8 Boozy Beer-Related Activities To Do in Prague: Experience Czech Beer Culture

The Czech Republic has the highest beer consumption per person in the world. And if there’s one thing people know about the Czech Republic, it’s that it’s famous for its incredible beer.

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Even if you’re not a big beer drinker (I wasn’t before I moved to Prague), you can’t visit Prague without experiencing Czech beer culture. There are ways you can do this without having to actually drink any beer, but obviously enjoying at least a pint of a classic Czech pilsner it’s basically a right of passage. 

First I’ll tell you some background on Prague, where to stay during your visit, the history of beer brewing in the Czech Republic, Czech beers you need to try, and finally 8 boozy beer-related activities to do in Prague. Na zdraví (cheers)!

Table of Contents

• Introduction to Prague
• Where to Stay in Prague
• History of Beer Brewing in the Czech Republic
• Czech Beers you Need to Try
• Beer-Related Activities To Do in Prague

Introduction to Prague

First I want to tell you a little bit about Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, and the city I am lucky to call home. Located right in the heart of Europe, Prague has a mix of Western and Eastern European influence which makes it unlike any other city in the world.

Other than beer, Prague is perhaps best known for its incredibly well-preserved historical architecture, such as the 600+ year old Astronomical Clock, and the Prague Castle, which is the largest continuous castle complex in the world. Prague is a quirky and cozy city with an endless amount of things to do, and truly should be at the top of your travel bucket list.

Where to Stay in Prague

Prague is less expensive than many other popular European cities. This means you can find nice accommodation without breaking the bank! I recommend staying in Prague 1 or Prague 2—the city is broken up into numerical districts—to be close to the centrally located tourist attractions. 

If you do stay somewhere else, though, don’t fear! Prague has a very well connected and easy-to-use public transport system that will take you all around the city.

Here are some hotels (and one hostel) that I personally recommend: 

History of Beer Brewing in the Czech Republic

Now, let’s talk about the drink! The Czech Republic, and really the entire region comprising the Old Kingdom of Bohemia, has an incredibly rich beer-brewing history. 

Beer brewing in the Czech Republic is able to be traced back to the year 993 at the Břevnov Monastery in Prague. At this time, there was a ban on brewing beer other than on the grounds of monasteries, which was only lifted in 1250. 

After this, some cities were granted the rights to brew including Budejovice (home of Budweiser—the Czech version, not the knockoff American version) and Plzeň (home of Pilsner Urquell). And in 1842, the Pilsner Urquell Brewery came up with a method of drying its malt with indirect heat, which resulted in a golden beer, similar to the Pilsner Urquell we know and love today.

During the Communist era, brewing was state controlled, and breweries were only allowed to produce dark and light beer. This resulted in the country’s beer brewing techniques to remain quite traditional, even after the end of the Communist regime.

Czech Beers you Need to Try

The best known Czech beers are Pilsner Urquell, Budweiser Budvar, and Staropramen. But this doesn’t necessarily mean they are the best tasting, at least in my humble opinion. While you should definitely try for yourself, I recommend trying Pilsner Urquell and Kozel, particularly the dark Kozel (if you like sweeter beers).

You may also notice that beer is served with a lot of foam in Prague. This is completely normal and even preferred by Czechs! A standard half-liter beer will have three fingers of foam. This is also called a Hladinka. Other types of pours are a Šnyt which is more than half foam and a Mlíko which is almost all foam. If you don’t want a full beer but want to try it for the cultural experience, you can also just order a 0.3 liter rather than a 0.5 liter.

Beer-Related Activities To Do in Prague

1. Pilsner Urquell Experience

The Pilsner Urquell Experience is located in Prague’s New Town or Nove Mesto and is an ideal activity to get a taste for Czech beer (no pun intended).

There are numerous different experiences you can participate in. Most of them start with a tour, where you learn about the history of beer brewing in the Czech Republic, the birth of Pilsner Urquell, and how the beer is brewed today, then you can decide what else you may want to add on: a traditional Czech lunch, the Tapster Academy AKA learning how to properly pour a Pilsner Urquell, and more. I did the Original Tour + Traditional Czech Lunch and highly recommend it!

