Prague

Founded in the 9th century, Prague Castle covers more than 70,000 square meters and holds the Guinness World Record for the largest ancient castle complex still in existence. Home to the kings of Bohemia and, since 1918, the Czech presidents, it gathers behind its ramparts royal palaces, gardens, convents, and Golden Lane, a tiny row of colorful houses where writer Franz Kafka reportedly once lived. The changing of the guard, less flashy than in other capitals but free, happens every hour in front of the main entrance. The entry ticket, offered in several combinations depending on which buildings you want to see, notably grants access to the Old Royal Palace and St. George's Basilica. Allow a full half-day to explore the whole site, St. Vitus Cathedral included, given how vast the grounds are.

Tram 22, Pražský hrad stop, or a 15-minute uphill walk from Malá Strana.

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St. Vitus Cathedral, a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture whose construction stretched over nearly six centuries (from 1344 to its full completion in 1929), towers over the Prague Castle complex with its slender spires visible from across the city. Its spectacular interior holds St. Wenceslas Chapel, richly decorated with semi-precious stones and gilded frescoes, as well as the Bohemian crown jewels, kept behind seven locks and displayed only on rare occasions. The nave's modern stained-glass windows, including a striking Art Nouveau window by Alfons Mucha, contrast with the surrounding medieval architecture. The royal crypt holds the tombs of several Bohemian rulers, including Charles IV. Allow about an hour to visit the interior, included in the Castle's combined ticket.

Right in the heart of the Prague Castle grounds.

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Malá Strana ('Lesser Town'), tucked between the Castle and the Vltava, is one of the best-preserved districts in Europe, an almost intact ensemble of baroque palaces, richly decorated churches, and cobbled lanes spared by the bombing of both world wars. St. Nicholas Church, with its emblematic green dome visible from across the city, is its undisputed architectural jewel, while the Lennon Wall, covered in peace-themed graffiti since the 1980s, draws crowds of visitors after original photos. The terraced Vrtba Garden and Wallenstein Palace gardens, often overlooked by rushed tourists, offer peaceful escapes with views over the city's orange rooftops. Malostranské náměstí square, lined with cafes and taverns, is an excellent starting point for exploring the district on foot. Wandering without a fixed route is especially recommended here, particularly at the end of the day when golden light sets the facades aglow.

Tram 12, 20, or 22, Malostranské náměstí stop.

Guided tour Malá Strana

Built starting in 1357 on the orders of Charles IV to replace a bridge destroyed by flooding, Charles Bridge has linked the Castle and Malá Strana to the Old Town across the Vltava for more than 650 years. Its thirty baroque statues, added between the 17th and 18th centuries, depict Czech saints and protectors, including the famous statue of St. John of Nepomuk, whose bronze plaque visitors rub for good luck and a promised return to Prague. Pedestrian-only since 1950, the bridge is packed with tourists, street artists, and souvenir vendors by day, but regains a more authentic charm early in the morning (before 8am) or late at night. The views from the bridge of the illuminated Castle and the Old Town's Gothic towers rank among the finest in the city. Crossing on foot takes about 10-15 minutes, longer if you stop to admire every statue.

Walkable from Malá Strana or the Old Town, tram to Malostranské náměstí.

Guided tour Charles Bridge

Installed in 1410 on the facade of the Old Town Hall, Prague's Astronomical Clock is the oldest astronomical clock still working anywhere in the world. Every hour, from 9am to 11pm, a small mechanical show reveals the twelve apostles through two little windows, accompanied by a skeleton ringing a bell and other allegorical figures representing Vanity, Greed, and earthly pleasures. The intricate dial shows not only the time but also the positions of the sun and moon, along with the zodiac signs, following a remarkably sophisticated medieval astronomical design. The Old Town Hall tower, reached by elevator or stairs, offers one of the finest panoramic views over the Old Town's orange rooftops. The hourly show always draws a dense crowd; arrive a few minutes early to grab a good spot.

Right in the heart of Old Town Square.

