I make no secret of the fact that I by far prefer the countryside to the city, which is why you shouldn’t underestimate me when I say that Prague is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. I was completely blown away by the vibe, the architecture and the people, which is why I would highly recommend this city to anybody wanting to explore Europe.
It is filled with beautiful restaurants, stunning viewpoints and incredible architecture. Any visitor will enjoy their time here, just for how stunning it is.
Getting there…
We arrived in Prague in the middle of a very hot day following a rather pleasant journey on Flixbus from Berlin. This is a company I’ve used more than once during excursions to Europe and I really do rate them. The buses are comfortable with access to free WiFi and can take you to most European destinations for a reasonable price.
Where to stay?
We managed to find our way fairly easily to Hostel Fontana on the tram system. This hostel was very well located on the castle side of the river, which is where I would urge anybody to stay. It is far less crowded than Old Town and still very close to the main sights. The hostel itself was fairly basic compared with others we had stayed in but still comfortable.
What to do?
There are an abundance of different things to see and do in Prague and I could easily talk about all the city has to offer for hours! You’ll find it hard to be bored here as there truly is something for everyone.
Prague Castle & St Vitus Cathedral
After we’d settled ourselves in and made friends with our new dorm mates, Char and I headed straight for Prague Castle, eager to take a look at its crown jewel, St Vitus Cathedral. We did end up getting there quite late but this actually worked out rather well in our favour as the castle was fairly quiet. This meant we could fully appreciate the cathedral in all its glory in the evening sun. We also managed to get into Golden Lane without a ticket because it was so late! This is such a cute little road that gives you a bit of insight into ancient Prague and is well worth a visit.
The next morning we headed back to the castle complex because we wanted to explore the cathedral from the inside too. The stained-glass windows in the morning sun were absolutely glorious and lit up the inside of the cathedral in a sparkling rainbow of colour.
Enjoying a challenge we climbed the 297 steps to the top of the South Tower for an incredible view over the rest of the city. The spiral staircase will also take you past the tower bell and the mechanism for the clock. This cathedral is honestly gorgeous both inside and out. You could sit and stare at it for hours!
Strahov Monastery
If you’re looking for more stunning architecture in this area of the city then head for the Strahov Monastery. You can get tours of the whole place but Char and I on our strict time scale and budget booked tickets to see the libraries only. We walked in and I immediately felt like I’d ended up in Beauty and the Beast. Our tickets allowed us to view both the Theological Hall and the Philosophical Hall. Both are incredible and well worth taking the time to have a look at.
Wallenstein Palace
Down the hill in Lesser Town you’ll find the Wallenstein Palace and Gardens. These baroque style gardens are a proper hidden gem, filled with a variety of quirky statues and fountains, most notably Hercules and the Dragon. They also contain an absolutely incredible stalactite wall which is filled with the faces of a menagerie of different animals, an aviary containing multiple Eurasian Eagle Owls and the largest Sala Terrena in Prague. If they happen to be open during your visit then make sure you explore them, especially because they are free!
Old Town
I did mention before that Old Town is very crowded, but I felt like it was so crowded that it ruined my experience of it. Crossing Charles Bridge was like being in a can of sardines and getting to the Astronomical Clock was a feat in itself. Not to mention when we reached it that it wasn’t actually up and running! I would strongly advise you to go either first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening to avoid these crowds. The same goes for the Old Town Square and the John Lennon Wall. Far too many people!
Sunset Viewpoints
Don’t despair! There are places that you can go to escape these large crowds. Petrin and Letna Park are two of the best places to go for sunset. They give you superb views of the city and the Vlata River below. Find a comfortable spot on the grass and watch as this beautiful place lights up in front of your eyes.
If you’re looking for even more green space, Vyshrad Park is another place you can go to find beautiful churches and lovely views of the river.
Novy Svet
I must say that my favourite hidden gem is Novy Svet. This is a collection of old cobbled streets with quaint little cafes and restaurants, hidden behind the castle district. We saw barely anybody whilst exploring these streets and it was like travelling back in time. Truly magical.
Hamley’s
If you want to do something a little bit unusual during your stay then I would advise you to head to Hamley’s and visit their bottom floor where they have a VR escape room! Travel back in time and help the Rabbi to construct the ancient Golem and watch in awe as the series of events that follow are all too realistic. So realistic that me and Char even ended up holding hands and running away from a virtual dinosaur together. I’m sure the staff that were watching us were highly amused.
Where to eat?
If all of this exploring has worked up your appetite, then I must recommend you visit Café Louvre. The food is absolutely incredible and the service is also fantastic. It really is quite popular though so make sure you try and book in advance at busy times of year. I would definitely recommend you try their homemade lemonade. It’s the perfect refreshment!
I could quite easily talk about Prague for hours but it really is nothing compared to seeing it in person. I can’t wait to go back again soon. There really is no shortage of things to see or do here!
Have you been to Prague yet? Let me know in the comments below!
