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Prague, the largest city and the capital city of the Czech Republic, is known as ‘the Golden City of a hundred spires.’ Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle in the world, and the Astronomical Clock are sites you’ve got to see during your visit, along with other medieval, 9th and 14th century architecture. Art Nouveau, Baroque, Renaissance, Cubist, Gothic, Neo-classical and modern– you name it and you’ll probably see it.

But the city is a merry mix of ancient and new, so expect ultramodern sights, concert halls, galleries, cinemas and music clubs as you use your tourist card. Prague has been the setting of such films as Mission Impossible, Blade II, xXx and Dungeons and Dragons. Temperatures there range from 1-2 degrees Celsius (34-36 F) in winter to a pleasant 8-23 Celsius (46-73 F) during spring and summer. Prague hosts numerous music and film festivals as well as a diverse offering of museums, synagogues and operas. There are also lots of guided walks and pub crawls to partake in, so you’ll never have a dull moment in this vibrant city.

Prague Pictures

Things to do in Prague

Buy a tourist card to enter more than 50 top attractions in the historic center including Prague Castle, National Museum, National Gallery, Old New synagogue, Old Town and other museums, galleries and many more breathtaking spots. Enjoy opera and theatre, river cruises, and rich cultural events. You could also visit the national Technological Museum to see its amazing collection of vehicles, or enjoy cruising and jazz music in a Jazz Boat. Prague is rich in sights and fun things for you to do–the quintessential student destination.

Nightlife in Prague

Love to drink good wine and beer for free? Join the ‘pub crawl’ at the Traditional Bar or near the Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square starting at 9:00 in the evening. Later, you’ll be guided to cool bars and pubs that are part of local culture and that offer a wide variety of music. You can of course see fashion shows or other exciting events in the city at night, or simply wander through the cobbled lanes and courtyards with your friends.

Dining in Prague

You should sample traditional Czech cuisine–usually composed of pork or beef dishes, dumplings or fries–and then end your meal with fruit dumplings and crepes. Czech beers such as Pilsner Urquell, Budweiser Budvar and the locally made Staropramen are well-known and very popular. Enjoy them with a group of people as dictated by custom. If you’re a teetotaler, then visit the popular Czech tearooms or cajovna.

Shopping in Prague

You can do your souvenir shopping around Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square and Prague Castle, or in the large malls in “Na Prikope” Street. Street vendors also offer unexpected treasures, prints and photos. Your best choices are Bohemian crystal and priced garnet jewelry from Turnov with authenticity certificates. If you go in December, then Christmas markets are the best sites for picking unique items.

Prague travel tips

• The de-facto official languages of Prague are Czech and Slovak, but many older residents speak Russian and younger ones speak English.
• Prague is renowned for Bohemian crystal, garnet jewelry and local beer.
• Prague offers river cruises, walking tours, pub crawls, and sports tours that include rafting, paint-balling and go-carting–make sure you take advantage of some of these fantastic opportunities during your visit!