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Three days is enough to see the headline sights of Prague without rushing. Day 1 covers the Jewish Quarter and Old Town Square, Day 2 goes up to the castle, and Day 3 follows the river to Vysehrad. The paid tickets cluster on Days 1 and 2, and Day 3 is mostly free walking.
We have done big-city days with nieces and nephews along. The plan that holds up is one paid headliner per half day and a free walk to fill the gaps.
Prague suits that plan. I would start the castle day early and wear shoes that are already broken in, because the cobbles are harder on feet than they look.
3 Days in Prague
Each day sticks to one part of the city, so you walk more than you ride. Every price below was read off the operator’s own page on October 2, 2026, and every one is in Czech koruna (CZK). Prices move, so check the page the week you go.
| Day | Plan | Ticket cost | Times to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Jewish Quarter, then Old Town Square, the clock and the Old Town Hall tower | Jewish Museum CZK 600, Old Town Hall CZK 350 | Museum 9:00 to 16:30 from October 18, tower 9:00 to 20:00 |
| Day 2 | Charles Bridge, Lesser Town, Prague Castle, Petrin Hill | Castle Main Circuit CZK 450, 24-hour transit ticket CZK 150 | Castle buildings 9:00 to 17:00 until October 31, then 9:00 to 16:00 |
| Day 3 | Dancing House, river walk, Vysehrad, or a train day trip | No ticket for the walk, train fare on the Czech Railways timetable | Check the return train before you leave |
Prague Jewish Quarter
Start Day 1 here when the doors open. One ticket from the Jewish Museum in Prague covers the Spanish, Klausen, Pinkas, Maisel and Old-New synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery. An adult ticket is CZK 600, students under 26 pay CZK 400 and children 7 to 15 pay CZK 200.
The ticket is valid for three opening days, and the museum says a tour of the whole Jewish Town takes 2 to 3 hours. From October 18 to December 31 its hours page shows 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with ticket sales ending 30 minutes before closing.
The museum is closed on Saturdays and on Jewish holidays, so keep this day off a Saturday. The cemetery is the stop people talk about afterward, with headstones packed shoulder to shoulder on uneven ground.
Prague Old Town Square
Come to the square after lunch and go up the Old Town Hall tower for the view. The basic adult ticket is CZK 350 on prague.eu, with reduced at CZK 230 (ages 6 to 15 and 65 and up), youth at CZK 280 (16 to 26) and a family ticket at CZK 750.
The tower lift costs CZK 100 more for adults. The tower is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. from April through December, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from January through March.
The clock’s figures perform every hour from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Get there a few minutes early and stand square on to the wall, because the crowd builds fast and the show is short. A short walk away, the Powder Tower marks the edge of the old center, so look up its hours and ticket price on prague.eu before you plan to climb it.
Charles Bridge early morning
Start Day 2 on the bridge before the tour groups arrive. I would be on it at first light, because later it turns into a slow shuffle past street musicians and souvenir tables. Walking across costs nothing.
Cross into Lesser Town and keep climbing toward the castle. The lanes are quieter than Old Town, the cobbles slope uphill, and you will want the shoes mentioned above.
Prague Castle
Reach the gate for opening, since the historical buildings run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April 1 to October 31 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from November 1 to March 31. The grounds themselves stay open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. all year. Last entry to St. Vitus Cathedral is 4:40 p.m. in summer and 3:40 p.m. in winter.
The Main Circuit covers the Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, Golden Lane and St. Vitus Cathedral. The price list on hrad.cz, still the list the castle links and headed valid from March 1, 2024, shows CZK 450 for adults and CZK 300 for discount tickets (ages 6 to 16, students to 26 and seniors 65 and up). A family ticket is CZK 950.
Tickets are valid for two days and each building can be entered once. The cathedral tower with its view gallery costs CZK 300 for adults, and the Permanent Exhibitions are priced separately at CZK 700. The castle asks visitors not to bring large baggage, so leave the suitcase at the hotel.
