We left Vienna painfully early in the morning and hopped on a train to Prague. The only silver lining to leaving earlier than the roosters was that we arrived in Prague with the whole day ahead of us. Bright side? Maybe.

After dropping our bags at the hostel (which, by the way, was called “Bunker Factory Hostel” and was not as dreamy as our Vienna digs), we had our first Prague adventure: finding an ATM. Why? Because apparently, we needed to pay a deposit for the room, and I had no cash on me. Cue me wandering aimlessly for 30 minutes, dodging creepy old men catcalling me, until I finally found an ATM. Miraculously, I made it back without getting lost (a miracle), paid the deposit, and we were free to explore!

Right off the bat, I slowly started falling for Prague. The streets were stunning, filled with food stalls and souvenir shops. Naturally, we tried chimney cakes first—and they were amazing—but the bees. I was swarmed, had a minor panic attack, and sadly gave up halfway through my treat.

We hit all the must-sees on our first day: the Old Town Square, the Astronomical Clock (which I later learned is one of the oldest working astronomical clocks in the world), Wallenstein Palace, and the Prague Castle. The Charles Bridge, with its dreamy architecture and vendors, was our last stop of the day. Dz wanted goulash for dinner, and though I was skeptical, I tried hers. Annoyingly, it was delicious. I hate it when she’s right.

If you’re a foodie like her, I highly recommend a Prague food and drink tour to taste these local favorites while learning the stories behind them.

Day 2

We started bright and early at the Astronomical Clock again before grabbing coffee at a local café. I don’t know what magic they put in that black coffee with vanilla syrup, but it was life-changing. Still dreaming about it.

Next on the list: finding Prague’s smallest road (maybe even Europe’s). We didn’t actually find it, but the journey was worth it. We stumbled upon an adorable gingerbread shop! Gingerbread is a big deal in Czech culture—baking intricate shapes and designs is a centuries-old tradition. I was obsessed with the little gingerbread houses that looked like Prague’s buildings.

From there, we visited the Lennon Wall, a moving tribute to freedom, peace, and expression, created after John Lennon’s assassination in the 1980s. Despite the government’s attempts to paint over it, people kept adding messages of hope and art. It’s an inspiring and emotional place, and I loved seeing its layers of meaning.

We wandered back to Prague Castle, which is as incredible as you’d imagine. Somehow, Dz and I accidentally joined a tour inside the castle grounds. Oops! It was fascinating to see the castle’s interior and history, even if we felt like undercover agents.

The Charles Bridge came alive for us again with its art vendors. If you go, you have to stop here. I found some of the most beautiful, handmade jewelry that I still cherish to this day. Then we visited the famous infinity book tower at the Prague Municipal Library. Yes, the line was long, but it was absolutely worth it.

We capped off the day by climbing the Astronomical Clock. Yes, you can actually climb it! The stairs were endless, and my fear of heights kicked in hard. My palms are sweating now just thinking about it, but the views were insane. If you’re not scared of heights, it’s a must. This was such a cool experience—totally worth splurging on the entry fee for those epic views of Old Town. If you want to make the most of your visit, consider a guided Old Town Clock tour, where you’ll learn all about the history and the mechanics of this iconic clock, plus get insider tips for navigating the area like a local!

Dz ended the night pretending she was a beer girl, ordering a sausage and beer combo. Spoiler: we ended up having to share the beer because she’s not a beer girl.

Day 3

Our final day in Prague! We had a whole day ahead before catching our night bus to Poland at 11 p.m. With our bags packed and stored, we had to carefully plan the day to avoid becoming too sweaty or gross (spoiler: it didn’t work).

We spent the day souvenir shopping and found a cute market by the river. I treated myself to an amazing pastry, and sorry Dz, I wasn’t sharing. We killed time wandering around the city, enjoying drinks, and soaking in the Prague vibes one last time.

When it was time to grab our bags and head to the station, the heat had taken its toll. We were sticky, tired, and ripe (TMI, but you need the full picture). Armed with baby wipes and spray deodorant, we did our best to freshen up before boarding the bus. Somehow, we managed to sleep a little, and before we knew it, we were in Poland.