Best Tours and Day Trips from Prague

Walking through Prague is a delight. Its cobbled streets and picturesque rooftops, its Gothic beauty and its intimate atmosphere make this city captivating. But don't forget that it's also an ideal starting point for a number of excursions, being in the heart of Eastern Europe. Here are the best tours and excursions in Prague:

• Prague Castle Tour - from £23.
• Prague Night Tour - from £20.
• Prague Jewish Quarter Tour - from £51.
• Beer Tour of Prague - from £72
• Complete tour of Prague by electric bike - from £32
• Excursion to Kutná Hora from Prague - from £35
• Day trip to a glass and beer brewery from Prague - from £105
• Excursion to Český Krumlov from Prague - from £65.

On this tour you will discover Prague's most impressive sight: its castle. It is a citadel at the highest point of the city, within its walls you will find unique buildings in the city and enjoy wonderful views of the city, especially the Malá Strana district.

On this tour you will have a full guided tour of the castle and you will also visit Malá Strana and admire its Renaissance palaces and the baroque church of St. Nicholas.

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What you will see

If you are bored with traditional tours and love ghost stories and urban legends surrounding ancient cities, this night tour of Prague's Old Town is perfect for you. The big advantage over other tours: no doubt, less crowds of tourists and a closer experience in a small group with an expert art guide.

What you will see

If you know you won't be able to wait for a city tour and you're going to start exploring Prague the moment you get there, this tour will show you parts you probably haven't seen before by focusing a little more on the Jewish Quarter.

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What you will see

A very important part of your visit to Prague is discovering its gastronomy and its beer and liquor culture. On this tasting tour you can visit several of the city's typical establishments where you can try three different Czech beers and sample home-brewed spirits. In addition to strolling around the Old Town Square, you will understand the importance of beer in the Czech Republic and learn how to toast.

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Visiting a new city is always a thrilling experience, but sometimes conventional tours can fall short if you've travelled halfway around the world. That's why it's great to visit Prague in an alternative way by riding an electric bike, which has the advantage that you can see almost the whole city without getting too tired and make the most of your time.

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• Duration: Between 1 hour 30 minutes and 3 hours
• Recommended: If you get tired of walking easily or if you are only in Prague for a short time and want to see the whole city.

What you will see

Kutna Hora is one of the most popular destinations for visitors from Prague who want to discover a little bit more, and indeed this town has a collection of very interesting historical buildings and monuments.

During the excursion to Kutná Hora from Prague you can visit the Sedlec Ossuary, an impressive chapel made of human bones that is the ultimate expression of Central European Gothic, the historic centre of Kutná Hora and the magnificent St. Barbara's Church among other places of interest.

Kutná Hora is the perfect complement to your visit to Prague, as they are two cities with similar atmospheres but with unique places that I recommend you to discover. To help you organise your visit, Kutná Hora is about an hour and a half from Prague if you are travelling by road, and your group size during this tour is a maximum of 40 people.

What you will see

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This tour to Bohemia brings together the two most traditional manufactures of the Czech Republic: glass and beer. You will visit Pilsen, the birthplace of the typical Czech beer Pilsner Urquell, and learn about the entire brewing process and even taste several beers and buy souvenirs of the brand.

Afterwards, you will head to Nizbor, where the old Bohemian glass brewery is still active, and just like the visit to the brewery you can watch the glass brewing process from the ground up. To give you an idea, Pilsen is about an hour's drive from Prague and Nizbor about 45 minutes, and your group during this experience will be a maximum of 15 people.

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About three hours from Prague, the town of Cesky Krumlov looks like something out of a fairy tale. Like Prague, the Vltava River flows through Cesky Krumlov and at the highest point of the town is its famous castle.

Cesky Krumlov is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Czech Republic and a beautiful place to visit, thanks to its medieval maze of narrow streets and its castle, built in the 13th century and remodelled during the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

The town was also the home of the artist Egon Schiele, so you can find places dedicated to his art, including the Egon Schiele Art Centre. This tour to Cesky Krumlov takes about 10 hours, but at least 6 of those hours are round-trip transportation from Prague. Your group will be a maximum of 30 people.

What you will see

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Dresden, on the banks of the Elbe River and about two hours from Prague, is famous for its splendid Baroque architecture and there are plenty of things to see. There, you can discover the Zwinger Palace and the Frauenkirche Church, rebuilt after its complete destruction during World War II and whose ruins can be explored in the underground section.

