In 2018, we took a few days of work and escaped to Prague for some sightseeing, some Christmas markets and Christmas shopping! This was our first trip to Prague, and after this trip- most certainly not the last. For those that are trying to work out or plan their next weekend trip within Europe- we would most certainly recommend Prague- the architecture is stunning, the people really friendly and Czech food is a must-try. The Christmas markets in Prague are also worth visiting- for shopping, eating and drinking- more on this below!
We managed to squeeze a fair bit into our trip, from visiting the Prague Castle, to the Prague National Museum, a fair bit of food and even some beer tasting! As you can see from our photos, Prague is full of incredible architecture, delicious, hearty food and something for everyone. We’ve put together this page to let you know our recommendations, the must-visit places and suggested itineraries.
Discovering Prague on Foot
As with all our trips, we spent a fair bit of time just discovering the city and walking around on foot. We stayed in Hotel Elite, a small yet quaint hotel located walking distance to the center (would recommend if you’re yet to book anywhere, there is even a spa on site you can use!). From here, we were able to walk into the city center- where the Astronomical Clock is located, and the fabulous gothic Church of Our Lady before Tyn. The main Christmas market is also located here, although there are various other small markets in Praque (including within the Castle grounds). It is worth noting that there are various statues and monuments dotted all around Prague- we managed to find a couple by complete chance, and then realised there are many more- which makes walking around the city all the more interesting. Below are a few of our favourites- the King Wenceslas riding a horse upside down (this one can be found in Lucerna Mall) and the Man Hanging out (found in the Old Town).
King Wenceslas riding a horse upside down
Man Hanging out
We also came across a few shops that we simply have to mention here… a shop called Manufaktura selling traditional Czech handicraft, toys, decorations- all perfect for souvenirs to bring back home (or Christmas presents!), and the Gingerbread Museum shop (we didn’t go into the museum itself- just the shop which was incredible!). The Gingerbread Museum shop has delicious looking homemade gingerbread- perfect for those with a sweet tooth or two!
Manufactura shop in Prague
Handmade Gingerbread at the Gingerbread Museum
Klementium- Astronomical Tower, Meridian Hall and Baroque Library
This is perhaps not as well known as some of the other towers around Prague offering incredible viewpoints- we stumbled upon it by complete chance. It is certainly worth a visit if you get the chance! Located across the way from the famous Charles Bridge, the entrance is not very well signposted- look for the Astronomical Tower and you should see a sign towards the ticket office to follow (see photo). You can only explore the Klementium as part of a guided Tour, which for us lasted around an hour (in English), and included a visit to the library, the Median Hall and lastly to the viewing platform of the Tower itself. This was around 250CZK per person- and more on admission prices can be seen here.
The Klementium
The Klementium consists of various buildings, and at 2 hectares, in terms of size is one of the largest complexes in Europe. Founded by the Jesuits in the the mid 16th Century, the Klementium has had on its site a school, university, classrooms, library, church buildings and even a library. The history is fascinating, and as its expansion and development of the Klementium spanned over a number of decades, the architecture is stunning and varied. To find out more about the history, see this link.
During the tour, we weren’t able to take any photos (except at the top of the Astronomical Tower), but some of the insides were stunning! We were particularly impressed with the baroque library. Holding thousands and thousands of beautiful books, portraits and paintings, this is easily the most impressive library we have ever seen! Do check out the photos on the official photos on the Klementium website to see just how stunning the library is! Whilst you cannot actually walk around the library, and can only view it from one side, this is more than enough to take in all it’s glory and magnificence!
Meridian Hall
The Meridian Hall is equally impressive. On the way to the Astronomical Tower, the hall was previously used to determine noon- with the room acting as a camera obscura. Here, you could still see some of the fascinating instruments that were used back then, as well as replicas of the signal flags that were previously used. Read more here about the history of the hall.
Astronomical Tower
Finally- the Astronomical Tower. Whilst perhaps not as tall as some of the other towers in Prague, standing at 68 meters, the Astronomical Tower offers incredible views of the city centers. The tower was built as part of the astronomical studies and various astronomical instruments were installed for this purpose. See here for the history and more information on the tower’s past. Worth noting- there are quite a number of stairs to climb on the way up, and there is no lift! But the climb is worth it for the view…as you can see from our photos!
