Pretty Prague: My Top Picks

Last summer, Tom and I enjoyed a wonderful city break in Prague. We went for a week, which gave us more than enough time to explore the charming capital of the Czech Republic. If you’re planning a trip to Prague anytime soon, here are my highlights that I’d definitely recommend:

Drink a pint of Staropramen

Yep, start as you mean to go on! Beer is cheaper than water in Prague, so don’t be surprised if you come home with a little beer belly! I’m not very adventurous at all when it comes to beer, but I liked Staropramen and we drank it most days. If you want to learn more about Staropramen, you can visit the Staropramen Brewery, which is the second largest brewery in the Czech Republic.

Cheers!

Watch the Astronomical Clock display

On the hour, every hour, the procession of the 12 Apostles entertains tourists from all over the world. Apparently, in the Middle Ages, the mechanical performance was considered one of the wonders of the world. Although it may seem a little dated now (we heard lots of laughs from the crowd), it is still one of Prague’s top attractions and definitely a ‘must do’ for any tourist visiting the city.

Prague Astronomical Clock dates back to the 15th Century

Eat goulash and soup served in a bread bowl

We had our first meal (and pint) in the outside courtyard of a lovely little restaurant. I can’t remember the name of it, but it was one of the first restaurants on the right-hand side once you cross Charles Bridge into Mala Strana (or right before you cross the bridge if you’re staying in the Mala Strana neighbourhood). I had venison goulash, which was served in a rich and fruity sauce with two different types of dumplings. Delicious, but very filling!

First meal in Prague - yummy venison goulash with dumplings 

Two words. Carb. Fest.

If you’re a Beatles fan, visit the John Lennon Wall and the John Lennon Pub

It felt a bit mad having been raised just outside Liverpool and visiting a shrine to John Lennon while on a city break in the Czech Republic! We had to do it though, as we both grew up listening to the Beatles and we’re both big fans. The John Lennon wall is covered in graffiti and lots of Beatles lyrics, as well as some letters that have been stuck to the bricks. Whenever we passed it, there was always a little queue to have your picture taken beside the big Lennon mural. The John Lennon Pub is just down the road from the wall, which is great fun and definitely worth a visit. You can explore the Beatles memorabilia that fills the pub while listening to their greatest hits (of course). We sat and had a drink there and felt as though we were back in Liverpool!

Check out the quirky architecture and sculptures

Our hotel was right by the Dancing House, also known as ‘Fred and Ginger,’ so we passed it most days. The building is a little controversial, as most people seem to love it or hate it. When it was being built between 1992 and 1996, it divided opinion, as its modern design stood out against the baroque, gothic and art nouveau buildings in the city. Personally, I prefer the older buildings throughout the city, particularly those in the Old Town Square.

Dancing House divides opinion

Keep an eye out for the many David Cerny sculptures, which are dotted around the city. One such sculpture is the pleasantly-titled ‘Piss’ statue next to the Franz Kafka Museum, featuring two mechanical men urinating on a map of the Czech Republic. The second is the slightly surreal group of giant babies that guard the entrance to Museum Kampa.

Charming!

Freaky!

Listen to a Vivaldi recital in the Klementinum

This was a lovely experience and one of the highlights of the holiday for me. I think there are a few classical concert options to choose from, but I really wanted to hear the Four Seasons by Vivaldi in the Mirror Chapel, which is so extraordinarily beautiful. 

The Mirror Chapel is such a beautiful setting

We booked a ticket which also offered a tour of the Klementinum. It was definitely worth the extra money, as the view from the top of the tower was spectacular and it was great to learn a little more about the history of the building (especially the Baroque Library Hall!)

The view from the top of the tower during the Klementinum tour

Enjoy a decadent dinner at Kampa Park

Dinner at Kampa Park was an unforgettable evening. The stylish restaurant is in an ideal spot. It is right beside Charles Bridge, so from your table, you have a stunning view of the bridge lights sparkling in the Vltava river when the sun goes down. For starters, Tom had the seared scallops with cauliflower, nuts, raisins and capers and I enjoyed the beef carpaccio with parmesan cream and rocket salad. For our main course, we both opted for the duo of lobster au gratin, butter poached with croutons, fennel slaw and barigoule sauce. It was an absolutely gorgeous meal in a really romantic setting.

Our view of Charles Bridge from day to night

Seared scallops with cauliflower, nuts, raisins and capers

Beef carpaccio with parmesan cream and rocket salad

Duo of lobster au gratin, butter poached with croutons, fennel slaw and barigoule sauce

Walk across Charles Bridge at night

Both Tom and I much preferred Charles Bridge at night without the massive crowds of tourists. It was a completely different atmosphere in the evening, with just a few people walking along it. The gothic style of the bridge and the surrounding buildings means it really comes alive at night, it’s even a little bit spooky!

