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Written by Savi, 88 Comments

You’re in Prague- you’ve seen the Astronomical Clock, the Castle, one cathedral too etany, and everything else listed on your guidebook’s ‘Must Do’ list. You’ve even bought a fridge magnet with the Astronomical Clock on it. Surely that can’t be all, you wonder? There’s got to be more to the European capital of quirk- of course there is! That’s where we come in. We got our mitts on, did all the grubby work for you, and narrowed our Top 10 experiences in Prague:

 

#1 Nuclear Bunker Tour

If there is one thing you must do in Prague, it is this. We’ve spoken of our distaste for organised tours before, but it is impossible to visit a nuclear bunker in Prague independently. That was why we opted for this tour, and boy are we glad we did! Visiting a nuclear bunker in a decrepit part of Prague was definitely the highlight of our entire trip to Eastern Europe.

This ex-Soviet bunker, made during the Cold War, is located 5 stories under the ground. It is crammed with paraphernalia including gas masks, medical kits, and uniforms. The ambience is evocative of the paranoia and violence of the Cold War years and it is bound to send a chill down your spine.

Nuclear BunkerThe entrance to the Nuclear Bunker

Nuclear Bunker TourGas masks at the Nuclear Bunker

Once you’ve digested all the information, it’s time for that old Bruised Passports staple – some tomfoolery. We played around with gas masks and guns- as you can see, Savi got a bit too carried away

Savi at the Nuclear BunkerSavi at the Nuclear Bunker

If you haven’t had your fill of the nuclear bunker (we hadn’t), you can even go back at night for a drink or two. The bunker transforms into a club at night, and it’s definitely a fun place to be. You can book your tour of the Nuclear Bunker here.

 

#2 Hot Chocolate at Café Kafíčko

Imagine a melted bar of smooth, velvety dark chocolate- now multiply what you feel by 100. That might begin to give you an idea of what the hot chocolate at Café Kafíčko tastes like. It’s so thick, it needs to be eaten with a spoon. In a quiet street close to the Kafka Museum, Café Kafíčko serves the best mug of hot chocolate you will ever have. Our tummies rumble just thinking about this cup of scrumminess. More information here.

Hot Chocolate Prague

 

#3 Letná Park

Much has been made of the panoramic views of Paris from the Eiffel Tower or Dubai from the Burj Khalifa. Given an average tourist’s obsession with panoramas, we’re surprised Letna Park isn’t mentioned more frequently on itineraries of Prague.

Letna Park is built on a plateau and it takes quite a climb to get there. The park itself is gorgeous in every season- you can visit its beer garden in summer, crunch on autumn leaves during fall, and demolish the rest of your party with snowballs during winter. However what makes it truly special is the arresting view it offers over the Vtlava river and the bridges of Prague. If you’re a photography enthusiast, this should top your list of things to do in Prague. Go before sunset and walk around till you find the perfect spot (from where you can see all of Prague of course!). Now wait for the sun to set and the magic to begin…

Letna Park Prague PanoramaPrague panorama from Letna Park

 

 #4 Shoe Monument

Yes, you read that right- a SHOE monument. What’s better, it replaces the world’s largest statue of Joseph Stalin. Stalin’s huge statue was unveiled in 1955, and destroyed shortly after in 1962. In an interesting representation of counter-culture, skate-boarders who use the area to practice, have strung together hundreds of (unwanted?) shoes to construct a ‘monument’. Fun activity or counter-hegemonic expression? You decide! Fascinating if you’re struck by the unusual.

Letna Park houses this gem- it is at the top of the stairs that lead to the park.

Off Beat Prague

 

#5 Lennon Wall

If you’re a Beatles fan, it is well worth negotiating your way through a maze of cobbled alleys to arrive at this graffiti-laden wall dedicated to John Lennon. However, the wall is not all about music. In the past, it has been a symbol of the Czech youth’s resistance against Gustáv Husák’s communist regime which banned pop music (amongst other things). It might be difficult to find political slogans amongst the hodge-podge of graffiti that graces the wall but it is definitely worth a dekko if you’re in the area. More information here.

