Is Prague Worth Visiting? Let’s Explore This “Fairytale City” (With Map!)

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If you know anything about Prague (or Praha), you know one of its biggest claim to fames is its architecture. In fact, Prague is known as “the city of 100 spires” thanks to its numerous towers and spires that sit atop many buildings and churches. Prague’s architecture is a lot of the reason why it has the “fairytale city” reputation – in fact, if you are a ACOTAR fan, the buildings in Prague look like they came straight out of the Night Court.

My Recap of Prague

Prague is largely divided into 3 main sections: Old Town, New Town, and Lesser Town (Malá Strana)…with Old and New Town being the main areas. While these areas are walkable, some of the attractions I mention are more spread out. If you don’t want to walk, you can Uber or take the Tram, Prague’s above-ground metro.

What I Loved About Prague

IMO, Prague is like that quirky-but-gorgeous friend who owns their weirdness so confidently, you can’t help but fall for them. I love that the city has a humorous side that many others don’t (wait til I show you some statues further down in this post!). The Czech Republic drinks more beer per capita than any other country—and yes, you can even go to a beer spa (fyi- they’re known for Pilsners!). While traditional Czech food is heavy on meat and potatoes, I was happy to find spots with lighter, Mediterranean options too.

I already mentioned how Prague’s architecture is stunning, but let me fan-girl one more time. I’m a big fan of Gothic and Baroque architecture, and many of Prague’s buildings are done in this style. I spent so much time just staring at everything and taking it all in. There are also a lot of chandeliers here, even in some of the cheap-looking touristy shops! I thought this was somewhat random, but apparently, the Czech Republic is known for its Bohemian crystals that adorned the palaces of European aristocrats. Who knew!

What I Did NOT Love About Prague

For a long time, Prague has been regarded as one of the safest cities in the world…and as someone who often travels solo, I love a safe city. However – and there’s no polite way to say this – a lot of the people I saw were sketchy-looking. I never felt threatened, nor did I get into any dangerous situations, but it’s something I would want to know before going. In the same breath, parts of the city did not seem as clean as others I have been to.

The Best Things To Do (and See!) in Prague

1. Old Town + Old Town Square

Old Town is the historic heart of Prague, with winding cobblestone streets and colorful Baroque buildings. At its center is Old Town Square, one of the most beautiful and well-preserved public squares in Europe. Around here, you’ll see numerous jewelry shops, bars, and places advertising chimney cakes. This doughy, hollow pastry treat was actually created in Hungary, but Prague was the first place that put ice cream inside the “chimney” and created a 2104823 calorie dessert. (Personally, I’d tell you to get gelato from Crème de La Crème instead, because that’s way too much sugar for me…but you do you!)

Below, some of the must-see highlights of Old Town:

Church of Our Lady Before Týn

The Church of Our Lady Before Týn is a striking Gothic church dominates Prague’s Old Town Square with its twin spires reaching over 80 meters high. Construction began in the 14th century and continued into the 16th, resulting in a mix of architectural styles. The interior houses an impressive Baroque altarpiece and the tomb of astronomer Tycho Brahe.

This church is one of my favorite churches I’ve seen because it’s built in the Gothic style, yet it’s so different-looking (if you’re a fan of this blog, you know that I love a Gothic setup). However, its bottom half is hidden by houses and buildings (including the Týn School) that pre-date its construction, which is ever so slightly disappointing. Luckily, you are able to access the church through a narrow passage in between these buildings if you wish to go inside.

Prague Astronomical Clock

Installed in 1410, Prague’s Astronomical Clock is the third-oldest in the world and the oldest one still operating. Every hour, a mechanical show called “The Walk of the Apostles” plays out as the clock strikes. Its detailed design tracks time, the zodiac, moon phases, and the position of the sun. This show is a whole 40 seconds long, and people go nuts over it. Old Town Square is crowded at baseline, but when you see a massive crowd outside of the Astronomical Clock, you know it’s about to go down.

