5 Reasons to Visit Prague: Bohemian Magic in East Central Europe

Reasons to Visit Prague? Aplenty. Escape into the preserved cobblestone walks, walled courtyards, and spire dotted skyline of Prague. Be magically transported to the majestic past as you walk through the streets of this capital city, moving among the mix of cathedrals, towers, and domes along with establishments offering a more modern and energetic take on Prague’s cultural scene.

There are plenty of things to discover and enjoy in Prague. Below are reasons to visit Prague and why it is included in most people’s travel wish-list:

1. The Attractions

– There’s a great number of museums, architectural sights, and other places to see in Prague. Particularly interesting are the Old Town and the New Town.  These two locales are popular among tourists for the historic buildings and monuments they have as well as the beautiful panoramic sights and quaint parks. It is worth your time to go about prancing in Prague.

Orloj

The main attraction at Prague’s Old Town is the medieval astronomical clock called Orloj, the oldest that is still at work up to this day. Watch as its clock turns for the hour to see the ‘Walk of the Apostles’ and other figures.

Dancing House

(Czech: Tančící dům), or Fred and Ginger to many, is a building standing out for its design within an architectural feature of gothic, baroque, and other art nouveau buildings. Its architect, Frank Gehry, named the building after dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers for resembling a pair of dancers standing together.

Petrin Tower

The Petrin Lookout Tower is Prague’s Eiffel Tower. It stands on the Petrin Hill which you can go up through in the morning for a wonderful view of Prague, or through a monorail serving the hill.

2. The Activities

– Prague’s old world charm is not deficient in exciting things to do. Among the things that you should try when visiting Prague are sightseeing flights and river cruises. Sightseeing flights give you a bird’s eye view tour of the city on board a helicopter or a hot air balloon. While you’re at it, you might even want to try skydiving in Prague.

Cruise around the Vtlava

Cruising any river is a wonderful way to admire a city. Prague is beautiful whichever way it’s seen, but an experience along the Vtlava river will give you a bit of quiet from the city’s hustle and bustle.

Take a Picture by the Lennon Wall

I’m not entirely sure how the Lennon Wall came about, but fans are really dedicated to have come up with this. See the wonderful grafittis there, and take a souvenir photo, too.

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3. The People

– The people of Prague are jovial and accommodating. They are actually the best people to show you around the city. Walking tours conducted by locals themselves can be requested right off the street, usually free of charge with the locals regaling you with historical tales made more interesting with their personal commentary and anecdotes. It is also an acceptable practice for tourists to join a group of people to banter with during drinking hour.

Kafka Museum

Find what’s Kafkaesque  in life at this museum. ^_^ Dedicated to author Franz Kafka, the museum has a lovely courtyard with a beautiful café and quaint corners for you to relax on.

Observe the Bachelors and Bachelorettes

Walking around Prague, you’ll see a lot of bride-to-be’s and groom-to-be’s…followed by their bridesmaids-to-be’s and groomsmen-to-be’s. Listen to their singing and banters, and even admire their was of dressing up.

Appreciate Music at the Charles Bridge

The Charles Bridge is the best spot to watch the sunrise, it is also the best venue for local music. Here, you will spot budding artists and bands sharing their beautiful music for free. It’s not bad to give a euro or two.

4. The Food

– Prague has a number of restaurants serving up local cuisine. Lunch time is busiest in the city since this meal is traditionally regarded as the main meal of the day. Expect to be served a selection of meat dishes, usually pork or beef, with sidings of dumplings or potatoes. Street food can also be enjoyed in Prague with vendors dishing out Czech style hotdogs right at the Old Town Square and in New Town’s Wenceslas Square.

Trdelník

These are rolled dough wrapped around a stick and baked through. No matter what you put in these spit cakes, the result will always be yummy.

Guláš

Gulasch for you, Czech style, a kind of beef stew that lasts for several days.

Smažený Sýr

Crispy fried cheese – what’s not to love?

5. The Booze

– Well, kids aside. Prague’s beers and alcoholic drinks are considered to be one of the come-ons for international travellers. In this part of the world, these drinks cost even less than drinking water. Bars and pubs would have their own selection of brands. The more adventurous drinkers would have a ball with the all-night bar hopping and drinking parties called pub crawls – there’s one at The Crawl and another group that meets in front of the Astronomical Clock.

More Reasons to Visit Prague

Prague, the city of a hundred spires, with its colorful buildings, rich history, and friendly atmosphere really has a lot to offer to travellers. More than just amusement parks and shopping sprees – there’s a hundred more reasons to visit Prague, and let’s tackle them one at a time. The adventurous and independent traveller yearning to discover some of the world’s cultural treasures would definitely  say Prague is worth visiting.