Lennon Wall

Lennon Wall

 

#6 Pork in the Old Town Square

It wouldn’t be a Bruised Passports list without a dash of street food would it? We recommend trying roast pork from one of the vendors lining the Old Town Square. Czech cuisine is traditionally based around pork and beef, and they sure know how to do it well. This one is cheap and cheerful – you will definitely go back for more

Pork Old Town Square

 

#7 Trdelník

The party doesn’t stop there. You need to follow that pork with dessert- of course you do! We suggest skipping the waffles and picking a barely-pronounceable Trdelník from the vendors in the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. The Trdelník is a traditional pastry made from freshly-grilled dough covered with sugar and ground walnuts – what’s not to like?

TrdelnikTrdelník Stall at the Old Town Square

Offbeat Prague EatTrdelník Stall at the Old Town Square

If you’re not too hungry, or have the attention span of a 5-year old, you can even play with the Trdelník:

Prague What to Eat

 

#8 David Černý’s Sculptures

David Černý is notorious for his provocative sculptures in Prague. His subversive sculptures might not be subtle but they are definitely compelling.The three that top our list include:

  • The 2 male figures urinating in a puddle shaped like the Czech Republic at the Franz Kafka Museum. More information here
  • The 3 giant babies guarding the entrance to Museum Kampa. More information here
  • The 10 enormous and creepy infants crawling up the Zizkov Television Tower. More information here

Offbeat Prague 4David Černý’s ‘Piss’ at the Franz Kafka Museum

DSC_0255David Černý’s babies at Kampa Museum

Offbeat PragueVid’s ‘critical appreciation’ of David Černý’s babies at Kampa Museum

Off Beathen Track PragueDavid Černý’s babies at the Zizkov Television Tower

 

#9 The Dancing House

The Fred and Ginger Building, or the Dancing House, as it is known, is a perfect example of Noveau- Baroque architecture. It is historically significant because it is built at the location of a house destroyed by the U.S. bombing of Prague in 1945. The fluid curves of the Dancing House reminded us of some of Gaudi’s buildings in Barcelona. We would suggest visiting The Dancing House at night – get off at the Karlovo Namesti (line B) metro station and walk along the river to the Dancing House. The lights make it special.

Dancing House Review Prague

 

#10 A Meal at Ferdinand

If you’re stuck on where to eat in Prague, head to Ferdinand in the New Town. Try their beer and Czech goulash- essentially a beef-stew, cooked with paprika and served with bread dumplings called Knedliky. Their goulash is smooth and flavoursome and their dumplings are as fluffy as can be- the ultimate comfort food. You can find the address here.

What to Eat Prague

 

Where to stay in Prague

Right, the question that we get asked the most – which is the best place to stay in Prague. Well, we stayed in Prague 6, and would not recommend that area simply because we found it quite cumbersome to get to the old town or to the cool places in Prague. If you are going to be in Prague for 2-3 days, then it’s best to stay right in the centre. It can get touristy but you’ll be walking distance from most of the places. If you visit Prague for longer, check out accommodation options in Anděl or Vinohrady – both really cool districts of Prague and not very far from the old town.

 

Leave a comment below if you enjoyed ‘Offbeat Prague: Top 10 Experiences’. It makes us happy 🙂 🙂

 

88 thoughts on “Offbeat Prague: Top 10 Things To Do In Prague

  1. Ooh la la! Such an informative post on interesting and off beat stuff to do in Prague. Thank you guys! Its a little treasure trove of info. 🙂 I love the view from Letna park 🙂

  2. #3 One can spend a good chunk of the day at Letenské sady; even better to have a beer in the gardens. I definitely agree : Letna park is great in any season.

    #8 There are additional sculptures by Cerny in Prague: “walking Trabant” sculpture behind the German embassy in Malá Strana, man on a dead horse in Palác Lucerna in Nové Město (which spoofs the Wenceslas statue in nearby Wenceslas Square), and “Hanging Out”, a statue of Sigmund Freud suspended in the air and hanging over the street in Staré Město.

    An usual looking lamp post is another possibility – this may be the one (and only?) existing example of a Cubist lamp-post at Jungmannova náměstí. Additional examples of Cubist architecture are present in a number of places throughout Praha.

    1. Henry we hope you enjoyed the post- We went hunting for Cerny’s sculptures in Prague and it was tough picking our top 3. We loved ‘Hanging Out’ too, will definitely check out “walking Trabant” the next time we are there 🙂

  3. Wow, it looks like you discovered alot of the quirky and fun things to do in the city, I’ll make sure to check out some of these when I visit hopefully this fall. Thanks for sharing.

