Prague: A feast for the eyes and the soul

Prague Castle

Our first visit to Prague was for the great party of New Year. We hopped on the car again and arrived at our perfect little BnB just outside of Prague. This way we were able to both experience the city and its surroundings. And by surroundings, I mean some really nice hiking paths.

At the New Part of the Prague Castle

It could be really cold during winter time, but the Christmas markets, the cosines of the small streets and the overall feeling of the upcoming party were in the air, making it warmer and brighter. We left the car at a very cheap parking lot, right next to a subway station, facing an incredibly sweet vintage little restaurant called "500" and only 10 min away from the city center. You do not need any other vehicle in Prague but your legs if you really want to feel its atmosphere.

First we walked through the city park called Letna Park/Letenská pláň. This is where the Prague metronome stands proudly and from here they shoot the fireworks for the 1st of January. That's right, in Prague there are fireworks for New Year's(on 31.12) and again on the evening of 01.01. 

After a good amount of pictures in the park and on the Čechův most we were ready for the real stuff. A quick word though on the Čechův most. You could reach it on descend from the park. This path would give you a very nice view to the other bridges and the city from a distance. The bridge as well is very interesting too.
With no more distractions (as if that is possible in Prague) we walked only straight on along Pařížská street and found ourselves in the beating heart of Prague - The Old Town Square or in Czech - Staroměstské náměstí.
As per usual, we had a free walking tour booked, which started from there. Our guide was this really cool guy, who moved to Prague a few years ago, fell in love with the city, the Czech culture and history and stayed to spread the word of this country's uniqueness. In the afternoon we did another tour in the city district of New Town. Oh, but hold on, it's not as new as you might think. It was built in 1348 by Charles IV.

I won't get into details on the tours as each one was almost 3 hours long and I strongly believe that you need to visit a place to truly understand it, instead of reading a report on it.

Let me only give you a few ideas on moving through the city and its must-sees, plus some fun stories and hidden gems.

The Astronomical Clock

1/ The square with the astronomical clock (of course). It's a real wonder. Study it from up close. It shows everything: the time, months, dates, the names of all 365 saints. Our guide told us a very interesting fact (although I couldn't find any such info in Google) that the Czechs are allowed to name their kids with only the names on this clock. If they choose a different one, they'll have to write to the city council and explain why is it necessary to do it, and the reason better be good, otherwise they won't receive permission.

The Church of our Lady before Tyn

2/The two towers of the Church of our Lady before Tyn on the Old Town Square also hide an interesting story. If you look closely, you'll see that one of the towers is slightly bigger than the other. That was in fact a simple architectural mistake, but nobody wanted to admit to it. So they came up with a simple solution: they just said they did it on purpose. Then called the bigger tower the Male Tower, and the other the Female one. For its time this building was an incredible piece of art and one of the few of its kind, so everybody accepted this story to be true. Many other cities even build their significant buildings the same way. In winter it's difficult to see the full beauty of the church because of the winter market. But it also made fun! It's full of different tasty smells, holiday music and festive atmosphere.

The details...

3/ Are you a museum freak? Then Prague has you covered. It is a home of about 80 museums. And there is something for every taste. From the old-school History and City Museums, to KGB Museum, to the new-age Museum of Lego, Sex Machines Museum, Apple Museum and the Illusion Art Museum. And in the middle of most of them you will, literary!, face Franz Kafka. Or at least his rotating head, created by David Cerny, know for other bizarre sculptures.

Which museum should you visit first? Click the link and make your plan!

A fraction of the Prague Castle in Winter

4/ The Prague Castle: The entrance is free and the experience is very well worth it. If it's crowded your belongings may be searched, but it doesn't take much time. The view is to kill for. The architecture and the atmosphere are almost incomparable to any of the other castles we visited. This place has its own spirit and makes your eyes wander for hours. At Christmas time there is the usual Christmas market which contributes to the whole festive experience. 

Another part of the Prague Castle in summer

Summer Update:

This city has so many faces that it is impossible to tell which one is the best. We visited golden Prague both at winter and summer and every time we felt a different side of it.
In summer it was really hot, but still incredibly beautiful. We saw the city anew. The sun was reflecting on the buildings' roofs, making it much more lighter and welcoming.
As much as I loved the Christmas atmosphere, I would really recommend it to visit Prague in a warmer season.

A few Tipps:

- The Czech Republic doesn't have the euro yet. Make sure to have some change/small banknotes with you all the time, as there are places where they don't accept cards. If you pay with a card or withdraw at an ATM always choose the option to pay in the currency of your home country( where your card is issued). This way you'll avoid bigger exchange charges.
- Despite attracting millions of visitor from around the world and being called Golden Prague and having this almost heavenly aura, the city is relatively cheap in comparison to many of its West European opponents. You could get a very decent meal, parking space or fashionable clothes for a good price.

*I will not bind to tell how much money you will need per day for your vacation in Prague, as everyone of us is different, likes different places to sleep, eat and have fun. But here's a useful guide to the prices. 

Trdlo

Want to actually taste this place? We would recommend Pečené vepřové koleno (pork knee) with dumplings or Gulash (a pork or lamb strew with vegetables). If you are wondering what to drink, then you don't know where you landed. The Czech Republic is known for its love for beer. Sooo, make sure to try from the rich palette that will surround you wherever you turn. And for a desert: Trdlo! Because of its variety of flavors, I will not even try to describe it to you, just trust me and try it!

Pork knee

Why did I use the term "heavenly aura"? Just see some of the names this beautiful place is called: 

“The City of 100 Towers”, 

                                     “The Rooftop of Europe”, 

                                     “The Heart of Europe”, 

                                     “The Golden City”.

 I admit, I am really glad that I am not a professional writer because I would be ashamed of my lack of vocabulary to describe this city. Every building has its own look and hidden details. It is a real feast for all your senses. All you need is to absorb everything you can, sink into the city's life and be happy to be in

The Mother of Cities!