Historically known as Bohemia, the Czech Republic is a landlocked country in central Europe and half of what used to be Czechoslovakia. Though officially a young country in name, the Duchy of Bohemia was founded the 9th century and has a long, rich history that includes integration into the Habsburg monarchy, decades as an Eastern Bloc Communist state, and now a member of the European Union.
Our home was in Prague, in an updated apartment on a main thoroughfare. With easy access to local transit (literally right outside our building’s front door), you’ll arrive in Old Town within 20 minutes via tram and a short walk.
Things To Do
Lots of places to see and activities in Prague; here are some of the things we’d recommend:
- Astronomical Clock & Old Town Hall – purchase tickets ahead online and choose your timeslot, via a tour through a provider such as TripAdvisor or GetYourGuide, or at City Hall (you may have to wait for up to an hour or two before a slot is available, but that’s not a big deal because there is tons to see in the meantime). A combined ticket allows you into the old city hall building, as well as access to climb the town for gorgeous views of Old Town. Keep an eye on the clock at the top of every hour to see the show that features mechanical animations.
- Old Town Square – visit for a 360° view of the city’s most popular monuments, including the Church of Our Lady before Týn and its iconic double towers.
- Walking & Food Tours – most of our trips include a walking tour of some kind, and we especially prefer when it includes food. We recommend the Tasty Food Tour in Prague; guide Zina was incredibly friendly, and introduced us to some delicious Czech foods. The highlight was Zina herself – she was very open about growing up in Communist-era Czechoslovakia and shared her experience. We enjoyed our time with her so much that we met her again for a meal and a beer before leaving Prague.
- St. Charles Bridge – a stone bridge spanning the Vltava River, it’s the oldest bridge in Prague and the second oldest in the Czech Republic. Closed to auto traffic, walk across the span for artists and music, and great views of both banks of the city.
- Prague Castle – a complex of buildings on the hill overlooking Prague and the river; best to book ahead with a tour guide, online at the castle site, or with the HeadOut app like we did.
- Jewish Quarter & Spanish Synagogue – originally the only place in the city where Jews were allowed to live, it holds a rich, if not somber, history of the culture and religion (limited access on Saturdays).
- Wenceslas Square – a main city square in Prague, and site of the Velvet Revolution in 1989 that signaled the end of Communist rule.
- Národní Muzeum – looming over the southeast end of Wenceslas Square, the museum exhibits natural science and historical collections; tickets can be purchased on-site.
- Rental Boats & Pedal Boats – On Slovanský Ostrov (Slavic Island), south of the St. Charles Bridge, you’ll find boat rental operators; rent a pedal boat for an hour for 400 CZK (approx. €17, or $18 USD) and enjoy some time on the river. And make sure to stop by the floating bar during the summer, serving cold beer and drinks.
- Letná Park & Beer Gardens – Letná means “summer”, and there is no better place in the summer than this park with a large seating area and local Czech beers and cider; grab a glass and relax.
- Cruise the Vltava – day or night, you can find boat operators and tours on the river. Our rec? A night tour, because that is when Prague is at its best. We booked a tour on the Jazz Boat and enjoyed live music, some local wine, and the beauty of the Prague skyline after dark.
Eats
Czech food is similar to other foods in the region; it gets cold, so you need meals that stick with you. Think meats, dumplings, starchy vegetables with creamy sauces and heavy gravy. The best part of Czech cuisine is the beer its often paired with; Czechs consume more beer per capita than any population in the world, and they have a unique beer drinking culture. Beer is good, it is cheap (usually less than bottled water), and it is abundant.
Here are some of the places we found for good food to go with the good beer:
- Kozlovna Apropos – huge portions, try the pork knuckle if you’re really hungry
- BEEF Bar – just like it sounds: good beef
- Libeřské Lahůdky – local deli chain with open-faced sandwiches common to the region
- OBLACA Restaurant – a higher price-point restaurant located in the Žižkovská televizní tower, you’ll get great views if you book a spot near sunset; the food is delicious, too
- Holešovická SEDMA – neighborhood restaurant close to where we stayed; the convenience brought us there, the good food and friendly staff brought us back
- Mr.HotDoG – I know, it’s a hotdog place. But hear us out: the hotdogs are good. And especially tasty with a cold beer after a hot day
Side Trips
We took the opportunity to see some sights outside of the city as well (per our usual).
One especially somber, but extremely important, visit was to the Terezín Memorial; formerly a garrison town, it was converted into a concentration camp and Jewish Ghetto during World War II. Presented by Nazi propaganda as a “spa town” and a safe retirement community, it was, in actuality, a waystation to extermination camps. Now housing around 2,800 inhabitants, the town primarily serves as a memorial with several museums. It was a moving experience, and shouldn’t be missed. Accessible by car, we opted to book the Terezín Monument Tour via GetYourGuide, which included transport and entry into the camp and museums, with an extra bonus of the guide’s knowledge.
Another great day-trip option is Český Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage city in South Bohemia. Considered one of the most picturesque towns in Europe, the town’s stunning castle towers above the river and narrow streets. Especially popular in the summer, you can find bars, boutiques and picnic spots. It’s reportedly magical in the winter when blanketed with snow. Also booked through GetYourGuide, the excursion included transport to and from Prague and free time to explore on your own.
Find all of our Czech Republic reviews on TripAdvisor