Advice for everyone traveling to the Czech Republic. Why do we love Prague? Charming Old Town Square
Prague is a wonderful city. I will share with you what I really like and makes me happy about her. Love Prague as much as I love it. And here are 28 reasons for this.
1. Beer garden at Visegrad
During the season you can enjoy the original sauna in Naplavka, located right on the ship. At night you can jump into the Vltava, where Prague is reflected in many lights... naked.
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9. Wings
On the western side of the Synků Brothers Square (Náměstí bratří Synků), they have been preparing excellent hot wings in honey for 10 years. They're still delicious, and the place never closes before 1am. Check it. And don't forget to take a look at the elaborate interior.
10. Parks
20. New World Street
There are a lot of tourists in Prague, and they all usually crowd around. But if you go a little further along Loreta Street, and right after (Loreta) you will find yourself in a completely different world - with a minimum of cameras filming everything. The street (Nový Svět) is an ideal place for walking.
21. Libensky Island
The Libeňský most bridge may not be the most beautiful, but it is the longest. It is worth taking a walk along it to the island of Liben, a cozy center of trade and recreation with many garden plots for Prague residents. And while monstrous glass skyscrapers continue to be built in the blind arm of the Vltava, several cozy corners with beautiful houses still remain. Plus, the port is nearby.
22. Photogenic
If you want to take beautiful photos of Prague, then just go out into the city. You can even take black and white photos, they will still be beautiful, because this is Prague.
23. Beautiful people
Of course, not all beautiful people are in Prague. But here they are different: big and small, thick and thin, with different skin colors. Only the best, from all over the globe!
24. Vitkov
The hill is scary to look at, it’s always windy and cold, but what views Vitkov offers! Other hills cannot compare with it. Stand facing the city, with your back to Vitkov, and enjoy the wonderful views of Prague.
25. Wildlife within the city
Can't find an untouched corner of nature? Go on a trip to the Divoká Šárka nature park, the nature reserve (Prokopské údolí) or the Kunratický les. There you will find wildlife without leaving the city limits.
26. It’s never boring here
As the popular classic Peter Hudlík said: “You will never get bored here.” He actually meant Ibiza, but the saying also applies to Prague. If you're looking for adventure, you'll get it. Anytime, anywhere.
27. Surfacing
The unique flavor of Náplavka, located next to the leisurely flowing Vltava, the relaxed atmosphere is a kind of paradise for hipsters. There is something special about this place. Grab a beer and enjoy the view of the river. And if you wear a flannel shirt and Buddy Holly glasses, you'll find friends here.
28. Good name
Who wouldn't express respect to you when they find out that you are or live in Prague?
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Exactly Prague most often it is the first European city to which Russian tourists go. And this visit will be remembered forever. Prague stuns, enchants, falls in love. Let there be Paris, London, Brussels or Amsterdam later, Prague will always occupy a special place in my soul. Like first love. There are also objective reasons why Prague is worth visiting.
1. Prague is the largest surviving ancient city in Europe. She suffered less than others from wars and zeal. Walking around Prague, you will not see, as in Moscow, a “Khrushchev” next to an ancient castle. However, this does not prevent Prague from being a modern metropolis
2. Getting to Prague is quite easy and cheap. There are many ways to get to Prague, the cheapest of which is a bus, the most comfortable is a train, the fastest is a plane.
3. You can walk on your own in Prague. Especially if you take care of a good guidebook with a detailed map in advance. By following his advice, you can easily do without a guide.
4. Prague has it all! It is clear that Prague is famous places: Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, Powder Tower. But there is also something here that will delight specific visitors: children - a chic zoo, spoiled tourists - singing fountains, party-goers - nightclubs.
5. Prague without beer - money down the drain. Prague brews many types of beer that are famous all over the world. Pilsner, Krušovice, Budweiser, Staropramen, Velkopopovice kozel... In addition, every self-respecting beer brews its own unique drink. Branik, Meshtyan, Pivrnets, Platan...
6. Wonderful Czech cuisine. Prague cuisine will not offend anyone: in the capital, lovers of fatty foods, sweets, tasty alcohol (not just beer, by the way), all kinds of game, and even you won’t believe it, vegetarians will always be able to properly refresh themselves.
