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FIRST TIME IN PRAGUE -- Itineray Help for a Long Weekend

Posted by (Los Angeles) on

Hi gang,

The board has been really helpful to me over the years in planning my trips. I was hoping to seek some input on the logistics on what will be a long weekend in Prague. I arrive around noon on a Friday from Munich, so after checking in to the hotel, I was thinking that would be a good day to do a walking tour.

On Saturday, the Jewish sites will be closed, so was thinking that would be a good castle day.

On Sunday, I am sort of torn whether to venture all the way out to Theresienstadt or not; if I wasn't able to see the old Jewish area and sites in Prague on Friday, then I will probably opt to do that on Sunday rather than what might amount to a full day excursion out to the camp.

I return to Munich on an early afternoon flight on Monday.

Would love any suggestions or tips on how to maximize the weekend and see as much as possible (I love musuems and art galleries). Thanks!

Todd

Posted by
4637 posts

I say - stay in Prague, you will have only two full days. There are many museums and galleries in Prague. Just google it. Or you can find ideas in Rick Steves book: Prague & the Czech Republic. Prague is very walkable. I would recommend to walk so called Golden Royal Way early in the morning to avoid crowds. From Old Town Square across the Charles Bridge toward the Castle. After that do Vysehrad, Petrin Hill, Vinohrady and Zizkov neighborhood and so many other options, you will have always something to do and see even if you stay two weeks or two months.

Posted by
15582 posts

The Jewish sights close early on Friday, maybe as early as 1 pm. It looks like your only option is Sunday. So how about the castle on Friday, Theresienstadt on Saturday, then the Jewish quarter and city center on Sunday? Then Monday morning for whatever you didn't get to on Sunday.

Posted by
256 posts

Thanks, everyone.
The suggestions were very helpful!

Todd

Posted by
190 posts

My favorite museum in Prague is the Museum of Communism, which is part tongue-in-check kitsch, part middle school social studies project, and part sober display of life under Soviet Communism. You'll see signs all around town for it. I also really enjoyed the Mucha Museum. The Kafka Museum is a surreal experience. Pages are presented underwater. The lighting makes everything seem just a bit off. I very nearly had a panic attack going through the dark, narrow corridor filled with filling cabinets. If you're a fan of Kafka, or just want to see what a Kafka Museum could possibly look like, I highly recommend it. And speaking of surreal - Don Giovanni performed with Marionettes. We went because it was cheap, and it was hot outside, but oh was it worth it. Have a wonderful trip!

Posted by
356 posts

The ticket for the Jewish Museum is valid over six days, so you can spread your visits out of between Friday and Sunday.

Terezin is a going to take at least half a day i.e. from 9am until 3pm, and it will drain you, so be prepared for that. If you do go, make sure that you give it the space that it deserves.

If you're interested in galleries, then I would hit them up on Saturday. The National Gallery has three buildings on Hradcanske Namesti, just in front of the castle. The Trade Fair Palace and DOX are both worth a look too - they are in the Holesovice district -
and the Convent of Agnes of Bohemia, where the medieval art is housed, is an undiscovered treasure.

I would avoid the castle during the day as it is unbearable. I always recommend visiting it at night - after the crowds have left - or considering a nighttime tour, as it is much more pleasant.

Finally, in terms of the museums the Prague City Museum is excellent and often overlooked. Their main building is at Tesnov, beside the Florenc bus station, and they have an excellent exhibit on Charle IV's medieval New Town in the House of the Golden Ring, just off the Old Town Square.

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