  4. Absolutely loved this post. Will be in Prague in a few days and now the nuclear bunker is the top of my list of things to do there. Great concept btw, And oh so pretty!

    1. Saumya- We’re so glad you found this post helpful. Try the hot chocolate too- it is decadent 🙂

  5. Hi. Saw your article in Mumbai Mirror on 9/6/12 and was encouraged. I can kind of relate to you both b’coz me & my wife Heba are also travelers (not tourist) however not as extensive as yours. To join you in your initiative I would like to share our experience. We both went to Prague end of last year and this was our first trip to EU while I was living in the UK. Loved every bit of it but was limited to mainstream places. The highlight was saw Preity Zinta shooting the song for her new movie.
    I wish we had seen your post earlier.
    P.S. We have been to Prague, Venice, Rome, Scotland & England, Istanbul, Bangkok & Pattaya, Kaula Lampur and (wife only-Dubai, Switzerland, USA also).

    1. Saurabh thank you for writing in 🙂 Prague is indeed an amazing city. Do subscribe to our newsletter and facebook page for the launch of a whole photo-gallery dedicated to our readers at https://www.bruisedpassports.com – you could send in your photos from Prague to us for the same 🙂

  6. Wow, there are a bunch of these that I haven’t been to before. I keep kicking myself for always missing out on the Lennon wall. I love Trdelník – except I had them in Hungary and they call it Kürtőskalács.

    The David Černý statues crack me up!

    1. Adelina the Lennon wall is quite something- this way you have a reason to go back to Prague 🙂 Kürtőskalács- nommmm!

  7. Glad you included the peeing statues. That was one of my favorite little finds wandering Prague years ago. They apparently pee names of Czech Authors. I have only been to Prague during festival times (Easter and Christmas) and saw the Trdlo places in the squares as well, but I was under the impression that they are not always there. Nice to know that may not be true. I did see a few places in the old town in actual buildings and not stalls, so they much be available year round in some form.

    1. Andrew we were also there around Easter, so it is possible that those stalls aren’t there all year round. We’ve heard one can pay a nominal fee to have the peeing statues spell whatever one wants- really need to get back to Prague to test that out 😉

  8. I have only been to Praque once and only for 2 days, I definitely need to return to Prague cause I seem to have missed so many things. Great post.

    1. Thanks Freya- so glad you enjoyed it 🙂 It’s easy to spend a week in Prague and not get bored- there’s so much to do.

  9. Wish I’d have read more into Prague when we went 5 years ago, didn’t have a clue really what to see…I do remember those vendor stall though and had a couple of those pastries!

    One thing we did do was go up the mini eiffel tower which was good…although our views were masked by blizzards at the time, i’m sure the views would have been great!

  10. Love it. I am from Slovakia and I visit Prague quite ofter. Have you also checked “bridge of love”, which is just a few metres from Lennon wall? Bridge is built over a small canal and it is full of locks locked thorough all fence. Married couples use to bring a lock with a key, lock it on the fence and throw the key to the water. The meaning is demonstration of everlasting love and good luck, which last until the lock is stuck on the fence. So, forever 🙂 I love Prague and I hope you enjoyed it so much. It is nice you had a look also on some “eastern european” country. Have a nice day 🙂

    1. Haha thanks Shireen – we’re kids trapped in adult bodies 😉 Good to hear you’re bookmarking this post

  11. I like to visit Prague. It’s been part of my bucket list for years. And eating pastries would be an added bonus. You made me hungry with your Trdelník pics.

  12. headed to prague in two weeks and so glad that i found your blog, i had no clue where to even begin. appreciate all the advice, thanks!

  13. Love your selection of things to do….specially since we are planning a visit there in August and looking for such info which is not available in usual tourist literature. Anything special you know about Prague in August other than hordes of tourists….tips on how to avoid the crowds?

    1. It’ll be tough to avoid crowds in August Arun, Prague is crazy crowded during summer months. But you should be ok if you avoid the city centre 🙂

  14. An excellent write-up. The bunker tour brought back memories of my road trip across Prague last year. Another thing that i enjoyed thoroughly was the Segaway ride in the town-square where the 14th century Astrological clock is located.

  15. One need only to leaBe Olde Towne and venture into the neighborhoods. You will find many coffee shops, cafés and resteraunts that add to the local flavor. Most will have music usually in the evening for an added bonus,

  16. I love Prague! Thanks for the amazing suggestions. The Letna Park and the Nuclear Bunker should be on my list when I’m next in Prague.

