Prague
The most beautiful capital in the world?
For a photographer it may well be the most beautiful capital in the world.
Everywhere you look there is a photo waiting to be taken.
Of course you don’t have to be a photographer to appreciate the beauty of this city.
And there are plenty of things to do in the Czech capital as well. If you visit Prague I recommend that you spend at least four days and even then you will only scratch the surface of what this place have to offer.
What to see and do in Prague
Charles bridge
Charles bridge - The most famous landmark in the city. Built in the 14th century and lined with beautiful statues. Be aware that this 500m long bridge is always crowded unless you are there very early in the morning. Don’t forget to take photos of it or people won’t believe you have been to Prague.
Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral - There is so much to see in this area and still the most amazing thing is the view of the city from the castle area. My recommendation is to see the cathedral and the golden lane first and if you have more time explore the castle. Why not go to a mid day concert in Lobkowicz Palace.
The golden lane, castle area
Josehov or Jewish quarter - The only place jews were allowed to live until the end of the 18th century. Take a tour or buy tickets yourself with an audio guide to see the synagogues, museum and cemetery. Remember to have some extra time to spend in the astonishing Spanish Synagogue.
Spanish Synagogue
Petrin lookout tower - An Eiffel Tower replica on top of a hill on the south side of the city with an amazing view. For me, the tower it self wasn’t worth it because you will get nearly the same view from the Strahov monastery and from the castle area. But the area is worth a vist and there is also a mirror labyrinth (mirror maze) that seems to amuse children a lot. Take the Petrin Funicular up to the hill and walk through the park to the..
Strahov Monastery - Founded in 1143 and has the most beautiful libraries I have ever seen. You can’t go in to the library rooms unless you buy a private tour. But it’s worth the ticket just to see them from the door. Don’t forget to take a sneak peek in the church also and why not try the monastery's own beer from their microbrewery?
Astronomical clock
Love locks
The National museum - Not only do they have interesting exhibitions, the interior it self is worth the ticket. Many blockbuster movies have been filmed at this location like Mission Impossible (1996) and Casino Royale (2006).
Prague national museum
Strahov library
Other places of interest
Klementinum - Another astonishing library in the city center
The Dancing house - A unique building by the Vltava river
Franz Kafka museum - Explore the work and life of the famous jewish writer.
Powder tower - Climb the stairs and get an amazing view of the city during sunset.
Letna Park - A beautiful park and large park close to the city center.
Dinner cruise - Take a dinner on the Vltava river in the sunset.
Rudolfinum or Smetana hall - Go to a concert with world class musicians and singers.
Drink the local beer - Prague is the beer capital of the world for a reason.
Old town square and the Astronomical clock - What most people call the city center. The clock from 1410 does a mechanical animation every hour from 9am to 11pm, the parade of the apostles, that disappoints some people. But remember how old it is. It must have been like witchcraft magic in the 15th century. If you want a closer look I recommend you to see it from inside the city hall.
Do’s and don’ts in Prague
Even though the Czech capital is a safe city there are somethings to avoid or be careful about.
Be aware of pickpockets - Nothing that is unique for Prague. Unfortunately they appear in all major citys and tourist destinations. Keep your belongings close in crowded areas.
Be aware of scammers - Especially people who exchange money on the streets. Look closely on what money they have and if it’s not Czech korona call the police.
Exchange offices - Some are good but some will rip you off, particullarly those around the old town square. Before you exchange money compare offices to get a decent rate.
Use cash as little as possible - Most places in Prague accepts credit card, You don’t need cash in the Czech Republic.
Refer to Prague as Eastern Europe - Prague is located in Central Europe and the locals gets actually really offended by the term eastern.
Don’t take the Hop on Hop off bus tour - Prague is walkable and it’s easy to to take the tram. The hop on hop off bus is always stuck in traffic and you will never get close to the things you want to see. And it’s expensive.
Avoid eating and drinking in the most touristic areas - It’s up to you of course but my recommendation is to walk a block to find a restaurant or a pub. You will get better food and drinks for half the price if you avoid places like the old town square and the castle area.
Absint and Weed - Most shops that advertise about Absint, weed (marijuana) are fake. They don’t sell real absint and the weed is made for decoration purposes only. They have a warning sticker on it (to make it legal to sell) telling you to not smoke or eat it. But that’s in Czech language only to make tourists fall for it.
