Just before the coronavirus outbreak, I went on a short trip to the Czech Republic. It was a truly beautiful country and I fell utterly in love with it, and perhaps would have returned to Czechia several months later had the virus not hit. Unfortunately it did, and so I will now be spending this time reflecting on some of the most incredible cities in the world. To begin – Prague.
WHAT TO DO
PRAGUE CASTLE
Prague Castle is absolutely one of the best places in the city, as not only is it full of history and legend, but it’s also absolutely beautiful. You can roam the castle grounds free of charge, so even if you’re on a tight budget, you can still visit this iconic Czechia landmark. The views from the castle are all absolutely gorgeous, and on a sunny day, it’s a lovely place to go for a stroll.
CHARLES BRIDGE
One of the things that you must make time for during your trip is the Charles Bridge, arguably one of the most famous bridges in Czechia. Not only are the views absolutely incredible as you look out at old buildings and pastel swans, but the history of the bridge is pretty interesting to learn about. Construction began in 1357, and elements of the decade are still evident in the architecture. Charles Bridge used to be the most important connection between Prague Castle and the city’s Old Town, making it important as a trade route between Western and Eastern Europe.
THE NATIONAL GALLERY
The National Gallery showcases some of the most beautiful artworks from Czech painters, making it a really cool way to spend an hour or so. It’s located right in the heart of the city and is pretty hard to miss, as even the building itself is pretty. The only thing that I would suggest you be aware of is the men that sometimes loiter outside and offer to sell you tickets at a lower price then you can buy at the ticket office – unsurprisingly, this is a scam, and something to avoid if you want to stay on the good side of the officials.
THE COMMUNISM MUSEUM
I’m not going to lie, I didn’t actually know a lot about communism before I visited this museum. For some reason, school curricula in the UK seem to completely skirt over this topic in history. One of my favourite memories from this museum was my travel partner doing the soviet pose outside the building, resulting in us getting called inside to have a talk and get our photographs inspected, only to find that the receptionist was a massive photography buff.
STRAHOV MONASTERY
One of my favourite things about this monastery is its absolutely gorgeous library – what more could you want than to walk into a fairytale building shrouded in history and be confronted by thousands of books? Oh, to be quarantined here.
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK
OH DEER
If you manage to go the whole of your trip to Prague without trying a single crobliha then I’m sorry but you’ve done it wrong. One of my favourite places to have this pastry is Oh Deer, a very cute, very pink cafe, that sells endless baked goods and hot beverages. They also sell merchandise and a chance to smother yourself in crobliha-related goods. Technically this isn’t a strictly Czech pastry, but it’s delicious and must be tried.
TRDELNÍK
Another (not strictly Czech) dish that you simply cannot miss out on is the trdelník – inherently, a doughy cone which is often dipped in chocolate and covered in toppings. You find these everywhere across the city – and whilst the quality stays the same, the price fluctuates a lot. I personally loved the trdelník located just outside of the castle – the food is gorgeous, the views are gorgeous, and the castle is gorgeous. Three out of three isn’t bad.
BAR 1401 PRAHA
My absolute favourite bar in Prague is bar 1404 Praha – the second you walk in, you’re enveloped in an alien green light that will stain your eyeballs for hours to come. It’s a pretty cool place filled with live music and endless drinks, and the fact that its a self-proclaimed ‘gastrobar’ has got to stand for something, too. It’s a great place to hang out and get photos swathed in an eerie green light.
RESTAURANT U ZLATÉ KONVICE
Whilst it felt a little bit intimidating to walk into an underground restaurant plastered with animal skins and decorated with carcasses, it ended up being a place full of fun memories. We didn’t try any of their food, but the drinks were nice and the waiters were super lovely.
CACAO
Easily the best place that I’ve had hot coco in months, this chocolate cafe has really chosen the right niche to delve into. My favourite hot chocolate at CACAO is the “decadent” chocolate, and my favourite tea is the jasmine chun hao, traditionally processed from a small family farm in Hunan. The food matches the quality of the beverages, and it’s overall just a real sweet place to hang out.
TERASA U PRINCE
If you’re looking to eat whilst overlooking the most beautiful view in the city, then you’ve come to the right place. The food here is arguably the best we had tried in the whole of Prague, and the tea is also pretty stunning. One of my favourite memories has to be sitting at these sheltered tables, looking out to Prague as the sun began to set and all of the city lights turned on. It’s one of those experiences that you really can’t miss.
