Czech Out Accessible Prague
The Original Old Town Road - Old Town Square, Prague, Czech Republic
From the first time I set eyes on this incredible city, Prague became one of my favorite places on Earth, but fair warning, it’s considered only moderately accessible for wheelchair users. It’s also one of those great European cities paved almost entirely in ankle-breaking cobblestone. So if you’re hyper-mobile or walk with a cane like me, the city becomes decidedly less walkable and decidedly more hobble-able with copious breaks. If you’re visiting for the first time, I recommend at least 3 Days in Prague.
But the Historic City Center of Prague is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most beautiful cities on Earth. It’s also a favorite filming location for Hollywood blockbusters with many popular films having been shot in Prague. As such, I wanted to include a blog post about making a somewhat difficult place a little easier to navigate. So, grab a pork sausage and a pilsner and get ready to read all about Prague, the fifth most visited city in Europe, and the number one place for beer consumption!
Me, on the Charles Bridge, wondering why man invented cobblestone.
Prague Travel Tips
First and foremost, I want to offer a little reassurance for travelers with mobility issues. Both of Prague’s main airport terminals are wheelchair accessible. The low-floor trams and city buses in Prague also have wheelchair ramps, making getting around the city a little less problematic. Prague is also one of the least expensive cities in Europe, which means it’s quite affordable to get around by taxi. If you decide to forgo public transportation and hire one of the city’s wheelchair-accessible taxis, it will be far more affordable than places like London, Paris, or Amsterdam. If you’re walking, I recommend good comfortable shoes. The cobblestone can be rough for some.
For a great tour of Prague, I recommend this Wheelchair-Accessible Vlatva River Sightseeing Cruise.
Check out this amazing guide if you’re traveling to Prague with kids.
Where to Stay in Prague
A little more good news… if you’re someone who's put off by the high price and tiny size of many European hotel rooms, prepare for a real treat. In Prague, you can save money and still get a great room. There are some amazing 4 and 5-star Prague hotels at very reasonable prices. We stayed at The Hotel Kings Court, a 5-star hotel within walking distance of many tourist attractions like Old Town Square and the famous Astronomical Clock, and the less famous, Museum of Sex. (More on both of those later.) For about $150/ night, we got an almost 600 sq foot room with a king bed and daily breakfast. And this was no crummy continental breakfast! The Hotel Kings Court puts out a great spread!
Want more suggestions? If you’re looking for something romantic, there are many amazing places to stay in Prague for couples.
When To Visit Prague
The best times to visit Prague are spring and early fall when the weather is mild and there are fewer crowds. I would avoid visiting Prague in the summer. While the weather is ideal, it’s the most popular time for tourists, and attractions will be super crowded.
Prague is also beautiful in winter and offers a wonderful array of things to do.
Our Prague Itinerary
I recommend spending 5-7 days in Prague. The city itself is rather small and you can cover the main Prague tourist attractions in 3-4 days, depending on how much you want to pack into one day. But there are a few day trips I recommend adding to your trip as there are many amazing places to visit in the Czech Republic. Several of these destinations are close enough to make a day trip to and keep Prague as your home base.
Day One: The Charles Bridge is an excellent spot to start your day. I recommend taking pictures at sunrise and/or in the evening. During the day the bridge is packed with people and it’s a popular place for pickpockets. If you’d like to take a leisurely walk over the Vltava River and truly appreciate the stunning statues that line the bridge, go early.
Across the River, you’ll find Prague Castle, one of the most important cultural institutions in the Czech Republic, and according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest coherent castle complex in the world. It’s also home to St. Vitus Cathedral, a prime example of gothic architecture and the largest and most important church in the country.
You can enjoy a good Czech pilsner across the street from the castle as you appreciate the views over Prague and watch the changing of the guard. The Prague Castle Guard seems to lack the cheeky humor of the guards at Buckingham Palace, as evidenced by the dearth of Dolly Parton tunes played during the guard change. Still, it was a pretty exciting thing to behold, even if no one was “Working 9 to 5.”
Purchase your Lobkowicz and Prague Castle Entrance Tickets here.
Across from Prague Castle, waiting for the guard change, and for my Advil to kick in.
Visitors are allowed entry to the castle and many surrounding exhibits on the massive property. All but 2 areas (the 2 Towers) are wheelchair accessible, and admission is free to anyone with a valid disability ID card. Because the old royal palace complex is quite expansive, I would highly recommend bringing your cane or mobility aid. It could easily take a day or more to see all the exhibits depending on your pace. I would also recommend dressing in layers. The buildings are not heated, and if you visit in winter as I did, it can be quite chilly.
Day 2: We decided to take in some of Prague’s unusual museum culture. Wandering around the city we started to see signs for museums everywhere. Many of them were quite unusual and had little to nothing to do with Prague specifically. Things like the Sex Museum, (a giant collection of dildos and other toys,) the Salvador Dali Museum ( a small collection of sculptures, prints, and Dali themed souvenirs), the Museum of Historical Chamber Pots and Toilets (both the number 1 AND number 2 museum in Prague) The Museum of Communism, and Apple Museum (which apart from showcasing an impressive collection of old computers, serves awesome vegan food in honor of Steve Jobs.)
I will warn you that many of these museums, while kind of silly and great for Instagram posting, are not wheelchair accessible and located upstairs, making them difficult to access for those of us with chronic pain. The ones we visited were quite small, and none of them take much longer than 30 minutes to an hour to see, so if your body is cooperating, and you’re in the mood for some silliness, I’d pick out one or two and bring your camera.
If you’d like to “Czech” out a more distinctly Czech museum, I recommend the Franz Kafka museum in the Mala Strana neighborhood. It features a multimedia exhibit of Kafka memorabilia that includes photographs and original letters. The museum is wheelchair accessible and offers a discount for visitors with disabilities. For more information, check out the Kafka Museum.
The famous Piss Statue outside the Kafka Museum, Praha.
Day 3: We did a lot of wandering around the city. Again, taxis are quite inexpensive and public transportation is accessible. Another awesome bonus, many of the most photographed sites in Prague don’t even require admission and are completely free to visit, which saves a lot of money. On this day we visited the John Lennon Wall, the Gehry-designed Dancing House, a Tour of the Jewish Quarter, and the National Theater.
If you’re a fan of art and architecture prepared to be wowed. From stunning gothic structures to beautiful modern buildings, to the colorful John Lennon Wall, Prague has it all. And luckily, most of these sites are surrounded by charming cafes where you can grab another delicious pilsner or a piping hot grog. It’s hard to grow tired of Prague’s many delicious alcoholic beverages and adorable sidewalk cafes.
Recommended tours:
Day Trips from Prague
Another great way to see the sites is to check out one of the many tourist stands set up around the city advertising day trips and excursions outside the city, such as The Bone Church in Kutna Hora, Vienna, Austria, a popular Czech resort town, Lipno nad Vitavou, Dresden, Germany, Bohemian Switzerland, Cesky Krumlov, and Terezin Concentration Camp. If you opt not to go with a group guided tour, it’s also incredibly easy to navigate the train and bus system. Just make sure to bring your passport.