To me, the most fascinating thing about the clock, besides how cool it looks, is the fact that people way back in the day created it based off the positions of the sun and moon in the sky during certain times of day. I can’t even get to most places without a GPS, and here we have people just whipping clocks up like this out of nowhere without the help of technology. It is wild. For that reason alone, you need to take a moment and just observe the intricacies: the Roman numerals, the astronomical dial, the sun and moon hands, and the Zodiac sign ring, to name a few.

Terasa U Prince and Black Angels Bar

One of the best photo spots in all of Prague is at the Terasa U Prince rooftop bar on top of the U Prince Hotel. You can get a photo like the one shown below with the Astronomical Clock and Our Lady Before Týn in the background (don’t mind the snow – I took this when I visited Prague at Christmastime!). In the basement of U Prince hotel is Black Angels Bar, which is one of my favorite bars in the world. They don’t allow photos, so I can’t show you what it’s like inside, but it has a “glamorous dungeon” aesthetic and a wildly creative cocktail menu.

Other Things To See in Old Town Prague

• The Jan Hus Memorial statue – Large statue in the center of Old Town Square that was built to commemorate the death of Jan Hus, a Czech religious reformer and national hero who was burned at the stake for heresy in 1415.
• The Jewish Quarter – Highlights include the former Spanish Synagogue, the Jewish Museum, and the Jewish cemetery
• House of the Black Madonna – One of the best examples of Cubist architecture (in other words, one of the few buildings not in the Gothic, Baroque, or Renaissance style). The Black Madonna statue is located on the right side of the house in a gold cage.
• The Estates Theater – The last standing opera house where Mozart performed
• Pařížská (Paris) Street – Picturesque street with all the high-end designer stores if you’re in the mood to treat yo’self

2. The Powder Gate Tower

The Powder Gate Tower (Prašná brána) is one of the original city gates of Prague, marking the entrance to the Old Town from the New Town. It was built in the late 15th century and used to store gunpowder…hence the name. Today, you can climb to the top for panoramic views of the city and appreciate its ornate stonework, which reflects Prague’s medieval past. The tower also marks the beginning of the historic Royal Route, once used for coronation processions to Prague Castle.

3. New Town + Wenceslas Square

New Town was created to expand Prague’s older, medieval city and includes wide boulevards and impressive 19th-century architecture. When you walk around here, you’ll notice it looks more modern than Old Town. The center of New Town is Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí), which is home to the National Museum and a statue of Saint Wenceslas, the Czech Republic’s patron saint.

Around New Town, you’ll find shops, cafes, arcades, and restaurants. One of the most aesthetic rooftop restaurants – along with one of the best views of Prague – is Fly Vista. This spot is located atop the Máj Národní building and has outside seating, gorgeous chandeliers, plus a stunning terrace (the photo at the top of this post was taken from here!). Another more traditional Czech restaurant, Zvonice, is located in New Town atop the Jindřiška Tower. It’s very cute and homey inside, but not very large…make a reservation!

4. Charles Bridge and the Famous Statues

Charles Bridge is a 14th-century stone bridge that spans 516 meters (about 1,693 feet) across the Vltava River, connecting Old Town and Lesser Town. It typically takes about 10–15 minutes to walk across, depending on crowds and how often you stop to admire the views or take photos. The bridge is flanked by two impressive Gothic towers: the Old Town Bridge Tower and the Lesser Town Bridge Tower. You are able to climb to the top of both towers and take in the incredible views of Prague.

The bridge is lined with 30 Baroque statues, 15 on each side. Although you could stop and admire all of them, there are 2 statues that are the most important. The first, of course, is a crucifix statue of Jesus Christ, located on the 3rd pillar near the north side of the bridge. The second is the statue of St. John of Nepomuk, a priest who was drowned in the Vltava River in 1393 by order of King Wenceslas IV because he wouldn’t divulge the queen’s secrets during her confessional. Today, touching the bronze plaque beneath his statue is said to bring good luck and ensure your return to Prague.

5. Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral

Prague Castle is one of the largest ancient castle complexes in the world. At its heart is St. Vitus Cathedral, a stunning example of Gothic architecture that took nearly 600 years to complete. The cathedral features intricate stained glass windows, the tombs of Czech royalty and saints, and the Chapel of St. Wenceslas, which holds the Czech crown jewels.

If you’ve never seen the castle/cathedral complex from a distance before, you are usually so transfixed by the cathedral that you don’t really notice the castle. At least, that’s how I was. When I hear the word “castle,” I think of castles in Disney movies (or, the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany that inspired Disney World’s most famous castle!). IMO, the outside of Prague Castle is kind of meh compared to some of the more elaborate ones I’ve seen. BUT – that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see it or tour it!

6. The Dancing House

If you’re anything like me, you would want to check out The Dancing House solely based on its name, but I digress. The Dancing House was previously nicknamed “Fred and Ginger” after Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, the iconic Hollywood dance duo from the 1930s. The more upright tower represents Fred, while the glass tower that appears to “twirl” around him represents Ginger in motion.

Now, Fred and Ginger is the name of the restaurant that’s located on the top floor of The Dancing House Hotel. I ate here, and it was wonderful. If nothing else, come up here to check out the panoramic terrace, where you can see the Prague Castle and Vltava River, among many other things. IMO, it’s another one of the best views of Prague.

7. Explore Malá Strana (Lesser Town)

Malá Strana, which literally translates to “Little Side” or “Lesser Side,” is an area located on the west side beneath Prague Castle. It sits just across the river from Old and New Town and can be reached by crossing the Charles Bridge. This historic district is known for its peaceful cobblestone streets, Baroque palaces, and tucked-away gardens. It’s home to landmarks like St. Nicholas Church, Kampa Island, and the Lennon Wall, making it a good area for both wandering and sightseeing. You’ll also find the Victims of Communism statues here that I talk about in the next section. Lesser Side isn’t as crowded as Old and New Town, so this is a good area to explore if you want a quiet, leisurely day to take in Prague’s beauty.

8. Check Out The (Odd) Statues

You know Prague is beautiful, but I’ve mentioned it’s also a little quirky. Prague has some statues that are artsy, others that are somber, and still others that are a little…well…odd. A few notable ones include:

• Memorial to the Victims of Communism at the base of Petřín hill in Malá Strana (Lesser Town) – Features a series of gradually disintegrating bronze men on a staircase, symbolizing the physical and psychological trauma endured during the Communist reign.
• Crawling Baby Statues (by David Černý) – Babies with barcode-like faces on Kampa Island and the Žižkov Television Tower
• Franz Kafka Rotating Head (by David Černý) – Statue of the influential author’s head made with shiny, rotating stainless steel panels
• Piss Men (by David Černý) – 2 men peeing outside of the Franz Kafka Museum. They “pee” water into a pond shaped like the Czech Republic while moving their hips from side to side. Perhaps I have the humor of a 13 year-old boy, but these were my favorite.

9. See Some of Prague’s Famous Museums, Libraries, and Palaces

Prague is full of history that you’d be crazy not to explore! Click the link below to book your entry ticket or guided tour to some of Prague’s most popular historic attractions:

• National Museum (Národní muzeum) – New Town
• Museum of Communism – New Town
• Jewish Quarter Walking Tour (+ entrance to synagogues and cemetery) – Old Town
• Franz Kafka Museum – Malá Strana
• National Library of the Czech Republic in the Klementinum – Old Town
• Strahov Monastery and Library – Hradčany district (this one’s a little out of the way)
• The World of Banksy Immersive Experience – Old Town

10. Take A Guided Tour of the City

I love a good walking tour, and the one I took in Prague (linked below!) was one of my favorites. David was the best tour guide and was equal parts knowledgable, witty, and personable. The tour goes through many of the places that I mention in this post, but IMO, it’s always more interesting hearing about them from a local.