7. Prague may be in Europe, but without the euro. This, by the way, is a significant plus. Everything in Prague is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than in neighboring countries. Hotels, travel, taxi. Beer, finally! One has only to turn off the tourist path, and the prices are pleasantly pleasing
8. In Prague you can find unique souvenirs. Especially if you move a little away from the city center. The most wonderful gifts are Czech crystal, jewelry with garnets, wooden toys. You can also buy beer - especially unfiltered varieties.
9. In Prague, you can calmly talk to the attendant staff in Russian. And all city dwellers over 40 will understand you. And younger people will also understand you - maybe not every word, but the meaning as a whole - after all, they are Slavic brothers.
10. From Prague You can take a one-day excursion. And not only Karlovy Vary, so that you can fall into the life-giving water at least for a day. But also further away - to Dresden, for example. Conveniently, I went to Prague and also visited the Dresden Gallery. Happiness for the tourist.
So if you have the opportunity, be sure to go!!
Prague is such a beautiful city that you can enjoy visiting it without any prior preparation. But it's not just ancient architecture. The Czech capital is very multifaceted and can surprise travelers of any age and with different preferences.
1. Architectural kaleidoscope
Evoking memories of Prague, the first thing that comes to mind are pictures of the unique Prague roofs. Sometimes more like a hat, sometimes dotted with many pointed spiers. Due to the fact that the world wars practically bypassed Prague, architectural examples from different eras have been preserved here: Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Classicism and Mannerism. No one will be indifferent to a walk around with a photo session at each of the 32 sculptures. The colorful one will surprise you with a high concentration of architectural masterpieces of Rococo and Baroque, offer a look into the ancient organ, and also tell you the time and movement of the planets using unique ones at the city hall. The majestic castle complexes and noble district will captivate the traveler into the romantic era of kings and princes. But lovers of glass and concrete will not be bored in Prague. , Golden Angel, the Main Point building is an indisputable proof of this.
2. Unexpected sculptures
Walking around Prague every now and then you come across unusual and original sculptures that arouse genuine interest. For example, where do they crawl and why do 10 of them climb vertically? The Brussels 60-centimeter Pissing Boy in Prague is competing with two who, standing opposite each other, pee into a lake in the shape of the Czech Republic. It turns out that they can still fulfill wishes: they figuratively “write out” the word sent by the customer via SMS. And in the Futura gallery you can look into... the anus of a 5-meter naked statue, tilted forward at a right angle. For what? To watch the report of politician Vaclav Klaus and cultural figure Milan Knizhak over a plate of porridge. And that's not all! The sculpture "" depicting St. Wenceslas straddling the belly of his dead horse, "" with human legs, "" on the Vltava will send everyone's imagination into an easy knockout.
3. Beer heaven
The Czechs greatly revere St. Wenceslas, who happens to be the patron saint of all brewers. According to statistics, a resident of the Czech Republic drinks on average about 160 liters of beer per year. Almost every meal is washed down with beer. That's why there are a lot of pubs and breweries in Prague. You can even make an impressive “” and devote one or two days to tasting a variety of beers. For this purpose, it is better to visit the area. Among the numerous establishments, there is the beer hall, which will offer about 30 varieties of beer from breweries throughout the Czech Republic. The beer brewery "" is very popular; they brew excellent beer and consistently delicious cuisine. The Pilsner Urquell beer variety is worth trying in the beer hall. Well, don’t forget about the monastery breweries: and. Beer lovers will experience unforgettable emotions at the annual event, which takes place in Prague in mid-May.
4. River walk
The decoration of Prague is not only its architecture, but also its wide picturesque river. A river walk will give you the opportunity to relax and look at Prague from a different angle. You can simply take a boat ride or order a romantic dinner by candlelight surrounded by musical accompaniment and an elegant interior on the ship. Or you can even book a room in a boat and go on a real river cruise. But a boat trip will provide the traveler with another attraction - parking at a river traffic light! Since accidents sometimes happen to the Vltava, 12 locks have been built on the river. To “bypass” the non-navigable area, they organized a special “road” for ships. But only one vessel can fit on it, and the oncoming one awaits its turn at the traffic light.
