Prague

Prague has over 1,100 years of history, which is still very much visible in its architecture and culture. The medieval-looking city is known for the romance of its architecture, with grand castles, elaborate churches and charming bridges.

Prague, or “Praha” in Czech, has been the capital of the Holy Roman Empire and Czechoslovakia. The Praguers freed themselves from a communist regime in 1989 and then split from Slovakia. Prague is now the capital of the Czech Republic, and of Bohemia, and has 1.3 million residents. Many Praguers don’t speak English, but most of the tour guides do.

Spend just a few hours in Prague and you’ll see almost all the great architectural styles: Renaissance, Gothic, baroque, art nouveau and modernist. Three of those styles can be seen in just one building: Týn Church (Týnský Chrám). The city’s most famous modern building is Dancing House (Tančící Dům).

Use the iconic Charles Bridge (Karlův Most) to travel between attractions on both sides of the Vltava River. The Vltava separates the historic Old Town (Staré Město) from the Lesser Town, home to the huge Prague Castle (Pražský Hrad) complex.

Visit Vyšehrad Castle for pleasant gardens and historic fortified walls from the top of which you can spot the spires of Prague’s grand churches, including St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrála Sv. Víta). Visit the fascinating collection of gravestones in the Jewish Cemetery and medieval exhibits in the Powder Tower (Prašná Brána, Powder Gate).

Prague is pleasantly warm in summer while a winter visit is cold but picturesque when the snow falls. Regardless of the season, any time is the prefect time to try some of the delicious local pastries and cheap Czech beer.

Climb one of the many lookout points to see why Prague is the “City of 100 Spires.” Together with the medieval walls and terra cotta rooftops with chimneys, the church spires paint a fairytale-like picture of this historic Central European city. Add the art and nightlife to the mix and you understand why this is such a popular travel destination.