  17. Hi, you have terrific photos!
    Most of your tips are excellent, but others I would replace with something else.

    #4 The “Shoe” Monument is actually called Metronome – I am sure you did not miss the huge metronome statue – which indeed moves every now and then, just like a real metronome! And the shoes simply happen to be by skaters, but that is not part of the original concept.

    #6 Pork in Old Town Square: that is actually quite expensive, very touristy price. If you are on a budget, you are better in a simple local restaurant, if you want to taste Czech food. One good chain is called Lokal.

    #7 Trdelnik is also overpriced: for 60CZK, you can get a really delicious and gorgeous piece of cake in a “cukrarna” (patisserie) or cafe house, while nicely sitting. Not to mention that it is not Czech… Look for the Hungarian “kurtoskalacs” as somebody has already commented here, or if you want the original, real stuff, you would need to go to Transylvania for it.

    #10 Goulash is again something not-so-Czech 🙂 Sorry, but the only place to eat really good goulash (Gulyas is the original Hungarian name) is where you have a Hungarian chef who knows how to do it properly, and they have the special paprika from Hungary.
    One traditional Czech dish to try would be “Vepro-Knedlo_Zelo”, pork, bread dumplings and sauerkraut. Another one is “Svickova” or “Svickova na smetane”” beef sirloin with bread dumplings, cream sauce, often served with a cream topping and cranberries. Roasted duck is also great.

    Greetings from Prague, just under the Castle 🙂

    1. Great! Thanks for those pointers Andrea!

      Of course we are aware that it’s the Metronome – it’s hard not to notice. The Shoe Monument was just a play on words, hence the air quotes 😉

      Cheers

  18. Great list! As a veggie visitig Prague I was a little apprehensive about what I was going to eat, but our AirB&B host pointed us to Lehka Hlava and Maitrea, two awesome restaurants with lots of local art inside. Definitely worth a try even if you’re not a veggie. Probs best to book ahead though.

  19. One other fun thing to do in Prague in my opinion is to try an escape game.

    I don’t know about the others, but I’ve been to MindMaze’s Enigma room and it’s super fun with friends:

  20. Hi Savi and Vid,
    Me and my husband finished with a Euro trip in May.. It was for 3 weeks and we covered Paris, Amsterdam,Prague, Vienna,Munich and Zurich. In Paris, from your offbeat list, we visited the Pere’ Lachaise and Catacombs. A very interesting and different experience, must say! Thank you for the recommendation. At the same time, in Prague apart from the Old town square and Television tower (seeing the crawling baby figures on the TV tower is quiet amusing!), we checked out a beautiful nature reserve – Divoka Sarka. It is indeed a popular reserve and fortunately, it was a sunny day, so we absolutely enjoyed the walk there!

    Interestingly, we also found 2 massive anti-aircraft gun blockhouses in Augarten, Vienna. I was absolutely spell bound by their mere sizes!

    Wishing you both the best of luck for travels ahead! The photographs are absolutely amazing on your site!

    Cheers!
    Sudeepta Sahu
    Hyderabad, India

    1. Dear Sudeepta,

      That is so cool 🙂 so happy to hear you enjoyed your Euro trip. If you get a chance, do share some of your pictures with us 🙂

      All the best

  21. what are the other cities in Czech to go to once we are in Parague.
    And, means of travels to those cities.

    1. Hi Sonam,

      You can visit Pilsen or Český Krumlov. Both can be reached by self-driven cars and make for great road trips 🙂

  22. Hi Savi, Vid, what a lovely post. I like Prague also very much, that time i visited, took a vintige car tour around a city, what a lovely luxury experience 🙂 Great job, and all the best.

    1. Hey Csilla,

      Wow! A vintage car in Prague – makes us envy you a little 😉 It must have been so much fun. Prague is one of our favourite cities 🙂

  23. Chanced upon your article while looking for alternate things to do in Prague … and am glad I read through it. Between the article and some of the tips in the comments, I have my list drawn now. Thanks a tonne guys

  24. Between the below three which day trips are the best from Prague – karlovy vary, kutna Hora, cesky krumlov.
    I am travelling in Sep with my small daughter. So wanted to book sightseeing tours in Prague and Veinna. Please suggest some agents who are reasonable.

