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.

Prague Cafe Culture

Prague has historically been a city of thinkers and artists and it's strong cafe culture has grown from this. Inspiration, often shaping the politics and culture of the country as been achieved over a cafe latte or expresso. From small side-street cafes that are warm and intimate to grand Art-Nouveau spaces dressed to impress, Prague has it all. Below are some of my favourites.

Meduza, Belgicka 17, Prague 2

Meduza is one of those places that feels intimate even when every seat is occupied. It's an eclectic mix of vintage furniture and prints, photos, and paintings, including exhibitions of contemporary art and photography. The atmosphere is cool and the staff are helpful. For an introduction to Meduza, go to www.meduza.cz.

Souterrain, Belehradska 82, Prague 2

Cool underground cafe/tearoom offering a bhuge list of teas, along with coffee and alcoholic beverages. The clientele is friendly and you'll get entertained by some of the Czech Republic’s wildest bar musicians. Souterrain’s drink list and schedule of upcoming events, as well as photographs from past events is available at www.souterrain.cz.

The Globe, Pstrossova 6, Prague 1

The Globe Bookstore and Cafe is the cornerstone of the expat cafe scene. You'll find a great selection of English-language books, magazines and papers, cheap Internet, a delicious assortment of inventive and healthy meals, and plenty of readings, lectures, and concerts. Find out more about the Globe at www.globebookstore.cz. (Note: the Globe cafe will be closed due to renovations until December 21, but the bookstore will remain open during this period).

Cafe Slavia, Narodni 1, Prague 1

Decent coffee and food and as a lively mix of crowd make up this cafe. The views are wonderful, whether along Narodni or facing the Vltava. This was also a popular hangout fir dissidents during the socialist regime so it's heavy with atmosphere. Menu, drink list, photo gallery and more can be seen at www.cafeslavia.cz.

Prague’s Christmas Markets

Prague at Christmas time attracts several tourists from all over the world who flock to its Christmas markets, to shop, sightsee, listen to carols and taste the exquisite wine and cuisine of the region. Last year, I decided to take a family holiday in Prague and celebrate Christmas there. We particularly enjoyed visiting the brightly lit Christmas markets, and despite the milling crowds of local people and tourists, we had the time of our lives.

A trip to the Prague Christmas markets will make you feel like you are at the North Pole visiting Santa Claus’ village. These markets are often described as magical and contribute to the Christmas spirit of fun and sharing in the most unique manner. The city literally dazzles with millions of brilliant Christmas lights and we felt as if we had stepped into a fairyland of lights and snow.

If you are interested in experiencing the Prague Christmas markets, you will naturally have to visit December. The larger markets are located at the Wenceslas Square and the Old Town square and when you are done with them, you can check out the smaller markets at Namesti Republiky and Havelske Trziste. You can easily walk from one market to the other.

We were simply thrilled with the beautifully adorned wooden huts, where Czech local products, beer, hot wine and traditional Czech food items were sold. The Prague Christmas markets are loaded with wooden toys, hand-made jewellery, scented candles, scarves, Christmas tree decorations, hats, ceramic products and loads of Christmas cakes, pies, tarts, sweets, candies and other delicious goodies. We took the children to the Old Town Square where they got to play with goats and sheep and enjoyed the delightful nativity scene.

The most impressive feature of Prague at Christmas time is the large Christmas tree in Old Town Square, adorned with colourful lights. We soon realised that the Prague Christmas markets offered not just shopping, but entertainment galore; as you wander from stall to stall sipping hot wine and tasting delicious snacks, choirs from home and abroad will sing and dance for you.

Boat tours in Prague

A river cruise on Vltava is one of the best ways to sightsee the region, and tourists will be able to choose from an assortment of cruise tours, depending on what they want to see and where they wish to go. A boat tour will allow you to view popular attractions and see the heart of the city from the deck of a boat; some boat tours also include dinner or lunch as part of the trip.

If you would like to have an evening tour, opt for a Prague Dinner River Cruise tour, where you will be able to enjoy a relaxing cruise experience complete with dinner and live music, while guides point out the attractions on the river banks and explain their significance to you. Most dinner cruise tours take as long as two to four hours and cost around 1000 czk or more.

For those of you who would prefer sightseeing during the day time, book a lunch cruise tour on the river and enjoy the sights as they go by. Top attractions that you will see along your tour include Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, National Theatre, Rudolfinum Concert Hall, Petřín Hill, the Dancing House and Vyšehrad Castle, in addition to several other places.

This tour costs between 400 and 700 czk depending on which company you book the tour with and if you have decided to have lunch on the boat. The tickets for children cost slightly lesser and usually differ by a value of 100. There is also the option of going on an afternoon cruise tour with high tea as the meal offered on board the boat. Music lovers can take up the jazz cruise tour which will feature a live jazz band aboard the craft playing for you.

Guests will find that the boats themselves are very comfortable and are well maintained, with meals being served below deck.

3 boat trips you must try in Prague

Prague is slowly becoming a hub for tourists with a number of exceptional activities for visitors and one of the best things to do when you are in the city is to go on a boat trip. There are a number of options for people who want to go on one of these cruises. Choosing a cruise can be a little confusing, however all visitors should try one of these three boat trips when in the city.

