The highlights of Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic. It is the historical capital of Bohemia, one of the three districts in the Czech Republic. The 1989 Velvet Revolution freed the Czechs from communism, but you can see traces of this area throughout the city. Prague has enough to offer, beer cheaper than water, cobbled lanes and hidden courtyards that encourage you to explore further. The city is more than it highlights such as the Charles Bridge, Astronomical Clock of Prague or the Lennon Wall.
Prague is one the most touristy cities of Czech Republic and welcomes 6.6 million foreigners each year. The busiest season is the summer months which tend to be drier, especially in August when you can enjoy an average of seven hours of sunshine per day.
Some practical information
Since one of my best friends is a local I got some great insider information that could help you plan your best trip. The Czech Republic is part of the European Union, but you can not pay in Euro. The local currency is the Czech Crowns (CZK). 1 Czech Crown ≈ 0.039 Euro, but many local vendors try to say otherwise, so be aware that you do not pay too much.
Getting around Prague can be done on foot or just use public transport. Instead of buying physical tickets, you can use the PID Litacka app. This app allows you to buy tickets for one, two or three days, validate it and plan your trip at the same time. Checking in or out is not necessary with the app, you just need to have it with you while travelling. If you buy a ticket at the train station, do not forget to validate it in the metro station, bus or tram at one of the yellow boxes.
Highlights of Prague
One of the great joys of the city is its potential for exploration, but what should be on your list? Here are some of the highlights of Prague I visited on my last trip.
Charles Bridge and the river bank
Personally, I don’t find the bridge as interesting as it often is described. The bridge is a formidable structure with a rich history. But it is just a bridge with a statue every 5 meters, with a lot of people passing. Fun fact: In the beginning of 1965, all of the statues have been systematically replaced by replicas, and the originals have been exhibited in the Lapidarium of the National Museum.
Astronomical Clock
The Astronomical Clock is first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest clock still operating. The mystery and legends around the clock are probably why so many people come to see it. One of the stories is that the clock was built by the famous clockmaker Mikolas from Kadan. The clockmaker got an offer from a foreign nation to build the same clock for them and was then blinded by Prague councillors because he was not allowed to share his knowledge and craft. The councillors still wanted to ensure the clock in Prague wouldn’t be topped and committed suicide by jumping in the gears of the clock and cursing it forever.
Tip: Come to see the astronomical clock early in the morning. You’ll find only photographers, or other creators taking pictures.
Old Town
The clock is situated at the Old Town which is the central square of the historic part of Prague. The tower is open to the public and its observation deck offers amazing views of Old Town Square. Other buildings situated at the Old Town are the Church of the Tyn, the St. Nicholas Church and the Štorch House.
John Lennon Wall
Across the French Embassy you can find a wall that has been used to share love poems and short messages against the regime since 1960s. The art on the wall changes constantly and in 1980s was it filled with typical John Lennon-inspired graffiti, lyrics from Beatles’ songs, and designs relating to local and global causes.
Prague Castle
The castle complex was built in the 9th century. The complex has four churches, four palaces, five halls, four towers and is surrounded by multiple gardens. The complex has the official office of the President of the Czech Republic and the most famous buildings on the complex are the St. Vitus Cathedral and the Přemyslid fort. The complex can get really crowded. Try the morning or end of the day – there are less people but you will not be able to visit inside the buildings. The complex is free of charge, you have to pay only if you would like to enter any of the buildings.
If you have enough time to visit more highlights in Prague, you can also visit the next attractions:
Náplavka
This is an area near the river where people go to relax, not much happening there in the autumn and winter but in the spring and summer the area is used to picnic and relax.
Petřín
Petřín or also called the little Eiffel tower is situated on a hill. This hill in the center of Prague, rises 327 m above sea level and is a favorite recreational area for tourists and the inhabitants of Prague. The hill is mostly covered by trees and functions as a viewpoint.
Žižkov tower
This communist-era piece of architecture used to be generally resented by the local inhabitants of Prague and has accrued some colorful names over the years and has even been called the second ugliest building in the world. The tower functions as a datacenter with capacity for 64 racks, has a restaurant and an observation deck, which gives you fabulous views over the city.
Museums
Prague also has a lot of museums to visit in addition to many outdoor activities. In the blog post ” Museums in Prague” I will discuss the best museums that Prague has to offer.
