The heart of ancient Prague, Old Town—or Staré Město in Czech—is one of the city’s most visited areas, home to sites such as the astronomical clock and the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn. It’s also a popular starting point for walking tours of the city. Many visitors spend at least half a day exploring the many treasures of Staré Město.
A major landmark along Prague’s Vltava river, the National Theatre (Národní Divadlo) is one of the city’s most culturally important landmarks, with a rich artistic tradition. Built in the late 19th century in neo-Renaissance style, it hosts a regular program of works of both classic and modern theater, ballet, and opera.
Golden Lane (Zlata Ulicka) runs along the northern wall of Prague Castle and is one of the most famous and picturesque streets in the city. The lane and its miniature houses were built in the 15th century for castle guards but later housed artists and writers, including Franz Kafka.
The striking 19th-century Spanish Synagogue (Španělská Synagoga) is one of the most unique buildings in Prague’s Jewish Quarter (Josefov). It was designed in a Moorish Revival style inspired by the art from the Arabic period of Spanish history—hence the synagogue’s name—and features stained-glass windows and intricate interior decorations.
Strategically set on Letná Hill, offering commanding views of Prague’s Old Town and the meandering Vltava River, Letná Park (Letenské Sady is popular with local skateboarders, rollerbladers, and cyclists, as well as visitors who flock here to soak up the views while relaxing with a picnic on the grass.
In a city known for its baroque, Gothic, and Art Nouveau architecture, Prague’s postmodern Dancing House (Tancící Dum) stands out for displaying none of these architectural styles. The curvaceous, concrete, metal, and glass building was designed by the architectural duo of Czech-Croatian Vlado Milunić and Canadian-American Frank Gehry (of Guggenheim Bilbao fame) and completed in 1996.
Dating back to the 10th century, St. George's Basilica (Bazilika Sv. Jirí) is the oldest church within the Prague Castle complex; its Gothic interior and Baroque facade are two of the city’s architectural gems. The church today houses the National Gallery’s 19th-century Bohemian Art Collection and often hosts classical music concerts.
The 18th-century Estates Theatre (Stavovske Divadlo is considered among the most beautiful in Europe. As Prague's oldest theater, it is known for its connection to Mozart, who personally conducted the world premiere of Don Giovanni here. The neoclassical facade and lavish interiors make this one of the city’s finest buildings.
Delve into the life and work of one of the most significant figures of 20th-century literature at the Franz Kafka Museum in Prague. The exhibition features most of the first editions of Kafka's works, correspondence, diaries, manuscripts, photographs, and drawings that have never been displayed before, as well as multimedia exhibits.
Some 18 miles (30 kilometers) southwest of Prague, Karlstejn Castle (Hrad Karlstejn) dominates the surrounding area from its hilltop perch. The castle has been a feature of the landscape here for almost 700 years, with its fairy-tale turrets and steep roofs attracting visitors from around the world who come to Karlstejn Castle to step back in time.
It may be the Czech Republic’s newest national park, but Bohemian Switzerland National Park (Narodni Park Ceske Svycarsko) has long been a popular destination for traders and artists. The park’s curious name was inspired by two 19th-century Swiss artists who settled in the region because it reminded them of their homeland. Today the park draws hikers, bikers, climbers, and nature lovers from around the world.
Often described as the best example of the Prague baroque architectural style, St. Nicholas Church (Kostel Sv. Mikuláse dominates the Czech capital’s Lesser Town Square (Malostranské náměstí. Built between 1704-1755, it occupies the site where a 13th-century Gothic church, also dedicated to Saint Nicholas, once stood.
As impressive as it is macabre, Sedlec Ossuary(Kostnice Sedlec) is the peculiar star attraction of the Kutná Hora UNESCO World Heritage Site. The subterranean ossuary lies beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints and is decorated and furnished entirely with human bones and skulls, earning it the nickname the "Chapel of Bones.”
The Czech Republic’s longest river, the Vltava, begins in southern Bohemia and meanders 270 miles (430 kilometers) north toward Prague. The river has shaped the Czech capital over millennia, splitting the Lesser Quarter (Mala Strana) in the west from the Old Town (Stare Mesto) and the modern city to the east. You can’t visit Prague without spending some time on or beside the river.
Built in 1891 for the Czech Tourist Club’s General Land Centennial Exhibition, Petrin Tower (Petrínská Rozhledna) resembles a mini Eiffel Tower perched atop Petrin Hill. The highest point in Prague, with panoramic views, the landmark is popular with tourists who brave the 299 steps to get a bird’s-eye view of the city.
