Czech Republic – prague

Why we went…

Poland was the main focus of this European trip, but when you are so close to such a fantastic city, why not! I had been to Prague a couple of times in my 20s and was excited to see it through the eyes of my kids. It truly is a fairytale city.

How we got there…

We drove from Krakow using Daytrip. Daytrip is a fantastic and very reliable car service that takes you from city to city in Europe. You can choose tourist or lunch stops along the way. The car ride was about 6 hours. On this trip we chose to stop in a charming town called Olomouc for lunch. We ate at a great restaurant in the main square called Moravska. Olomouc is famous for its astrological clock!

Where we stayed…

We stayed at the Andaz Prague. The location is fantastic only 10 minutes walking from the Old Town, and 25 minutes from the airport. While the exterior boasts the traditional Prague architecture, the interior is contemporary, beautiful and clean. The service is fantastic, and the restaurant serves good kids’ food for my very picky son.

Where we ate…

Restaurant Zvonice – We chose Zvonice for our fancy dinner in Prague. It is located at the top of a bell tower in the building next to the Andaz. The restaurant is cozy and charming. The food was excellent, but quite expensive for Prague.

Lokal– We loved this restaurant. It was perfect for lunch. Quick service, excellent food and cold fresh beer. We went to the U Bile Kuzelky location which was located near the Charles Bridge on the castle side of the river. It was perfect to walk from the castle to this spot for lunch before crossing the bridge into old town.

Pivovar Cvikov – Located in New Town this brew pub has fantastic food and local brews. Ainsley enjoyed her 5th tartar of the trip.

U Kunstantu – We loved this spot! This is a fantastic craft brewery right in the heart of old town. It doesn’t feel at all touristy and has a great selection of local beers. They also offer curated tastings. Tell them what you like, and they will select for you based on your preferences.

What we did…

I think this is a pretty good itinerary for one day in Prague! We saw a good number of the main attractions and had a little down time to explore and relax.

We started the day at the Prague Castle. Our hotel concierge recommended that we take a taxi to the castle and then walk back down to the old town. We purchased our tickets on site though it looks like you can buy them online. We opted for the basic castle circuit which included the Old Royal Palace, St George’s Basilica, Golden Lane and St Vitus Cathedral. I loved the churches, and then kids loved Golden Lane.

From the castle we walked down toward our lunch restaurant, Lokal, near the Charles Bridge. On the way, we visited St. Nicholas Church.

After lunch and before crossing the river, we tried the famous Chimney Cake, took some photos at the Lenin Wall, and climbed a tower for fantastic views of the city. I love climbing towers for the views and the photos, and the kids love it for the winding steep staircases.

Crossing the Charles Bridge is always a highlight in Prague. The stunning statues and the views of the castle and the city never get old.

We loved exploring Old Town. We timed it perfectly to reach the astronomical clock on the hour and got to see it do its thing. The kids were underwhelmed by it and were a little confused as to why so many people were there to see the “show.” It is definitely something to say that you have done if the timing works out. While near the main square we also visited the Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum and the Museum of Torture. The kids loved these novelty museums.

The Jewish Quarter in Prague is a must visit. Rich history, beautiful synagogues and an impressive cemetery. I wish we had more time to spend here, but I was very happy that we got to see as much as we did.