Prague-Venice boat cruise - If you have only a little time on your hands, you should try the Prague-Venice boat cruise. This cruise takes tourists along the Vltava River, with some unusual views of the city. Here you can see the Old Town from the eyes of the ancient fishermen. The Prague Venice boat tour is truly unique, with passengers having a chance to travel on a wooden boat that is filled with old-world charm. This tour is guided, with guides speaking several languages including English and German.

Night dinner cruise -The second boat trip to try is the night dinner cruise along the river. On this cruise, you will be provided with a sumptuous meal along with a chance to view the city like never before. The tour lasts for two and a half hours and is one of the most popular tours among visitors to the city. The tour starts from the dock, which is the hub of the city.

Summer lunch and music cruise - The third river cruise that is definitely worth trying is the summer lunch and music cruise. Here you will be able to enjoy some spectacular live performances while touring the city along the river. This is also a two and a half hour cruise along with a buffet lunch and an aperitif. The music that is played includes the harmonica performances by experts.

Interested in travel and boat trips? You might also be interested in:

• A cruise down the Han River, Seoul in Korea.
• Boat trips around Ibiza

Josefov: Prague’s old Jewish Quarter

Located very close to the old city, Josefov, or the old Jewish quarter, is well worth a visit. Jews are believed to have settled in Prague from as early as the 10th century, when they were ordered to live in the confines of this once walled area. Today it has been completely absorbed into the fabric of Prague.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Josefov was heavily altered and many of its historic buildings were replaced, although there are still some ancient sites to seek out.

To see them you will have to buy a ticket to the Prague Jewish Museum, perhaps the word’s largest collection of Jewish artefacts in the world. With chilling irony, this was for the most part amassed by the Nazis, who during the occupation of the city, set out to create a ‘museum of an extinct race.’

The most moving site is the old Jewish cemetery, the oldest surviving Jewish graveyard in Europe. Although it fell into disuse in the late 18th century, about 10,000 souls are buried here. Thousands of tombstones blanket the cemetery ground, their crumbling, moss-infested state adding to the melancholic ambiance of the cemetery. In between them are some beautiful funerary mosaics and carved marble tombs.

The Gothic Old-New synagogue in Prague is Europe’s oldest working synagogue (men must over their heads to enter) and has been immortalised in the Golem legend. With high, gabled ceilings and a 15th century wrought iron grill, it has changed little since Josefov’s peak. The beautiful and recently renovated Spanish cemetery bears motif from Iberia’s ancient Moorish culture and often hosts concerts.

Prague’s Hands of Time

Next to London’s Big Ben, the famous and recognisable clock in Europe would have to be Prague’s medieval Astronomical clock, located on the southern wall of the City Hall.

Known locally as Orloj, its beautiful and intricate clock face is the work of various masters of the art of clock making. It was originally created by Mikuláš, the King’s watchmaker from the Czech city of Kadan, but it was later modernised by in the 16th century by Jan Taborský.

During the Prague Uprising of 1945 the Orloj was heavily damaged by Nazi bombs. Over the next few years a community effort was made it get it working again and it hasn’t stopped since, as legend has it that if it did Prague itself would stop functioning.

The Orloj is a sum of various parts and the astronomical dial is perhaps the most mystical. Most experts consider it to be a primitive form of a planetarium as with its rotating ring of zodiacal signs it displays the current position of the planets. Even more interesting is the background of the Orloj, which is coloured in semicircular shapes of blue, red and black (representing day, night and dusk). On the outer edge, two sets of golden numerals mark the 24-hour timescale as well as antiquated Czech time when the midnight (as we understand it today) took place at sunset.

But the most crowd-pleasing element of the Orloj is the four, strange and macabre figures underneath the clock face. They represent anxieties that the community had in the 15t century; death (represented by a skeleton), paganism (a Turk), vanity and greed (two figures with mirror and money bag respectively). When Orloj strikes the hour, ‘death’ inverts his hourglass, and statuettes of the 12 apostles parade past in a window above.

The Prague Castle: Symbol of the City

Most European cities have one singular monument that has become its symbol; in Barcelona it is the great and still unfinished church the Sagrada Familia whilst in Paris it’s the Eiffel Tower. In the Czech capital, the omnipresent Prague Castle is seen in almost every image of Prague.
Locals and tour guides like to tell you that the Prague Castle is the largest in the world, and its floor space equals the size of seven football fields. When visiting the site it certainly feels as if it does and it would be best to put away a good part of the day (or more) to view it properly.

Like most historical buildings of importance, the Prague Castle is a hotchpotch of styles. Started in the 9th century, rulers over the centuries have all left their imprint, particularly the Empress Theresa who gave the Gothic forms a more classical facelift. It was greatly remodelled again in the 1920s, making its echoing chambers more liveable and visitor-friendly. Even though Vaclav Havel, the first president of the Czech Republic chose not to live here, he also made improvements, particularly to Gallery of Paintings.

All this means that nearly every architectural style from the last 1000 years in represented in castle. There is the Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral with its beautiful stained-glass windows, and the Renaissance Royal Garden with an elegant Games House to name just a few. Inside the complex are a handful of museums including and an amazing Toy Museum and the National Gallery collection of Bohemian Art.

Entry tickets to the castle are valid for two days, and many museums are separate entry fee is required. Even if you don’t want to go into the castle itself, you can wander around the outside and most of the gardens for free, admiring its magnificent splendour from the exterior.