Prague clears the Rory Trotter Test in three days, no question. I put it at 8.6 overall. The old town, the river and the beer culture do most of the heavy lifting. You can cover the centre without rushing and still have time to sit and watch the place work.

The Charles Bridge early is the move. Later it fills with people, but at first light the stone feels solid under your feet and the river just moves below. Old town square holds its own even when busy. The towers and the narrow streets around it keep pulling you further in.

City Experience 9/10
Compact and easy to read. Everything important sits close enough that you walk between them without thinking. The river divides the city in a clean way and both sides feel worth the crossing.

Food 8/10
Hearty plates, good soups, and dumplings that fill you properly. I ate better when I stepped away from the main square menus. Simple places with local lunch crowds usually got it right. Beer is part of the meal more than a separate thing.

Value 8.5/10
Still one of the stronger deals among the big European cities. Rooms a short walk from the centre stay reasonable, and meals do not punish you. Three days does not empty the wallet the way some capitals do.

Walkability 9/10
Flat enough in the core, clear paths, and the bridges make natural turning points. You cover a lot on foot without feeling it. Trams help for the longer stretches if the legs start to complain.

Family Friendly 8/10
Open squares, river views and enough ice cream to keep the mood light. The cobbles can be tricky with a stroller, but the distances are short so it stays manageable.

Tourist Traps 5.5/10
Certain streets near the clock and the bridge lean hard into the same souvenirs and overpriced drinks. You notice them fast. Two turns away the atmosphere drops back to normal.

Rory’s Verdict
GO. Three days is enough to feel Prague properly. The old town, the river and the easy rhythm of the place still deliver. It is not trying to reinvent itself every season, and that works in its favour.

Rory’s Tips
Cross the bridge before the main crowds arrive. The light and the quiet change everything.
Drink the beer where locals sit, not where the menus are translated into five languages.
Walk both sides of the river at least once. The views shift more than you expect.
Wear shoes that handle uneven stones. Your feet will notice by the second evening.
Save one long afternoon for just sitting near the water with nothing planned. Prague rewards the slower pace.