Prague City Guide
For those who have never considered any city to be beautiful, this may be their one exception. Virtually untouched by World War II, Prague is one of the few European cities to display such an array of authentic architecture including its magical castle that sits above the city and lights up the sky at night.
Getting there
By train
Trains are an easy way to get to Prague and run daily from most major European cities with Paris, Amsterdam, Munich and Vienna being some of the major hubs.
By bus
There is a daily bus from Vienna as well as buses that run a few times a week from Munich.
By plane
Prague Ruzyne is the country’s only international airport and is about 12 miles west of the city. If travelling from America, the Czech national carrier CSA (Ceské Aerolinie) operates a code share agreement with Delta Airlines for flights from New York JFK and other major U.S. cities. Direct flights to Prague from east coast cities such as New York and Atlanta are mostly via European cities such as Paris, Rome and Milan, although there is a non-stop option.
From the UK, there are a myriad of flight options ranging from travel packages to standard flights with British Airways, KLM, CSA, and others. Go Airline (part of easyJet) offers a no frills budget price Stansted to Prague flight which is popular with those who live in central London. There is also a cheaper option of flying to Vienna and then taking the train into Prague. If coming from Australia or New Zealand, flights are usually routed through Singapore and Zurich.
Getting around
Prague’s public transport system is probably the best way to get around the city, just make sure that you validate your ticket in one of the yellow machines in the metro station or on the bus or tram after buying it so that officials do not try to fine you. Also, watch out for pickpockets on the more touristy routes. You can buy one ticket that can be used for all types of public transportation or multi-day passes, which are cheaper and more convenient. If you are taking a train out of the city, most leave from Praha Masrykovo Nadrazi, Praha Hlavni Nadrazi or Praha Smichov stations, and all are metro accessible. The best way to see the historical parts of the city is by foot and it is also possible to rent bikes for longer distances.
Top Sights
Prague Castle and Hradcany
The most famous site in Prague is the Prague Castlewhich presides over the city from a hill above the Vltava River. Built in the 9th century, it has always been the home to the Czech government, including the Velvet Revolution president, and prize winning playwright, Vaclav Havel. It has three courtyards, the beautiful gardens of Na Valechand Rajska Zahrada, and a fantastic view from the top of the cathedral, if you can make the climb. Other highlights include the Prague Castle Gallery, the Tomb of St Wenceslas, the Old Royal Palace, the Basilica of St George, and the Convent of St George, home to the National Gallery’s collection of Czech art from the 16th to 18th centuries. Visitors should know not to miss the Golden Lane, which is behind the basilica. This is a row of tiny houses which were once part of a 16th-century tradesmen’s quarter including the house that Frank Kafka lived and wrote in at number 22. The castle gets very crowded so it may be advisable to visit it early in the morning. A few minutes before noon each day you can catch the changing of guards.
Hradcany is the area near the castle that stretches along a hilltop west of the river and holds some of Prague’s most impressive churches and museums. You can reach this area by taking tram 22 up the hill to the Pohorelec stop. Check out Strahov Library, the largest monastic library in the country, Cernin Palace, and the Prague Loreta which houses a treasure of gold, pearls, and diamonds. To catch a glimpse of some Goyas, go to the main branch of the National Gallery nearby which holds the country’s main collection of 14th-18th-century European paintings.
Jewish Quarter (Josefov)
Prague’s former Jewish ghetto is a unique and interesting area of the city. The Jewish community in Prague was wiped out during World War II and today only a few thousand Jews live in Prague, compared with approximately 50,000 in the 1930’s. In 1942, the Nazis brought objects to this area with plans to open a “museum of an extinct race.” The Jewish Quarter is located in the Old Town within Karprova, Dlouha, andKozi streets. There are old synagogues built in different architectural styles and the Old Jewish Cemetery. It is all part of the Prague Jewish Museum and you have to pay an entrance fee to enter, but it is well worth seeing.
Stare Mesto (Old Town)
Often called the “heart of Prague,” the Old Town is a great place to walk around and enjoy the beautiful architecture while stumbling on cafes and galleries as you head toward the Old Town Square. The square is host to the famous Astrological Clock on the Old Town Hallwhere crowds gather to watch the glockenspiel that performs hourly. Charles Bridge, which connects Mala Strana and the Old Town, is another attraction that you won’t be able to miss. Completed in 1400 and the most famous bridge in Prague, it offers nice views that you will probably share with hundreds of other tourists, street musicians, and artists unless you cross it early in the morning.
Mala Strana (Small Quarter)
Although this area is called the Small Quarter or Lesser Town, many would say this is the prettiest part of Prague. Tucked beneath the Prague Castle on the hill before the Vltava River, it is a charming area of renaissance and baroque palaces and buildings that were built in the 17th and 18th centuries by Catholic clerks and nobles. Visit the beautiful Church of Nicolas, one of the most impressive baroque buildings in Prague. Also, go over to Kampa Island, the most picturesque part of Mala Strana. On the island, buildings appear to rise out of the water and you can find another great view of the city from its bank.
Parks and city views
Petrin Hill is a public park with Petrin Tower, a small copy of the Eiffel Tower, perched on top. You can take a funicular or walk up the hill and climb the tower for a great view of the Prague skyline. There is also a rose garden, maze, and observatory at the top.
Letna, a large park across from the center of the city, offers a panoramic view which you can get to easiest by tram. There is a restaurant and a clearing in the northern part where during the Velvet Revolution of 1989, one and a half million people gathered to hear future President Vaclav Havel speak.
Entertainment
Prague’s history is seen not only seen in its buildings but in its fantastic arts scene. The city offers a wealth of performances with everything from classical music concerts performed in Baroque churches to black light theatre, which originated in Prague in 1961. The annual Prague Spring Music Festival has become world famous and showcases ensembles and symphony orchestras from numerous countries. While the traditional classical music concerts remain the most prevalent, new experimental theater groups have made their appearance and all forms of the arts continue to expand rapidly. The main venues for classical music, which are either historic concert halls or churches, are the Rudolfinum, the Obecni dum, and St. Nicholas Church. Not every concert advertised in leaflets on the street are legitimate, however, so be careful what you sign up for. Some tourists have ended up in a church basement watching students perform. There are also opera and ballet performances as well as dozens of jazz clubs. The city has become known for its nightclubs and rock scenes and there are plenty of places where you can catch a live band, dance the night away at a disco, or just drink cheap Czech beer with the locals.
Sights Outside the City
Castles
Two fairytale castles that can be reached within a day trip of Prague are Karlstejn Castle and Konopiste Chateau. Karlstejn is only 20 miles away from Prague’s city centre and the 14th century Gothic castle sits on a ridge above a small village. Konopiste is a wonderfully restored French style castle between Prague and the town of Tabor. Both castles have guided tours available.
Kutna Hora
Kutna Hora is a charming medieval town 66 miles east of Prague. This town has been well preserved because after the silver mining industry ended, the town was virtually abandoned. The greatest monument in the town is the Cathedral of St Barbara, a gothic cathedral. There is also a museum describing the history of silver mining which includes a visit to a historic mine. A ten minute walk away in the town of Sedlec, there is an ossuary in All Saints Church, which has an interior made completely of human bones – a must see even for the most faint hearted.
By Bethany Sousa
Destination – Czech Republic
