Prague

Prague offers visitors an endless array of sights to see but this doesn’t mean time spent here has to be just about traditional historical sights or about the city’s rich cultural life, full of theatres, concerts, museums and galleries. If you want to see some beautiful views of the Czech capital, take a walk along the banks of the Vltava, to the Letenské Gardens, along the walls of Prague Castle or up to Petřín to see the maze and viewing tower.

There are places to relax and unwind in the city’s wonderful Renaissance and Baroque gardens, in the parks and enclosures and in the woodland that can be found in some suburbs. The zoo, botanical gardens and the largest aquarium in the country (Sea World) are about fun and learning, while a sightseeing cruise on the Vltava is another great attraction. Prague also has ample sporting opportunities, from swimming to golf and tennis to horse riding and cycling.

Royal Way – This route through the heart of historical Prague, used by the country’s rulers on the way to their coronation at the Cathedral of St Vitus, leads from the Powder Tower next to theá Strana district, up Nerudova Street to Hradčanské Square and into Prague Castle. Municipal House, along Celetná Street, across the Old Town Square with its town hall and astronomical clock, across Charles Bridge to the Mal

Kampa – This romantic little island of picturesque cottages centred around an oval square is divided from the Malá Strana district by an arm of the Vltava called the Čertovka. The group of houses, between which the Čertovka flows, has sometimes been dubbed ‘Prague Venice’. The former Sova Mill on the island is now home to the Kampa Museum specialising in 20th-century art.

Ctěnice Chateau – This Baroque chateau houses a permanent exhibition entitled ‘During the Reign of the Emperor – the Habsburgs in the Czech Lands 1791–1914’. The ground floor is given over to an exhibition on the building’s renovation and the history of the village of Vinoř. Visitors also have access to a collection of carriages, traps and stagecoaches dating from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.

Franz Kafka Museum – This exhibition examining the life and work of writer Franz Kafka (1883–1924), and his relationship to his native Prague, includes photographs, manuscripts, diaries, correspondence, first editions and audiovisual exhibits.

Petřín – The hill between the Malá Strana and Strahov districts is one of the largest green areas in central Prague. Some of the most popular sights here include the 60m-high Petřín Tower (modelled on the Eiffel Tower), the Hall of Mirrors , the Štefánik Observatory and a timber church transported here from the Carpathian Mountains. A cable car makes the trip to the top of the hill all year round.

Parks and gardens – The gardens around Prague Castle, the Palace Gardens in the Malá Strana district, the Vrtbovská Garden, Petřín Gardens, the Stromovka Royal Enclosure, the Vyšehrad Gardens and the Hvězda enclosure are the ideal places to take a rest after visiting the city’s sights in the busy centre.

Prague Zoo – This is a complex of pavilions and large enclosures where you can see around 5,000 animals belonging to 670 species. It can be found on the banks of the Vltava in the city’s Troja district. Visits are made all the more interesting by a cable car, zoo train and other attractions for adults and children.

Botanical Gardens – This large complex boasts a range of exhibitions such as the period St Clares vineyard, an ‘archeopark’ and a geological trail. The best known section of the gardens is the Fata Morgana glasshouse, which acquaints visitors with plant life in various parts of the world including tropical mountain ranges.

Cruises on the Vltava – Add a bit of excitement to you visit to Prague’s historical centre with a sightseeing cruise. Tour the so-called Prague Venice, on an hour-long sailing, or take a cruise with a gastronomic and cultural programme operated by a company called European Water Transport. You can also book a special gourmet cruise, which includes lunch or dinner. Those interested in longer cruises can take scheduled services to the zoo, Mělník or the Slapská Reservoir.

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