What to see in Prague

If you have booked a trip to Prague or are still considering whether to visit the city, this video by Rick Steves is worth watching. It should give you an idea of the look of the city and the types of attractions and sites you can expect to see.



Prague is a city steeped in culture and history lovers will certainly appreciate what the city has to offer. If you are youthful and are more interested in bars or restaurants then you will also love Prague. Prague has something for everyone.

Christmas Markets in Prague

Religion plays a significant part in the culture of Prague, making Christmas one of the most exciting times of year to visit the city. Amongst the most prominent of seasonal features are the Christmas markets which can be found around the city as they pull tourists and locals together to enjoy the festivities at this magical time of year.

During December the city centre is transformed into something of a giant winter wonderland, with the lights from the Christmas markets brightening up the entire area. Many of the streets are lined with stalls selling products ranging from locally made seasonal gifts to generic items which have been sourced from elsewhere in the world. The Bohemian crystals, wooden toys and homemade jewellery on sale here make for great stocking fillers and are easy to carry home. Local cuisine is also a prominent feature with many stalls selling things such corn on the cob, sausages and pastries, all of which are suitably complimented by hot drinks, including the traditional Czech hot wine. The buzz around the markets is instantly contagious and fills one with seasonal cheer.

Some of the best Christmas markets to visit in Prague are those in Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square, although it is also well worth a visit to those held at Havel’s market and Republic Square. This being said, the city as a whole has sporadic stalls on street corners and can almost be considered one big market. Read about more Christmas markets in Europe.

The Czech Museum of Music

Prague has a long association with music, which makes it fitting that the Czech Museum of Music is located here. This is a truly fantastic museum which is a must visit attraction for everybody who visits the city, regardless of their levels of interest in music.

There are various reasons to visit the Czech Museum of Music, with the first being the fabulous building in which the museum is located. This is a 17th century Baroque church which, despite undergoing major renovation to allow it to home the museum most effectively, the building still has all of its charm from the outside and contains an intriguing mix of old and new design features on the inside.

The main attraction of visiting the museum is of course to see the various artefacts from the history of Czech music. In total there are a staggering 700,000 items to explore which take you on a fascinating journey through the evolution of music over the years, with the library of notation being particularly extensive. The museum in Prague also has a vast recordings library as well as collections of instruments from some of the most famous composers and musicians from Czech music history.

On occasion the museum hosts live music events, and the opportunity to combine such an event with a browse at the historical artefacts provides a truly comprehensive music experience.

Visiting Prague Castle

Of all the exciting attractions to experience when visiting Prague, the castle is one which you should be sure not to miss. The castle is an absolutely colossal structure and is one of the key institutions in the entire country, mainly because of its history and the role it has played in making the Czech Republic the country it is today.

At 500 metres long Prague Castle is widely regarded to be the largest castle in the world, and this sheer size on its own is enough to fascinate you for hours, as this is around how long it takes for your brain to comprehend the scale of the place, the effort that must have gone into creating, maintaining and defending it and events that have taken place here over the years. One of the most intriguing aspects of the castle is the different architectural styles which combine to create the overall structure, which is a result of the various modifications over the years, with one of the most significant being in the early twentieth century.

Prague Castle is open every day of the year during office hours, with the many visitor attractions on site including the gardens, the state rooms and the changing of the guards. A visit here is reminiscent of visiting Buckingham Palace in London or the Whitehouse in Washington with regards to the atmosphere and character of the place, and is truly a superb experience.

Interested in free Prague travel guides online including on other local attractions, restaurants and bars?

5 Reasons to Visit Prague at Christmas

With Christmas becoming ever more commercialised, increasing numbers of people are choosing to spend the festive period away from home to escape all of the stress which can be associated with the period. Below are some of the reasons why Prague should be considered as an escape location at this time of year.

Ancient churches

There are few better places to enjoy the magic and true meaning of Christmas than in some of Europe’s oldest churches. Religion is highly important to many of the residents of Prague, so visiting the churches around Christmas you will experience the charming way in which the Czech people celebrate.

Christmas market

In the Old Town Square can be found one of the best Christmas markets in the world. The market sells a range of handmade items which make great gifts for those back home, whilst the square itself hosts a series of concerts and shows telling the story of Christmas and bringing people together at this most special time of year.

Less intense crowds

There is more of a religious emphasis on Christmas in Prague than in other parts of the world, so the crowds are less commercially intense making walking around the city and shopping a less stressful experience.

Food and drink

You will be familiar with all of the traditional Christmas foods back home so the opportunity to sample those from another part of the world is exciting and certainly doesn’t disappoint. There are various specialist seasonal food and drink stalls around the city, whilst the markets are also a great place to source it.

Theatre has been a large part of the culture in Prague over the years, and below are some of the best theatres to enjoy performances in the city.

Prague National Theatre

This is the largest and arguably the grandest theatre in Prague which has a classical feel to it which is well suited to the high brow performances which are held here, performed by organisations from around the world, including the national opera. The design characteristics alone make it worth a visit here.

Metro Theatre

This is one of the institutions which are referred to as black theatres. This name is a reflection of the nature of performances here which are carried out to a black background and use a mixture of colours and movements to thrill the crowds with a truly modern yet very Prague experience.

