Prague is a city you fall in love with and return to again and again. It is one of the largest cities in Central Europe and the capital of Bohemia. Prague is a city of cathedrals, bridges, gilded towers, and church domes. It has a medieval center with cobbled streets and courtyards, countless spires and shops. At the same time, Prague is a modern and vibrant city, full of youthful energy, culture, music, and fine dining. Many people consider Prague the most beautiful city in Europe.
Prague Attractions and Entertainment
In its early days, Prague was polycentric. Several settlements arose here at virtually the same time. Each developed as an independent city, and only in the modern era did they begin to coalesce into a unified whole.
Old Town
Staré Město is one of Prague’s first districts. It was once a large marketplace where merchants traveling between the West and the East settled and conducted business. Old Town Square, as it was centuries ago, is the most vibrant spot in the Old Town. It is a vast complex of fabulously beautiful buildings and architectural monuments in various styles: Renaissance, Gothic, Baroque, and Rococo. The Old Town Hall is the main structure. Tourists flock to its tower to admire the city’s most mysterious landmark—the Orloj astronomical clock.
Nove Mesto
In the 14th century, Emperor Charles IV, having decided that Prague would become the residence of the Holy Roman Emperors, ordered the expansion of the city and the construction of the Nove Mesto district, which was intended to connect Old Town and Vyšehrad.
Charles Square and Wenceslas Square vie for the title of the main landmark and center of the new city.
In Nove Mesto, the Church of Our Lady of the Snows, the Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius, and St. Stephen’s Church are worth a visit. Among the non-religious buildings, the Czech National Theatre is popular with tourists.
Malá Strana
Parallel to the construction of the New Town, the emperor began developing Malá Strana, located between Prague Castle and the Vltava River. Malá Strana is considered one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in Prague.
The main attractions in this neighborhood include the Wallenstein Palace complex with its five courtyards and garden, the Kaiserstein Palace, and the Velikovsky and Smířice Palaces.
Hradčany
Hradčany is home to the city’s main landmark, the symbol of the entire state—Prague Castle, the residence of Czech rulers.
Be sure to visit the Old Royal Palace and St. Vitus Cathedral. Strahov Monastery is a special place in Hradčany, founded in the 12th century. Its ancient library contains 130,000 books and 1,500 early printed editions.
Vyšehrad
The Vyšehrad district competes with Hradčany for the title of the heart of the Czech capital. Its signature feature is the Vyšehrad Fortress, where the first coronation in Prague’s history took place. The hill on which the fortifications stand offers a beautiful view of the city.
The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul impresses with its grandeur and interior decoration. The church is home to the most famous burial site in the Czech Republic.
