explore it yourself:
The journey and accommodations:
We arrived by train from Berlin in the morning of June 19th and stayed until the morning of June 21st. We arrived and departed out of Prague Main Station.
Below is what AI recommended for accommodations:
1. MeetMe23
2. Miss Sophie’s Boutique Hotel
3. Hotel Merkur
4. Czech Inn Hostel
5. Ibis Praha Old Town
We chose Miss Sophie’s Boutique Hotel – New Town and we would suggest this spot to anyone looking to travel to Prague! Miss Sophie’s Hotel is conveniently located near Prague’s main train station and sits just outside of the busy, tourist-filled city center; yet it is just steps off of the public transit which makes it very easy to get to all parts of the city. The staff was extremely delightful and provided us glasses of water after we arrived on a very hot day while they checked us in. They even let us check in nearly 3 hours early as our room was ready at that time which was amazing.
Across the street from the hotel is also Miss Sophie’s hostel, bar & cafe, which serves a breakfast each morning from 7am – 11am with both a grab-and-go buffet as well as made to order hot breakfast items such as pancakes and omelets. The food was delicious and a great way to start the day! The rooms were clean and spacious which was a nice contrast to all of our prior stops where we have felt cramped. The mini-fridge came stocked with snacks and waters which were all complimentary with the stay. We really enjoyed our 2 nights at Miss Sophie’s Hotel and would definitely recommend checking it out for anyone looking for a nice, budget-friendly option when traveling to Prague!
Note: * our additions to ai itinerary and exclusions are crossed out, also see our summary at the bottom.
Day 1: Old Town & Classic Landmarks
Old Town Exploration
- Old Town Square – Start your day here; see the Astronomical Clock chime on the hour.
- This draws a large crowd every hour so be sure to arrive a bit early if you want to capture a clear picture or video.
- Church of Our Lady Before Týn – Iconic Gothic spires.
- Klementinum Library – Beautiful baroque library, hidden gem and great views from the tower.
- Note: Get tickets ahead of time if you are wanting to climb the tower, it was sold out at the door.
- Charles Bridge – Cross this 14th-century stone bridge with statues and street artists.
- The views across the water were amazing! It is a longer walk to cross the whole bridge so be prepared on a hot day with water.
- Jewish Quarter (Josefov) – Visit the
Old Jewish Cemetery, Spanish Synagogue, andJewish Museum.- We walked on the outskirts of the Old Jewish Cemetery, it was ~$30 per person to enter.
- Lunch –
Mlejnice– Cozy Czech restaurant with authentic goulash and dumplings near the Old Town.
Dinner and Views
- The Powder Tower* – One of the original city gates which separates the Old Town from the New Town.
- Letná Park – Walk to this park for panoramic city views and stop at Letná Beer Garden.
- We made the climb up to the beer garden, but found out they only take cash. There was an ATM there with astronomical fees so we just sat in the look out space. It was an incredible view with a great atmosphere.
- Note: the climb to the beer garden is fairly steep with lots of steps, we were both winded by the time we reached the top.
- We made the climb up to the beer garden, but found out they only take cash. There was an ATM there with astronomical fees so we just sat in the look out space. It was an incredible view with a great atmosphere.
- Dinner at
Lokál Dlouhááá– Czech pub with fresh Pilsner and traditional eats. - OR Medusa Prague* – Known for their spare ribs, we shared some BBQ ribs that fell right off the bone, highly recommend!
- Rocky O’Reilly’s* – We stopped here to watch the USA world cup game. It was incredibly lively with games showing on all the TVs with live music performed every night.
Day 2: Prague Castle & lesser Town (Malá Strana)
Prague Castle Complex
- Coffee at Coco Café – We ordered the vanilla iced latte & the salted caramel iced latte, both were delicious and tasted similar to lattes from America that we are used to.
- Dancing House – Take a photo and enjoy coffee on the rooftop with city views (we didn’t go inside here).
