Prague can easily compete as the
most beautiful city in Europe, especially for those who have gone past the
charm of Paris. For its Baroque, Gothic and art nouveau architecture, much more the colorful culture and history drawn from its former Bohemian glory, I should
say a trip to Europe isn’t complete without a visit to the Czech capital.
Budget travelers, however, need not
spend a fortune just to enjoy this beautiful city. In fact, you can check out some
if not most of Prague’s main attractions for FREE!
As what I did in Paris, Rome and
Granada, I’ve joined free walking tours organized by Sandeman (my free walking
tours of Rome and Granada, however, were organized by other groups). Like my
experiences of free walking tours in Paris as I detailed in my entry, "Paris on Foot," that in Prague proved to be very
informative and entertaining. It may have been a tiring three-hour walk, but as
I’ve said before, it's better to bear the sore feet: buildings are mere concrete and paint if not for its rich
history.
Here are some of the most popular
sights in Prague that can be visited out without shedding a crown, in no
particular order:
1. The Wenceslas Square
At first glance, Wenceslas Square
looks like a long boulevard marked with the equestrian monument of St.
Wenceslas (patron of Bohemia), flower beds in the middle, and retail shops on either side. But
as you move farther from the National Museum going to the direction of the Old
Town, you'll see a number of well-preserved, beautiful art nouveau buildings,
counting among them the Wiehl House and Hotel Evropa, among many others.
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| One of those cute art nouveau buildings at Wenceslas Square. |
2. The Old Town Square
I should say the Old Town Square is the
center of universe in Prague. It really used to be, with the Old Town Hall bearing the
beautiful Prague Astronomical Clock located there. Other main attractions at
the Old Town Square include the Gothic, fairy tale castle-like
Church of Mother of God in front of Tyn and the Baroque St. Nicholas Church. If
you happen to sit down at the benches located around the statue of Jan Hus -- a known
religious who was burned at the stake in 1415 for heresy – bask at the elaborate
and colorful art nouveau buildings around the square, the facades of which are decorated with
paintings reminiscent of those in Germany. The rows of these buildings are a
sight to behold!
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| Old Town Square, Prague. |
3. Church of Mother of God in front
of Tyn
For an
Asian like me, this church rises above rows and rows of art nouveau and Gothic
buildings in the heart of Prague appear like a Disney fairy tale castle. Unlike other Catholic
churches where patios are very welcoming, the main entrance to this church is
concealed by a row of shops.
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| A view of the Church of Mother of God in front of Tyn from the Prague Astronomical Clock. |
The clock tower of Prague, known
locally as Prazky Orloj, is one of the places and attractions in Prague that
shouldn’t be missed. I highly suggest that you should see the clock strike 9 in
the evening to see every piece of this clockwork in action! What’s there to
see? Read my post about the Prague Astronomical Clock.
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| Prague Astronomical Clock. |
5. The Dancing House
One of the
most amazing structures that I’ve ever seen are those made by Frank Gehry. For the
unconventional shapes and designs of Frank Gehry edifices, these architectural
works have become tourist attractions by themselves, and the Dancing House in
Prague is not an exception. Originally called Fred and Ginger as this resembles
iconic dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Gehry designed this building in tandem with Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunic. It stands out in a
neighborhood of Gothic and Baroque buildings for its – should I call it modern
or post-modern? – design. I guess the cloudiness during my visit to Prague
makes a night view of this building far better. This building is now used by
several multinational companies.
 |
| The Dancing House at night. |
6. Prague Castle
The Prague
Castle is the seat of the government, the office of the kings of what was known
as Bohemia, the Holy Roman Emperor, Czechoslovakia and now the Czech Republic.
It is a conglomeration of practically all architectural styles. A trip to the
castle would reveal not just the castle itself but also a gothic church (which
reminds me of the Dom in Cologne) known as St. Vitus Cathedral, and other
structures at the public portions of the castle grounds. I wasn’t able to enjoy
this UNESCO World Heritage Site as I was pressed for time to see the other
attractions around. It is possible to enter the castle. Check out the information
HERE.
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| Not exactly my best photo of the castle grounds. Just wanna show you guys the nice painting at the facade of St. Vitus Cathedral, located at the grounds of the Prague Castle. |
7. Sto. Nino de Praga
Whether you are Catholic or not, a
visit to the shrine of the Sto. Nino de Praga is a must. Sure, it’s just a
statuette with historical importance associated with miracles. A visit to this
place, however, is worth your time. Check out my entry HERE to find out why.
8. Charles Bridge
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| Santo Nino de Praga. |
8. Charles Bridge
The Charles Bridge is also one of
the must-see attractions of Prague. Connecting the Prague Castle and the Old
Town through the Vlatva River, the stone bridge is lined by 30 baroque-style sculptures,
the most popular of which is probably the one that bears St. John of Nepomuk’s
cross, where visitors make a wish! The bridge is supported by three tower
bridges. Notice the details of the tower bridge on the Old Town side! Be forewarned, though, that Charles Bridge is always teeming with tourists. Try to come early if you want the bridge all to yourself.
9. Estates Theatre
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| The tower bridge at the Charles Bridge leading to the Lesser Town. |
Known to
Czechs as Stavovské divadlo, the Estates Theatre’s claim to fame is its being the
only surviving venue where musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has
performed. Mozart was said to have performed a world premier of one of his
operatic works here. From outside, it’s free. But if you happen to watch a
performance inside, bask at the beauty of its interiors! Outside is a statue
made to remember Mozart.
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| The Estates Theatre, or you may just call this the "Mozart Theatre." |
10. The House of the Black Madonna
This place,
also within the Old Town, is said to be the first ever structure designed in
cubist school of art. But what fancies me here is the statue of the Black
Madonna hung at the gable. Time was when people couldn’t read or write, and so
they used images or statues like the Black Madonna as street markers, so our
guide said. Interesting, isn’t it? Entrance to the museum inside the House isn't free. I'm guessing the coffee shop at this house isn't cheap, but I guess a good story to tell your grand kids would be, "Granny just had coffee at the first cubist building in the world."
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| The Black Madonna. |
11. The Metronome
It takes
260 steps to get to the metronome (yes, I myself counted it!) but when you get
on top, you’ll only see the gigantic mechanisms of the metronome itself. That
said, you only go up there for the breath taking view of the Vlatva River and
the nearby Old Town.
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| I can't promise anything breath-taking at the metronome itself other than this view of the River Vlatva. |
Tip sheet:
- It is possible to tour around the Old Town and surrounding areas for three hours, albeit a hurried one. I suggest a two- to three-day stay in Prague so that you may have time to enter the Prague Castle, visit the Santo Nino de Praga, and spend more time in other attractions.
- Sandeman's free walking tour of Prague can be availed by meeting up with the guides by the Prague Astronomical Clock. For schedules, check out Sandeman's Website.
- Anything that you buy close to the Old Town is expensive! For instance, Czech ham sold beside the Old Town Hall can be bought elsewhere around Prague for half the price!
- Foreign exchange can also be quite expensive at the Old Town. I found a generous forex trader at Opletalova Street, which is a couple of blocks from Wenceslas Square.
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