Are you planning to visit Prague and wondering what to see and what places to visit? Prague has an incredible history shared with us for many years. There are many beautiful and historical monuments in the city that you should definitely visit.
Prague offers a lot to the visitors. Sometimes, it can be overwhelming and challenging to choose what to see. That’s why I prepared a list of 15 places you must visit.
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Wenceslas Square
Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí), often referred to simply as “Václavák,” is one of the most famous squares in Prague. It is the place where Prague’s past and present meet. It is a place where visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of the city, stroll along the long boulevard and admire the imposing statue of St. Wenceslas, which symbolises Czech history and culture.
The main attraction of Wenceslas Square is a long boulevard lined with trees and shops, hotels, restaurants and cafes. In addition, visitors can sit on the benches in the middle of the square and enjoy the view.
The National Museum, an important cultural institution in the Czech Republic, is located behind the statue of St. Wenceslas.
Lucerna Palace
Lucerna Palace is a multi-purpose multifunctional complex of buildings located in the upper part of Wenceslas Square. It was initially supposed to be a hockey stadium, but they reworked it into a business and entertainment complex.
The palace also contains the Passage, an elegant shopping centre with many shops. In the centre is a statue of Saint Wenceslas sitting on the belly of a dead horse. One of the most famous attractions in the palace is the Great Hall. It is a concert hall where various live music performances occur.
Old Town Square
Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí) is a historic square located in the very centre of Old Prague, whose origins date back to the 12th century. It is also a popular tourist attraction that has many historic houses.
In its vicinity are the buildings of the Old Town Hall (Staroměstská radnice) with an astronomical clock, the Church of the Virgin Mary before Týn, and the U Minuty Home.
Tourists can relax and enjoy the vibe in nearby cafes and restaurants. This place is known for the traditional Czech Christmas Market, where you can try local cuisine. However, higher prices should be expected, as it is a popular tourist spot.
Prague Astronomical Clock
The Old Town Astronomical Clock (Pražský orloj) or the Prague Astronomical Clock is a medieval astronomical clock located on the south side of the Old Town Hall. It is a technical marvel and an incredible display of medieval craftsmanship and art.
The Old Town Astronomical Clock was built around 1410. Its creators were watchmakers Mikuláš from Kadaně and Jan Šindel, who created this complex device with astronomical indicators and a calendar.
A visit to the astronomical clock should be planned for the whole hour when the 12 apostles appear in the two windows above the dial. They used to appear 24 times a day. Later, it changed from nine in the morning to eleven in the evening.
Powder Tower
The Powder Tower (Prašná brána) is a building next to the Municipal House and one of the city’s symbols. It was built in the 15th century as one of Prague’s main gates of the Old Town fortifications. It served as one of the entrances to the historic city.
From the vantage point at the top of the gate, there is a beautiful view of the Old Town Square and the surrounding parts of Prague.
Old Town
The Old Town is not only the Astronomical Clock or the Dust Gate. There are picturesque streets full of colorful historical buildings.
Rudolfinum
The Rudolfinum is a prestigious building on the embankment of the Vltava River and is a multi-purpose cultural facility with a concert hall and exhibition halls. Since 1946, the Rudolfinum has been the home of the Czech Philharmonic.
Kafka’s head
Franz Kafka – Rotating Head is an 11-meter bronze statue of the head of the Czech writer Franz Kafka. The statue is near the house where Franz Kafka lived from 1889 to 1896. The statue was created by the Czech artist David Černý in 2014.
Charles bridge
Charles Bridge is the oldest standing bridge over the Vltava River in Prague. The bridge began to be built in 1357 on the order of the then-Czech king Charles IV. Its construction took more than 40 years. The bridge was designed under the supervision of architect Petr Parléř.
This historic bridge is one of the main tourist attractions in Prague and is visited by thousands of tourists every day. It can be crowded during the day, so be aware of pickpockets and watch your belongings while walking on the bridge.
It is ideal to visit this place in the morning to avoid crowds.
Hradčany
Hradčany is a Prague borough located on the Vltava River’s west bank. It is one of Prague’s oldest and most beautiful parts, rich in historical buildings and monuments. Among the most important are Prague Castle, Golden Lane, St. Vitus Cathedral, and the baroque church of Loreto.
Prague castle
Prague Castle (Pražský hrad) has more than a thousand years of history and is considered one of the oldest still inhabited residences of royal and presidential rulers. It was founded in the 9th century and was the centre of power for Czech kings and presidents.
The castle complex is a combination of various architectural styles, including Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. The castle has many historic buildings and palaces, including the famous St. Vitus Cathedral, the Roman Basilica of St. George, the New Royal Palace and the Old Royal Palace.
The complex also includes Golden Lane (Zlatá ulička), known for its tiny colourful houses. It used to be free to enter, but it is part of the “Prague Castle basic circuit” ticket for 250 CZK nowadays.
National Theatre
The foundation stone for constructing the National Theater was laid in 1868. The theatre aimed to provide the Czech population with quality theatre performances in Czech. Its creation was part of the national revival and cultural movement in the 19th century.
The National Theater is known for its beautiful architecture. The original building, the National Historical Theatre, was built in the Renaissance and Neo-Renaissance styles, and its exterior and interior are considered masterpieces.
Petřín observation tower
The 60-metre-high Petřín observation tower is another famous landmark in Prague. It is often referred to as the Little Eiffel. The tower was built in 1891 at the initiative of the Club of Czech Tourists, who were inspired by the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris. The head architect of the project was František Prášil.
One of the main reasons people go to the Petrin Tower is the beautiful views of the historical centre of Prague, including famous monuments such as Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Hall and many others.
I recommend using the cable car on the way up and then walking through the park back down. You can also see Prague’s Old Town during a walk through the park.
Vyšehrad
Vyšehrad is one of the oldest settlements in Prague and was founded in the 10th century. It was initially a princely castle that served to protect the city. Vyšehrad has a beautiful Romanesque church of St. Peter and Paul (Kestel svatého Peter and Paul), an important religious place. The church of St. Peter and Paul is adjacent to the Vyšehrad Cemetery, where the remains of important Czech personalities are buried.
Lesser City of Prague
The Lesser City of Prague (Malá Strana) is another historical part of Prague. It is one of Prague’s most picturesque and beautiful parts, rich in well-preserved baroque architecture, narrow streets and historic houses. The famous Klementinum, Charles University, Čertovka, Malostranské námestie with the church of St. Mikuláša or Maltese square.
The Parliament of the Czech Republic is also located here.
Possible 2 days Itinerary
Day 1 – From Wenceslas Square to Prague Castle
- Start at statue of St. Wenceslas, Wenceslas Square
- Lucerna Palace
- Powder Tower
- Old Town Square
- Astronomical Clock
- Colourful streets of Old Town
- Charles Bridge
- Lesser City of Prague
- Hradčany
- Prague Castle
Day 2 – From Kafka’s rotating head to Petřín
- Kafka’s head
- National Theatre
- Lesser City of Prague
- Cable car to the Petřín observation tower
- Petřín observation tower and park
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