Tourism in Prague increases every year due to the beauty of its attractions. Here you will find a travel guide to learn about all aspects of the capital of the Czech Republic, known as "the city of one hundred towers": recommendations, tourist places, travel with children, etc.
Below you have an index with all the points that we are going to deal with in this article.
Contents
General information
Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, a country that until 1993 was part, along with Slovakia, of Czechoslovakia. During its history, it has been subjected to the Kingdom of Bohemia, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and until 1989 to the Soviet Union. It is in 2004 when he joined the European Union.
The country is located in Central Europe, between Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. Within the Czech Republic (or the Czech Republic), Prague is located slightly in the northeast, being located practically in the center.
Despite being in the European Union, the official currency of the country remains the Czech crown. However, you can travel with euros, since in Prague you will find many exchange houses and even in some tourist shops they accept them.
If you decide to change money in the city, you should go only to official exchange houses and not to do it in the street, since sometimes scams occur to tourists due to their misinformation.
In Prague we find five tourist offices. Two of them are located at the airport and the other three in the city center. The easiest to locate is the one found in the Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí, 1).
As for the cost, the Czech Republic is not an expensive country, although Prague has higher prices due to tourism. Still, they are very good prices compared to other European cities.
If you are going to spend three or four days in the city and do not know how much money to take, with € 150-200 per person is enough, regardless of accommodation.
Many people decide to make a combined trip between several cities. The most popular is the circuit between Prague, Vienna and Budapest, being able to add to this tour Zagreb or Zurich. You can find many offers on the Internet.
It is possible to travel cheaply from German cities like Berlin, Frankfurt or Innsbruck thanks to the train and the bus. Another option is to make an organized trip between Prague, Warsaw and Wroclaw, including a great tour of Europe that also covers Italian cities such as Florence or Rome.
The opinions of tourists who have already visited Prague are usually very positive thanks to the services provided for travelers and city prices. In addition everyone says to be amazed at the beauty of it.
However, visiting this city has some drawbacks, such as the mass of tourism, which is concentrated in a relatively small area, a fact that can be a bit overwhelming in high season.
If you are looking to inform yourself about this city from Spain, in Madrid there is a tourist office in the Czech Republic on Avenida de Pío XII, 22. In Barcelona there is no information center, but the Consulate, which is located on the Travessera de Gràcia, 50.
It is remarkably easy to find your way around Prague, as it is divided in two by the Vltava River. In this tourist map you can see the different districts of the city, as well as the main attractions.
Requirements and documentation
If you are from a country belonging to the European Union, such as Spain or Portugal, to travel to Prague you will only need an identification document, that is, ID, NIE or passport.
From many other countries it is requested passport, and if the stay is going to be less than 90 days, no visa is necessary. Among these countries, Mexico, Venezuela, Chile, Colombia and Argentina stand out.
Children and babies can travel to the country, but they must have their own documentation. If the minors are not accompanied by their parents and do not have a passport, they must carry an authorization that has been formalized before the authorities.
To travel with a dog, it must have a veterinary passport stating that it has been vaccinated against rabies between one month and one year before the trip, as well as an identifying chip or tattoo.
Prague is a good city to visit with dogs, since they can use public transport. In addition, they are welcome in many establishments, where they will even be served water, and it is easy to find a hotel pet friendly.
When to go
The best time to go to Prague is in spring, time when the weather begins to improve and the trees and plants to bloom. In addition, in March they begin to mount the Easter markets.
The end of summer, especially September, is also a great option, as there are more open attractions, such as the Castle Gardens. Avoid July and August, months in which the city is packed with tourists.
If you travel in December you can enjoy a special Christmas or New Year's Eve, since Prague has a very good atmosphere at that time. January and February are too cold months, since it usually snows in winter and temperatures are very low.
Tourists often take advantage of holidays to visit the city, so on dates such as the May bridge or November, traveling on your own is more difficult, since the prices of flights and hotels tend to rise.
What to see and do
Prague stands out for its architecture and the charm of its different neighborhoods. The Top 10 of the best corners and the most visited places are:
Old Town Square
It is the center of the city. In the building of the Old Town Hall is the Astronomical Clock, in which visitors concentrate every hour to see the show that it performs.
It is the favorite place of tourists, where a market is set up on special occasions, such as Christmas and Easter.
Bridge of Carlos
It is the oldest bridge in Prague and is 516 meters long. It is adorned by no less than thirty sculptures, so it can be considered an authentic open-air museum.
