A Day in Prague, Czechia – Christmas Edition
Sometimes on vacation, you feel a little burnt out and decide to spend the rest of the trip relaxing. That was me in Prague. I got injured walking in Bratislava the day before. I was wearing boots and they got caught in between the cobblestone. My leg went one way and my knees went the other way. Ouch. While I was in Prague for 3 days, I only explored for one day.
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Must Know Before You GoWhen to Visit: For good weather, visit during March – May, September – October. Christmas holiday is a great time if you are visiting the Christmas Markets. Visas: US citizens do not need a visa for visits under 90 days. Language: Czech. Most people in the main attractions speak English. Currency: Koruna. Below is the exchange rate as of December 2023.
Credit Card vs. Cash: Card is accepted in most establishments. I was here during the Christmas Markets, and most of those shops take cash only. ATMs: One thing I wish I had known before traveling here is the ATM scam. In the city center, the ATMs will only spit out large quantities. I needed to take out money to spend at the Christkindl Market and ended up taking out $500 instead of $50. That was the lowest option provided. Tipping: Czechia has a tipping culture. Tip at restaurants is about 10-15% and a surcharge of 8-10% may already be added to the bill. UNESCO World Heritage Site: There are many UNESCO sites in Czechia which includes Historic Centre of Prague, Cesky Kumlov, Telec, Holasovice and more. An extensive list can be found here. National Parks: Bohemian Switzerland, Krkonose, Karkonosze, Podyji, Ceske Svycarsko, Sumava, Thayatal |
Getting Around:
I took a 4-hour direct train from Vienna to Prague on OBB. A direct train ride can cost anywhere from €30 to €75. Prague has a great transportation system to get around within the city.
Restaurants:
The service in Czechia is perhaps the worst I have experienced. You will enjoy long waits and the expectation to tip. I thought it was just me because I was a solo traveler, but I was validated by locals.
Where to Stay:
I stayed in U Tri Bubnu which is just around the corner from the Christmas market. I love the location but like most places in Prague, the hotel is older. This hotel is not fit for anyone who cannot climb flights of stairs. My room was on the 5th floor and the stairway was narrow. Going upstairs with my backpack was a struggle. The room itself was spacious. I enjoyed a non-modern room but I cannot deny how eerie it felt at some points through the night. Overall, I would 100% stay here again. I love the character of the hotel and the proximity to all the major attractions.
To See:
Self Guided Tour
It feels like stepping into history walking around Prague. I visited the following sites: Astronomical Clock (there is a show every hour), Old Town Bridge Tower, Charles Bridge, Lennon Wall, Lesser Town Square, St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Town Hall, Powder Gate, St. Henry’s Tower, and Charles Square.
Pubs of Prague Historic Tour
Czechia is known to consume the most beer per capita in the entire world. It is only fitting that I sign up for a pub tour. I signed up for Pubs of Prague Historic Tour through AirBnB experience. The tour can also be booked through Viator or Trip Advisor. The tour takes the group around major historic sites while making pit stops at 4 or 5 pubs. At each pub stop, we received a choice of draft beer (0.5 liter), wine, cider, or non-alcoholic drink. The 3.5-hour tour was $48.78. The tour guide was incredible and I met some great people here. After the tour, I hung out with a couple of people from the tour. We went bar hopping and ended our night at a random Thai Restaurant.
Christkindl Market
The next morning after my fun night out, I decided to spend the day exploring the Christkindl Markets. In the early morning, the market was closed but that is okay since the decorations were here to stay. I took a few shots before exploring more of the city. When I became exhausted, I went back to my hotel to relax. At night, I returned to the Christmas markets to enjoy the festivities. I had mulled wine and a hot dog as I people watched.
To Eat:
Lunch: Pasta Fresca!
→ Celetná 598/11, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia
For lunch, I was craving some pasta. I stumbled onto Pasta Fresca! This place is fantastic for all travelers as they have rooms to accommodate solo travelers and large parties. The food was mediocre but it satisfied my cravings. I ordered a glass of Cabernet and bolognese pasta.
Dinner: Las Adelitas
→ Malé Nám. 457/13, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia
Las Adelitas serves excellent Mexican food in Prague. I ordered the el pastor tacos and margarita. The food was delicious but I have to say that the service is the absolute worst. The restaurant is small and there was a line of people waiting to be seated but were not greeted. I sat down at what I thought was the to-go area. People next to me were waiting for their to-go orders. They started seating people who came in after me. Next thing, they started taking my order but nobody else. I was then surrounded by people waiting for their to-go orders or people waiting to be seated as I was eating dinner. It was quite awkward. Not sure if I would return.
