Admiring Prague
Prague has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember and one of those cities I kept saying I’ll go someday, I’ll go soon which turned into I’m going! I chose to stay for 7 nights so that I could take my time and also visit another Czech city if I wanted to. As it turned out, 7 nights were all spent in Prague and giving myself the extra time allowed me to see Prague in all its glory. It is of course possible to visit Prague over a long weekend if you don’t have much time.
Before we start looking at the attractions, let’s mention the currency upfront: Czech Koruna not the Euro. This is important to mention as Slovakia uses the Euro which can be easy to forget as they are neighbouring countries.
Charles Bridge: This historic bridge crosses the Vitava river and although there are others crossing the same river in Prague, this is most definitely the most famous and most photographed. It is picturesque at all angles but if you want to get a photo on the bridge itself with less tourists then you must go early in the morning or late at night. The 30 statues line both sides of the bridge and you’ll find many tourists trying to grab a selfie with them. Walking along the bridge you’ll have great views as you look up and to the sides so be sure to make the most of the crossing.
Astronomical Clock: This is a medieval clock, installed in 1410 which makes it the 3rd oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still operating. There are 3 main components: the astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details, statues of various Catholic saints which stand on either side of the clocked a calendar dial with medallions representing the months. It is beautiful to see, however it is even better to be there as the clock strikes the hour. This is when you’ll see ‘The Walk of the Apostles’ and other figures such as Death (a skeleton) moving around.
Castle and St Vitus Cathedral: Going up to the castle is a worthwhile effort to see the castle, visit the cathedral and also to take photos of the panoramic view of the buildings and spires below although you need to jostle for your space. Although the cathedral is still better known as St Vitus cathedral, it is the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslas and Adalbert and is the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. It is gothic in style and contains the tombs of many Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors.
Old Town: Staré Mesto offers a beautiful cobbled area to walk through and enjoy the statues or the entertainment on offer in the square. The astronomical clock attracts many tourists and there are many old buildings to enjoy looking at for their various styles of architecture. Many cafés are around this area so you can grab lunch or a beverage and sit and people watch.
Other tourist attractions: There are many more tourist attractions and you will no doubt find your own. Although John Lennon never went to Prague, there is a Lennon Wall, a normal wall which has been filled with graffiti since the 1980s despite being repainted many times by dissatisfied authorities.
The Church of the Most Sacred Heart of the Lord, also known as Noah’s Ark Church is worth a visit for the resemblance to Noah’s Ark. More importantly, the 7.5m diameter glazed clock which stands in the 42m high tower wall is the largest in the Czech republic and stands out within the church design.
The Memorial to the Victims of Communism is a group of statues showing the diminishing effect of communism on the individual as the higher up there steps the figures are, the more they have lost parts of their body.
The Penguins on the Vitava stand out due to their yellow colour so you can see them from the bridge as you cross the river, from the opposite bank and especially as you walk along the banks of the river.
Although Prague is known as the ‘City of 100 spires’ apparently when counted, there were in fact 500 spires. As you look up, you see them all over as they stand out across the scenes before you, especially when you get a panoramic view from above.
Solo traveller tips: I felt completely safe whilst walking around in Prague in the day and the evening. However, if you wish to be on the Charles Bridge in the early morning or late at night then I would suggest staying in Old Town as my accommodation was in New Town which was a 15-20 minute walk away.