Authentic Czech - If a store, restaurant or cafe have a sign that says that it is authentic Czech, It probably isn’t. The most iconic thing must be the trdelnic (chimney cake). It might taste good and be fun to eat but it’s not authentic, and it’s often very pricey as well because only tourists buy them.
Don’t drink in public - Even though they like their beer it is illegal to drink in public in most places in the city center.
Language
The language spoken is Czech but most people in Prague and the Czech republic understand English and younger people speak it very well.
It is always good to know a few phrases in the native language, they will appreciate it.
Hello - Ahoj
How are you? - jak se máte?
Thank you - Děkuji
Cheers - Na zdraví
How to get to Prague
From inside of the Czech Republic or neighbouring countries the easiest and most convenient way is to go by train.
I took a night train from Krakow to Prague last summer which was comfortable and easy.
Multiple countries have a direct flight to Prague. If you are coming from outside of Europe you probably will have to change flight somewhere.
Book your flights here
If you need to rent a car I highly recommend Rentalcars.com to get the best deal.
Where to stay in Prague
The easiest most convenient area to stay in is Prague 1, the city center. But it can also be pricey and noisy. Check also Prague 2, 3 and 5 by the river for more options.
Last time I was in the city I stayed in Prague 7 which was absolutely fine. I could choose to walk 20-25min through the beautiful Letna park to the city or take the tram (more about public transport below).
There are plenty of accommodations you can choose, from hostels for 10€ to luxury hotels.
I usually book my hotels via Agoda or Booking and I often compare the sites to get the best deal and to read reviews.
Public transport in Prague
The Czech capital is a very walkable city so if you are staying in the city center and don’t mind stretching your legs you don’t have to read any further in this section. But if you want to explore things a bit away from the old town or your accommodation is further away you still have plenty of options.
Take the tram. It is easy and it goes everywhere.
Take the Metro. It can be confusing at first but gets very easy with public transportation app (below)
Take the bus.
Take an Uber. I would avoid taking taxis around the airport or train station because most of them will rip you off. Uber works but as mentioned there is no need for taxis in Prague.
If you want to go from the airport to the city center the best and cheapest way is to take bus 119 to the green metro.
There is also a bus called AirPort Express which is easy but a bit more expensive.
A good thing about the public transportation in Prague is that the ticket is valid for everything, Metro, Trams or busses. Just buy a 1 day or a 3 day ticket for all. Don’t forget to validate it in the machines.
I highly recommend downloading the app Pid Litacka. You don’t even need to have internet access. The app will find your location via GPS, type in where you want to go and when and the app will direct you to the nearest tram, bus or metro and what route to take. Genius.
What to eat in Prague
Basically Czech food is some kind of meat (beef, pork, chicken or duck) with dumplings and sauce or sauerkraut.
The most famous dishes would be
Svíčková - Meat with dumplings and brown sauce that taste a little bit sweet.
Gulasch - Meat with dumplings and dark sauce, often spiced with paprika.
Roasted duck - Or pork, or chicken with sauerkraut.
Fried cheese . Often served with French fries or sallad together with lemon or dipping sauce.
As mentioned before, avoid restaurants in the most crowded areas. They are for the most part overpriced and the quality is not as good as where the locals go. And you don’t have to walk far. Go on a side street, any side streets, 50-100m and you will find a good place to eat.
Tipping is the norm. You don’t have but the norm is to tip appropriately 10% or round the amount up to the nearest even number. E.g if your bill is 278CSK it’s ok to pay 300CSK. Many waiters will ask you if it’s ok to put 10-15% tip on top of your credit card bill.
Svíčková
Gulasch
But Prague is a big city with influences from all over the world. You can find Italian, Thai and French restaurants easily So even if you are a vegetarian there is no risk of going hungry. A few dishes I had that I enjoyed a lot were in Vietnamese, Indonesian and Turkish restaurants.
Also try the local bakeries for sweet treats. But this require a warning. They are often very, very sweet.
Drink? Beer of course.
Czech people drink most beer in the world and their local beer is very tasty.
But I have to admit, a cooling lemonade in the summer warmth and a nice cup of coffee isn't bad either.
Vietnamese starter in Prague
Thank you for reading my travel blog about Prague.
I hope you found it interesting and helpful.
Use the form, under contact, if there is something that you think should be added to this site.
Cheers
Roger