Growing up in the Czech Republic and living in Prague for the course of 4 years, I consider Prague to be my second home. Czechia is a place where my heart melts, and anywhere else is where my heart beats.
Funny enough, it is always a common thing, that people don’t explore their own hometown enough until they move out. The same thing pretty much applies to me. Therefore, whenever I am traveling back home for a visit, I try to use the time to explore new places, and always feel like a tourist there. Hence, this post I dedicated to summarizing some of the best sights and places to do and see in this beautiful city of Prague. From tourist attractions to lesser-known places. Prague is known for its beautiful historical city center and as a city of hundreds of bridges and towers. Prague is equal to Paris with its romantic charm. Located in the heart of Europe, it is convenient to travel to and from.
Things to do and see – the must for first timers
1. Wenceslas Square
Your first stop in Prague will be most likely a Wenceslas Square. It is one of the main city squares for business and culture, and many events, celebrations, demonstrations, other public gatherings, and market stalls during Easter or Christmas are usually happening here.
It is more like a broad boulevard rather than a typical city square. Wenceslas Square is dominated by a national museum and a statue of Saint Wenceslas on a horse. The place itself has witnessed a great deal of Czech history, from the revolutionary upheavals of 1848 to the creation of the new Czechoslovak Republic.
2. National museum
As mentioned earlier, National museum is located just at the beginning of Wenceslas Square, from where you can get a nice view of the whole boulevard. It was long under reconstruction and finally opened again to the public a few years back. It was founded in 1818, and it exhibits natural scientific and historical collections. As part of national museums groups, there are the number of other buildings (museums) spread around Prague that you can visit, such as the New building of the National Museum, Czech Museum of Music, National Memorial at Vitkov Hil, Antonin Dvorak Museum or Bedrich Smetana museum to name a few.
3. Old Town Square & Astronomical Clock
Now you got to the heart of historical Prague. The old town quarter is spread around Old Town Square, located between Wenceslas Square and Charles Bridge. Noticed the beautiful details on buildings belonging to various architectural styles. On this square, you will find also a gothic church of Our Lady before Tyn and a baroque St. Nicholas church.
The square is also a center for a large statue of religious reformer Jan Hus, who was burned at the stake for his beliefs in Constance. The highlight of the square is also the Astronomical Clock or so-called Prague Orloj mounted on the Old Town hall. The clock was first installed in 1410, and it is the world’s oldest one still in operation. You can also climb up to the Old Town Hall tower for a panoramic view of the Old Town.
Lastly, Old Town square is also a place where you will find Easter and Christmas markets to be hosted. Absolutely fabulous atmosphere and a place to wander around if you are traveling during these periods!
4. Tyn Church
The dominant gothic church on Old Town square is the church of Mother of God before Tynm often translated as Church of Our Lady before Tyn or simply Tyn Church. It has been the main church of the city since the 14th century and its towers are 80m high.
5. Charles bridge
Charles Bridge is located a short walking distance from the Old Town quarter. This historic bridge that crosses the Vltava river has been constructed in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV. The name came through in 1870 after it was called Stone Bridge or Prague Bridge. This bridge was the most important connection between Prague Castle and the city’s Old Town.
The bridge is about 621 m long and 10 m wide. Honestly, it is packed with tourists and local artisans. Try to avoid the peak hour so you can get the beautiful view and walk across the bridge. The bridge is protected by towers on each side and it is also decorated by an alley of 30 statues is baroque style. The bridge is also the icon of Prague and has been filmed in movies a number of times.
6. Prague castle
Prague castle is one of the icons of Prague too as well as the historical institutions of the city. It is a large castle complex on a hill site on the other side of a river from the Old Town quarter. It was built in the 9th century as a seat of power for kings of Bohemia, and Holy Roman emperors and up until now it is used as an official office of the president of the Czech Republic. The Bohemian Crown Jewels are kept in a hidden room inside it.
The whole complex of Prague castle not only gives a great viewing point of Prague, but you can also visit a number of churches, cathedrals, gardens, towers, palaces, halls, and other historical buildings and monuments. There is no fee to get to the complex of Prague castle. However, individual fees may apply to get into some specific buildings and monuments.
7. St. Vitus cathedral
Once you are in the Prague Castle complex, don’t miss a visit to the largest St. Vitus cathedral, a Roman Catholic cathedral, and the seat of the Archibishop of Prague.
8. Dancing House
If you are walking alongside the Rasinovo river bank, you may pass around a Dancing House. It was designed by the Croatioan-Czech architect Vlado Milinic in cooperation with Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry.
The style is known as deconstructivist (the new-baroque) architecture due to its unusual shape. The building is supported by 99 concrete panels, each shaped differently. On top of the building, there is a large twisted metal structure, nicknamed Mary. The building itself is currently used as a hotel and commercial space.
