Prague – Top 5 attractions

Prague is an attractive and interesting destination for short, e.g. weekend trip, but also for longer holidays. It offers great monuments, beautiful views, and tasty cuisine. So what is worth seeing during our visit?

1. Prague Castle Complex with St. Vitus Cathedral

Prague Castle (located in the Hradčany district) lies on a picturesque hill overlooking the Vltava River. Its location and size (entered in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest castle in the world!) make it stand out in the city panorama. The complex includes such gems as:

• St. Vitus Cathedral – a magnificent Gothic temple with 22 chapels. Among the most important, we can distinguish the Chapel of St. Wenceslas (14th century; with beautiful paintings; hides a tomb of the saint in it) and the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk (hides the relics of Adalbert of Prague, the Five Holy Martyrs of Międzyrzecz, murdered in 1003, and the Mausoleum of St. John of Nepomuk, placed in the altar). The largest Czech bells are located in the church belfry. Rich collection (one of the largest in Europe) can be admired in the cathedral treasury. The temple is tightly integrated into the surrounding buildings. It is difficult to see it, and even more difficult to catch it with the camera.

Admission is paid, a combined ticket with other attractions of the castle complex is required (it is not possible to buy a ticket only to the cathedral). The price is CZK 250 (around 9,69 euro), more information can be found on the Prague Castle website.

• Golden Lane – its name was probably derived from its former inhabitants, Jewish goldsmiths. According to the legend, here they were looking for a way to create a philosopher’s stone. Today, charming, low houses attract a sea of tourists. It is worth coming here as early as possible in the morning to avoid the crowds.

• Old Royal Palace – in its interiors there are valuable places such as the All Saints Chapel, Vladislav Hall (the most representative, used during important state events), and the Rider’s Staircase (once allowing knights to enter the Vladislav Hall on horseback).
• St. George’s Basilica – the oldest church in the city with a Romanesque interior, with a characteristic red facade.

2. Charles Bridge, Prague

We can safely say that this bridge is a symbol of Prague. Often very crowded with groups of tourists and local artists exhibiting their works there: paintings or jewelry. To see it in a totally different way, it is worth showing up early in the morning, when the city is still asleep. The rising morning mist adds mystery, and we can look at the details of the baroque figures of saints in peace. Stroking the dog on the statue of St. Nepomuk brings good luck!

3. The Old Town with the Orloj Clock

Prague’s Old Town is on the UNESCO list. During the holidays, it is filled with stalls with delicious treats. When it is cold, I recommend hot trdelniki, with a captivating smell, and Nutella inside. You can also try freshly made fruit in chocolate. There is a statue of John Hus in the market square. Among the buildings that attract attention are:

• Old Town Hall – built in the Gothic style, later rebuilt. On its wall is the Orloj Clock (Astronomical Clock). It is a great attraction, large groups of tourists gather under it at full hours waiting for the display of moving figures that are part of the clock mechanism. Constructed in 1410, in addition to just showing the time, it also shows the location of the celestial bodies.

• Church of Our Lady before Týn – its silhouette stands out in the surrounding landscape. A gothic structure with two towers catches the eye. Inside, there are the oldest organs in the city.

• Clementinum – walking towards the Charles Bridge, we come across the former Jesuit college, where the National Library now operates. Here you can visit the beautifully preserved Baroque interiors or enter the Astronomical Tower. The exhibits include the medieval Vysehrad Codex.

4. Tower on Petřín Hill, Prague

Couples in love are especially fond of this charming place on the map of Prague. Going from the side of Prague Castle, we follow a picturesque path among orchards to climb to the top of the hill. For children, it may be an attraction to enter the top by the cable car. At the peak, a surprise awaits us in the form of a miniature Eiffel Tower built in 1891, available for tourists. It is worth climbing these additional stairs to enjoy the unique panorama of the city. Ticket: CZK 150 (5,82 euro), open daily.

5. Vyšehrad

One of the first seats of Czech dukes, important for the history of the country (the first castle in this place was to be built on the orders of Libusza, according to the legend granddaughter of the Czech). Currently, it is worth coming here to combine sightseeing with a walk in the green area, less crowded by tourists than the center of Prague. Attractions are located on a fortified hill with a nice panorama of the Vltava River and the city. The oldest preserved building is St. Martin’s Rotunda from the second half of the 11th century. What draws attention is the Basilica of St. Peter and St Paul, next to which there is a cemetery where people deserved for Czech culture was buried (including Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák, Alfons Mucha).

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If you are interested in this article, I also invite you to read my posts about Malta, Gozo, Seville, or Milan.