16 Classic FREE Things to Do in Prague

Prague has a reputation as a budget-friendly city, but in recent years, this historical capital has gotten expensive… Beer may be cheaper than water, but tickets to attractions can cost a pretty penny. Luckily, there’s still plenty of free things to do in Prague for travelers looking to save their hard-earned cash. As a local living in Prague, I’m always asked for free things to do in Prague or cheap things to do in Prague. Visiting the beautiful capital of the Czech Republic doesn’t have to break the bank! These are my picks for the very best things to do in Prague on a budget!

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Is Prague Cheap? 

One of my most-asked questions has to be: is Prague affordable? How cheap is Prague? Prague isn’t the most expensive country in Europe, but it’s not as cheap as you might think. Prague is on the cheaper side of European destinations, but it’s nothing compared to visiting places like Montenegro or Romania. 

In Prague, most dinners will cost around $10-$20 USD, depending on the caliber of the restaurant. There are plenty of cheap eats, too, to make your trip all the easier. Public transit, for example, is very cheap compared to other cities – but in general, past years have seen prices in Prague increase. The Czech capital is by no means a dirt cheap destination, but it’s not as expensive as London, either. Think of it as the middle ground! 

Free Things to Do in Prague 

The number one thing to do for free in Prague? Walk around the city! The winding cobblestone roads, lined with pastel-colored buildings, are romantic, picturesque, and filled with surprises. When you can’t walk around anymore, though, you’ll probably want something more concrete to do… In comes my list of the best free things to do in Prague! 

1. Walk the Charles Bridge

Let’s start with the most iconic thing to do in Prague – visit Charles Bridge. Charles Bridge is arguably one of Prague’s most famous sights – and one of its most beautiful, too. This quintessential Prague experience has to be top of your list. This iconic bridge was first built in 1357 and connects Old Town to the “Lesser Quarter,” known as Mala Strana in Czech.

To this day, it remains one of the most picturesque parts of the city — and the perfect spot to snap those postcard photos. If you want to splurge, consider paying a small fee to climb up the tower for a bird’s eye view of the city. It’s one of the best views in Prague. When it comes to the best free things to do in Prague Czech Republic, this should be your first stop! The best part? You can do this entirely for free! 

If you do want to spend a little extra money, ​​I do recommend this Prague highlights tour, which includes Charles Bridge (tour here) — which includes a typical Czech lunch and hour-long boat cruise, too! There’s no better way to visit the best places to visit in Prague in one tour, especially if you’re short on time. 

Plus, from here, you can visit some of the best bookstores in Prague!

2. David Černý’s Art

David Černý remains one of the country’s most famous sculptors, particularly for his provocative modern art. Černý is perhaps most famous for Entropa, a huge sculpture which depicted EU states as crude stereotypes. However, after much controversy, the scultpure is no longer on display. Never fear – you can still spot many of his pieces of art all around Prague, completely free! Be sure to check out Kůň, located in the middle of Lucerna Palace shopping arcade, and the famous Miminka, faceless babies crawling up Žižkov’s TV Tower.

3. Watch the Astronomical Clock 

Can you even visit Prague without visiting Old Town Square? Old Town Square may be one of the most touristy spots in town, but it’s totally worth the visit if you’re looking for free things to do in Prague. 

It’s 100% free to walk through the square and take in all the beautiful sights. If you have time, I’d recommend staying to watch the clock strike the top of every hour. It’s an iconic show, and once again, 100% free! On the list of things to do in Prague free, this tops it! 

4. Climb Petřín Hill

Whenever we’re looking for free things to do in Prague, we always head up to Petrin Hill – especially in the spring! The beautiful Petřín sits opposite Prague Castle, overlooking the entire city. If you want the more traditional experience, you can walk about 20 minutes to the cable car, which makes for a truly unique experience (make sure it’s in operation that day). For a completely free experience, you can walk all the way to the top with stops along the way for photos! 

5. Wander Through Prague Castle

If you’re visiting Prague, you CANNOT miss Prague Castle (Pražský hrad). The Prague Castle is enormous…In fact, it’s been in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest ancient castle in the world. The best part? You can visit for free – you just won’t be able to go inside. However, you can still wander the grounds and soak up the historical structures and explore the many stunning views. 

If you do have a little extra cash on hand, I’d recommend taking a tour of the castle (which is done many times in combo with surrounding areas). This is the one I always recommend — it covers Old Town Square, Prague Castle and the John Lennon Wall, the perfect combo for first-time visitors. Prague Castle is really worth a visit inside, if you can splurge – the stained glass is especially spectacular in the Cathedral. 

6. Tour Vyšehrad and The Surrounding Complex

Many tourists visiting Prague will often skip Vyšehrad. But this neo-Gothic structure shouldn’t be missed – and you can stroll through much of the complex for free! 

Vyšehrad is made up of the Basilica of Saint Peter and Paul, perched on a hill overlooking the lower city. This historic fort was built in the 10th century and became the seat of the first Czech ruler, King Vratislav II of the Přemyslid dynasty, a century later. It’s a history many visitors don’t really understand (or expect), but an important one nevertheless. 

If you do happen to have some extra cash, I’d recommend a guided tour of the complex – it’s one of the city’s most important historical sights and a tour will help you better understand the context. Likewise, it’s stunning at night from the water, and I always recommend a boat tour of the river at sunset because there’s literally NOTHING like it. This is the boat tour we did for our Valentine’s Day, and it was honestly perfect (and the food wasn’t bad either!).

