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How many nights to plan in Prague?

We are planning a trip with our two preteen kids for 2015. Looking at Prague, Vienna and Budapest. Would 2 or 3 nights in Prague give us a decent taste of the city?

Thank you in advance,
Sharon

Posted by
8091 posts

All three cities are very large cities with many tourist sights. 2 nights wouldn't give any of these cities enough time.
We're staying 4 nights in each on our trip in a month.

And these are truly great European cities.

Posted by
4637 posts

I agree. At least four nights that means three full days.

Posted by
17628 posts

I guess as a first time visitor as a bare minimum two full days where you wake up and go to sleep in the same town is a start. Then research and add extra days where your interest leads you. If I had it to do over again the mix would be something like Prague 3, Vienna 2 and Budapest 4 days. But that's me, not you. If I can help with Budapest let me know.

Posted by
61 posts

I agree. I would give Prague at least 3 days/nights. 2 days is not enough time.

Posted by
14481 posts

"...a decent taste of the city?" I would also suggest 4 nights so that you have time just to walk around without having to rush. My first time in Prague I spent four full days without any day trips, just the city itself.

Posted by
17628 posts

Prague and Vienna taught me a lesson to plan multiple stops but keep the schedule loose so you can react to what you find. I suggested 3 full days in Prague and two in Vienna because I think that's a fair place to begin. The crowds drove me out of Prague a day early but we ended up in Cesky Krumlov and really enjoyed it. On another trip we decided Vienna didn't really peal to us so we left early and ended up in Budapest that we really enjoyed. So keep it loose and don't be afraid to make changes on the run.

Posted by
34 posts

If you land in Prague straight from the U.S. you will be very tired and jet-lagged. The first day may go by in a head-clogged haze as your body struggles to adjust. You will want to avoid crowds and activities that ask for concentration or alertness. You and your children will likely have the equivalent of insomnia but not want to get up a 2am and go out with the club crowd. (TIPS: Wait until 5am and go the Charles Bridge before breakfast. Have some fruit handy when you get hungry at odd hours of the night.) At least four nights (3 full days) in Prague (or whichever city in Europe you land in first) is best under those circumstances.

Note that Vienna and Budapest are much larger cities, having come of age in a later imperial time than Prague. Where in Prague's historical center you can easily walk nearly everywhere and enjoy seeing the nooks and crannies on the way, in Vienna and Budapest you will need to use public transit and allow time for that. (Vienna's public transit system is represented interactively online beautifully.) Read and plan ahead. That process will give you some ideas to choose from once you arrive and you'll know how much time to allow.