Czech Republic
Prague is one of Europe's best walking cities, with old towers, beer halls and a river. I spent six nights there in June 2024, then continued overland to Kraków. I based myself near Charles Square instead of in the Old Town.
What I did
Flew into Prague from Paris.
Spent six nights in Nové Město (New Town), near Charles Square.
Walked between the New Town, the river and the Old Town on foot.
Passed along the Smetanovo nábřeží embankment, with its view across to the castle.
Left overland for Kraków.
Where to stay
Nové Město: the 14th century New Town south of the Old Town. Charles Square is a big green square, and it is an easy walk to Wenceslas Square, the National Theatre and the river. I stayed in an Airbnb here.
Vinohrady: leafy, with cafes and good bars, a favorite with locals.
Malá Strana: beautiful and quiet at night, below the castle.
Staré Město: the Old Town, best for a short stay but crowded and pricey.
Where I stayed
Airbnb in Nové Město, Prague: 4.89 on Airbnb (171 reviews). Designer studio by Charles Square in Prague's New Town.
Getting there and around
Václav Havel Airport (PRG) is about 30 minutes from the center by Uber. Bus 119 to Nádraží Veleslavín metro, or the AE Airport Express bus to the main station, are the cheap options.
Trams and the metro cover everything, and tickets are easy in the PID Lítačka app. The center is very walkable.
Trains and buses connect Prague with Kraków, Vienna, Berlin and Budapest.
What to eat
Svíčková: beef sirloin in cream sauce with dumplings and cranberries.
Vepřo knedlo zelo: roast pork, dumplings and sauerkraut.
Guláš and smažený sýr: goulash with bread dumplings, and fried cheese with tartar sauce.
Chlebíčky: open faced sandwiches.
Skip the trdelník: it is a tourist thing, not a Czech tradition.
What to drink
Beer: the Czech Republic drinks more beer per person than anywhere else, and it is great. Pilsner Urquell and Budvar are the famous ones, and tank beer at a good pub (a tankovna) is the freshest you will taste. Plzeň is an easy day trip to the Pilsner Urquell brewery.
Pub culture: a hospoda is the neighborhood pub, and beer is cheap and comes quickly. Kozel and Staropramen are everyday picks.
Wine: Moravia, in the southeast, makes the country's wine. Try Rulandské and Müller Thurgau. Burčák, young cloudy wine, appears in September.
Becherovka: the herbal liqueur from Karlovy Vary, often mixed with tonic as a Beton.
Spirits: slivovice (plum brandy) is the traditional pour, and Fernet Stock is common at bars.
Day trips and side trips
Kutná Hora and the Sedlec Ossuary, the Bone Church.
Český Krumlov, a fairytale town in the south.
Karlovy Vary spa town.
Plzeň and the Pilsner Urquell brewery.
Bohemian Switzerland National Park and Pravčická brána.
Terezín memorial.
Festivals and events
Czech Beer Festival: Prague, usually in May. Hundreds of beers at Letná.
Prague Spring: Prague, usually from May to early June. A major classical music festival.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival: Karlovy Vary, usually in July. One of the oldest film festivals in Europe.
Pilsner Fest: Plzeň, usually in early October. Beer, music and brewery events.
Christmas markets: Prague, usually from late November through Christmas. Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are the main ones.
Colours of Ostrava: Ostrava, usually in July. One of the biggest multi genre festivals in central Europe.
Rock for People: Hradec Králové, usually in June or July. A big rock and alternative lineup.
Masters of Rock: Vizovice, usually in July. Metal and hard rock.
Let It Roll: Milovice, usually in July. One of the largest drum and bass festivals in the world.
Beats for Love: Ostrava, usually in July. A major electronic festival with house and techno.
Lunchmeat: Prague, usually in autumn. A techno and audiovisual art festival.
Signal Festival: Prague, usually in October. A festival of light art across the city.
Music and dance
Folk dance: Moravian folk dances and polka are performed at regional festivals and folklore shows.
Dancing out: Prague clubs such as Cross Club and Roxy run late nights.
Classical: Dvořák, Smetana and Janáček are Czech. Catch a concert at the Rudolfinum or Municipal House.
Jazz: Prague has a long jazz tradition, with clubs like Reduta and AghaRTA.
Rock, folk and brass: Czech pubs often have live folk and rock, and brass band music is common in Moravia.
Electronic: Prague has a respected techno and drum and bass scene, with clubs like Cross Club and Roxy.
Don't miss
Charles Bridge at sunrise, before the crowds.
Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral and Golden Lane.
The Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock.
The Letná Park beer garden for the view over the bridges.
Vyšehrad fortress and cemetery.
A Vltava river cruise at sunset.
Photography spots
Charles Bridge: sunrise, with an empty bridge and the statues against the castle.
