Prague is the Czech Republic's largest city and capital. It's widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and charming cities of Europe, with fantastic attractions, architecture, nightlife, art and entertainment. It's no surprise why Prague attracts millions of tourists every year.
Tourists can learn a lot about Prague simply by its nicknames: "the golden city," "city of a hundred spires" and "Praha matka měst" or "the mother of cities." Incidentally, the word "praha" in Czech and "praga" in German mean "capital."
Established in the late 9th century, Prague served as the seat of Bohemian Kings, and emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, many of whom occupied the city’s majestic Prague Castle, which still stands to this day. From the early days, the historic Vltava River ran through Prague, serving as a mirror to the city’s impressive architectural landscape.
The city flourished under Charles IV during the 14th century when many of Prague’s leading attractions were created, including some of its magnificent bridges, church domes and gold-tipped towers.
This magnificent architecture survived World War I, when Prague was made the capital of Czechoslovakia, and was largely spared during World War II, except for one bombing raid. The medieval center’s walled courtyards and cobbled lanes remained intact. In 1992, the medieval center was added to UNESCEO’S World Heritage List.
In 1993, Czechoslovakia was split into two countries: the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Today, Prague is home to 1.2 million people. The city pulsates with modern energy that is evident in its music, art and special events that are geared towards tourists with a sense of adventure.
The following are some of Prague’s most popular tourist attractions.
Prague Castle
The Guinness Book of World Records lists Prague Castle as "the largest ancient castle in the world." This 1100-year-old castle watches over the city from its elevated perch and provides breath-taking views of surrounding areas. It is a favorite subject of postcards and paintings, especially as the sun sets behind it on the east. The Prague Castle grounds feature a lookout tower, several museums and palaces, the magnificent Royal Garden, the St. Vitus Cathedral and the Castle Picture Gallery, which contains works by Titian, Rubens, and Tintoretto. The Castle Picture Gallery contains the artworks that were left behind when the Swedish army looted the castle's art collection in 1648.
Castle Entrance
Known as the "First Courtyard," the castle entrance features huge statues of battling titans that date back to the 18th century. The Presidential Guards at the entrance are a tourist favorite thanks to their changing of the guard ceremony every hour and the exchange of banners at 12 midnight. The guards are decked in impressive attire, courtesy of the costume designer of the movie "Amadeus," who was hired by then-President Vaclav Havel in 1989 to re-design the guard uniforms.
Old Town
This is the historic city center of Prague and the site of some of its most popular old buildings and structures, including the Astronomical Clock, Jan Hus monument, Storch mural building and Estate Theater. The old town boasts of several historical churches such as St. James Church, GothicTyn Church, and Church of Our Lady.
New Town
During the 14th century, New Town was built as an extension of Old Town. Its most popular venue is Wenceslas Square, site of numerous shops and restaurants. Much of New Town has been modernized and now features discos, arcades and art nouveau hotels. New Town also hosts the Disney-colored Jubilee Synagogue.
Lesser Town
Lesser Town is located in the area just before Prague Castle and is notable for its amazing streets and churches, including the famous St. Nicholas Church. Near the Charles Bridge, tourists will find the Lennon Wall, which features handwritten tributes to John Lennon and grievances against the old communist regime.
Loreta
Located in Lesser Town, this Baroque convent was built in 1624 and was said to be patterned after Santa Casa, the home of the Virgin Mary. According to legend, angels carried the original Santa Casa to Loreto, an Italian town.
Josefov
A historical Jewish ghetto, Josefov is renowned for its unique and well-preserved synagogues, including the oldest active synagogue in Europe, the Old New Synagogue. Rumor has it, this is where the legendary Prague Golem rests. Josefov also features the oldest Jewish cemetery in Europe and the house of acclaimed national artist Franz Kafka.
