Prague, truly a fairy tale city, is covered in maze like cobbled streets, medieval squares, romantic bridge over Vltava River and grandiose castle on top of the hill, so one doesn’t need much imagination to comprehend life from centuries ago.
Prague was named “the City of a Hundred Spires” in the 19th century, but they are saying now it has more than five hundred. How come? There are many churches, cathedrals, historical buildings and constructions (all worth a visit) that were decorated by spires since they were last counted by Czech mathematician Bernard Bolzano. You are free to count them, and let us know the result!
Enjoy this beautiful city and don’t forget to take a break with nice pint of Czech beer. Cheers!
Prague attractions
Prague has dozens of landmarks and attractions and we are listing here only a few top ones.
Prague Castle. Actually a castle complex, with various buildings dating from 9th century. Mix of architecture styles from Romanesque, through Gothic and 20th century. Dedicate full day for visit, at least. Charles Bridge. Iconic bridge from 14th century linking Old and New Town of Prague. Lined with ornate statues, offers great views of Prague and hosts many street artists and performers daily. Great for walks and panoramic photos and selfies. Old Town. Locally known as Staré Mesto, medieval cobblestoned old city center with mazelike streets and many landmarks.
Astronomical clock. Famous 600 year old mechanical clock on the facade of city hall, displaying time, astronomical data and Zodiac signs. St. Vitus Cathedral. Landmark Roman Catholic Cathedral, hosting remains of several saints including Vitus, Wenceslas and Adalbert, and national treasury.
Malá Strana. Also known as Lesser Town, this medieval part of Prague lies on a hillside area below Prague Castle. Several palaces, churches and museums can be found there. Great for walks. Old Town Square. Landmark square in the old town, dating back to the 10th century as a marketplace and lined up by many Gothic buildings. Wenceslas Square. Main square in New Town of Prague. It’s a half mile long, dating from 14th century, featuring National Museum, St. Wenceslas statue, many shops, restaurants and hotels. Great for walks, food and shopping.
What to do in Prague
You can visit all the landmarks from above, plus museums and galleries, Jewish quarter with Old Jewish cemetery and the oldest synagogue in Europe, you can go on a Vltava River cruise, have a traditional dinner with Czech folklore dance. Or even go for a hot air balloon ride! Everything is possible in Prague.
Festivals and events in Prague
Prague is packed with festivals and events all year around. Here are some top recommendations.
International Jazz Festival (October-November), Prague Winter Festival (January), Bohemian Carnevale (Prague Carnival, February-March), Czech Beer Festival (May), Prague Spring Festival (May-June) and several festivals and events during Christmas and New Year days.
Interesting facts about Prague
Here are few interesting facts about this amazing city:
- Designed by Frank Gehry, famous Dancing House in Prague was inspired by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
- Prague’s Charles Square was the largest town square in medieval Europe.
- There is a graffiti covered wall dedicated to John Lennon of The Beatles.
Best time to fly to Prague
July and August are peak tourist season with the highest demand and prices, while shoulder months like April, September, and October offer a good balance of pleasant weather and thinner crowds. The coldest winter months (January and February) tend to have the lowest flight prices.
Prague is served by Václav Havel Airport (PRG), with direct flights from dozens of airlines connecting the city to destinations across Europe and beyond.
I’m Jan, a Czech writer, hiker and travel guide born in Bohemia and based in Prague. I’ve been writing about my home country for 9 years, and I know it the way you only do when you’ve grown up here: the trail signs that locals actually follow, the pubs that aren’t in any guidebook, the castles that get overlooked because they’re not on a tour bus route.
Over 9 years I’ve covered every corner of the Czech Republic, from the Krkonoše ridges and Šumava forests to the wine cellars of South Moravia and the spa towns of West Bohemia. I’ve taken 40+ solo trips across Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and Austria and I write in Czech and English, which means I can read the local hiking forums, regional news and municipal information that never gets translated.
My writing covers three areas: practical solo travel in Czechia (getting around by train and bus, hiking safely, visiting castles and landmarks without the crowds), expat and long-term living (the cultural surprises, the bureaucracy, what it actually costs, how the healthcare and transport systems work), and off-the-radar Czech Republic, the places most visitors never reach because they spend all their time in Prague.
Prague is extraordinary, but it’s maybe 10% of what this country has to offer. The rest is what I’m here to write about.