Prague trips and vacations

Prague is so pretty you’ll want to see it from every possible angle. Luckily this is the ‘City of a Hundred Spires’, so there are plenty of viewing points. Just be prepared for the stairs to the top. Old Town Hall Tower is one of the most popular places for photo ops on trips to Prague. Petrin Tower is good for panoramas over the entire city and beyond.

The classical music scene in Prague is one of the best in Europe. Daily concerts are held across Old Town, often in palaces and churches. Look for both large symphony events, as well as more intimate string quartet performances. Time your vacation to Prague for the Spring Festival in May to enjoy an international program of opera, chamber music and dance.

Prague is the perfect base for exploring the wider Bohemia region. Hop on a bus to Cesky Krumlov to see pastel-painted buildings, cobbled streets and a 13th-century castle. In summer it’s best to buy castle tickets in advance. Other popular day trips include the eerie Sedlec Ossuary in Kutna Hora and the wild valley of Divoka Sarka.

The Old Town is the best neighborhood to stay in Prague if you want to have the historic sights on your doorstep. It’s a small area full of towers and palaces, with narrow back streets leading to pretty squares. Hotels in the Old Town are full of character, and there are plenty of cafes and restaurants with traditional Czech menus — just keep in mind that those around Old Town Square have higher prices.

Good for: History, monuments, cafes

Despite the name, Prague’s New Town is over 600 years old and has a mix of architectural styles, with modern developments sitting beside Renaissance buildings. This is the best area to stay in Prague for first-time visitors. It’s livelier than the Old Town and home to some of the city’s top restaurants, shopping centers and bars. Have a drink on the viewing terrace of the Dancing House, a building that resembles a couple dancing.

Good for: Nightlife, shopping, entertainment

This former industrial hub is now a hip residential district, with independent galleries and coffee shops lining the leafy streets. Riverside walks along the Vltava will fuel your appetite for Karlin’s trendy wine bars and bistros. Hotels and apartments here are popular with travelers looking for cheap vacations to Prague.

Good for: Cafes, art galleries, riverside walks

One of the best things to do with family in Prague is ride the car-shaped pedal boats on the Vltava River. Children also love the Astronomical Clock show, which runs hourly from 9am to 11pm. The best view is from the Old Town Hall tower — you’ll need a ticket to enter. To see the city in miniature, the Czech Repubrick LEGO museum is stacks of fun.

The shopping in Prague is some of the best in Europe, so remember to leave plenty of room in your suitcase. Treat yourself to high-end fashion in the pedestrian-friendly Na Prikope Street. Or hunt for Old Town treasures at Havel’s Market, and haggle over cheese on Saturdays at the Naplavka Farmers Market.

The museums in Prague are a great starting point for discovering a different side of the city. Learn the secret of eternal youth in the Museum of Alchemy, and get an idea of what life was like during the communist regime at the Museum of Communism. For frescoes and centuries-old manuscripts, visit the Strahov Library — keep an eye out for the dodo bird in the Cabinet of Curiosities.

When it comes to nightlife in Prague, you’re spoiled for choice. Party with live club DJs at Roxy and SaSaZu, or work your way through the cocktail list at the Hemingway Bar. To see some of the world’s top jazz musicians in action, head into the ancient vaults of the AghaRTA jazz club.

Traditional Czech dishes are easy to find in the Old Town, but restaurants in Prague are about more than goulash and dumplings. Sample Korean chicken and tacos at the Manifesto Market food stalls in Andel, or slurp Vietnamese pho at Karlin’s Ngo Restaurant. Satisfy your sweet tooth with ‘trdelnik’ (sugar and cinnamon pastries) at Cafe U Kajetana near Prague Castle.

There are plenty of free things to do in Prague. There is no entry fee for some attractions, including the Army Museum Zizkov and the Church of Our Lady Victorious, a famous pilgrimage site. And you don’t need a ticket to explore the grounds around the Prague Castle. Listen to an open-air summer concert in the Wallenstein Gardens on Thursdays — go early and check out the mysterious Dripstone Wall stalactite grotto.