Want to explore Prague on a budget? To help you save some money in the medieval city, it’s always fun...
Best Museums in Edinburgh, Scotland
So you’ve landed in Edinburgh, dropped your bag at the hostel, and you’re ready for a pr...
Want to explore Prague on a budget? To help you save some money in the medieval city, it’s always fun to explore the free things to do. Luckily, the Czech capital has plenty of awesome places to see that won’t cost you a crown (for those who don’t know, a Czech crown is the official currency of Prague). This means one thing and one thing only. More money to spend of local food and delicious famous Czech beer! We’ve rounded up the best free things to do in Prague that you simply can’t miss! Check them out…
1 ADMIRE THE BEAUTY OF OLD TOWN SQUARE
Take in the quaint charm of the city at one of the most stunning squares in Europe. One of the unmissable things to do in Prague is to roam around beautiful Old Town Square, known to be the magical heart of the city. Narrow, winding streets lead into the historic square, home to the magnificent Town Hall and the intricately designed Astronomical clock. One free thing to do is watch while the astronomical clock strikes every hour and puts on a show for the crowds who wait to experience the craftsmanship of this moving masterpiece.
Admire the different architectural styles on the Old Town Square which form the perfect photo opportunity: with old churches, multicoloured houses and medieval buildings surrounded by beautiful cobbled pathways, there’s a reason people fall in love with Prague. The atmosphere on the Old Town Square is one of the reasons why people love it here so much. Look out for the beautiful Gothic Church of Our Lady before Týn.
The John Lennon Wall is essentially a massive tribute to The Beatles. While it seems quite random to have a wall dedicated to a British band in Prague, the wall started off as a normal, plain wall. In the 1980s, artists started to fill the wall with John Lennon inspired graffiti and song lyrics of famous Beatles songs. Today, the wall is a colourful tourist destination where people flock to get a photo with the hippy wall and it has become a famous landmark of the city!
3 WALK ACROSS CHARLES BRIDGE
You can’t come to Prague and not walk across the historic Charles Bridge. Crossing over the Vltava River, the views of the from the Charles Bridge are simply beautiful. The bridge is always busy with a bustling atmosphere which you’ll soon realise when you walk down and see all of the street performers and street painters who base themselves here. Rumour is that the bridge is haunted! It’s one of Prague’s most visited sights and a cool fact is that in 1357, the first stone was laid by Charles IV himself. The archways on the bridge make for stunning photos!
4 EXPLORE THE JEWISH QUARTER
Prague’s Jewish Quarter is located between the Old Town Square and the Vltava river. It dates back to the 13th century and it’s well worth a little explore to learn about the history of how the Jewish people were forced to settle in one area during the trying times under Nazi regime. The Jewish Quarter is beautiful; all of the buildings are charming!
While strolling around the Jewish Quarter is completely free, if you want to stop for lunch eat at a kosher restaurant. And if you want to learn more about the Jewish history you can buy a ticket and pay a visit to the six synagogues. The most interesting is the Old Jewish Cemetery in Josefov, the oldest surviving in the city where over 1000 people are buried. Today, people travel here to pay their respects for those who died in the Holocaust.
5 GET THE VIEWS FROM LETENSKE SADY
Offering you the best view of Prague: Letenske Sady also known as Letna Park is the place to come on a summer day or a cosy autumn walk! Climb up the many steps (a good workout for all you gym lovers) where you will find the metronome. Just beneath the metronome you will find the trendy Stalin Bar. This classic beer garden and park sits on top of a hill overlooking the entire city. A giant statue of Stalin used to sit on top an old bunker, hence its name. This place is summer paradise with outdoor seating and a fabulous view of the entire city and the Vltava river. Isn’t this what summer’s about?
Want to admire the Castle whilst in one of the most beautiful historic capitals? You can easily walk there from the park as it connects via the Summer Palace and Castle Gardens. A nice stroll with some beautiful sights!
6 A WALK IN STROMOVKA PARK
Stromovka is the largest park in Prague. With flat and wide paths, this pretty park is the ideal place for walking, biking, roller skating, dog walking and skateboarding. There’s a lot of history behind this park, it used to be a hunting ground for the nobility living in the castle, and later on, the park was burnt down due to wars caused by Maria Theresa’s reign! Although, nowadays, the park is opened for the public and is used for various festivals, conventions and a yearly two month long spring festival.
7 SIT ON THE NAPLAVKA RIVERSIDE
Prague’s popular hipster hangout. In the summer months, Naplavka is a honey pot full of tourists and locals swarming to the area like bees to soak up some sun. There’s a range of fun things to do in Naplavka from sitting on the pretty riverbank, having a drink at one of the floating bars or exploring the wonders of the popular Naplavka Farmers Market. The lively riverbank is where people come to rollerskate, dance (at the Swing nights) and drink.
8 ROAM THE GARDENS OF PRAGUE CASTLE
While you have to pay an entry fee to get into Prague castle, some of the beautiful castle grounds and gardens are open to the public for no charge at all. In the summer it’s a lovely place to visit and some of the best parts of the castle are actually free! The beautiful gardens below the medieval castle are worth a visit. If you stick to walking around the castle courtyards, it will be completely free and it is such a worthwhile walk.
After 5pm, admission is free to Golden Lane which is a narrow lane of houses attached to the castle which used to home castle guards and goldsmiths.
9 NATIONAL MEMORIAL TO THE HEROES OF THE HEYDRICH TERROR
To get your culture fix in Prague, take time to learn about the darker history of the city. You can visit the National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror for free. This shocking museum uncovers the truths about the impact WW2 had on Prague and its people. You can visit the underground crypt where the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the war effort. It’s a memorable museum where you can even view the actual bullet holes in the wall.
