Where can you stand on a street corner and choose between an orchestral performance in a cathedral, a modern art exhibit, a sex-machine museum, and a Starbucks? And all within 25 paces?
The answer: Prague.
This city is an absolute smorgasbord of earthly and heavenly delights.
From the lofty spires of Prague Castle to the lantern-lit lanes of the old Jewish Quarter, this city has it covered. It’s eclectic blend of great food, music, art and architecture make it one of our favourite cities in Europe!
At the centre of the Old Town is one of the most impressive city squares—a beautifully cobbled expanse nestled between the soaring Our Lady Before Tyn church and the Old Town Hall tower.
Set within the base of this tower is the famous Astronomical Clock, the world’s oldest working clock of its kind. And below that, a look at where the city streets of Prague used to be, hundreds of years ago.
This city square truly epitomizes the “old European feel” and we felt like we could have sat there for days on end, just watching the pigeons and listening to the church bells.
But adventure was calling, so we downed a cup of mulled wine and set out to discover Prague’s many mysteries, like the history behind the name “Powder Tower”, and how exactly that one street performer sits motionless for hours on top of his broomstick.
Then it was time for a romantic walk across Charles Bridge—one of the most beautiful bridges in all of Europe and a crown jewel of the Czech Republic.
Bookended by Gothic towers, and stretching over the Vltava river, this masterpiece of engineering was constructed during the last half of the 14th century, replacing the “Judith Bridge”, which was swept away in the flood of 1342.
Today, the statues of saints that line its balustrades, share space with buskers, painters and those searching for luck at the statue of St. John of Nepomuk.
Day or night, it is an enchanting stroll.
*Side note: One can easily rent a little paddleboat on the riverbank for a view of Charles Bridge from the water. Take a drink and a sandwich and you’ve got yourself a floating picnic that can’t be beat.
Then find the John Lennon Wall and make your mark before climbing the hill to Malá Strana, the district that surrounds Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral.
At this juncture, it is universally agreed upon that one must find a medieval tavern and enjoy a pint of Czech beer before entering the castle for a mind-blowing tour of architectural beauty, torture chamber atrocities, and the colourful fairytale houses of “Golden Lane”.
This is a stop that cannot be missed.
And after all of that, you just keep walking and find a thousand more reasons to fall in love with this city. And trust us, you will.