I have been to Prague a few times – first in May 1997 when I was a student studying at Innsbruck University, the second in July 2000 whilst Eurorailing and more recently in October 2021 as a romantic getaway. Prague is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. One of the best ways of exploring Prague is to go on one of the many walking tours.
About Prague:
Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and has the river Vltava running through it. It has a rich history, amazing architecture and fantastic beer! There is lots to see and do from admiring the beautiful buildings, meandering over the Charles Bridge, enjoying a cruise down the river and exploring Prague by foot.
Our Flights, Hotel and Tour Reservations:
As a student, I took the train there, stayed in hostels and enjoyed the nightlife, but 20 years later, slightly more mature, we did things very differently.
I booked flights with EasyJet and chose a 5* hotel on Booking.com. We decided to spoil ourselves with luxury accommodation because Prague is more affordable, compared to a lot of capital cities.
GuruWalk:
I also booked a free walking tour with GuruWalk for our first day and we enjoyed exploring Prague so much, we booked another tour for the second day. We have used GuruWalk many times now and we think it’s a great way to spend a couple of hours to find out loads of useful information and about the history of the place you are staying in. www.guruwalk.com
The Grand Mark Hotel:
The hotel we chose was the Grand Mark. This hotel was originally a 17th century residential palace.
We were upgraded on arrival to a Grand Deluxe Suite, which had a lounge and kitchen area. The room was fantastic as was the rest of the hotel. Guests receive complimentary wine, chocolates and fruit, as well as the usual toiletries, tea and coffee.
I loved the glass framed dining room overlooking the courtyard garden with peacocks roaming around. We ate there twice because the a la carte menu was superb.
Guests get free use of the spa facilities, which are small but luxurious. The hotel was £550 for 2 nights.
Walking Tour of the Old Town and Jewish Quarter:
On our first day, we walked along the river, exploring Prague city and stopped off for a traditional Goulash lunch and beer before we met our group for a walking tour of the Old Town and the Jewish Quarter.
Old Town Square:
The walking tour was fantastic and I highly recommend it. You learn about the historical buildings dating back to the 14th century. Admire the baroque architecture at St Nicholas Church and learn about executions, legends and World War 2 in the old town square.
Astronomical Clock:
In the Old Town square you will also learn about the Astronomical clock, which is the oldest clock, of its kind, in the world that is still in operation, and you will see gothic buildings like the ‘Church of Our Lady before Tyn’ and the Powder Gate.
John Lennon Wall:
You stop at the John Lennon wall, which has been filled with John Lennon inspired graffiti since the 1980s. The wall is white washed every few years so the artwork you see changes over time.
Jewish Quarter:
The tour finishes in the Jewish Quarter, where the Jewish Town Hall, a beautiful renaissance building and the Old-New Synagogue, Europe’s oldest active synagogue, can be found.
Along the way, our guide pointed out his favourite bars and restaurants and gave us recommendations.
Black Angels Bar:
One of the guide’s recommendations was Black Angels bar, so after the tour we stopped off for a cocktail there. The bar is located in the Gothic cellar of the U Prince Hotel in the old town. This is a truly exceptional and unique bar, with a fascinating history and they create amazing signature cocktails.
The second day, we had a delicious breakfast at the hotel and used the Spa facilities to relax before another afternoon of sightseeing.
Tour of Prague Castle, Charles Bridge and St Vitus Cathedral:
We walked to St Wenceslas Square, one of the main city squares, where the biggest demonstrations took place during the Velvet revolution. Then, we met the guide and went on the walking tour of Prague Castle, Charles Bridge and St Vitus Cathedral.
Charles Bridge:
On this tour you stroll over the Charles Bridge, the oldest bridge in Prague founded by Emperor Charles IV. The Charles Bridge is beautiful and romantic. There are artists selling their works and musicians entertaining the tourists.
The guide takes you on a tram ride to the Old Castle stairs.
Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral:
You explore the grounds of Prague Castle and learn about the castle’s turbulent history and the word ’defenestration’ (to kill a person by throwing them out of a window)! The Castle is a UNESCO world heritage site and is the official residence of the president of the Czech Republic. There are a complex of buildings including the Old Royal Palace and St Vitus Cathedral . It has wonderful gardens that overlook the city.
The tour finishes at St Vitus Cathedral, the most important church in Czech history, where the majority of Czech kings were coronated, married and buried.
After the tour, we slowly made our way back to the old town, across the Charles bridge. We enjoyed another delicious dinner at the hotel before ordering a taxi to the airport.
Would I recommend Prague?
Most definitely! Prague is one of my favourite cities; the architecture makes it look like something out of a fairy tale. It was actually named the most beautiful city in the world by ‘Time Out’ magazine! There is lots to see and do, great public transport, wonderful food and amazing beer.
Prices have certainly risen since the 90s and it is no longer jaw droppingly cheap but it isn’t expensive compared to other European cities. You can find apartments on Booking.com as low as £73 for 2 nights but flights need to be booked well in advance for the cheapest prices.
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