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For a page called travelsbeer, it is difficult to make a list of what to see in Prague! In fact, Prague is undoubtedly a beautiful city that everyone likes: beer lovers, like yours truly, will love the capital of the Czech Republic even more! In Prague, it is possible to find breweries-restaurants everywhere, and the prices are derisory: at the time of my last visit, in June 2017, it was possible to find the half-liter of beer for less than two euros. Before moving on to the โenjoyableโ part of the city, however, it is only fair to describe the sights and monuments of this wonderful city!
What to see in Prague: Staromestske Namesti
Staromestske Namesti, translatable as the Old Town Square, is the centerpiece of Prague. Its history dates back as far as the 10th century, when it was already the city’s main square. Prominent in the center of the square is the town hall with its marvelous astronomical clock, built in the 15th century: at every hour a mechanism sets figures representing the 12 apostles into action. The clock was damaged by the Germans on May 7, 1945, just two days before the Nazi defeat: the Germans’ objective was to interrupt the radio transmissions of the Czech resistance, and to achieve this they used incendiary bombs that also hit the clock. It is possible to visit the Town Hall tower, but be prepared for long lines.
Also on the same square is the Gothic Church of St. Mary of Tyn, whose towers can be admired from much of the city.The church was also damaged throughout history, in this case by a fire in the 17th century. After this incident, the style of the interior was converted to Baroque.
The Art Nouveau monument dedicated to Jan Hus stands out in the middle of the square: the 14th-century Bohemian theologian was burned at the stake for his criticism of the church at the time (especially his criticism of its use of indulgences) and is still seen by the Czech population as a symbol of freedom of ideas.
Kinsky Palace, in the Rococo style, also deserves a mention. For a first visit to the city, I recommend a free tour to get the first practical information about the city!
What to see in Prague: the Charles Bridge
500 meters long and 10 meters wide, the Charles Bridge is definitely one of the symbols of Prague. The Vltava River flows under the Charles Bridge, which has two towers at its ends: the City Bridge Tower and the Mala Strana Bridge Tower. It was inaugurated at 5:31 a.m. on July 9, 1357. For number lovers, like yours truly, this time is very peculiar, as it forms a symmetrical number consisting only of odd numbers (1357 9 7 531): this would have made the bridge safe over the centuries. Indeed, the bridge even survived the Thirty Years’ War, which was fought in bloody fashion in these parts.
Starting in the 18th century, thirty Baroque statues were installed along the bridge: today, however, only copies of them can be admired. The Charles Bridge is almost always extremely crowded, both by tourists and citizens: it is therefore at its best at dawn and at night!
What to see in Prague: Mala Strana
Once you finish the Charles Bridge, you enter the charming district of Mala Strana, which can be translated into Italian as โLittle Sideโ or โLittle Quarterโ. The center of this beautiful district, formed by narrow, elegant, cobblestone streets, is surely Malostranske Namesti, overlooked by the Church of St. Nicholas, which is a wonderful example of Central European Baroque.
In Mala Strana you can also find the John Lennon wall, full of graffiti dedicated to the Beatles legend.
Mala Strana is the neighborhood at the base of Prague Castle, reached by a steep flight of steps.
What to see in Prague in three days: the Prague Castle
Perhaps, of all the things to see in Prague, the Castle deserves the first place! Its origins date back to the 9th century and formed the city’s first settlement. To this day it is the largest single-body castle in the world. The ticket office provides two types of tours: the short one includes St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica, the Old Royal Palace and the Golden Lane, while the long one adds the historical museum and the Picture Gallery. I chose the short tour, which I consider exhaustive and sufficient: the visit is already more than two hours long!
Personally, I really enjoyed St. Vitus Cathedral, which was strongly desired by Emperor Charles IV: in 1344 the Gothic cathedral thus replaced the old Romanesque building. The Golden Lane is one of the most popular streets for tourists: it consists of eleven colorful little houses, and it is possible to visit an exhibition dedicated to its history, and there is also a part dedicated to Franz Kafka, who lived here for a few years.
The Prague Castle lookout is definitely worthwhile, as from up here you can see the historic city center and Charles Bridge. Again, I recommend a guided tour of the castle, in Italian!
Map of Prague
Here is a map of Prague with things to see and my favorite breweries.
What to see in Prague in three days: the Jewish Quarter
A short walk away from Staromestske Namesti opens up Prague’s Jewish quarter, called Josefov. Prague’s Jewish community is certainly one of the most historic in all of Europe, as the earliest documents concerning the community date as far back as the 10th century.
A number of synagogues can be seen in this neighborhood, among which the baroque Old-New Synagogue stands out in importance. The most historic and most relevant monument is, in my opinion, the Old Jewish Cemetery. For more than 300 years the Jewish population of Prague could only be buried at this cemetery, built in 1439: this led to a real overlapping of graves, and it is possible to observe as many as nine layers of different burials!
To this day there are as many as 12,000 gravestones, the last of which dates back to 1787. The Nazis spared the cemetery: not out of any benevolent motive, but as a testimony to a people destined for extinction.
