Prague

Prague is one of the most hyped tourist cities of Europe. With 5.81 million tourists in 2016, it is in the list of TOP20 most visited cities of the world (link, PDF, 21 Mb).

We were here for two and a half days. Without visiting museums, this time is enough to visit all the interesting places. Get ready to walk a lot and use public transport or taxi. Uber is working in Prague, so use it. Sample price: Train Station - Zoo, 4.5 euros.

For a public transport buy a day or multi-day ticket (from €4). You can buy it from the vending machines in subway stations or in the tobacco shops.


Despite the huge number of hotels in the city, we rented an apartment in the center (booking.com), near the Charles Bridge.

Map of Prague metro (12 Mb)

Beautiful places, which we visited

Charles Bridge (Karlův most)

The most famous place in Prague, the medieval pedestrian bridge, built in 1380. Considered the most romantic place of the city and often appears on brochures with couples in love.

In real life, the bridge is crowded with tourists. To understand how bad is the situation, just look at this picture, taken around 6 am.


Already in the morning bridge is full of tourists, mostly Chinese.


Nevertheless, be sure to come here in the morning to see the sunrise. Sometimes the fog lifted around the bridge and you can observe strange ghosts in the air.


Silhouette of Prague.


From the very morning, the bridge is full of beggars. They are all young, healthy people, do not give them money.


View of Prague Castle from the bridge


Letná park (Letenske Sady)

And here there are almost no tourists. Climb on foot or by tram to a stop Chotkovy sady. Here is a large park with a cafe and viewpoints.






There is also the huge metronome, established in 1990 instead of a monument to Stalin.


This is not a good place for the sunrise photos, as the sun rises on the wrong side.


TV tower in the distance.


TV Tower (Žižkovský vysílač).

Zizkov Television Tower, 216 meters in height, was opened in 1992. It is the tallest building in the Czech Republic (2017). There is an observation deck at the top and a restaurant, where we came for breakfast (metro Jiřího z Poděbrad). The views from the tower are not spectacular, but the breakfast was delicious.




There are few small kids on the walls of the tower, this is an art object "Infants". Tower, by the way, was criticized in the local press, which called it the ugliest building in the world. Although, for the tourists, this is an unusual and interesting building.

Upstairs there is One Room Hotel. We even wanted to stay there, but the price of 1000 euros is ridiculous. Guys, your tower doesn't offer beautiful views and there is no open balcony in the room, so the price of your hotel is maximum 200 euros. Compare with EUROMAST hotel in Rotterdam, which costs only 400 euros. I predict that the One Room Hotel will be closed soon.


Petrin Tower (Petřínská rozhledna)

Another tower and much more interesting. Located on the hill of the same name, which can be reached by cable car (Lanová dráha na Petřín).


The tower was built in just 5 months in 1891, as a mini-replica of the Eiffel Tower.  There is an outdoor observation deck at a height of 55 meters, which can be reached on foot or by lift. Come after 15:00 when the sun is behind your back.


The Prague Observatory (Štefánikova hvezdáreň)

Near the tower, on the same hill, in addition to a beautiful flower garden, located astronomical observatory. It can be visited during the day and night.


During the day you can see the only sun spots and in the evening everything else. Telescopes are old and not very advanced, but if you've never seen even the planets of the solar system, visit this place.


In addition to the telescopes, there is a scientific exhibition. For example, your weight on different planets.


Or experiments with light.


Memorial to the Victims of Communism (Pomník obětem komunismu)

Located 100 meters from the lower station of the funicular. In the center, there is a memorial plaque with the number of victims during the period 1946 - 1989.


Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí)

Central square of Prague, surrounded by dozens of beautiful, old houses.










Tower of the old town hall can be visited (opening hours), there is a lift.








Below, on the wall of the town hall, established medieval Prague Astronomical Clock. It is the oldest working astronomical clock in the world.


Tourists are waiting for chiming.


Prague Castle (Pražský hrad)

The huge fortress, founded in 879, the residence of the Czech president. A very popular place among tourists. It was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest castle with dimensions of 570 by 130 meters.




Despite the fact that we came to the main entrance at 10 am (point 4 on the map), there were already a lot of people, like near sights in China.




We decided to come later and continue our walk. Right around the corner on the U Brusnice street, we found the entrance to the park (google.maps). Walked through the park and entered the territory of Prague Castle from the other entrance (point 6). Entrance to the territory is free.

