Prague Top 10 Visitor Attractions

Introduction to Prague: Prague is part of the picturesque Bohemia region and the capital of the Czech Republic (Czechia), a central European country bordered by Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia.

Picturesque Prague has a mysterious and magical ambience, and the city's ancient history and folklore invite discovery. Start by wandering the maze of cobblestone streets and magnificent squares and absorb the atmosphere generated by the city's medieval architecture, gothic churches, spires and authentic lantern-lit streets.

Best time to visit Prague: The best time to visit Prague is spring and autumn when the weather is milder and the crowds are fewer. Winter is cold, but the city is particularly enchanting at this time, with Christmas markets contributing to the city's natural festive spirit. Prague has a generally chilly climate with warmer summer months, which tend to have the largest influx of tourists and higher hotel rates.

Prague's Old Town: Top of the attractions list is Staré Město (the Old Town) and the city's most popular tourist destination. Here you'll find a colourful mix of baroque buildings, gothic churches and plenty of ancient narrow side streets to explore. The Old Town Square is where you'll find the old Town Hall with its famous and beautiful 15th-century Astronomical clock.

Top Tip: make sure you're in the square at the top of the hour (between 9am - 11pm) to watch the parade of the colourfully decorated 12 apostles as they appear above the clock face.

The Charles Bridge: Walk across Charles Bridge, one of Prague’s most famous landmarks; the medieval stone arch bridge is 516 meters long and 9.5 meters wide and was completed in 1402. The bridge spans the Vltava river connecting Prague's Staré Město (old town) district with Malá Strana (Lesser Town). The cobblestone bridge is renowned for its decorative iron lamps, its carved Catholic saint statues and beautiful Gothic towers located at the start of each end of the bridge. You can walk across the bridge for free - (bridge tolls have not been collected for over 200 years).

Prague's Lesser Town: Malá Strana (Lesser Town) is a highly picturesque hillside area of Prague with great views across the Vltava river towards the old town. History comes alive in the town's narrow medieval cobbled streets, picturesque squares and ancient churches. You'll also find trendy boutique shops, traditional Czech pubs and plenty of restaurants serving international cuisine and local specialities.

Lesser Town sits in the shadow of the vast Prague Castle, the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic (and the city's top tourist attraction). Prague Castle dominates the skyline and can be found in the Castle District (Hradčany). The castle has had an eventful history and is made up of a wonderfully complex mix of buildings, revealing architectural styles dating back to 880AD through to the Gothic & 20th centuries.

At the heart of Malá Strana lies the 'Lesser Town Square' (Malostranské náměstí); here you'll find the spectacular St. Nicholas Church, trendy shops, boutiques, traditional pubs and restaurants all tastefully integrated within the square's beautifully dated and well preserved Baroque buildings and architecture.

Top Tip: Many of Prague's main hotels are gathered around Wenceslas Square in the New Town area (Nové Město) - consider booking your hotel in the quieter Lesser Town area, it's closer to the old town attractions, plus many hotels in this area have been sympathetically restored to retain the towns character and the buildings ancient original features.

Wenceslas Square: Wenceslas Square is a half-mile-long vibrant boulevard; located in Prague's New Town area (Nové Město). The square is full of historical importance; it's also Prague's main shopping and commercial district. Wenceslas has many stores, banks, hotels, international shops, fashion boutiques, bars and restaurants; it's also the city's entertainment and nightlife centre and transportation hub.

The two most important historical elements of the square - include the neo-renaissance building of the National Museum, founded in 1818. Plus, the striking statue of Saint Wenceslas (the Duke of Bohemia), the patron saint of the Czech nation. Other interesting facts include: Seasonal markets such as Christmas, Easter and regular farmers markets all take place in the square. The Old Town Square is only a 5 minutes walk from Wenceslas, making it a popular area for hotels, tourists and guests.

Quick list of Top Attractions:

• Old Town Hall for art exhibits, splendid beautifully decorated interior and a spectacular viewing area from the 'top floor of the Tower'
• The Church of Our Lady before Týn is Prague's most recognizable building, with its twin 80-meter-tall twin spires.
• Powder Tower (also known as the Powder Gate) Prague's most beautiful Gothic spires dating back to the 15th century.
• The National Theatre, sited on the banks of the River Vltava and home to the country's top opera, ballet and drama performances.
• Czech National Gallery exhibits masterpieces of Czech and international fine art in permanent and temporary exhibitions, including works by Pablo Picasso and Paul Gauguin.

Prague's Tourist Information Centre: Make good use of Prague's tourist information centres - they can help plan your visit; office locations are: (1) Old Town Hall, Old Town Square - Open Daily 10:00-19:00. (2) Rytířská 12, Old Town - Open Daily 10:00-18:00. (3) Wenceslas Square, Štěpánská street - Open spring to autumn Daily 10:00-18:00.

