Prague : The City of Hundred Spires (Travel Guide)

Prague has been nicknamed the "city of a thousand spires." As you glance over its 1,100-year-old skyline you'll be rewarded with countless splendid views of lovely domed churches and soaring old towers that combine to make Prague one of Europe's architectural gems. Everywhere you look, fine examples of Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance, and Art Nouveau styles dot the city, providing a dramatic contrast to the sturdy ancient Prague Castle. Possessing one of the best-preserved historic city centers in Europe, Prague's narrow laneways open up onto spectacular squares, each home to fine old homes and historical buildings just waiting to be explored. 

Must-sees include the famous Charles Bridge over the Vltava River, the splendid Jewish Quarter with its old synagogues, and the many historic churches. As one of the largest cities in Europe, Prague continues to be an important political, cultural, and commercial center, roles it has played for centuries as the former capital of the Holy Roman Empire. Today, this important UNESCO World Heritage Site serves as a major tourist draw, luring visitors from far and wide for its lively entertainment as well as its rich theatrical and music scenes.

Places to visit in Prague

1. Charles Bridge 

Connecting Old Town and Lesser Town over the River Vltava is the 600 year-old Charles Bridge, Prague’s most iconic landmark. King Charles IV commissioned the bridge in 1357, replacing the Judith Bridge which was destroyed by a flood in 1342. Thirty Baroque statues line the sides of the pedestrian bridge along with myriad vendor’s stalls, musicians, performance artists and beggars. A bustling, busy area, the bridge is almost never empty of people, although seeing it at dawn or in the evening will mean fewer crowds. Prague Castle, looming above, is lit at night, and provides a dramatic vista that enchants all visitors. On each end of the Charles Bridge rests a tower that offers a great view of the bridge to those who climb the steps.

2. Old Town Square

Old Town Square is a popular spot in Prague, with travelers flocking here in droves for its beautiful architecture, colorful history and vibrant atmosphere. The square hasn't changed much since it was established in the 12th century when it functioned as the city's original marketplace. The square is home to some of the most historic attractions in the city, including the Old Town Hall, one of the best places to get a bird's-eye view of the city and the Prague Astronomical Clock, a beautiful timepiece dating back to the 1400s. The newest additions to the square include a monument erected in 1915 for the religious reformer Jan Hus. There are also several restaurants here that spill out onto the square during the warmer months as locals and travelers alike enjoy a coffee or a beer on the patios. 

3. Czech National Museum

At the top of Wenceslas Square is the main building of the Czech National Museum. It contains fascinating exhibits and stuffed animals and presents. The National Museum houses almost 14 million items from the area of natural history, history, arts, music and librarianship, located in tens of buildings.

During the World War II, it was destroyed by a bomb, but the collections survived. So, if you are a connoisseur of mineralogy, palaeontology, botany and mycology or if you just want to spend some time admiring the extensive exhibits on the history of theatre, for instance, this is something you should visit for sure!

4. Astronomical Clock

A focal point of the Staré Město district, as it’s known in Czech, the Astronomical Clock has chimed since 1410, testament to the avant-garde thinking that’s always held sway here, its astrolabe face complete with indicators for Babylonian time and Zodiacal ring. Vanity, Greed, Death and the Turk greet the hour. The ruins of Old Town Hall, blown up by the retreating Nazis, surround.

5. St. Vitus Cathedral

Within the grounds of Prague Castle, the Roman Catholic St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala St. Vita) is the Czech Republic's largest and most important Christian church. Seat of the Archbishop of Prague, it's also home to the tombs of numerous saints and three Bohemian kings. Founded on the site of a Romanesque rotunda built in 925 AD, the cathedral was started in 1344 and took more than 525 years to complete, resulting in a mix of modern Neo-Gothic and 14th-century Gothic styles, along with Baroque and Renaissance influences. Highlights include stunning stained glass windows depicting the Holy Trinity, a mosaic from 1370 (The Last Judgment), and the St. Wenceslas Chapel (Svatovaclavska kaple) with its spectacular jewel-encrusted altar with more than 1,300 precious stones. Also of note, although rarely displayed, are the Czech crown jewels (on average, they're exhibited just once every eight years). Be sure to make the climb up the cathedral's 97-meter main tower for splendid views over Prague.

6. Prague Castle

Towering above the city is Prague Castle, more of a sprawling complex than a single defensive building. The castle buildings span centuries and consists of a royal palace, a cathedral and three churches, a basilica, a monastery, defensive towers, royal stables, a tiny lane where craftsmen worked and magnificent gardens. Prague Castle began as a wooden fortress with earthen bulwarks in the 9th century; by the 11th century, it included a royal palace and the 14th century saw the beginning of St. Vitus Cathedral. The cathedral in the castle complex is a jewel in Prague’s crown, a superb example of Gothic architecture. Kings and emperors are buried here.

