I recently made my second trip to Prague and fell in love all over again. It’s hard to believe a city so beautiful actually exists in real life. Throughout its 1,100-year history, Prague has been influenced by major European powers, including the Holy Roman Empire and the Hapsburg monarchy, which each left its unique cultural stamp on the city while maintaining the original urban layout. Fortunately, despite being bombed during World World II, most of Prague’s historical architecture survived unscathed. In fact, Prague has so many incredible things to do that it’s impossible to cover them all in one short trip. Some, however, are not to be missed. Here are what I feel to be the top seven attractions in Prague, along with some helpful tips I picked up along the way:
Charles Bridge
When you hear the word “Prague,” what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For me, it’s the Charles Bridge. Yes, it’s crowded with tourists and vendors, musicians and beggars, but none of that detracts from the bridge’s ethereal beauty or marvelous views. Some might even say that it adds to the bridge’s charm, giving it a “lived-in” feel. The effect is magnified by the rows of saints peering down from their pedestals. Commissioned in the 14th century by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, the cobblestone bridge was once the only link between the two halves of the city.
St. Vitus Cathedral
Prepare to be gobsmacked when you enter this towering Gothic palace of worship. I found myself gasping at every turn! Construction on St. Vitus Cathedral, the largest in the Czech Republic, began in 1344 when Charles IV laid the foundation stone. The exterior is a riot of flying buttresses while the interior ornaments positively gleam thanks to a profusion of stained glass windows. The cathedral contains many tombs, with pride of place going to Ferdinand I. Though it’s the tomb of St. John of Nepomuk that truly impresses – it was made with two tons of silver!
Tip: The perfect time to visit St. Vitus Cathedral is at noon, when many other tourists will be watching the changing of the guard ceremony at the castle’s front gate. Otherwise, prepare to wait in line.
Lobkowicz Palace
Touring this impressive chateau just might be my favorite thing we did during our time in Prague. Although located within the extensive grounds of Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace isn’t included on any of the castle combination tickets. That’s because the palace and all its treasures are owned privately by the Lobkowicz family. They were able to reclaim much of their confiscated property and furnishings – at considerable personal expense – thanks to the restitution laws enacted by the Czech government. It’s a fascinating story that you can read more about here. The audio guide for the museum exhibits (included with admission) is narrated by Prince William Lobkowicz, along with his wife and mother, and it’s this personal connection which makes the visit so special.
TIP: I purchased a package ticket which gave me admission to the palace museum and an afternoon classical music concert, as well as a 10% discount coupon for the excellent cafe.
Prague Castle
Prague Castle is said to be the largest medieval castle in the world, although it doesn’t look like a castle in the traditional sense of the word. But what it lacks in medieval fortifications, it makes up for with palatial sprawl. The “castle” is actually a collection of palaces and churches surrounding wide courtyards and flanked by lush gardens. The center piece is St. Vitus Cathedral, which towers above all the other buildings, but there is plenty more to explore. A combination ticket includes entry to the cathedral, as well as the Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, and Golden Lane. I began my explorations inside St. Vitus at noon and managed to stay one step ahead of the hordes at each subsequent stop.
The Dancing House
This whimsical structure was built in the mid-1990s on a riverfront plot that had been left vacant since the WWII bombings. The gracefully curved building is said to resemble a pair of dancers – specifically Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire – and stands in stark contrast to the heavy Baroque and Art Nouveau styles next door. Though the Dancing House was originally controversial with the locals, it’s now hard to imagine Prague without it!
The Astronomical Clock
This stunning piece of art adorns the Gothic tower of Prague’s Old Town Hall and dates to the 15th century. The colorful dials chart the progress of the moon and sun as well as which zodiac signs they are in. At the top of every hour, the two windows open and the 12 apostles parade past. They don’t extend out at all which makes them very difficult to see unless you’re standing directly in front of the clock. Just know that you will have lots of company.
Old Town Square
Sure, it feels a bit like Disneyland, but no trip to Prague would be complete without a stop by Old Town Square. The fantastic architecture is a mix of extravagantly painted Baroque and spiky-topped Gothic spires, with some Rococo and Art Nouveau thrown in for good measure. Jazz bands and costumed buskers compete for the crowd’s attention, while horse-drawn carriages add an air of romance. For a birds-eye view of the action, you can climb to the Town Hall tower, or you can enjoy a refreshing mug of Czech beer on the rooftop terrace of the U Prince Hotel. Which option do you think I chose?
There are plenty of worthwhile places that I didn’t get to explore during this visit. I really wanted to see the Old Jewish Cemetery, but the line for tickets was long and unmoving and I unfortunately didn’t have enough time to wait. I also plan to stop by Stahov Library and the Clementinum the next time I’m in town. Because there most definitely WILL be a next time!
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What do you think are the must see attractions in Prague?
