Since the opening up of Eastern Europe, Prague quickly became one of the trendy places to visit. One of the world's most photogenic cities with grand Gothic cathedrals, stunning Baroque edifices, ancient castles, and beautiful and lively squares. Prague is the  UNESCO’s Word Heritage site, the 'City of a Hundred Spires' - cobbled cruising ground for Kafka, Mozart, and Soviet tanks.

Highlights

Hradcany [castle district]: Prague Castle (Prazsky Hrad), the city's most magnificent landmark and a World Heritage Site, including the imposing Gothic St Vitus Cathedral, with stained-glass windows, the Royal Palace/garden, and St Nicolas' Church.

The Old Town Square (Staromestské Námestí), includes the Old Town Hall/Astronomical Clock and the Gothic T´yn Church, the Powder Tower, medieval Charles Bridge, and Josefov, the former Jewish Town, with Europe's oldest in-use synagogue, remarkable cemetery and excellent Art Nouveau cafés.

The Fortress in Visehrad with it’s  peaceful gardens and the River Vltava provides an escape from the crowd. You can hire a rowing boat and take a picnic onto one of the islands, or head into the surreal Wallenstein Gardens at the base of Hradcany Hill.
For panoramic view of the city go to Petrin Hill.

Zizkov is currently the funkiest district in the city, home to all sorts of absurdities, night and day, street theatre to wacky nightclubs.

Romantic Accommodation in Prague

This city is busy with tourists for most of the year. Booking ahead, especially from Easter to September and Christmas time, is strongly recommended. Internet booking at Hotelscombined.com is good value and efficient.
Although public transport is decent and fast, staying in heart of the city (preferably Stare Mesto or Mala Strana) is worthwhile since walking is the best way to explore the place.

Best time to visit is in May, June and September. July and August are crowded Winter months can be fun in Prague if you don't mind extreme cold.

   Hotel Liberty
11 Twenty-Eight Rijna, Prague, Czech Republic
Newly restored hotel just off Wenceslas Square

Buddha Bar Hotel
Prague, Czech Republic
Red lacquered furniture, dragon murals, rich fabrics and Buddha Bar lounge. Located in Old Town, it's the first hotel opened by the Buddha Bar restaurant chain.

Hoffmeister
Pod Bruskou 7, Prague, Czech Republic
From €60

  Best of Europe

Things to do in Prague

Getting Around Prague

It is best explored on foot, or by using the trams that run along its main streets. Taxis have a bad reputation, so take the excellent public transport instead. It's worth getting an interchangeable transport ticket. Otherwise, check the meter is on and working.


Festivals in Prague

May- June, Spring International Music Festival, with classical music concerts in various venues; this is one of Europe's best musical events, a must-see. www.festival.cz

July- Sept, the city's Folklore Festival.

Aug-Sep, Verdi Festival.
Sept, St Wenceslas Sacred Music Festival, performed in many  local churches.
Sept, Mozart Festival, appropriate music played in the gorgeous Bertramka Villa. Sept- Oct, Prague Autumn, international music festival, with classical concerts in the Castle.
Oct, International Jazz Festival.
Oct, Musica Iudaica, a festival of Jewish music.
Nov, Festival of Cyberculture including digital art, film, net and performance art.

For more information about these and other events, please visit www.czechtourism.com

NOTE: Before planning a trip around a festival, make sure that you verify the festival dates at the festival website.

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Cuisine

Meat and heavy soups are an essential part of old Czech culture and all available in many pubs. Beer: Pilsner is the most popular local brew, and Moravia's red wines are fine and bargain prices.

Entertainment

Classical Music: The gorgeous Rudolfinum Concert Hall is a Neo-Renaissance masterpiece that hosts varied music and ballet performances. There's also the Lichtenstein Palace, Church of St Simon and St Jude for chamber music, Bertramka for Mozart, while different churches hold classical concerts at least somewhere, everyday. Fly sheets keep tourists informed.

Dance/Opera: State Opera, Estates and National Theatre, Duncan Center, Ponec.
English language shows are held at Black Box International Theatre and Misery Loves Company.

Live Music and Clubs: Stare Mesto and Zizkov have endless venues offering all kinds of performances. Check English language Prague Post 'Night and Day' section for event info and listings.
Tickets can be bought from the venue or try ticket agencies: Bohemia Ticket International, Ticketpro.

Short Trips out of Prague

The province of Bohemia has many interesting travel possibilities.
Karlstejn Castle, the prettiest castle in the area, superbly situated above the River Berounka, 35 minutes by train from Prague.
Kutna Hora, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, is a small version of Prague, with the finest Gothic masterpiece in Europe, Santa Barbora [Barbara] Cathedral, which is even more spectacular than St Vitus. 1 hour train ride.
Cesky Krumlow, one of the Europe's prettiest medieval towns, with streets lined with fairly-tale buildings. A UNESCO World Heritage site. The train is actually a tortoise, so take a bus, 1 hour out of town.

Museums

Visit Mucha Museum which houses an extensive collection of pieces from national favorite Alfons Mucha, famous for his contribution to modern art.

The National Museum in Prague is the biggest museum in the Czech Republic and is composed of five main institutes: The Natural History Museum, The Historical Museum, The National Museum Library, The Náprstek Museum of Asian, African and American Cultures, and The Czech Music Museum.

Modern and Contemporary art can be found in Veletrzní Palác (Modern & Contemporary Art).  Fans of the modern style of Cubism won’t want to leave without a visit to Dum U cerné Matky bozí, a museum where even the building itself is in the Cubist style. 

Mozart fans should hit Villa Bertramka where the famous composer often stayed as a guest. In the summer plan ahead to attend a concert in this breathtaking venue.

Outdoors

Prague is a beautiful place to be outdoors. Traverse its cobblestone streets, cross its famed bridges on foot. Try to see them in the early morning when they are quiet . Head out to Petrin Hill, the vast expanse of steep, green hillside, covered with blossoming apple orchards in the spring. It offers rose gardens, a variety of sculptures by Czech artists, and an observation tower at its summit. Pass through the quiet gateway and enter Vojanovy Sady, an exquisite garden, filled with weeping willows, fruit trees and winding paths lined with benches.

The garden of Vrtbovská Zahrada is ornamented with pieces by Mathias Braun, one of the most famous Czech baroque sculptors. Its a magical open space which holds one of the most coveted views over the Lesser Quarter.  The other garden, Královská zahrada is a sweeping green sanctuary with views of St. Vitus’s Cathedral as well as many Renaissance structures.

Shopping

Some popular travel souvenirs are: fine Bohemian crystal, ceramics, wooden toys, Easter eggs, Kafka or communist T-shirts, Russian stuff, matrioshka dolls and puppets.
Classy: Wenceslas Square, Parizska trida near the Old Town Square, and Na Prikope area. Wacky: Back streets in Stare Mesto and Mala Strana.