Prague for

Are you planning to visit the “City of a Hundred Spires” for the first time? If yes, then read this blog to plan your itinerary for exploring the beautiful city of Prague in Central Europe. 

1. Scratch the map

Prague is the capital city of Czech Republic in Central Europe and was historically the capital of the Bohemia region. It sits on the Vltava River, the longest river in Czech Republic.

2. How to reach

Prague airport also known as Vaclav Havel Airport is well connected to different European and non European countries.

3. Number of days

You can cover the main attractions of Prague in 3-4 days during your first visit. However, this city has a lot more to offer and one would possibly need a full week to fully enjoy and imbibe its history and rich culture. 

3. Tour Highlights

Prague is a beautiful city full of architectural wonders. 

• Day 1 (morning) : Start your first day in the beautiful the Old Town Square and visit the lovely monuments in this part of the city. Then visit Charles Bridge and explore the streets of Lesser Town.

• Day 1 (evening) : Take an evening cruise on Vltava river and enjoy a completely different view of the important landmarks from the water. 

• Day 2 (morning) : Visit the Prague Castle and spend some time in Wenceslas Square. 

• Day 2 (evening) : Attend a classical concert at the Spanish synagogue in the Jewish Quarters. 

• Day 3 (morning) : Visit the Vrtba Garden and Petrin Tower

• Day 3 (evening) : 

3.a  Astronomical Clock

A trip to Prague is incomplete without visiting the Prague Astronomical Clock also known as Prague Orloj. This is the oldest operating astronomical clock in the world which was built around 1410. In addition to showing the time, it also accurately tracks movement of planetary bodies. At the beginning of every hour from 9 AM – 11 PM, the Walk of the Twelve Apostles can be seen behind the two small windows above the astronomical dial in the clock tower. Remember to arrive atleast 15 minutes before the show starts since the area gets very crowded.

3.b  Old Town Tower

After the Apostles show, climb to the top of the Old Town Tower (i.e the top of the Clock Tower) to get mind blowing views of the Old Town Square and the surrounding regions. You can either buy the ticket online or at the counter itself during your visit. I would suggest to also buy tickets for the elevator since the steep climb is quite an exercise!

3.c  Church of Our Lady before Tyn

One of the most magnificent buildings in the Old Town Square, this Gothic church was built in the 14th century. The unique feature of the church exterior are its two towers each with eight spires. 

3.d  St. Nicolas Church

This is a beautiful Baroque church in the Old Town Square dedicated to St. Nicholas. The church interiors and the ceiling are adorned by beautiful frescos. You can also visit the church to attend concerts in this magnificent setting.

3.e  Charles Bridge

Amongst the unmissable attractions of Prague is also the iconic Charles Bridge which is the oldest bridge of the city. This stone bridge built across the Vltava river in the 14th century connecting the Old Town to the Lesser Town. The bridge was originally called Stone Bridge and later was named as Charles Bridge in honour of King Charles IV.  The bridge is now car free and tourists can walk along the bridge and enjoy its beauty at their own pace. The unique aspect of this bridge are the 30 Baroque status lined on both sides of it adding a grand touch.

3.f  Vltave river cruise

Enjoy a scenic evening cruise on Vltava river for an hour watching the sun set across the horizon and click incredible pictures of the important landmarks from the river. It is an amazing sight to view the city lit up at night from a distance. 

3.g Prague Castle

Prague Castle is the largest castle complex in the world and indeed one of the most beautiful castles that I have visited. Entry to the Prague Castle premises is free to visit the beautiful castle gardens and watching the Change of Guards at 12 PM everday. 

But you will need to buy tickets for visiting some of the grand buildings in the complex such as like St. Vitus Cathedral, the Royal Old Palace, St. George's Basilica and the Golden Lane. Do buy the tickets in advance because the castle gets really busy during the day and do reserve 2-3 hours to see all the main sites inside the castle.

3.h Evening at Spanish Synagogue

The Jewish quarters in Prague is known to have the oldest active synagogue in the continent along with other famous sites such as the Jewish cemetery, the Spanish synagogue and a few others. This place is definitely worth a visit to learn about the history of the Jewish population in Prague. 

We did not have time to visit all the sites at the Jewish quarters but we did attend a classical concert in the beautiful Spanish synagogue. The amazing music, songs combined with the stunning Moorish architecture of the synagogue made it a very special and memorable evening.

4. Personal Recommendations

• Prague souvenirs: Don't forget to buy cute fridge magnets and prototypes of the Prague astronomical pocket watches as souvenirs from Prague.

• Cafe visit: Grand Café Orient near the Old Town Square is the only Cubist café in the world. It was designed by the famous Czech architect Josef Gočár and bears evidence of elegant Czech Cubic architecture all around starting from staircase design to windows and even cafe interiors. Cherish some quiet time with a coffee and a cubic pastry in this cafe while admiring the architecture.

4. Goodbye Notes

Signing off from the lovely city of Prague for now but I will be surely back again to enjoy its medieval charm and visit the beautiful sites that I could not cover this time! Hope you have already started making your plans to visit Prague.