Traveling with Tanya
1st September 2021
Best Places to Visit in Prague
Planning a trip to Prague! Maybe one of the best travel decisions one can ever make.
Prague, is the capital and also the largest city of Czech Republic. Prague is one of the most incredibly beautiful cities across Europe. Brimming with charm, a hint of romance, rich medieval architecture, breathtaking panoramic views make Prague also called the Paris of the East. However, I feel it is distinctly unique from Paris.
Considering it is one the most preserved cities, this place has so much to offer and no doubt it is one of the most visited destinations all year round.
Fun Fact: Did you know that Prague is also popularly known as Praha. And in Czech the word Prah means the “rapids” in the river. And the city’s origin was at the crossing point of the Vltava river, which flows today under the famous CharlesBridge.
Also, Czechs take their Beer very seriously. On an average a Czech citizen consumes almost 300 liters of beer in a year! The city also has its own unique Beer spas and we experienced one of those. .Isn’t that fascinating. Read below to know about our experiences.
How to Reach Prague:
We traveled from Nuremberg, Germany to Prague via FlixBus which is one of the cheapest modes to travel to the country. The time was 3.5 hours. You can take a flight to the Vaclav Havel Airport, which is the most important airport in Czech Republic. If you are flying from within Europe, there are a lot of budget airlines that can bring you to the city or you can drive down as well. Please check with your hotel while making your reservations about car parking availability. If you are staying in the old town, you might have to book a parking spot in the commercial parking facilities.
Currency: Czech Republic’s currency is the Czech koruna or Czech crown.
Where to stay in Prague:
Although Prague isn’t very big, it is divided in different districts, where Prague 1 is most of the city center. The old town of Prague is called StareMesto and most of the famous spots are in the old town. So if it is your first time in Prague or you are here for a short trip, I would highly recommend you to book your stay here. Although in the city center, this place not just offers expensive hotels and impressive home stays but also budget stay options and a wide range of hostels for young travelers or for those on a tighter budget. Apart from this other popular areas to stay are Mala Strana, ideal for families and couples.
Here you can find some of the most historic and iconic buildings of Prague. Josefov is another area, with its neighborhood on the Vltava river. It is calm and in close proximity to the Old town.
We stayed in Prague 1 at Iron gate.
Places to Visit in Prague
Prague is known as the city of a thousand Spires and is truly a fairy tale city. Standing on the beautiful Vltava river, Prague is easily walkable, and to reach the places that are far away, the city has an extensive public transport system with beautiful red trams, buses and underground subways.
The Old Town Square:
Since we were living just a few steps away from the Old Town Square, we decided to start exploring the city from there itself. Set up back in the 12th century, it is the most historical square right in the heart of the city and has witnessed many historic events. The various iconic buildings in the city represent different forms of architecture such as the Baroque, Gothic. Most of the Easter and Christmas Markets are held here.
The square also offers plenty of cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy a nice Czech Pils with the views of the Astronomical clock and the Church of our Lady. These restaurants also have some really great bars where you can have a nice party and enjoy the nightlife right in the heart of the city center.
Astronomical Clock:
The astronomical clock is also called the Orloj and is connected to the Old Town hall. Although the third oldest Astronomical clock, it is the oldest operational astronomical clock in the world. It was established back in 1410. The interesting thing is that the clock tells about the positions of the sun and the moon and displays other astronomical details. The clock facade is decorated with Gothic sculptures. Every time when the clock strikes the hour, the procession of the 12 Apostles sets in motion and catches a lot of tourist attention.
Interesting Fact: The legend says that the maker of the clock, Hanus, was blinded on the orders of the king so that he could not duplicate his work . And in turn he disabled the clock and hence no one could repair it for the next 100 years.
The Church of Our Lady before Týn:
It certainly takes some imagination to build one of the most beautiful Churches. The two Gothic Spires make it indeed one of the most iconic landmarks throughout Prague. The church is an extensive gallery of Early Baroque and Gothic pieces of art. Since the 14th century, this church has been a major part of the city.
Admission: The entry inside the church is Free. Although the church is open to the public, the opening hours are significantly limited because of regular mass.
The Church of Saint Nicholas:
Located in the Old town square, it is the most famous Baroque Church in Prague and is known for its rich decoration and outstanding architecture. It was built back in the 1700’s and as the name suggests, it is dedicated to Saint Nicholas. Since the 18th Century, many concerts have been held in the church, year round.
Charles Bridge:
You can’t skip walking on the Charles Bridge if you are in Prague. It is one of the main highlights of the town and usually on the top of your things to do when you visit Prague. Built by King Charles back in 1300’s, it was the only means to cross the Vltava river for over 300 years. The old statues lining the bridge, the cobble stoned path, the boats floating on the river make it a magical scenery, especially during the sunet. You will also find an array of talented musicians, artists and street performers on the bridge, making your walk eventful and fun. If you want to avoid tourists and take beautiful pictures of the bridge, then you will have to come here pretty early in the morning.
The Dancing Building in the New Town:
The Dancing house is nicknamed as Fred and Ginger (as it resembles a dancing pair) and is one of the most important landmarks in the city. This unique building was designed back in 1992. The very non conventional architecture of the building was a subject of controversy back then when the city was brimming with Baroque, Gothic buildings. The site on which the dancing house is created, is of huge historical importance. Its site was the location of a house that was destroyed in the US bombing and air strikes. The building is now used commonly by office & commercial spaces and restaurants. There are plenty of creative spots and photo ideas to capture this unique building in your camera.