The city offers an artistic and picturesque atmosphere and is a delight to walk around, so I recommend this tour if you want to enjoy a city a little different from Prague to complete your trip and make it international.

Please note that on this tour to Dresden you will be approximately 1 hour 40 minutes away from Prague by bus, and your group during this tour will be a maximum of 25 minutes.

What you will see

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The city of Prague is inevitably linked to Mozart's life: the State Theatre is where the composer's master opera 'Don Giovanni' premiered, the Church of St. Nicholas in Malá Strana, where Mozart played during his stays in Prague and where a mass was celebrated for him after his death. On this Mozart tour of Prague you will see both places and discover the historical centre of Prague with a professional guide.

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What you will see

This tour combines a visit of Prague's Old Town and Castle, the two main sights of the city, including tram transport between the two. Although it does not cover the whole city, this tour gives you the interesting possibility to see a number of areas of Prague in about three hours, giving you the opportunity to discover the rest on your own afterwards.

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What you will see

A visit to Konopiste Castle is the perfect excursion for history buffs as its last owner was Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, whose famous assassination set the wheels in motion for the First World War.

Today, Konopiste Castle is a protected monument of the Czech Republic whose galleries house impressive collections of armaments, tapestries and works of art. During your visit, you can tour the castle inside and out and admire its wonderful gardens.

About 40 minutes from Prague by road, another reason why this tour is worth doing is the breathtaking views of the Bohemian region you will have both on the way there and back from the bus, which you will share with a maximum of 18 other travellers.

What you'll see

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If you have always wanted to discover how the famous Bohemian crystal is made, you can do so on this excursion to the town of Nizbor where you will visit an authentic factory that still creates all kinds of glass pieces today.

In the workshops, you will learn about the manufacturing process from sand casting to decorating and engraving all kinds of motifs on this durable glass. You can also buy glass pieces as souvenirs at factory prices. Nizbor is about 45 minutes from Prague, so please note that at least one and a half hours of the excursion will be spent by bus to cover the round trip with your group, which will take a maximum of 45 minutes.

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For several reasons, taking an organised tour from Prague is a good idea: you don't have to worry about transport, and since you have limited time at your destination, you can make the most of the tour because you will be accompanied by a professional guide, who will keep you from getting lost and explain everything you see.

Duration

Having said that, bear in mind that transport is included in the total duration of each excursion. All the experiences I have mentioned are perfectly feasible for a day trip, and transport can vary between 1 hour 30 minutes and up to 6 hours depending on which one you choose.

Meals

Something you should also be aware of before taking an organised tour from Prague is that none of them include meals, but your guide will take you to a restaurant at the destination. Given that the itineraries of these tours are quite rigid to allow time for everything, you will most likely not be able to choose where to eat, so if you're not too confident or don't want to spend too much money, pack your own food in your backpack from Prague.

Travelling with children

If you're travelling to Prague with children, any of these excursions can be interesting for them, although my personal recommendation would be to go to Konopiste Castle, because of the impressive views and the place itself and its short duration.

Best day of the week to go on an excursion

As there are a number of options for a day trip from Prague, there is no one day that is better than another as it varies depending on the destination.

One thing to bear in mind is that glass and beer breweries are generally closed on Sundays, Konopiste Castle is not open to the public on Mondays and weekends tend to be the busiest days for tourists, especially in Cesky Krumlov and Dresden as they are popular weekend destinations for both tourists and locals.

My recommendation is to try to do your tour on a weekday if possible to avoid crowds of tourists. Another tip is to arrive at your destination as early as possible in the morning or around sunset, which is why most tours leave quite early from Prague.

Best time of year to take a tour from Prague

If you're visiting Prague in May, June or September, you've made the right choice, because these are the times when the weather is more pleasant without all the tourist crowds of the summer. For this reason, these are the best months for a trip from Prague.

There are exceptions, however: Cesky Krumlov is a blast in autumn because of the stunning oranges and reds of the town's trees, and it doesn't really matter what time of year you visit Konopiste Castle, as most of the tour is inside its walls.

What to take on an excursion from Prague

What to take on a tour is always up to you, but I always include a number of essentials on my list.

