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. In need of accommodatiom. Holiday-velvet.com are one company who provide a range of Prague rooms for stays in the Czech capitral for tourists to the city for short term stays.

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. Find flights to Prague from across Europe.

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.

The Best Prague Threatre's

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. Prague 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.

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.

Ski Insurance for Czech

If heading to Prague for skiing, make sure you take our a European ski insurance policy and alsowhy not take advantage of your free EHIC card if you are European?

Skiing on Medvedin

Try These Czech Delicacies

Prague is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Eastern Europe. It is popular for people who enjoy culture as well as with those who seek a romantic setting for a break with a loved one. Below are some of the Czech delicacies which can be sampled by tourists on their visit to Prague:

Gypsy Sauce: The bizarre composition of this sauce makes it an ideal accompaniment for a whole range of different foods. It has a somewhat sweet taste whilst retaining the spicy edge which its ingredients would suggest. Full of peppers, onions and tomatoes, this sauce is guaranteed to awaken your taste buds.

Piskoty: These soft sweets will be a nice addition to your day time walk. They are extremely sweet and have the consistency of a biscuit. There is a large variety of these sweets, so perhaps you could sample a different one each day.

Game: The Czech population adores a good bit of game. The charismatic aroma which comes as a result of the bird’s diet is accompanied nicely by a variety of different sauces. It is the way in which this bird is cooked which provides its different taste and makes it a must taste delicacy.

Fidorka Dark Chocolate: This chocolate is the Czech answer to the luxury offerings of their European counterparts. Ideal after any meal or as a romantic gesture.

Parks and Gardens to Visit in Prague

Prague boasts a range of beautiful parks and gardens which provide the perfect setting for an escape from the concrete jungle in the middle of the city. The parks and gardens are varying in size but each have features which ensure that they really cannot be missed. Below are some of the parks which you should visit in Prague:

Franciscan Garden - Located between a number of busy streets and attractions, it is well worth taking a stroll through this garden oasis on the way to your next point of interest. One of the best features of the garden is that it is situated right next to the church of the Virgin Mary which affords you a gorgeous view of it. With plenty of benches and bushes, the garden provides a peaceful setting for a quick rest.

Vrtba Garden - Boasting a number of statues of roman gods and goddesses, this garden has a distinct baroque feel to it and is regarded by many as one of the most beautiful in Prague. The hoards of flowers which are carefully crafted onto the slopes in amongst the distinguished steps are enough to calm anyone’s mood.

Havlíčkovy Sady - This park is located just outside of central Prague and provides a welcome get away from the conventional tourist activity. Havlíčkovy Sady is the second largest park in Prague and the main attractions include glorious buildings and a vineyard. The sweeping views of the city can be enjoyed from the park whilst sampling some of the local wine produce. Why not also consider skiing whilst in  Czech?

Prague’s Top 3 Luxury Hotels

Since Prague is a luxury traveller’s paradise, you will find no dearth of luxury hotels in Prague. You can read several reviews of luxury hotels in Prague, check for availability of rooms and even do the booking online. I have stayed in five luxury hotels in Prague and would recommend the following three. All these three hotels have great concierge services that can help you acquire event tickets and organise tours for you.

1. Hotel Riverside - Hotel Riverside, which is located close to the city’s commercial centre and the River Vltava, features amazing Belle Epoque interiors, comfortable suites, modern facilities and lavish furnishing. Most of the hotel’s rooms overlook the picturesque turrets and towers of Prague. The rooms are equipped with free Internet, mini bar, bathrooms with heated floors and much more. Hotel Riverside is close to Prague’s architectural gems such as Charles Bridge and the National Theatre.

2. Hotel President - Hotel President, a five-star luxury hotel, is located right in Prague’s commercial centre and offers luxury travellers a wide choice of 130 tastefully furnished rooms, which includes a presidential suite, three senior suites and 32 junior suites well-equipped with all the facilities that you could desire. If you choose to book a stay at the Hotel President, you will enjoy a spectacular view of the entire city. In fact, this luxury hotel is set in such a location that its guests can view and admire all the attractive sites without having to leave the luxurious comforts of their rooms.

3. Kempinski Hybernska - The Kempinski is a recently renovated seventeenth-century residential palace with elegant interiors and modern architectural designs. The hotel has 75 luxurious, comfortable and spacious rooms. One of the most attractive features of the hotel is its private baroque garden, which sprawls over an area of 1800 square metres, giving its guests the chance to enjoy peace and privacy.