The city of a hundred spires, and still one of my favorite cities that I’ve been to. The rich culture and the fascinating history of this small Eastern European country keeps calling me back. The Honest Guide definitely helped while I was planning this trip, and gave me so many wonderful ideas of things to do, where to go, and what to eat.
Staroměstské Náměstí (Old Town Square)
The main area of the city, where the whole of Prague comes together. Here you can see the Prague Astronomical Clock, Church of Our Lady before Týn, Old Town Hall, several statues, St Nicholas Church, and the Prague Meridian. Many tours will start out here, and there’s a few hidden gems around the square. During the winter, the Christmas markets are set up here, selling hot drinks (try some mulled wine!) and gifts for he holidays. The Prague Christmas Markets are said to be one of the best in Europe.
Pražský Orloj (Clock Tower)
I’m so glad we were able to see the clock tower before renovations started, they were starting to put the scaffolding up during our trip. This 600 year old astronomical clock (that is still functional!) is one of the main attractions in Old Town. On the top of the hour, the bells chime and the figurines begin to move. It is really amazing, but a bit underwhelming when you see the sheer size of the clock itself. If you want a bird’s eye view of the city, you can buy a ticket to climb to the top of the tower.
Grab a coffee (or five) at Skautský Institut
This student cafe is perfect for hanging out, listening to live music, or even getting some work done. Their chai lattes are absolutely delicious, and it was here, in this very cafe, that I fell in love with them. If you want a good view of the Old Town Square above all the tourists, grab a seat in the enclosed pentagonal room off to the left side of the second room inside the cafe. If the weather is nice, you can opt to sit outside on the balcony and maybe hear some of the music students having a jam session.
Book Tower at the Municipal Library of Prague
If you want a good photo for the ‘gram that’s a bit out of the ordinary, check out the book tower at the municipal library. Mirrors are placed at the bottom and the top of the tower, so it give the illusion that it goes on forever. It’s right off of the Old Town Square, so it’s easy to walk to. Also, City Hall is right across the street so you can kill two birds with one stone.
Take a ride of the Paternoster Elevator at City Hall
I first saw this on an episode of the Honest Guide, and it looked so cool. I bookmarked the location and made sure we stopped there. The elevator moves continuously on a loop and doesn’t stop. If you want to get on, you can just walk into an open car, and when you get to your desired floor you simply hop off. If you’re feeling brave you can ride the elevator as it changes directions, but it can be a bit cramped, so keep that in mind.
See the mummified hand at the Basilica of St. James
This beautiful 13th century Baroque church is filled with head-to-toe with stunning artwork and relics from centuries past. The 300 year old organ is also absolutely gorgeous, and worth checking out a concert or recital. On the wall is the mummified hand of a theif from over 400 years ago. The story has it that when the theif tried to steal jewels from the high altar, the statue of the Virgin Mary grabbed his arm and wouldn’t let go, so the monks had to cut off his arm.
Josefov (Jewish Quarter)
The history of Jews in Prague goes back centuries. Even after many communities were wiped out during WWII, there still are some today that continue to thrive. The Old New Synagogue is considered to be the oldest surviving synagogue in Europe, built in 1270. The Old Jewish Cemetery was in use from the early 1400s to the late 1700s, and for lack of space many graves were built on top of each other, sometimes even up to 12 layers! There are many synagogues within the area of various architectural styles and are beautiful to see. If you make your way to the Jewish Town Hall you’ll see two clocks: one with Roman numerals turning clockwise, and one with Hebrew letters turning counter-clockwise (since Hebrew runs from right to left).
Rudolfinum
I didn’t expect to have so much fun here, and if you come I’m sure you’ll have a great time. There’s an interactive exhibit in the downstairs that’s really meant just for kids, but when we came there were several adults checking out the exhibit. You can also take a guided tour throughout the concert halls and maybe even catch a performance.
Karlův Most (Charles Bridge)
Of course you need to visit the Charles Bridge, how can you not? It’s right smack dab in the middle of the city. The bridge is filled with statues, that most are rubbed for luck so much their color has completely come off. You’ll also see various performers and artists on the sides of the bridge to make money off tourists, it’s better to not pay any attention to them and to just enjoy the beauty of the bridge and the view of Prague Castle and Petřín Hill. I suggest also checking out the other bridges on the Vltava River in Prague (there’s ten!).
Visit the feathered friends along Vltava River
I’m not just talking about the swans hanging out by Mánes Bridge ready to attack you for not bringing enough bread. On Kampa Island there’s an art installation where a parade of yellow penguins are lined up at the edge of the river.