First, comfortable shoes, as you're going to be walking all day and you don't want to leave your feet dragging for the rest of your trip. Next, a bottle of water and, if you don't want to eat in a restaurant, food in your backpack. Sun cream if you're going on the tour in summer, and a camera to capture the sights that catch your eye.

Meeting point

Once you have booked your tour, you will receive a confirmation email. You can print this email or simply show it to the guide on your mobile phone when you join the tour at the meeting point. Most tours of Prague depart from Old Town Square or the surrounding area, but be sure to check the exact address of the meeting point in the tour information.

Best time and day of the week to take a Prague tour

As a general rule, it is usually best to take a tour of Prague as early in the day as possible before the early risers (the majority) start their itinerary. In Prague, sunset is one of the busiest times to visit, for example, the Castle, so the earlier you start your tour, the more you will enjoy the peace and quiet that comes with walking around such a beautiful city without having to dodge the crowds.

If you visit Prague in May, July or August, I'm sorry to say that it is difficult to avoid the crowds. Try to book your tour on a Wednesday or Thursday, as you can avoid the crowds of tourists coming to the city for the weekend.

Duration

Most tours of Prague last around 3 hours and are usually on foot, with the exception of the electric bike tour and the tours that combine part of the city and the Castle, as in the latter case you usually take the funicular up to the top of the city.

Luckily, Prague is a city that invites you to walk, as its historic centre is quite secluded and you can reach almost any point within half an hour's walk from Old Town Square. However, if you find yourself straying too far from the centre, Prague's metro works very well and there's also the tram, which can be an experience in itself.

Visit the Jewish Quarter

Whichever tour you take, I recommend that you visit Josefov (the Jewish Quarter) on your own and spend at least an afternoon there as it is well worth exploring in depth. If you can, I recommend that you enter the six synagogues in the quarter, for which, by the way, there is a pass that includes all of them. You can buy it at the entrance to any of them.

Beware of tourist traps

Be a little careful when passing over Charles Bridge, especially in the afternoon, as it is one of the places in the city where you will find a concentration of scammers trying to sell all kinds of things to tourists, or taking advantage of an oversight to perform magic tricks with your wallet. Apart from this, you will find a number of very touristy stalls where you can buy a souvenir.

About the Astronomical Clock

One thing that many Prague tours and guidebooks insist on is that you watch the cuckoo peek out of the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square, which is scheduled to rise once every hour. To be honest, it's not that interesting, so don't worry too much about seeing this 'spectacle' as it's something that appeals mainly to the more typical tourist. That said, if you're in the area just before the clock strikes, there's no harm in checking it out.

Get out of the tourist core

If you've been left wanting more after touring Prague's centre, don't make the beginner's mistake and stay there alone! Most tourists just wander around the Old Town without thinking that the lesser-known areas of Prague are just as amazing.

On my last trip to Prague, I enjoyed walking around the area around Jiřího z Poděbrad square, which is quite quiet, with authentic bars and cool local shops.

Card payments

Something I didn't know when I visited this beautiful city is that most shops and restaurants already accept credit cards for even the smallest transactions. For some reason I thought that almost all establishments would prefer to charge in kroner, but it turns out they don't, so bear this in mind before exchanging currency.

Don't miss the Castle

If you have booked one of the tours where a visit to the Castle is not included, you can always book tickets or take a guided tour separately. Here is my article on the subject so you can choose the best way to visit the castle: Prague Castle Tickets and Tours: how to buy and prices.

Where to eat after the tour of Prague

As Prague tours are of average length, lunch is not included in the tour. If you do the tour in the morning, my advice is that you should finish around 12 or 1 p.m., when you start to feel a bit peckish. Here are my top three restaurants in Prague:

• Hanavský Pavilion: A beautiful building for which words can't begin to describe it, which houses one of the best restaurants in the city. Its menu is a mix of traditional and international dishes and it's really worth booking a table if you're visiting Prague in summer, as the terrace offers beautiful views of the Vltava River.
• Bistro 8: Inspired by Czech cuisine but brought up to the present day with fresh, seasonal produce, this small café will delight minimalists looking for something light but tasty to eat before resuming the adventure of discovering Prague.
• Pivovar Marina: Located by the river, this rustic, wooden-roofed restaurant is one of the city's institutions, thanks in large part to its salmon fillet with couscous and chicken schnitzel with mashed potatoes.