From sunrise on the Charles Bridge to sunset in Riegrovy Sady park, Prague is a never-ending series of magical moments. The best way to experience the Czech capital? Just wander around. Stroll through Old Town Square. Browse vendors’ wares at Havelská Market. Climb the tower at St. Vitus Cathedral. Stop into a café for coffee, or grab a pint of pilsner in one of Prague’s lively pubs.

Here are just a few of our favorite things to do, places to stay, and restaurants to try in Prague.

Is travel insurance required for the Czech Republic (Czechia)?

While travel insurance is required for Schengen visa holders, U.S. citizens do not need a Schengen visa for trips to Europe that are less than 90 days in length.¹ The U.S. Department of State does “highly recommend” travel insurance for Czechia.²

Insurance is required for longer stays (90 days or more) in the Czech Republic. When you apply for a long-term visa or a long-term residence permit, you have to submit a certificate proving you have emergency medical travel insurance that covers necessary and urgent medical care for the initial 90 days, as well as comprehensive medical insurance for the rest of your stay.

It’s important to understand the difference. Allianz Travel Insurance offers emergency medical and emergency medical transportation benefits to reimburse the cost of care in a covered medical emergency while you’re traveling. If you’re planning to stay 90 days or more in the Czech Republic, you’ll need to get medical insurance that covers preventive care, non-emergency care, and pregnancy, with a minimum coverage of €400,000.

3 reasons to buy travel insurance for the Czech Republic (Czechia)

1. If you get sick or injured, travel insurance can help. Is medical care free for tourists in the Czech Republic (Czechia)? As the U.S. Embassy in Prague explains, “Foreigners who use Czech medical facilities are expected to pay for their care.”³ Some medical providers accept credit cards, but U.S. insurance cards are usually not accepted. That’s why it’s crucial to have travel insurance for the Czech Republic that includes emergency medical benefits. Your plan can reimburse the cost of medical care (and even advance payment, if you’ll be hospitalized for more than 24 hours) and ensure you get high-quality care.
2. If you have to cancel or cut short your trip for a covered reason, travel insurance can help. Prague is still considered an affordable European destination, but it’s not as cheap as it used to be. Don’t risk losing your nonrefundable trip costs! Get an Allianz Travel Insurance plan that can reimburse you for covered trip cancellations and trip interruptions.
3. If you get pickpocketed, travel insurance can help. While Prague is generally safe, professional pickpocketing is a big problem in tourist areas.⁴ Anytime you’re the victim of a crime while traveling, we’re there to assist you. Contact 24-hour assistance for help filing a police report, replacing your passport, or getting money wired from the U.S.

3 of the best travel insurance plans for the Czech Republic (Czechia)

1. OneTrip Prime is our most popular travel insurance for Europe—and for good reason! This plan includes everything you need to protect yourself when you’re traveling overseas: emergency medical and transportation benefits, trip cancellation/interruption, trip delay, baggage protection, and more. Taking a family vacation to Czechia? OneTrip Prime can cover kids 17 and under for free when they’re traveling with a parent or grandparent. (One child per insured adult traveler; not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents.)
2. OneTrip Basic is another great choice for travel insurance for Europe. This affordably priced plan includes up to $10,000 in emergency medical benefits, up to $10,000 in trip cancellation/interruption benefits, and more.
3. AllTrips Prime is an annual travel insurance plan, which means it can cover every trip you take in 365 days. That’s a great deal for frequent travelers. Note that trip cancellation/interruption is capped at $3,000 per year; to protect more expensive trips, buy AllTrips Premier.

If you’re traveling soon, don't wait to buy travel insurance. The sooner you buy, the sooner you're protected: Get a quote.

3 of the best things to do in Prague

1. Visit the world’s most beautiful library. The Clementinum Astronomical Tower and Baroque Library are two of Prague’s jewels. Take a guided tour to see the shelves of rare books, beautiful ceiling frescos and historic globes (just be aware: You can look, but you can’t enter the library). Climb the tower for a panoramic view of Prague. Advance reservations are highly recommended.
2. Take a tour of Josefov, Prague’s Jewish Quarter. The center of Jewish life in Prague for more than a thousand years, Josefov was largely demolished in the early 1900s for urban renewal. Key elements remain, however, including the Old Jewish cemetery—the earliest grave marker dates to 1439— and the oldest synagogue in Europe.
3. See a real Cold War bunker. For decades, secret police occupied a fallout shelter in the basement of the Hotel Jalta, listening in on guests’ conversations. The bunker is now the Cold War Museum, where you can see the original operators’ switchboard and exhibits telling the story of Communist Czechoslovakia.

3 of the best boutique hotels in Prague

It’s hard to find a hotel that’s universally beloved by guests. The MANES Boutique Hotel in Prague is one of those hotels. Every detail will charm you: the handwritten, personalized welcome note in your room, the complimentary beverages 24-7, and the serene guest rooms with high-tech touches, like Bluetooth speakers and Japanese toilets. Best of all, The MANES is surprisingly affordable for all that it offers.

“Splendid” is the word for the Hotel NH Collection Prague Carlo IV, a Neo-Renaissance hotel that was originally the home of the Czech Mortgage Bank. The original bank treasury room with wrought-iron doors has been turned into The Vault Bar. Guests’ favorite things about this Prague hotel:  the impressive breakfast spread, the spa with its heated swimming pool, and its central location.

Even more splendid is the Hotel Paris Prague: a luxury hotel in Old Town that’s known for its Art Nouveau architecture and décor. Have a 1930s cocktail in Tony’s Café and Bar while listening to live piano music. And for a truly memorable stay, book the Tower Suite. Climb a spiral staircase to a seating area with a 360° view of Prague.

3 of the best restaurants in Prague

Traditional Czech food is hearty, savory, and very porky: think goulash, sausage, and pig knuckle. Czech Slovak turns these dishes into haute cuisine. Try the 6- or 8-course tasting menu with wine pairings, which might include venison, beef tartare, mushroom soup, or schnitzel. Don’t miss having a glass of the family schnapps! You can also try Czech Slovak’s sister restaurant next door: Foodery. It serves rustic, street food-inspired Czech and Slovak dishes.

Maybe you’d rather have a few little bites instead of a multi-course meal? Head to a Prague pub for some pivní chuťovky (“snacks for beer”), like pickled cheese and pretzels. One favorite spot is U Černého Medvěda (At the Black Bear) an Old Town pub in an 11^th-century merchants yard. Try the sausage bites and homemade dumplings.

What if you don’t eat meat? One of the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Prague is Lehká Hlava (“Clear Head”). Try their meatless versions of traditional Czech dishes, like goulash with plant-based beef or svíčková: dumplings with a root vegetable sauce, plant-based medallions, lemon, and cranberry.

One last travel tip for Prague: Always make a reservation. Popular Prague restaurants are often full, and so it’s smart to book a table for lunch and dinner.⁵

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