3 perfect days in Prague

Steeped in castles, cathedrals and medieval squares, Prague is visually stunning from every angle. In addition to the well preserved Baroque architecture, the city’s cosmopolitan vibe and literary history make it a magical destination for all kinds of travelers. Filled with UNESCO sites and fairy tale beauty, Prague offers  lots of options for sight seeing and cultural exploration. Here are suggestion on how to spend three days in the “City of 100 Spires.”

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Related: The 10 least visited countries in Europe – and why you should visit them all.

Day 1: Old Town

Most of Prague’s iconic landmarks are located in the historic old town center. Check in at the centrally located Hotel Pyramida, sip a bottle of Czech beer in the sleek hotel lobby and head to Prague Castle, which is just 10-15 minutes away. Listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest ancient castle complex’s in the world, it’s about the size of seven football fields and dates from the 9th century. It’s a sprawling site that requires days to see but don’t miss the gardens, the picture gallery or Franz Kafka’s house in the Golden Lane. After hours roaming the complex, enjoy lunch in the Lobkowicz Palace Cafe, which supplies lovely balcony views of the Castle gardens. You can also buy tickets for classical music concerts at the place.  At the top of the hour, stroll to the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square and watch statues of the apostles  and other figures pop out to announce the time, as they have for 600 years.  Afterwards, go inside the Old Town Tower and climb or ride the elevator to the top for a panorama of the Old Town skyline.

Trebic Castle, courtesy of Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Day 2: Trebic

View one of Prague’s nearby countryside towns and important heritage sites by hopping a bus or train for a two hour journey from Prague to Trebic, a pretty village surrounded by fields and ponds in West Moravia.  Explore the 12th century Trebic Castle, which was once a Benedictine Monastery. The castle is filled with courtyards, arches and Renaissance paintings. Trebic is noted for its Jewish Quarter, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest and best preserved in Europe. Climb up and down hills and narrow streets to discover a Synagogue that dates from 1639 and a Jewish Museum that displays the details of an 18th century  household.  Walk through the ancient Jewish cemetery, which shelters over two thousand over-lapping graves. Stay at the historic Hotel Joseph 1699, the charming hotel’s oldest building dates from 1699 and overlooks the hills of the Jewish Quarter. The hotel supplies a good restaurant but for a more lively experience, stop by Cafe Bar Holiday which serves up an impressive international menu along with dozens of Czech beers and exuberant local patrons .

Day 3: Vltava River CruiseFor the last day, head back to Prague for another view of the city from the Vltava River. A two-hour Prague Boat Cruise presents the city’s historic sites against the water that flows around it and without the crowds and jostling. Opt for a day cruise with lunch and afterwards, take in the Charles Bridge,which unfolds right over the river. The bridge is always packed with people, vendors and artists so it requires several hours to see all 30 statues that line the famous structure.

The Saint John of Matha statue on the Charles Bridge.

Tagged: Europe