Weekend
A weekend in Prague: three hotels and a plan for two nights
It is seven on Saturday morning and Charles Bridge is almost empty. All you can hear is your own footsteps on the stone and a photographer waiting for the light to reach the castle.
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In short: a weekend in Prague
Two nights are enough for Prague if you stay in the Old Town or Malá Strana and get up early. Cross Charles Bridge before eight on Saturday, see the castle before lunch and spend Sunday in Josefov, the Jewish Quarter. Our first choice is the Augustine, a former monastery right below the castle.
Our first choice: Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel. Check availability and prices at the Augustine
Prague has been a favourite for long weekends for years. Flights from London take under two hours, and the city is small enough to cross on foot.
The challenge is the crowds. Charles Bridge and Old Town Square are packed from mid-morning, so it pays to stay central and use the early mornings. The currency is the Czech koruna, but cards are accepted almost everywhere.
The hotels we choose for a weekend in Prague
One with design and history in Malá Strana, one quiet and more affordable near Náměstí Republiky, and one in the heart of the Old Town. All score highly with guests on Hotels.com.
Augustine: a weekend below the castle
The Augustine is on Letenská, right below the castle, in a former Augustinian monastery where the monks still live in part of the complex. The buildings surround several courtyards, and the bar pours monastery beer on tap.
Whitewashed vaults meet modern Czech design in the rooms. Rooms in the old parts vary in shape and size, so ask for what you want. The Augustine suits couples and anyone who wants Malá Strana with a bar and restaurant under the same roof.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at the Augustine
Nordic calm in Prague
BoHo is a few minutes from the Powder Tower. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
BoHo Prague Hotel: a quiet weekend for less
BoHo is on Senovážná, a quiet street a couple of minutes from Náměstí Republiky and the Powder Tower. The interior is light and muted in wood and linen, and there is a small spa with a pool in the basement.
The Old Town is five minutes away on foot, and prices are well below the hotels inside it. BoHo suits anyone who wants somewhere calm and practical.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at BoHo Prague Hotel
Ventana Hotel Prague: a weekend in the Old Town
Ventana is on Celetná, so close to Old Town Square that you can hear the clock chime from your room. It is a small hotel with tall windows and a library lounge where you can sit while the street outside is at its busiest.
Rooms facing the courtyard are the quietest. Choose Ventana if you want to make the most of early mornings in the historic centre.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Ventana Hotel Prague
More options are in our guide to the best hotels in Prague, and the city is covered in our Prague travel guide.
Friday: in from the airport and an evening in a beer hall
The airport bus runs to the main station, and other buses link to the metro into the centre. A taxi takes around half an hour. Book it through an app or at the official desk in the terminal.
The first evening belongs in a beer hall. Czech beer is served fresh from the tank, and the food is hearty, with goulash and dumplings. Walk across Old Town Square afterwards, when it is lit up and the crowds have thinned.
Saturday: Charles Bridge and the castle
Cross Charles Bridge before eight. You will have the statues and the view of the castle almost to yourself, and your photos will be free of crowds.
Carry on up to Prague Castle above the city, and see St Vitus Cathedral before the groups arrive. Spend the rest of the morning in the streets of Malá Strana below, with baroque churches and palaces.
In the afternoon, sit at a café by the Vltava or take a boat trip on the river. Book Saturday dinner ahead, especially in the Old Town.
The monastery below the castle
The Augustine is in Malá Strana, a few minutes from Charles Bridge. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Sunday: Josefov and the Astronomical Clock
Sunday is a good day for Josefov, the Jewish Quarter with its synagogues and old cemetery. The Jewish Museum is closed on Saturdays, so Sunday is the day to see it.
Finish at the Astronomical Clock on Old Town Square, which puts on its show of figures every hour. Leave your bags at the hotel before you go out, and collect them on the way to the airport.
Turn a work trip into a weekend
Prague hosts plenty of conferences and trade fairs, and the city-centre hotels are used to business travellers during the week. If your meeting is on Friday, stay until Sunday and see the city at its best.
BoHo is near Náměstí Republiky and the metro, with short walks to both the offices and the Old Town. Ask about late check-out on Sunday, and check whether breakfast is included in the price you are comparing.
When is the best time for a weekend in Prague?
April, May, September and October bring good weather for walking. In December Prague is one of the most popular cities for Christmas markets, and hotels fill early.
January to March is cold but quiet, and you can have Charles Bridge to yourself even later in the day. Book with free cancellation where you can, so you can secure the weekend early and still move it.
Our first choice for a weekend in Prague
Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel
The Augustine occupies a former Augustinian monastery on Letenská, right below the castle, and the monks still live in part of the complex. The buildings surround several courtyards, and the bar pours monastery beer on tap. Whitewashed vaults meet modern Czech design in the rooms. Charles Bridge is a few minutes away, so you can be there before the city wakes up on Saturday morning.
Frequently asked questions about a weekend in Prague
How do I get from Prague Airport to the city centre?
Take the airport bus or a taxi. The airport bus runs to the main station, and other buses connect with the metro into the centre. A taxi takes around half an hour. Book it through an app or at the official desk in the terminal, so you know the price before you get in.
Is two nights enough for a weekend in Prague?
Yes, two nights are enough if you stay central and get up early. You will have time for Charles Bridge, the castle, Malá Strana, Old Town Square and Josefov. If you also want a day trip to Kutná Hora or Český Krumlov, or simply a slower pace, add a third night.
How do you avoid the crowds in Prague?
Get up early. Charles Bridge is almost empty before eight, and the castle is quietest just after opening. Old Town Square is packed in the middle of the day and whenever the clock strikes the hour. Stay in the Old Town or Malá Strana and you can head out before the groups arrive and rest at the hotel around midday.
Which hotel is best for a weekend in Prague?
The Augustine is our first choice for a weekend of design and history, right below the castle in Malá Strana. BoHo near Náměstí Republiky suits those who want somewhere calm for less, and Ventana is for anyone who wants to stay right by Old Town Square. All three score highly with guests.