- Naplavka Riverbank – A popular hangout spot in Prague located along the Vltava River. Enjoy food, drinks, and live music.
- St. Vitus Cathedral – Spectacular architecture.
- Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, and Golden Lane – Charming and historical.
- Tip: Arrive early to avoid crowds and catch the Changing of the Guard (noon).
- Note: This is another attraction with a lot of steps, we arrived on a very hot day which made it particularly draining to reach the top.
- Tip: Arrive early to avoid crowds and catch the Changing of the Guard (noon).
- Lunch at
U Černého vola– Traditional Czech tavern near the castle.- We were still full from our breakfast buffet at Miss Sophie’s Hotel so we skipped lunch at this point.
Hidden Gems
- Wander through Malá Strana – Baroque streets, quiet gardens.
- Vrtba Garden – Often overlooked, this baroque garden is a quiet gem.
- John Lennon Wall – A colorful symbol of peace and freedom.
- Water Mill with Gremlin* – Wooden water wheel churning beside a quiet canal just steps from the John Lennon Wall.
- Kampa Island* – An island in the Vltava river in central Prague on the side of Malá Strana. Home to what is for many the most romantic place in Prague.
- Yellow Penguins* – A Milan based art movement of 34 penguins that stand on a metal beam along the Vltava river.
Note: We weren’t hungry at this time, but we walked past several restaurants along the river that seemed lovely.
dinner
- Café Savoy – Elegant Art Nouveau café with French and Czech offerings.
- OR Damascus House* – a premium halal and Arabic restaurant bringing the rich culinary heritage of Syria to the heart of the city. This was one of the very best meals we have had on our trip. Check out the photo below!
final thoughts:
Overall Rating: 10/10
Would we go again? Without a doubt!
Favorite moment:
Bailey’s favorite: The Vrtba Garden was breathtaking. This was the most peaceful beautiful garden I have ever seen.
Parker’s favorite: Spending the evening at Rocky O’Reilly’s for the USA world cup match was a lot of fun. The Scotland team was scheduled to play after the USA game concluded and Scottish fans filled the bar over 3 hours prior to their kickoff. The energy in the place was high and the bartenders were attentive so we never had to wait for a drink despite the massive crowd. The live music was a nice touch while watching the games.
Favorite meal:
Bailey’s favorite: The Damascus House was incredible. We got the hummus, baba ghanoush, chicken shawarma, and chicken kabobs. It was so fresh and delicious. The portion sizes were very generous so be sure to order less items than you think you need.
Parker’s favorite: Breakfast at Miss Sophie’s Hotel! Between the waffels, pancakes, omelet, and numerous options at the buffet, there was something to eat for everyone.
Any surprises? We were surprised by how many tourists there were. The city was bustling with people.
Anything we missed? Since we were only here for two days, I am sure we missed a few things, but nothing I can think of other than hanging out at the places we visited longer. Additionally, our hotel offered discounted spa services for 90 minutes that was super affordable, but we didn’t have time to squeeze it in.
Food spots AI recommended, but we didn’t have a chance to go: Mlejnice, Lokál Dlouhááá, U Černého vola, and Café Savoy.
Average step count per day: 17,000 steps
How did ai do?
Nailed it: We felt like AI did a nice job recommending more “hidden gems” in Prague than in previous places. For example, the Vrtba Garden and Malá Strana were two of our favorite parts of this trip and both were relatively quiet, less “touristy” options. With that being said, AI also ensured we hit all of the must-do major attractions in Prague that attract large crowds.
Needs work: We noticed that AI recommended nice areas such as strolling Malá Strana but left it at that. In doing our own research of the area, we found many people recommended the additions we noted above (Kampa Island, Yellow Penguins, Water Mill with Gremlin) which were all virtually on top of each other in the same neighborhood. It felt like AI could have easily incorporated these places into its itinerary as seamless additions to the existing route, yet it missed them.