Prague, the Czech Republic capital, was the historical capital of Bohemia and has a lot of history. Located on the banks of the Vltava River in the North West of the Czech Republic, Prague is known for its Old Town Square and Astronomical Clock. Its temperate climate and many attractions make it one of the most visited European cities after London, Paris, and Rome. And almost 10 million people visit yearly. It’s also the country’s largest city and over a million people live in its metropolitan area.
The Vltava River splits the city of Prague in two. On one side is the Old Town and Jewish Quarter, and across the river you’ll find Prague’s Castle and Petrin Hill. These are the areas where most of the top places to visit in Prague will be found. The two sides are linked by many bridges, but we suggest that you use the elegant Charles Bridge to cross.
The bridge itself is a tourist destination. Its construction started in 1357 under King Charles IV and was the only means of crossing the river until 1841. It remains the perfect place for a stroll and to enjoy scenic vistas of both sides of the river and the city. Charles Bridge is adorned with 30 sculptures representing saints as well as a crucifix. A great way to admire Prague’s oldest bridge is to take a boat tour along the Vltava River.
Prague Castle area attractions
On the west bank there’s Prague Castle. It’s a castle complex built during the 9thcentury and highlights include the Old Royal Palace, St. Vitus Cathedral and St. George’s Basilica.
The Old Royal Palace, built in the 1100s, has Gothic and Renaissance features. The Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral is one of Prague’s most popular attractions. The current cathedral dating back to the 1300s and took almost 600 years to complete. St. George’s Basilica, founded in 920, is another important landmark in the castle complex. The Golden Lane (Zlatá ulicka) with its colorful little house is also nice to see. As part of an optional tour with our cruise operator we went to the Lobkowicz Palace, a private palace inside the Prague Castle complex.
Less than a 10-minute walk downhill from the castle there’s the Church of St. Nicholas. It was built in the 1700s in a Baroque style and is well worth a visit. You can climb the tower for great city views. Also, concerts are held regularly on the church’s historical organ.
Petrin Hill Tower
Hike up or take the funicular to Petrin Tower, a cast-iron tower reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower (but even taller!) with great city views.
It’s located in a lovely hillside park, with winding walking paths and gardens.
Prague Old Town landmarks
The Old Town Hall is famous for its Astronomical Clock built in the 1400s. It’s the oldest functioning astronomical clock in the world and people gather in the square in anticipation of the clock’s mechanical show. On the hour a trap door opens and an animated procession of the twelve apostles emerges. It’s also possible to climb the tower (or take the elevator) and get fantastic views of the square and all the people below watching the show.
The Old Town Square is in the heart of Old Town and it’s a great place to relax and people-watch. There are lots of venues to choose from, and we picked at terrace overlooking the beautiful Astronomical Clock.
Other interesting places to visit in the Old Town include the beautiful Baroque Church of St. Nicholas (yes, there is a second one!), built between 1732 and 1737, as well as the Gothic Church of Our Lady before Týn with its two distinctives spires measuring 260 ft (80 m).
In addition, there’s the Municipal House which is a lavish Art Nouveau building built in the early 1900s. Classical concerts, ballets and operas are held inside the Smetana Hall and the venue host various exhibitions. It’s located next to the Powder Tower, a medieval city gate.
Jewish Quarter highlights
Built in 1270, the Old-New Synagogue is the oldest active synagogue in Europe and a must-see. It has a five-ribbed vaulting and a double nave. It’s located next to the Jewish Town Hall which opened in 1586 but is closed to the public. You can however see the Roman numeral clock on the tower and just below it the more unusual one with Hebrew numerals.
Nearby there’s the Old Jewish Cemetery which was founded in 1478. It’s the oldest surviving Jewish cemetery in Europe and was used for more than 300 years.
It closed in 1787 and it is estimated that 100,000 people are buried there in layers under the over 12,000 visible gravestones.
Conclusion
Overall, we loved our time in the City of a Hundred Spires. Even if our time in the capital of the Czech Republic’s was short, we covered many of the top places to visit in Prague. It’s a delightful place to visit and we would not hesitate to revisit this vibrant beautiful city. Perhaps, as a more in-depth visit to the Czech Republic.
There are many other places we would love to see in and around Prague, starting with the Karlstejn Castle. This 14th century Gothic castle is perched up on a hill and less than an hour’s drive away from Prague’s city center.
Prague made the perfect post-cruise extension to our Danube River Cruise.