A Glimpse of Prague

On a train en route to Prague, I was fortunate enough to sit in a carriage with two musicians, who were going to be playing at an open mic night!  This was four years ago – I had never performed myself, but was keen to go and see it.  Perhaps it provided some inspiration for when I returned home later that year and mustered up the courage for my first performance.  These kindly people helped me to the correct train platform when we arrived. I managed to find a gorgeous hostel, with an eight bed dorm, all to myself for the first night.  What luck!

I then navigated the streets to go and watch them perform.  It was a wonderful evening.  Both friends gave me a free copy of their CDs, which served as a reminder of my first moments in this wonderful city.

With only a couple of nights in Prague and nearing the third month of my European travels, I was keen to just absorb the city, browse the streets and take in the sights in a more relaxed fashion.  Some of the highlights included:

The Old Town Square

Have a beer and some lunch in one of the many cafes, or simply stroll around and admire all the pretty buildings.  It has been the main public square in Prague since the 10th Century and it has stood the test of time.

Climbing the Clock Tower

I always love getting to the highest point of a city.  It helps me to get my bearings, as well as being a brilliant vantage point for photos.  The clock tower in Prague was no exception!  The astronomical clock on the front of the tower is also worth watching, especially when it strikes the hour!  There is a delightful display, not to be missed.

Prague Castle

It is good fun exploring this fairy tale castle, with all its historic buildings, galleries and museums.  Situated up on the hill and visible from all over the city centre, it is longing to be visited!

Mucha Museum

If you are a fan of Art Nouveau, be sure to check out the Mucha Museum, brimming with the work of Czech artist, Alphonse Mucha.  A very inspiring visit for all art-lovers.

Charles Bridge

Built in the 1300’s, this beautiful bridge offers magical photo opportunities, but be sure to get there early if you don’t like crowds.  Also, watch your purses – a friend I was travelling with at the time had some cash stolen out of a side pocket of her handbag, but the pickpocket disappeared into the crowd so quickly, we hardly noticed the thieving hands.

The local food

Aside from the obvious (a pint of Czech beer), I tried out the local Vepřo-knedlo-zelo, which is basically roast pork with bread dumplings and sauerkraut (cabbage).  It was quite tasty at the time, although these days, I would be more interested in seeing the vegetarian options.

Another interesting food street food was the trdelnik, a rolled pastry sprinkled with sugar and spice and cooked over the flames.  A delicious snack for any time of the day!

Prague was absolutely over-flowing with all sorts of interesting things to see and do.  I left the city reluctantly, as it seemed I had only just scratched the surface.  Nonetheless, it’s always good to have an excuse to return to this fairytale city another day.

What else would you recommend on a trip to Prague?  Make a list below and I’ll be sure to visit your suggestions next time!