Everyone and their mother goes to Prague Castle. And really, it's nice. But don't pay to go inside if you're on a budget, because it's really not worth it. You can wander around the grounds and see St Vitus Cathedral for free. And besides, there are plenty of castles and cathedrals in Europe. Trust me. Instead, head to Vysehrad. It's not as pretty as Prague castle, but it's free and off the beaten path.
To Get There: Hop on the metro and get to the red line. If you're anywhere downtown, you're most likely on the Green line, so you'll want to head to Muzeum. If you're on the Yellow line, head up to Florenc. You'll want to go "south" towards Haje on the red line. (That's 4 stops from Florenc and 2 stops from Muzeum) The stop is called "Vysehrad" and it has a little castle picture next to it on the metro maps. The castle isn't right outside the metro, but follow the signs to "K Rotunde" and you'll get there easily enough.
Vysehrad is claimed to be the actual spot that "father Czech" settled his people when the Czechs first moved to Bohemia. As you approach from the metro, you'll pass through the Tabor gate. There is a map along the road that you can stop and look at. Parts of the castle grounds date back to the 10th century, and it's a bit of a hodge-podge of a place. Some of the buildings are rather old, and a few are closed to the public because of they aren't safe. However, the Basilica of St Peter and Paul is open to the public. If you're interested in cemeteries (or just want to see the graves of a couple famous Czechs: Dvorak, Smetana & Capek among them) you can wander through the cemetery.
If relaxing in the sun is more your style, you'll be in good company here. Since Vysehrad isn't often frequented by tourists, there are a lot of locals here. I've seen weddings, outdoor plays, and fairs take place, as well as Prazaks sunning themselves in the gardens. There is a small restaurant at the castle that serves decent food (and it wasn't too expensive if I recall). One of my classes took a tour of the casements of Vysehrad, where they store some of the original statues off of Charles' Bridge. We were given a guided tour (in Czech) but it might be possible to get one in English. It was all very fascinating!
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