5. Natural pearls of Prague
After long walks between architectural sights, you want to relax in the cozy greenery. Fortunately, there are a lot of them in Prague - about 200. The oldest of them are located near monasteries. Over time, every noble citizen considered it his duty to acquire a garden with a unique landscape design, thereby increasing the status of his estate. In addition to luxurious flower beds, greenhouses, and fountains, you can find a unique stalactite masterpiece, which from a distance resembles a wall of skulls, as well as peacocks walking along the alleys of the park. There are as many as 7 gardens around, each of which has its own flavor. On the right bank of the Vltava, near the monument to the famous politician Franz Riegr, there is an observation deck from which all the spiers of Prague are visible.
6. Musical life in Prague
It's easy to satisfy your musical tastes in Prague. Admirers of classical music should definitely visit the Prague Concert Hall, where the Parliament of Czechoslovakia once held plenary sessions. Or the Smetana Concert Hall in a very luxurious building, designed in the style of the Prague Secession. available in numerous churches. A unique musical complex “”, where on each of the five floors you can plunge into your musical element: jazz, soul, hits from the 60s to the 90s, disco and of course the most modern. And every summer the United Islands music festival takes place.
7. Prague extraordinary cafes
It doesn’t matter whether you eat garlic soup or just drink aromatic coffee, being in a Prague cafe is always surrounded by a unique atmosphere. Those once visited by representatives of Prague bohemia: artists, scientists, architects, writers and composers have a special charm. Perhaps it was in one of these cafes that great works or scientific discoveries were born over friendly conversations or arguments. The most legendary is the Slavia coffee shop, where nothing has changed since the days of bohemian evenings, and heavy marble tables and the painting “The Absinthe Lover” still watch over the visitors. The medieval show will be complemented by dinner at the oldest tavern in Prague (1375), where skulls can be seen from the stone vaulted ceilings. The restaurant-cave "" will take you back to the Stone Age, where the main decor was mammoth tusks and the skins of wild animals. But the Old Bohemian monastery will give you an atmosphere of bliss and tranquility!
8. Czech crystal and more
- the same obligatory point of the tourist program as a sightseeing tour. The most famous souvenir of the Czech Republic is works from (Bohemia, Moser): sets of glasses, decanters, vases, chandeliers, etc. The city center is dotted with many boutiques selling crystal products, but their prices are quite high. But the largest assortment and affordable prices will be presented by the shopping complex “
9. And the children won’t be bored
In Prague, you don’t have to worry about what to do with your children. The whole family can visit and ride. Girls will probably want to see the collection of Barbie dolls presented in near. And the exhibition of historical vehicles from the predecessors of cars to airplanes will captivate the boys for a long time. You can go down the water slides, soak in the jacuzzi or just swim in the pool in one of three water parks in Prague: Aquadream Barrandov, Aquacentrum Lagoon Letňany. After an active holiday, you need to replenish your energy reserves by going to one of the children's cafes: “”, where visitors are served by toy trains; “Koala Café”, where a large play area with slides, tunnels and other obstacles was built, or a confectionery “”, the history of which dates back to 1906.
10. All roads lead to... Prague
Prague has a very favorable geographical location relative to other famous European capitals. Prague is separated from Vienna, Berlin and Bratislava by a distance of just over 300 km. And the drive to beautiful Dresden is only 153 km. That's why many day tours depart from Prague to other European cities. At a distance of 118 km from Prague is the famous hydropathic Karlovy Vary, and 178 km away is the fabulous city, a visit to which will bring an unforgettable experience.
Prague is an incredibly wonderful city, I remember how I fell in love with it 7 years ago, when we were here for the first time, but this summer, in 3 weeks, my feelings grew even stronger!
In fact, there are much more than 5 reasons to come and fall in love with Prague, but in this article I will focus only on the 5 main ones, which will not leave indifferent even tourists who have traveled extensively around the world.
I’ll tell you about why Prague will remain in your memory, about those moments that can make you return to this city again!
Oh yes, old Prague cannot help but charm, it’s not for nothing that it is one of the most popular European cities!
There is amazing architecture here, and not only in the center,
she is gorgeous and mysterious.