Kampa Island
This “island” has some pretty interesting sights to see. Outside the Kampa Museum you can see a few statues of giant babies, not sure what they’re there for but they’ll definitely be memorable. There’s tons of weird statues all over the city, see if you can find them all! Most of the island is a park, but there are a few cafes and shops on the northern end of the island to pass by.
Lennon Wall
This wall was dedicated in the 1980s to John Lennon after his death, but the wall itself had been a place to write poems or love notes since the 60s. The wall has been painted over so many times that none of the original graffiti still exists. People from all over come to mark their visit on the wall. The images on the wall change so frequently that what was there a few months ago could be covered up completely with something else.
Perníkový panáček (Gingerbread store)
Right outside the Kafka Museum there is a small gingerbread store that is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. The shop is head-to-toe gingerbread, and you can sample the different types of Czech cookies. There’s a little seating area outside where you can sit and watch the Pissing Statue.
Pissing Statue
No real description needed. Moving art installation outside the Kafka museum that’s of two men peeing. The pond below them is actually a map of the Czech Republic. You can throw coins in to make a wish if you want to.
Narrowest street in Prague
With all the cool things to see in the city, definitely make sure you stop here. It’s for sure just a tourist trap for a restaurant so people will walk down the stairs and maybe stop in for something to eat, but it’s still fun to see. There’s a small stoplight to let you know which direction the flow of walking is going, and when you can walk up/down comfortably.
Pražský Hrad (Prague Castle)
The main attraction of the city (other than the astronomical clock), and standing in front of it you feel so small. This place is huge! If you’re going to come, set aside a few hours at the very least to be able to see everything. We originally had planned on buying the Circuit B ticket for 250 CZK each (~$11 USD), but ended up not buying a ticket at all. We wandered around he grounds of the castle for a couple hours and saw a great deal without a ticket. Also the hoards of tourists crowding around that were just arriving as we were leaving was also a plus for us. The Golden Lane (visit after 5 pm to get in for free!) is a street filled with tiny houses that were once occupied by local artists in the 15th century.
St. Vitus Cathedral
This cathedral is jaw-dropping. To get the full effect, you need to get here early. We arrived before the doors opened and were first in line to go in just before a bunch of tour groups came in behind us. The towering stained glass windows and the beautiful architecture of the ceilings are something everyone should see. If you want to go past a certain point, you do need to pay, but if you get there early enough you really can see everything.
Nový Svět
This quiet little neighborhood is just past Prague Castle, and it’s full of hidden places to explore. It’s nice to just walk around, admire the colorful houses, and maybe grab a cup of coffee at one of the local cafes. Not many tourists end up in this area, so it’s a nice change of pace if you want to get away from all the people.
Petřín Tower and Gardens
Petřín Hill is a huge area on the west side of the Vltava River below Prague Castle, with parks, attractions, and even a funicular. We went to the mirror maze and it cost about 60 CZK each with a reduced ticket. You can also buy a ticket to climb the 299 stairs to get to the top of Petřín Tower, which resembles the Eiffel Tower. Petřín itself is very beautiful, and when the colors start to change for autumn it’s absolutely magical.
Tančící Dům (Dancing House)
As you make your way along the riverside, you’ll come across an interesting looking building. The Dancing House is supposed to resemble a pair of dancers – namely, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. There is a rooftop bar with an incredible view of the city, which costs about 100 CZK (~$4.50 USD) to get in or you can just buy a drink and enter for free.
Vyšehrad
If thousand-year-old fortresses are your thing and crowds are not, come to Vyšehrad. About a 45 minute walk from Old Town, 20 minutes by tram (take line 17 for the scenic route), or 5 minutes by the red metro, it’s a great way to spend a few hours. The medieval structures and the beautiful trees were easily my favorites. There’s also a few restaurants that are decently priced, or you could even bring some food and have yourself a picnic!
See a show at the theater
Almost everyone we knew that had been to Prague before said we should see a show while we’re here. When we looked at ticket prices we couldn’t believe how inexpensive they were. For about 950 CZK each (~$43 USD) we were able to book a private box at The Estates Theatre for La Cenerentola (Cinderella).
See the interesting architecture of the city
There’s tons of various styles of buildings, structures, and statues all over Prague. You can find them almost anywhere, tucked away in a forgotten building to right out in the open in the main square.
Have a Czech lemonade (or beer!)
Yes, Prague is known for having extremely cheap beer (around $1 USD for a pint), but also try one of their lemonades. The fizzy drink is especially refreshing after a long day of walking around, and accompanies well with many of the dishes. The ones I tried were raspberry flavored, which I actually really enjoyed since I’m not particularly a big fan of raspberry flavored things.
Prague has stolen my heart, and I can’t wait to visit again. This city is so fascinating and there’s just so much to explore and discover. Ahoj!
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International Itinerary 