Vyśehrad- Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul
The Basilica of St. Peter and Paul has one of the most charming and magnificent church doors I have seen. The Church was built back in 1070 in the Vyśehrad district. After being destroyed in fire, the church was reconstructed in Neo Gothic style. Every once an hour, the district is filled with the sounds of church bells. Surprisingly, this place doesn’t attract much tourist attention, but is surely worth a visit.
The John Lennon Wall:
One of the most interesting and unique things to do is to seek the Lennon wall. After being murdered in 1980, the portrait of John Lennon was made on this wall, surrounding the Maltese Gardens. Prague was under Communist regime in the 1980s and people used this wall as a shrine to write their grievances against the political regime. The wall is ever changing with colorful messages and Beatles inspired Graffiti. It attracts a lot of tourists and you are allowed to write and paint on the wall too.
Devils Stream- The Prague’s Venice:
Just 250 m away from the Lennon wall, is the Devil’s stream. And unlike its name, it is one of the most beautiful places in prague. The Devil’s stream is a small branch off from the Vltava river that flows from the busy cobbled streets of Mala Strana to the Kampa Island. Houses are rowed next to each other, and boats silently glide on the stream, making it so beautiful that it is often referred to as Prague’s Venice. There is also an old-mill wheel in the stream that makes the place look like a postcard picture.
Eat Trdelník – The Czech Treat
Although Trdelník has several origins, it is hugely popular here in Czech. The dough is glazed with sugar and then grilled over coals until it’s brown. It is then rolled over trays containing cinnamon, sugar and walnut mix and is super tasty. In the summer it is usually served with ice cream filling and tastes like heaven. It is really interesting to see Trdelník vendors on the streets of Prague, preparing this sweet delicacy.
The Prague Castle Grounds:
After the sweet delight, let’s head up to the hill called Hrad. The hill of the Prague Castle, which is the largest castle complex in the World. The Castle stands proudly overlooking the city and the river. It is one of the most eminent Czech treasures. The Castle has been a power seat for the Czech monarchs since the 9th Century and now is the official office and the residence of the President of the Czech.
Once you are up towards the Castle Complex you can buy tickets for the Golden Lane, St. Vitus Cathedral and Basilica of St. George to complete the experience. You can also do a guided tour to get a perspective of the monarchy’s stories and history.
The Prague Castle Gardens:
The Prague Castle Gardens are majestic and make you feel royal the very moment you step into them. The gardens are on the slope of the hills of the Prague Castle and are split into two halves. The Singing Fountains in the garden are one of the most beautiful fountains in Europe. Not many tourists come here, so it’s a uniquely peaceful place enriched with architecture, history and nature.
Narrowest Street in Prague:
Just 800 m away from the Castle complex is the narrowest street of Prague, squeezed between two buildings. It is located in one of the oldest neighborhoods, Mala Strana and is around 50 cm wide.
It is actually a flight of stairs with a traffic light installed at both the ends of the street. Because of instagram, it is a common tourist attraction now and it is fun colliding into people while walking in the street.
The 2 Men Pissing Sculpture:
This one is right next to the Franz Kafka museum. You will see two men peeing on a shallow pool which is surprisingly in the shape of the Czech Republic Map. And these guys aren’t just peeing in the fountain, they are programmed to pee to spell out famous Czech quotes that then flow in the country-shaped pool. The statues are of Bronze and it seems that they are made up of stacked slices of metal. Prague is definitely known for its strange pieces of art and this is certainly one of them. Although there is no brochure to find these strange statues, you can just find them while strolling on the streets.
Franz Kafka’s Rotating Head:
For those who don’t know Franz Kafka was a very famous German speaking novelist and story writer and one of the very famous figures in 20th century Literature. And there is a giant rotating head of him right outside the busy Quadrio shopping center in Prague. Although this spot was on our itinerary, we accidentally bumped into it while strolling in the streets. Apart from being a treat to the eyes, the sculpture is also a technical wonder. The statue is made of 42 layers of stainless steel and has an inbuilt motor that rotates the head periodically. The statue was built in 2014.
Jerusalem Synagogue:
Located in Prague 1, it is also known as the Jubilee Synagogue. The Synagogue is richly, beautifully decorated and an amazing example of Art Nouveau style, full of Islamic arches. Besides its religious purpose, the Synagogue also serves as a cultural and exhibition venue. The Synagogue is open everyday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM except Saturdays and Jewish Holidays.
Fees:
Adults- 100 CZK (eTicket 90 CZK)
Children under 6 – Free
The Ultimate Beer Spa Experience:
After roaming in the beautiful streets of Prague and soaking in the Bohemian beauty, it was now time to unwire and relax ourselves with a beer spa. Prague is a Beerland and offers an original spa procedure based on the exclusive use of natural ingredients, material and old-Bohemian therapeutic practices. The procedure involves bathing in a tank beer filled with beer extracts , hops essence and beer herbal mixture. During your bath, you can have unlimited consumption of Light and Dark beer direct from the tap and relish homemade breads along with it. Once done with the bath, you can lie on a bed with real wheat straw. The duration of the spa is 1 hour and is ideal for a group of friends or couples. We had our spa at The First Tank Beer Spa in Old Town.
Trust me, it was one of the best spa experiences we ever had. The staff was very friendly and even offered us a big mug of beer after our procedure was over. I would highly recommend this unique Beer spa to everyone who visits Prague
Although we stayed in Budapest for 5 days, there were still a lot of places in the city we could see either because they were closed due to the easter holidays or we couldn’t take out the time. Some of there were, the famous Great Market Hall, House of Terror, street food gardens, Gellert bath, Jewish Quarter