9. Vltava river
Vltava river is 430km long and it is running through Bohemian Forest, Cesky Krumlov, Ceske Budejovice, and then Prague. Finally merging with the Elbe at Melnik. It is commonly referred to as the Czech national river.
Take on a boat cruise on a river to admire the different views of Prague from the water. Especially, you will have a chance to see the Charles Bridge, Prague castle, the Dancing house, the National theatre, and many other monuments. If you feel braver, hire a pedal boat to discover the surroundings yourself. It is especially popular with locals and tourists during summertime. However, pedal boats will have limited access to go around, due to safety.
10. John Lennon Wall
Once a normal wall, now a famous John Lennon wall, located in small streets across from the French Embassy was first decorated with graffiti in 1980, after the assassination of John Lennon, where an unknown artist painted a single image of the singer-songwriter and some lyrics. Since then it was filled with John Lennon-inspired graffiti, lyrics from Beatles’ songs, and other designs relating to local and global causes. The wall is being repainted frequently, so every time you visit Prague, you may see different street art.
11. Golden Lane
Golden Lane is a small narrow street situated in Prague Castle. Originally built in the 16th century and it takes its name from the goldsmiths that lived there in the 17th century. Although the lane used to call it Street of Alchemists or Alchemists’ Alley, in fact, alchemists have never worked or lived there.
The lane consists of small houses painted in bright colors, the houses belonged to known people, such as house number 22 used to belong to the sister of writer Franz Kafka, or Jaroslav Seifert, the writer who won the Novel Prize in Literature in 1984 used to lived there too in 1929.
Nowadays, in order to visit this historical part of the Prague castle complex, a fee must be paid to enter. The Golden Lane is connected to Dalibor Tower, which used to be a dungeon.
12. Jewish quarter
The Jewish quarter is located in Josefor, a neighborhood of Prague, located between Old Town Square and Vltava river. The history of the Jewish ghettos began in the 13th century when Jewish people were ordered to vacate their homes and settle in this one area.
In the Jewish quarter, you may visit six synagogues, including the Spanish and the Old-New Synagogue, the Jewish ceremonial all, the Old Jewish Cemetery, Jewish Town Hall, or Franz Kafka’s birthplace house.
13. Kampa island
Once you will find yourself at the end of the Charles bridge, on the other side of the Old Town quarter, you will be in the Mala Strana neighborhood. Kampa is an island in the Vltava river, connected by the street Na Kampe. Here, you can find a bit of a Venice vibe, with river views, romantic lanes, restaurants, and a home for Kampa Museum. A museum of modern art.
The area was named in the 17th century as the campus (“field”) by Spanish soldiers who tented here during the Battle of White Mountain. Visit Kampa island also to spot the contemporary bronze baby statues of Czech artist David Cerny. The pieces consist of several sculptures of babies with their faces being replaced with barcode stamps. The first baby was presented in 1994 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.
14. The Powder Tower
Not too far from Republic square or a short walk from Old Town square, you may pass the Powder Tower or Powder Gate. It is a gothic tower and it separated the Old Town from the New Town. It is one of the original 13 city gates with constructions beginning in 1475. The tower was built with the aim to be an attractive entrance into the city, instead of a defensive tower. The look of the tower was inspired by the work of Peter Parler on the Charles Bridge.
15. Clementinum
Clementinum is a historic complex of buildings in Prague near Mariansky square. It is famous for the baroque library hall with its beautiful interior and ceiling artwork by Jan Hiebl. At one time the Clementinum was known as the third-largest Jesuit college in the world. Currently, the library is used only for academics who have approval. As part of this complex visit, you can also climb up to the Astronomical tower where you can admire the stunning views of Prague city center.
16. Wallenstein garden
Wallenstein Palace is a Baroque palace in Malá Strana, Prague, that served as a residence for Imperial Generalissimo Albrecht von Wallenstein and now houses the Senate of the Czech Republic. The beautiful gardens with lush greenery, a large pond and peacocks freely walking around is a great stop for a rest before you would go up to Prague Castle.
17. Havelsky market
Prague doesn’t have many urban markets around unless it is Easter or Christmas period. However, Havelsky market has been out since 1232 with urban markets selling local products, art, crafts, and souvenirs. At the moment, it is very much a tourist destination, but worth to take a stroll and maybe getting some Czech souvenirs home. Located not too far from Wenceslas square and Old Town square.
The less-known gems
If you have more time in Prague or if it is not your first visit, then there are plenty of lesser-known places worth visiting. From beautiful gardens, and parks to food markets. Here I have listed a few of them where you can take a different route to explore Prague.
1. Petrin hill and Lookout tower
You may have seen in the distance a metal tower looking similar to the Eiffel tower and wonder what it is. That is a Lookout tower of Petrin’s hills. A peaceful hillside park with panoramic city views. You can either walk up to the summit or take cable cars up or down. The observatory tower has an astronomy exhibition as well as in that area you can find a mirror maze. Definitely a good spot for a picnic or for views of Prague.
