The Golden Mile
The Golden Mile is a cultural walk along palaces, churches, monuments, and royal splendor. It’s a route steeped in history, where Bohemian rulers reigned, plots were hatched, and wars were planned. Many of Prague’s main landmarks, such as the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, and the Astronomical Clock, can be found along this coronation route.
Put on your walking shoes, grab your backpack, and head to the starting point of the walk. Good luck. Who knows, we might run into each other. But first, let’s travel back in time. If you're not a fan of history, feel free to skip that part and just do the walk! The route is at the end of this page.
The Golden Mile (180-240 minutes, 1,25 - 2,5 miles)
This version by You Love Prague is the rebellious one, as it takes you in reverse, against the usual flow. After all, the goal is to see everything, and you’ll achieve that just as well this way. In my experience, it’s a more relaxed walk because most tourists follow the official route, often strolling in the way.
The walk begins at Malostranská (A on the map), the tram stop, where I always get goosebumps when I arrive. From this square, you can already see Prague Castle, though there’s still a bit of climbing ahead. Head north, pass through or along the little park, then take a left onto Staré zámecké schody (B). To your right on the corner, the delicious smells of Trdelnik will greet you—but don’t be tempted, just keep walking.
Staré zámecké schody – Old Castle Stairs
This is one of Prague’s unique spots. Sometimes you’ll find yourself alone here, sometimes it’s busy. Either way, it’s beautiful.
The Old Castle Stairs consist of 121 steps and stretch about 250 yards. You'll walk over cobblestones, just like those you find throughout the streets of Prague. No need to worry about stumbling over Stolpersteine (stumbling stones), though—they’re not found here.
The stairs are the shortest connection between the castle and the Malostranská metro station, and they’re flanked by two walls. The wall on the right is taller, with the St. Wenceslas vineyard and the Richter Villa behind it. These stairs have been here since the 17th century, but their current appearance dates back to the 1930s, when they were also given their present name.
(No) security Check at Prague Castle
After a steep climb - take a moment to look around - you’ll arrive at the checkpoint. It had been there for several years, but there's good news: you can just walk by it, there is no check. And that is just perfect, because before, you could easily spend 15 to 30 minutes in line for a superficial security check. They never looked beyond the surface of my backpack, so I never figured out what they were really checking for.
Entering Prague Castle
To enter the Prague Castle complex, you don’t need a ticket, and for the next few hours, you can enjoy all the sights like the Golden Lane and St. Vitus Cathedral (C), before continuing the walk. How you spend your time here is up to you, and it’s not something I can plot on the map.
For most attractions, you’ll need to buy a ticket. It’s convenient to purchase these ahead of time, so you can skip the lines at the ticket office.
The Prague CoolPass is a great option for this.
Detail of St. Vitus Cathedral
Hradčanské náměstí
Once you’ve seen everything, you should arrive at Hradčanské náměstí (D), the Castle Square on the other side of Prague Castle. Take your time here to enjoy the breathtaking, expansive view over the city.
This is also where the changing of the guards takes place in front of the "Wrestling Titans." Take a look around the square, it's one of the most beautiful ones in Prague.
Some Golden Mile routes continue towards the Strahov Monastery, but I’ll save that for another walk.
Ke hradu
From here, you head down via Ke Hradu (To the Castle), another charming and authentic street where you might be accompanied by one of Prague's many street musicians. If you want to take a picture with them, it's polite to give a small tip, and this will save you from a possible outburst from the artist.
If you follow the crowd, you'll end up at Malostranské náměstí (Lesser Town Square) (E), but you'll miss out on a lot along the way.
Ke Hradu, a beautiful street
Radnické schody
Climbing the Radnické schody (Stairs of the Town Hall) is fun and lively, with a few restaurants featuring terraces. However, it’s best not to sit down, as these restaurants have a reputation for being a bit dodgy... (according to the creators of Honest Guide).
But, of course, a walk wouldn’t be a walk if you didn’t continue following the route. I describe this walk, but honestly, I’m not sure why. Personally, I’m someone who doesn’t walk according to a set itinerary. Following your heart and doing what you feel like often leads you to more enjoyable spots.