Letná Park: the bridges over the Vltava at sunset.
Smetanovo nábřeží: the embankment looks straight across to the castle, and blue hour works well.
Vyšehrad: river and city at golden hour with far fewer people.
Drones: EU rules apply and central Prague is a no fly zone. Check current rules.
My experience
Six days in Prague felt right. Staying near Charles Square meant I could walk to everything without sleeping in the busiest part of the Old Town. The city is beautiful early in the morning and gets crowded fast, so I would plan around sunrise. I would recommend it to anyone who likes architecture, beer and easy walking.
Cost of living
Overall: Prague and Brno: $$, about 35% cheaper than New York. Brno is cheaper still, and Prague's Old Town runs higher.
Coffee: about $3
Local lunch: about $9
Dinner for two at a nice restaurant: about $55
Beer or cocktail: about $3 / $9
Ride across town: about $6
Mid-range hotel: about $110 a night
Furnished one-bedroom in a good area: about $1,300 a month in Prague's Vinohrady, $900 in Brno
Daily budget: about $70 budget, $150 comfortable, $300+ luxury in Prague, roughly 20% less in Brno
Prague is one of the better values in Europe, especially for beer and local food, and it gets pricier the closer you are to the Old Town. Prices are approximate in US dollars as of 2026.
Working remotely
Wi-Fi: Fast and reliable in hotels, apartments and most cafes, often 100 Mbps or more. Power cuts are rare.
Coworking and cafes: Prague is the main nomad base, with Locus Workspace and Impact Hub Prague plus laptop friendly cafes in Vinohrady and Karlín. Brno is a quieter, cheaper option with a growing startup scene. Olomouc and Plzeň also work for slow stays.
Time zone: UTC+1, 6 hours ahead of US Eastern (5 hours for a couple of weeks around the daylight saving changes).
Visa for longer stays: US citizens get 90 days in any 180 across the Schengen Area. There is no dedicated digital nomad visa, but freelancers can look at the long-term trade license (zivno) visa. Check current rules.
Nomad rating: 4 out of 5. Great internet, safe, walkable and affordable, with a good expat community.
Good to know
Language: Czech. English is common in central Prague and in tourist areas.
Currency: The Czech koruna. Cards work almost everywhere. Avoid tourist exchange booths and always decline dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and terminals.
Plugs: Type E, and Type F fits, 230V.
Entry for US citizens: The Czech Republic is in Schengen, with 90 days in 180 visa free. Check current rules.
Best time to visit: May, June and September. December for the Christmas markets.
Getting around: Trams and the metro are excellent, and Uber, Bolt and Liftago all work.
SIM/eSIM: O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone. EU roaming applies with any EU SIM or eSIM.
Apps: Wolt and Foodora for delivery.
Water: Tap water is safe to drink.
Tipping: Round up or leave about 10 percent at restaurants. Tell the server the total you want to pay rather than leaving it on the table.
Useful phrases
Hello: Dobrý den (formal) or Ahoj (casual)
Thank you: Děkuji
Please: Prosím
How much?: Kolik to stojí?
The check, please: Zaplatím, prosím
Nightlife
Nightlife in Prague revolves around beer. Locals go out to a pub, a hospoda, for long, easygoing evenings, and the cheap pints keep things relaxed rather than rowdy. It is more bar-hopping than velvet ropes, with big tourist clubs near the Old Town for those who want them.
When people go out: Pubs fill from about 6 pm and many close around midnight. Clubs start after 11 pm and run to 4 or 5 am, busiest on Friday and Saturday.
Where the action is: In Prague, Vinohrady and Karlín are where locals go for craft beer and cocktails, Žižkov has gritty late pubs, and the Old Town has the big tourist clubs.
The music: Mostly pop, house and electronic in the clubs, with cellar jazz bars and live rock in the pubs.
Good to know: Beer is cheap by European standards and cocktails cost a few times more. Covers are small or free before midnight. Dress is casual, smart casual for clubs. Check the menu in Old Town tourist bars, since overcharging happens, and take Bolt or Uber back.
Meeting people
Social scene: Prague is social and easy to meet people in, especially around Vinohrady and Karlín. Beer halls with shared tables, coworking spaces and language exchanges are the natural starting points.
Apps: Meetup, Tinder, Bumble and Hinge are all used, and Facebook groups for expats and digital nomads in Prague are active.
Etiquette: A handshake is the standard greeting. Be on time, plans are usually made a day or two ahead, and splitting the bill at the table is normal.
Stay smart: Some tourist bars in the Old Town overcharge, so check the menu prices first and meet new people in busy, public places.
Staying safe
Prague is very safe, but pickpockets work Charles Bridge, the Old Town Square and tram 22.
Use Uber or Bolt instead of street taxis, which can overcharge.
Skip the tourist exchange booths and use ATMs from banks.