Prague – the city of a hundred towers in the heart of Europe, the often-visited mother of cities and the place visited every year by tourists from every country in the world. Among your main goals you are sure to find Prague Castle – the largest, uninterrupted castle complex in the world, which is also part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List. But what are some of Prague’s other attractions that are worth paying a visit?
Petřín Hilltop
Right at the bottom on the hill marked “Újezd”, the Memorial to the Victims of Communism can be found, exhibiting impressive sculptures highlighting this not-so-long-ago, dark section of Czech history. You can get to the top of the hill by taking the cable car and you can use your same public transportation ticket to go up and down. Here at the top of your visit you will find not only a famous observation tower whose appearance was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, but also a maze of mirrors and the Štefánik Observatory.
Zoo
A good tip for those looking for a pleasant refresher and want to take a break from all the history. The Prague Zoo is one of the largest zoos in Europe – if you end up wanting to thoroughly walk through all of it, setting aside an entire day is recommended. There are several different options of public transportation that you can take to get to the Zoo, but I would especially like to recommend the boat trip, pleasant summer weather permitting. The regularly sailing boat line starts from the Rašínova street riverbank near the Dancing House, which means you will have the chance to also behold this interesting architectural object towards the beginning of your trip.
Josefov
The former Jewish ghetto in Prague’s Old Town is undoubtedly another tip from my recommendations. This area has a mysterious and even magical feeling, no matter the time of day or night. The Jewish Museum is especially worth a visit as you will be able to enjoy the interiors of the individual synagogues that are now serving as exposition spaces. Here you can follow along in an exhibition about the lives of the Jews who lived in Prague up till the 18th century. You will learn of their religious traditions and practices, but you will also observe a tortuous reminder of the what took place during the Second World War and the Holocaust. There is also access to the Old Jewish Cemetery as part of the Jewish Museum.
Old Town Square
Here you find the famous astronomical clock where tourists gather hour after hour to see the clock “in action”, but there are more possibilities for you on the Old Town Square as well: The Church of Our Lady Before Týn with its towers created in accordance with the symbols of Adam and Eve, the baroque Church of St. Nicholas and also the Old Town Hall where, among other things, commentated tours of the Prague Underground and a wonderful view from the large tower are offered. As soon as you start to get hungry and you are searching for a quality restaurant in Old Town Prague, don’t miss out on taking a few more steps down to Malé náměstí (Small Square) where you will be presented with a view of the beautiful, richly decorated Hardware Store U Rotta, in which the Nuance restaurant can also be found.
Charles Square
Back in time this square flaunted the name Forum Magnum and it remains today as the largest square in Prague. What is there to see here? For instance, there is the New Town Hall, i.e. the Faust House, where Edward Kelley, the renowned alchemist who was part of Rudolf II’s royal court, lived. The New Town Hall is also in the vicinity of the Orthodox Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius, where participants of Operation Anthropoid hid themselves in the crypt.
And my last piece of advice in conclusion – don’t forget to reserve a room at a hotel right in Old Town Prague.
