Guide to Holiday in Prague - Tours & Day Trips
Prague is the perfect walking city; small, compact and loaded with signposts in Czech and English that helpful point tourists in the right direction, simply grab your camera, slip on some trainers and go. This handy walking guide to Prague will lead you carefully through the cobble stoned streets.
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Start at Prague Castle (Prazský hrad or Hradcanské námêstí), the largest ancient castle in the world (it covers 7.28 hectares). The imposing 9th century structure looms over the city, providing a setting for fantastic photographs. With a classical 18th century façade, the castle is full of museums, monasteries, stables, cathedrals, gardens and halls that can take a full day to explore.
Cross the courtyard to the Gothic spires of St. Vitus's Cathedral (Katedrála Sv. Víta), built to memorialize St Wenceslas and finally finished a full millennium after his death. The opposite end of the courtyard contains St George's Basilica. Walk down the hill to Zlatá ulicka, a colourful, pretty little street known as the Golden Lane. Winding your way down the hill into the city centre, be sure to stop and glimpse the house at No 22; this is where author Franz Kafka lived during his time in the city. Follow the lane to the Black Tower and the Old Castle Steps.
The steps lead to Lesser Town (Malá Strana), founded in 1257 AD, making it one of Prague's most historic neighbourhoods. The shop-laden Lesser Town Square (Malostranské námêstí) surrounds St Nicholas Church, a prime example of the late Baroque style. Take Mostecká street to Prague's impressive and legendary Charles Bridge (Karluv most), which dates from 1357 AD and is lined with statues of saints, crowds of tourists and kiosks selling crafts and souvenirs. Be sure to return here at night; the bridge is a vision as it stretches, lit, across the dark waters of the Vltava.
Continue into the aptly-named Old Town (Staré Mêsto), founded in the 13th century, and into Old Town Square (Staromêstské námêstí) with it's Church of our Lady of Týn and Old Town Hall. Stop and watch the hour toll on the Astronomical Clock, built in 1490 AD, with its hand carved figures that herald the time.
Take Celetná street to the 15th century Powder Tower, a standing remnant of the ancient walls that once ringed the medieval city. Celetná leads into the Jewish Quarter (Josefov), the site of the old Jewish Ghetto which was emptied by the Germans in the 1930s. Find the crowded 15th century Old Jewish Cemetery with its jumbled headstones and air of secrets; over 100,000 people are buried 12 layers deep. The Pinkas Synagogue stands at the other end of the cemetery with the names of over 80,000 Jewish victims of World War II.
Finally, you end up in modern New Town, in the touristy Wenceslas Square (Václavské námêstí). Visit the National Museum and the 1912 equestrian statue of St Wenceslas. Congratulations, you've walked Prague!
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