Prague Schedule 3days?

Rick recommends a week if you have the time and, if you're in a rush, a minimum of 2 full days and 3 nights. His week includes a couple of side trips.

We spent a full week in Prague and enjoyed it.
However, if you wanted to do it at a fast pace
and see just the highlights, it can be done in
three days.

When I am making the same kind of decisions about travel days, I make a list of everything I want to see and do. Then I make a tentative daily schedule noting openingclosing times of museums, etc. Carefully think through your plans. Did you leave time for sitting on the banks of the Vultava River? Watching the sunset on the Charles Bridge? Wandering the shops on Nerudova Street? Eating at every local eatery? Or do you even care to become that totally immersed in the city?

Our family can see the sights, explore, and just sit and soak up the atmosphere and the culture rather quickly. Some people need lots more time! What kind of traveler are you??? We did Prague in 2 days and 2 nights and explored everything!

Carla,
What was your itinerary for exploring Prague so quickly? I have two days there and would love to hear how you used the time!

To all of you who have answered my question about Prague in three days; Thanks. But I still need more specific information. Yes, I had already consulted Rick Steve's book and knew that he recommended at least 3 days, but I was hoping to hear from people who have been there and would have an opinon on whether 3 days is rushing Prague. Yes, I do make lists of the places I want to visit, but not having been there it is hard to know how much time to allow. Would love to hear if 3 days will cover the big sites adequately and still allow time for wandering, some people watching, and some breathing too. I have known people who did Paris in 2 days, but that certainly wasn't enough time for us.

Molly, you can do it in 3 days if that's all you have, though I'd take the whole 5! St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Castle, the Belvedere gardens & summer palace...with Strahov Monastery nearby & Nerudova St. just down the hill...& the Loreto shrine in the other direction. Fruit trees blooming on Petrin Hill...Malostranske Nameste (square) with its Baroque St. Nicholas church...Waldstein, Vrtba & Vojan gardens...& on to Charles Bridge & the Old Town Square & the Astrological clock. Probably a half day in the Jewish Quarter...several synagogues, the old cemetery, the children's art work from the Terezin camp, & lunch or a pastry at an outdoor cafe on Parizka. On a sunny day take a Vltava cruise for a different perspective of the city...& take a picnic to Vysehrad, where Prague began. And the museums! (Mucha, etc.) Concerts in any of the historic churches; performances at the Natl. Theatre or Estates Theatre. You can contact me for specific questions.

Molly-

1. How important is it to get to Germany for 2 days? If you can give it up, then take the extra days to explore Prague.
2. It sounds like you did the research and feel that you could use extra time. Follow your gut instinct.

Erica-Here's what we did. We just had the two days, so we had to make it work.
Day 1-We caught the Charles Bridge in the morning light, did the Hradcany tour with the headphones, shopped down Nerudova, and into St. Nicholas Church in Mala Strana. Then on to the Lennon Wall, climbed Petrin Tower, walked the Vultava River, crossed Legii Bridge to see the National Theater, down to the Dancing House and then walked down Wenceslas Square. After stopping for coffee at our hotel Green Garland Pension, we walked down Karlova, climbed the tower and crossed the Charles Bridge, catching the sunset, and ate in the Mala Strana.
Day 2-We hit the Jewish Quarter in the morning and the Old Town in the afternoon, the Mucha Museum and ate a wonderful meal at Mlejnice.

Not knowing if this is your full itinerary, I suggest you concentrate on one country for such a short amount of time. I would skip Bacharach(saving it for a trip concentrating on Germany) and do Prague right. This is supposed to be a vacation, not a race. You will feel better about your trip and remember more fully what you have done if you are not rushing around.

Molly....I have some follow-up info from my son. Did you get my other msgs, & are you still interested in more current info?

Molly:

I did 5 days in Prague, but spent one 8-5 day in Kutna Hora, and a day at Terrezin at the Nazi camp.

3 days is doable providing you are staying in a central location. Prague Castle, Jewish Quarter and Old Town all very accesible w/ the Metro. Have some pivo and enjoy!!

I would definitely recommend more time in Prague than 3 days, especially given the wonderful side trips you can take to Kutna Hora, Cesky Krumlov, Teresin camp, etc. We spent six days there last summer and enjoyed every minute. We didn't feel rushed to get to the next site.

Having said that, it's really a matter of personal style. The more I have traveled, the more I find I like to take my time in a major city. The "top ten" tourist attractions will fill up a shorter trip, leaving no time for exploring the "back door" aspects of the place, let alone indulging in some day trips to see the countryside. On the other hand, seeing more places rather than fewer gives you a greater variety of European memories to tide you over till you can make your next trip. Like I say, it's a matter of personal travel style.

To all the travelers who have so generously commented on their experiences in Prague many thanks. Being a true Pacific Northwest kinda person who enjoys long walks in any weather, I am going with the majority of opinion-slow down and enjoy Prague for a few more days. I would rather see less more than more less. I am sure we will take long walks in Prague and not regret a moment.
Molly