Travel Diary: Exploring Prague on a Budget
I went to Prague in June before heading on a short road trip around the Czech Republic. It was the most expensive part of our stay but I could afford to splurge as it was a whirlwind visit. Forty-eight hours was just enough time to see the main sights and experience the vibrant nightlife before recovering for a few days in the quiet town of Cesky Krumlov, (three hours south of Prague) and Kutna Hora (1 hour 30 mins east of Prague). I booked flights and accommodation well in advance, leaving me with extra Koruna for delicious Czech beer.
Pre-trip Spending
Flights: £93.98 return from London Luton to Prague Václav Havel with Wizz Air. I booked these flights a few months in advance to secure the best price.
Accommodation: £58.05, split between my friend and me for two nights. We found a large room in a shared Airbnb about 10 minutes’ walk from Charles Bridge in the Praha 1 district. For short trips, I prefer booking a private room in an Airbnb rather than an entire property. It’s a fraction of the price and, if you’re like me, you’ll spend most of your time out and about. We also saved on transport costs by choosing a central location.
Car hire: £7.52 per day. We hired a car at the end of our time in Prague to drive south to Cesky Krumlov. While public transport options are available, we preferred the convenience of a rental car.
Total: £159.55
On the Ground
Friday
Total: £18.50
11pm: We landed delayed and stressed at Prague Airport to a barrage of messages from our Airbnb host saying we’d missed the check-in time. Not ideal! We booked an Uber (£6.50 each) while going through passport control and were on our way. Normally, public transport would be my go-to option, but we didn’t have time to spare.
Saturday
Total: £60.34
11am: After a well-deserved lie-in, we scouted out a nearby breakfast place for coffee. Ignoring the tourist traps along the Vltava river, we chose a quaint café called SmetanaQ. It featured a substantial breakfast menu and a quiet terrace to enjoy the morning sun. I got a flat white (£3) with avocado and poached eggs on sourdough bread (£5.45).
3pm: After walking off our breakfast and dodging the crowds on Charles Bridge, we took the funicular up to Petrin Hill (£0.90 for a single). The city’s incredible architecture slowly came into view as the funicular climbed higher, revealing a spectacular rose garden and shady wooded walks towards Prague Castle.
5pm: We opted for an early dinner at Art Café Manes, overlooking Slovanský ostrov. I savored a vegetarian burger (£9.60), a White Russian (£4), and a small beer (£1.72).
Sunday
Total: £13.30
Midday: Feeling fragile, we checked out of our Airbnb and walked a few meters to the nearest café for coffee and a croissant (£3).
2pm: It was road trip time! We had a few hours to kill until we picked up our hire car and headed to Cesky Krumlov. We got an Uber (£2.50 each) to Prague Train Station as the temperature was a bit high for a hungover walk.
The Final Tally
Overall spend: £92.14 + flights (£93.98) + accommodation (£58.05) + car hire (£7.52) = £251.96
Notes: This was a quick visit to Prague before embarking on a longer road trip around the country. For a less expensive, quieter alternative to Prague, consider visiting Kutna Hora. It’s about an hour by train from Prague and features exceptional architecture, including the Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church) and Cathedral of St Barbara.
