Well those few days went very fast. Overall I have to recommend Prague to anyone that wants to explore a romantic old European city. The crowds I complained about in an earlier post did die down after the weekend ended. The summer days were beautiful and make putting up with some level of crowds a worthwhile trade off. So, if you come here in August just avoid the weekends. As far as timing goes, I think four nights is enough to get a good feel for the city. Day one is arrival and a bit of jet lag. Day two and three is a lot of walking and seeing city sights and by day four you have seen all the main sights and can shop or hang out. The main city centre area is small so it does not take much time to completely explore. English is very common in the main parts of Prague. The further you go outside Prague the less English you will find. However, even outside of Prague most menus are in multiple languages.
I did get some great shots of the city, so look for the photo gallery to be posted.
Things you must do:
- Take the 2 hour segway tour of the city. The Segway’s are fun to ride and you get to quickly see the city highlights and learn a bit about the history of Prague. You can then go back and explore the areas that intrigued you in detail. http://www.segway.com/segway/
- Hike up to the top of the ridge where they have a small version of the Eiffel tower. What a view of the city!!
- On the way back from the hike see the Prague Castle - the church inside is a must.
- Have a meal with outside seating and a river / bridge view at one of the many restaurants along the river near the Charles Bridge.
- Eat dinner at Bravda on Parizska street! Praizska street is like 5th ave in New York, only much smaller.
- Sit in an outside café in old town square and people watch.
We did take the train to a small city about 1 hour outside of Prague to see the ‘bone church’ – 40,000 people buried there during the plague and various wars. They have decorated the ossisiary with human bones, very macabre. Overall the church was anti-climatic and not really worth the trip. However, getting outside the city and seeing some country side was very nice.
Right now I am typing this on the train ride to Bratislava in Slovakia.
2 comments:
Hey Greggy.... I too was surprise at how touristy Prague was...but loved that the chain brands hadn't yet took over....anyone going soon, take the bus two hours West to KARLOVY VARY for an amazing day in the oldest spa town... soak and drink the mineral water!! It's a sister city to CARLSBAD, CA.... Beautiful and cheap experience....
PS... you HAVE to read 'The Good Soilder Sjveck'....I have it...and can loan to you...think you'll enjoy!!! Trinda :)~
I have been to many cities, but unfortunately I haven't been to Bratislava. But I visited Prague last summer. Prague is beautiful city with architecture going back to the middle ages. I was impressed by the Prague castle, the old town's powder gate tower and the famous astronomical clock. I had a chance to explore the Jewish quarter, also fascinating (the Spanish synagogue is not to be missed). St. Vitus's Cathedral rivals Notre Dame as a massive, buttressed church: it also houses the tomb of "Good King Wenceslas". Charles Bridge is a treasure, a great beauty. Also I liked, that when I searched for accommodation, many of Prague hotels offer free transfers from airport. It is impossible for me to define my favorite sight in Prague, as there are so many and they are all worth seeing. The Charles Bridge, the Old Town Square, the Castle, and Malastrana are the major attractions, but you'll find historic sites and amazing architecture around every corner in this wonderful city.
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