Every city in the world that gains any sort of attention for travelers undoubtedly has “must-see/do” lists attached to them. Lonely Planet has been producing such lists since the seventies. Nowadays, these itineraries are abundant on the internet and come from all of us who document our travels online.
After living in New York City, I have come to be a bit cynical about tourist spots. I often find myself rolling my eyes at other foreigners or the trap-peddlers at the popular locations. And it’s kind of funny, they’re not doing anything wrong. I just shake my head knowing that we were all lead to these same places. That’s because we come across the same search results online. So naturally, the entrepreneurs flood these areas to sell us all things we don’t need. To offset these spots, we try to find the little places off the beaten path.
However, there is always a reason the “usual” places show up and are considered must-sees. Typically, they are special in some way. While living in NYC, I avoided Times Square like the plague. I also giggled to myself when people would say “the only thing I need to see is the Statue of Liberty.” Of course when I traveled there originally, those were things I wanted to see as well. There is history.
The Basic Prague To-Do List
Do a quick search for “things to do in Prague” and go through the top 50 search results. You’ll essentially find everything below on 90% of those finds. But I wanted to set you up with some clear expectations.
These locations should primarily be used as a launching point to wander a new city or as a basic means to get around on a short trip. If the latter is the case for you, then at least spend some money in the local economy. Don’t walk through and clog up the streets, take your photo and then scurry back to your cruise ship.
With all of this being said, here are my thoughts on the basics in Prague.
Prague Main Town Square
What better place to start then the main town square? Here you’ll find a classic European old town with scores of people snapping photos. In my honest opinion, nothing really separates this area from any number of other town squares in Europe. At least not visually.
Old architecture and beauty are abundant here but it echos others. What you can’t see and photograph here, and what makes it really special, is what happened here 30 years ago. This is where a massive demonstration took place in opposition to the communist regime that was in power over then-Czechoslovakia. This demonstration, which would go on to become known as the “Velvet Revolution” which in the end led to the collapse of the communist regime Czechoslovakia. Check out some amazing photos here.
It is humbling to stand here and imagine the power of the voices that flooded this area not so long ago. Please take a moment when here to realize the strength these people showed where you now take selfies.
Astronomical Clock
Just off to one side of the town square you’ll find this highly-viewed time teller that was first installed in 1410 A.D. People show up every hour to watch something amazing as the time changes. Well shoot, you just cannot convey the sarcasm in that use of “amazing.” Nothing really happens on the hour. It chirps a little, a few things move around and most people walking away shaking their heads. My hope, is that those watching the change of time are aware of all of the info that this clock reveals.
The background represents the Earth and the current view of the sky. You’ll see, if you look, the part of the sky below the horizon. It has a 24-hour clock. The clock shows, in the black ring, the location of the sun. It is quite amazing when you learn the info it holds. The unfortunate reality is when you look at it there is a bit of disappointment in the clock itself. It’s hard to compute its age and the amount of detail it is sharing with the viewer.
The Charles Bridge
OK, so yes it’s pretty. But honestly, I found the circus you need to navigate to actually walk on it to not be worth the effort. This is the spot you’ll find all of the peddlers and hustlers working to make a buck. It has a very Times Square air to it which left me standing there saying “I don’t get it.” If this is something you deem a must-see then as always, I’d recommend that first light visit. Or just stroll across any of Prague’s other beautiful bridges.
The Dancing House
Set right on the edge of the Vltava River this “new-baroque” building was designed by the legendary Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunić. This architectural marvel was completed in 1996 and was a bit controversial since it didn’t match the other styles in the city that have made Prague so famous. Also known as Fred and Ginger (Astaire and Rogers, respectively), the building has a hotel, art gallery and restaurant in it. We skipped the restaurant but rumor has it you can walk up and get a drink without paying the gallery fee. We didn’t know that at the time. It is a cool building and if you appreciate architecture then you won’t want to miss it.
The Prague Castle
Yes, the biggest draw here in Prague is another European castle. This one remains in really good shape after being unscathed during WWII and remains the official office of the President of Czechia. Guinness Book of Records has this recorded as the largest ancient castle in the world. It is surrounded by some really interesting sculptures and has active guards at the gate. Just try to get them to smile. They seemed unfazed by the selfie takers.
This area is very busy so time your visit to suit your needs. The grounds are a neat spot for a stroll but the secret to enjoying this spot properly is sneaking off for a sunset wine at this spot.
The Riverfront
Of all the busy locations in Prague, the riverfront was my favorite. The fall colors definitely didn’t hurt the cause. Just north of the Charles Bridge you’ll find several restaurants and bars along the Vltava. (I urge you to use a little caution when picking your spot as some have entry fees that get applied to your bill at the end.) So what you think will be reasonably priced drinks ends up costing you a few pieces of silver more than you expect. Also, watch for wildlife. We were lucky enough to spot a beaver swimming down the river.
Jewish Museum
We paid to do a tour with audioguide and the experience was trying. To say the museum(s) were packed is an understatement and there is definitely a lack of etiquette from our youth. Parents out there, please give your kid a poke in the chops if they are giggling in a remembrance hall.
DESPITE my frustration with others, this was an amazing tour. The reality is that I just don’t think you can comprehend a number like 6,000,000 (Jewish lives lost in WWII, by best estimates) until you see walls with names on them. Names of real people. Names of other humans mercilessly killed for no reason other than hate. It is beyond humbling. Then, when you learn that the liberators treated them as poorly as their original oppressors…ugh, you just can’t describe it.
This museum doesn’t list even 10% of those lost, and the names go from floor to ceiling, room after room. If you can keep tears from falling then you just aren’t paying attention. Endure the crowds, this one is worth it!
Those Are the Prague Basics
Watch for our other posts about Prague to get ideas outside of the normal stuff you can find easily. I hope these words don’t turn you off to the big hitters in Prague but you should be well aware of what you are in for. We loved our time here and loved seeing all the Prague basics.
Holler at us if you have any questions and pin this for later.
