Prague in One Day
- Kyra Menzel
- Jan 31, 2018
- 4 min read
Disclaimer: We went to Prague way back in September. But I didn't have this blog yet so, here you go! I also in no way claim to be an expert on what you should and should not visit. But this is what we did.
Europe has many perks, but one of my favorites is how easy it is to travel. I had mentioned briefly to Oliver that I had always wanted to go to Prague. And I had no idea just how close it was to Germany and how cheap it is to travel. (We traveled by bus and it was around 12 euros per person round trip) So being the wonderful person that he is, he surprised me with a day trip to Prague! There is a lot to do and see so I am going to break down what we did right and what we probably shouldn't have done. So you don't have to make our same mistakes! (If you ever happen to find yourself in Prague for a day ;) )
Public Transport: It is not super fabulous. We did not anticipate how "old school" it would be. Meaning, none of the ticket machines take card or even cash. Only coin. So be prepared to withdraw cash and then buy a sandwhich or something to get coins. However, after all that trouble to get the transport tickets, you probably won't use them. Most of the major attractions are within walking distance. And while walking, you get to see everything more, if that makes sense.
Trdelniks: I have no idea how one would actually pronounce this word but I say "turtlenecks". A close cousin to this delicious treat would probably be the churro. What they do is they have the dough and make it fairly long. They then wrap it around a thick tube and place that tube over a coal fire and bake it to golden perfection. It is then dusted with sugar and cinnamon. That is the classic way trdelniks are prepared but there are shops that fill them with whipped cream or ice cream. We did not try those but how could they be bad?
Charles' Bridge: This 14th-century bridge is one of the most famous icons of Prague. It was built over the Vltava river flowing through the city. Up until the mid-19th century, this bridge was the only connection between the castle and old town Prague. This made the bridge an important trade route between Eastern and Western Europe. If you are headed to see the castle by foot, this will be the bridge that you cross. (Told you walking is the best!)
Prague Castle: Unfortunately, we did not get to go inside the castle (although I think visiting is limited because it is the office of the President of the Czech Republic), but the views from the top and the building itself are breathtaking. This castle was once a place of high power for the Holy Roman Empire and Bohemia. And fun fact for you, the Czech Republic (before it was the Czech Republic) played a part in establishing Vienna as well, a loooong time ago.
Old Town Square: I am sucker for the old part of any European city. It is normally the prettiest area. Truly, when you walk into the large square in the center of Old Town, you are blown away. It is gorgeous! They had little outdoor huts serving delicous Czech food that I can neither remember nor pronounce and benches lined with tourists and locals alike. It was a gigantic melting pot and language after language was heard.
St. Vitus Cathedral: I love me a good cathedral. This one is in the Old Town Square, however it's entrance is rather difficult to find. You can't miss the building; it's massive! But it is bordered by apartments and businesses. I was curious as to how that happened. After you find the entrance, it is well worth the effort because the inside is gorgeous. I am used to seeing French cathedrals. They are ornate and beautiful or simple and peaceful. St. Vitus was beautiful and ornate but distinctly not like its Western counter parts. I have a hard time explaining it other than it was breathtaking. You'll just have to go see for yourself I guess!
The Lennon Wall: To be honest I don't know much about this wall. But everyone says it is a must see in Prague. So we went! It is in a really random part of the city to be honest; by all the embassies. I guess one day someone decided to dedicate this wall to the Beatles, specifically Lennon, in the 80's. It would be super cool if I were an avid Beatles fan but I just know Yellow Submarine, Here Comes the Sun, and the likes.
Franz Kafka Museum: This entire museum is dedicated to the 20th-century author and holds originals of his work, letters, and his entire life story. Which is quite tragic. Now, I had never heard of him before going to Prague but Oliver had to study some of his works and I am glad he mentioned visiting this museum. It is rather small but it is very well set up and offers a wonderful history of a very complicated man.
While there is A LOT more to see, that is what we could manage in the 12 or so hours that we had. When visiting, I, personally, would stick to the tourist areas because everything outside is just apartments or businesses. There is not much to see. But I enjoyed exploring a city so different than the cities I am used to. I can't wait to explore more Eastern cities, like Bratislava and Budapest.
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