praha Hlavni Nadrazi, is located in New Town and very close to Wenceslas Square. It is a very impressive building and served by both Metro and trams. I travelled by train from Budapest and since I had luggage, I preferred to pre-book a private taxi online as the general advice was not to engage a taxi outside the railway station. I guess if you are aware about the normal fare, it should be ok.

Commuting in Prague

For a tourist, a combination of trams and metro with occasional bus is more than adequate to get to the locations of tourist interest and the distances are not long. Quite a few areas, especially the Old Town, have to be explored on foot. So do carry comfortable shoes.

Hop-on, Hop-off buses will be useful if you wish to avoid public transport that may be crowded at times.

I purchased a 24hr travel ticket that allowed unlimited access to trams and metro(and the Funicular to Petrin Hill). Costs less than INR 400 per adult. I purchased the tickets at a metro station where the ticket vending machines have English option. The tickets need to be validated the first time you board public transport.

Like in many cities around the world, the advice is to `be careful when hailing a taxi on the street’. But I did not need a taxi within the city.

Where to stay

Prague is divided into districts simply called Prague 1, Prague 2 and so on. There are many districts but Prague 1 that comprises Old Town, Lesser Town and New Town is the best for tourists. Just to add to the confusion, online booking portals also refer to ‘city center’ that comprises Old Town and Mala Strana.

The first decision to make is whether to stay on the Castle side or Lesser Town( say Mala Strana) or Old Town side. Given the number of attractions, and choice of restaurants, I preferred the Old Town. For the first time traveller, this is probably the best place. This is not a very big area and there are plenty of bars and restaurants. Given its popularity with tourists, the prices here will be marginally higher.

Another good option is Mala Strana in Lesser Town across the river. Anyway, given the excellent public transport, you can stay away as well if you get a great bargain, just make sure you are within walking distance to a tram or metro line.

Apartments are a good option

While there are plenty of hotels to suit every budget, I preferred an apartment in the Old Town area. There are plenty of apartments available, and most offer breakfast as well. But since apartments come with fully equipped kitchen, I preferred to make my own breakfast.

Cost

Czechia is regarded as a developed nation and that explains why is a comparatively more expensive but not as much as some of the western European countries.

Airport transfer to city center costs about INR 2k in a taxi. A 24hr public transport card, valid for 24 hours from the time of stamping, costs~INR400k per adult.

Accomodation

The luxury hotels will cost upwards of INR 8-10k per night with breakfast while the cost for 4 star hotels will be INR 5-8k, depending on location. A 2 Bedroom apartments can be booked for INR 5k or less per night though the luxury apartments will cost more.

Entry fee

Entry fee is levied at almost all attractions. On an average, the fee ranges from ~INR 350 to ~INR 850 per adult. If you intend to visit multiple museums, consider buying a 3 Day Prague Card(costs marginally more than 2 Day card). This card is not valid for public transport. To evaluate, visit this site.

https://www.praguecard.com/pages/how-you-save

or use this calculator.

https://www.praguecard.com/calculator

Many of the attractions offer a family rate but it looks like Prague card is issued individually. So make sure you make the right comparison.

There will be discounts for children and students. Do carry original IDs if you wish to avail discounted rates.

Vegetarian Food

A simple Italian or Indian vegetarian meal in a mid range restaurant can be had for INR 2k per couple. Just vegetarian sandwiches and a soft drink would be ~INR 1k for a couple. Beer is ~INR100 for 500ml while a bottle of decent wine is available for ~INR500 or even less. The general belief is that most restaurants in ‘touristy’ areas will cost relatively more.

A couple can comfortably spend 3 nights, 4 days with a budget of ~INR 40-45k.

When to visit Prague

Prague is an year long destination, though winters can be harsh. June to August is the peak tourist season. The weather is warm, tourist places are crowded and the cost is higher. The shoulder season, which is April, May, September and October are probably the best months. Rainfall is distributed throughout the year and does not rain heavily. The winter months from November to March can be cold to very cold and gets dark early. Christmas is said to be a good time to visit Prague, despite the cold.

There is light rain in summer and the sun sets well after 8pm. I travelled in the month of May and it would get quite chilly in cloudy conditions with bit of wind. A windcheater is a must carry.

How many days

4-5 days is ideal as it provides an opportunity for a day trip out of Prague. Just for Prague, 3 full days is good.

Shopping

Apart from usual souvenirs depicting famous landmarks, consider buying puppets that have been an important part of Czech cultural history, rock crystals and glass articles.

The Old Town has plenty of shops selling a variety of souvenirs and some interesting stuff including clocks, crystals and glass items. I purchased few souvenirs here and the rates do not vary significantly from one shop to another. If you are looking for crystal or glass articles, prefer an authentic shop than a roadside stall. I also purchased rock crystals at the shop near Punkva caves, Brno.

The shops were selling lot of Russian dolls also but I preferred to look for and buy local products.

A shopping street in Old Town, Prague, Czech Republic

Vegetarian food

There are quite a few Indian, Italian, Mexican and Thai restaurants in Prague. So also in Brno. Plenty of outlets for a quick bite(e.g. Subway) though vegetarian options are limited.

Czechian cuisine is largely meat based. Most of the ‘must try’ dishes are meat based. Made my life easier, not having to try these! Czechia is a major producer of beer and also wine. The pilsner style of beer originated in Czech Republic. There are plenty of microbreweries in Prague.

Prague has few stylish bars including some with medieval setting. Many tour operators offer ‘medieval lunch/dinner’ package in addition to ‘wine’ and ‘beer’ tours.

Visa

Indian passport holders require a Schengen visa which must be obtained prior to departure from India.

Currency

The Czech currency is called Czech Koruna(CZK). Approximately, 1 INR = 0.3 CZK or 1 CZK = 3.4 INR. Euros are not widely accepted.

Convert currency at money exchange counters in the city, or in a bank. Limit conversions at airport or railway station. As always, be aware of the normal exchange rate to avoid being ripped off.

Credit cards are widely accepted.

Tipping

Tipping is normally expected. Thumb rule is 10% but rounding off works, even it is less than 10%.

Language

Czech is the official language but English is widely understood. Trams and metro do not always have English signage but that does not cause any hindrance.

Is Prague safe?

I read about pickpocketing being a major crime in Prague but I did not face any problems. This risk exists almost everywhere. I was watchful at all times, especially in crowded areas and ‘touristy’ areas. Carrying a DSLR camera does make things a bit difficult but I have always been taking basic precautions ever since I lost a bit of cash and house keys in New York many years ago. Thankfully, there has not been an encore since then.

Is Prague worth visiting?

Undoubtedly. It is not without reason that Prague is referred to as the ‘magical city’ or the ‘fairy tale’ city or the ‘city of spires’. The medieval squares, cobblestone streets, historical buildings, different styles of architecture, a lively nightlife, good public transport coupled with reasonable cost makes Prague a must visit destination.

But yes, Prague thrives on tourists and is very ‘touristy’. Places of tourist interest will be crowded, though to a limited extent, you can avoid the crowds by going in early or late. But that is not going to be possible everytime and everywhere if you plan to stay for 3-4 days only.

It is best to combine Prague with another neighboring country in Europe for a vacation extending to more than a week. I combined Prague with Budapest.