Palaces, monasteries, churches and castles with towers are a real preserve of historical architecture of different times and styles.
You want to walk around Prague from the very morning until late at night!
Photographers just can’t stop, they want to “click” left and right, at any time of the day, the city is so charming,
and each next building seen is more beautiful than the previous one.
In the very center of the city, every hour, the eyes of tourists are caught by an unusual astronomical clock, the secret of the mechanism of which is kept by only 6 people in the entire Czech Republic. Capture the apostles appearing in the upper windows only for a couple of minutes per hour - done!
Well, and of course Prague Castle is one of the largest castles in the world,
which can be seen from almost anywhere in the city!
The oldest Gothic Cathedral of St. Vitus dates back to the 9th century; you can walk around it for hours with your head up, looking at the sculptures :)
There are many legends about the cathedral; during the daytime, it is perhaps the most crowded place in Prague!
Once, we managed to end up there with bicycles, and even during the Sunday ceremonial changing of the guard, we barely squeezed through the crowd :)
But in the evening, after sunset, it’s downright mystical here, there are almost no tourists, and the cathedral and many other buildings and streets surrounding the castle are illuminated by lanterns.
Here is the famous “puppet” Golden Street of craftsmen, during the day it’s not crowded, but in the evening it’s free, although the houses are all closed, you can’t watch the craftsmen at work, you can only look into the windows :)
And the ancient Charles Bridge!! We have been here several times and came here several times at dawn to find the bridge completely deserted and to take shots that were at least a little different from typical tourist ones.
and of course, see the sunrise itself from the bridge.
And then you can feed the swans under the bridge :)
In the evening there is also a special atmosphere here, the lights turn on, there are fewer and fewer people, but street musicians still play.
Next to the bridge, by the way, on the Prague Castle side, there is the narrowest street, only 70 cm wide, i.e. It’s impossible to miss another person on it, and in order to go down or up without interference, there’s even a traffic light installed here!
I also have a weakness for huge Gothic cathedrals; I get goosebumps from such majestic and gloomy, at first glance, buildings.
Inside there is rich decoration, and of course an organ, I remember how we went to an organ performance in Tallinn, it was great!
Unusual sculptures
Prague is extremely rich in extraordinary monuments, in particular sculptures. Even just walking around the city, you can come across several unusual objects in a couple of hours, including living sculptures)).
The sculptor David Cherny alone supplied the city with a fair amount of shocking, non-standard objects of modern art. For example, in the Lucerne Gallery there is an inverted (or fallen, suspended) horse on which Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of Prague, sits.
And his famous crawling children decorate not only the ugly, in the opinion of most townspeople, Žižkov TV Tower,
but they also crawl in the romantic central Kampa Park, on the island of the same name.
Here, not far away, in the courtyard of the Kafka Museum there are bronze figures - “Pissing Men”, which draw words in streams on the map of the Czech Republic. There are always tourists near the monument and anyone, with the help of these bronze men, can write any word by sending an SMS to the number indicated next to the composition.
Cherny also has an interesting dynamic sculpture - an 11-meter head of Kafka, weighing 40 tons, located in the courtyard of the Quadrio shopping center. It consists of giant metal plates that move chaotically, but at some point they freeze and form a portrait of Franz Kafka.
In general, if you are interested, google the sculptures of David Cherny, they are very eccentric and flashy.
I also really liked another monument to Franz Kafka - it’s a kind of a call to rise above one’s own pettiness, to break out of the shackles of habits (here they are symbolized by a suit).
And another unusual sculpture, like a man with an umbrella falling from heaven.
On the next street, by the way, there is also a young lady floating in the air with an umbrella.
I have a few more interesting monuments in stock, so a separate article dedicated to non-standard tourist sites in Prague suggests itself :)
Czech cuisine
Czech cuisine cannot be called haute cuisine at all, but this does not mean that the dishes here are simple, they have their own zest, which is why tourists love it.
The most popular dish is pork knee, but my favorite, since I don’t eat meat, is all the variations of spinach dishes and, of course, cheese! The latter is prepared here in two variations - schnitzel style (in breadcrumbs) or baked on the grill in foil, and inside there is a lingonberry filling, the latter option is simply finger-licking! I recommend!
