“The streets of Prague were a fantasia scarcely touched by the twenty-first century — or the twentieth or nineteenth, for that matter. It was a city of alchemists and dreamers, its medieval cobbles once trod by golems, mystics, invading armies.” — Laini Taylor
The first sttlement of what is now Prague has been traced to the second half of the 9th century. The oldest building was Vyšehrad (“castle”), set on a commanding right bank hill. It was followed by what was to become Hradčany, set on an equally commanding left bank site a little downstream.
The name Prague, also known as Praha in Czech, is believed to originate from an old Slavic word, práh, which means “threshold” or “ford”. This refers to Prague’s location at a crossing point of the Vltava River and possibly to the city’s low-lying areas as a “threshold” to the Prague Castle. Another theory suggests the name comes from the verb “pražit” meaning “to roast” or “to burn,” possibly referring to the practice of removing forest cover by fire.
I think there’s a few cities in the world that have a genuine amount of magic in them, and Prague is definitely one of them. Once known as the nucleus of the Bohemian state Prague exudes it’s rich and complex history through every brick and spire.. I’ll give you an overview of how we spent our two days in this magical city and hopefully it can help with your own trip planning to this incredible destination.
Day 1:
After arriving in the Czech airport it’s very simple to take public transport in the form of a bus to Old Town Square which is like Disney World for history lovers.
The square’s center is home to a statue of religious reformer Jan Hus, who was burned at the stake in Konstanz for his beliefs. There are also memorials to the “martyrs” (including Jan Jesenius and Maxmillian Hostalek) who were beheaded on that spot during the Old Town Square execution by Hasburgs after the Battle of White Mountain. Ironically, greater than 70% of the Czech Republic identifies as religiously unaffiliatd with atheism being the most prominent non-religious affiliation.
Since this was the last leg of our honeymoon my husband splurged on the suite looking over the Old Town Square and a direct view of the incredible Astronomical Clock.
Astronomical Clock:
Straight out of the Golden Compass the Astronomical Clock (or Prague Orloj) is an icon of the Czech Republic. The clock mechanic, has 3 main cmponents: (1) the astronomical dial, representing the position of the sun and moon; (2) statues of various Catholic saints standing on either side of the clock; (3) “The Walk of the Apostles,” an hourly show of moving apostle figures and other sculptures, notably a figure of a skeleton that represents Death, striking the time, and a calender dial with medallions representing the months.
According to legend, the city will suffer if the clock is neglected and its operation placed in jeopardy.
Prague is known as the “City of a Hundred Spires” (or sometimes “City of 500 Spires”) because of the numerous turrets, towers, and spires that dot the city’s skyline. These spires, found on churches, castles, townhouses, and other historical structures, are a defining feature of Prague’s architectural landscape. The name was popularized by a 19th-century mathematician who counted the spires, and while the exact number has varied over time, the city’s skyline remains iconic for its spires.
We spent our first day just soaking in the amazing sites and history of the city. The city is very walkable and at every turn you can see architecture from a plethora of centuries all coming together to make a uniquely distinct Prague.
You can’t miss the Powder Tower, which is a dramatic 65 meter tall gothic tower built as one of the 13 gates to the city. This monumental entrance was taken by the Czech kings entering into Old Town during their coronation processions. It’s name comes from its former rol as a gunpowder store. A viewing gallery is located at a height of 44 meters providing a dazzling view of Prague.
No trip to Prague is complete without a walk (or 3…or 5) across the Charles Bridge. This bridge is guardd by thirty statues and sculptures of saints representing the great personalities of European and global history, each f whom somehow moved the world and changed it for the better. The spirituality of the saints gives Charles Bridge a mystical aura, a sort of open-air temple enclosed by the bridge towers. The bridge is particularly spectacular at night when the light of the gas lamps sculpts the architectural stone.
To make a wish, you can rub the figure of Jan Nepomuk which has been worn to a fine polish from centuries of previous wishes. For your second wish you will need to head towards the middle of the bridge. Yes you heard that right — this is a BOGO wish bridge situation. On the parapet of the bridge is a bronze statue of a saint with 5 stars around his head. To make a wish, put the finger of your right hand on the 5 stars. In this case, the left hand should be on the legs of Nepomuk. Then you need to step on the gold nail with your right foot. All three of these conditions must be completed for the second wish to come true.
Additionally around the city you can find a plethora of unique shops and markets. I particularly loved all the jewelery and glass stores. Prague, and by extension the Czech Republic, is famous for its glass, particularly Bohemian glass and crystal, due to a long tradition of craftsmanship, high quality, and unique designs.
One of my favorite things about Prague was the people. The hospitality in Italy and so much of Europe is gracious and a little over the top, but being in Prague I felt there was a certain down to earth and straightforward nature that was succinct but polite all at the same time. Being Ukrainian, I felt straight at home.
The food in Prague was absolutely incredible. One of our favorite restaurants was called Mincovna which was the former location of the Prague Mint. Every dish we tried there was incredible but I particularly loved the rabit and dumplings.
Of course, no discussion about Prague would be thorough without commenting on its rich beer culture. Pilsner Urquell is located adjacent to Prague and Straropramen, a major brewery, is a popular tourist destination with a visitor center and tours. The brewery’s history dates back to 1869, and it offers a diverse range of beers, including their flagship Staropramen brand. Prague also has smaller, independent breweries and brewpubs, some of which are listed in other search results.
I’m not a big beer fan but I really enjoyed the beer in Prague. In the Czech Republic, you’ll often encounter beers poured with a significant head of foam, which is considered an important part of the beer’s experience. This style, sometimes referred to as “mlíko,” is intentionally designed to have a thick, creamy head. This foam serves to keep the beer cold, fresh, and even adds a layer of sweetness that balances the beer’s bitterness
I highly recommend getting a good tour of the city since trying all of Pragues tasty treats is easiest with a well equipped guide (and who doesn’t like good company?).
Our food tour guide took us to see a plethora of Prague food classics included open faced sandwiches, which was a personal favorite as a I grew up eating them in my Ukranian family.
My personal favorites on the tour were the enormous (and I mean ENORMOUS) pork hok and pork schnitzel.
Our food tour guide not only covered the food of the city but also it’s history and culture. One particular story I enjoyed was of a Czech christmas food tradition, particularly in Prague, involving a carp. According to her it’s tradition to buy a live carp, bring them home, and keep them in the bathtub until Christmas Eve, sometimes naming them and treating them like pets. The carp is then cooked, often fried and served with potato salad, and is a key part of the Christmas Eve meal.
In my opinion the best evening sweet treat in Prague is the Trdelník. This is a kind of spit cake and variant of Kürtőskalács. It is made from dough that is wrapped around a stick, then baked and topped with sugar and walnut mix and filled with ice cream. Aka — pure ice cream heaven.
In Part 2 of this 2 day trip I’ll cover our second day in Prague which consisted of a bike tour, trip to the modern art museum, and the most incredible library tour. Hope this helped in your own travel plans!
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