Prague

Prague sits on the Vltava River in the western half of Czechia, within the historic region of Bohemia. The river is part of the city's basic orientation: Old Town and much of New Town lie on one side, while Malá Strana and the slopes below Prague Castle lie on the other.

Prague is also one of Czechia's main rail and air gateways, making it practical to combine with other Czech destinations or continue by train toward neighboring Central European countries. For city travel, the metro, trams, buses, and suburban trains are integrated through Prague Integrated Transport.

Spring and early autumn are strong choices if you expect to spend much of the day walking between Prague's historic districts. Summer brings longer, warmer days, while winter gives you shorter daylight hours and colder conditions, so the best timing depends on how much outdoor walking you want to do.

The best weather is a personal preference. We find the best weather for exploring a city is around 55° F and sunny. The weather in Prague during the winter can be very cold, so plan accordingly if you're visiting during the Holidays.

Below is a chart showing the average high and low temperatures for each month so you can decide what is best for you.

April through May and September through October are good periods to compare if you want to avoid building the trip around the warmest summer weather. We spent the entire month of May in Prague and found the cool conditions comfortable for exploring on foot, though spring and autumn weather can still change from day to day.

Accommodation prices in Prague vary too much by exact dates, events, weekends, and property type to name one month as reliably cheapest. Compare several dates in spring or autumn with the summer dates you are considering, then weigh the room price against temperature, daylight, and how much time you expect to spend walking outside.

For a first visit, stay within easy walking or tram distance of the historic core rather than choosing accommodation solely by its distance from Old Town Square. Old Town puts the main central sights outside your door, Malá Strana works well for the castle side and quieter evening streets, and New Town can give you easier access to restaurants, transit, and the main railway station while keeping Old Town close.

Choose Old Town if you want the shortest walks to Old Town Square and Charles Bridge. Choose Malá Strana if you prefer the west side of the Vltava near Prague Castle, or look in central New Town if you want a wider choice of streets and quick tram or metro connections without staying in the busiest part of the historic core.

The accommodation map below lets you compare hotels and apartments across these areas for your exact travel dates and budget.

Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) is Prague's main international airport. Public transport from the terminals connects with the metro; the airport currently recommends trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín for Metro Line A, while the Airport Express runs directly to Prague Main Railway Station.

Praha hlavní nádraží, usually shortened to Praha hl.n., is the main railway station for central Prague. It handles domestic and international passenger trains and connects with Prague public transport.

Prague uses Central European Time (CET; UTC+1) and Central European Summer Time (CEST; UTC+2) when daylight saving time is in effect.

Czechia uses the Czech koruna, abbreviated CZK. Check current exchange rates through the Czech National Bank rather than assuming prices or exchange rates from an older trip still apply.

Czech is the main language in Prague. You can manage many visitor-facing situations without speaking Czech, but learning a few basic words and keeping addresses or destination names available on your phone makes everyday interactions easier.

Czechia is part of the Schengen Area, and entry requirements depend on your nationality, length of stay, and purpose of travel. Check the current rules through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic before traveling; short Schengen stays generally use the 90-days-in-any-180-day-period framework.

Czechia uses a 230V, 50Hz electrical supply and European-style sockets. Check the voltage printed on your chargers and appliances before traveling, and pack the appropriate plug adapter if your devices use a different socket standard.

Travelers will want a SIM card for Czechia. You can get either a local SIM card or an eSIM card.

To get a local SIM card, you have to find a local cellular service provider, often stand in line for assistance, show your passport, and complete some paperwork. The SIM cards work great, but purchasing them is somewhat inconvenient. This option is best if you need more than 5GB of data.

We use eSIMs exclusively because they can be purchased through an app prior to arrival in a new country and activated when you hit a cell tower in the country. We use Airalo eSIMs. They work great, and I recommend them if you plan to use less than 5 GB of data during your stay or if you need internet immediately on arrival.

The train system in Czechia makes rental cars unnecessary for most destinations. However, rental cars are needed to reach smaller towns and explore the countryside. In addition to the major car rental companies found in the United States, Sixt and Europcar are common throughout Europe. For a comparison of rental car offers from large, international brands and smaller regional brands, we recommend Discover Cars.