Prague
The top sights and landmarks in Prague (Czechia) showcase one of Europe's best-preserved historic capitals. The city is famous for its medieval Old Town Square with the Astronomical Clock, the iconic Charles Bridge, the vast Prague Castle, and the golden spires that give it the name city of a hundred spires.
General information
Prague, the capital of Czechia, is one of Europe's most beautiful and best-preserved historic cities — the "City of a Hundred Spires" rising above the River Vltava. Centuries of Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture survived the twentieth century largely intact, giving the centre a fairy-tale skyline crowned by Prague Castle. Compact, atmospheric and famously fond of its beer, the city pairs grand history with a lively, affordable cafe and pub culture. Czech is the language, English is widely spoken in the centre, and the whole historic core is a UNESCO World Heritage Site made for wandering on foot.
Transport and how to get there
The gateway is Vaclav Havel Airport Prague (PRG), about 15 km from the centre and connected by bus (with a metro link) or taxi. Prague is a Central European rail hub, with direct trains to Vienna, Berlin, Dresden and Budapest, and inexpensive long-distance coaches too. In the city, a clean and cheap network of three metro lines, trams and buses covers everything, though the historic centre is best explored on foot across its bridges and squares.
Prices
Prague is excellent value by Western European standards, though the very centre has grown pricier. Expect roughly 1,500-3,200 CZK per night for a mid-range hotel (about 60-130 EUR), with hostels from around 400 CZK. A meal in a traditional pub runs about 200-350 CZK, and Czech beer is famously cheap at 45-70 CZK for a half-litre. A 24-hour transport ticket is around 120 CZK, and sights such as Prague Castle cost about 250-450 CZK. The currency is the Czech koruna (CZK); prices are approximate and vary by season.
Main attractions
Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle complex in the world, towers over the city with the soaring Gothic St Vitus Cathedral at its heart. Below it, the statue-lined Charles Bridge crosses to the Old Town, where the medieval Astronomical Clock draws crowds on the hour in the Old Town Square. Explore the historic Jewish Quarter, climb Petrin Hill for the views, and stroll to Wenceslas Square in the New Town. Cap it all with a riverside beer garden — few cities reward aimless wandering as richly as Prague.