Charles Bridge at night is so different compared to daytime

Book Prague Airport Transfers and get a free walking tour!

We were so glad we did this, it was brilliant value and we learnt so much about the city. The tour lasts four hours and runs every day from 11am. Our tour guide (I think his name was Ross) was friendly, entertaining and, as you’d expect, he was very knowledgeable. We explored the Jewish Quarter, the historical buildings of the Old Town, the Charles Bridge and then we finished at Prague Castle.

Feeling quite tired at Prague Castle after our four hour walking tour!

Have a glass of wine at St. Wenceslas vineyard and dinner at Villa Richter

One evening, we were a little lagered-out and fancied a nice glass of wine, so we headed to St. Wenceslas vineyard, which is up by Prague Castle. According to legend, it is one of the oldest vineyards in Bohemia, where the “Lord’s Vineyard” was cared for by St. Wenceslas, the patron of Bohemia Lands himself. Just a little further along the path is Villa Richter, an Italian restaurant which overlooks the vineyard. We had a delicious pizza and pasta feast on the outdoor terrace there and they even brought us blankets when it got a little chilly!

Explore Prague Castle

It is the largest ancient castle in the world, so a trip to Prague wouldn’t be complete without a visit to see it! Prague Castle is actually a huge complex, so allow plenty of time to do it justice. Make sure you visit the St. Vitus Cathedral, which houses the tomb of St. John of Nepomuk and also features stunning art nouveau stained-glass windows, as well as a wooden depiction of the crucifixion. It is also well worth watching the ceremonial changing of the guard, which takes place hourly.

St. Vitus Cathedral 

Changing of the guard

Dine al fresco on a lovely roof terrace at Coda

My first birthday treat was a romantic rooftop lunch at Coda Restaurant. We had a little table right at the end of the terrace. It was the perfect spot, as it offered uninterrupted views of Prague – with Petrin Hill on one side and the sprawling terracotta rooftops of the city on the other. After a glass of bubbly, we had sliced beef tenderloin with herb risotto and pickled onions, which was really yummy. I was super greedy and decided I just had to have a dessert, but little did I know that Tom had already arranged a birthday cake for me! So ‘two dessert Danni’ became my nickname for the day!  

Birthday cake!

Watch Opera Barocca by candlelight

As a birthday treat, Tom booked tickets for Opera Barocca and it was one of the best nights of my life, it was just absolutely magical! The setting was stunning, it was in the courtyard of the Clam-Gallas Palace in the Old Town and it was really romantic, as the courtyard was completely filled with candles. The performance featured music and dancing from famous baroque operas and ballets of the 17^th and 18^th centuries. It was so beautiful and a night I’ll never forget! I’d recommend it to anybody who is planning a trip to Prague while the festival is on (I think it’s from mid-August to early September).

The courtyard of the Clam-Gallas Palace was filled with candles, so cute!

Have a fun day out at Prague Zoo

We got a little lost on the way to Prague Zoo, so make sure you know where you’re going before you head off, as it’s quite far out of town. It was worth the trip though, I saw a polar bear for the first time EVER which was so exciting! I also got quite excited about seeing the elephants, giraffes, tigers, hippos, monkeys, penguins… okay basically every animal that was there!

The funniest thing happened at the zoo. We were walking towards the hippo enclosure and there was a humungous pool there for them to swim around in (you can see them in it as it’s all glass) and there’s a place for visitors to stand in front of it. We stood there, then I turned around to talk to Tom and then his face suddenly looked pretty shocked at what was behind me. I turned around and the world’s biggest hippo (probably not, but he was bloomin’ big!) was right up to the glass and eye-level with me! I managed to get a quick picture after recovering from getting the fright of my life and we couldn’t stop laughing afterwards.

My new friend

Listen to the smooth sounds of jazz onboard a boat cruise

We had a fabulous time on the jazz boat cruise! Wine, cheese and great jazz music, what more could you want?! We also got chatting to the other couple on our table who were really lovely and we actually ended up sitting with them all evening until we eventually got kicked off the boat at midnight!

Wander around the gardens of Petrin Hill

When we visited Petrin Hill, it was a funny little day out as there isn’t actually much to do there. You can see the Prague equivalent of the Eiffel Tower, which is called Petrin Lookout Tower, and you can go to the top of it, where I’m sure you’d see some beautiful views. The queue was enormous by the time we got there, so we just bought ice creams and had a wander around the flower gardens which were really pretty. I think if we were to do it again, we would probably try and get there a bit earlier to avoid the queues and we’d also take a picnic with us as there were lots of nice spots to sit down and enjoy the sunshine. 

Hope you all enjoyed my top picks for Prague! x