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Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) has been Prague's nerve center since the Middle Ages, a vast cobbled space ringed by miraculously preserved Gothic, Renaissance, and baroque facades. It's dominated by the two spectacular black spires of the Church of Our Lady before Týn, rising 80 meters, whose entrance, hidden behind a row of houses, makes access almost a secret for unsuspecting visitors. At the center stands the monument to Jan Hus, the Czech religious reformer burned at the stake in 1415, now a national symbol of resistance. Depending on the season, the square hosts a Christmas market famed across Europe or lively terraces in summer, though it's always ringed by restaurants with noticeably inflated tourist prices. It's also the ideal starting point for branching out toward the Jewish quarter of Josefov, a few minutes' walk to the north.

Right in the center of the Old Town, 5 min walk from Charles Bridge.

Old Town Square audio guide

Josefov, Prague's former Jewish quarter, gathers one of the best-preserved collections of Jewish monuments in Europe, spared by the Nazis who planned to turn it into a 'museum of an extinct race' after the planned destruction of its community. The Old Jewish Cemetery, used from 1439 to 1787, stacks up to twelve layers of graves in a cramped space, creating a striking tangle of more than 12,000 visible tombstones. The Old-New Synagogue, Europe's oldest active synagogue still in use since the 13th century, and the Spanish Synagogue, lavish with its gilded Moorish interior, rank among the highlights of the Jewish Museum's combined ticket. A full visit to the district, covering the six main sites, takes about 3 hours and is generally done on foot within a compact area between the Old Town and the Vltava. The district today also houses some of the city's most expensive luxury boutiques, a striking contrast with its tragic history.

Metro line A, Staroměstská station - 5 min walk.

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Petřín Hill, a wooded rise reaching 327 meters above the Vltava, offers one of the finest panoramas over Prague, reachable on foot via shaded trails or more simply by a century-old funicular from Újezd. At its summit stands Petřín Tower, a 63.5-meter miniature replica built in 1891 for the Jubilee Exhibition, whose climb up 299 steps (or elevator) reveals a remarkable circular view stretching, on clear days, to the surrounding mountains. The hill also holds a mirror maze that delights kids and adults alike, a rose garden in bloom each spring, and a miniature climbing wall inspired by Prague's medieval ramparts. Locals come here to picnic and stroll on weekends, far from the tourist bustle of the historic center. Allow about 2 hours for the climb, the tower visit, and a walk through the gardens.

Funicular from Újezd station (standard tram ticket valid).

Petřín Hill excursion

Vyšehrad, perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Vltava south of the historic center, is said by legend to be the original site where Princess Libuše prophesied the founding of Prague. This former royal fortress, now largely a peaceful park ringed by 17th-century ramparts, offers one of the finest views in the city over the Vltava and its bridges, and is largely spared the crowds that flood the Castle. Vyšehrad Cemetery, next to the neo-Gothic Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, holds the graves of celebrated Czech figures, including composers Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana. The gardens and underground casemates, where the original baroque statues from Charles Bridge are preserved after being removed for protection, can be visited for an extra fee. It's the ideal spot to escape the tourist bustle for a contemplative walk, especially at sunset.

Metro line C, Vyšehrad station - 10 min walk.

Vyšehrad audio guide

Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí), less a square than a vast 750-meter boulevard, has been the commercial and symbolic center of modern Prague since the 14th century. It's where the great moments of recent Czech history played out: the declaration of independence in 1918, the protests crushed by Soviet tanks in 1968, and the 1989 Velvet Revolution that ended communist rule. The equestrian statue of St. Wenceslas, patron saint of Bohemia, dominates the square in front of the imposing, recently renovated National Museum, while the Art Nouveau and functionalist facades bear witness to the architectural golden age of the early 20th century. Now lined with international chains, casinos, and tourist restaurants, the square has lost some of its old charm but remains essential for understanding the country's recent history. A memorial plaque commemorates the sacrifice of Jan Palach, the student who set himself on fire in 1969 to protest the Soviet occupation.

Metro lines A or B, Můstek or Muzeum station.

Wenceslas Square audio guide