Prague is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and fascinating European capitals and, given its rather small size and rather affordable prices, it is definitely perfect for a nice weekend full of culture and excellent food, all followed by gallons of beer! What I love about Prague is its medieval soul so well preserved that it is absolutely unique in Europe, and of course its delicious super cheap beer!
Flights to Prague
To get to Prague I tried for the first time Wizz Air and I must say that everything was very nice as for a low-cost company standards.. same as as Ryanair. Easy and immediate online booking, excellent prices and time slots, and discreet service at the airport, with on-time flights both outward and return. Unfortunately, there are no planes to Prague from Bologna, so we chose to leave from Venice Marco Polo airport. We spent €70 each round trip traveling only with a backpack. Friday VCE 5.30pm -> PRG 6.50pm Monday PRG 19:30 -> VCE 20:55 When I travel only with a backpack, I always choose my beloved Borealis Classic - North Face, now my faithful and irreplaceable travel companion. In my opinion it's ideal for trips of up to 3-4 days, thanks to its 29 liter capacity I can always fit everything I need in it: it has lots of very useful pockets and compartments from the bottle holder to the padded space for the laptop or tablet, and the straps to fasten it at the waist and chest allow me to keep it on my shoulder comfortably without getting tired.
Parking at Venezia Marco Polo Airport
For parking at the Venice Marco Polo airport, I chose to rely on Parkos by booking a parking space at Avioparking Venezia.
The car park is located 5 minutes by shuttle from the airport (included in the price) and you can easily book in advance online on the website. The prices are very convenient, and the shuttle service is rather quick and efficient, with excellent value for money: I spent €19.8 for 4 days.
How to get to the center of Prague from the airport
Once landed in Prague, I recommend that you use the Airport Express (AE line) to reach the city center: it is a fast and direct bus and will allow you to reach the train station without having to make any changes. Buses leave from the stop right outside the exit of Terminal 1 from 5.30 to 22.00 every 30 minutes and arrive directly at the Hlavní Nádraží railway station in about 40 minutes. The cost is 100 CZK per ticket, approximately (€4.1) and you can buy the ticket directly on the bus (even with a credit card) or at the Visitor Center in the Arrivals area of the airport, while at the train station at the Information Center of the Prague Public Transit Company.
Czech Republic Visa
The Czech Republic tourist visa is also known as a Schengen visa because the Czech Republic is a part of the Schengen Agreement, so with a Czech visa, you can visit all the countries that are a part of the Schengen area (and vice versa).
The Czech Republic is part of the Schengen area, along with 25 other countries, so a visa obtained from any of these countries will allow you to visit all the other countries. However, if you apply for a Czech visa, your first entry point should be in the Czech Republic.
You DO NOT need a tourist visa to visit the Czech Republic if:
You are from a country with a visa-free agreement with Schengen, and you will visit for a short trip (max. 90 days). This includes countries like the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Australia, Canada, etc.
You are from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
The documents required for a Czech Republic Schengen visa are so many that I suggest you to rely on an agency that deals with all this paperwork for you and also saves lot of time.
iVisa.com provides online travel documents such as visas for entry to countries around the world, including the ones in Schengen area (but also health declaration forms, embassy documents, passport photos, passport renewals, tourist cards and other travel documents ). The site is safe and secure, the service is fast and efficient, and the team is experienced and available 24 hours a day for any need. To rely on iVisa.com will allow you to fully concentrate on your journey without wasting time and struggling with bureaucracy, as well as allowing you to leave without anxiety because there will be no hitches once you reach your destination. Click here to access directly to the page to apply for visas and travel documents.
Where to sleep in Prague
Hotel Purpur ☆☆
If you want a suggestion on where to stay in Prague, we chose the Hotel Purpur, a good two-star hotel located in the heart of the New Town of Prague, a few minutes' walk from Wenceslas Square.
READ ALSO: Discover Prague district by district: a 3-day itinerary from Malá Strana to Josefov The location is excellent for reaching any point of the city but also outside the main tourist centers crowded at all hours of the day. For three nights we paid €265 for 2 on booking.com: the price is not as low as our standards low, but we booked about 10 days before to travel on the first weekend of December, so the price is a little higher than normal, but still a good price. The Hotel is discreet, very large rooms with kitchenette, large and clean bathroom, absolutely dignified. Nothing exceptional from the point of view of the furnishings, but for a low-budget weekend without too many pretensions it is an excellent choice! We got along very well. Staff very helpful also in keeping the luggage for free after check-out.
How to move around Prague
Prague is not a huge city and the center is rather compact: the main attractions are almost all concentrated in the districts of the New Town, the Old Town and Mala Strana, so by planning your itinerary you can manage to get around exclusively on foot. We always walked, averaging 16 km a day, nothing excessive: if you travel in winter you'll get warm too! What I suggest you, as always, is to make a good plan by grouping the various things following a logic of closeness and comfort.