Prague's Top Tips:

• Many of the city's old sites are pedestrianised areas, so you don't have to worry about traffic.
• It's safe to wander off-track along the historic winding streets; if you get lost, Prague will enchant you with its beauty and help you discover hidden squares and picturesque gardens.
• Beware of Pickpocketers and keep your valuables safe & close to your body (especially jewellery & passports). Beware of over-charging (not a big problem) and check your restaurant bill - tips may often be included; a 5-10% tip is the norm.
• When entering a Taxi - check the meter is on and running; if not agree on a price with the driver before you start the journey.
• Most importantly - relax and enjoy your visit to Prague - it is a magical city to discover.

Public Transportation Prague: Prague has a very efficient, reasonably priced and well-integrated public transportation system, including Metro, Tram, Trolleybus and Bus networks. A single travel ticket allows travel on all city Metro, Bus and Tram services.

The Prague Metro: The Prague Metro (Pražské metro) comprises three lines (A-green, B-yellow, and C-red) serving 61 stations. The network covers most of the city, and travelling the Metro is quick and convenient.

The Prague metro network operates an open ticket system, which means no turnstiles to negotiate. Travellers must buy and validate tickets before entering a metro station's paid area. You validate your ticket by inserting it into the orange or yellow time stamp machines; located at the entrance to the metro or inside trams and buses. Tickets are required by passengers at all times - ticket inspectors will often check ticket validity inside the metro areas. The metro starts around 5.00am and finishes promptly at midnight.

Top Tip: Learn these Metro Czech words: Eskalátor-escalator, Linka-line, Přestup-transfer, Stanice Metra-subway station, Trasa-route, Vchod-entrance, Výstup-exit.

Prague Bus Services: The Prague Bus network operates throughout the day with service numbers 100 to 291 operating within city limits. Night bus services are available when trams and the Metro networks close, with service numbers 501 to 513 operating from midnight till 04.30am.

Travellers must buy a travel ticket before entering the bus; when on the bus, validate your ticket by inserting it into the validation machine. Onboard uniformed inspectors will often check travel ticket validity..

Travel Tickets: Travel Tickets for all main Public Transport Networks are sold through yellow ticket vending machines at stations, you can also buy them from newsstands, ticket offices located at metro stations and at tourist information centers.

Exploring beyond Prague Car Hire is a good option if you plan to explore further afield. The Czech countryside can be a delight to discover, with excellent terrain for hikers, cyclists and cross-country skiers, where you will find hundreds of kilometres of marked trails networking the landscape. You will find an abundance of traditional and Bohemian medieval spa towns and relaxed Moravian wine villages, most of which cater well for travellers with excellent hotel accommodations and refreshment facilities.

Prague Nightlife & Shopping:

Shopping: Prague's main shopping areas are centred around Wenceslas Square and the attractive Na Prikope area. Na Prikope is a long pedestrianised shopping street full of trendy top-end fashion stores and upmarket shopping malls. You'll find these malls hidden behind the street's beautiful Baroque facades - it really is a shopper's paradise.

Na Prikope is conveniently and centrally located; connecting Wenceslas Square with Platz der Republik (Republic Square), you will find the Na Prikope shopping areas are less crowded and more affordable; compared to most other European city high streets.

Nightlife: Prague's Nightlife will impress; you'll find a buzzing nightlife scene with many traditional pubs and beer halls, trendy wine bars and renowned dance clubs, where you can dance to house and techno into the early hours.

Prague is famous (the world over) for its Czech beers, traditional and friendly beer cellars and beer gardens. Beer cellars have a lively atmosphere and an excellent choice of reasonably priced Czech draught beer - (what more could you ask for). Restaurants and cafes are plentiful, from international cuisine to good hearty Czech stews.

Many of Prague's pub-style restaurants serve local Czech specialities, including Czech Beef Goulash (Hovězí Guláš) - a thick stew made with beef, onions and spices. Other options include schnitzel and grilled sausages (grilované klobásy) with dumplings (knedlík) and pancakes (palačinky) on the side.

Prague Airport (PRG). Václav Havel Airport Prague is located; 9 miles (14km) northwest of Prague city centre.

Airport Transport and Shuttle Services: Unfortunately, there are no direct metro or train links into the city. Transfer options include - The Airport Express bus and public bus services to the city centre, which operate every few minutes from terminals 1 & 2.

Taxi: Metered taxis are plentiful and available from outside the main terminal building.

Top Tip: Taxi transfers from the airport to the city are a popular way to travel, however before you set off, check the taxi meter is on and running if the meter is not working, agree on a price with the driver before you start the journey. The taxi fare from Prague Airport to the city centre is approximately 900 Czech Koruna (CZK) around £30.00 (GBP).

Car Hire: All major car rental companies are represented at Prague (PRG) airport, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt.