PRAGUE

OCTOBER 2024

A trip to Prague is all about awe. Awe at an incredible history; the baroque-style pastel coloured buildings; the resilience of a people whose destiny for the past several decades has been dictated by other countries, treaties and post-war pacts. It is a destination where around every corner there is evidence of creativity: in the architecture, art galleries and music venues. Modern day works of art in the form of mega sculptures are tucked away in the most unlikely of places. Microbreweries and chimney cake producers tout for business, insisting theirs is the tastiest, most authentic, most Instagram-able ….

Prague might be small but it packs a mighty punch. It is home to the oldest university in Europe, the oldest working astronomical clock in the world, the largest castle complex in the world. The list goes on. It’s a must-visit destination.

We visited Prague for one week in October 2024.

Sightseeing tours

There are several ways to take in the sights in Prague.

·        The hop-on hop-off bus terminates beside the Municipal Hall.

·        Horse drawn carriages assemble around the Old Town Square.

·        Vintage cars line the side streets nearby to take visitors around the streets with commentary included.

Tour boats line the Harbour area ready to take visitors along the Vlata River. Evening cruises include buffet meals, cocktails or dancing.

We chose three ways to explore the city:

Scooser Tours. www.scoosertour.com A 2-hour Grand City Tour gives  a comprehensive introduction to the City and is a great way to get your bearings. The e-scooters allow you to  cover a large area which would have been impossible otherwise. Stops (amongst others) include Charles Bridge, a tourist must-see which connects the Castle to the Old Town; Letná Park, with magnificent views across the city;  Prague Castle, the largest Castle complex in the world; and the John Lennon Wall which has come to symbolise the Czech people's defiance against oppression. Lots of fun, great company.

The Prague Venice Boat trip www.prague-venice.cz launches from under Charles IV Bridge. The smaller sized boats are able to navigate a short section of the canal allowing you a more intimate view of the city from the waterways.Cups

Tourist Tram number 42. https://prague.eu/en/vintage-tram-32/. The olde world tram completes an extensive circuit around the city with stops near the Municipal House, Wenceslas Square, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, Prague Monastery to name a few. A fabulous way you see the city. Tram 42 terminates close to the Strahov Monastery where you can explore the Monastery grounds and sustain yourself with food and beer brewed and distributed only within the Abbey complex.

Sightseeing on foot

  • Astrological Clock, Old Town Square

    Prague is home to the oldest functioning Astrological Clock in the world, dating from 1410. Every hour on the hour (between 9am and 11pm) the clock chimes and a skeleton appears, indicating that we are all one hour closer to death. Cheery!

  • Wenceslas Square

    Overlooked by a statue depicting King Wenceslas astride a horse on his way to battle. Wenceslas Square is site of many demonstrations and notable events in recent Czech history. Unfortunately there are extensive renovations the time of writing prevented us from seeing it at it’s best, but the large pedestrianised central area is surrounded by shops and eateries. It’s a fun, bustling place to take in some authentic Czech atmosphere.

  • Prague Castle

    Prague boasts the largest Castle complex in the world. Unsurprisingly, it takes hours to do it justice. As a visitor you have the option of a guided tours either in a group or for your individual party, audio tours or, as we chose, the opportunity to wander slowly through the complex admiring the range of architecture from the outside.

  • The Museum of Communism

    https://muzeumkomunismu.cz/en/

    Located on the Square of the Republic, beside the Billa Supermarket, The Museum of Communism takes you through the path of communism in Czechoslovakia. Ranging from the post war creation of the country  through to the 1968 invasion by Russia and subsequent liberation in 1989. In my opinion, it’s a must visit.

  • Municipal House

    https://www.obecnidum.cz/

    A beacon of Czech statehood, the Municipal House offers classical concerts and exhibitions. The Best Of Classics in Smetana Hall afforded a serene and uplifting hour after a day of sightseeing. Tickets (from CZK 750) can be bought at the ticket booth inside the building on the day. Tours of the Municipal House (CZK 320) can be booked inside the building or online.

  • Sex Machines Museum

    www.sexmachinesmuseum.com

    A fun way to spend an hour. The museum is filled with curious contraptions dating

    from the mid-1800s to the present day. If you're interested to see a steam engine powered masturbator, this is your place.

Instagrammable moments …

The younger generation have a keen eye for the quirky or unusual. Many of the following are surrounded by Gen Xers with their phones at the ready. It doesn’t detract from the experience, though in my opinion. It just adds to the fun and gives you the opportunity to prove to your kids just how hop and with it you really are.

  • Kafka's Head by David Ĉerný

    www.DavidCerny.cz. This piece of dynamic art is well worth a visit. The sculpture rotates every hour on the hour for fifteen minutes. It’s a graceful, serene movements are quite mesmerising after a day trudging the pavements.

  • Palac Lucerna

    This passageway is a 5 minute walk from Wenceslas Square and contains David Ĉerný's controversial sculpture: a King Wenceslas suspended from the ceiling whilst riding an upside-down horse.

  • The Infinite Tunnel of Books

    The Municipal Library of Prague might seem an unlikely venue for crowds of feverish instagramers, but the crowds wrapping around the street don't lie. They're here to see the infinite tunnel of books, an optical illusion designed to imply the infinite pursuit of knowledge. Once you reach the end of the queue you have a few seconds to snap your shot and marvel at the illusion before joining the throngs waiting outside for their turn. It's actually pretty cool.

  • The Butterfly Sculpture

  • The Pissing Men Statue

    Apparently touching the penis brings good luck. I leave it for you to decide!

  • John Lennon Wall

    When street art became a symbol of revolt against repression.