Winter in Prague: The Perfect 2-Day Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Written By Keri Leigh

To be honest, Prague hadn’t even on my radar (Why? I don’t know). But I planned a Europe trip with my family and my brother-in-law said this was one place he had to visit — so of course, I had to make it happen!

And wow… I ended up completely falling in love with this city. I didn’t think I could love a city more than Edinburgh, but Prague really put that to the test! It was like if I was on Love Island and I was coupled up with Edinburgh — then Prague walked in as a bombshell and totally turned my head (yes, I’ve been binging a lot of Love Island lately if you couldn’t tell).

Anyway, this 2-day itinerary will take you through everything we did while we were there — and trust me, you’ll be smitten too! 🥰

✨ Before You Go: What to Know About This Itinerary

  • Vegan Options: Unfortunately, almost all of the spots we ate at here have since closed (tragic, I know 😭), but don’t fret — Prague has tons of vegan-friendly cafés and restaurants all over. You’ll have no problem finding good options!

  • Christmas Markets: We visited right after Christmas, and most of the holiday markets were still open — total bonus if you love cozy winter vibes and twinkle lights.

  • Cash Money: I would recommend to bringing cash with you as some places we ran into was cash only and some of the booths at the markets may be cash only.

  • Exploring: There is a hop-on/hop-off bus, which is always so helpful when exploring a new city, and it takes you to all of these main spots. But Prague is also super walkable — so whether you’re cruising or strolling, you’ll get to see a lot! The hop-on/hop-off bus also includes a ticket to the river tour!

  • Starting / Next Point: Want to make this a part of a EuroTrip like we did? We came here from Munich (which you can read about here) and headed to Budapest after (you can read about that here).

Overview of Itinerary:

DAY ONE: West Side of Prague (Lesser Town + Castle District)

This day is all about the fairytale side of the city — cobblestone lanes, red rooftops, and castle views at every turn.

Charles Bridge

🕐 Estimated Time: 30 minutes

A 14th-century stone bridge lined with baroque statues and packed with street artists, vendors, and musicians. It’s one of Prague’s most iconic sights — and for good reason.

💡 Helpful Hint: If you want good pictures, go right at sunrise. This bridge gets buuuusssy during the day since it’s pedestrian-only.

🧚Personal Note: We walked here every morning because I loved it so much. It was peaceful before the city woke up, and those sunrise views were downright magical.

Lesser Town

🕐 Estimated Time: 30 - 45 minutes (or longer if you stop in a cafe!)

Just across Charles Bridge, Lesser Town feels like stepping into another era. Think cobblestone lanes, pastel Baroque buildings, and tucked-away cafés that look like they belong in a fairytale.

Prague Castle

🕐 Estimated Time: 2 -3 hours (especially if you plan to go inside)

This massive complex feels more like a tiny city within a city. It’s home to centuries of Czech history, royal palaces, gardens, and cobblestone courtyards that make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

🎟 Tickets: You can just walk around the castle, but there are a few buildings you can go into. I would suggest getting the tickets once you are there.

St. Vitus Cathedral

🕐 Estimated Time: 2 hours (if you plan to go inside)

This Gothic masterpiece inside Prague Castle is the stuff of fairytales. The stained glass, spires, and intricate details are absolutely jaw-dropping — especially when the sunlight hits just right.

📍Pro tip: Don’t skip climbing the tower if you can! And if you’re there around Christmas, they have a little Christmas Market nearby!

Petřín Tower

🕐 Estimated Time: 1 -2 hours

Head up Petřín Hill to climb the Petřín Lookout Tower — often called Prague’s mini Eiffel Tower. The 360° views from the top are unreal, especially on a clear day when you can see all of Prague’s spires stretching across the skyline.

🎟 Tickets: You can book tickets ahead of time if you’d like. There is also an elevator that you can pay an extra free to use.

Strahov Monastery

🕐 Estimated Time: 1 hour

Perched above Lesser Town, Strahov Monastery dates back to the 12th century and is home to one of the most beautiful libraries in the world — think floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, frescoed ceilings, and that old-book smell that makes your inner nerd swoon.

🎟 Tickets: They do not sell tickets online/in advance, so you will grab them once you’re there!

🧚Personal Note: I unfortunately did not know this existed when we went, and I am so sad — I can’t wait to go back just to visit this place because it looks absolutely incredible.