Prague Dancing Building
Constructed in 1996, this building combines two structures that appear to be dancing: a curving narrow-waisted glass tower that appears to be clutching an upright building. Hence, it was nicknamed the “Fred and Ginger Building” after legendary dance partners Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
Petrinska Rozhledna
Located on top of a hill, this tower resembles a smaller version of the famed Eiffel Tower. It is 299 steps to the top where tourists can enjoy some of the most beautiful views of Prague.
Charles Bridge
Built during the 14th century, the Charles Bridge is one of the most impressive attractions in Prague. It is one of several bridges on the Vltava river and the most beautiful of them all. During the daytime, tourists love to stroll on the bridge and frolic on its crowded fairground. The best time to visit is at dawn when you can appreciate the bridge in all its splendor.
Museum of Communism
Through rare photos, videos, writings and other mementoes, the museum takes visitors back to the days when Czechoslovakia stood behind the Iron Curtain. There are photos of the old Stalin monument in Letna terrace and other photos about how it was passionately destroyed. One of the most popular features is a video of protests that culminated in the Velvet Revolution. Ironically, for a museum dedicated to Communism, it certainly has a curious location -- between a casino and a McDonald's fast-food place.
Dining
In Prague, lunch is traditionally the most important meal of the day. It’s a favorite time to indulge in traditional Czech cuisine, which revolves around pork and beef along with side dishes such as fries and dumplings. The leading restaurants usually draw crowds during lunch and dinner so it’s advisable to make your reservations.
The price of meals already includes taxes but many restaurants that cater to tourists tack on a “kovert” or additional charge. This charge should be printed on the bill as part of the meal charge. If it’s scrawled by hand, tourists can clarify the charges. Note: ketchup, bread and anything else brought to the table is charged.
There are many different kinds of restaurants in Prague, but if you’d like to sample Czech cuisine, here are some of the best places:
Box Block
This luxurious restaurant is located inside the Carlo IV hotel (Senovážné náměstí 13, Nové Město) and serves Czech, Italian, and Fusion food. Its marble floors and elegant frescoes make the Box Block an excellent venue for fine dining. It serves haute cuisine such as turbot in truffle sauce, tuna carpaccio and bison steak.
U Zlaté Hrušky
Located at the romantic Nový Svět area (Nový Svět 3, Hradčany), “At The Golden Pear” is a favorite venue of locals and tourists alike. Their Czech cuisine is elegantly prepared and they also serve a wide array of international dishes. During summer months, diners can seat at the leafy garden restaurant across the street.
U Modré Kachničky
That stands for “At the Blue Dumpling,” a baroque hunting lodge tucked away on a quiet street (Nebovidská 6, Malá Strana). This old-fashioned romantic restaurant serves candlelit dinners and is perfect for traveling couples. The menu consists of traditional Bohemian poultry and fish.
Legenda
Located at Legerova 39, Vyšehrad, Legenda gets rave reviews from foreign tourists who are looking for a filling meal of steak, pasta or Czech classics. The prices here are relatively inexpensive considering its generous and quality servings.
Bars and Nightlife
There are many excellent and friendly nightclubs and “hospoda” or pubs in Prague. Keep an eye out for a hanging green sign at the entrance which means that the place serves the country’s best local beers, Pilsner Urquell and Budweiser Budvar. Most pubs offer only a limited selection of beers.
It’s a custom in Prague for people to sit with other people if there are no tables available so don’t be alarmed if this happens to you and don’t be shy about doing the same thing.
If you’re curious about the local pub scene, join “The Crawl.” It’s a nightly pub crawl where participants visit a host of pubs and clubs with good entertainment at low prices. The Crawl begins with a few rounds of free beer, wine and absinthe at the Old Town Square clock tower every night at 9:15 p.m.
Duende
It you're in the mood for some bohemian drinking while listening to live guitar and violin performances, Duende is the place, located at Karolíny Světlé 30, Staré Město. It's a favorite hangout of the arty, local crowd and of tourists of all ages. An excellent venue for good conversation and romance.
Baráčnická Rychta
Located at Tržiště 23, Malá Strana, this popular pub and bar is tucked away on Mala Strana. It has the furtive and secretive ambience of a 19th century beer hall it once was. There are four types of beer served upstairs while live shows featuring big bands occupy the Cabaret Hall downstairs.