    1. Cesky Krumlov is a great option Deepika. Unfortunately we don’t know of any travel agents in Prague or Vienna, so won’t be able to help on that front 🙁

  25. We’re going to be in Prague for a week (third week in April) and staying in a time share in #7 Neubau area. Any thoughts as to this location? I’ve already written down your top 10 and excited about our trip. Everyone who I know that has gone there, has raved about it! Other than the main tourist spots, we’re mostly interested in the adventurous off the beaten path things especially things the locals like to do.
    Thanks for taking the time to do this blog!
    Kim

    1. Hey Kim – don’t know much about the Neubau area but if you love offbeat stuff, do checkout Vršovice – it has some great third-wave coffee shops, independent eateries, and bookstores 🙂

  26. Thanks for this post! My husband and I are heading to Prague late April and we are now definitely going to see Lennon Wall and going on the bunker tour! I Will also hunt down the David Cernys Sculptures. It’s always great to get another perspective on a city 🙂

  27. 5th time to Europe but first time to Prague coming up in October…got some good tips here on interesting things to see! Thanks!!

    1. Lisa we are happy our post on Prague was able to help you plan your trip..we hope you have an awesome time there:)

    1. Hi Sharmada, so good to know our post on Prague helped you make up your mind to visit the place. It indeed is beautiful and we are sure you will have a wonderful trip there. Happy travels!!

  28. Savi & Vid,

    Sohini and I are travelling to Prague in a week’s time – we will be sure to give these a try. We will keep you posted. Thank you for this ready reckoner!

    1. How exciting Anghrija – have the BEST time (do try that hot chocolate for sure!) and holler if you need any help 🙂

  29. Hello there! We’re going to Prague on 14th August for 4 days. Can you add something more at your perfect 10 to do list? When it’s for food should we book first? We are staying at the centre of old town. Photos will follow!

    1. Hey Elias – can’t add much as we included all our favourites here. You won’t need to book ahead for most restaurants 🙂

  30. Hey guys! I’m going to be in prague for 3 days April end 2018 with my husband and love your recommendations. We are staying in Chodov Prague 11 and can you suggest vegetarian food around? Also, is it worth hiring a car or public transport is fine? Also, will that hot chocolate you suggested be egg-free?

    1. Hey Zeel

      Not quite sure if the hot chocolate is egg-free – best asked at the restaurant when you visit 🙂 Yes, you’ll find plenty of vegetarian options – worst case you can always pick stuff up from the supermarket. No need to rent a car in Prague, public transport is excellent!

  31. Hi, I was in Prague last week with my family. We were on all these interesting and tourist places but we wanted something more. We went to the pubs and clubs with my wife and wanted to go somewhere with kids, so we played this escape room or how it is called. It was somewhere around Zizkov area, it is not so far from the main railway station. The Harry Potter themed room was fun! I think everybody with families should try this type of activity.

    1. Just walk along keeping the river and city to your left and you’ll surely come across an opening to watch the beautiful city of Prague

  32. Hey, my husband & I want to plan a summer trip to Europe. I am confused between 2 options . 1) East Europe – Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary 2) Spain – Madrid, Seville, Ibiza and Barcelona. I am more of an adventure lover, crazy and foodie (though vegetarian).
    Read your blog and it seems you guys share interesting stuff. So, wanted to know your opinion on which one would be more fun. Thanks!

  33. Hey Savi & Vid,
    I’m going Prague in a few days and am absolutely excited! Although, I’ve researched quite a bit online I found your article very helpful. Will definitely try and go Letna Park and grab hot chocolate at a local cafe 🙂

    1. Hey Disha,

      So happy to hear that – we love Prague and found many cool things to do there. Hope you have a great time too – share your photos from Prague with us when you’re back 🙂

  34. Hi, I am planning to visit Prague, Austria and Budapest in June-July.You guys have mentioned that staying in Prague 6 was cumbersome. Could you please elaborate since I was planning to stay there or Prague 7 – it seemed near to a lot of sightseeing places. What would you suggest.
    Also if you know the names of any restaurants where I would find vegetarian food.
    Last, how many days should I keep for each of these places.
    Thanks

  35. I have always wanted to visit Prague for my heritage, the beautiful historic buildings, food, people! This article makes me want to visit even more someday! Thank you for this amazing article!

  36. Heylo… I’m going this September to prague and budapest… any helpful suggestions and advice and anything I shouldn’t be missing…
    I loved this offbeat list ????…

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