Save for This Trip NOW: 5 Days in Prague

When we decided to take a Euro trip, we added in a stop to Prague without knowing much about it ahead of time. We went into it with no expectations and it ended up being one of our favorite destinations to date. It was incredibly walkable, historically beautiful, and budget friendly. For anyone looking to visit a European city that offers stunning architecture, great food, and is easy to navigate around, Prague might be the place for you.

Today, I’m mocking up a trip to Prague after finding a great deal on airfare (found by Scott’s Cheap Flights, one of my many airfare secrets that you can learn about HERE). This itinerary is based on what we did while we were exploring there. The trip comes in at a surprising steal and you should only need to eat up three days of PTO!

Note - All prices have been (roughly) converted to USD as needed based on exchange rates available when I wrote this. I am in no way affiliated with or sponsored by any brands or companies noted below - just personal suggestions!

Flight:

I got a notification for Prague fare deals and managed to find a flight that leaves ORD at 8:30pm on a Friday and returns Wednesday afternoon. The flights aren’t direct and don’t include a checked bag, but you won’t need one for such a short trip, trust me (check out this post if you feel otherwise). The layover is short and will give you just enough time to clear customs as applicable (under two hours). The red-eye flight means you shouldn’t need to take a full day of PTO for the departing flight, which means you can get from Saturday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon to explore the city with only taking three days off work.

Total Trip Cost Counter: $502

Transport:

Getting from the airport to the city center is incredibly easy and I would recommend the Airport Express bus. It’s less than $3 and will take under an hour to go from the terminal to the main bus station in town, where you can likely just walk to your hotel. You could take a bus or subway if you didn't feel like walking. We didn’t need to hit up public transport at all, other than the airport transfers, while we were there. If you feel spendy, you can take an Uber for under $30 from the airport.

Total Trip Cost Counter: $508 (assuming you take the Airport Express roundtrip)

Lodging:

We stayed at Ai Quattro Angeli in a double room. It was spacious with a private full bathroom and even a wash machine. They have two buildings and we ended up in a room that was down the block from the main office and breakfast area. It was easy to walk to just about anywhere in Prague and this hotel was near a mart where we picked up snacks and drinks. Ready for the kicker? This gem of a place comes in at a steal of $225 TOTAL for four nights. You can spend a little more for a full apartment, which includes a kitchenette.

Total Trip Cost Counter: $733

Things to Do:

Prague is a city where you can explore at a slower pace and take in most of the town for free. Stroll around the city and visit all the little shops and street vendors. Walk across the famed Charles Bridge and marvel at the statues (Pro Move: go early in the morning when it isn’t so crowded). Prague was one of the few cities not bombed down entirely during WWII so you’ll find some of the oldest architectural pieces in Europe. Old Town Square houses the oldest functioning astronomical clock as well, which chimes at the top of every hour. Make a visit to Prague Castle – a full access ticket will set you back about $16. Take an amazing picture by the Lennon Wall and find a cute café and enjoy a lemonade. The Vltava River is impossible to miss - you can take a dinner cruise for about $50 and rent a pedal boat another day for about $9. Spend a day hiking around Petrin Hill – it’s a trek but you’ll be rewarded with a great view of the city at the end. You’ll have plenty of time to add in a day trip if you’d like a change of scenery. It’ll cost about $55 to visit the Terezin Concentration Camp (a somber but life changing experience) or you can take a more intensive trip to Bohemia/Saxon Switzerland National Park for $180. Sit at a beer hall and enjoy some music and conversation over a pint (just don’t get suckered into the seemingly “free” shots that are NOT free).

Total Trip Cost Counter: $1,043 (assuming you book everything listed above, including both day trips)

Food & Drink:

Prague has a plethora of street vendors that sell amazing food at great prices. Sausages are abundant and you’ll often find ham slow roasting over a fire at many stalls. Make an effort to avoid restaurants or stands right near popular tourist areas – prices tend to be inflated. You can reasonably assume to spend $20/day per person for food and drinks (breakfast is covered by the hotel). Walk to New Town and check out Estrella – a delicious vegetarian restaurant that even meat lovers will enjoy. Breakfast at Café Louvre is essential and where Einstein spent his days when he was in Prague. To satisfy your sweet tooth, grab a trdelník, a traditional grilled dough in a cone shape that reminds me of a sugar donut. Good Food Coffee & Bakery had my favorite of the dozens I sampled during our stay – get it with a scoop of ice cream for a life changing experience.

Total Trip Cost Counter: $1,143 (5 days at $20/day for food)

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I’ve taken trips within the United States for more than this! You can get Saturday afternoon through Wednesday afternoon in the historic city of Prague, all while using only three days of time off and coming in at just over $1k.

MAKE THIS TRIP HAPPEN: Save $100 a month and you can take this trip within a year. Save $300 a month and you can go within four months! It’s almost tax return season – if you’ll get a return, use that as your initial investment into this trip. See my post HERE for ways you can save up money to travel easily!

Prague is a tourist-friendly city – easy to navigate, relatively inexpensive once you're over there, and full of historic charm everywhere you turn. You’ll get by easily with English and it’s an unexpected European gem. Note that many places we encountered were cash only, so make sure you aren’t relying solely on your credit card. Take this trip and have a trdelník for me – it was one of my favorite parts about Prague!

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