Jáma
This is the favorite bar of the American expatriate crowd. Naturally, the menu features steaks, ribs, burgers, fries and chicken wings. Jama features at outdoor beer garden decorated by lime and walnut trees. Tourists of all nationalities are here during weekends, rubbing elbows with young locals. It's located at V jámě 7, Vyšehrad.
Kuŕe V Hodinkách
It means "the Chicken in the Watch," the name of a popular Czech music album from the 1970s. This posh pub attracts tourists and wealthy locals every night. Its walls are adorned with rock paraphernalia. The main attraction of this place is its wide selection of beers and malts as well as its delicious food.
Getting In and Around
Ruzyne International Airport is about 20 kms away from Prague’s city center and a 30-minute drive by car. Taking a taxi will cost around 350 - 700 CZK, but it’s the most comfortable way to get to the city. Try to avoid taxi drivers who solicit passengers inside the terminal building because they charge between 50% to 100% more.
The bus is the most inexpensive option for getting into the city. It costs only 26 CZK, plus an additional 13 CZK if you have a lot of luggage. However, bus drivers don’t accept foreign currency so make sure you have Czech Crowns on hand.
The Airport Express and Cedaz bus services have buses leaving every 30 minutes starting at 4:40 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., respectively, until 9:30 p.m. at night.
There are also shuttle services for certain hotels that cost 9 EUR per person.
Once inside the city, most tourists take public transport because it’s very convenient and services all the places tourists are likely to visit. There are tram and bus schedules at all major stations as well as maps of the city. They operate until 5 a.m.
If you’re planning on using public transport, purchase a Prague Card for 790Kc. It’s good for four days and comes with a guidebook and free entry into over 50 tourist attractions aside from other discounts. For an additional 330Kc, tourists get to ride the bus, tram and underground subway for 72 hours. Children and students get a special discount on the Prague Card.
Hailing a taxi on the street can be expensive for tourists and its best to negotiate the price in advance. If you have to take a taxi, try to get one from the major taxi companies. Their telephone numbers are as follows: Profi Taxi, +420 844 700 800; PAT Taxi, +420 800 870 888; City Taxi, +420 257 257 257; Halo Taxi, +420 244 114 411; and AAA Taxi, +420 222 333 222.
Festivals and Events
People in Prague are big on holidays, and there's always a major celebration city-wide during New Year's Eve, Three King's Day (6 January), Easter Monday (March or April), Labor Day (May 1) and Liberation Day (May 9).
Labor Day coincides with the Majales spring festival, which Czechs celebrated for over two centuries but was banned by the Nazis and communists. However, its celebration was revived in 1997 with as much fervor as before. On this special day, the streets are filled with bands, costumes, floats and merry-makers enjoying their beer and sausages.
Another big celebration is held on January 19, the anniversary of Jan Palach's death. It honors the student who burned himself to death protesting the Soviet occupation in 1969.
Prague’s other major festivals include the following:
Spring Festivals
Prague has a host of festivals in March, April and May. The most notable of these are the Easter Market celebration in April, which features parades and stalls at Wenceslas Square as well as a giant Easter egg hunt, and Witches Night on April 30, where the locals gather around bonfires and celebrate while warding away witches.
Winter Festivals
As Prague is the winter festival center of the Czech Republic, there's a lot going on in the city from November to February, including music festivals, ballroom dancing and pagan holidays. The International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music in December brings amateur adult and children's choirs together in a friendly competition that commemorates Christmas. The Prague Christmas Market in December is held at the Old Town Square and features plenty of food, drinks, souvenir stalls and live entertainment. Saint Nicholas' Eve on December 5 is filled with Christmas cheer and is highlighted by Santa's Parade through Prague. On New Year's Eve, Prague celebrates like any other European city with non-stop parties, dancing, drinking and merry-making. Finally, Ball Season in January is celebrated throughout the Czech Republic with classical ballroom dancing.
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