By Liam Isola There’s no debating that Prague is an iconic tourist destination. Millions visit the capital of the Czech Republic each year to enjoy what it has to offer. It’s an essential stop on a Czech Republic one week itinerary, but it shouldn’t be your only stop in the country!
Today, we’ll talk about Prague and some of the other best places to go in the Czech Republic. There is a well-known saying that the beer is cheaper than the water in the Czech Republic, and sometimes that is actually true!
The Czech Republic is an affordable country to visit, including accommodation, food, and transportation. Instead of hopping from big European city to big European city, consider deepening your knowledge of a few countries.
There are plenty of places to see after visiting Prague, and we’ll discuss some of them on our Czech Republic one week itinerary.
Czech Republic One Week Itinerary: Prague – Four Full Days
Let’s face it: you’re probably going to the Czech Republic to see Prague, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It has a ridiculously beautiful Old Town, with plenty of attractions to keep tourists busy for a handful of days.
Crowds during the peak season can be nearly unbearable. So, if you’re planning a trip to Prague, consider the shoulder seasons: April-May and September-October.
Prague’s Metro system is also quite impressive, which means you don’t have to stay in the city center. You’ll undoubtedly save money by staying somewhere on the outskirts of the city and taking the Metro in.
When I went to Prague during peak season in 2022, I managed to get a deal at Hotel Duo (which has a bowling alley), close to the airport and 20 minutes away from the center by public transit, for 48 euros per night. Split between two people, it wasn’t bad at all.
No matter where you stay, Prague should be the centerpiece of your Czech Republic one week itinerary. Spending four days there will give you enough time to see major sights and fit in a day trip.
Things to Do
Old Town is an obligatory stop while in Prague Old Town Square is one of the most photogenic places in the city, and it’s also where the famous Prague Astronomical Clock and Church of Our Lady before Týn are.
You’ll also find Prague’s Jewish Quarter in Old Town. The oldest active synagogue in Europe, the Old-New synagogue, is in the area. The Spanish Synagogue has an incredibly ornate interior and now hosts concerts. Outside of the Jewish Quarter, the Jerusalem Synagogue also has a beautiful Moorish interior.
One of the must-do activities in Prague is walking across the Charles Bridge over the Vltava. Fortunately, this stone bridge, which is nearly seven centuries old, was unscathed during WWII. The pedestrian-only bridge links New and Old Towns, and there, you can begin the walk to Prague Castle.
Prague Castle is, according to some sources, the largest ancient castle in the world. It’s worth walking around the vast grounds. Also, make sure to head to St. Vitus Cathedral within the castle complex. Hradcany Square, the main entrance to the castle, is massive.
Near the castle grounds, the Waldstein Garden is quite beautiful and worth a detour.
On the same side of the Vltava as Prague is the Petrin Tower, where you’ll find the best view of Prague. Tickets are around $15, and I found it to be well worth it.
Back on the other side of the river, you’ll find the most unique building in the city, Frank Gehry’s Dancing House. The Dancing House is on the way to Vysehrad, a fortified area with a famous cemetery.
When the weather is nice, Prague residents flock to the Riegrovy Sady park to have picnics and watch the sunset.
Affordable Restaurants
Admittedly, I didn’t eat Czech food in Prague and went for the international options, which I was very impressed with. Lal Qila had a delicious and affordable Indian lunch buffet that I went to twice in the span of four days. For Thai food, head to Thai Station in Old Town.
Paprika Mediterranean also has very good falafel sandwiches and hummus plates.
Karlovy Vary Day Trip
Karlovy Vary is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most popular day trips from Prague. It is known for its thermal springs and is the most famous Czech spa town, and one of the most prominent in Europe.
If this sounds appealing, tack it onto your Czech Republic one week itinerary. Karlovy Vary is only a 90-minute drive or a two-hour bus ride from Prague.
Tasting tours of the hot springs are popular, along with bathing in thermal pools. You can also get a three-hour pass at Saunia Thermal Resort for around $35, which is on the cheap side for Karlovy Vary.
The town is also famous for its five colonnades which house mineral hot springs. The most famous colonnade is the sprawling Mill Colonnade, which contains five mineral hot springs.
You can also hike in Karlovy Vary. Consider going up to Deer Jump Lookout, which is featured on the movie poster of Grand Budapest Hotel. You can also hike up to the Diana Observation Tower, which has some of the best views of the city.
Olomouc – One Full Day
You can take the train from Prague to the quaint city of Olomouc for under $10 on operators like RegioJet. With prices like that, why not add it to your Czech Republic one week itinerary?
The trip to Olomouc takes about two hours and 20 minutes, and because Olomouc is a small city, you can see the highlights in a full day there.
Olomouc’s main square is wildly impressive and has a fraction of the crowds that Prague has. In the square, you’ll find the UNESCO-listed Holy Trinity Column, which is the primary symbol of Olomouc.
Other landmarks in the main (upper) square include the surreal-looking Astronomical Clock and Arion Fountain.
Another thing I found interesting about Olomouc’s upper square is that it isn’t centered around a church, unlike plenty of other European squares.
Instead, the Saint Wenceslas Cathedral, the most famous church in the city, is a 12-minute walk away. This imposing 12th-century Gothic cathedral is an essential stop on a side trip to Olomouc.
I enjoyed walking around the Bezručovy sady – a park which hugs the outer walls of Olomouc along the Mlynsky Potok river. There’s a tranquil botanical garden within the park as well.
Unlike in Prague, I had traditional Czech food in Olomouc and sat outside for a nice romantic meal at Restaurant U Mořice. The duck breast in port sauce was excellent.
Brno – Two Days
If you look at another Czech Republic one week itinerary, Brno might not show up. That’s a shame, as I found it to be one of the most underrated cities in Europe. I happened to be there during its annual Brazil festival in 2022, and the energy in the city was great.
There was plenty of foot traffic at the festival, but the city never felt crowded. Brno is the Czech Republic’s second-largest city, and it’s just a couple of hours away from Olomouc by train. Train prices start at around $12. Two days in Brno will give you a great sense of the city.
Spilberk Castle is a must-visit place in the city. The fortress was also a royal castle and a political prison. It’s now a museum, which is quite informative. There’s a nice view of the city from the castle.
Visit Old Town Hall, specifically the viewing platform. From there, you’ll see all the colorful Old Town buildings and the Spilberk Castle.
Modern architecture enthusiasts will want to check out the Villa Tugendhat, which was designed by Mies van der Rohe and is also a UNESCO-listed landmark. If you’re after more traditional architecture, head to the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul.
Nuclear Bunker 10-Z is a decommissioned nuclear fallout bunker that is now a hostel and museum. It’s a reminder of Cold War Soviet times and something different to check out.
The best place to run in Brno is at Park Luzansky, outside of the city center.
A 45-minute drive from Brno, the Moravian Karst is a natural wonder waiting to be explored. The cave system has ancient carvings and incredible stalactites and stalagmites.
Some affordable restaurants worth checking out are Domovina (Vietnamese), POKECZ (Hawaiian), and Annapurna (Nepalese).
Czech Republic One Week Itinerary: What’s Next?
After Brno, you have the option of heading down into Austria. Vienna is only 90 mins away from Brno by train and is an elegant and iconic Central European city. From Brno, you can also go to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, and one of our 15 cheap European cities to watch soccer in, by train.
If you switch the order of Olomouc and Brno, there are buses to Katowice, Poland, from the former that take two and a half hours. No matter what order you choose to follow for this Czech Republic one week itinerary, I guarantee you’ll see some unforgettable sights.