It wasn’t long after I landed that I realised my bag was incredibly heavy. And that I’d be carrying it around the whole day. But I was quickly distracted by the shockingly beautiful architecture of the old town, and the sun shining off the cobbles on such a bright winters day.
I had decided at the last minute to come to Prague for the day. First flight there in the morning, last flight home that evening. Very ambitious perhaps but I’ll be controversial and say that I think Prague is doable in one day, especially if you stick to the old town and the surroundings, and don’t mind a fair bit of walking around this enchanting city.
Pragues’s Old Town is the focal point, the place you’ll always find yourself heading back towards. It’s an old market place style square lined with beautiful buildings in buttercup yellow and salmon pink, a grand cathedral (and at this time of year) a giant Xmas tree. There were a few Xmas stalls too, although there are usually many more. It was beautiful in the morning with the sunlight dancing across the facades, and buzzing by night when all the fairy lights were twinkling and the tree was sparkling.
From there, you can take a walk down any number of cute streets, each lined with stunning architecture and expensive shops. If you keep walking, you will cross one of many bridges over the Vltava river, and find yourself in the sprawling Letenske Sady park. This giant park has steep hills to climb and the most breathtaking views of the city you’ll find. I had a picnic breakfast and lunch there, each time overcome by just how pretty Prague was. Prague Castle can also be visited from there. It was closed for me but I admired it from outside.
I really enjoyed just strolling around the quieter streets, finding hidden curiosities like a crumbling cottage in the woods, or an ice rink full of happy Czech kids skating around. I eventually found myself crossing back over the river via the famous Charles Bridge and also caught the Astronomical clock in action. The Prague must-sees. I was very lucky it was such a perfect winters day, so I could spend most of my time outside. There are lots of cute cafes lining the square to warm up at, and admire the lights as it gets dark.
There you go, a day in Prague! It’s doable, just learn from me and don’t take a big and heavy bag. Your shoulders will thank you! Prague is definitely worth a visit, it really lives up to the fairytale cliche, plus the people are very welcoming and it was great to see Eastern Europe for the first time.
Practical information
Getting there- Prague’s airport is served by many European airlines, including budget ones, so it should be possible to get a decent deal. From there, it’s about 20 minutes to the old town. Using Uber is the easiest and quickest way to get there.
What to do- as I mentioned, the old town and surrounding area are where you will find yourself most of the time, and half the fun is just wandering around and enjoying the atmosphere!
When to come- I visited before Christmas, so there was a lovely festive feel to the place. It can be cold but on a crisp winters day the city seems even more magical. It can get crowded in the summer, but I’m sure spring and Fall are beautiful too.
This is the last post of the year! Merry Christmas to everyone, and thank you for reading along this past year xxx
