On our final night in Budapest my cousin and I decided to stay up all night and catch the earliest train from Budapest Nyugati Palyaudvar to the Czech Republic. The train ride was about 7 hours long, but we slept most of the way and drank several cups of black coffee before pulling into Prague. Prague is famous for it’s well-preserved architecture, so while we were there we tried to see as much of it as possible.
Old Town
The hostel we stayed at was in the center of Old Town, which is a well preserved medieval settlement in Prague. Old Town is a winding maze of cobblestone streets and shops that all empty into the Old Town Square. The square and the shopping throughout Old Town are tourist central, but it was fun to stay at a hostel in the middle of all of the action.
Pražský orloj
In the center of Old Town Square is the Prague Astronomical Clock, which rings every hour and displays figures moving around the clock. The medieval clock was originally installed in the town square in 1410, making it the oldest operating clock in the world. Every hour crowds form in Old Town Square to watch the varying performances that accompany the hourly chime of the bell. While we were living in Old Town Square we got to see the hourly clock show several times and each time was amazing. In addition to simply being an old and beautiful clock, the intricate rings of the Prague Astronomical Clock are still used to keep track of the position of the sun and the moon in the sky as well as the time and the calendar date.
Socha zavěšeného Sigmunda Freuda “Visec
The ornate clock of Old Town is not the only art piece hidden in the medieval street, you can also find famous sculptures scattered throughout the square. One of which is David Černý’s sculpture of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. This sculpture depicts Freud hanging from a pole above a street and it is said Freud is contemplating whether he should hold on or let go.
Karlův most
Charles Bridge is on the edge of Old Town and it is the key connection between Prague Castle and the Old Town Square. The bridge was originally built in 1357 and it was the only way to cross the Vltava river until 1841. This bridge is a UNESCO world heritage site and another must see during your visit to Prague. During the summer it is a lively crossway from the shops and cafes in Old Town to the historical streets of Malá Strana.
Malá Strana
Malá Strana is Czech for “Little Side” of the river and it is home to one of the most historical neighborhoods in Prague. After touring the bustling Old Town side of the river we walked over to Malá Strana and wandered through the neighborhood, admiring the preserved Baroque architecture that is scattered throughout the district. Some of the most famous Baroque buildings in Malá Strana are the Wallenstein Palace and the St. Nicholas Church. The district is also home to the Infant Jesus of Prague Statue, Waldstein Garden, the Vrch Petřín and the John Lennon wall.
Valdštejnská zahrada
The Waldstein garden was built in parallel with the Baroque Wallenstein Palace in the 1620’s and it is gorgeous. Luckily we visited Prague in the summer and all of the flowers were in bloom. I’ve always wanted to walk through a garden maze and while this wasn’t technically a maze, the tall hedges and geometric pathways surrounding the palace gave me the experience I was looking for.
Lennonova zeď
Another cool must see spot in Malá Strana is the Lennon Wall. Following Lennon’s murder in 1980, young Czech citizens used his image and Beatles quotes to protest the communist party in Prague by grafting the wall outside the French embassy. The wall was painted over several times, but continues to evolve every day. The wall represents the original frustration of Czech citizens, but also the shared belief in peace and love.
Petřín Hill
While Malá Strana was built to be the small town at the base of Prague castle, it is also home to Petřín hill and the Petřín lookout tower. From the base of Petřín hill it is a 30 min hike and 299 strairs to the top of the lookout tower, but the views are worth every drop of sweat. Once you’ve made it to the observation deck of the tower, you can see all of Prague and marvel at the red roofed neighborhoods. In addition to the lookout tower, the top of Petřín hill also has a mirror maze and a beautiful rose garden.
Strahovský klášter
After climbing up Petřín hill, the obvious next step is to cool off with a beer. Lucky for us tourists, the Strahov Monastery is also at the top of Petřín hill and it has a 17th century brewery right next door. The monastery was founded in 1143 and it has one of the most valuable and well preserved libraries of all time. The library is number one on many bibliophile’s bucket lists and as the daughter of a librarian, I had to go. In addition to housing over 200,000 pieces of literature, including thousands of ancient philosophical texts, the library walls are also covered in intricate paintings and stain glass mirrors.
Pražský hrad
After we wound our way through Malá Strana we made it to Prague Castle, which is arguably one of the most popular tourist attractions in Prague. Construction of the Prague Castle complex started in 870 when the Church of the Virgin Mary was built. The castle was originally built in the Baroque era, but many parts of the complex have been destroyed and rebuilt throughout the years.
When we went to the castle we decided to buy a ticket to the top of the Great South Tower and check out the sights. The climb up consists of 280 spiraling steps and once we made it to the top we were slightly dizzy, but the views were worth it. From the top of the tower you can look out over all of Malá Strana and spot the Charles Bridge and Petřín lookout in the distance.
Hostel Speakesy
Nightlife in Prague is great and while we went out to some pretty amazing clubs, my favorite part about my nights in Prague was hanging out in our hostel speakeasy. The owner of the hostel turned one of the rooms into a makeshift bar and it was the best pregame and post game spot in Prague. No matter the hour… the drinks were cheap, the string lights were lit and the hammocks were swinging.
Letna Park
By day Letna park is a popular place to relax and enjoy the scenic views of Vltava river and Old Town, but at night it turns into a chill hangout spot for young people in Prague. We arrived a little before sunset and got to watch the families stroll out of the park and the mobile DJ booths roll in. Watching the sunset over Prague at a hilltop skatepark with music in the air was definitely a highlight of my trip and the best way to round out my time in Prague.