John Lennon Wall

🕐 Estimated Time: 5 - 10 minutes

Once a simple wall, now an ever-changing canvas filled with graffiti, Beatles lyrics, and peace messages. It started as a symbol of rebellion during the Communist era and still represents freedom and love today.

🌈 Fun Fact: John Lennon never actually visited Prague!

🧚Personal Note: Honestly not as impressive as I was expecting… but thankfully it is just a short stop so I didn’t feel like I wasted time.

River Tour

🕐 Estimated Time: 1 hour

See the city from a new perspective as you float along the Vltava River. You’ll pass under Charles Bridge, glide by the castle, and catch some great photo ops along the way.

🧚Personal Note: I’d recommend doing this during the day before sunset — we went once it started getting dark, and there wasn’t much to see after that.

🌱 Vegan Options on West Side:

  • Vegan’s Prague

  • Neruda Cafe

  • Natureza

  • Skautský Institut v Rybárně

  • Dosa Dum

  • Café Club Míšeňská

  • Waffle Point U Kajetana

    • Vegan version of trdelník (Czech cake)

DAY TWO: East Side of Prague (Old Town + New Town)

Today’s all about the buzzier side of the city — colorful squares, historic towers, and a few modern surprises thrown in.

Old Town

🕐 Estimated Time: 45 minutes - 1 hour (or more depending on what you do!)

Wandering the cobblestone streets of Old Town feels like walking through a storybook. The pastel-colored buildings, cozy cafés, and lively squares make it the perfect place to get lost for a while.

Staroměstské Náměstí (Old Town Square)

🕐 Estimated Time: 1 -2 hours

This is the heart of Prague. Surrounded by colorful Gothic and Baroque buildings, it’s always buzzing with life — street performers, market stalls, and the sound of the Astronomical Clock striking on the hour.

If you’re lucky enough to visit in winter, don’t miss this area with their Christmas Market. The square lights up with wooden stalls selling ornaments, mulled wine, and trdelník (a must-try cinnamon-sugar pastry). It’s straight out of a holiday movie.

Old Town Hall

🕐 Estimated Time: 30 minutes

Built in the 14th century, this landmark is home to one of Prague’s most famous sights — the Astronomical Clock. You can go up to the tower for panoramic views over the square and they have elevators so this is great for anyone who is handicap!

🧚Personal Note: We didn’t think it would be super busy, but it was and the line to get tickets was long so try to book ahead if you can!

Prague Astronomical Clock

🕐 Estimated Time: 5 - 10 minutes

This medieval clock is the showstopper in Old Town Square. Every hour, a small crowd gathers to watch the “Walk of the Apostles” — a quirky little performance that’s been happening since the 1400s.

🌈 Fun Fact: It’s the oldest working astronomical clock in the world!

Dancing House

🕐 Estimated Time: 5 - 10 minutes (unless you decide to go inside)

One of Prague’s more modern landmarks, this funky building — nicknamed “Fred and Ginger” — looks like it’s mid-dance. You can admire it from the outside or grab a drink at the rooftop bar for killer city views.

Žižkov Television Tower

🕐 Estimated Time: 5 - 10 minutes (unless you decide to go up!)

Okay, this one’s weird — but in the best way. The Žižkov TV Tower looms over the city with a totally unique (and slightly creepy) design featuring crawling baby sculptures (yes, you read that right) by artist David Černý. You can go up to the observation deck for panoramic views!

🎟 Tickets: If you know when you’ll be here, you can buy tickets in advance but otherwise you can get them once you arrive!

🧚Personal Note: It’s definitely not your typical “pretty” landmark, but it’s such a quirky piece of Prague’s personality.

🌱 Vegan Options on East Side:

  • Creme de la creme

    • We went to get gelato here every single night - even in winter. It was so good!

  • Střecha

  • Linh - Not Just A Restaurant

  • Langhans

  • Loving Hut

Prague completely surprised me — from the fairytale streets of Lesser Town to the bustling squares of Old Town, this city is a perfect mix of history, charm, and quirky surprises (looking at you, Žižkov Tower).

Whether you’re strolling across Charles Bridge at sunrise, climbing Petřín Tower for killer views, or wandering the Christmas markets with a cup of mulled wine in hand, Prague has a way of stealing your heart in just two days. Trust me, once you’ve been here, you’ll be planning your next trip back before you even leave!

Until next adventure! 👋

Keri Leigh
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