Prague top sights
Tourist holiday guide to top city break sights in Prague
Prague is a terrific walkaround city with all the main sights within a short and easy stroll of each other.
Most Prague visitors head straight for the tourist honeypot of the Charles Bridge where the picturesque Castle area and the romantic Old Town face each other across the Vltava river.
It's not unusual for tourist first-timers to Prague to be stopped in their tracks by the eye-watering sight of the Old Town square, the Staromestske namesti. It dates back over 1,000 years.
Nowadays the twin towers of the Gothic Tyn Church dominate the picturesque scene and crowds gather on the hour to watch the automated procession of the twelve apostles at the famous Astronomical Clock.
Restaurants and bars surround the square, but expect higher prices at this popular tourist magnet. In the centre is a monument to Jan Hus, the Czech religious reformer. The side streets are lined with restaurants, bars, cafes and shops.
Many visitors will hang on for the sunset. Watching the sun go down on the magnificent medieval architecture is a big hit with visitors, and for good reason.
Streets radiate from the square in all directions. Head for Male namesti, a smaller square that then leads to Karlova and down to the Charles Bridge. Melantrichova and Zelesna end up at Wenceslas Square while Celetna leads to the Powder Tower and Parisska goes to the old Jewish area. Thankfully, all are well signposted and the area just begs for a leisurely stroll.
Prague boasts the biggest ancient castle in the world, at 570m long and spread over a vast seven hectares. The castle dates from 870 and many historic buildings lie within its walls.
Indeed, Prague Castle features virtually every major building style of the last 1,000 years. There is the Gothic St Vitus Cathedral; the romanesque Basilica of St. George; a monastery; palaces; fine gardens and cobbled streets with cottages as well as the usual towers and battlements.
The castle is also home to some major museums, notably the National Gallery; a military museum; an exhibition of Czech history; a toy museum and an art gallery that features King Rudolph II's collection. Most of the castle is open to the public annd there are expansive views from its hilltop site.
The Cathedral of St Vitus is one of Europe's greatest Gothic buildings. You can climb the knee creaking 287 steps to the top of the tower for some fine vistas of Prague. The exterior features a recently restored mosaic of the Last Judgement of Christ and Good King Wenceslas, Bohemia's patron saint, is buried here.
No visitor to Prague fails to visit Charles Bridge, long free of traffic and a honey pot for artists, street entertainers and, unfortunately, pickpockets. The Charles Bridge was built in 1357 and connects the Old Town with Mala Strana (Little Quarter) and Hradcany. The bridge is named after Charles IV and its parapets are lined with 30 baroque statues. Legend has it that the cobblestones are held together by thousands of eggs.
Packed with tourists, artists and musicians, a visit to the bridge always provides good, if crowded, entertainment. At night the city views are something else, but you must wait until dawn for a glimpse of Prague free of the teeming tourist throng.
Prague Castle is the largest castle area in the world
Copyright © SavvyNetworks 2006 - 2010, Cheshire, UK. All rights reserved.
Holidays in Prague
Prague weather
Prague restaurants
Czech sights
Prague cafe bars