Walking through the cobblestone streets of Prague is like stepping into a Medieval fairytale. The squares are filled with markets and there are shops and pubs lining the streets. If castles, knights, underground tunnels, dungeon cellars, and amazing beer stir your soul, then Prague and the greater Czech Republic should be top of your list.
What to do: The Must- See Spots
- Charles Bridge: Charles Bridge connects Old Town with Lesser Town and is one of the most popular sites in Prague. The construction of the medieval bridge started in 1357 and was not completed until the 15th century. I would recommend visiting the bridge incredibly early in the morning to avoid large crowds. The bridge has beautiful sculptures and statues of saints, martyrs, and biblical scenes and taking the time to appreciate them is challenging in a raging sea of tourists. The Statue of St. John of Nepomuk is the most popular. It is said that if one touches the two plaques beneath the status and the cross with five stars embedded in the bridge, a return to Prague is ensured or a wish will come true.
- Astronomical Clock: The Astronomical Clock in Old town is another popular tourist site. The clock was installed in 1410 and is the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest still operating. The clock displays the position of the sun and moon, zodiac signs, and planetary movements. Every hour between 8am and 11pm, 12 apostles appear in the windows above the clock. I recommend planning to stop at the hour when the clock chimes for an optimal experience. Again, I recommend arriving early to any popular site to appreciate the experience without being engulfed or obstructed by crowds.
- Prague Castle: Prague Castle was founded in 870 AD and is the largest ancient complex castle in the world. The main sites of the castle are St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, and the Golden lane.
- St. Vitrus Cathedral is a stunning Gothic cathedral containing the tombs of Bohemian kings. The architecture and stained glass are impressive and I spent the most time here during my visit.
- The Old Royal Palace was home to Kings between the 11th and 16th century and is known for Vladislav Hall, where medieval banquets and even jousting tournaments were held indoors.
- St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the oldest churches in Prague and dates back to the 9th century
- The Golden Lane is a quaint street within the castle grounds where the servants, guards, goldsmiths, artists, and even Franz Kafka lived. The lane is now home to shops and small replicas of what the homes would have been like historically.
- Tips for Visiting:
- Timing: Arrive early. I would suggest arriving at the castle around 9am before the summer heat and the swarms of other tourists arrive.
- Tickets: The ticket costs around $20 and gives you access to the castle for 2 days; however, once you scan your ticket at one of the sites within the complex, you cannot return. Completing the entire castle, including the gardens, is possible within 4 hours unless you are incredibly interested in the history and take extra time to appreciate.
- Changing of the guard: Changing of the guard takes place every hour, on the hour, from 7:00am to 6:00pm at the main gates. The ceremonial version with music and the flag exchange takes place every day at noon in the First Courtyard.
- Strahov Monastary and Library (and Brewery!): Another must-see for anyone else that romantcizes books in the way that I do. The Strahov Library has two sections: The Theological Hall and the Philosophical Hall and both are absolutely stunning. Other noteworthy attractions within the monastery are Strahov Gallery and the Church of the Assumption. Tickets to the monastery are roughly $6.50. Last but certainly not least is the Strahov brewery, where they brew their own beer (try the St. Norbert).
- Franz Kafka Museum: Franz Kafka was a German-speaking Bohemian writer that wrote about existential themes and the struggles of modern existence, which I can relate to often. The Metamorphosis, The Trial, and The Castle are his most popular works. The museum walks you through his life in a way that gives insight into his art. If you are interested in reading his works, I would recommend picking up a novel at the nearby Shakespeare and Sons bookshop rather than the gift shop. Buying a ticket in advance is not necessary, but like any other tourist attraction, the later you go, the more humans there will likely be. Tickets cost around $13.
- Klementinum Library: The Klementinum Library is by far the most stunning library I have visited thus far. Built in 1722 as part of a Jesuit college, the library contains over 20,000 volumes from the 17th and 18th century- some worth as much as 45 million dollars. The Klementinum can only be visited on a guided tour and the tours book well in advance so securing a same-day ticket is nearly impossible. Tickets cost between $10-13 (depending on time of day and ticket type) and can also sell out online for up to two weeks so be sure to purchase your ticket prior to your trip if you plan on visiting.
- Havelské tržiště Market: Havelské tržiště Market is one of Prague’s oldest markets and dates back to the 13th century. The market has crafts, local sweets, cheeses, and sausages, and fresh produce and fruits. There are also a few places that offer food and beverages. Unless you fall in love with something, most of the items can be found in other shops or the local market for cheaper. I purchased the most expensive apricots of my life at the market and found them for less than half of the price at the local supermarket.
