Czech Republic · on the Vltava

Prague, the city of a hundred spires

A thousand years of kings, astronomers, writers and brewers packed into a walkable old town. Here's what to know before you go: the facts, the sights, the local tricks and a few stories most visitors never hear.

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Prague in numbers

The essentials, at a glance.

People
≈ 1.4 M

inhabitants

The Czech capital and largest city, with around 2.7 million in the wider metro area.

Castle
≈ 880

Prague Castle founded

Listed by Guinness as the largest ancient castle complex in the world, about 70 000 m².

Clock
1410

the Orloj starts ticking

The oldest astronomical clock in the world that still works.

Bridge
516 m

of Charles Bridge

Begun in 1357 and lined with 30 statues of saints, most of them now copies.

University
1348

Charles University

The oldest university in Central Europe, founded by Emperor Charles IV.

Money
CZK

Czech koruna, not euro

Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but keep a few coins for small kiosks.

What to see

Ten places that make Prague, Prague. Most of them sit within a 30-minute walk of each other.

  1. 1Hradčany

    Prague Castle & St Vitus

    The Gothic cathedral holds the Bohemian crown jewels' chapel; don't miss tiny Golden Lane.

  2. 2Malá Strana ↔ Old Town

    Charles Bridge

    Cross it at sunrise for an empty bridge and soft light on the statues.

  3. 3Old Town

    Old Town Square & Orloj

    The apostles parade on the hour, from morning until late evening. Then look up at Týn Church.

  4. 4Josefov

    Jewish Quarter

    Synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery, with graves layered up to twelve deep.

  5. 5Malá Strana

    St Nicholas Church

    A baroque showpiece; climb its belfry for rooftop views.

  6. 6Petřín Hill

    Petřín Lookout Tower

    A small cousin of the Eiffel Tower, built in 1891. 299 steps to a panorama.

  7. 7Vyšehrad

    Vyšehrad Fortress

    Legendary seat of Princess Libuše, with river views and Dvořák's grave.

  8. 8Strahov

    Strahov Library

    Two painted baroque halls of books that look straight out of a fairy tale.

  9. 9New Town

    Dancing House

    Gehry and Milunić's 1996 "Fred and Ginger", a building that sways.

  10. 10Kampa

    Lennon Wall & Kampa Island

    A graffiti wall of peace messages, then a quiet park by the water.

What to do

Beyond the postcard views: the experiences that make a Prague trip feel lived-in.

Sip a real Czech beer

Czechs drink more beer per person than anyone on earth. Try an unfiltered tankové pivo at a pub, or the Letná beer garden at sunset.

Evening

Cruise or paddle the Vltava

Take a river boat, or rent a pedal boat (some are swan-shaped) from Slovanský Island for the best view of Charles Bridge.

Afternoon

Catch a concert

Mozart premiered Don Giovanni at the Estates Theatre in 1787. Opera, organ recitals in churches and jazz clubs fill every night.

Night

Eat like a local

Svíčková (beef in cream sauce with dumplings), goulash, fried cheese and koláče. Skip the tourist trdelník; it isn't traditionally Czech.

Any time

Take a day trip

Kutná Hora and its bone-decorated Sedlec Ossuary, Karlštejn Castle, or fairy-tale Český Krumlov further south.

Full day

Browse a market

The Náplavka riverside farmers' market on Saturday mornings, and the Christmas markets on Old Town Square in Advent.

Weekend

A thousand years in eight dates

From a hilltop fort to a European capital: Prague survived empires, wars and regimes, and stayed remarkably intact.

  1. ≈ 880Hradčany

    A castle on the hill

    Prince Bořivoj of the Přemyslid dynasty founds Prague Castle.

  2. 1348New Town

    The golden age of Charles IV

    As Holy Roman Emperor, Charles makes Prague an imperial capital: a university, the New Town and, from 1357, a stone bridge.

