What to See in Prague

Prague has just been voted the most beautiful city in the world – and it’s easy to see why! With centuries worth of magnificent architecture, riverside parks and surrounded by forest, if you haven’t yet visited this City of a Hundred Spires then make sure to add it to your list so that you can see firsthand what all the fuss is about!

Back in 2019, when I first took sabbatical from work, I did a bit of a whizz-around trip of Eastern Europe for a few weeks. (It’s only now that I really appreciate just how lucky we were for that kind of travel to even be possible – and so easy!). There were quite a few cities that I’d been dreaming about seeing for years – and Prague was definitely at the top of the list.

Read on for some of the best things to see and do in Prague…

The Old Town (Staré Město)

Dating back to the 9th century, Prague’s old town is a smorgasbord of architectural delights, and most of the Czech capital’s most famous sights can be found here. This area is easy to cover just on foot, and as you wander along the old streets you’ll be greeted by delicious smells of Trdelník (a doughnut-like tasting snack made from dough rolled around a stick and covered in sugar and walnuts). Everywhere you look you’ll see beautiful buildings, decorated with statues and topped with traditional red tiled roofs. You’ll enter the historic centre as you pass through the gate of the Powder Tower, right where Old Town and New Town meet. Then at it’s heart you’ll find the Old Town Square, home to the famous Astronomical Clock as well as several churches and the 18th-century Rococo Kinsky Palace. On the other side of the old town you’ll find the Vltava River, where the Charles Bridge leads to Malá Strana (“Little Side (of the River)” or Lesser Town).

The Prague Astronomical Clock (Pražský orloj)

This impressive astronomical clock is perhaps Prague’s most popular attraction – and has been a spectacle since it was built in 1410. Located on the southern wall of Old Town Hall, it is the oldest clock still in operation. When the clock strikes the hour, small doors above the clock face open and a procession of small mechanical figures come to life, representing the twelve apostles, flanked on the sides by various other moving figures including a trumpeter and a skeleton representing Death. Make sure to get there early though, as the square gets pretty crowded as people cram in to watch. The clock itself is a work of art, with various rings including an Astronomical dial, a Zodiac dial and further circles illustrating the time in different languages and time periods, including Gothic numerals for the old time system and Roman numerals for modern time, as well as Babylonian time which can be seen in smaller circles.

Top tip: if you buy a ticket to the Old Town Hall, you can watch the procession of the apostles from behind in the clock tower´s chapel.

Old Town Hall Chapel

I originally climbed up to the Old Town Hall Chapel so that I could get a look at the mechanism of the Astronomical Clock from behind, but discovered that the chapel is actually exquisitely beautiful in its own right. Less well-known, it offers some respite from the bustling crowds down below.

View from above

Prague is definitely best seen from above, and this is where I was able to take some of my favourite photos of the city. There are several towers dotted around the old town that you can climb, each offering a slightly different vantage point. My favourite was definitely the clock tower of the Old Town Hall, as this affords you a beautiful view out over the Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí). The Old Town Bridge Tower is another good one, with sweeping views of the river and iconic Charles Bridge (Karlův most). You can also climb the Powder Tower, which offers views of the other side of the Old Town and where it meets the New Town.

Charles Bridge

No trip to the Czech capital is complete without visiting the famous Charles Bridge (Karlův most). Dating back to 1357, the bridge took years to build and was finally completed in 1402. As you walk along the bridge, you’ll notice that you’re flanked by 30 statues at various intervals down the sides – these are statues of saints, the most famous being John of Nepomuk, and you’ll notice many visitors touching the plaque (which has now been polished to a shine) for good luck. Be warned though, this iconic landmark gets incredibly busy (the photo below was taken on a Friday afternoon in summer) so make sure to get there in the very early morning if you want to see it without the crowds.

Take a ride on a historical tram

Trams have been a mode of transport in Prague since 1875 (back then they were pulled by horses rather than electric), and they’re still going strong today, serving hundreds of millions of passengers every year. Most of them are modern, however in the historic city centre you’ll find the quaint old tram line 42 – where you can ride on old-fashioned tram cars along a circular route through some of the most beautiful parts of the city. With a 24hr ticket, you can hop on and off as much as you like. There are a number of different historical trams on line 42, including number 351 (pictured below), which dates from the imperial Austro-Hungarian era and once even served as a snowplough!

Further information can be found here.

The Dancing House (Tančící Dům)

Built in the early-mid 90s, this unusual design, nicknamed Fred and Ginger (after the dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers), stands out against the traditional Baroque, Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings surrounding it. You really do have to see it to believe it, as the gravity-defying edifice looks like it should fall down any minute! The plot of land The Dancing House is built on had lain vacant for years, since the original house there was destroyed during the US bombing of Prague in 1945. Apparently the “yin and yang” inspiration of the building is meant to symbolise the (then) Czechoslovakia’s evolution from a communist regime to a democracy, and is a token of revolution and freedom.

Read my other city guides here.