Prague Guide

Must See

1. Prague Castle

   Dominating feature of the city. It is the largest ancient castle in the world. It has always been the seat of Czech rulers as well as the official residence. Constructed in the 9th century by Prince Bořivoj, the castle transformed itself from a wooden fortress surrounded by earthen bulwarks to the imposing form it has today. Rulers made their own additions so there is a mixture of styles.
   Make sure not to miss the breathtaking St. Vitus Cathedral.

2. Charles Bridge

   Amazing historical bridge that crosses the river Vltava and connects Old Town with the Lesser Quarter. It’s named after King Charles IV. who started its construction in the 14th century. During the night Charles Bridge is a quiet place. If you party in one of the clubs nearby go to the bridge and enjoy the sunrise from there. One of the most beautiful things you’ll ever see.
   During the day it changes its face into a very busy place, with painters, owners of kiosks and other traders alongside numerous tourists crossing the bridge. Charles Bridge made a few appearences on TV – you might recognize it for example in Mission: Impossible, INXS’ Never Tear Us Apart or Kanye West’s video Diamonds from Sierra Leone.

3. Jewish Quarter (Josefov)

   The Jewish Quarter contains the remains of Prague's former Jewish ghetto. It was named after the emperor Josef II, whose reforms helped to ease living conditions for the Jewish. Make sure to visit the Old Jewish Cemetery, oldest surviving Jewish cemetery in Europe. People had to be buried on top of each other because of lack of space. There are about 12 layers and over 12,000 gravestones. 100,000 people are thought to have been buried here.

4. Old Town Square

   Stepping into Old Town Square will take you about back in time. Dating back to the late 12th century, the Old Town Square started life as the central marketplace for Prague. Over the next few centuries, many buildings of Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic styles were built around the market. The most notable sights in the square are the Old Town Hall Tower with the Astronomical Clock and the stunning St. Nicholas Church. There is a Jan Hus statue in the center of the square that is a popular meeting point for the locals.

5. National Theatre

   The National Theatre is the embodiment of the will of the Czech nation for its national identity and independence. Collections of money among the broad masses of the people facilitated its construction and so the ceremonious laying of the foundation stone on May 16, 1868 was tantamount to an all-state political demonstration. A fire broke out on August 12, 1881 which destroyed the copper dome, the auditorium and stage of the theatre. The fire was seen as a national catastrophe and met with a might wave of determination to set up a new collection: within 47 days a million guldens were collected. Go see an opera – for example Smetana’s Libuše that was composed for the ocassion of inaugaration of the theatre in 1883.

Escaping the Crowds

1. Vyšehrad

   Go see the Vyšehrad Castle on the red metro line. Views of the river from the battlements are superb, and the church and cemetery are well worth a visit. Wander in joy and melancholy or get a beer and a freshly grilled aubergine in the beer garden.

2. Prague ZOO

   If you’re in Prague between May and October you can take a boat from Rašínovo nábřeží all the way to the zoo. I the zoo itself you can see how they are feeding the hippos, washing the elephants or you can take a funicular from the upper part to the lower part of the zoo.

3. Lennon Wall

   Space for anti-government slogans during Communist years, now grafitti from around the world. Located on Velkoprevoske namesti. (Lesser Quarter, across from French Embassy.)

Must See and Do