Petrin Hill
Spend the late afternoon on Petrin Hill, which is the cure for a day of crowds. The hill’s funicular is covered by 24-hour and 72-hour tickets but not by 30-minute or 90-minute ones. You can also walk up through the park, a steady climb that rewards you with a long view over the river and the roofs.
Dancing House Prague
Day 3 is the easy day. Walk the river embankment to the Dancing House, the curving glass-and-stone building that looks like a pair of dancers, and look at it from the street. It needs no ticket and takes ten minutes.
Vysehrad
Vysehrad is a fortress hill above the Vltava with ramparts, a church and a quieter view of the river. It has its own metro station. Hours and ticket prices for the buildings inside are on the Vysehrad site, so read them there before you plan to go in.
Day trip from Prague
Kutna Hora is the usual train day trip, and Cesky Krumlov is better kept for an overnight than a rushed day. Look up Kutna Hora hlavni mesto on the Czech Railways timetable at cd.cz the night before and note the last train back. Fares and journey times vary by train, so read them off the timetable when you book.
Prague public transport tickets
The Prague transit company lists adult paper tickets at CZK 39 for 30 minutes, CZK 50 for 90 minutes, CZK 150 for 24 hours and CZK 350 for 72 hours. App tickets cost a little less, at CZK 36, CZK 46, CZK 140 and CZK 340. SMS tickets cost CZK 42 and CZK 55 for the two short ones.
A ticket is valid for its stated time from activation. The fare page lists cashless payment among the ways to buy, so check the details on dpp.cz before you count on tapping a card.
Prague airport to city center
Per Prague Airport, bus 59 reaches the Nadrazi Veleslavin stop on metro line A in about 15 minutes. Bus 100 reaches Zlicin on metro line B in about 18 minutes. Buy a ticket before boarding.
The Airport Express runs to the main railway station in about 40 minutes and does not accept regular public transport tickets.
What to pack for Prague
Pack for cobbles, stairs and a lot of walking. Shoes with real soles beat anything fashionable, and layers handle a cold morning on the bridge and a warm afternoon in a stone church. A carry-on-only packing list keeps the bag small enough for the castle stairs, and packing cubes keep a few days of clothes from turning into a heap.
The Christmas-market weeks and the summer months bring the biggest crowds. Weekdays and early mornings are calmer in every season.
Tourist traps
Skip any restaurant where someone waves a menu at you on the square. Walk two streets away and read the prices before you sit. Ask what a beer costs before you order it in a beer hall.
For taxis, use a ride-hail app or agree the fare before you get in. Do not hail one on a tourist square.
Questions about Prague
Is 3 days in Prague enough?
Yes, for the headline sights. Three days covers the Jewish Quarter, Old Town Square, Prague Castle, the river and Vysehrad once each. It leaves out the day trips beyond the city unless you swap one stop for a train ride.
Is Prague Castle worth it?
Yes, if you give it a morning. The Main Circuit takes in the Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, Golden Lane and St. Vitus Cathedral, and the castle’s price list shows CZK 450 for an adult ticket.
What currency is used in Prague?
The Czech koruna, written CZK. Every operator page quoted here lists its prices in koruna, so ask your bank about foreign transaction fees before you fly.
Is the Jewish Museum open on Saturdays?
No. The Jewish Museum in Prague says it is open every day except Saturdays and Jewish holidays, so plan the Jewish Quarter for another day.
How do I get from Prague airport to the city center?
Take bus 59 to the Nadrazi Veleslavin stop on metro line A or bus 100 to Zlicin on metro line B. The airport also runs an Airport Express bus to the main railway station that takes about 40 minutes.
Prices are approximate, current as of publication, and change frequently — confirm the latest price with the retailer before buying.
Published October 16, 2026.
Photo credits: (1) featured, Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral above… — Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; (2) St. Vitus Cathedral inside the grounds of… — MathKnight and Zachi Evenor, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons; (3) The Vltava River and Prague rooftops seen… — Andrei Stroe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; (4) The Dancing House on the Vltava embankment… — Piercarloc, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.