7. Prague Zoo

There is probably no tourist who wouldn’t want to visit Prague’s most visited attraction – Prague ZOO. It is considered to be one of the best zoos in the world.

It is open daily from 9 am and its Indonesian jungle, Sea lions exposition, Monkey Island, elephants, as well as the Gorillas pavilion, are some of the most popular zoo’s attractions. Here you will need to reserve at least one day.

8. National Gallery

Spread across some of the city's most important architectural landmarks, the National Gallery in Prague (Národní galerie v Praze) is home to some of Europe's most important art collections. The bulk of the collection is housed in the Veletrzní Palace(Veletrzní Palác), a relatively modern structure built in 1925 that holds the 19th- to 21st -century works. While there's a strong emphasis on Czech artists, foreign artists such as Monet and Picasso are included, as are other art forms such as photography, fashion, applied arts, and sculpture. Other notable works are held in the Kinsky Palace (Palác Kinskych), home to Asian art, art from the ancient world, and the gallery's Baroque collections; and at the Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia where you'll find European art from the Middle Ages. Finally, the splendid 17th-century Sternberg Palace (Sternbersky Palác) houses some of the gallery's most famous pieces, focusing on European art from the Classical era to the end of the Baroque period and including important ancient Greek and Roman pieces; 14th- to 16th-century Italian masterpieces; and 16th- to 18th-century works by artists such as El Greco, Goya, Rubens, van Dyck, Rembrandt, and van Goyen.

9. Powder Tower

One of the original gates into Old Town Prague, this tower was first built in the 11th century and rebuilt in the 15th century. During the 17th century, the tower was used for storing gunpowder, which is where it gets its name. The royal route, the coronation route of the Bohemian kings, started at the tower, through Old Town, across the Charles Bridge and up to Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral where the kings were crowned.

Powder Tower is connected by a covered bridge to what used to be the palace of King Vladislav II who rebuilt the tower in 1475. The former palace is now the Municipal House and remains connected to the tower. Inside the tower is a spiral staircase with 186 steps leading up to the gallery where visitors can get great view of Old Town.

10. Lesser Town

Lesser Town is one of the oldest and most impressive parts of Prague. It contains a large number of notable buildings and other interesting places.

It is right here where you can find popular Kampa with Čertovka river, Lesser Town Square with St. Nicholas church, Maltese Square, Újezd with a funicular railway to Petrin hill, Štefánik Observatory and a large complex of gardens, including Kinsky gardens, Petrin or Schönborn gardens.

Interesting Facts About Prague

• A bridge with ghosts: The majestic Charles Bridge crosses the river Vltava and connects the Old Town of Prague and the neighbourhood of Mala Strana, and it is said to be haunted by many ghosts, those whose heads ended up at pikes by the bridge after being executed. It is said that they walk up and down the bridge as they wish.
• The largest castle in the world… According to the Guinness Book of Records, the Prague Castle is the largest one in the world. It dates back to the 9th century, but it was expanded several times until the 18th. It’s one of the top things to visit in Prague, so don’t miss it!
• And the oldest university: One of the least known facts about Prague is that the Charles University, founded in 1348, is the oldest one in Eastern and Central Europe.
• Specific Markets: In old times, Charles Square was known as the ‘cattle market’, and Wenceslas Square as ‘horse market’, so Prague had an interesting market culture!
• Death marking time: The Prague orloj or Prague astronomical clock, which is located in the Old Town Hall and is of medieval origin, shows a skeleton marking the time. That skeleton represents, of course, Death.
• A building that dances around: Well, not really around but over itself! We’re referring to the Dancing House, probably one of the most famous facts about Prague. The building, designed by Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunic, was inspired in dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, but has a much deeper meaning: it symbolises how communism started changing to make space to democracy.
• Climbing babies: David Cerny, born in Prague himself, is quite a controversial sculptor. One of his most famous works are the babies that are crawling up Prague’s TV Tower. The sight can be quite a shock the very first time you see it!
• Graffiti as a homage to John Lennon: John Lennon never visited Prague, but the shadow of the long-deceased musician is a long one no matter where. Near Charles Bridge, you will find the ‘John Lennon Wall’, where artists, locals and visitors have left their graffitis as an homage to the ex-Beatle.
• Bars, bars, bars! Prague is considered to be a real party city – so besides sightseeing, make sure to enjoy the welcoming and exciting nightlife. Did you know that the in the Czech Republic people drink more beer on average than anywhere else in the world? It may not be a surprise then that it’s usually the cheapest drink in bars and restaurants’ menus, even more than water! Prague is full of pubs, bars and clubs, so prepare to join in the fun with the locals!
• Unsteady ground: According to some writers and intellectuals, the grounds of Prague aren’t that steady, and they felt some sort of tremor underneath their feet. Kafka, for instance, said that the drumming-like sounds where produced by ghouls.



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