My 2–day Trip to Prague
As a Master’s student living in Munich for almost a year, I hadn’t ventured outside of Germany much, except for a brief visit to Maastricht. After finishing my exams two weeks ago, my friends and I decided to take a weekend trip to Prague. Being students, we couldn’t afford a longer trip without stretching our finances, and we all had commitments the following week. So, we planned a straightforward two-day trip, determined to make the most of our limited time.
Our plan was simple: catch a Flixbus from Munich to Prague at 7 a.m. on Saturday, arriving at noon, and return by 8 p.m. on Sunday. We booked a hostel near the city center so we could explore Prague on foot without worrying about public transportation. It seemed foolproof — what could go wrong?
Well, things didn’t go quite as planned. We all made it to the bus on time, only to discover that the seats we had booked together in row 20 didn’t exist. The bus wasn’t configured as expected, and when we asked the Flixbus employee, he simply shrugged, saying there wasn’t much they could do. So, we reluctantly sat in random seats, separated from each other.
The journey was supposed to be straightforward, but when we made a stop in Regensburg, things took a turn. The bus, already nearly full when we left Munich, was supposed to be a two-story vehicle, but instead, it was a single-story bus. At Regensburg, there were many passengers waiting to board, but not enough seats. It quickly became clear that there had been a mix-up. The employees informed the waiting passengers that they’d have to wait for the next bus, which would arrive in two hours. This didn’t sit well with two elderly Ukrainian women who boarded the bus and refused to get off until the next bus arrived. As a result, we were all forced to wait for two hours.
Frustrated by the delay, we decided to grab some coffee to stay awake, as we were all pretty tired from the early start. While waiting outside the bus, a young Canadian couple approached us, asking for directions to the bakery where we had bought our coffee. The guy went to get their drinks, while the girl stayed and joined our conversation. We learned that they were from Quebec and had been exploring Europe for a week, also heading to Prague. When the guy returned, we chatted for about an hour, discussing everything from European culture to the situation with the two Ukrainian women holding up our trip.
About 20 minutes before the other bus was due to arrive, a shy teenage girl slowly joined our conversation. We found out she was from Prague and had been taking a German course in Regensburg. Her local knowledge came in handy, and we asked her for recommendations on what to see and do in Prague.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the second bus arrived, and the extra passengers boarded. We resumed our journey, but by the time we reached Prague, I was in desperate need of a bathroom. After handling that situation, we checked in at our hostel, which was conveniently located near the city center. The hostel was basic, a small room on the 5th floor with four beds and no windows, but thankfully it had air conditioning, as the weather was quite warm.
We took quick showers and headed out to explore the city. By then, it was already 3 p.m., so we started with a checking out the exterior of the National Czech Museum, right next to our hostel. Prague’s architecture immediately captivated us — vibrant colors, tiled streets, and historic buildings at every turn.
Feeling hungry, we went to a Czech restaurant recommended by the girl we met on the bus and tried traditional dishes like Svíčková and Czech goulash, accompanied by the famous Czech beer. Fun fact: the Czech Republic has the highest beer consumption per capita in the world, which was surprising to learn, given that I live in Bavaria.
After our meal, we made our way to the Old Town Square, passing the quirky Dancing House and numerous tourists along the way. We couldn’t resist trying Trdelník, a sweet treat made of a cinnamon roll-like cone filled with ice cream and fruits. Delicious as it was, it attracted a lot of bees — something to keep in mind if you ever try it!
At the Old Town Hall, we met up with the Canadian couple again to see the Prague Astronomical Clock. Afterward, we walked through the city, crossing the beautiful Charles Bridge over the Vltava River, surrounded by stunning views and people enjoying boat rides. We decided to save the boat ride for the next day and continued towards Prague Castle. The hike up to the castle was challenging, but the view was worth it. Although the ticket booth for the castle interior was closed, we explored the castle grounds and admired the colorful, doll-like houses on Golden Lane.
By this point, we had walked nearly 15 kilometers and were ready for dinner. After trying several places that were either full or had closed kitchens, we found a laid-back burger place where we ate and drank until 11 p.m. Exhausted, we finally called it a day and returned to our hostel.
The next day, we started with breakfast at a local café, then headed to the Czech National Museum. This museum was incredible, with rooms dedicated to everything from minerals and history to World War II and various species of animals. We spent four hours there, completely absorbed in the exhibits.
After the museum, we met up with the Canadian couple again for a planned boat ride on the Vltava River. However, the boat operator warned us of an impending storm, which we didn’t believe at first because the weather seemed fine. Fast forward a little, and we were running through the rain to the nearest restaurant. The storm dashed our hopes for the boat ride, but we found a fantastic Italian restaurant where we spent the next two hours waiting for the rain to subside, enjoying great pizza, beer, and conversation.
As the rain eased, we reluctantly made our way back to the bus station, still a bit wet and tired. Despite a half-hour delay, the return bus ride was uneventful, and we finally arrived in Munich at 3 a.m., facing long routes home via public transport.
Despite the challenges and setbacks, the trip to Prague was incredibly satisfying. The city left a lasting impression, and I’m already eager to return to explore more — like the Jewish Cemetery, beer bath, Sex Machine Museum, Beer Museum, Ice Bar, Torture Museum, and many more fascinating places.
I’m writing this recollection of my trip to Prague in order to preserve the beautiful memories I had. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
