One of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Prague is like visiting a fairy tale. Visiting Prague in winter can help avoid the crowds and enjoy the peaceful side to this city. Here’s your ultimate itinerary for visiting Prague in 2 days in winter.
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Prague is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The small historic centre is full of charm, with a beautiful central square, a stunning castle, bridges over the river, and so much more. My ultimate itinerary for Prague in 2 days in winter will show you how to see the best sights in Prague in a limited time.
Is winter a good time of year to visit Prague?
Winter is a great time of year to visit Prague. And the main reason for this: spending 2 days in Prague in winter means you get to see the city without the summer crowds of tourists.
Prague is known all over the world as being a beautiful city. And it really is. But the downside of this reputation is that the city can get really busy. The busiest time in Prague is in the peak summer months. Although the weather can be warm and sunny in the summer, the crowds of tourists can cloud your visit.
Visiting Prague in the winter means you can enjoy a much more peaceful side to this beautiful city. Prague in winter can still be busy, especially around Christmas. But it’s less busy than the peak summer months. And the cost of hotels and other accommodation in Prague is much cheaper in winter as well.
I love Prague in winter. It’s the perfect time of year to enjoy some sightseeing, and then warm up in a cosy cafe. With 2 days in Prague in winter, you can see all of the top highlights of Prague without the crowds of tourists.
Just be aware that the daylight hours in Prague can be short in the winter. In winter in Prague, it can start getting dark around 4pm. So you’ll just need to plan your sightseeing to make sure you do everything you want to do in daylight earlier in the day. And then, in the darker evenings, you’ll have plenty of time to see the beautiful city sights lit up at night, as well as enjoy Prague’s fantastic bars and restaurants.
Where should I stay in Prague in winter?
When you’re visiting Prague in winter, I recommend staying as central as possible. Within only 2 days in Prague in winter, you won’t want to spend too much time travelling around the city, so staying somewhere central is the best use of your time.
In winter, you can get some really good deals on central hotels in Prague. Prices are a lot more reasonable in the winter than they are in the summer months. So the central hotels can be a good price in winter.
You’ll also need to remember that it gets dark early in Prague in winter. So again, staying somewhere central is best, so you won’t need to walk far to your accommodation when it’s dark and cold.
Ideally, choose a hotel that’s just a few minutes’ walk from the Old Town Square. You can check out the best central hotels in Prague for your stay on Booking.com here (affiliate).
What are the best things to do in 2 days in Prague in winter?
The best thing about visiting a city like Prague in winter is that most of the famous top sights are available to visit all year round. They might have slightly shorter opening hours in the winter, but all of the top sights in Prague are still open in the winter.
My ultimate itinerary for Prague in 2 days in winter will show you how to make the most of your weekend in Prague, with all the top sights and some great winter activities.
Day 1: Explore Prague’s historic central Old Town
Spend your first day exploring the most famous sights in Prague. Prague’s historic Old Town is a small, compact area. So it’s easy to explore in a day, with some breaks to warm up in bars and cafes.
Prague’s Old Town Square
The Old Town Square in Prague is one of the most iconic images associated with Prague. Dating from the 12th century, the square originated as a marketplace, but is now one of the key tourist sights in the city.
Spend some time taking in the atmosphere of the square. The buildings that line the square are stunning. You really feel like you’ve stepped back in history – it feels like this old square has barely changed in the last few hundred years.
If you’re in Prague at Christmas, the Old Town Square hosts one of the biggest and best Christmas markets in Prague. At Christmas, the whole square is filled with Christmas markets, selling all kinds of unique gifts and tasty food and drink. It’s a great place to visit at Christmas, but it’s just as beautiful all through the winter.
The Astronomical Clock in Prague
Located in the Old Town Square, the medieval astronomical clock is one of the most famous symbols of Prague.
Mounted on the southern wall of the Old Town Hall in Prague’s historic Old Town Square, the clock was first installed in 1410. It is the oldest astronomical clock still in operation in the world, and the third-oldest in the world. The clock features two main dials: an astronomical dial that displays the position of the sun and moon, and a calendar dial representing the months.
Every hour from 9 am to 11 pm, the clock puts on a great display. There’s a 45-second procession of animated figures, including the Twelve Apostles, Death, Vanity, and Greed. You’ll know when it’s nearly time for the clock to move, as large groups of tourists will start to gather underneath the clock, ready to take photos and videos. But in winter, with fewer tourists in Prague, you’ll be able to get a good spot close to the clock to see its hourly procession.
Warm up in a cosy cafe for lunch
For a cosy café near Prague’s Old Town Square, The Miners Coffee Old Town is a great choice. It’s tucked away on Železná Street, just steps from the Astronomical Clock. It’s a great place to stop for an early lunch.
The Miners Coffee Old Town offers a warm place to stop, with a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. It’s best known for its speciality coffee, but it also serves lots of fresh pastries and light lunches.
Walk across Charles Bridge
After lunch, head to another of Prague’s iconic sights. The beautiful Charles Bridge crosses the river, connecting the Old Town Square with Prague Castle. Like much of the rest of the city, it dates back in history to the 14th Century.
You can walk along the wide bridge and admire the many statues the line the bridge. It’s a great place to take photos, of the statues and also the bridge itself. And the bridge offers great views back to the Old Town, and across to Prague Castle.
In summer, the bridge can get packed with tourists. But in winter, it’s usually a lot calmer. So when you’re visiting Prague in winter, you should be able to get some good photos of the bridge without too many people in the photos.
Eat Trdelník – Chimney cake
In the afternoon, make sure you try one of Prague’s most famous foods. Trdelník is also known as Chimney Cake, and it’s one of the most popular snacks in Prague.
