What to See in Prague, Places of Interest in the Czech Capital

Prague is a tangle of ancient streets on which proud palaces and historic buildings from various periods rise, reflected in elegant, gothic, art nouveau, baroque, ultramodern styles, also passing through cubist influences. An extremely fascinating architectural mix whose rhythm is symbolically marked by the astronomical clock of Staromestske namesti, in the Old Town. It is no coincidence that the historic center of Prague is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so rich in beauties sometimes dazzling, sometimes simple like the typical little streets and squares where you can stop to sip some tea.

Prague is a city easily visitable. If you have decided to visit Prague in three days, you cannot miss seeing the historic center and the Castle. However, Prague is a city to be lived in for a longer time.

Prague places of interest

1 Prague Castle

The Prague Castle is a majestic complex that has dominated the entire city for over 1000 years. It is considered the largest castle in the world, with courtyards connecting the palace to the cathedral, several churches and museums, galleries, and monasteries. At night the lights make everything even more evocative. The first place to visit is certainly the St. Vitus Cathedral with its magnificent leaded glass windows in mosaic style. You can continue with the St. Wenceslas Chapel, the old royal palace, the Basilica of St. George, Lobkovicz Palace, and finally the royal gardens from which you can admire a splendid panorama of Prague.

2 Charles Bridge

Things to see in Prague. The Charles Bridge, the oldest in the city, was built in 1357 by Charles IV and for several centuries was the only link between the two banks of the Vltava, the river of Prague. Prague Charles Bridge. Today it is especially famous for the numerous statues, mainly added in the 18th century, and for the myriad of street artists who crowd the pedestrian bridge together with tourists.

3 Josefov, the Jewish ghetto of Prague

The old Jewish ghetto of Prague, also described by Kafka as a maze of alleys, is certainly one of the most evocative neighborhoods of the city, with its four synagogues, the cemetery, and the museum. The Old-New Synagogue is undoubtedly the most important, being the oldest European synagogue still in use as a place of worship. Prague Jewish cemetery. A poignant and mysterious place, the Jewish cemetery used from 1439 to 1787 is the oldest and largest in Europe.

 Prague places of interest

4 Old Town Square

Visiting Prague. The most important square in the city is undoubtedly the Old Town Square, bordered by fine baroque buildings. The main monument is the Town Hall, on whose tower there is an extraordinary astronomical clock. At the stroke of 9:00 and 21:00 the crowd gathers under the tower to admire the various figures that come out of the little doors, representing saints and allegorical figures. Behind the Town Hall stands the Church of Our Lady before Týn, which contains very charming baroque interiors.

5 Wenceslas Square

What to visit in Prague. Wenceslas Square, which is more of a broad sloping boulevard, has been the scene of numerous political protests that took place in the last 150 years. Notable are the statue of Saint Wenceslas, to whom the square is dedicated, and the large National Museum.

6 Republic Square

Republic Square deserves a visit for the splendid Town Hall, the best example of art nouveau architecture in Prague. The complex includes a restaurant, an opulent café, and the Smetana Concert Hall. Next to it stands one of the towers once belonging to the fortifications of the Old Town, atop which you can admire a suggestive panorama.

7 The parks and gardens of Prague

A suggestion to fully explore all the parks and gardens of the capital of the Czech Republic is to take a nice tour of Prague on skates. The first stop is Petřín Hill, where, at the top, you can visit the Stefánik Observatory, the mirror maze, and the Petřín Lookout Tower, a replica of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. To relax and fully enjoy the romantic atmosphere of Prague, just move to the park and garden in front of the lookout tower or, still under Petřín Hill, to the Vrtbovská Garden where many concerts take place in summer. Then there is the Renaissance castle Hvězda, located in the adjacent anonymous park, also an ideal place to experience Prague’s soft and fairytale-like ambiance and to rejuvenate in direct contact with reassuring nature.
For anyone wishing to enjoy a breathtaking view of the center of Prague, it is enough to go to Letná Plain where, sitting at a table, you can enjoy a warm cup of coffee or a good glass of beer. The visit to discover the gardens of Prague ends with the Ladronka Park, equipped with a modern skating rink, with the possibility to rent skates and bicycles.