Also, don’t forget to try dumplings, which come in two types – potato and bread. Well, and of course, beer, most establishments have their own breweries, so it is famous here for its excellent taste and freshness!
There are both semi-basement stylistic Prague taverns, without windows, and pretentious restaurants, with a hint of the Middle Ages in the interior,
and attic cafes, in the fresh air, with a gorgeous view,
especially in the evening.
There are also unusual cafes, for example, on the tram!
Both places are always full of people, and everywhere you can taste Czech dishes. And in the summer, some cafes also have a special, seasonal menu, in which you can find, for example, strawberry cream soup!
You can also combine dinner or lunch with a boat trip on the river.
It was also with great joy that we discovered many specialized pastry shops, shops and cafes for vegans here, and even became regulars in a couple of places.
Judging by the assortment and easy availability of various healthy products and desserts (dairy-free and sugar-free ice cream, gluten-free baked goods, including cheesecakes and tiramisu), I would even say there is a boom in healthy eating here :) When we left, we stocked up on chia seeds, carob, quinoa, flax and other dried goodies :)
Parks and gardens
When we were in Prague for the first time, we somehow completely missed this green component, except that we looked into the gardens next to Prague Castle. But this time we had a lot of fun, I now have many favorite Prague parks, some of which we visited 2-3 times.
These stunning Riegrovy Gardens are a wonderful place to watch sunsets overlooking Prague Castle.
The next place is the oldest Vysehrad Park - very mysterious and romantic with a stunning Gothic cathedral, whose doors I especially liked :)
The view from the park opens on all four sides, including the castle,
and to the river. When we lived nearby, we came here for our morning jog.
Petřín Hill is also a very pleasant and romantic place to walk.
the same one on which the Prague Eiffel Tower is located.
We have been here many times, both morning and afternoon, and even came here at 5 am to watch the sunrise with a view of the Castle!
I also loved Letna Park, the view of the river and Charles Bridge here is undoubtedly one of the best, and the park itself is very pleasant!
In general, the park is huge, it is more convenient to move around it on Segways or bicycles, but you can also walk, we walked here in all ways =)
There is a huge area with tables and benches for evening gatherings over a glass of beer (a place ala “Oktoberfest”), overlooking the TV tower.
And also, in the same park there is an unusual, largest metronome in the world, in its place there was once a monument to Stalin, the monument was demolished long ago, but the cafe under the metronome still bears the name of the Soviet leader. Next to the metronome is a gorgeous 180-degree viewing platform!
And when we had walked around and seen enough of the central gardens and parks, we also went to the huge Troysky Park on the outskirts, where the zoo is, the views there are really only of residential areas, but it’s quite a pleasant place for cycling!
Observation platforms
Perhaps all travelers have a passion for viewpoints, and in this regard, Prague can satisfy any hunter of beautiful views.
The city has many hills from which you can admire the sights of Prague.
Every second park or garden in Prague is famous for its stunning areas with panoramic views, as you probably understood from the photo from the previous paragraph.
But besides parks, there are other places for breathtaking selfie photos :) In the very center, on Old Town Square, in the town hall tower, where the famous astronomical clock is located, you can climb to the very top!
By the way, this can be done both by the elevator and by stairs, looking at photo chronicles of the events of Prague and specifically the town hall.
I think this observation point is absolutely a “must visit” in Prague!
Because the views from the top are the most amazing, at least in the center!
By the way, in the same building, on the ground floor, there is an info center and the entrance to the tower museum, where you can see the preserved unique halls, as well as look into the dungeon and try to imagine how life lived here 7 centuries ago.
And even look inside the clockwork of the astronomical clock! You can read more about the Town Hall.
There are also bridge towers on the Charles Bridge, they are also open to the public, and they also have stunning views of the bridge and the Vltava River.
It’s also pleasant to walk along the terraced streets of Prague Castle, from where you can see a view of the red tiled roofs that leaves no one indifferent,
we came here early in the morning, even before breakfast,
at this time there are no tourists at all and you can admire the rooftops in silence, or eat blueberries with a view of the beauty =)
Probably every tourist who has once visited Prague has a photo of these roofs.
