Prague is one of those cities that you can fall in love with regardless of the season. You can come here for the winter holidays to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere, the radiance of city illumination and the scent of gingerbread. It is possible in the spring, when the chestnuts are blooming. Warm gentle summer. Or golden in the fall. Cozy, old, steeped in history, it captivates tourists at first sight. To quickly get around all the main attractions, 1, 2 or 3 days will be enough, but it is best to arrive for at least 5-7 days.
The Charles Bridge
What to see in Prague, where to start your trip? Of course, from the Charles Bridge. This ancient bridge was built in the Middle Ages and was designed to connect two parts of the city: Staro Mesto and Mala Strana. The main means of transport were royal carts. Only at the end of the last century, the authorities decided to make the bridge a pedestrian, and now it is a favorite place for all tourists who walk along it from morning to evening, taking beautiful photos. To capture the bridge without a large crowd of people, it is better to arrive early, before nine in the morning.
Old Town Square
Like many central city squares, the Old Town Square once served as a shopping arcade: here they sold all sorts of things, food products, clothes and household items. Today it is the place where city festivals, processions and meetings are held. Many sightseeing tours of Prague also start from here.
Tyn temple
From the Old Town Square, it will be convenient for a tourist to go to the Tyn Church, which is located right there. The construction of the cathedral began in the fourteenth century, but it took one and a half hundred years. The temple is open to everyone, but not always: you can find a schedule on the Internet so that you do not stumble upon closed doors when visiting. A visit to the temple is definitely worth it: luxurious decoration, dozens of altars, ancient icons and beautiful services will not leave indifferent even a person far from religion.
Wenceslas Square
If you cross the Charles Bridge from the Old Town Square, you can get to Mala Strana and admire the central square of Nova Mesta - Wenceslas. There is a road near the square, but it is still a place for city festivities, celebrations and concerts. Previously, the square also had stalls and fairs, and even before that, executions were arranged.
National Museum
The country's main museum, located next to Wenceslas Square, is a must-see for all tourists who first come to the Czech Republic and want to learn more about this country. The National Museum has dozens of exhibitions detailing the history and culture of the Czech Republic. The museum has its own library and a small paleontological museum, as well as a rich collection of sculptures, a collection of numismatics, Czech orders and medals, and much more. It is worth paying attention to the exterior of the building: built by the talented architect Schulz, it is a striking example of the neo-Renaissance.
Prague Castle
When planning what to see in Prague, you cannot bypass Prague Castle - a whole area with its own unique, inimitable atmosphere. Prague Castle is a city within a city, a sea of orange tiled roofs, cozy streets and small chapels, ancient towers and countless museums. Many townspeople believe that it is here, and not in Staro Mesto, that the center and heart of Prague is located.
St. Vitus Cathedral
St. Vitus Cathedral is located just in the Prague Castle. Despite the name, in fact, this Catholic cathedral is dedicated to three saints at once: not only Vitus, but also Wenceslas and Wojtek. The beginning of construction dates back to the tenth century, most of the work was done in the fourteenth century, and the cathedral acquired its present form only in the first half of the twentieth century.
Old royal palace
What else to see in Prague? You cannot ignore the Old Royal Palace, which is also located in the area of Prague Castle. It was built in the twelfth century and initially, as a royal residence, performed mostly a defensive function: a squat building with thick walls and small windows. But with the change of the ruler, the purpose of the palace also changed: the new king wanted a truly luxurious castle, and already another architect was remaking the residence. Above the massive Romanesque base, floors were added in the Gothic style, and the building acquired an expressive and graceful appearance.
Queen Anne's summer palace
Ironically, Queen Anne died before the construction of her summer residence was completed, so the palace passed to the next ruler. A picturesque exposition was organized here, and the interiors and decoration of the palace amaze the imagination. Outside, there is a small cozy garden with singing fountains.
Vysehrad fortress
The beautiful Gothic defensive fortress Vysehrad is located on the southern outskirts of Prague, but getting here is not difficult: there is a metro station nearby. On the territory of the fortress there is the Basilica of Saints Paul and Peter, which can also often be found in tourist guides. When calculating the route of what to see in Prague, you should definitely include the fortress and the basilica there.
National Theater
Built exclusively with public money, burned down and rebuilt two years later, the National Theater in Prague is a majestic and graceful building. The repertoire includes ballet performances "Kafka: The Trial", "Swan Lake", "The Nutcracker", "Onegin", "Sleeping Beauty", as well as opera and drama performances.
Dancing House
Among the townspeople, the names "glass" and "drunken house" have taken root, but in fact this unusual building is called the Dancing House. It was designed by architects Gary and Milunich, their goal was to bring flavor and freshness to the old architectural style of the city. The experiment was a success: tourists were drawn to the new attraction, and the locals fell in love with this strange building, which stands out against the background of classical buildings of past centuries.
Strahov Monastery
You will have to spend at least two hours to explore the monastery, located on one of the Prague hills. Here you can fully enjoy the old interiors, stucco, and visit the luxurious multi-level library.
Kinsky garden
Large cozy garden located on a hill. From here marvelous views of the entire city open up. It is especially beautiful in the park in spring, when it is all in bloom, and in autumn, when the leaves fall, turning the ground under your feet into a solid golden carpet.
Franz Kafka head
When it seems that all the sights have already been seen, it's time to pay attention to the unusual sculpture of the contemporary artist David Cherny. The head of Franz Kafka, made of huge steel blocks, is located near the metro station and invariably attracts the eyes of tourists. Kafka was one of the most controversial and controversial writers of his century - this is what the sculptor tried to show in his creation.
The presented list of what you can see in Prague is certainly incomplete, it includes only the most famous sights of the city. It is not for nothing that Prague is called an architectural paradise: here you can find all styles, all ages, all types of buildings. And most importantly, having visited this city, all tourists unanimously note the hospitable, friendly, cozy atmosphere of the Czech capital.