I went to Prague about 14 years ago and I was on a school trip so you can imagine how much I actually haven’t seen and how limited I was. I clearly need to go back at some point and take Dale that has never been, it looks like a very interesting city to explore 🙂
I know what you mean, Franca. Most of my travels in Europe took place when I was a teenager on a group bus tour so I definitely need to revisit everywhere I’ve been. We’re talking about Paris and Rome for our next trips 🙂
This was the hubby’s first trip to Prague and he loved it! The mix of architecture styles is a feast for the eyes, though we liked exploring the gardens best. They were so quiet and peaceful compared to the rest of the city. I hope you guys get to go soon!
Beautiful! I’ve yet been to Prague, but this definitely makes me want to visit ASAP. By the way, I hope you find the time to visit some warmer destinations in Europe, too!
You really must go! It’s insanely crowded, but even that doesn’t detract from the visual splendor. We’re already talking about when we can go back. Don’t worry, we’re also discussing some warm-weather destinations for this winter 🙂 Malta and Crete are on the short list. Have any other suggestions?
I spent about a four days in Prague a few autumns ago and just loved it. The city was really beautiful, including the building facades. Did a walking tour (free!) and just looked at everyone because Czechs on the whole are quite good looking. Yes, I just said that.
LOL! I didn’t notice the Czechs specifically, probably because most everyone seemed to be German and Japanese tourists, but I have been impressed with the attractiveness of the people here in Riga! Lots of tall blonds, probably thanks to the medieval Swedish invasion. I fit right in hahaha 😉
I’m so glad you finally made it to one of my favourite cities in Czech Republic! :D!! I absolutely love Charles Bridge – it’s so historical, romantic and yet interesting to explore.
One gorgeous European city down, many more to go! 🙂
What a great post! I loved Prague. We walked across the Charles Bridge a few times. I’m going to have to get my pictures out. We went to the Jewish Cemetery. I remember all the tombstones piled against each other. Loved the clock, the Town Square, the church. In fact loved it all. Would go back in a minute!
Wish you could have gone this time!
Your photos are spectacular! What a beautiful city. It looks like you had nice weather for your visit ~ that’s always a plus!
We did have nice weather, but Prague is one of those cities that you’ll enjoy no matter what. It was cold and raining when Mom and I were there before and we still loved every second of it 🙂
I am dying to visit Prague! Thanks for sharing these, I now have a few things to add to my future itinerary!
Happy to help! I’m also planning to write about Prague’s gardens as well as all the food we ate, so be sure and check back! 🙂
Great insider tip about going at noon, I’m sure those lines can be insane! Prague has LONG been at the top of my travel list, and reading your post and looking at these gorgeous photos gave me a quick little escape out of rainy NYC this morning, thank you!:-)
On my earlier trip to Prague with my Mom, we watched the 12pm changing of the guards and then tried to get into St. Vitus afterwards – the line was wrapped all the way around the cathedral! It is a fun ceremony to watch, with its brass band and pomp and circumstance, but skipping it certainly made our day more relaxing. The more I travel, the more I realize it’s okay to give myself permission to skip some stuff.
I can’t believe I missed the Dancing House when I visited Prague 10 years ago! It’s such an interesting looking building, and so different from the rest of the city.
I can’t really add to your list of favorite attractions because you clearly know Prague far better than I do. It really is a wonderful place, however, and one I’d really like to revisit. It feels like the setting for a romantic fairytale!
On my first visit to Prague in 2010, I dragged my mom to see the Dancing House in the pouring rain. It was also bitterly cold out. Needless to say, she was none too happy with me and all I got was one blurry photo to show for it. I was praying there wouldn’t be a repeat of that experience this time and the travel gods listened – the weather was perfect and my husband was content to watch the boats on the river as I waited for a break in traffic to capture a shot.
Such a beautiful city. I am so envious of all your travels! the interior of St. Wenceslas Chapel is just absolutely beautiful!
And here I am envying all your travels around Asia, Rosemarie! 🙂
The Dancing House really was astonishing! The bridge was probably my fave though just for the lively atmosphere … also loved the Lennon wall, which we stumbled across by accident, happily.
I did enjoy the Lennon Wall on an earlier visit, but for some reason forgot to seek it out this time. Probably because we spent so much time exploring the various gardens in the mala strana!
Prague has been high on my must-see list for several years now! I love that building resembling dancers, how unique and beautiful! Glad to see there is a mix of architectural styles to be found throughout the city.
The architecture is definitely a highlight of Prague, with the mix of styles and the different periods of history they represent. I hope you make it there soon!
I lived/worked in Prague four years. My heart is still there. I once heard it described as a symphony turned to stone. There’s no other way to describe it!!
“A symphony turned to stone.” That is such a beautiful thought! Thanks for sharing that, Barbara. I’ll think of it every time I see a photo of the city!