Prague is one of those rare cities that manages to be both ancient and vibrant, a place where Gothic spires share the skyline with contemporary art galleries and where medieval pubs serve some of the best beer in Europe alongside cutting-edge Czech cuisine. The city has survived wars, occupations, and revolutions, emerging each time with its beauty and spirit intact. With so much to see in the Czech capital, narrowing down the must-visit spots can be overwhelming. These five places capture the essence of Prague, from its royal past to its artistic soul, and will give any first-time visitor a memorable introduction to the City of a Hundred Spires.
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1. Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral
Prague Castle is not a single building but a sprawling complex of palaces, churches, gardens, and defensive structures that has been the seat of Czech rulers for over a thousand years. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it is the largest ancient castle in the world, covering an area of over 70,000 square metres. The centrepiece of the complex is St Vitus Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece that took nearly 600 years to complete. The cathedral’s twin spires are visible from almost every part of the city, and the interior is home to the stunning Art Nouveau stained glass window by Alfons Mucha, the Czech painter who became famous for his theatrical posters in Paris. The Golden Lane, a charming street of tiny, colourful houses within the castle walls, was originally home to castle guards and goldsmiths, and later to the writer Franz Kafka, who lived at number 22. The changing of the guard ceremony, held hourly at the castle gates, is a popular attraction, with a more elaborate version at noon.
2. Charles Bridge
The Charles Bridge is the most iconic landmark in Prague, a medieval stone bridge that connects the Old Town with the Lesser Town across the Vltava River. Construction began in 1357 under King Charles IV and was completed in 1402. The bridge is lined with 30 Baroque statues of saints, the most famous being the statue of Saint John of Nepomuk, who was thrown from the bridge in 1393. Touching the bronze relief at the base of the statue is said to bring good luck, and the plaque has been polished to a golden shine by millions of hands over the centuries. The bridge is pedestrian-only and is always busy, particularly at sunset when the view of Prague Castle illuminated against the evening sky is unforgettable. The towers at either end of the bridge, the Old Town Bridge Tower and the Lesser Town Bridge Towers, can be climbed for panoramic views of the river and the city.
3. Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock
The Old Town Square is the historic heart of Prague, a spacious piazza surrounded by Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque buildings that together tell the story of the city’s architectural evolution. The centrepiece is the Astronomical Clock, or Orloj, mounted on the wall of the Old Town Hall. Installed in 1410, it is the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest still in operation. Every hour from 9 am to 11 pm, a procession of the Twelve Apostles appears in the clock’s windows, accompanied by the movement of figures representing vanity, greed, death, and the Turkish menace. The clock shows the position of the sun and moon, the zodiac signs, and the phases of the moon, a remarkable feat of medieval engineering. The square is also home to the Church of Our Lady before Týn, with its distinctive Gothic spires, and the memorial to Jan Hus, the Czech reformer who was burned at the stake in 1415.
4. The Jewish Quarter
Prague’s Jewish Quarter, Josefov, is one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Europe and a poignant reminder of the centuries-old Jewish community that once thrived here. The quarter contains six synagogues, the Old Jewish Cemetery, and the Jewish Museum, which together document the history of the Jewish people in Bohemia from the 10th century to the present day. The Old-New Synagogue, built around 1270, is the oldest surviving synagogue in Europe and one of the earliest Gothic buildings in Prague. It is still in use for religious services today. The Old Jewish Cemetery, with its layered tombstones crammed into a small space, is one of the most atmospheric and moving historical sites in the city. The Pinkas Synagogue, now a memorial to the 80,000 Jews of Bohemia and Moravia who perished in the Holocaust, has their names inscribed on the walls in a stark and powerful tribute.
5. Petřín Hill and the Observation Tower
For the best views of Prague without the crowds of the castle, head to Petřín Hill, a green oasis in the heart of the city that rises 130 metres above the river. The hill can be climbed on foot through orchards and gardens, but the most enjoyable way to reach the top is by the Petřín funicular, a historic cable car that has been operating since 1891. At the summit stands the Petřín Observation Tower, a 60-metre iron structure that resembles a miniature Eiffel Tower. Built for the 1891 Prague Exhibition, the tower offers panoramic views over the entire city, from the castle and the Old Town to the distant hills of the Bohemian countryside. The hill also contains the Mirror Maze, a fun attraction for families, and the Hunger Wall, a medieval fortification built by Charles IV. Petřín is at its most beautiful in spring when the cherry orchards are in blossom, or in autumn when the leaves turn gold.
Have you explored Prague and discovered your own favourite spots among its cobbled streets and Gothic spires? Which of these five places would you most recommend to a first-time visitor?
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