My husband and I recently went on a quick trip to Prague! This is one of those cities I never thought I’d go to, but I’m open to anything new. Sidenote: My husband grew up in Hof, Germany, only 25 minutes or so from the Czech Republic border. I have to admit, I was surprised at how close the borders of each European country are to each other. My brain cannot compute that Italy is a day trip away from Germany, for example. It’s silly to admit.
Anyway, we left Germany in the early afternoon but hit traffic and road work. A 3-hour drive turned into 4, and when we got to our hotel, my husband dropped me off and spent an extra 45-60 minutes trying to find parking. Eventually, he found some hidden parking area.
Below are a few things I saw, ate, and did with 36 hours in Prague. Enjoy!
Sights I saw
Astronomical Clock
Prague’s Astronomical clock is a medieval clock attached to the Old Town Hall. We got there close to the hour to hear it ring and watch the procession of the 12 apostles.
Charles Bridge
A medieval stone arch bridge that crosses the Vitava river. This bridge started construction in 1357, and between 1683 and 1928, 30 statues of saints were carved to decorate it. There are such lovely views from this bridge. I do wish it was less crowded.
Prague Castle
I must see every castle possible while in Europe! This palace included numerous buildings and churches, and I didn’t see everything. I was struck by how huge this place was, but compared to other castles, I was a little unimpressed. In Germany, I’ve visited maybe 3 castles, and at each one, I felt more of the “presentation” of each room and left with a better understanding of who lived there and some of the history. We did a tour of the Old Royal Palace originally built in the 9th century. I think for some of these tours, you HAD to have the audio guide, but I hate those. They typically speak slower than I read. I think it’s worth seeing, but I felt a little bored. It was also just so busy with lines everywhere; there wasn’t really that “castle” experience.
I was impressed by the St. Vitus Cathedral, however. I really enjoy visiting these old churches in Europe. This was founded in 1344 and took 600 years to be constructed. My brain cannot fathom that people were able to design and construct enormous churches without the tools we have today. I’m always amazed. I recommend walking to the top of the tower if you are able. I believe there were 287 steps, but the view of Prague is unmatched.
Foods I ate
For dinner on Friday evening, we went to Restaurace Otevřeno. What a great start to this trip! There was no wait for a 6:30p dinnertime for 2. It’s actually located in the basement of the building and the restaurant is quite small, but the atmosphere was so cozy and warm. We first ordered two pilsners, which were colder than what I’d expected, but it was delicious. As an appetizer, I ordered the beef tartar. I have grown to love beef tartar because of a version I tried in Berlin last year. Nothing I’ve tried came close to it… until I tried the beef tartar here. I need to come up with a rating system or something. I need to go back to Berlin and double-check which one wins. The bread that came with it was a fried bread that tasted even better once I rubbed a little garlic on it. The portion was probably enough to be my meal, but I wanted something else for my main course. I had something traditional, roasted pork knee. The pork knee was moist, and it tasted like an easter ham. It was delicious, but I do prefer pork knuckle or shoulder. The meat is totally different, more brown than pink.
For breakfast the next day, we went to a cute spot with very little seating. I believe they opened at 9:00a, and we arrived at around 10:00. There was a line outside, and we waited maybe 15-20 minutes. By the time we left, the line only got longer, so plan ahead. I loved this spot. I’m a big avocado toast girl, but I switched it up for the sweet potato hash. I ordered it without the cream that was supposed to be included. My husband decided to get the avocado toast this time, which included toasted sourdough bread, pickled red onions, pomegranate seeds, and microgreens. He got a poached egg and their fried chicken on the side. Honestly, the meat in Prague was all good; even the fried chicken tasted fresh. I think if you’re looking for a cute “Instagrammable” breakfast/brunch spot with food that’s actually good, Venue should be your go-to in Prague.
After walking all morning and planning to do more in the afternoon, we decided to have a traditional and filling lunch. Well, my dish was more traditional. Malostansky Hostinec had an old tavern vibe, similar to Restaurace Otevřeno, but not in a basement. It is located in a pretty “touristy” area, not far from the Prague Castle. They have seating outside and I believe heating for the colder days. We luckily sat inside… I didn’t want to chance the rain. Of course, we ordered our pilsners. Beer is so good after hours of touring. I ordered their beef goulash. I loved it, but I admit, I wish I got a few more pieces of meat. Either way, it was very tender. I was surprised by this place. I think, due to the location, I wasn’t expecting the food to be as good as it was. As I’ve been living part-time in Germany, maybe I expected something that tasted less “authentic” from the European cuisine I’ve gotten used to.
Things I did
Candy Shops
I’m not sure when this became a thing, but I noticed a couple in other cities I’ve visited… not as many as Prague though. Every street had a candy shop! Get all the gummies and chocolate that fit in your baggie, and pay by the weight.
Rubber ducky shops (?)
You guys… I don’t know. They are there, and I bought one.
Beer Spa
This was my favorite part of the entire trip! After a full day of walking, my husband and I went to a beer spa and had a beer bath. Basically, it’s a hot tub filled with beer ingredients. We paid for a room for an hour, which included a shower, sauna, a bed of hay (literally), and, of course, the beer bath. You also get unlimited beer on tap. We stayed in the bath for less than an hour and after, my skin was so smooth. There are a number of beer spas located in Prague, and you should definitely add this wellness experience to your list when you visit.
Summary
I had such a good time in Prague, and it’s a great city to visit but beware of the crowds. The weather was terrible the weekend we went in April; it was cold and rainy, but literally, the day we left was sunny and warm. Even with the bad weather and crowds, I loved walking down the little streets with all the shops and restaurants, and there were so many places to capture views of the city. If you enjoy shopping, they have all the big designers, but also the BEST Mango store I have ever seen.
If you’re planning to visit, I don’t think you need more than 1 or 2 days here, so keep that in mind. It’s not a far drive from the major/capital cities like Berlin, Munich, Vienna, or Budapest, so you can build a full itinerary for a week-long Euro-trip.
All of Her Things 
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