On the right are the Stairs of the Town Hall
Nerudova, the Street with the Most Beautiful Facades of Prague
Alright, let's follow the blue line on the map again. As you walk down Nerudova, you’re surrounded by touristy charm and parked cars on either side. Let go of that image; focus on looking up, and you’ll see only the beautiful facades, cobblestones, and authentic Prague. By the way, take a moment to look to the left halfway down the street at the Italian Embassy - it's stunning!
Some of the beautiful facades of Nerudova
A peak on Nerudova
Malostranské náměstí and Mostecka
Eventually, you’ll arrive at Malostranské náměstí (E), where you can go around either to the right or left. Take a moment to enjoy this charming square. Here, you can:
- Watch the people on the square
- Watch the trams or hop on one
- Visit a farmers' market on certain days right on the square
- Check out one of the most visited churches in Prague, St. Nicholas Church (Kostel svatého Mikuláše), or admire the bell tower of St. Nicholas Church
- Grab a seat at a terrace (for example, at U Mecenáše or U Glaubicu)
But this walk continues.
Next, we’ll enter Mostecka (Bridge Street), the last little street before reaching Charles Bridge. Take it slow, as the beauty increases with each step—you’ll see more and more.
Are you ready?
What stands out immediately is the Malá Strana Bridge Tower. I could stare at it for hours. Just before the tower, you’ll catch a whiff of Trdelník, so be sure to keep moving. Also, don’t buy water here, as you’ll quickly find yourself spending €5—no surprise, as the tourist density visibly increases!
St. Nicolas Church on Malostranske namesti
Mostecka, seen from under the Mala Strana bridge tower
Charles Bridge
As you walk under the Mala Strana bridge tower, you’re already on Charles Bridge (F). My heart skips a beat every time I’m here. Over 650 years of Prague’s history converge in this spot. It’s hard to imagine, but it wasn’t always pedestrian-friendly-. Cars used to cross here until 1978, and until the German occupation in 1938, traffic drove on the left. It’s something we can hardly fathom now.
Whether you love Prague or not, I can confidently say that the beauty of Charles Bridge is unmatched. The first time you cross it, you might take an hour to walk the more than five hundred meters. Romantic photo ops, musicians, artists reminiscent of Paris, street vendors- there’s something new to admire every ten yards. And as you look back, the Prague Castle rises majestically behind you, so don’t forget to glance back occasionally. At the end of the bridge, another Gothic tower stands proudly. Wow.
The Mala Strana bridge tower standing on the Charles Bridge
Retreat Moment on Charles Bridge
For me, there are so many beauty stimuli here that I could stop in the middle of the bridge ten times to realize that I am just a small part of the universe. A tiny cog in the grand scheme of things. This makes me feel so insignificant that I can appreciate the grandeur of Prague even more. Not everyone experiences it this way, so we continue walking.
The rest of the walk to the Old Town Square, Staroměstské náměstí (G), is very easy. Just follow the crowd along Karlova, and you’ll get there. Also, as you walk, look past the touristy kitsch, and you’ll be amazed at the beautiful buildings along the way. If you don’t have a sore neck from looking up after your trip to Prague, then you haven’t truly seen Prague, haha!
Arrived at the Old Town Square?
Take a seat on one of the benches by the Jan Hus monument and enjoy. If your phone or watch is almost on the hour, head over to the Astronomical clock for a medieval spectacle.
Option 1: Celetná to the Powder Tower
If you'd like to take a slight detour, you can definitely pass by the Powder Tower. Simply cross the Old Town Square and head onto Celetná Street.
Continue walking until you come across a large black-brown tower, the Powder Tower.
This way, you'll still be covering the official part of the route.
Option 2: Melantrichova to the Wenceslas Square
Melantrichova is the narrow street directly across from the Astronomical Clock that you can take to continue your journey. This small alley gradually widens into a broader street. Following Na Můstku, you will arrive at Wenceslas Square, Václavské náměstí (H). You'll already see the National Museum in the distance, but it's still a 820-yard walk before you reach it.
A few tips
I'm only touching the tip of the iceberg here, as if you want to see everything along the route, be sure to set aside 2 x 4 hours.
- Try walking in reverse order, from Wenceslas Square to Prague Castle; you'll see it from a different angle and discover other hidden gems along the way.
- Occasionally turn left or right when everyone else is going straight ahead and break away from the crowd.
- Take this walk in segments and enjoy a pivo (beer) regularly!
Have fun, You Love Prague!
The National Museum on Wenceslas Square
You Love Prague