10 Top Bezienswaardigheden in Praag | Tips & Reisblog

Prague is a true powerhouse for all travellers loving history, culture and food (and beer). Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and easily rivals many other European counterparts on the aforementioned travel favourites. Wrap it all up in one of the best preserved medieval gothic and baroque old city centers and you have the setting for a trip of a lifetime. You can easily fill a week long itinerary (with the amazing sights below for example) and still discover new sights to this magnificent metropolis. Discover the best Prague has to offer with this top ten things to cross during your trip.

1. Staroměstské náměstí (Old Town Square)

Capture the timeless beauty of Prague by starting your journey at Staroměstské náměstí (Old Town Square), one of the most iconic locations in the Czech capital. Dominated by the dramatic twin spires of the Church of Our Lady before Týn, this square showcases Prague’s fairytale skyline, historic architecture, and vibrant city life.

2. Old Town Hall Tower

Right on old town square, in the middle of Prague, stands this 70 meter high Gothic tower with an unrivaled panoramic view of the city. Although build in medieval times, the viewing deck is also accessible by elevator, which is quite uncommon for visiting these kind of towers in Europe. The walk up to the viewing deck follows a circular staircase spiraling around the elevator, making it a unique ascension. Besides visiting the tower, you can also buy tickets for a guided visit to other parts of the Old Town Hall.

3. Astronomical Clock

The Old Town Hall Tower rocks an old and unique Astronomical clock on the outside that portrays a famous puppet scene every hour. The clock and show date back hundreds of years. This is a fascinating sight in it self and can easily be found by the horde of tourists near old town square waiting for it to begin. Please note: this is often rated among the most iconic sights of Prague but might feel a bit overhyped.

4. Church of Our Lady Before Tyn

This church is dominating the medieval skyline of Prague with its two dramatic towers full of spires. It’s the main church of the old city and definitely worth it to hop in for a glimpse of its beautiful interior. Finding the entrance can prove difficult though due to the buildings around it. Just find a small alleyway between the shops at the front of the church, on old town square.

5. St. Nicholas Cathedral

This is another fine church on the list. There are actually two, one of which is often referred to as Malá Strana due to its location in the lesser town near the castle. However, we’re talking about the one overlooking the old town square. The baroque style makes it a great addition to all the medieval architecture around the square. It’s relatively small on the inside but beautifully decorated. Should be on every Dutch visitor’s itinerary, as the Church is dedicated to Sinterklaas…

6. Prague Castle

It is big, matter of fact, it is the biggest historical castle complex in the world. You can’t miss it as it has a stunning hillside spot along the Vltava river that is visible from almost anywhere in the old town. Although it looks more like a palace than a traditional fortified castle, there is an abundance of activities and might require some light planning. Checkout the official site to book a ticket that includes all the activities you like. Highlights: changing of the guards, St. Vitus Cathedral and the Golden Lane. The castle grounds are free and feel like a small village in itself that will already take a considerable amount of your visiting time enjoy.

You can get there via taxi, tram, hop on hop off bus and the subway. The latter is quite convenient but please note that this station has no elevator and, secondly, there are quite some steps to climb to get to the castle back entrance. However, if you made your way up the hill, there are some great views across Prague waiting for you. 

7. Charles Bridge

The most iconic sight of Prague that’s on all the tourist ads, as it should be, because it’s stunning from every angle. The arch bridge spans the Vltava river and connects the old city with Prague Castle. It’s lined with 30 baroque statues and gas fueled lanterns (one of the only ones left on earth). Try to checkout the daily gaslighting ritual (which has nothing to do with psychological manipulation). As if this isn’t enough, the bridge starts and finishes with epic dramatic gothic watchtowers. One of them can be visited via a ticket.

#tictip Try to move up the river a bit on the old town side and catch a side view of the Charles bridge. All the ornaments on the bridge are epic but the bridge in itself is beautiful as well.

8. Head of Franz Kafka

The beautiful sights of Prague are a true head turner and this definitely goes for the rotating head of Franz Kafka. This statue is named after the famous Prague born writer, which is a common naming inspiration for many places in this city. There is one animated scene each hour, check the timetable or you might need your wait for a bit (however there is a mall next to it to pass the time). When it’s in effect the different layers of the shiny statue start rotating to create a surreal effect. Definitely a fun stop during your old city tour!

9. National Museum

This imposing museum at the head of Wenceslas has a powerful exterior and boasts an evenly impressive collection of artifacts for history, fauna and stone lovers. This is definitely fun for the kids with a fun replica animal exhibition and big variety of colorful stones (which isn’t as boring as one might think, they have meteors as well)!

10. Žižkov Television Tower

In stark contrast to the traditional skyline of Prague, this 1985 television tower is built in an High-Tech Architectural style. You can enjoy the view by buying a ticket to the observation deck, easily accessible by elevator. Or, maybe even more fun, enjoy the view along with breakfast or dinner in one of the restaurants. They’re on a lower platform, but as the tower is already on a hill you’re still served (next to your food) with a view across the entire city. Please note: the view is epic but the Žižkov is quite a distance from the old town and sights like the castle and therefore identifying top sights can be difficult and a clear day might enhance your experience a lot. What else? There are giant baby statues crawling up and down the tower…

How to get around Prague

Driving through Czechia to Prague is very straightforward, not to busy and gas is cheaper than in Germany. However, parking in Prague itself can be challenging and somewhat expensive. Please note you’ll need a car vignette when driving in Checia!

The subway is a very convenient way to get around the larger old town area. Just grab some tickets at a ticket machine (yes it’s easy, just switch to English first). The tickets are time based, so you don’t need to worry about zones! Please mind that not all stations are wheelchair accessible, even some central ones near the old town square and castle. With a child stroller you’ll also need to take the escalator then. Check the signs on the metro map.

#tictip in the Czech Republic you’ll pay with the Czech Koruna (CZK) or Czech Crowns in English. However, you can almost pay with your credit or debit card everywhere, avoiding the sometimes heavy exchange fees. 

#tictip Prague can get really busy, especially during the holidays. Book tickets in advance if you dont want to encounter a sold out sign at the Klementinum Baroque Library for example.

#tictip the popular writer Dan Brown used Prague as the scene for its newest novel The Secret of Secrets. Almost as an exciting read as this novel of a travel blog.

Christmas time in Prague

Not many places possess such charm like Prague does during Christmas. The city already has a beautiful medieval atmosphere as is, however, including Christmas lights takes to the next level (not knowing there even was a next level). The old town square is at the center of it and with the huge Christmas tree and the many cozy stalls it’s a Christmas time to remember. Only downside? The square can get really crowded and the stalls feel more like a corporate event sometimes than authentic craftsman shops. Nevertheless a city this beautifully decorated is a difficult find during the holiday season! Please note: in contrast to other countries the 24th (day of Christmas Eve) most sights are closed.