7. Explore Prague’s Best Parks 

Prague is known for its green spaces, so when you visit, why not spend some time outdoors?! 

Some of my favorite parks and green places to add to your list of things to do for free in Prague include: 

• Letná Park (where you’ll find one of the best views of Prague!)
• Kampa Park
• Stromovka Park
• Riegrovy sady (with a great beer garden nearby!)
• Divoká Šárka

8. Check Out Týn Church

When you visit Prague’s Old Town Square, you can’t miss the stunning church opposite the clock tower. The Church of Virgin Mary is easily noticeable – and free to visit! There are several iconic churches to visit in Prague, but this is perhaps the best church to add to your list of free things to do in Prague. The interior of the 14th century church is stunningly decorated with beautiful Gothic and Baroque architecture and furnishings. 

9. Hike Up Vítkov Hill

The National Monument at Vitkov is sadly one of Prague’s most overlooked sights – but it’s well-worth the visit. Start your walk up the hill by Philly and Co’s Original Cheesesteaks and head uphill. The walk will take around 15 minutes, but you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of the city. Walking around the monument is free, but there’s a small fee to go inside the building (which isn’t necessary!). Definitely one of the best things to do for free in Prague. 

10. Lennon Wall

The John Lennon Wall is an easy stop if you’re visiting the Charles Bridge or heading up to Prague Castle. This colorful wall lies behind a small church courtyard. It first started in 1980, shortly after Lennon was killed. 

John Lennon never visited this location, but the wall quickly became a symbolic burial site by the youth of Prague. During Communist times, the wall symbolized freedom of speech and the non-violent resistance. The wall now constantly changes with the times – in fact, drawing on the wall is encouraged. The best part: it’s totally free to visit!! 

11. See the Swans on Vltava River

If you’re walking across Charles Bridge, don’t miss this stop to see the swans on the river – and get a great view of Prague and Charles Bridge, too. 

What makes the swans so special? Well, nothing really. There’s just so many in one place with lots of pigeons and ducks, too. It’s a great spot to snap photos of the bridge, too, especially in the morning. Here’s the exact spot. 

12. The Dancing House

Don’t leave Prague without visiting the Dancing House, one of the city’s most marvelous (albeit slightly strange!) architectural wonders. The Dancing House, colloquially known as Fred and Ginger (inspired by the iconic dancing duo Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers), sits right on the river and makes for an easy stop. 

The building is actually an office complex, so you can’t really go inside – BUT, there’s a lovely restaurant on top which makes for a perfect splurge, date night spot. 

13. Explore the National Museum

The National Museum in Prague houses centuries worth of artifacts from a variety of areas, including science, history and art. If you’re visiting Prague, you can’t miss it – literally. It’s located overlooking Wenceslas Square, making it the perfect stop on any walking tour. 

Even if you’re not all that interested in history, I’d recommend visiting just for the architecture alone. The inside of the National Museum is simply STUNNING. 

Visitors can enjoy free entry to the main building on the first Monday of each month! 

14. Stroll Through The National Gallery

Bet you didn’t think you’d see a museum on this list! Prague’s finest artwork can be found at the National Gallery. This gallery has the largest collection of art pieces in the country. The art exhibits are presented in different locations across the city. All these locations collectively make the National Gallery in Prague one of the oldest and largest museums in Europe.

But wait…Is it free? Well, you can take a virtual tour online, but travelers can visit the National Gallery for free on the first Wednesday of every month from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. PLUS, if you’re under 26, entry to all permanent exhibits is FREE! 

15. Head to Holešovice Farmer’s Market

Head just north of the river to the up-and-coming neighborhood, Holešovice. The farmer’s market there is perhaps one of the largest and most popular outdoor markets in the city. You’ll often hear this spot called Prague Market, but no matter its name, you should consider stopping here. The market is open on all weekdays until 5 pm and on Saturdays until 2 pm.

What can you browse? Pretty much everything! Vintage clothing, souvenirs, local baked goods, Czech beer and more. You can browse for free, but if you’re looking for a snack, I recommend Slovenské delikatesy, a small bakery selling Slovak baked goods. Nearby, Barry Higgel’s Coffeehouse makes for a great stop with some excellent coffee and hot chocolate. 

16. Take a Free Walking Tour

Walking tours in Prague are the best way to meet new friends and see the city at the same time. One of my friends in Prague, a lifelong local, does free walking tours with Free Walking Tour Prague. These are, hands down, the best free walking tours in Prague. And yes, they are 100% free! 

Free Walking Tour Prague is a small, local company based in Prague. All the professional guides are either local Czechs passionate about Prague history or longtime Prague residents who speak Czech. The company has a variety of tours covering different sights across Prague; they operate daily in English and Spanish. Book your tour here. 

Looking for the Best Prague Tours? 

I’ve compiled a list of my favorite Prague tours – the ones I recommend to all visitors. Prague is packed with so much history. If you happen to have a little extra cash, a guided tour with an expert can really help provide context to your trip. Find the list here.

Samantha Tatro

Samantha Tatro is a Czech-American third culture kid who grew up living and traveling abroad. Many years later, after living in California and working as a journalist, she decided to take the leap and move abroad again…this time to Prague, Czech Republic. Samantha started Undiscovered Path Home to help couples and solo female travelers find the courage to visit countries – and locations – off the beaten path. Her work has appeared in Bon Appetit, NBC News, The Adecco Group, and more.