Czech Republic Currency
The Czech Republic, despite being part of the European Union, has never adopted the Euro as its official currency. The official currency in force is the Czech Koruna: 1 € = 23.98 CZK. In general, the Euro is also accepted in the city but the exchange rate applied is always inconvenient and the change will always be given in Czech crowns. I strongly suggest you to always pay by card when you can, and to withdraw a few Crowns to be used only in places where they only accept cash payments. In Prague, cash is still quite widespread: especially in the markets they only accept cash and also in some restaurants! Don't be caught unprepared!
Prague CoolPass
Prague CoolPass is a discount card for Prague's top attractions that gives you free entry to more than 50 sites including Prague Castle or the Jewish Quarter, plus other discounts on various activities. The top 10 Prague attractions included in the card are:
The Lobkowicz Palace
The Náprstek Museum
Prague Zoo
The River Cruise
The tourist bus
For the complete list of attractions included with free admission click here. There are many options and therefore prices based on the validity period of your pass: after planning your itinerary, try to check if it is worth buying the pass or not and for how many days you need it! You can book up to 12 hours in advance.
1 day: €54 adults, €37 students up to 26 years and children 6-16 years;
2 days: €76 adults, €55 students up to 26 years and children 6-16 years;
3 days: €87 adults, €62 students up to 26 years old and children 6-16 years old;
4 days: €94 adults, €69 students up to 26 years old and children 6-16 years old;
After making your reservation, you will receive an email with the codes to download the Prague CoolPass application and access your card. On the app you will see the QR Code to be shown at the entrance to each attraction, a complete list of attractions and discounts included and an interactive map to guide you and get to the various sites.
When to go to Prague
Prague is a marvelous city all year round, but if you want to know which is the best time to visit it from a climatic point of view, then the answer is June and September, when you will find sunny days with an average temperature of around 20°C. In winter the days are much shorter and it can get quite cold: it is not unusual to see beautiful snowfalls but I guarantee you that during the Christmas period, therefore from the end of November to the beginning of January, Prague becomes particularly suggestive and very crowded. Personally my advice is to go around Christmas: the Christmas decorations and the markets make the city even more beautiful and the atmosphere is nothing short of magical! It will be worth enduring a little cold, I guarantee it!
READ ALSO: Discover the magic of Christmas in Prague, home to one of the best Christmas markets in Europe
Useful tips for your first trip to Prague
The Czech Republic is part of the European Union, although it has not adopted the Euro as its currency, if you are from a Schengen nation you won't need a passport: your Identity Card is sufficient;
The time zone is that of Central Europe (CET);
In restaurants and pubs they expect a tip, even if you pay by credit card; READ ALSO: What to eat in Prague - the 10 most delicious typical dishes and the best places to taste them
If you have a student card, show it (even if you are over 26) and you are no longer a student.. they never check your identity documents and you will be able to get discounts on various sites;
What to pack: if you travel to Prague in winter, definitely dress warm and warm, I suggest you to dress in layers and to wear shoes and a waterproof jacket in case it snows - for shoes, as always in winter, I only use mine love yourself Dr. Martens 101 Vegan: very warm, waterproof and super comfortable! Gloves, scarf and hat are essential and I suggest you to buy some useful hand warmers! READ ALSO: Discover the magic of Christmas in Prague, home to one of the best Christmas markets in Europe
Just in case, I always recommend packing some Compeed patches in your suitcase, which always come in handy;
I will never get tired of recommending the Fjällräven Kånken pouch to you: since I discovered it I have never been separated from it: it is extremely comfortable, spacious and allows me to go around the most crowded places without fear that they can steal something from me because I can always have it comfortably keep an eye out!
The perfect Prague travel guide
If this is your first trip to Prague, I advise you, as always, to find out about your destination before leaving. I like to always arrive already sufficiently prepared for the places I will visit, to know a little of their history and traditions, in order to orient myself better and not be caught unprepared. For this purpose, I can only recommend my beloved Lonely Planet which offers an excellent mix of practical and very useful information, itineraries, suggestions, but also history and traditions. The one I used is this - Lonely Planet Prague - it is a bit old but still so useful and complete. If your prefer something less bulky and light, and in this case also updated, then opt for the pocket version: Lonely Planet Prague Pocket (2023).
I would say that now you are ready to organize your long weekend in the splendid Czech capital and get ready, because you will fall in love with it!
READ ALSO: What to eat in Prague - the 10 most delicious typical dishes and the best places to taste them
READ ALSO: Discover the magic of Christmas in Prague, home to one of the best Christmas markets in Europe For any doubt or further information, do not hesitate to contact me!
Šťastnoucestu! - have a good trip in Czech