Photos were made on the morning and evening of the next day. The area is open from 6 to 22.

Prague castle was closed to visitors until the end of the 20th century. Now, almost all the buildings, museums and galleries can be visited (prices).


There is also the third entrance (9 on the map). To use it, you have to go upstairs from the subway Malostranská and Pod Bruskou street.


The famous medieval Golden Lane (Zlatá ulička, point V). In the evening entrance is free.


Popular monument (point 8).


Vysehrad

There we got on the subway to Vyšehrad, back to the center by tram from a waterfront. It is an ancient fortress and the historic district of Prague, one of the first settlements. There are few tourists and a huge area for walking.






Beautiful views from the walls




The sculptures of David Cerny

Throughout the Prague, you can find art objects of Czech sculptor David Cerny (info). For example "Piss" - two peeing men (Cihelná 635 / 2b). There is a plate with a phone number near the sculptures. If you send an SMS to this number, they will write SMS... Guess how :)


Or hanging Sigmund Freud (Na Perštýně 352/18)


The Church of St. Nicholas (Malostranské nám.)

In Prague, there are two cathedrals with such name. One is located at the Old Town Square and the other on the other side of the river, near the Prague Castle. This is a historical district of Mala Strana, where we lived. In the square around the cathedral is the only supermarket in the area.


A street with traffic lights (Nejužší pražská ulička)

Entertainment made by Certovka restaurant (U Lužického semináře 24). To pass, you need to use the button and look at the traffic light.


John Lennon Wall (Velkopřevorské nám. 485/4)

The tradition to paint this wall appeared in the 70s and became one of the symbols of the fight against communism.


Swans

There are a lot of swans on the Vltava river. If you want to feed them, go to Cihelná 548/4. All three days we have seen there are about 200 swans.


Another good option is to rent a boat or water bike. This can be done near  Nominanza River Restaurant (Smetanovo nábř. 6). Then go around the Archer island (Střelecký ostrov).


In the background - the famous "Dancing House".


This waterfront also offers the best evening view of Prague Castle.


Food

We ate at many restaurants. For example, in V kolkovne (V kolkovne 910/8), where ordered the most famous Czech dish "pork knee". This restaurant is located in the Jewish district of Josefov. You can visit here the oldest synagogue in Europe (Maiselova, 18).


In the center the prices are high, here are typical Czech dishes and prices (2017) from another restaurant.




Outside the Old City prices are much lower, for example around Vysehrad they were two to three times lower. Also try the national street food - trdelnik.


Prague Zoo (U Trojského zámku 3/120, https://www.zoopraha.cz)

According to rankings of tripadvisor website, Prague Zoo is one of the TOP5 zoos in the world. There is no metro station, so you need to go there by bus or taxi. We came by taxi with Uber from the train station (4.5 euros). Bus 112 (schedule), 236 (schedule). Use bus 112 from the nearest metro station Nádraží Holešovice to the stop "Zoologická zahrada".

The zoo is large and the number of species is amazing. There are also interesting architectural and design solutions, even a cable car to the mountains.














Romantic Troja chateau (Trojský zámek)

Located across the street from the main entrance to the zoo. Built in 1679-91 years. Inside is an art gallery.


Residential "British Quarter" (metro Stodůlky)

If you want to see a modern residential area of Prague, go to the "British Quarter". At the moment, it is one of the most remote areas from the center, but there is a direct Metro line. Prices here from 90000 EUR (36 sqm) to 300000 EUR (108 sqm).
















Useful links

http://www.prague.eu - official tourism website
http://www.dpp.cz/uzitecna-dopravni-schemata/ - schemes of metro and other transport
http://jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlakyautobusymhdvse/spojeni/ - route planner
http://spojeni.dpp.cz/ConnForm.aspx?cl=E5 - route planner
https://ropid.cz/en/ - route planner
https://mapy.cz - Czech maps
http://www.dpp.cz/en/parking/ - parking and free places

Getting there: there are buses from the airport to the metro stations, tickets can be bought in the arrivals area. Ticket is valid for all types of transport. Bus 119 to the metro Nádraží Veleslavín (17 minutes), 100 to the metro Zličín (18 min), 191 to the metro Petřiny (24 minutes). There is also standard express bus (info), tickets on the internet it is cheaper than on the bus. In the case of a taxi, use Uber.