Prague Solo: Old Town, New Town, and Where to Actually Eat

Prague's Old Town is stunning and, by mid-morning, genuinely crowded. The fix is simple: cross the river. Lesser Town and the streets below Prague Castle have nearly identical architecture with a fraction of the people, and the castle itself is free to walk around even if you skip the paid interiors.

Three or four days covers it well. One for Old Town and the Astronomical Clock (skip the actual show, the clock face is the interesting part), one for the castle district and a walk across Charles Bridge at sunrise before the crowds arrive, one for Vyšehrad, a quieter fortress with some of the best skyline views in the city, and one open day for whatever you didn't get to.

Prague is still one of the better value cities in Europe. A proper Czech meal with a beer, which is often cheaper than bottled water here, runs around 150 to 250 koruna at a local restaurant, versus double that in a tourist-zone spot near Old Town Square. Look two streets back from any major landmark for better prices and better food.

Solo travelers tend to find Prague easy socially. The hostel and pub culture is strong, English is widely spoken by anyone under 40, and the beer hall format, long communal tables, makes striking up a conversation almost automatic.

Getting around is simple: the metro, trams, and buses run on one ticket system, and a 24 or 72-hour pass is worth it if you're moving around a lot. Validate your ticket the moment you board, spot checks happen and the fine isn't small.