Laterna Magika

Puppetry has long been a celebrated art in Prague, and this theatre is dedicated to performances from people and organisations of all standards, whilst all are highly enjoyable and a must visit for those with kids. This is the original puppet theatre in Prague and is still going strong, with a reputation for top quality puppet costumes and highly engaging shows.

Estates Theatre

This is one of the most celebrated theatres in Europe which has a genuinely top draw history with many people such as Mozart having performed here over the years. There is a special feel to this place which is hard to recapture elsewhere.

Discovering Modern Prague

In a tourism context, the destination Prague is often thought of as a place to visit to enjoy the historical and cultural qualities. Despite this perception that Prague has a wealth of ancient heritage and attractions, there are in fact many modern attractions in the city, and below are some of the best.

Dancing House

This is an intriguing piece of modern architecture which was built during the 90’s in the place of the previous building which had been damaged during the bombing of Prague.

The wobbly design of the building really stands out amongst the historical architecture and can be enjoyed from the top floor restaurant.

Prague Zoo

This attraction was open during the early 20^th century and has evolved significantly since that time.

The zoo is vast in size, approximately 111 acres, and is home to around a stunning 650 different species. It is regarded by some as one of the best zoos in the world.

Nový Smíchov

There are a host of fashionable and modern shopping areas in Prague, with one such example being the Nový Smíchov. This is a state of the art three storey shopping complex which also has a number of modern entertainment facilities.

Podoli Swimming Pool Complex

This is a swimmers paradise and is the largest complex of its type in the city. There is an Olympic size pool as well as a number of other pools suitable for different people, including people. All pools are outside which allows one to enjoy the often glorious weather.

Tips on Czech Customs

One of the most enjoyable parts of travelling for many people is the opportunity to learn about the customs of the host nation and make an effort to abide by them, and so if you’re planning a trip to the Czech Republic, you’ll find the following tips on Czech customs very interesting.

While some of these facts may be quickly picked up on, others are little more subtle...

First acquaintance tips on Czech customs

1. Czech people can be private

This may come as a surprise tip, but it’s rather customary for Czech people to be very private until they get to know someone. Therefore, if you intend on staying in the country for a while you should be patient whilst forging friendships.

2. Talking to strangers

One of the most important Czech custom tips indeed, it can sometimes be considered rude to talk to a stranger in the street or on public transport... When looking for directions or in need of making an enquiry, you should however be able to tell by someone’s body language if they are open to conversation.

3. Eye contact

When meeting a Czech citizen, make an effort to maintain eye contact as failure to do so can be perceived as a lack of respect. A firm handshake will also be a common introduction, and make an effort to refer to someone by their surname where possible unless prompted otherwise.

Tips on customs for personal interactions with Czech people

4. Compliment the meal

Czech custom tip #4: Be sure to compliment food when asked how nice it is, making negative comments can be unwelcome, perhaps just do not go back to the same establishment.

5. Dining with a Czech person

If you go for dinner with a Czech person, it may be an idea not to discuss business with them, unless you are prompted otherwise, as Czech people often prefer to keep their business private.

With these 5 tips on Czech customs, you can be sure that you won’t be feeling odd or making “silly” mistakes over the duration of your holiday in the Czech Republic.

Attractions for Classical Music Lovers in Prague

There are attractions in Prague to suit people of all tastes. Those who have an interest in classical music will be pleased to hear that spread around Prague are buildings and museums which have more than a slight association with classical music. Below are some of the places you might like to visit.

Czech Museum of Music - Generally, the sort of person who enjoys classical music will also appreciate fine architecture, so the fact that this museum is located in a 17th century baroque church creates an all around attraction. The museum boasts around 700,000 items which document the history of music and allow the music lover to appreciate the standard that we enjoy today.

Estates Theatre - This is considered to be one of the best historical theatres in the world. Some of the most famous pieces of music have been played here, and perhaps most significantly, Mozart himself once composed here. You can either take in a show here or just take in the atmosphere.

Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle - This is a glorious restaurant which is home to a range of historical and instruments which will be of huge interest to the classical music lover. Once you have discovered all of the musical artefacts you can move on to explore the wide range of paintings and decorative arts which are also held here. The glorious location in Prague Castle completes the experience.

Skiing in the Czech Republic

Along with beach holidays, city breaks and camping, skiing is one of the most popular holidays for people around the world. There are a number of locations around the world which enjoy healthy visitor numbers during the peak season, and many of these are cliché locations where hoards of people visit each year. These countries include Italy, France, Canada, Switzerland and the USA. One of the more neglected, but no less quality locations is the Czech Republic. It is not widely known that there are over one hundred areas in the Czech Republic where there is enough snow to support a sustained season of skiing.

When it comes to skiing in the Czech Republic one of the best features is that the slopes are generally not as busy as in better known resorts, which means that there is more room for you to manoeuvre. A large number of these resorts are equipped with the modern facilities which you would expect to find at a ski resort, although there are still plenty with more retro facilities which certainly add a different edge to the experience. There are resorts which are suitable for skiers of all levels, from the novice to the professional, who can take advantage of the world class resources at Spindleruv Mlyn.

For those who enjoy skiing but also like to be within close proximity to a city, there are a number of resorts which are not too far away from Prague, the nation’s capital.