Prague, the Queen of Cities

Prague Travel Guide: Top Attractions, History, Culture and Gastronomy in the Heart of Europe

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Prague Beautiful Landscape with Charles Bridge

A fairy-tale city with a hundred towers in the heart of Europe, a jewel in the crown, rich in history and attractions, but also a great place for those interested in gastronomy and cultural treasures: this is Prague.

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Prague, Charles Bridge

Prague has played an important role in the life of Europe since the Middle Ages. Its location is more than ideal, right in the middle of the Old Continent and the Czech Republic, bordered by nine hills. The city is bisected by the Vltava River, which runs for 31 kilometres. It has been inhabited for a long time, with the first written records dating back to the 9th century. Today, it is one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations, visited by many travellers at all times of the year, and for good reason.

Historical Monuments

One of the most magnificent sights is certainly Prague Castle and the Castle District, parts of which date back to the 12th century. The building itself and the castle walls transport visitors back to the Middle Ages, and three guided tours of the castle complex include a look at old treasures, paintings and the palace halls and interiors. Take a stroll along the famous Golden Street (Zlatá ulicka), once the home of the jewellery masters and now with a unique atmosphere of colourful little houses with galleries and shops.

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Prague, Golden Street

Don’t miss St Vitus Cathedral, the country’s most important church. Here you’ll find the Coronation treasures, the Royal Crypt and a treasury, and you can climb the bell tower for a special entrance fee.

It’s worth visiting the increasingly colourful gardens surrounding the castle. The Royal Garden, the Stag Moat and the Paradise Garden are all small oases, with beautiful plants and stately peacocks strolling about.

A Walk Through the City Centre

After a stroll around the castle, it’s nice to walk across the Charles Bridge to the Old Town. This is the second most famous and popular attraction in the city, connecting the Old Town and the Lesser Town. The ancient bridge is 516 metres long and 10 metres wide, and is only accessible on foot. During Christmas and summer, it is a place where vendors sell their wares, making it feel like a medieval fair.

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Orloj, Prague

Once you arrive in the Old Town, it’s only a few blocks to the Old Town Square, full of architectural wonders, with buildings from different eras blending in perfect harmony. It’s worth arriving here at the top of the hour to see the famous Orloj Clock, on which the 12 apostles march. The clock, which has been in operation since 1410, not only tells the time, but also the time of year, the month and even the position of the moon and sun. For a taste of history, don’t miss the old cemetery in the nearby Jewish quarter, which is unique in the world with 12,000 tombs containing around 100,000 people.

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Tyn Temple on the Old Town Square in Prague.

For Nature Lovers

Hiking lovers will also find something for everyone in Prague. A visit to the Vysehrad district and its fortress is highly recommended. During a pleasant walk, you can admire the tomb garden, the castle wall and St. Peter and Paul’s Church.

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Ring-tailed Lemur Sitting on a Fence.Prague, Zoo

Troja is also home to the Prague Zoo, a castle and a fantastic botanical garden. The area is under constant development, with new areas being added, including a vineyard, a Japanese garden and several greenhouses. In one of them, christened Fata Morgana, colourful butterflies flutter among desert and tropical plants.

The Vinohrady district hides the Havlicek Park, a wonderful Renaissance-style place on top of a hill, with small ponds, fountains, sculptures and caves.

Gastronomy – An Adventure for the Stomach

After walking and sightseeing, it’s worth discovering another distinctive face of Prague. It’s beer culture and gastronomy. U Zlateho Tigra, or the Golden Tiger restaurant, is Bohumil Hrabal’s haunt next to the Old Town Square, where you are guaranteed a delicious dinner of Czech cuisine.

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Prague, Ufleku Beer Garden

After dinner, it’s just a two-stop metro walk to U Fleku, one of the city’s oldest and most famous beer bars. There’s also a brewery here, so you’re guaranteed a special 13-degree black beer made only here, freshly brewed and served in our pints. You’ll enjoy your drink to the sound of a pleasant accordion, and the attentive waiters will never let your glass be empty.

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Prague, Culinary

And if you get thirsty while walking around the castle district, you can visit Strahovský Klášter (Strahov Monastery), where they brew the brown beer Norbert on site.

Cool Galleries

For a taste of Prague’s vibrant cultural scene, pick up the latest issue of ArtMap, which lists all the galleries and current programmes in Czech and English. You can find it in any cultural institution, such as the National Gallery of Prague, which you should definitely check out. Here, you can admire four floors of Czech art from the 19th century to the present day. We can also see several high-quality exhibitions of foreign artists and temporary exhibitions of works by world-famous artists.

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Prague Red Tram

The largest collection of Czech contemporary art is the private contemporary gallery Futura. The building usually hosts three separate exhibitions on three floors, featuring Czech and international artists.

For photography lovers, there is the Fotograf Gallery, where young and middle-generation Czech photographers are shown.

Prague Through the Eyes of a Child

Many people come to the Czech capital with children, big or small, and there is plenty for them to do — for example, the aforementioned Troja zoo, one of the best in Europe. There are also rides, petting zoos and playgrounds for youngsters. And for water lovers, don’t miss SeaWorld (Morsky-Svet), home to 4,500 marine species.

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Prague Panorama

The Lego Museum (Muzeum Lega) is easy to get to as it is located in the Old Town. The exhibition is based on a huge private collection and includes many rare specimens and all sorts of objects.

A real treat for the little ones is the funicular up Petrin Hill. On the hill, you can climb the “Eiffel Tower”, see the mirror maze and the observatory. There are also several playgrounds on the hill, the biggest and best being at the foot of the hill, where the funicular starts.

Beyond the City Limits

If you’re spending a longer time in the Czech capital, it’s also worth taking a day trip outside the city.

Karlovy Vary’s biggest attraction is its thermal waters, which spring from more than 300 springs and define the architecture of the town: endless colonnades line every street. Just a stroll through the colourful and ornate Baroque and Art Nouveau buildings is a great experience, not to mention the spas, galleries and world-famous film festivals.

And for the stronger nerves, head for the small town of Kutná Hora in central Bohemia, where the chapel of the Roman Catholic church is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. All the furniture, the altar, the crucifix and even the chandelier hanging from the ceiling are made from human bones.

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Cesky Krumlov

For Cesky Krumlov, we had to travel a little further, all the way to the south of Bohemia, but the view made up for everything. The historic town centre of this charming little town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, is simply like a fairytale town come to life: a valley surrounded by hills and a winding river, with red-roofed cottages: can you imagine anything more beautiful?

Conclusion

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Charles Bridge Sunrise Prague

Prague is definitely worth a visit: a city with a hundred towers, where you can indulge in both cultural and culinary delights. For the relaxation seeker and the active leisure seeker, the city offers unrivalled views and a medieval atmosphere to delight.

Nora Herczku

This article was first published in Boast Magazine, January/February 2022, Issue 3.
You can purchase it in print edition (limited release, collector’s item) or download it as a digital, PDF version here.

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Boast Magazine Issue 3

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