One of the loveliest corners of Prague, Kampa Island is formed by the Vltava River and its side branch—the Čertovka—and offers an idyllic respite from the crowds of Malá Strana. In addition to the pretty riverfront park and Na Kampě square, highlights include the 15th-century Grand Priory Mill, the Kampa Museum, and the Lennon Wall.
A Habsburg-era military fortress that became a Nazi transit camp for prisoners awaiting transfer to Auschwitz and Treblinka, Terezín is a harrowing reminder of a dark chapter in Europe’s history. Today, the World War II site is preserved as the Terezín Memorial (Památník Terezín) and tells the horrifying truths of the Holocaust, as well as the stories of some of its 150,000 prisoners, including those who lost their lives.
Prague's New Town (Nové Město is a bustling commercial hub and cultural nexus, and the easy-to-reach central district hugs the Old Town and Jewish Quarter. From shows at the art nouveau Municipal House (Obecní Dum, shopping at Palladium, and dining at cafés along Wenceslas Square, the New Town should be on every visitor's itinerary.
Set on the site of its 16th-century predecessor, the neo-Gothic Maisel Synagogue served as the storehouse for thousands of priceless artworks stolen from synagogues across former Czechoslovakia during World War II. Today, the elaborately carved, vaulted interior is a Jewish History museum by day and a popular concert venue by night.
Visible from all over town, hilltop Prague Castle (Pražský Hrad) is one of the city’s most memorable landmarks. The castle is just one part of Prague’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hradcany (Castle Hill), a vast complex of palaces, cathedrals, and royal buildings, including some of Prague’s finest works of architecture.
One of the most outstanding examples of art nouveau architecture in the world, Prague’s Municipal House(Obecní Dum) is a popular destination for visitors interested in art and architecture. From the grand concert hall to the restrooms, every light fitting, chair, and tile was specially designed for the building by the leading artists of the day.
Cutting through Prague’s Baroque heart, Nerudova Street (Nerudova Ulice) is one of the city’s most attractive thoroughfares. The street is lined by pastel 17th- and 18th-century townhouses—many sporting carved symbols that once represented the trade of their original owners. Today, they’re occupied by lively hotels, shops, and eateries.
There are many places to honor Holocaust victims in the city of Prague, but few are as iconic or striking as the Pinkas Synagogue (Pinkasova Synagoga) and Old Jewish Cemetery (Starý Zidovský Hrbitov). Inscriptions of the names of thousands of Jews killed during the Holocaust and weather-worn headstones let you pay your respects.
One of the largest cemeteries of its kind in Europe, with headstones dating back to the mid-1400s, the Old Jewish Cemetery (Starý Zidovský Hrbitov) is an off-the-beaten-track destination where you can spend a peaceful hour or two. More than 100,000 of Prague’s Jewish citizens were buried here, and there are around 12,000 gravestones still in place.
On Letná Hill, the Prague Metronome occupies the plinth that once held a 30-foot (9-meter), 17,000-ton statue of Joseph Stalin, unveiled in 1955. After the statue was demolished in 1962, the plinth sat empty until 1991 when Czech artist Vratislav Novák designed and constructed a massive, functioning metronome. Today, it is a well-loved landmark on Prague’s skyline.
Paris Street (Parízská is one of Prague’s most prestigious thoroughfares. Named in honor of France’s support during World War II, it runs between the Old Town Square and the Čechův Bridge. The tree-lined street is home to stores from some of the top designers in the world, including Louis Vitton, Hermes, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Prada, and Gucci.
This 18th-century cathedral is best known as the site of the suicide of the seven Czech partisan paratroopers who assassinated the hated Nazi leader of Bohemia, Reichsprotektor Reinhard Heydrich. Today, the SS. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral (Katedrální Chrám Sv. Cyrila a Metodeje) houses the National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror, which commemorates their sacrifice and the Czech resistance movement.
One of Prague’s largest outdoor public spaces, the 14th-century Charles Square (Karlovo Namesti) is lined with historic buildings and features an inviting green area, a Baroque fountain, and plenty of eateries and shops. The leafy central park section of the square is one of the city’s main gathering spots.
Made up of several different sites, the Jewish Museum (Zidovske Muzeum explores Prague’s extensive Jewish history. It’s a must-visit for anyone who wants to learn more about the fascinating heritage and, at times, tragic history of Jewish people in Europe.
Located at the top of Wenceslas Square, Prague’s National Museum is home to a wide range of different collections, from natural history to music. Opened in 1891, the museum counts an incredible 14 million items in its collection, which are separated by theme.