Astronomical Tower
Instruments in the Meridian Hall
Views from Astronomical Tower
Prague Castle
Inside St Vitus Cathedral
Old Royal Palace
Golden Lane
Prague Castle
Perhaps one of the most well-known and recognised landmarks in the city, Prague Castle is an incredible castle complex- certainly not to be missed! Apparently founded in around 880, the castle is now a UNESCO world heritage site and is the largest castle complex in the world- within the grounds, you can see the St Vitus Cathedral, the old Royal Palace, St George’s Basilica and the very quaint Golden Lane. The buildings have different architecture styles- from Gothic to Romanesque and you can find out more about the history of the castle here.
There are two main types of tickets- one permitting entry to all of the buildings- allowing you to do the whole circuit (costing 250CZK)- and the other ticket only permitting entry to the Great South Tower of the Cathedral (costing 150CZK). There are some discounts available for students, and families- more details are available here. You can also find the map of the castle grounds, and the various places on here.
We bought the circuit tickets- missing out the Great South Tower- but this does apparently offer great views of the city given it is 100 meters tall (we skipped this as we went up the Astronomical Tower but would suggest doing this if you don’t get a chance to go up another tower/viewpoint…) See more here on the history of the tower.
St Vitus Cathedral
St Vitus Cathedral is an incredibly impressive, grand cathedral in the middle of the castle grounds- and is the largest, most important religious building in the city. This is the third church to be on this site, and the construction of this church took quite a while- having been begun in 1344, it was consecrated in 1929 after several start-stops, even after which some aspects of the interior were worked on after.
The stained glass windows were particularly stunning and impressive- and we spent a fair amount of time walking around in awe! See more here on the history of the Cathedral and its history.
Old Royal Palace
Equally impressive is the Old Royal Palace. Whilst originally wooden, then stone, the Old Royal Palace was built in the 9th century, and was used for state purposes. During the tour, we were able to walk around parts of the palace and take in the incredible architecture- as you can see from our photo, the ceiling is rather impressive!
Golden Lane
After this, we walked down Golden Lane- this was a very quite little alleyway, with houses in which various inhabitants, servants or workers of the castle lived. These are set up as mini-museums and you can walk into some of these houses and see just how these people lived and worked. Particularly interesting is house number 22 which was inhabited by Franz Kafka.
Some of these houses have since been converted into cute little touristy shop- certainly worth popping into for a bit of souvenir shopping! See more here for the history of the lane.
St Vitus Cathedral
National Museum
Grand staircase
National Museum
By complete chance, we managed to time our trip with the partial reopening of the National Museum’s Main Building, located at the end of Wenceslas Square. Founded in 1818, the museum is stunning, and holds a vast collection of art, culture and scientific items, from both private and royal collections. The building as you see it now was built towards the end of the 19th century- prior to that the museum was much smaller, and located in the Sternberg Palace within the Castle grounds- it is obvious why a much bigger location was needed.
The museum closed for renovation in 2011 and reopened again towards the end of 2018- just before our trip, commemorating with the centenary of the museum. We arrived to find a very long queue (assume that was a one off, rather than being the norm now that the museum is open normally now after the renovation!), but it was certainly worth the wait. Not all the rooms were open, but as you can see from the photos- the inside was absolutely stunning!
It seems that since our visit, the museum has been connected to the New Building- located across the street from the Main building, a former stock exchange which unfortunately doesn’t look anywhere near as grand or impressive as the Main building.
More information on the various exhibitions you can visit, as well as admission prices can be found here. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see the whole museum during our visit- but that does mean that we’ll need to make a return visit to Prague at some point!
The ceiling at the National Museum
National Museum at night
Prague Square (Staromestske namesti)
Astronomical Clock
This is an easily recognisable, incredibly popular Medieval clock, which is on the side of the Old Town Hall in the city center. You cannot miss the clock, and if you somehow manage to, you certainly won’t miss the crowds of people stood below all looking up! The clock was first installed in the early 15th century, and has been renovated a number of times since (understandably!) .
As you can see from the photos, the clock has various parts to it- the astronomical (showing the position of the sun and moon), a calendar showing the date and on the hour there is a show of Apostles and other sculptures moving. You can see a video of this, and read more about the clock on the official website here.
