The Golden City, the City of the One Hundred Towers or The Heart of Europe, are the different names that over the course of its history the city of Prague has received. A city that has been important as much in cultural terms as in political and economic, and which in present times is the capital of the Czech Republic.
Its situation in the centre of Europe makes it very well communicated with its neighbouring countries, and is a city that receives many visitors.
Being made up of the union of five ancient cities and for its proximity to the Moldava River, it offers diverse possibilities of discovery. In it one can visit everything from the castle with its diverse construction, to a boat tour of the Vltava River observing both sides of the city into which it is divided.
We invite you to discover with us, in this three day route, some of the key things that make Prague a city to be enjoyed.
Day 1: Medieval Prague, Historic Centre and Water
A good place to begin the visit is the Old Town Square, where one can contemplate the astronomical clock and go up its tower to see a complete view of the square, discover the Jan Hus monument that lies in the centre of the square, the Old Town Hall or the gothic style church of Our Lady of Týn.
Continuing the visit in the historic centre one cannot miss a visit to the “Clementinum”, that after the Prague Castle is the most extensive complex of buildings in the capital. This complex also presently houses the National Library, also the House of Arts “Rudolfinum”, an example of Neoclassic art from the XIX century, the Tower Bridge of the Old Town, whose interior houses a gothic gate that dates to the XV century and which leads to the Charles Bridge and Prague Castle.
To conclude the first morning in Prague we recommend that you take the route between the Powder Tower and the Charles Bridge, which once crossed allows you to continue the first day’s circuit in the neighbourhood of the castle.
In Hradcany (the castle neighbourhood), the most visited place is the castle itself, but one shouldn’t forget to go to “The Loreto”, the “Strahov Monastery”, or the “Sternberg Palace”. The aforementioned castle offers the visitor the possibility to see Prague’s most important religious building, “The Cathedral of San Vito”, the “Spanish Hall”, the “Old Royal Palace”, the “Golden Alley” in which the famous writer Franz Kafka lived, the Royal Garden, the “Belvedere” relief, or “Loreta”, one of the most outstanding examples of baroque Prague, as well as the “Strahov Monastery”.
A very good proposal to finish off the first day is dinner by boat that will offer a view of the city by night as the boat floats along the Vltava river dividing the city.
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Day 2: From the New City to the Small: from nové Mesto to Mala Straná
To begin with modern Prague is a good proposal to start the second round of the city. In this way a visit to the “Nove Mesto” (New City) zone could begin in Wenceslas Square, where a large part of cosmopolitan life is gathered, and where in addition to shops, offices, discotheques, casinos, hotels and restaurants, one can stroll around the National Museum where one can see the statue of Saint Wenceslas.
The City Council of the New City and the Municipal House that combine stained glass windows, colorful mosaics, ceramic murals and adornments of colour, are other places in the area that merit a visit. And if one wants to enjoy architecture and spectacle at the same time one can go to the National Theatre or the state Opera.
At midday, tranquility and great green spaces is what the Insula Kampa (Kampa Island) offers, situated between the zone of Mala Straná (Small City) and below the bridge of Charles IV. On the island are found the most romantic restaurants of the city, being the perfect location to stop and eat. The Gran Prior Mill, or the small river Certovka make up part of the route through this peaceful location.
To begin the afternoon tour one has to leave the island arriving at the Gran Priorato Square, where the John Lennon wall is to be found, a space full of graffiti with a long history of peaceful protest that took place against the communist regime.
Following the route, the next zone to visit is the Mala Straná (Small Town or City). The neighbourhood of the craftsmen in the medieval era, is one of the most romantic places in the city and is characterized by its narrow streets and its tranquility, as one does not find the same level of commercialism as is found in other areas.
The “Malostranska Namesti” (Lesser Town Square), the location where our tour of this part of Prague commences, combines baroque palaces and renaissance houses. One can also take a break in a café in this square that has more than 100 years of history, “Malostranska Kavarna”, to afterwards observe in the centre of the same square the baroque style church known as “San Nicolás”.
Close by this square are situated the constructions of the “Lichtenstein Palace” at one block from the church, currently used as a residence for mathematics students; and the “Church of Saint Tomas” situated in the narrow street of Tomasska, a gothic construction, later reconstructed in baroque style. If one then takes the exit toward Letenska street, this arrives at an old brewery that belonged to monks, dedicated to brewing, now transformed into a restaurant.
Finishing the visit to the Lesser Town, one can see a general view of the castle, taking Nerudova street or the “Zamecke Schody” steps, from which one can contemplate the red roofs, towers and domes of the travelled area.
To end the day, a tranquil night of black theatre, typical of Prague, is something completely different in the scenic landscape and typical of the Czech Republic. The productions are performed in silence and take place on a dark stage against a dark screen. The actors, that also dress in black with phosphorescent objects, achieve the effect that these forms seem to be floating in the air.
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Day 3: From the Jewish Quarter to the Most Alternative Locations
On the last day of the journey through Prague, one can’t miss out on a visit to the Josefov Zone (Jewish Quarter). Exclusive to this zone of the city is the Old Jewish Cemetry of Prague, a peculiar space with an interesting history, because during more than 300 years it was the only place where it was permitted to bury Jews in the city.
After the visit to the cemetery, the jewish synagogues of the city await the visitor. Commencing with the Pinkas Synagogue, situated at the entrance to the cemetery, famous for its walls, in which the names of the 77,297 czech jews assassinated by the Nazis are inscribed, and for the collection of drawings made by children that were held in the Terezin concentration camp.
The Maisel Synagogue that dates to the XVI century, suffered a fire in 1689, after which it was reconstructed in baroque style, at the end of the XIX century, and has since been remodeled in neogothic style. Since 1960 the synagogue has hosted a large collection of jewish books, decorative objects, textiles and silver.
The Spanish Synagogue of 1868 owes its name to its Moorish decoration, of great similarity to that of the Alhambra in Granada. In its interior one can view an exhibition about Jewish life in recent decades.
The Klausen Synagogue was constructed in 1694 and is situated at the exit of the cemetery. Its interior houses a large collection of Hebrew texts and, like the Pinkas synagogue, the drawings of Terezín, made by the children there.
The XVI century high Synagogue has two floors in which a collection of textiles, curtains and silver objects are exhibited, as well as a small souvenir shop.
Finally, the Old
-New Synagogue, whose construction dates to 1270, is the oldest in Europe. Still in use, it constitutes one of the first gothic buildings of Prague.
After the journey through the Jewish Quarter, one can aquire typical products of the Republic. Puppets and bohemian crystal are the most valued from the area, and can be purchased in many streets of the city, although visitors are always very keen to buy in the Golden Alley above all.
As the afternoon arrives, the ideal experience is something alternative and relaxed in some select locations of the city to get to know it even better. One such place is the zone of Vysehrad in which are to be found the Vysehrad Fortress, the Church of San Pedro and San Pablo, that after a fire, was reconstructed at the end of the XIX century in neogothic style, and the Vysehrad Park, situated in the interior of the Vysehrad Fortress and which enjoys precious green zones, parks, swings and restaurants. Also in this zone are located the Rotunda of Saint Martin, that is the oldest roman building in Prague and dates from the XII century.
To finish off the visit to the city it is recommended to return to the area of the Lesser Town, where rising to the West lies Petrin Hill. This is Prague’s highest peak and on its summit one can visit the statue of Karel Hynek Macha, a place for romantic strolls and lovers; the Petrin Lookout, a small scale replica of the Eiffel Tower; the Stefanik Observatory, to gaze at planets by day and stars by night; or the Labyrinth of Mirrors.
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