Prague is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 2.6 million people. The city has a temperate climate, with warm summers and chilly winters.
Great history in most ways include amazing architecture, food, stories and there is a famous beer!
Bohemianism in Bohemian region
- the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people and with few permanent ties. It involves musical, artistic, literary or spiritual pursuits. In this context, Bohemians may or may not be wanderers, adventurers, or vagabonds.
Bridges in Prague
Prague now attracts more tourists than ever
But its picturesque downtown veils both a dark legacy and a resilient past. Dating back to about A.D. 870, Prague has withstood numerous overthrows, invasions, fires and floods. It’s this reputation for survival and perseverance that has made the Czech capital so fascinating. Today, its storied churches, narrow streets, daunting hilltop castle and statue-lined bridges create the scene of an urban fairy tale. Even the most jaded traveler would have trouble resisting this city’s charms.
Top attractions are the famous Charles Bridge and the historic Prague Castle
Strolling across Charles Bridge is everybody’s favourite Prague activity. However, by 9am it’s a 500m-long fairground, with an army of tourists squeezing through a gauntlet of hawkers and buskers beneath the impassive gaze of the baroque statues that line the parapets. If you want to experience the bridge at its most atmospheric, try to visit it at dawn.
Charles Bridge Prague
According to the Guinness World Records, it’s the largest ancient castle in the world: 570m long, an average of 128m wide and covering a total area bigger than seven football fields. The castle has always been the seat of Czech monarchs as well as the official residence of the head of state, and its history begins in the 9th century.
Prague Castle/Amazing Czechia photo
Some info
The Czech Republic uses the koruna and major credit cards are accepted at most establishments throughout Prague. Since the koruna to U.S. dollar exchange rate fluctuates, be sure to check what the current exchange rate is before you go. Tipping 10 to 15 percent is common practice for good service, but be mindful to hand it directly to your server instead of leaving it on the table. Like many European destinations, local Prague citizens respond kindly to travelers who try the local Czech language, so buy a phrase book before traveling.
- The city’s taxi drivers have a long reputation of overcharging and dishonesty. Although there are a few reputable taxi companies, take public transportation to get around as much as you can.
- Prague is generally considered a safe city, especially for one of its size. The main danger to be aware of is pickpockets, who hover around the tourist hotspots like the Astronomical Clock and Charles Bridge.
- The best way to get around Prague is on foot or by public transportation. Exploring this city on foot is a treat for the eyes, plus many of the most noteworthy attractions are within walking distance of one another.
Many talks about the beer – of course it’s kinda logic, but we will say here something about wine
70 percent of the Czech production of wines are white wine, and the Moravian and Bohemian wine countries are pretty up north. That means two things: (a) the production of reds in the Czech Republic is small, and (b) the reds are lighter. But are they bad? We would strongly disagree. Moravian and Bohemian winemakers have been growing reds for ages, and have produced some great ones. They are just different that what you may be used to.
If you are not in wine – stick to the beer. They made beer here man!
The Czech Republic has the highest per capita consumption of beer in the world. The country has an absolute love affair with beer. Prague offers so many opportunities to sit down and have a cheap cold pivo (Czech for beer) that anyone visiting would be remiss not to try at least a pint. Find yourself a nice spot with a good view, either by the river or in a square somewhere and order one of Prague’s many world renown beers.
Czech beer/Prague
Prague’s Old Town Square is one of the most spectacular squares in Europe
The square has seen centuries of history with some of it’s Gothic buildings dating back to the 14th century.
The Old Town Hall Tower, constructed in the early 1400’s, sits imposingly in the middle of the square. The tower is among the highest in the Old Town and houses one of Prague’s most identifiable icons, the Astronomical Clock. Dozens of tourists flock to the clock every hour on the hour to see the mechanical relic put on a small show. We can honestly say that sticking around for the dancing mechanical dolls is not really worth your time(??), if you are in a rush to discover the city, but it’s an amusing sight to see once in your life.
Astronomical Clock/VideoBlocks
Museum
Think of something and Prague probably has a museum devoted to it. Museum devoted to the history of the city, to sculpture, contemporary art, classical, textiles, to museums devoted to time-measuring techniques, transportation and photography, to sex and torture, there is something for everyone.
The National Museum | Prague
Oh gosh. Just explore and enjoy. Prague has so much to offer so we can’t put it all in here. Maybe, so it’s a charm, you should see and feel the rest of it.
Good luck!
