Prague makes perfect sense to visit. It’s gorgeous, not too expensive, and easy to access. That also means it’s incredibly touristy. On top of that, I made the mistake/have the fortune(depending on your views) to visit during Christmas and New Year. Allow me to share some of my experiences and mistakes that may help you when you visit Prague.
Prague castle and the surroundings
Prague Castle and the “Lesser Town”(Mala Strana) are the focus of the left side of the Vltava river. Plan a full day or two days on this part as you may encounter heavy queues. The focus is the St.Vitus Cathedral, the Old Palace, Loretta, Golden Lane, Lobkowicz Palace, and the Strahov Monastery situated outside the palace compounds. You can get a set ticket for the Cathedral, the Cathedral tower, the Golden Lane, and the old Palace. Try to get the set ticket first as it gives you a discount on the Lobkowicz Palace. Strahov Monastery has several parts which require separate tickets or tours.
It actually took me three tries to complete all of these sights. The problem was the long queues at each of the three ticket stations, which is decidedly worse in the summer months. I recommend getting up early to visit all these. Ideally, you should be purchasing the third round of tickets before 1pm as the queue got noticeably long around the holidays after that.
As for the sites themselves, my favorites were definitely the stained glass windows at St.Vitus church, Lobkowicz Palace’s animal paintings and music collections, the Philosophy Hall at Strahov Monastery, and the amazing views from various high points.
You can also view the changing of the guards around 3pm in front of the palace. Although don’t expect it to be the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace.
(Insert changing of the guards video)
As you descend from the Palace or the monastery, don’t forget to take some pictures. The views of the old town and the Jewish Quarter are fabulous. Once you are done with that, head to the Lennon wall, which is also really close to the Charles Bridge, which connects you to the Old Town.
The Old Town and the Jewish Quarter
Old Town has one of the busiest markets in Prague. If you are used to Western European prices, prices in this market are a bit better (90 czk for a hot wine for example). Don’t forget to try out the signature Czech food “trdelnÃk” while you are here. You can even get the ice cream version near the Old Town main square. When you are ready for your trdelnÃk, shop around a bit, as some are much more carefully made than others. You can certainly taste the difference in the dough quality.
Many people come to Old Town square mainly to wait for the astronomical clock to show its wonderful spin wheel. You should be able to see it every hour, so don’t sweat if you miss it; you can always come back in the next hour. Old Town square is usually crowded, so be prepared to battle your way through, especially around the full hour. You need a ticketed entry inside the clock tower and Old Town Hall. You can see the mechanics of the Astronomical Clock and the cellars.
Just north of the Old Town is the Jewish Quarter. It used to be where the Jewish population was forced to live but has become one of the most gentrified areas. You can find all the design stores in this quarter. Though don’t be fooled by the richly decorated store windows; the Jewish Quarter is a giant open-air museum that hides the sad stories of Prague next to the glittering jewelry stores.
I recommend getting a Jewish Museum set ticket which lasts seven days. The Old-New Synagogue and the Klausen Synagogue were particularly interesting regarding Jewish customs and history. The Spanish Synagogue was visually stunning. The Jewish cemetery allows you to take a moment to remember the most important personalities of the Jewish community.
On a less depressing topic, the alchemist museum(Speculum Alchemiae) is also located in the Jewish Quarter. Small museum with incredibly fascinating stories. You will need to join a tour to visit the underground, which happens every half-and-hour. The store also boasts some creative souvenir products, including the “elixir of eternal youth” and “elixir of love,” made with the legal contents of the original recipes. Depending on your view, all of the elixirs contain alcohol. The guide will tell you the “proper dosage” of all these elixirs.
Most of the buildings you see in the Jewish Quarter now were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They are now quite pleased to the eyes, but I couldn’t say if the Jewish inhabitants at the time appreciated it as much as the changes were forced upon them. Aside from the structures, you can also see Kafka’s interesting status outside the Spanish Synagogue.
By now, you have probably realized how important the Vltava river is. A great way to enjoy the scenery along the banks is via the river cruise. During Christmas times, hot wine is served along with beers and sweet rolls for you to enjoy during the cruise. The commentaries were done in many languages, which you can choose upon finding your seat. Unlike other tours with pre-recorded audio, the captain still tries to point out the important points along the way.
Other Interesting Museums If You Have Time
Czech National Museum is definitely worth your time if you are interested in learning the biological, social, and geographic history of the Czech Republic in more depth. I was delighted to find myself trying to hold a broadsword and a war hammer.
Another museum that I particularly enjoyed was the Prague City Museum/House at the Golden Ring. This museum utilizes videos(in English, I should add) and dynamic presentations of city models/artifacts/powerpoints to explain Prague’s history under the great king/emperor Charles IV. Unlike many museums, you should be able to find quite a few places to sit while listening to the presentation. This museum is truly considerate of the experience of the visitors. When I visited, there was a temporary exhibition on Wroclaw, which was equally well presented. I would recommend two hours to go through most of the content as there are quite a few audio presentations.
House of the Golden Ring was a very special museum as I would consider it the best in visitor experience design. I can’t really say the same thing for the other museums I visited. It seemed like most Czech sites, especially churches and some museums, like to print out large paragraphs of introductions instead of breaking them up. You might want to be patient while working through the large chunks of text.