Old Town Hall
Originally acquired in the early 14th Century by the councillors of the the Old Town hall, the the building was then used as their administration seat. Over the years it has been adapted and expanded into the adjoining buildings. The architecture is stunning- you can see the various styles, particularly the Gothic aspects on the western facade.
You can see the historical interiors- including the Chapel of the Virgin Mary with its stunning stained windows, the elaborate Gothic halls and the Underground room. See more here on the various tour options and tickets.
It is worth noting that you can also go up the Old Town Hall Tower- we didn’t do this as we climbed another tower, but the views look impressive, and obviously you are located right in the city center as well. More on this, as well as buying tickets at a reduced price, can be seen here.
Church of Our Lady before Tyn
A stunning, Gothic church in the middle of the square, the Church of Our Lady before Tyn has been here since the 14th century (although it was not finished until the 16th century).
Each of the spires are 80m tall, and have an additional eight smaller spires in two layers. The inside is stunning- particularly the organ which is the oldest in Prague. There is a voluntary admission fee (but you cannot sightsee during masses)- see here for more information on visiting.
Astronomical Clock
Old Town hall
Church of Our Lady before Tyn
Charles Bridge
Mucha
Staropramen Beer tasting
Staropramen snacks
Railway kingdom
Model of Prague at the Railway Kingdom
The Dancing House
Other things to do and see in Prague
Charles Bridge (Karluv most)
Although now a very famous tourist attraction, the bridge has always been an incredibly important bridge, being the only way to cross the river until the 1840s. The Charles Bridge started to be constructed in the middle of the 14th century with construction taking almost half a century and only finishing in the early 15th century. Whilst it was originally called the Stone Bridge, since the 1870s it has been called the Charles Bridge.
A UNESCO World heritage site, the bridge has 30 statues along its sides, which are all going through a process of restorations and repairs. Whilst it is now fully pedestrian, the bridge in the past has previously seen traffic running across, and even a tram. A word of warning- as the bridge connects the Old Town to the Castle, this is a very busy and popular route!
Mucha Museum
We also managed to squeeze in a visit to the Mucha museum- a must do for any fan! Located a short walk from the main square and the Astronomical Clock, the Mucha museum hosts a permanent exhibition, as well as a shop offering various prints, books, posters and souvenirs for purchase.
The Mucha exhibition itself is divided into several sections- ranging from personal items of the artist, to Czech prints and Parisian Posters. We would recommend a visit here for any Mucha or art-nouveau fan. This the only museum in the world dedicated to the famous Czech artist, and it is actually not too big- we spent an hour, hour and a half here. More about the exhibition and the various works on display can be found here. The admission fee is reasonable- around 260CZK for adults, and can be brought in person at the museum, or online here. There is also the option to purchase an exhibition guide book, or take part as part of a guided tour (around 800CZK)- more details available on the ticket link provided earlier. Unfortunately, no photos are allowed inside, but do check out the official website for some of the stunning pieces of art you can see on display.
Staropramen brewery tour
As well as all the walking around and sightseeing, we also managed to fit in a tour of the Staropramen Brewery- something we would very much recommend for avid beer drinkers! This is Prague’s most famous and well known beer, and given it has been around for over a century and a half- it is clear to see why. The tour takes place at the Staropramen Brewery- located on the western side of the river. The original part of the brewery was built in 1869, and over the years was gradually expanded- as more recipes were put together and developed. Over time, it became the biggest brewery in Czechoslovakia. In the 1950s, the brewery began brewing beer for exports- and the beer became more and more popular. Today, it is drank in almost 40 countries around the world… and counting! More on the history of Staropramen can be found here.
For the tour itself, we were talked through the main steps in the brewing of the beer, and were shown the history of Staropramen- from the very beginning to present day. The standard adult tickets include one free beer after the tour, but you can have a proper tasting of several of their beers for an additional cost. The tour and tasting lasted around an hour altogether. There is also the option to have some accompanying traditional beer snacks- which we thoroughly enjoyed! We just bought our tickets at the door, but you can buy yours online in advance- see here for more details, as well as the various beers on offer.
