Prague Travel Guide 2026: When to Go, Where to Stay and What to Skip

Most visitors fly into Vaclav Havel Airport and take the Airport Express bus, 200 CZK, about 35 minutes, or a metro plus tram combination into the center. Ride hailing apps such as Bolt and Uber are widely available and often cheaper than a taxi hailed at the terminal. Spring, April through June, and early autumn, September and October, offer the best balance of mild weather and manageable crowds, while July and August bring peak heat and the heaviest tour group traffic through Old Town Square and Charles Bridge. Winter is cold but quiet, and Prague Castle's interiors keep shorter hours, 9am to 4pm, from November through March.

For lodging, Old Town and Mala Strana put visitors inside walking distance of the major sights but at premium prices and maximum foot traffic. Vinohrady and Zizkov, both a short tram ride from the center, offer quieter, more residential stays with strong local restaurant and pub scenes at lower cost. Budget travelers can expect to spend meaningfully less than in Paris or Amsterdam, though the January 2026 transit fare increase and the proposed 2027 tourist tax hike are narrowing that gap.

A single 90 minute PID transit ticket, 50 CZK on paper or 46 CZK via the PID Litacka app, covers the metro, trams and buses citywide and must be validated once at the start of the ride. Must do sightseeing includes Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral, the Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square, and an early morning walk across Charles Bridge before the crowds arrive. A worthwhile day trip is Kutna Hora, about one hour away by train, for the Sedlec Ossuary and St Barbara's Cathedral. What to avoid: currency exchange counters and restaurants directly on Old Town Square, Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square, where bait exchange rates and padded restaurant bills are well documented. Eating and exchanging money one street back, on streets such as Dlouha or Dusni, avoids most of it.