Hotel Enthusiast » Autumn Breaks » Prague City Guide » Places to see in Prague

Places to see in Prague

The Pragueites call Prague, 'Maticka Praha' or ‘little mother Prague’ and many tourists call Prague “The golden city of one hundred spires.” Either way, sightseeing in Prague is a fascinating experience with picturesque squares and magical gothis architecture. Much of the center is listed in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Register and there's a multi-layered history to discover dating back to the Holy Roman Empire, the Habsburg Empire and the first Czechoslovak Republic [1918]. Prague was untouched by World War II which allows you to still walk and experience the creative styles of Baroque, Rococo and Art Nouveau architecture.

Prague Castle

Prague Castle: [Akropolis, +42 02 223 5119] The largest ancient castle in the world, Prague Castle is like a small town itself. It is largest ancient castle in the world and the most visited place in Prague. Czech kings, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of the Czech Republic have all made this place their office.

Prague Castle dates back to the 9th century when Prince Borivoj thought is seemed like a great spot to lay his hat. In the 12th century, this was built into a Romanesque palace and then altered in the 14th century to a Gothic Palace by Charles IV. It's a beautiful building that has gone through a number of changes over it's long history.

It's now the seat of the President of the Republic, historical and political centre of the city and state. [Metro: Malostranska] Admission is free to enter the castles grounds but to get access to certain areas, an adult ticket costs 350 CZK.

Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge: Crossing Prague's Vltava river, Charles Bridge is a beautiful stone Gothic bridge that connects the Old Town and Malá Strana. Its construction was commissioned by Czech King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and began in 1357. In charge of the construction was architect Petr Parlér whose other works include the St. Vitus Cathedral at the Prague Castle. Two towers stand on each end of the bridge. Staromestská vež on the Old Town and Malostranská vež on Malá Strana. There were also 30 Baroque statues placed on either side of the Charles Bridge in the 17th century but most are copies now. Charles Bridge can get very busy with tourists and souviner venders so we recommend you coming at sunrise or sunset when you can enjoy the breathtaking views of the fully lit Prague Castle against the sky.

Wenceslas Square

Wenceslas Square: Wenceslas Square is Prague’s main boulevard and is the hub for bars, restaurants, shops, banks etc. Wenceslas Square was first laid out over 600 years ago during the reign of Charles IV and originally used as the main Prague horse market. Now Wenceslas Square is busy and vibrant area of Prague. At one end of the square you'll see where the it gets it's name. There's a statue of St. Wenceslas on his horse celebrated for over 1000 years. Good King Wenceslas [Vaclav] was murdered by his brother and is now a Czech national hero.

Old Jewish Quarter

Old Jewish Quarter: The Jewish quarter is a small area known as Josefov between the Old Town Square and the Vltava River. The history of the area dates back to the 11th Century where en-route to the Holy Land, the crusades plundered their properties and forced the survivers to convert to Christianity. Synagogues were burned to the ground, their civil rights affected and they were only allowed to move around within what is now known as the Jewish ghetto. The Jewish cemetery, Old-new Synagogue, Klausen Synagogue and the Pinkas Synagogue definetely worth a visit.

Cafe Slavia

Cafe Slavia: The Bohemians love there cafes and what better cafe to go to than Cafe Slavia. Situated right on the Vltava River, Cafe Slavia is a perfect example of Art Deco elegance. This has been the hangout of many Czech writers, dissidents and artists over the years. If you like your cakes then this is definitely the place to come. [Open: Mon - Sun 08.00 - midnight]. [metro Nardni trida]

Prague National Theater

Prague National Theatre: [Senovážná 2, Prague 1, +42 02 2422 7981] Founded in 1881 Prague's National Theatre is not to be missed for those Opera or Ballet lovers. Built and decorated with incredible paintings and sculptures the theatre is a extremely prestigious and beautiful example of a neo-renaissance style. It offers three different genres of art: opera, ballet and plays. [Metro: Narodni Trida] Tickets range from 310CZK to 930CZK www.nationaltheatre.cz