10 things to see in one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe, Prague
Prague is certainly in our top three most beautiful capitals in Europe. In addition, this capital of the Czech Republic is also home to one of the largest castle complex in the world, Prague Castle. There is so much to see and do in Prague that you actually need at least three or four days to see everything in this nice city and above all to experience this city. To make it a little easier for you, we have listed 10 of the best sights in Prague for you.
Discover Prague's Old Town Square
In the heart of Prague you will find the main city square of Prague. It is the best place in Prague to sit on a terrace and enjoy the surroundings and the passing crowd. However, they also know this in Prague, so don't count on the promised cheap Czech prices here, because everything is expensive in this square. This historic square with its cobbled streets dates all the way back to the 10th century. During the Second World War, this square in Prague was largely spared, so that the authentic buildings are all still intact. Several films have already been filmed on this square, including some major films such as Mission Impossible, Casino Royale and Les Miserables.
Prague Orloj, the third oldest astronomical clock in the world in Prague
The Prague Orloj, the famous astronomical clock can be found on the old market square of Prague. According to many, it is one of the most fascinating sights in the Czech Republic. Ultimately it is a kind of large cuckoo clock where the doors open every hour and you see the 12 apostles move. As well as some other moving elements. Yes it is certainly an interesting clock, but does that make it one of the most interesting sights in the Czech Republic? I leave that to your own judgment. But you should definitely not skip it during your city trip to Prague.
The Prague Orloj, the astronomical clock, dates back to the 15th century. You can read the position of the sun, moon and constellations from this clock. The clock was made by clock master Jan Růže. It is said that after making this clock he was blinded so that he could not replicate this clock anywhere else in the world.
The Prague Orloj is one of the most famous sights in Prague. That also means that the Old Town Square in front of the Prague Orloj is already twenty minutes before the hour starting to fill up with people looking to catch a glimpse of the Prague Orloj. So make sure you are on time to see the clock properly. Because it's over too.
Prague Castle, the largest castle complex in Prague
Prague Castle is a must-see during your city trip to Prague. Prague Castle is actually a complex of royal buildings that you can all visit and are all so different. Prague Castle is the largest castle complex in the world. You can do several things here. You can climb the clock tower for a great view over Prague. You can walk for hours through the royal gardens or admire the lavish rooms of the castle from the inside. You can enter the castle complex for free, but they do charge an entrance fee for the various attractions. You don't have to do them all, so you can choose which sights you want to visit. We recommend that you at least climb the bell tower, because the view is fantastic.
Walk across Prague's famous bridge, Charles Bridge
The Charles Bridge is the most famous bridge in Prague and that becomes clear when you walk towards this Prague, because it is actually joining a large queue of people who all want to see the bridge. From the Charles Bridge you have a beautiful view over Prague with the old town on one side and the castle complex of Prague on the other.
Charles Bridge was built in 1357. Over the years this bridge has been damaged many times and yet you can still walk on this bridge. This famous bridge also appears in several films. The most recent is probably Spiderman: Far from Home.
Behold the somewhat misplaced building in Prague, the dancing house
Yes, when you see the dancing house for the first time in Prague it does feel a bit out of place. The charm of Prague is precisely that so little of the city has been damaged in the past and therefore many of the old buildings are still standing. The dancing house suddenly has a very modern appearance in all these cozy, old streets. But when you take a closer look at the Dancing House, you will see why this house is so popular.
The Dancing House was designed by Frank Genhry, an American architect. The design he makes is based on two dancing people, dancers. The two different styles of houses, therefore, stand for the two people who are dancing together.
Be sure to visit the rooftop terrace of the dancing house. From this terrace you have a beautiful view over the river and Prague.
The National Museum, learn about the history of Prague
The National Museum of Prague is an imposing building in the center of Prague. It is one of the most famous museums in the Czech Republic. The National Museum of Prague was founded in 1818. It has long been closed for renovations, but today you can take beautiful pictures of both the outside and the inside. And you can learn everything about the history of the Czech Republic here.
Discover Prague from the water on the Vlatva River, The Moldau
The Vlatva River is the large river that runs through the middle of Prague and separates the various nice Prague districts from each other. The banks of the Vlatva River are a nice place to stay. But it is especially nice to discover the river by boat, kayak or pedal boat and admire Prague from the water. From the Vlatva River you also have a nice view of the Charles Bridge.
Mala Strana, Prague's Most Romantic District
Mala Strana is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Prague on the other side of the Charles Bridge. This district is located at the foot of Prague Castle, the Prague Castle. In this district you will find nice shops, cozy terraces and especially very nice streets. From here you can also book private boat trips, which start on the small canals that run through this district. Be sure to check out the quay on the river. There are always a lot of swans swimming here, which make for beautiful pictures with the Charles Bridge in the background. If you are lucky, the beavers will also pass by. Be careful with the large teeth of these critters.
The Jewish Quarter, Josefov
In most cities in Europe, large parts of Jewish quarters were destroyed during the Second World War. The Jewish quarter in Prague is an exception. The Jewish quarter in Prague has remained completely intact, because Hitler later wanted to turn this quarter into a museum. Fortunately, as we all know, Hitler failed in all his plans. The Jewish Quarter feels like a large open-air museum and has some special sights. One of the most important sights is the Jewish Museum. During the Holocaust, the belongings of the Jews who were sent to concentration camps were stored in this museum. For this reason, among other things, the Jewish Quarter, Josefov, has been added to the UNESCO list. Other special attractions are the cemetery and the Spanish synagogue.
The tunnel of books in Prague
In the library in the Jewish quarter you will find a special art object, namely the tunnel of books. This vortex of books is an optical illusion where you see an infinite number of books in a tunnel, when you look up and down. This optical illusion was created by the artist Matej Kren. This tunnel of books is located in the entrance hall of the library and is public and accessible to all public.
St Vitus Cathedral, a historical landmark in Prague
The St Vitus Cathedral is an iconic landmark in Prague. It is the church of the Archbishop of Prague. It is also where the coronations of the royal family took place. So it is definitely one of the most important places in Prague. The cathedral is also an impressive building with two high towers and many gargoyles.
More to see in Prague
With these 10 sights it certainly doesn't stop in Prague. There is so much more to see in this city. But it is also the appearance of Prague and the atmosphere that hangs there that makes Prague one of the nicest capitals in Europe. We definitely want to come back to this cool city again.
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