Prague.

Where we sleep

1. Day 1 · Sat 25 Sept

   A clock and a bridge

   We drop the bags, find the astronomical clock before the hour strikes and cross the Charles Bridge in the evening, when the crowds thin out.

   • Old Town Square1.5 h

     The old market square, with the twin spires of the Týn church and the Old Town Hall, whose astronomical clock dates from 1410 and still works.

     What to see

     • The astronomical clock on the hour
     • The twin spires of the Týn church
     • The Jan Hus memorial in the middle

     Time

     About an hour and a half.

     Tip

     The clock show is short and the crowd is deep, so stand in front of the Old Town Hall five minutes before the hour. Put the smallest on your shoulders.

     To eat

     A koláč, the round sweet pastry filled with poppy seed, curd cheese or plum.

     Photos
   • Charles Bridge1 h

     A stone bridge over the Vltava begun in 1357 under Charles IV, lined with statues, most of them Baroque, and guarded by a tower at each end.

     What to see

     • The statues along the parapets
     • The Old Town bridge tower
     • The castle lit up at dusk

     Time

     An hour, slowly.

     Tip

     It is busiest in the middle of the day. In the evening the crowds thin out, but keep hold of the children’s hands, as the pavement is narrow.

     To eat

     Smažený sýr, cheese fried in breadcrumbs, from a snack counter near the bridge.

     Photos
2. Day 2 · Sun 26 Sept

   Old stones, big views

   A quiet morning among the synagogues and the old cemetery of the Jewish Quarter, then a picnic and a walk along the ramparts at Vyšehrad.

   • Josefov, the Jewish Quarter2.5 h

     A small quarter beside the Old Town with six synagogues and a crowded old cemetery, the home of one of Europe’s oldest Jewish communities.

     What to see

     • The Old Jewish Cemetery
     • The Old-New Synagogue, built in the thirteenth century
     • The Pinkas Synagogue memorial

     Time

     Two to three hours.

     Tip

     The Jewish Museum sites are closed on Saturdays and on Jewish holidays, so Sunday works well. Explain to the kids beforehand that it is a place of remembrance.

     To eat

     Svíčková, beef in a creamy vegetable sauce with bread dumplings, at lunch.

     Photos
   • Vyšehrad2.5 h

     A fortress on a rock above the Vltava, founded around the tenth century, now a quiet park with a church, a cemetery and good views of the river.

     What to see

     • The ramparts and their river views
     • The Basilica of St Peter and St Paul
     • The Romanesque Rotunda of St Martin

     Time

     Two to three hours with a picnic.

     Tip

     The park is open and free, and there is plenty of grass for the children to run on. Check the basilica’s hours, as it closes for services, especially on Sunday.

     To eat

     A párek v rohlíku, a hot sausage in a bread roll, for the picnic.

     Photos
3. Day 3 · Mon 27 Sept

   Castle day

   Up to Prague Castle for the guard change at noon and the cathedral where St Wenceslas is buried, then down through the Lesser Town.

   • Prague Castle4 h

     A hilltop complex of palaces, courtyards and churches, dominated by St Vitus Cathedral, which holds the chapel and tomb of St Wenceslas.

     What to see

     • St Vitus Cathedral and the St Wenceslas Chapel
     • The guard change at the first courtyard
     • The Golden Lane and its tiny houses

     Time

     Half a day.

     Tip

     The St Wenceslas Chapel is in the part of the cathedral that needs a ticket, so book the Basic Tour online on hrad.cz. Be there before noon for the guard change.

     To eat

     Bramborák, the Czech potato pancake, as a quick lunch on the way down.

     Photos
   • Malá Strana2 h

     The Lesser Town below the castle, a quarter of Baroque palaces and lanes, with the green dome of St Nicholas and the colourful Lennon Wall.

     What to see

     • The Church of St Nicholas
     • The Lennon Wall
     • Kampa Island and its mill stream

     Time

     About two hours, downhill.

     Tip

     Walk down from the castle by the old castle steps rather than the tram road. Kampa Island has a playground and plenty of space for a snack stop.

     To eat

     Palačinky, thin pancakes with jam or chocolate, for the kids.

     Photos
4. Day 4 · Tue 28 Sept

   St Wenceslas Day

   A public holiday. We go out to Stará Boleslav, where the national pilgrimage ends, then come back to the statue of the saint on Wenceslas Square. Large shops are shut, but cafés and restaurants stay open.

   • Stará BoleslavMorning

     A town about 12 km north-east of Prague where, by tradition, Wenceslas was killed at a church gate in 935. The National St Wenceslas Pilgrimage ends here each year.

     What to see

     • The Basilica of St Wenceslas, founded in 1039
     • The Church of the Assumption with its Gothic Madonna
     • The Mass on Mariánské náměstí

     Time

     Half a day with the journey.

     Tip

     Check the journey on the pid.cz planner for the holiday timetable, and leave extra time, as many pilgrims travel the same morning. The programme is on the town’s website.

     To eat

     A klobása, grilled sausage, if stalls are set up for the pilgrimage.

   • Wenceslas Square1.5 h

     A boulevard of about 750 metres climbing to the National Museum, with the 1912 statue of St Wenceslas on horseback in front, and a gathering place for the Czechs at key moments, such as 1918 and 1989.

     What to see

     • The equestrian statue of St Wenceslas
     • The National Museum building at the top
     • The neo-Renaissance and Art Nouveau façades

     Time

     An hour and a half.

     Tip

     Large shops are closed on 28 September, but restaurants and cafés open. The statue is the classic meeting point, so choose it as the place to regroup if you get separated.

     To eat

     A párek v rohlíku from a stand on the square, as many locals do.

5. Day 5 · Wed 29 Sept

   Up the hill

   One last morning on Petřín Hill, with a funicular, a little tower and a mirror maze, before the journey home.

   • Petřín Hill3 h

     A wooded hill above the Lesser Town with an 1891 lookout tower that echoes the Eiffel Tower, a mirror maze and orchards, reached by funicular.

     What to see

     • The lookout tower
     • The mirror maze
     • The funicular from Újezd

     Time

     About three hours.

     Tip

     The funicular started running again on 22 September 2026 after about two years. If it is out of action, a steep path climbs the hill in roughly half an hour.

     To eat

     A slice of medovník, the honey cake, at a café on the hill.

     Photos

Typical weather for these dates, not a forecast: the average of 2016–2025, with data from Open-Meteo.com (ERA5). The chance of rain is an estimate.