Now that you have crossed off the top tourist spots, below are some places that I found unique and interesting during my stay
- The Original Beer Spa: Nothing like soaking in a hot beer bath while drinking beer to rejuvenate the human spirit. At the beer spa, you will soak in a tub of hot water with hops, barley, and yeast (the water is not beer, do not drink the hoppy water). Next to your soaking tub is an unlimited supply of beer via your very own tap. The spa also gave some baked bread as well.
- Tips:
- Your hour starts the second the staff closes the door behind you so while you will have a bathroom and a private changing area, you will be cutting into crucial beer drinking time so I advise you to wear your suit under your clothes and then bring a fresh change of clothes in a bag with you (as well as a plastic bag of some sort for your wet swimsuit afterwards).
- I would also recommend bringing flip flops. The spa provides you with a sort of wooden clog but I did not find them easy to walk in (could have also been the beer).
- After your beer soak, you will find that the hops, yeast, and barley combine to make an unattractive green sludge that will creep into your crevices so I recommend getting out of the tub about 10 minutes before your hour is up to shower off and get dressed. Again, the staff is coming in that room as soon as the hour is up, dressed or not, so be prepared.
- Cost: The cost of 1 person is 1 tub is around $110 while 1 tub with 2 people is around $157. There are other options to accommodate more people or larger groups as well. Additionally, you are able to add additional hours for a 15% discount.
- U Krale Brabantskeho (Medieval Dinner): U Krale is a tavern by day and a lively medieval dinner by night. The dinner is roughly $70 per person and lasts 3 hours. The dinner includes an appetizer of cheese, meats, and veggies with an entree of meats, such as chicken and ribs, and then ends with a cobbler sort of dessert. The food was surprisingly good and the show was a great time. Fire dancers, belly dancers, bar wenches, and live music create a feeling of being in an old Medieval tavern filled with debauchery and good fun.
- Green Devil Absinthe Bar: The Green Devil Absinthe bar is an eccentric, swanky bar specializing in the art of absinthe that is a short walk from the beer spa. The bar offers several absinthe cocktails that are prepared properly by the bartenders on a cart at your table. There is also a shop to buy absinthe after your visit if you’d like to try to sling your own cocktails at home.
- Nightmare Bar: True crime, horror, and everything weird is a second to travel in the short list of my obsessions. The Nightmare Bar is a horror-themed bar that is absolutely worth a visit if you are a fan of the classic cult films. Enjoy drinks as you wander the bar and see Freddy, the Exorcist, and other intricate set ups with the OG slashers.
- The Anonymous Shrink’s Office: A speakeasy hidden away in a whisky/country bar that is accessed by pushing a tiny, easy-to-miss button on the wall. You are then led down to the lounge and given Rorschach cards and asked to select one, which will determine which drink you are given. For your second drink, you are given headphones and select the song that you prefer. As a therapist, I appreciated the concept of ordering surprise drinks based on what resonates with you. The staff deliver the drinks to your table masked, which adds to the mystery.
- Prague Boat Tours: If you want to enjoy a sight-seeing tour of the city, I recommend taking a leisurely cruise and enjoying a pivo (beer in Czech). I booked a 9:20pm cruise that cost around $20. The cruise lasted about 50 minutes and drinks are able to be purchased on board. I loved seeing the city lights at night from the water and highly recommend the tour as a leisurely way to end the evening.
- Konopiště Castle: Konopiště Castle is a Fairytale fortress not far outside of Prague that is worth a visit. The castle was home to Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination led to the onset of WWI. The castle offers several tours that cover single areas of the castle so multiple tickets have to be booked to see the castle in its entirety. The Franz Ferdinand living quarters should be reserved in advance as they can be difficult to purchase the same day. Also, many of the tours are only provided in Czech; however, getyourguide.com offers a tour of the castle that is guided in English and the tour leaves from Prague city center.
- Shakespeare and Sons Bookstore: If you collect books as souvenirs like myself, Shakespeare and Sons may be the only place with many English titles available. The shop has both new and secondhand books of many genres and is absolutely worth a stop.
- Pernicku Sens Gingerbread Shop: Gingerbread is a holiday staple in Prague, first arriving during the middle ages, likely from Germany. The name *perník* comes from a pepper-spiced version of gingerbread that was popular at medieval courts and often served with wine. Pernicku Sens is an adorable gingerbread shop not far from the Astronomical Clock. They
