Not sure what to see in Prague? Our article will tell you about the most interesting sights of this ancient European city. Some thirty years ago, Prague was a “dark horse” on the tourist map of Europe, but now it is one of the most popular destinations, which annually attracts about 4 million visitors from all over the world.
Prague is distinguished by its compact city center and vibrant historical appearance with magnificent examples of Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance and Modernist architecture. Here you can find a huge variety of palaces, churches, parks and squares, as well as taste delicious Czech beer and food at quite reasonable prices.
St. Vitus Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Vitus was built over almost 600 years and today is one of the most striking masterpieces of Gothic architecture in Central Europe, which is of decisive importance for the religious and cultural life of the Czech Republic.
Here you can see the magnificent mosaic “The Last Judgment” of the XIV century, the tombs of St. Wenceslas and Charles IV, as well as the silver tomb of St. John of Nepomuk, decorated in the Baroque style. You should also pay attention to the majestic chapel of St. Wenceslas and the modernist stained glass windows by Alphonse Mucha.
Address: Sv. Vitus, III. nádvoří 48/2, 119 01 Praha 1-Hradčany, Czech Republic.
Karlov our
Charles Bridge is one of the main attractions of Prague. Where to go and what to see in Prague, many tourists decide only by walking along this magnificent 500-meter ferry.
Keep in mind, however: by 9 a.m. the bridge is filled with an army of tourists scurrying past the stalls of street vendors and musicians under the impassive gaze of baroque statues set on parapets. If you want to enjoy the indescribable atmosphere of this place, we advise you to come here at dawn.
Address: Karlův most, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic.
Fortress Prague Castle
The most popular attraction in Prague. Occupying the left bank of the Vltava, its slender rows of spiers and towers proudly rise above the city center like a fairytale fortress. Here you will see a wide variety of historical buildings, museums and galleries that house the greatest artistic and cultural treasures of the Czech Republic.
Please be aware that visitors are required to pass a security check before entering the property, so be sure to bring your passport with you.
Address: Pražský hrad, Hradčany, 119 08 Prague 1, Czech Republic.
You can visit as part of excursions:
- Secrets of Prague Castle
- Vysehrad and Prague Castle: secrets and legends of Prague in the evening
- The entire Prague Castle
Exhibition Palace
The collection of works of art from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries of the National Gallery occupies four floors and is considered to be one of the best in Prague. Here are collected masterpieces of famous world masters, including Van Gogh, Picasso, Schiele and Klimt.
Even against the background of such names, exhibitions of works by Czech abstract artists, surrealists and cubist artists of the early 20th century deserve special attention.
Address: Veletržní palác, Dukelských hrdinů, Prague 7, Czech Republic.
Jewish Museum in Prague
This museum includes six Jewish monuments located in the Josefov area: the Meisel synagogue, the Pinkas synagogue, the Spanish synagogue, the Klaus synagogue, the ceremonial hall and the old Jewish cemetery. In addition, it is worth mentioning separately the Old New Synagogue, which still hosts services – a ticket to visit it must be bought separately.
Address: Jewish Museum in Prague, U Staré školy, Stare-Mesto, Czech Republic.
Community house
The main Prague Art Nouveau building is a masterpiece of modern architecture. Every detail of its design and decor is thought out to the smallest detail, every painting and sculpture is filled with deep symbolism.
The local restaurant and café is more reminiscent of Art Nouveau museums, and upstairs you will find half a dozen luxuriously decorated rooms that you can visit on a guided tour.
Address: Obecní dům, nám. Republiky 5, 111 21 Josefov, Czech Republic.
Strahov library
The Strahov Library is the largest monastic library in the country, consisting of two magnificent Baroque rooms dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. You can look into the halls through open doors, however, you cannot go inside – scientists have found that the changes in humidity caused by the breathing of tourists negatively affect the state of the magnificent ceiling frescoes. But you will have the opportunity to visit the so-called “cabinet of curiosities”.
Address: Strahovská knihovna, Strahovské nádvoří, Prague 1-Gradčany, Czech Republic.
Old town hall
The Old Town Hall of Prague, founded in 1338, is a single complex of medieval buildings erected here over the centuries. The main building is considered to be a tall Gothic tower with a magnificent astronomical clock.
The main feature of this town hall is its gorgeous view of the Old Town Square from the 60-meter-high clock tower. You can climb up the modern, beautifully designed spiral staircase – believe me, it’s worth it! For those who do not like physical activity, an elevator is provided.
In addition, the Town Hall has a number of other historical sites, and art exhibitions are regularly held on the first and third floors.
Address: Staroměstská radnice, Staroměstské nám. 1/3, 110 00 Old Town, Czech Republic.
Tyn temple
The characteristic Gothic spiers make the Tyn Church the main geographical landmark of the Old Town. The cathedral seems to be copied from a fairy tale of the 15th century. Its towers, proudly dominating the Old Town Square, are adorned with a gilded image of the Virgin Mary, cast in the 1620s from a molten bowl that used to decorate the church.
Address: Church of the Mother of God in front of Týn, Staroměstské nám., 110 00 Josefov, Czech Republic.
Complex Prague Loreta
Loretta is a grand Baroque complex and popular pilgrimage site, founded by Benina Kateřina Lobkovic in 1626. It was supposed to be an exact copy of the Holy Hut from Nazareth. Legend has it that during the Turks’ advance on Nazareth, the angels moved the original Holy Hut to the Italian city of Loreto.
Address: Loreta, Loretánské náměstí, Prague 1-Hradčany, Czech Republic.
You can visit as part of the excursion:
National monument on Vitkov
The massive functional structure of this monument resembles a nuclear power plant in its elegance, but the interior is an impressive combination of polished marble, gilding and art deco mosaics. There is an amazing museum of the history of Czechoslovakia of the XX century.
Address: National Monument in Vítkov, U Památníku 1900, 130 00 Prague 3-Žižkov, Czech Republic.
Monastery of St. Agnes of Bohemia
In the northeastern part of the Old Town, there is the former Anezhsky convent, the oldest Gothic building in Prague. The rooms on the ground floor display the National Gallery’s permanent collection of Medieval and Early Renaissance (1200–1550) works from Bohemia and Central Europe, as well as altar paintings from the Gothic era and polychrome religious sculptures.
Address: National Gallery Prague – Monastery of St. Anežky České, U Milosrdných, 110 00 Old Town, Czech Republic.
Wenceslas Square
Wenceslas Square looks more like a wide boulevard than a typical city square. She witnessed many significant events in the history of the Czech Republic – here the inhabitants of the city gathered during the revolutionary upheavals of 1848; in 1918, the establishment of the new Czechoslovak republic was consolidated on the square, and it was here that anti-communist protests took place in 1989.
Initially, the square was a medieval equestrian market, but in the middle of the 19th century, during the revival of the national identity of the Czechs, at the suggestion of Karel Havlichk Borovsky, it was renamed St. Wenceslas Square.
Address: Václavské nám. 110 00 New Town Czech Republic.
Petrin Hill
This 318 m high hill is one of the most extensive green areas in Prague. This is a great place for quiet walks in the shade of trees and to see the “City of a Hundred Spiers” from above.
Most of the hilltop attractions, including the lookout tower and the Mirror Maze, were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, giving the place an old-fashioned and laid-back vibe.
Address: Petřín, Petrin, 169 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
Church of St. Nicholas
The wonderful St. Nicholas Church (Mala Strana) is located on the picturesque Malaya Kvartalnaya Square. Built by the Jesuits in the 18th century, it is a fine example of High Baroque and features a magnificent interior with a unique 19th century chandelier and large Baroque paintings by the Czech artist Karel Skret, which adorn the huge dome of the church.
The church also has its own bell tower, which visitors are even allowed to climb – from its top, there is a magnificent view of the huge dome of the church and the old city.
Address: Kostel sv. Mikuláše, Malostranské nám., 118 00 Malá Strana, Czech Republic.
Prague chimes
Every hour, under the walls of the Old Town Hall, a crowd of onlookers gathers who want to see the Prague chimes in action. Despite the fact that the whole action takes only 45 seconds, this watch is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Europe, which any self-respecting tourist must visit.
Address: Prague Astronomical Clock, Staroměstské nám. 1, 110 00 Josefov, Czech Republic.
City History Museum of Prague
This remarkable museum, opened in 1898, is dedicated to the history of Prague from prehistoric times to the 20th century.
Among its most interesting exhibits is an amazing miniature model of Prague, as well as the original calendar wheel of the Astronomical Clock of 1866 with beautifully painted panels by Joseph Manes depicting the months of the year – at the top we see January warming his fingers by the fire, and at the bottom there is August with a sickle in his hand for harvesting corn.
Address: Museum of the Capital City of Prague, Na Poříčí 52/1554, 180 00 Nové Město, Czech Republic.
National Memorial to the Heroes of Terror Heydrich
In the Orthodox Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius, there is a war memorial dedicated to the memory of seven Czech paratroopers who, in 1942, managed to eliminate the Reich protector of the Third Reich, Reinhard Heydrich.
This museum is one of the most underrated attractions in Prague. Photos and descriptions of those distant heroic events that you can see in the museum, partly formed the basis of the film “Anthropoid”, filmed in 2016.
Address: National Monument to the Heroes of the Heydrichiad, Resslova 9a, 120 00 Nové Město, Czech Republic.
Basilica of St. James the Greater
The construction of the large Gothic church of St. James began in the 14th century especially for the Minorite monastery, and at the beginning of the 18th century its facade was reconstructed in the Baroque style.
However, among the bright gilding and skillful stucco molding, you can see an eerie artifact of yesteryear: on the inner side of the western wall (above) hangs a mummified human hand belonging to a thief who was trying to steal precious stones from the altarpiece of Our Lady of the Madonna.
Address: Church of St. James the Greater, Malá Štupartská 635/6, 110 00 Old Town, Czech Republic.
Alphonse Mucha Museum in Prague
This fascinating (and very lively) museum features sensual modernist posters, paintings and decorative panels by the famous Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939), as well as many sketches, photographs and other memorabilia of the great master.
Among the exhibits are countless works of art depicting the “Slavic Maidens” of the Fly with her hair down and piercing blue eyes, clutching garlands and linden branches in their hands.
Address: Mucha Museum, Panská, 7, Panská 890, 110 00, Czech Republic.
Old Town Square
The Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí, or Staromák for short) is considered one of the largest and most beautiful city squares in Europe. Since the 10th century, it has invariably remained the main public square of Prague and was the central place of city trade until the beginning of the 20th century.
Address: Staroměstské nám., 110 00 Josefov, Czech Republic.
Old Jewish cemetery
Founded in the early 15th century, Prague’s Jewish cemetery is the oldest Jewish cemetery in Europe. It retains its gloomy atmosphere even two centuries after conservation (the cemetery was closed in 1787). About 12,000 gravestones can be found here (some of which were brought from other long-lost cemeteries), but it is believed that more than 100,000 Jews were buried in this cemetery.
Address: Old Jewish Cemetery, Široká, 110 00 Josefov, Czech Republic.
Vysehrad fortress
Vysehrad Citadel refers to a complex of buildings and structures located on the top of the Vysehrad hill, which for over 1000 years played an important role in the history of the Czech Republic – there was a royal residence, and a religious center, and a military fortress.
Although most of the surviving structures date from the 18th century, the fortress is still considered the spiritual center of the city. Its attractions are scattered over a vast area, which offers stunning views of the Vltava and the city.
Address: Vyšehrad, V Pevnosti , Prague 2, Czech Republic.
You can visit as part of excursions:
- Vysehrad and Prague Castle: secrets and legends of Prague in the evening
- You are our sun, the Vysehrad fortress!
- We meet the morning at Vysehrad – photo tour
- Far-away kingdom, the thirtieth state of the Czech Republic: Vysehrad
Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague
This museum opened in 1900 as part of the European movement to return to the aesthetic values sacrificed to the industrial revolution. The four halls of the museum house a variety of artifacts from the 16th to 19th centuries, including furniture, tapestries, porcelain and a stunning glass collection.
Address: Museum of Applied Arts in Prague, November 17, Stare-Mesto, Czech Republic.
Apple Museum
This museum dedicated to Apple products claims to be the world’s largest private collection of Apple products manufactured by the company between 1976 and 2012. Computers, laptops, iPods and iPhones are displayed in perfectly white booths, all designed as if they were sacred relics and not hi-tech products.
The main exhibits of the museum are the earliest Apple I and Apple II computers, the iPod “family tree” and Steve Jobs’ business cards.