DEN NOC
The BEST concept for a cafe – a couple lived in Prague and wanted to start up a little cafe, but both had very different interests. One wanted to bake pancakes, and the other wanted to serve wine. So, they compromised, and created this epic little pancake and wine bar, where they serve the best white peony tea in the whole city. I’d never had a savoury pancake before we came here, but man, they were divine.
COMEBUY TEA
If you’re looking for some real good boba tea in Prague, then this is the place to go. They let you customise every last aspect of your own tea, from the ice to the sugar level to the exact amount of boba you actually want. It’s pretty neat, and the tea is really refreshing on a warm day. Plus, its situated in one of my favourite parts of the city.
JAZZ REPUBLIC
One of the best ways to spend the night in Prague is by visiting a jazz bar. Jazz Republic has life music almost every single night, and offers a space where you cram together in a warm underground bar and enjoy the music with tourists and locals alike.
And so, have you guys ever visited Czechia, or plan on adding it to your travel list? Let me know in the comments below!
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I’ve never been to Czechia but this point definatly makes me want to visit one day. The photos you shared are beautiful and the building are so interesting.
I’ve never been to Prague but it always looks so beautiful in photos – it’s nice you got to visit before all of the rules changed! 🙂
Hope that you have had a good weekend! We had a picnic on Saturday taking advantage of the relaxed restrictions, and then had a lovely Mother’s Day 🙂
I loved Prague when I visited it and your post with all the wonderful pictures made me cherish this city. I didn’t check many places, so next time I will go I will make sure I use your suggestions, because they all sound awesome.
I visited Prague almost 5 years ago and enjoyed that trip very much. Your nostalgic post reminds me of the wonderful time I had there. Maybe it’s time to come back and go to all the nice restaurants and tea shops that I didn’t have enough time to visit back then!
I love Prague! The Charles Bridge is just spectacular. That Jazz Bar also looks great. I will have to go back one day to do some more exploring.
Oh I love Prague, great guide! I’ve been there two times and can’t wait to go back!
I love this city so much and this is such a fantastic guide!
Awesome guide, I think you caught some details that I as a local wouldn’t be capable to tell because they are quite normal for me. Thanks for sharing, will send it to my international friends when they visit
Prague is on my bucket list! My boyfriend and I were actually talking about visiting next year and this post will certainly come in handy.
Prague is such a beautiful city. One amazing thing, too, is the sheer number of cute little cafes. I’ve been to Prague quite a few times and still haven’t been to any of these! So I’ll definitely be czeching (sorry) this guide out next time we go to se which cafes and restaurants to hit up! My husband loves crobliha, so he’ll be thrilled to hear about Oh Deer, in particular!
I was supposed to have my first trip to Prague in April but obviously it got cancelled, this will be perfect for when I get chance to rebook!
OH how this brings back so many wonderful memories for me! I lived in Prague for a year and it was one of the best (yet most challenging) of my life. You visited some iconic spots and got some gorgeous photos. I hope you get to return — Prague does that to you. It leaves you wanting to come again and again!
Thanks for posting! I have been to Prague and Karlovy Vary many years ago What I love the most is The Charles Bridge! Prague and Budapest rank among most beautiful capitals in Europe
I love Prague so much! I went there twice and could go back there anytime soon. Your guide is really helpful 🙂
I love Prague so much and your post made me so nostalgic! I can’t wait to go back someday. Boy do I miss the food!
I visited Prague such a long time ago, you just make me want to visit again! Thanks for all the reco for places the eat, very useful!
I haven’t been to Prague yet but this guide makes me wanna visit. what a lovely place.
Hey Amy, hope you and your beloved ones are all safe and sound.
You were lucky enough to visit Prague before this madness, I bet it is magical during winter time, I visited it during the summer but it wasn’t too hot as many other European cities during August. I liked Prague, maybe not my favorite city (because I stayed there for too many days) but I loved to discover many of the things you mentioned above and the other side of the city, with all the remains of its soviet past, pretty interesting too!
Now I need to come back to discover all the restaurants you mentioned!
Thank you Amy for bringing back lovely memories of Prague! We were only there for a couple of days and Loved the architecture. Charles bridge was so much fun! We loved the alchemy museum. If you go there again, I’ll highly recommend.
I think everyone falls in love with Prague when they visit. I know I certainly did and your post made me wish I was there now. Can’t wait to return!