2. Vysehrad
Vysehrad is a truly amazing place. It is a historic fort on the right bank of the Vltava river. It was built in the 10th century. Legend holds that Vysehrad was the location of the first settlement which later became Prague. The whole area is free to visit, and within the fort, you can visit the Basilica of St. Peter and St.Paul, as well as Vysehrad cemetery where many famous people from Czech history are buried, including Antonin Dvorak, Bedrich Smetana, Karel Capek or Alphonse Mucha.
3. Zizkov TV tower
The Zizkov television tower is a unique transmitter built between 1985 and 1992. It stands high above the city’s traditional skyline. Thus you can see this tower from afar. The tower is an example of high-tech architecture, designed by the architect Vaclav Aulicky and the structural engineer Jiri Kozak. What’s interesting about the tower is that it has David Cerny’s baby statues crawling up and down on the tower’s pillars. These have been added in 2000. You may also go up to the tower to Oblaka restaurant to enjoy high-end dining and views of Prague.
4. The Vrtba Garden
Located on the left side of the Vltava river bank, in the Mala Strana neighborhood. The Vrtba garden is one of several fine high baroque gardens in Prague. With a small fee to get in, you can enjoy the beautiful gardens, statues, and views of Prague.
5. Troja castle
Located a bit further out from Prague’s city, the Troja palace is a Baroque palace located in the Troja neighborhood of Prague, in the northwest borough. The palace’s design has been influenced by French and Italian architecture and is mostly the work of French architect Jean Baptiste Mathey. Currently, it is owned by the city of Prague and hosts the 19th-century Czech art collections of the City Gallery as well as it is available for venues and weddings. The Troja Castle is one of the most significant examples of the 17th-century Bohemian castle. Enjoy the visit to the palace alongside the beautiful French-inspired gardens.
6. Strahov monastery
Strahov Monastery is a Premonstratensian abbey founded in 1143 by Jindřich Zdík, Bishop John of Prague, and Vladislaus II, Duke of Bohemia. It is located in the Strahov neighborhood. Alongside the monastery, you may visit the stunning 17th-century library as well. The library is divided into two major halls: the Baroque Theological Hall contains 18,000 religious texts, and the grand Philosophical Hall has over 42,000 ancient philosophical texts. If Clementinum gets too touristy, you should definitely visit the Strahov library.
7. Art Nouveau Lucerna Palace
Tucked away off the main Wenceslas square, the Lucerna shopping arcade is built in arc-nouveau style back in 1920. The complex was built by Vaclav Havel (grandfather of the president) and is still partially owned by the family. You may see that in Prague you will come across many little shopping arcades, where you can find a number of shops, cafes, and restaurants as well as a cinema and a theatre.
The arcade is beautifully decorated by itself, but the most stunning piece in the atrium is a sculpture “kun” (horse) by the artist David Cerny. A wryly amusing counterpart to the equestrian statue of St Wenceslas in Wenceslas Square. Here St Wenceslas sits astride a horse that is decidedly dead. The neighboring Novák Arcade, connected to the Lucerna and riddled by a maze of passages, has one of Prague’s finest art-nouveau facades (overlooking Vodičkova), complete with mosaics of country life.
8. Naplavka
When the weather is nice, most locals will hang out exactly here, at Naplavka. It is also referred to as a “hipster hangout”. Naplavka is a stretch of pavement next to the banks of the Vltava, between Palacky bridge and the Vyton tram stop. This place truly comes alive, with people just chilling here, to cyclists, farmers markets and other ad-hoc events.
9. National monument at Vitkov Hill
The National Monument on top of Vitkov Hil in the Zizkov district is one of the most important buildings related to the development of Czechoslovak/Czech statehood. It includes the third-largest bronze statue in the world of Jan Zizka, who defeated the catholic forced led by King Sigismund in 1420 in the Battle of Vitkov Hill. The Monument also includes the Ceremonial Hall, an exhibition entitled Crossroads of Czech and Czechoslovak Statehood, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and other exhibition halls. The memorial was opened to the public in 2009 and besides exploring the history of Czech you can again have panoramic views of Prague from here.
10. Franz Kafka statues
Franz Kafka was a German-speaking Bohemian novelist and short-story writer, widely regarded as one of the major figures of 20th-century literature. In Prague, you may find many references to Franz Kafka, including museums, his birth home and many statues around. One of the first Franz Kadka statues was created by a sculptor artist Jaroslav Rona and you can find it on Vezenska street in the Jewish quarter, near the Spanish synagogue. It depicts Franz Kafka riding on the shoulders of a headless figure, in reference to the author’s 1912 story “Description of a Struggle”.
The newest statue created by artist David Cerny is 42 moving tiers and an 11m tall sculpture aligned to form the face of the famous writer. This can be found just outside the Quadrio business center, outside of Narodni trida metro station.
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