2. Beer Spa (With Unlimited Beer Consumption)

While bathing in beer isn’t necessarily something Czech people do on a regular basis (or at all), there is a long history of using beer for health and cosmetic purposes, but the first beer spa in the Czech Republic opened in 1981.

Today, beer spas in Prague mostly cater to tourists, but I can guarantee this doesn’t mean it’s a rip off… in fact, quite the opposite! For an entire hour you bathe in a warm bath of hops and barely, and get to drink unlimited beer from the tap right at your bathtub. My skin felt super soft afterwards. Who could resist!?

3. Staropramen Brewery Tour

Staropramen is one of the main beer brewers in the Czech Republic, and they offer a super interactive, self-guided tour at their brewery which outlines the history of the company to its present day.

And to top it off, you get to try four different types of beers! It was really cool to understand their unique process of making beer, and how Staropromen has impacted the beer industry in the Czech Republic and beyond!

4. Strahov Monastery Brewery

The Strahov Monastery Brewery dates back to around the year 1400 when monks began brewing their own beer on the grounds of the monastery. Today, the brewery produces beer under the brand name St. Norbert; using modern brewing methods while honoring tradition. At the restaurant they have an amber ale, dark lager, and IPA always on tap, and there’s delicious, authentic Czech food to enjoy, too! Before or after visiting the brewery, you can have a look at the Strahov Monastery or stroll up to the Prague Castle for more history and culture.

5. Brewery Walking Tour

This brewery walking tour around Prague will help you learn about the local mini-breweries you wouldn’t normally find as a tourist. The tour takes you to three mini-breweries where you can taste nine local varieties of beer, including unlimited beer at the last stop, and learn about brewing techniques from brewmasters. And while you walk from brewery to brewery, you will also get a guided tour and learn more about the city!

6. Lod’ Pivovar (Europe’s Only Boat Brewery)

Lod’ Pivovar is the only brewery in Europe physically located on a boat (equipment and all), moored on the Vltava River. There are a few different decks that offer different atmospheres, depending on if you’re there for a cheeky drink or want more of a sit down meal. They offer traditional Czech dishes that pair perfectly with their beers and, best of all, a scenic view of the city.

7. Czech Beer Museum

At the Czech Beer Museum, the only one in Prague, you will learn all about the history of beer production in the country and what makes beer so special. You get to see many different tools used throughout history to produce beer and enjoy a welcome beer to taste as well as a few additional beers at the end of the tour. You probably only need an hour here, and it’s great for photo opps!

8. Czech Beer Tasting

This beer tasting in the heart of Prague will teach you about the history of beer brewing in the region and also allow you to taste the most popular and some less-common Czech beers paired with cheese and crackers. You will learn how to properly taste beer to get maximum flavor results, hence becoming a beer expert in your own right. This can be booked as a shared, group tour or a private experience.

Bonus: Day Trip to Pilsner Urquell Brewery

The Pilsner Urquell Brewery isn’t in Prague, but only an hour and a half train ride away. The town Plzen and more specifically the world renowned Pilsner Urquell Brewery is the only place in the world that brews this famous Czech beer.

The beer type ‘pilsner’ actually comes from Pilsner Urquell, and taking a tour of the Brewery you will learn all about this lager’s scrappy beginnings and why it’s such an important part of Czech history and culture. 

You get to see firsthand how Pilsner was made traditionally and today, see their bottle recycling center, and their underground cellars. It’s more than worth the half-day trip! And if you don’t want to coordinate it yourself, you can even book it as a tour.

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Enjoy your visit to Prague, and don’t forget to *czech* out my other articles:

Your Non-Touristy Guide to Summer in Prague from an American Who Lives There
Here’s Precisely How To Spend 3 Days in Prague This Spring
11 Super Authentic Czech Foods to Try in Prague
Rainy Day in Prague? Here Are 15 Dry Activities (From an American Living in Prague)