Railway Kingdom (Království železnic)
So this one is a bit random, and we somewhat stumbled upon… But this Railway Kingdom certainly brought out the kids in us! This makes for a perfect family day out- with one of the biggest train models in Central Europe (if not even further afield!). Incredibly, there are thousands of figures, around 80 train sets, moving cars, trains, buses, and even a changing of time and day! At the moment, there are various scenes from Prague and famous Czech landmarks- and apparently the models will be expanded further.
As well as the model trains, there is also a small collection of lego toys, Igracek toys (a bit like playmobil) and similar other toys- certainly a trip to the past.
Also, there is a really impressive model of Prague- on a scale of 1:1000. This is impressive- especially as the model is valued at more than 13million CZK. More on the models you can see is available here.
We found the Railway Kingdom to not be too busy, so perfect for an indoor activity in case the weather isn’t great. Whilst located on the western side of the river, it is not too far out of the way and certainly worth considering when planning your trip! Information on the admission fees and visiting is available here.
The Dancing House
This is the nickname given to an office building near the river- and you can probably see why! Built in 1996, the house certainly stands out in the surroundings- the traditional gothic and baroque buildings nearby- but is an interesting part of the city- and very popular with tourists.
Our Favourite Food in Prague
Looking back on our trip, we had quite a number of hearty, delicious meals! Below we’ve listed the must try dishes- and a couple of places we would recommend for food and drink. We found that street food was generally as good as restaurant food- and some restaurants were tourist traps, overpriced and not very good, so be sure to do your research in advance.
Pork knuckle (Veprove Koleno)
A very typical Czech dish we would recommend you try. Often served whole, with various sides, big enough to share, or a smaller, more refined portion.
Fried flatbread (langoš)
Although technically speaking a Hungarian dish, langoš is a very satisfying snack- consisting of fried flatbread, with various toppings. We had ours with sour creme and grated cheese and it was delicious! We bought ours from one of the stalls in the Christmas market but there are apparently some stalls dotted around that sell them throughout the year.
Dumplings
These range in shape and size, and even texture and fillings. We had these almost with every meal- as they are often served as an accompaniment to most dishes. Some are served as sliced rounds, some whole, and some as stuffed balls (we had stuffed dumplings with bacon- amazing!) . Be sure to try these out!
Goulash
I think it would be rather difficult to find a Czech restaurant that doesn’t serve Goulash… (although again, technically speaking it is a Hungarian dish). it’s a dish you really should try at least once! Some places serve it in a bread bowl- but the more traditional Czech way is with dumplings.
Czech wine
We didn’t really know anything about Czech wine prior to our trip, but went to a wine bar called U Stary Studny to try some out- and they were really good! Unfortunately the wine bar has since closed, but they are still operating an online wine store- see here. We would recommend you also try out some of the Czech wines rather than sticking to the other better-known labels or producers. You will not be disapointed!
Hemingway bar
If you are looking for some nice cocktails, then look no further! Hemingway bar (inspired by Ernest Hemingway) gives the impression of a speakeasy- it was dark and busy. Located a short walk from the Charles Bridge- perfect for a few drinks after walking around the city center. There is an extensive bar and cocktail menu. Check out their website here for the menu and more information.
Potrefená Husa Národní
Whilst this is a Staropramen bar, the food here was actually rather good and the menu seemed to offer a good variety of traditional Czech dishes.We had duck thighs (with dumplings of course), some goulash, and of course some Staropramen beer!
Suggested itineraries
Overall, Prague offers a great city break. It is a relatively small city, and most attractions are walkable (we managed to walk everywhere), so it’s possible to see the main sights in just a few days. We’ve suggested a few itinearies below to consider… Do let us know if you have any suggestions or anything we’ve missed in the comments below!
A Weekend Trip
If you’re visiting Prague for a weekend, we would say that a visit to the Prague Castle is a must (cross the Charles Bridget to get there), as well as walking around the Old Town to take in the architecture and the Astronomical Clock. Try the staropramen beer, some dumplings and a pork knuckle!
A longer Trip
If you’re visiting Prague for longer, as well as what we recommend for a weekend trip, you will also have time to look around the Klementium and perhaps check out the views of the city from the Astrological Tower. The National Museum is also worth visiting. If you’re a beer fan- then do some beer tasting and the brewery tour at staropramen Brewery or pop into the Hemingway bar for a few cocktails.
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