If you like visiting cities that breathe history and beauty on all four sides, Prague is a destination that you cannot miss. This picturesque city of captivating sunsets is a favorite destination for travelers and backpackers from around the world. With a mix of architectural styles ranging from medieval Gothic to Communist neoclassical, its iconic streets will transport you to another era.
Prague is a city that receives several nicknames, and perhaps the best known of them is that of ” Golden City ” ( zlatá Praha) , since it was the Czechs themselves who coined it because the material with which many of the ornaments of their Buildings – bread of gold – shine in the sun, giving the city a characteristic golden bath. Legend also has it that this qualifier comes from the time of King Charles IV, when it is assumed that the towers of Prague Castle were completely golden. In any case, the name has lasted to this day and anyone who watches a sunset from one of the city’s viewpoints will understand why.
Prague is also known as stověžatá , that is, the city of one hundred towers . This name is due to the writer Josef Hormayer, who used it to describe it back in the 19th century due to the endless forest of towers and bell towers that populate the roofs of the city -103 at that time-. Currently there are already more than a thousand towers, but the qualifier has not been updated.
How to get around Prague?
The best way to get around a new city with so much to offer is always on foot. Nothing like exploring every corner of a place as special as the Golden City of Prague on your own feet: walking through the old town, the old town square or crossing the famous Charles Bridge are more fascinating experiences if you live them step by step .
Prague is divided into several districts numbered from 1 to 10. The most interesting tourist and culturally speaking are Prague 1, which includes the old city, the Jewish quarter, the castle area and mala strana; and Prague 2, which corresponds to the part known as the new city. But do not be confused by the numbers: even if there are only two areas, the area they occupy is very wide , so get some good shoes and get ready to walk because you will need more than a day to go through it . Although with organization and a good map you will be able to enter all the essential places of this beautiful capital.
In any case, if walking is not your thing, Prague has the possibility of moving comfortably on the public transport network. Its three metro lines and more than twenty tram lines connect the city from end to end and allow you to travel quickly at a reasonable price: a single ticket costs only 24 crowns ( about € 0.90)
What to see in Prague
The beautiful golden city, with its tall medieval buildings, is enchanting. Each building or square in the city of one hundred towers echoes a different historical era full of meaning. If you want photographs straight out of a fairy tale, this is the perfect setting. Its changing climate will make the landscapes offer you postcards throughout the four seasons of the year, from the glittering sunsets in summer to the beauty of the snowy roofs of Prague in winter. But, in addition, Prague is a destination full of buildings, squares, sculptures and museums that delight tourists from all over the world.
The old city and the new city
In the Old Town Square are some of the most emblematic monuments of the city: the old town hall and the famous bell tower that has the Prague astronomical clock, in operation since the 15th century and whose mechanism activates a small and curious show every hour on the dot; the church of Týn ; the Church of San Nicolás , and the monument to Jan Hus , promoter of the religious reform.
In the Jewish quarter you can visit the old Jewish cemetery and up to six different synagogues, among which the Old-New Synagogue , in operation from 1270 to the present, and the Spanish Synagogue , which receives this name for its interior decoration inspired by the Moorish ornamentation of the Alhambra.
In the new area, the Wenceslas Square and the National Museum, the Karlovo Namesti park , the moving sculpture of Franz Kafka , and the dancing house stand out , a building that, due to its particular architectural distribution, seems to be dancing.
Malá Strana and the Castle
The old and new parts of the city connect with the rest of Prague thanks to the many bridges that cross the Vltava River, among which the stately Charles IV Bridge , one of the most famous monuments of the capital, stands out. When you cross it, on the other bank of the river you will find two different areas: the Prague Castle district, which houses the residence of the current president of the republic, a set of stately palaces and the spectacular St. Vitus Cathedral ; and the area of malá strana (the small town).
Malá Strana is one of the oldest areas of the city, located at the foot of Prague Castle and brings together a large number of interesting visits: Kampa Island , the most visited garden in the city of Prague; Mount Petrin , a large park with the tower of the same name (a viewpoint replica of the Eiffel Tower ); the Church of Our Lady of Victory, within which is the famous carving of the Infant Jesus of Prague ; and the John Lennon wall , a universal symbol of love and peace where travelers and locals leave their messages.
Art and culture in Prague, the golden city
For fans of the arts, Prague is the perfect place to visit. The City of Prague has hosted multiple theater, film and music festivals for decades. The literary magic inspired by the vestiges of the writer Franz Kafka that you can find scattered throughout the city and the fanaticism for artistic creation will allow you to soak up art every day during your holidays. The streets of the city are full of traveling artists who liven up the streets with improvised shows of traditional music or jazz, and throughout the city you can find works by David Černý, the best known and most controversial sculptor from Prague.
In addition, Prague has numerous museums worth visiting such as the National Gallery of Art, the Mucha Museum, which contains the works of the rococo painter of the same name; the museums of the composer Antonín Dvořák and the writer Franz Kafka; and the Museum of Communism, which will undoubtedly move even the most insensitive tourist .
Excursions around Prague
If you make a long trip to Prague and not just a weekend visit, you can take the opportunity to visit other parts of the country that have an important tourist and historical interest.
Terezín, a former Jewish ghetto that was later converted into a concentration camp and where most of the renowned Jewish artists ended up during World War II; Kutna Hora , a town known for the Sedlec Ossuary , consisting of a peculiar chapel whose decoration and furniture are made up of more than 40,000 human bones; Karlovy Vary, a small spa town perfect for a relaxing and romantic getaway in its hot springs; and Cesky Krumlov, a beautiful medieval city that seems taken out of a story and that will not leave you indifferent.