We also went up to the Žižkov TV Tower, but the view from there was “not great” - yes, there are nice glass capsules-chairs, and the height seems serious, but the view, at least during the day, somehow didn’t impress us (
Although, I remember how from our first visit, 7 years ago, we were delighted, then we were on the tower at about 10 pm and admired the city in lights, so it’s better to come just before sunset - and see the sunset itself (the tower has a 360 view degrees), and admire the city in lights!
Another observation point is, of course, the Prague Eiffel Tower! It’s definitely worth a visit, we even went there twice! Evening photos of the city,
its central streets, the picturesque bend of the river, the Charles Bridge and the castle, yes, all this can be seen from a bird's eye view!
And of course, the sunset against the backdrop of the Strahov Monastery! In the evening, the tower lights up and stays on all night. But, alas, you can’t get up here at night or at least at dawn.
And in addition to observation platforms, Prague also has cafes, which also offer breathtaking views. For example, a restaurant and cafe at the very top of the unusual Dancing House (“Ginger and Fred”).
The cake somehow instantly becomes tastier if there is such beauty around it
Here you can enjoy the view of the river with the castle,
By the way, this is a great place for sunset!
You can also have a fantastic picnic in nature. And despite the fact that this is also one of the many observation platforms in Prague, Lesha and I were absolutely alone here :)
We will tell you about a romantic surprise evening and how to organize it in Prague in one of the following articles.
In the meantime, that’s all, you only have the choice of how to see Prague - on foot, through a window on a bus, riding in a retro car, on a bicycle or on a Segway. Or maybe in all ways, because as a rule, people come to Prague for more than one day, so you can do a lot!
I will talk about the last two of these methods in separate articles!
Are you planning to spend your holidays in Prague?
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Well, if you are not going to Prague yet, then travel around this city virtually, with us!
Journalists from one of the most popular publications in the country - Blesk - talked to tourists who come to Prague on vacation and, based on their answers, compiled a list of 10 points, each of which is an answer to a simple question: “Why do tourists go to Prague?”
1. Czech beer
“This country has the best beer, I’ve never drunk better beer anywhere! My friends and I spent several evenings tasting local beer, and we were very pleased. I think that I could stay in Prague just because of the foamy drink,” said Theodor, a US resident.
2. Drugs
“Of course, this can hardly be called the most important thing, but it is a powerful argument to come to Prague. For me personally and my friends, this is a kind of discovery. You can easily buy marijuana on the street and you won't get anything for it. This is simply impossible in London,” James from the UK shared his opinion.
3. Charles Bridge
"The Charles Bridge! He's great! In my opinion, it is a magnet for all tourists. I would say that he is like the Statue of Liberty in New York,” says an enthusiastic Susan. She came to Prague with her husband for the second time.
4. Prague Castle
“The first place we went to was Prague Castle. There are always a lot of tourists there, but that doesn't stop me. It has its own charm, its own special atmosphere that everyone should experience. I really like this place,” said Caroline from Canada.
5. Czechs
“If I think about what I liked most about you, I think it was your girls. They are constantly smiling. Perhaps it’s all because of the sunny weather, but I really like them,” Peter shared with reporters.
6. John Lennon's Wall
“The most magical place in Prague for me is the John Lennon Wall. I love art and this is the first item on my list. When I first came here, I immediately went to look for her,” says Tanya from Russia.
7. Trdlo
“We were attracted to Prague by this unusual sweetness. This is just a dream. I’ve already posted a million photos on social networks with trdelnik,” says Jane admiringly.
8. Low prices
“They say that there are a lot of hipsters in Prague, but the city attracts me not only because of this, but also because it is very, very cheap here. I can afford almost everything and spend less on vacation than in my city,” said David, a resident of the German capital.
9. Žižkov Tower
“I advise everyone to visit it. Žižkov Tower is a magical place in Prague. The Petřín Tower didn’t even stand next to it, here you can enjoy the beautiful view and drink a delicious cocktail,” said Kate, who lives near the television tower.
10. Segways
“The highlight of my holiday was riding Segways, we rode them all day throughout the center of Prague. It's just super, but you need to be patient, as there are a lot of people in the center. I think that you are unlikely to run over anyone; usually people run away on their own. It was the Segways that I remember most,” says Alice.