Top 10 Things to Do In Prague

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Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post, I paid for this trip myself. All recommendations are my own.

1. Stroll around the historic Old Town Square and treat yourself to a trdelnik

Prague has a very attractive Old Town Square. Steeped in history, some of its Gothic buildings date back to the 14th century. As you wonder around enjoying the sites, nibble on a trdelnik aka funnel cake, a crispy pastry in the shape of a funnel and encrusted with sugar.

2. Medieval Astronomical Clock

The highlight of the Old Town area is the Hall Tower. Constructed in the early 1400’s, it sits in the middle of the square and houses one of Prague’s most popular tourist attractions, the medieval Astronomical Clock. Every hour on the hour a crowd of tourists gather to watch its entertaining performance.

3. The quirky and provocative sculptures of the Czech sculptor David Černý

See the statue of King Wenceslas riding an upside-down dead horse hanging from the ceiling of the Lucerna Arcade. It’s a mocking reference to the more famous equestrian statue of King (and later, Saint) Wenceslas that sits in Wenceslas Square. In Mala Strana, see the two life sized peeing statues. These sculptures actually move, their hips turning side to side, spreading the pee into the fountain below them.

4. Charles Bridge

The Charles bridge spans across the Vltava river and connects Old Prague town centre to Mala Strana. No matter what time of day it is, this historic bridge is a popular tourist attraction. It features three imposing Gothic towers and thirty Baroque-style statues and statuaries. One of them is that of Saint John of Nepomuk, a national saint of Bohemia who was thrown into the Vltava River. The statue marks the very spot where he was thrown in.

5. Enjoy a musical performance at the Municipal House

Enjoy a musical performance at the Municipal House and in the beautiful setting of the Art Nouveau Smetana Hall concert venue.

6. Prague Castle

Head up the hill to Prague Castle which looks out over the Vltava River. Within the walls of the castle is a collection of historic buildings, museums, galleries and peaceful park that will take you most of the day to explore. One of the most popular attractions is the changing of the guards that happens hourly from 7am-6pm.

7. Mala Strana

Explore the Mala Strana area, also known as Little Quarter or Lesser Town. Its historic cobble stoned streets are like a maze leading you down narrow lanes. This is the perfect place to let yourself get lost and to do your souvenir shopping.

8. Kampa Art Museum and sculptures

Visit Kampa Island, a small strip of land bordered by the Vltava River and a small canal. Here you will find the fascinating Kampa Art Museum. However, if you don’t have time or money to visit, then there are plenty of sculptures to enjoy surrounding it. Nearby Kampa Island is a haunting memorial to the victims of communism. The sculpture is of a man being eaten from the core before finally losing part of himself. Inscribed on a tablet is the description: “The memorial to the victims of communism is dedicated to all victims, not only those who were jailed or executed but also those whose lives were ruined by totalitarian despotism.”

9. Enjoy a performance at the National Theatre

Famous for its performances, the National Theatre is THE place to enjoy a night of entertainment. It offers opera, ballet and drama. Not only are the performances top notch, but the setting is absolutely beautiful.

10. National Museum

Founded in 1818, the National Museum houses a large natural scientific and historical collection and is set in a beautiful Czech neo-renaissance style building. Located on the upper end of Wenceslas Square, the building itself has an interesting history, it was damaged during World War II in 1945 by a bomb, and then severely damaged by strong Soviet machine-gun and automatic submachine-gun fire during the 1968 Warsaw Pact intervention.

Practical Tips for Visiting Prague

Language: Czech, however, as Prague is a tourist city most people speak English. Even so, do try your hand at a few Czech words:
- Yes = ano (ano)
- No = ne (ne)
- Please = prosím (proseem)
- Thank you = devkuji vam (dyekooyi vam)
- Hello = Dobrý den (dobree den)
Currency: Czech Koruna.
Tipping: Locals rarely tip. By Czech law, service is included, but a tip is not included. So if you see a restaurant with a sign that states “Service is not included”, this is not legal.
Electricity: The electrical current is 220 volts, 50 Hz. Wall outlets generally take the European two round prong plugs. However, you are better off purchasing a [amazon_textlink asin=’B073PQ9N1Z’ text=’worldwide adaptor with USB ports’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’howbeautifullifeis-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d7bcee73-c7e9-11e7-aad7-53330b631d54′] that can be used in Prague as well other countries. At least then you can potentially get some further use out of it on future vacations. If you’re taking a number of electronics with you, then I would recommend purchasing a couple of these adaptors.
Public transport: Prague has excellent public transport including bus, metro, and tram. Apart from the area around the castle, the city is quite flat and is a great city to explore on foot if you are able to.
Navigating: Use Google’s free Offline Maps. Google Offline Maps allows you to access free maps for navigating that can be used offline i.e. you don’t need WIFI, data, or roaming to be able to use them. Follow this detailed guide on how to use Googles Offline Maps. Using your phone as a GPS will drain your battery quickly, so use a portable battery charger which you can use to charge your phone and any other USB chargeable devices. If you prefer a paper map, then Lonely Planet’s Prague Pocket Travel Guide comes with a helpful pull out map. At least it’s reliable and won’t run out of battery or malfunction like the electronic options!