This cake is made from dough that is wrapped around a stick and then grilled. I liked it served just with sugar, but there are many places in Prague serving it with more elaborate toppings.
If you’re interested in getting to know more of the best local food in Prague, check out this great walking food tour in Prague (affiliate), or this food and beer tour in Prague (affiliate). Both of these will give you a great chance to try the famous Chimney Cake, plus a whole load of other great food and drink as well.
Enjoy the sunset along the River Vltava
Like so many European cities, the river is a central focus point in Prague. In Prague, the river snakes through the centre of the city, and is vital to the city’s history and historical transport.
The early sunsets in winter mean that you can take a lovely sunset walk along the river. Winter sunsets in Prague can be stunning, with the sky lighting up in amazing red and orange colours.
If you want to spend more time on the river, you can also take a boat trip along the river. Check out this evening boat trip along the river (affiliate), or you can book this boat trip that includes a luxurious dinner (affiliate).
Enjoy Prague’s centre at night with its bars and restaurants
Spend your evening in Prague enjoying some of the wide variety of bars and restaurants in the Old Town.
There are lots of restaurants, serving all kinds of different cuisine. For a traditional Czech dinner in Prague, the best dishes to try include svíčková na smetaně (marinated beef sirloin in cream sauce), guláš (Czech Goulash), and vepřo knedlo zelo (roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut).
Day 2: Prague Castle and the Jewish Quarter
On Day 2 of your 2 day itinerary for Prague in winter, head slightly outside the main centre to explore some of the other top sights in Prague. None of these sights are far away, so you’ll easily be able to walk and won’t need to take public transport.
Prague Castle
From the Old Town Square, cross over Charles Bridge and walk uphill to Prague Castle.
Dating back to the 9th Century, Prague Castle is full of fascinating history with enough to explore to easily fill half a day. It’s the largest ancient castle complex in the world, spanning over 70,000 square metres.
The castle has a fascinating range of architectural styles, from Romanesque and Gothic to Baroque and Mannerist. You can explore the different parts of the castle, and even see the ceremonial Changing of the Guard ceremony.
If you want to learn more about Prague Castle, I recommend taking a guided tour. You can book this tour with a local guide (affiliate), or this walking tour of Prague Castle (affiliate).
St Vitus Cathedral
Situated within the grand complex of Prague Castle, St Vitus Cathedral is the main Cathedral in Prague. This Cathedral has played an important role in Prague’s royal history with the coronation of many Czech kings and queens taking place here. It’s an impressive building, and definitely worth visiting when you’re at the castle.
Golden Lane
Another top sight that’s situated within Prague Castle in Golden Lane. Golden Lane is a really cute, narrow street is packed with colourful buildings from the 16th century. The lane is named after the royal goldsmiths who lived on the street in the 17th century.
Walking down Golden Lane really feels like stepping back into history. It feels like you’re walking down a street from hundreds of years ago, with very little changing since then.
Warm up for lunch near Prague Castle
A great lunch spot near Prague Castle is Restaurace U Mlynáře. It’s a cozy Czech restaurant, just a short walk down Nerudova Street.
The restaurant serves traditional Czech food, as well as Czech draft beers. It’s warm and homely inside, making it perfect for warming up on a cold winters day. Popular dishes include svíčková, goulash, and roast duck with dumplings.
Prague’s Jewish Quarter
After lunch, head over to Prague’s Jewish Quarter. The Jewish Quarter, or Jewish Ghetto as it is also known, is an area seeped in history. It originally dates back to the 13th century when Jews were ordered to settle in this one area. There are multiple museums and synagogues you can visit, to learn more about the history of the Jews in the Czech Republic.
Enjoy your final night in Prague’s restaurants and bars
On your final night of your time in Prague in 2 days in winter, make sure you enjoy a good night out in Prague. After dinner, head to one of the many bars in Prague’s Old Town. The Czech Republic is famous for its locally produced draught beers, and beer is a lot cheaper here than it is in a lot of Western Europe.
The two most famous Czech beers are Pilsner Urquell and Budweiser Budvar. Both these beers have been brewed in the Czech Republic since the 1800s. Enjoy a few pints as you reflect on your 2 days in this great city.
Day trips from Prague in winter
Prague is a beautiful city, but there’s no denying the centre is fairly small. You can easily see the main sights in Prague in two days. If you’ve got some extra time in Prague, then I strongly recommend taking a day trip out of the city. Even in the winter, it’s easy to take day trips from Prague.
I recommend taking a day trip from Prague to the nearby town Kutna Hora. This small town has one key attraction: the amazingly unique and slightly creepy ‘bone church’! You can visit Kutna Hora from Prague by train. Or, if you want a simpler option, you can book an organised day trip from Prague to Kutna Hora here (affiliate), or this similar tour here (affiliate). You can also check out my detailed guide to taking a day trip from Prague to Kutna Hora here.
Prague in winter – at Christmas
Prague is a great city to visit all through the winter. But the city comes alive even more at Christmas. Christmas in Prague can be busy, but it’s magical. There are Christmas Markets across the city, and the Old Town Square is alive with Christmas Markets, music, decorations, and great food. If you’re thinking of visiting Prague at Christmas, check out my detailed guide to visiting Prague at Christmas.
Enjoy your trip to Prague in 2 days in winter! Make sure you check out my guide to taking a day trip from Prague to the Kutna Hora Bone Church. And you can also check out my guide to visiting Prague at Christmas. Prague is in a great location in Europe to quickly hop to other nearby European city. Check out my guide to visiting Vienna in winter, or a weekend in Berlin in winter. Or head to the beautiful city of Gdansk in Poland for another beautiful, historic city.