What to see in Prague in three days: Wenceslas Square
Wenceslas Square does not give the impression of a square but rather of an avenue: in fact, it boasts a length of no less than 750 meters! The square is dedicated to the patron saint of the Czech Republic, St. Wenceslas, to whom an equestrian statue has been dedicated.
Although, in my personal opinion, not architecturally beautiful, Wenceslas Square is very important historically. In fact, in 1918 the independence of the then Czechoslovakia was declared, in May 1938 there were several demonstrations against the annexation of the Sudetenland by Nazi Germany, in January 1969 student Jan Palach (to whom a memorial plaque is dedicated) set himself on fire as a sign of protest against Soviet occupation, in March of the same year, heartfelt celebrations were held for the Czechoslovak victory over the USSR in the World Ice Hockey Championship, and finally, in 1989 hundreds of thousands of people marched here to demand the end of the USSR.
Even today, Wenceslas Square is home to many businesses, hotels, offices: one has, however, a clear sense of being in a place of considerable historical importance.
At the end of Wenceslas Square is the National Museum, dedicated to nature and history-the building that houses it is very nice!
What to see in Prague in three days: Powder Gate and Celetna
From Staromestske Namesti comes Celetna, one of the most beloved streets of Prague’s citizens. This street has always been one of the most important streets in today’s Czech capital: various trades were conducted here, and the street takes its name from the bread, which was baked in this part of the city in the Middle Ages.
The street is still very beautiful today, as it is full of very well-kept Baroque buildings. There is also a Cubist-style building called the House of the Black Madonna. Celetna ends at the Powder Gate, one of the city’s 13 ancient towers. It was built in 1475 not so much for defensive reasons as for the sake of beauty, hinting at the city’s artistic importance as early as its entrance: in the 18th century the tower guarded gunpowder, and the current name takes its cue from this historical memory.
What to see in Cesky Krumlov
There are other activities to do in Prague, such as seeing the Dancing House (a sinuous modern building that is the subject of controversy: some people love it, others dislike it), walking along the Vltava River, and visiting the Klementinum, which houses the City Library. If, however, you have a full day, I highly recommend visiting the small town of Cesky Krumlov, about 150 km away.
This Bohemian town of only 13,000 inhabitants can be reached by bus connection or by a guided tour (I recommend the Civitatis tour).. The castle of Cesky Krumlov is a real gem! It dates back to the 13th century and was built on a rocky outcrop. Inside you can admire splendid Baroque halls, a perfectly manicured garden, a theater, also Baroque, and, of course, a fairy-tale view of little Cesky Krumlov! From the center of town, you can also admire the splendid castle bridge.
The center of Cesky Krumlov is a little gem: cobblestone streets intersect each other, and there is no shortage of scenic bridges over the Vltava River from where you can admire the castle. Also in the city center you can admire the church of St. Vitus, adorned with a tower recognizable from every part of this city-a jewel rightly part of UNESCO. In Cesky Krumlov I ate well at Hostinec Depo and drank even better at Zapa Cafe.
What to see in Prague in three days: the breweries
So let’s get to Prague’s big selling point, its breweries! The list just made makes it possible to see Prague in two or three days, but beer lovers will gladly stay in the Czech Republic a few more days. Generally in Prague people drink Pilsner, a typical pale ale developed in Plzen, a town not far from Prague. Its alcohol content is around five degrees, which encourages its wide consumption.
In Prague, almost all breweries are equipped with kitchens: you generally eat in restaurant-breweries. The list of breweries is potentially endless, but a few deserve a mention. I have eaten and drank very well at U Pravdu, Mlejnice (my favorite among them), Na Klarove (now unfortunately it seems closed), Mincovna, U Pivrnce. All of these are very similar: the menu often features goulash (often served inside a large portion of bread, open on top), pretzels, and typical Pilsner beer. The U Fleku brewery, on the other hand, differs in that it sells its own dark beer: there are often little concerts to liven up lunches and dinners, and there is a beautiful garden as well…it is absolutely my favorite place in Prague to drink various beers!
Prague is also full of places to go for a typical liquor (such as becherovka brandies): among them, I absolutely recommend Harley’s Bar!
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USEFUL INFORMATION ON WHAT TO SEE IN PRAGUE
- How many days are needed to visit Prague? Personally, I would say at least three: four days including Cesky Krumlov.
- I’ve slept at various places in Prague and always had a good time. So I recommend Pension & Hostel Downtown, Prague Central Residence and Charles Bridge Economic Hostel. In Cesky Krumlov I recommend Pension Solar House.
- Prague is at its best in summer, when the days are long and the weather mild. For those who like the cold weather, however, Prague is also wonderful under Christmas: the Prague markets are among the most beautiful in Europe.
- In Prague one gets around comfortably on foot, although there is also a convenient metro line. From the airport, bus line number 119 goes directly to the Nadrazi Veleslavin Metro, not far from the center.
- Prague is always worth a visit! The excuse to see the astronomical clock again is great for returning for some excellent pints!
