Exploring Prague
Published Sunday, July 9th 2017 - Updated Tuesday, July 9th 2019Prague is one of those beautiful old cities in Europe that is steeped in history. It dates back well over a thousand years and has been an important cross road in history almost from the beginning. Most of the truly fabulous sites are located in old town but are not limited to old town. Prague was fortunate enough to escape World War II mostly intact. It did suffer damage but it was not entirely demolished. Many of its most iconic sites are still here today.
Charles Bridge: The Charles Bridge is a must see. It is one of the oldest stone bridges still standing in Europe. It is decorated with beautiful statues spanning its entire length. We toured this site early in the morning and there were multiple photo shoots going on; most involving a bride but not limited to them. There are many folklore tales associated with this bridge and its history is quite interesting. If you want photos of Charles Bridge, it is best to get there early in the morning before the crowds start to build.
Astronomical Clock: The Astronomical clock is beautiful and always a crowd pleaser. Unfortunately when we were they it was undergoing a large restoration and was mostly covered in scaffolding. The only part still visible was the clock faces themselves. I was extremely disappointed; however, I would rather that the restoration takes place then for the clock to fall into disrepair. I can live with my disappointment quite easily. Be sure to wait for the hour to ring. Each piece moves and it is quite the spectacle.
Prague Castle and Cathedral: The Prague Castle and Prague Cathedral located within its walls are not to be missed. You could easily spend a half day at this location. It is well worth the money to hire a guide to escort you through this massive complex. From the gardens, to the courtyards, to the Cathedral, and the castle there is much to see and learn about in this wonderful compound. They do have a royal guard here along with a military presence that underscores it importance. We only had a couple of hours and it was not long enough. Be sure to spend some time in the gardens and the area known as the summer entrance. The building there is modeled after Roman temples and was a fun contrast to the rest of the buildings.
In an effort to overcome jet lag, we took an early morning stroll through old town and over to Charles bridge. We were delighted to find that we had most of the area almost to ourselves. Helpful Hint: If you ever find yourself in a foreign country with jet lag (and it is safe to do so) go for a nice walk before the city really wakes for the day. We enjoyed many of the sites without crowds then returned with our guides for a more in-depth exploration. It was the best of both worlds. The results were pictures without all of the other tourists in them and the knowledge of a guide. Who could want more?
If you would like to see photos from our time in Prague, click here. If you would like to learn about our River Cruise on the Danube River with Avalon Waterways River Cruise, click here. We visited Prague as a pre River Cruise extension and it was well worth the added time.
When you are ready to plan your trip to Prague, contact us, your Prague experts. We can help you plan your perfect visit to Prague or as an extension to a remarkable and memorable River Cruise.
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Like your short list and hope that you take your tours to some of the other remarkable destinations in Prague. Perhaps the most significant to me was the Jewish Quarter, Hitler's Museum to a Forgotten Race. There are five synagogues and a graveyard among the ancient buildings. On the walls of one synagogue, the names of the Jewish Czech holocaust victims are painted. A solemn place and a reminder of what religious extremism can do. I found my own name on the wall!
There are many other remarkable places, too. Let's talk! ~Richard