Prague Tourist Traps: What to Skip Instead
Stops
6
Duration
Before you go
The plan
Prague is easy to love and easy to overpay for. These are the classic mistakes around the historic center — plus the simple alternative that gives you a better version of the city.
Your route
Your itinerary
Do not choose a restaurant just because it faces Old Town Square
Old Town Square
The view is expensive. Walk one or two streets away and choose the food first, not the postcard angle.
Treat trdelník as a tourist snack, not a Prague tradition
Old Town
Try it if you want the photo, but do not leave thinking it is the defining Czech dessert.
Be suspicious of random exchange offices
Wenceslas Square
A “0% commission” sign does not guarantee a fair rate. Prefer card payments, your bank’s ATM, or a clearly reputable exchange option.
Avoid souvenir shops selling the same generic “Prague” products
Royal Route
Look for Czech design, glass, illustration, local food, or something made here instead of imported novelty merchandise.
Do Charles Bridge early or late, not at peak midday
Charles Bridge
The bridge is genuinely worth seeing; the trap is seeing it only when you can barely move.
Do not spend the whole trip inside Prague 1
Prague
The historic center is essential, but neighborhoods like Vinohrady, Karlín, Holešovice, and Žižkov are where Prague starts feeling lived-in.