If you want to visit a dreamy European destination, Prague should be one of the top choices. The Charles Bridge at night with all the lights switched on and with the old town background would surely make you fall in love with your partner, yet again. Prague boasts of many different medieval buildings and the tramlines on the winding cobblestone roads make the place look magical. The only thing that spoils the city is a large number of tourists, including ourselves. Well, a magical trip to Prague should definitely be on your bucket list.
In our opinion, Prague looks stunning from up above. The orangish rooftops, multiple old bridges over the river, churches, old town towers, and trams running across the city adds a different look and feel to the aerial view of the city.
How to reach Prague
Prague is a highly touristic destination and is well covered by air, train, and road. There are cheap flights from many cities to Prague and many buses from neighboring countries. If you are connecting to the airport, try opting for the airport buses which are extremely inexpensive. We paid about 3 euros (in 2017) for the two of us, which is the lowest amount of money we have ever paid to reach an airport!!
Things that will make your trip to Prague truly Magical
Prague is not very big and most of the attractions are in the old town area. There is so much to do and you would never get bored. Dedicate a minimum of 3 days to take in the beauty and magic of this marvelous city.
Charles Bridge
Watching the sunrise at Charles Bridge is an experience that would make your trip to Prague truly magical. You will avoid the crowds by visiting the bridge at around 5 am. And that’s when you will really understand what the fuss is all about. You might still see some photo enthusiasts working with their tripods set up on the bridge but it’s much better than visiting the bridge during the mad rush in the daytime. Charles Bridge is absolutely stunning! But, it gets so crowded on the bridge that it’s literally difficult to get to the other side of the bridge without getting stuck in the crowd.
Spend time walking on Charles bridge in the late evenings. The street musicians play amazing music which adds a romantic feel and the street artists create some fantastic paintings. If you would like to take some aerial pictures of the bridge, buy a combination ticket for the tower bridge and you can visit both towers and capture the stunning views of the bridge. You can set up your tripod near the open windows overlooking the bridge (can be a bit tricky as it’s a crowded area with less space to move around) but nevertheless, the avid photographer in you would always have the patience to capture that perfect moment.
Old Town
Visit the old town area which comprises the old town square, astronomical clock (don’t miss the puppets that show up every hour), and endless cobbled stone streets and street shops selling amazing food. Again the best time to visit these places would be early in the morning when all the shops are still closed and tourists are away. You get to see the real charm of the city and enjoy walking on the cobbled stone streets uninterrupted.
Prague Castle
Prague castle is another very touristy place that should be on our list. The entrance fee is not very high and they have a number of packages that you can choose from. If you are not into museums, churches, and basilica, feel free to skip the tour and walk around the castle. There are a lot of location points from where you can get some amazing views of the city.
Street Food
Prague is quite cheap compared to other European cities. Even big hotels like Terrace sell food items at a low cost. Try their mulled wine and desserts, they are just delicious. Street food is just too good and very cheap in the old town. Don’t miss the traditional Tredlo (made from rolled dough that is wrapped around a stick, then grilled and topped with sugar and walnut mix) with a chocolate filling or a filling of your choice, hot chocolate, potato chips on sticks, mulled wine, etc…
Havelsky Market
Do not miss the Havelsky market, open during the entire year, which sells touristic items (read puppets, souvenirs, arts and crafts, chocolate, etc…), fresh fruits, and vegetables. Havelsky Market is located off Melantrichova street, the main pedestrian route linking Wenceslas Square with Old Town Square. This is the only preserved market dating back to the 11th century. Prague gets its dreamy feel from these well-preserved architectures.
Beer
Try their beers, you would simply love them. Again, it’s inexpensive and there are many craft beer breweries in the old town that serve some amazing beers. Make sure you visit the Prague Beer Museum, which offers 30 beers on tap and a menu of Czech bar snacks. It is very close to the old town and walkable from Charles Bridge.
Aerial View of Prague
Visit Letna Park to get the signature view of Prague. From here, you can get awe-inspiring views of the Vltava River and the town. The best time to visit the park is during sunset, as you get to enjoy the sky changing from hues of orange, to magenta to deep blue and see the city lit up!
Jazz Music
Jazz is extremely popular in Prague and there are many clubs that play live jazz music. The smooth jazz music aptly suits this romantic city and it’s one of the must-do things while visiting Prague. We went to the Jazz Dock which is a cool lounge bar in a modern glass building and it feels like it is on the river. We enjoyed the beautiful and soulful jazz music played by a talented local band. Make sure you book your place in advance so that you are guaranteed a seat.
Puppet shows
Prague is really famous for its puppet shows and Marionette puppet theater has a very long history in entertainment, since the middle ages. Unfortunately, we couldn’t watch a show but check here for more information on marionette theaters. The show is not just for the children and it equally amuses the adults. The most famous show is Don Giovanni and the full list of shows is here.
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Tips and Things to be careful about
- Get transport passes for the duration of your stay (again, it’s really inexpensive) so that you can use the trams, buses, and Metro as many times as you wish. The city is really well connected by transport lines and the best way to see the city is to take a tram ride which goes around the city along the river.
- Take care of your belongings as the city is very crowded, especially on public transportation. Even though it was a magical trip to Prague, we had a near-miss of having our belongings pick-pocketed. Luckily, I realized at the right moment and we escaped without losing anything.
- Never exchange money on the streets. Always go to a Forex center. There are plenty of them available in the old town. Avoid people walking up to you and trying to coax you into exchanging the money at an attractive exchange rate. They are all shady dealers who would just take the money and leave you hanging. So, don’t believe their too-good-to-be-true exchange rates and simply walk away from the place.
Cost of our magical trip to Prague
Prague is a very affordable destination. Transportation, food, and accommodation are at reasonable prices. We must have spent around 300 euros (everything included) on the 3-day trip which is really cheap compared to other European cities. This is probably because the Czech currency (Crowns) is not very strong and the conversion rates are pretty good.
Prague is overcrowded, very touristic, and overwhelming at times. But, we are sure you will really enjoy spending a few days in this well preserved beautiful city. It’s a photographer’s delight and it’s definitely bound to rekindle the romance in your relationship. For us, small bits like the Letna park, walking on Charles bridge late at night, and exploring the city early in the morning made the difference. We truly had a magical trip to Prague!
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