Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. It is situated on the Vltava River with the historical centre of Prague divided into five areas. These five areas span both banks of the river with the Charles Bridge as the main connection between the two. The lay out is as follows: On one side of the river is the Old Town (Stare Mesto), centred on the Old Town Square; the New Town (Nove Mesto), centred on Wenceslas Square; and the Jewish Quarter (Josefov). On the other side is the Lesser Town (Mala Strana); and high above this the Castle District (Hradcany), centred on Prague Castle. Of utmost convenience, these areas are closely situated to one another so that sightseeing can be done on foot if you want. Most attractions are within a 25 minute walking distance or less! Another good reason to visit Prague is that it is one of the most affordable cities to visit in all of Europe while also being number 6 on the top visited cities in Europe – meaning there is a lot to see and do while also being affordable!! Here are some of the highlights of this enchanting and cultural city, broken down by each section:

Old Town:

Astronomical Clock: “This is mounted on the Southern wall of the Old Town Hall in the Old Town Square and is one of the outstanding sights of Prague. The dial is poised with three main components: the astronomical dial that displays various astronomical details as well as representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky; “The Walk of the Apostles”, showcases the movement of the figures of Twelve Apostles passing along the two windows in every hour of daylight; and a calendar dial that rotates and gives the description of each and every day of the year with an indication of the current date at the top, the medallions with zodiac signs describing every month and a symbol of the Old Town in the centre.” -Prague.com

Some other popular sights in Old Town include The Old town Square, Municipal House, Museum of Czech Cubism and the Museum of Decorative Arts.

Josefov:

Jewish Museum: This museum has an amazing collection of Jewish art, textiles and silver. Included in the tour is a guided visit to the Old Jewish Cemetery, Ceremonial Hall, Old-New Synagogue, Meisel Synagogue, Pinkas Synagogue, Spanish Synagogue and the Klausen Synagogue.

New Town:

Wenceslas Square: Named after Saint Wenceslas, this square one of the typical places where demonstrations, celebrations and other events or gatherings take place. There is an abundance of nightlife and entertainment as well as international shops which make it a hot spot for shopping trips.

Other attractions in New Town include Lucerna Palace, Mucha Museum, National Theatre, National Museum and Prague City Museum.

Lesser Town:

Prague Castle: “Prague Castle is the biggest ancient castle in the world, being 570 meters in length and about 130 metres wide and was erected in the 9th century. It was replaced by a Romanesque palace in the 12th century and then in the 14th century was rebuilt in the Gothic style under the ruling of Charles IV. At the end of 15th century, a reconstruction of the palace took place under the Jagellons, the Vladislav Hall was further added by Benedikt Rejt. The Castle had to undergo further works in the 16th century. Today it serves as the historical and political centre for the city and the state, and it is also the place of the President of the Czech Republic. For the visitors, Prague Castle is a “must see”. The Saint Vitus Cathedral, the Monastery, Golden Lane, St. George’s Basilica and several other places along with the viewing towers and art galaries can be discovered by taking a walking tour of the Prague Castle.” -Prague.com

Other attractions in Lesser Town include Hradcany & Hradcany Square and Lennon Wall (yes, named after John Lennon).

Some of the best ways to see all of this is through guided tours or cruises, since may of the attractions are near the river. Just do some simple searching on the web and you will find these tours quite easily.

Also, Prague is a hub for the arts so be sure to check out a classical concert or a performance at one of the opera houses or theatres. Make sure to stop in at some of the art as it is amazing!

As for nightlife, Prague has it all. There are clubs, restaurants, bars and everything in between and much of it just minutes from your hotel or apartment if you stay within Prague centre.