Address: Apple Museum, Husova 21, 110 00 Old Town, Czech Republic.
National Museum
The Neo-Renaissance National Museum building on Wenceslas Square was built in the 1880s by Josef Schulz as an architectural symbol of the revival of Czech national identity.
Its magnificent interior is considered the cultural, intellectual and scientific shrine of the Czech Republic. The main building of the museum was reopened in 2018 after several years of renovation.
Address: National Museum, Wenceslas Square. 68, 110 00 Nové Město, Czech Republic.
National Technical Museum
Renovated in a hi-tech style in 2012, this Prague museum houses a magnificent collection of the country’s industrial heritage. In fact, it is not as boring here as it might seem at first glance.
The exposition begins in the main hall, filled to the ceiling with antique airplanes, trains and cars. Among other things, there are separate rooms dedicated to the history of astronomy, photography, printing and architecture.
Address: National Technical Museum, Kostelní 1320/42, 170 00 Praha 7-Holešovice, Czech Republic.
Vysehrad Cemetery
For many tourists, Vysehrad Cemetery is one of the main attractions of Prague, as the remains of dozens of great Czechs are buried here, including Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana and Alfons Mucha.
Many tombs and gravestones can be called true works of art. For example, the modernist sculptor Ladislav Šaloun, who is the author of the monument to Jan Hus on the Old Town Square, worked on the grave of Dvořák.
Address: Vyšehrad Cemetery, K Rotundě, Vyšehrad, Prague 2, Czech Republic.
Dancing House
The Dancing House was built in 1996 by architects Vlado Milunic and Frank Gehry. The curving lines of the narrow glass tower, complemented by the straighter and more symmetrical shapes of the “neighbor” building, form a tandem that the locals dubbed “Fred and Ginger,” after the legendary dance duo Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
It is surprising how organically this tandem fits into the old architectural ensemble of the area. The buildings house offices, an art gallery, a rooftop restaurant and a luxury hotel.
Address: Dancing House, Jiráskovo náměstí, Prague 2, Czech Republic.
Prague Zoo
Hardly anyone immediately thinks of the Prague Zoo, thinking about what to visit in Prague first. Surprisingly, Prague Zoo is one of the best zoos in Europe. It is conveniently located on the banks of the Vitava near the Troyan Castle.
Ranked fifth on the list of the best zoos in the world, Prague Zoo boasts rare species such as the Galapagos giant tortoise, which is over 100 years old. Elephants, rhinos and giraffes also live here.
Address: Zoologická zahrada hl. Prague, U Trojského zámku 3/120, 171 00 Prague 7, Czech Republic.
National Theater
Located on the banks of the Vltava River, the National Theater in Prague attracts thousands of connoisseurs of high art from all over the world. The theater was opened in 1881 as a symbol of national pride and identity and in order to promote the Czech language and culture.
Despite its unenviable past (the building suffered from fire and was even closed by the communists), this stunning theater received a second life and is now a living monument of the great Czech art and culture.
Another famous Prague theater is the so-called Estates Theater (Stavovské divaldo), built at the end of the 18th century in the neoclassical style. It is known that he was one of the favorite theaters of Mozart, who even chose him for the premiere of his opera Don Giovanni.
Address: Národní divadlo, Národní 2, 110 00 Nové Město, Czech Republic.
Old Royal Palace
The old Royal Palace, built in 1135, is considered one of the oldest architectural ensembles of Prague Castle. At first, the palace was used exclusively by Czech princesses, but from the 13th to the 16th century it acquired the status of a full-fledged royal residence.
In the heart of the Royal Palace are the great Vladislav Hall and the Bohemian Court Chancellery – this is where the famous Prague defenestration took place in 1618.
Address: Ancien Palais royal, Třetí nádvoří Pražského hradu, Prague 1-Gradčany, Czech Republic.
Waldstein Garden
In this huge baroque garden, you can take a break from the bustle of the streets of Mala Strana. The garden was created in the 17th century especially for Duke Albrecht von Wallenstein.
Its main feature is a huge loggia, which is decorated with frescoes depicting scenes of the Trojan War. On the sides is a huge artificial stalactite grotto, which rather resembles a massive cluster of skulls.
Address: Valdštejnská zahrada, Letenská 123/4, 118 00 Malá Strana, Czech Republic.