Prague, things to do

8 Christmas Markets in Prague

Prague already exudes a magical atmosphere by itself, so if you are lucky enough to visit it during the Christmas holidays you will surely be amazed by the scents, lights, people, and smell of treats present all over the city. In that festive atmosphere, you will not even notice the cold, as you will be captivated by the magic of Prague and Christmas.
The Christmas markets (vánocní trhy) are the ideal place to buy some gifts for relatives and friends. Open every day of the week, from the end of November to the beginning of January, they display a bit of everything, from handicrafts to puppets. Very tempting are the food stalls showcasing local gastronomic delights such as Goulash and hot drinks including vin brulé, grog, and medovina, a warm honey-based liqueur. The most famous Christmas markets in Prague are certainly those held in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. As for the former, it perfectly embodies the joyful atmosphere typical of Christmas. Besides the market, the square hosts a huge nativity scene and a large fir tree full of lights. In Wenceslas Square, the wooden huts that make up the market are close to the National Museum.

Among other Christmas markets in Prague worth mentioning, there is the one at Havel, located along the street connecting Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. Then there is the Christmas market at Peace Square, in front of the Church of Saint Ludmilla, and the one at Republic Square, near the Kotva department store.

Finally, a curiosity: in the Vystaviste Holesovice area, at Christmas, a very special market is built where, besides about 500 exhibitors, there is also a giant house entirely made of gingerbread. The uniqueness lies in the fact that, at the end of the events, this house is devoured by the always numerous market visitors.

9 Prague Nightclubs

The Czech capital is also known for its lively nightlife: among pubs, private clubs, and nightclubs, fun in the Bohemian city is guaranteed. A special mention goes to Karlovy Lazne, a splendid nightclub a few meters from the Charles Bridge, which with its 5 floors and as many rooms divided by music genre is the largest venue of its kind in Europe.

Trip to Prague

10 How to get to Prague and get around

Prague Airport. The Ruzine Airport is located 20 km northwest of the city center, connected by buses leaving every 20 minutes. For the Dejvicka metro station, take the 119, for Zlicin the 100, and for Nove Butovice the 179. International trains arrive at Hlavní Nadrazi, the main station of Prague.
The old district of Prague, as well as Mala Strana, can be easily visited on foot, although the climb to the castle is quite demanding. Prague Metro. The Prague metro has 3 lines: A (green), B (yellow) and C (red), and it is a very short line. Alternatively, you can use trams, buses or the funicular.

11 Prague where to eat

Typical dishes Prague. In recent years, the culinary offer in Prague has greatly increased, so pork is no longer the key element of all menus. Although a stop in one of the traditional pivnice is always part of the city visit, nowadays you can choose from several excellent restaurants serving international cuisine. For breakfast, we recommend the high-level French bakery in the Old Town Au Gourmand or why not the Cafè Imperial, a sumptuous Austro-Hungarian era venue offering excellent coffees and exquisite donuts.

Prague what to eat. For lunch, you can range from salads, Bohemian soups, and hearty game dishes at the restaurant Nebozìzek to the intriguing menu of Square, the favorite spot of the renowned Prague writer Kafka. Finally, for the last meal of the day, we cannot fail to mention the Kampa Park, the most sophisticated restaurant in Prague, with a charming heated terrace on the river. For a more formal dinner, the ideal choice is the traditional brewery U Medvìdku and its typical Prague cuisine. To drink, there is no doubt: an excellent Czech beer.

12 Where to sleep in Prague

The offer in Prague for where to sleep is wide and rich. Prague hotels. The hotels in Prague’s Old Town are certainly more expensive, while those in Mala Starna tend to be cheaper.