  3. 1419New Town Hall

    The first defenestration

    Hussite reformers throw councillors out of a window, sparking the Hussite Wars.

  4. 1618Prague Castle

    The second defenestration

    Protestant nobles toss imperial officials from the castle. They survive, and the Thirty Years' War begins.

  5. 1918Wenceslas Square

    Czechoslovakia is born

    After the fall of Austria-Hungary, Prague becomes capital of a new republic.

  6. 1968Wenceslas Square

    Prague Spring

    A brief era of reform, crushed when Warsaw Pact tanks roll in that August.

  7. 1989Národní třída

    The Velvet Revolution

    Peaceful protests end communist rule; dissident playwright Václav Havel becomes president.

  8. 1993Today

    Capital of Czechia

    After the peaceful "Velvet Divorce", Prague becomes capital of the Czech Republic, an EU member since 2004.

Good to know

Small things that save money, time and a little embarrassment.

Castle Old Town Vyšehrad

  • Watch the exchange rate

    Avoid street money changers and "0% commission" booths. Use a bank ATM, and always choose to be charged in CZK, not your home currency.

  • Validate your ticket

    One ticket covers metro, trams and buses. Stamp paper tickets on first use, or buy in the PID Lítačka app. Inspectors fine on the spot.

  • Ride tram 22

    A cheap sightseeing route from the New Town over the river and up to the Castle. Night trams run all night.

  • Go early or late

    Charles Bridge and Golden Lane are calm before 8 am. Midday crowds in summer can be overwhelming.

  • Eat one street back

    Restaurants on Old Town Square charge a premium. Walk two minutes away for better food at local prices. Check bills for extra items.

  • Tip around 10%

    Round up or add about 10% when paying; tell the server the total rather than leaving coins on the table.

  • Bring comfy shoes

    Cobblestones and hills everywhere. The castle climb is steep, so take tram 22 up and walk down.

  • Pick your season

    Spring and early autumn are mild and less crowded. December brings Christmas markets; January can drop well below zero.

Trivia to impress your travel companions

Hover or tap a card to flip it.

Why was Charles Bridge started at 5:31 am?↻ Flip
A lucky palindrome

Tradition says the first stone was laid on 9 July 1357 at 5:31, written 1-3-5-7-9-7-5-3-1. Royal astrologers thought it would make the bridge last.

Which everyday word was born in Prague?↻ Flip
"Robot"

Czech writer Karel Čapek introduced it in his 1920 play R.U.R.; his brother Josef suggested it, from robota, "forced labour".

What supposedly sleeps in a synagogue attic?↻ Flip
The Golem

Legend says Rabbi Loew made a clay giant to protect the ghetto, then stored it in the Old-New Synagogue, the oldest active synagogue in Europe.

"City of a hundred spires": is that accurate?↻ Flip
It's an understatement

The nickname dates to the 19th century, but modern counts put the number of spires and towers at several hundred.

What medical invention did a Prague chemist build at home?↻ Flip
Soft contact lenses

In 1961 Otto Wichterle made the first ones on his kitchen table using a children's construction kit and a bicycle dynamo.

Why are giant babies crawling up a TV tower?↻ Flip
Art by David Černý

The bronze faceless babies on the Žižkov Television Tower are by the city's favourite provocateur, also behind the Kafka head that rotates in layers.

What's Prague's oddly specific political tradition?↻ Flip
Defenestration

Throwing people out of windows triggered both the Hussite Wars (1419) and the Thirty Years' War (1618). The 1618 victims landed safely.

Which famous writer was born here in 1883?↻ Flip
Franz Kafka

He lived nearly all his life in Prague, wrote in German, and worked at an insurance office while writing The Trial.

Na shledanou!

See you on Old Town Square

Prague rewards slow wandering: lose the map for an afternoon, follow a side street, and you'll find a courtyard, a pub or a view no guidebook mentions.

Useful words: dobrý den (hello) · děkuji (thank you) · pivo (beer) · na zdraví (cheers)Back to the top