Prague Castle
It is considered the largest castle in the world. Inside is the Cathedral of San Vito, as well as the Callejón del Oro, where the writer Franz Kafka lived.
Its main entrances are guarded by the official guard, which makes the change of components every hour on the hour.
Jewish Quarter
Like the Spanish Synagogue, the Jewish cemetery stands out, which concentrates around 12,000 gravestones in a considerably reduced space.
This district has suffered isolation and repression throughout its history. However, today the most expensive shops in the city are concentrated, especially in Paris Street.
Wenceslas Square
It is the center of the modern area of the city. Its length is such that it looks like an avenue, and there are even two metro stops on it. Here shops, stores and restaurants are concentrated.
Also, at the top of the square we find the National Museum, considered the most important in the country.
Powder Tower
This Gothic tower was built in the 15th century and separates the old city from the new city. It receives this name because in the 18th century it was used as a powder depot.
Malá Strana neighborhood
Located at the foot of the Castle, it is formed by well-preserved palaces and old houses. To reach it from the historic center you must cross the Charles Bridge.
In this area is the narrowest alley in the city, which is only 50 centimeters wide. Therefore, to avoid clashes between people, there is a traffic light at each step.
Dancing House
It takes the place of a destroyed building during a bombing in World War II. It was given that name, which in Spanish means «Dancing Building», because its design is inspired by two dancers.
Petřín mount
This place can be reached in about 10 minutes by tram from the city center. It is a hill that can be climbed on foot or by funicular.
At its top is the Petřín Tower, which resembles the Eiffel Tower. From the top of it there are magnificent views of the city.
Rudolfinum
It is a large neo-Renaissance building and the largest and most important auditorium in the country, in which classical music concerts are held daily. Another important auditorium is the National Theater.
Other attractions
It is also possible to do adventure tourism, since there are numerous bike tours in the city. In its surroundings you will also have the option to ride a balloon and even fly a plane.
For those who prefer an alternative tourism, the sculptures of the artist David Černý are distributed throughout the city, which are controversial and leave no one indifferent. If you like graffiti, John Lennon's wall is your place.
Although the majority of the Czech population is atheist, religious tourism has an important space in the city, since in the Church of Santa Maria de la Victoria there is the figure of the Infant Jesus of Prague, which is known at the level world.
There are some places close to Prague that are worth visiting, such as Cesky Krumlov, Karlovy Vary, Kutna Hora or Pilsen. The best choices to arrive are the train or agency buses Student Agency. Both alternatives claim to be cheap and punctual.
Itineraries
There are numerous tourist buses, most with the system hop-on hop-off, of which you can get on and off as many times as you want. They are equipped with audio guides in Spanish.
Also, the best option if you are going to spend a weekend of 2 or 3 days is to visit the places that we have listed above. In the evening, you can have a drink in one of the many jazz venues or try one of the typical Czech beers offered by the bars in the city.
If you are going to be 4 days or more, the ideal is to add an excursion to a nearby place. The most visited are Karlovy Vary, a spa town known for its fountains, and Cesky Krumlov, a small fairytale town.
The most romantic plans to do as a couple are to make a Boat tour by the Vltava, where you can even dine, climb the Petřín Tower to enjoy the views and attend a concert or opera.
The favorite corner for teenagers is the wall of John Lennon, because it is allowed to write and paint. For the little ones, you can find the Isla de los Niños on the river, equipped with playgrounds and sports facilities.
Also, if you want to attend a show with the whole family, we recommend you go to see a Black Theater, in which they play with the lights and shadows to create incredible effects.
Many of the tourists who decide to travel to Prague are over 55 years old. For them there are also a good number of activities, as well as tourist guides that show visitors the best of the city.
How to get
Due to the different possibilities offered, it is feasible to travel cheaply to reach this destination. The most comfortable means of transport to travel is the plane.
From Spain the main airlines that fly to Prague are Ryanair, Iberia and Vueling. From Barcelona or Madrid there are flights without scales. From other cities like Valencia it is necessary to make a stopover.
Most countries of South America They have flights to this destination, but also with stops. We can find attractive flight + hotel offers with everything included in different travel agencies.
If you are in any of the neighboring countries, such as Germany or Austria, you can also reach the city by train. In addition, if you plan to travel through several European countries with this medium, it is best to use the Interrail.
The roads connect all the points of the country, but they are not in good condition if we compare them with those of other countries. On the other hand, if you arrive by car, you should know that the maximum speed on the country's highways is 130 km / h.
For those who are used to traveling by motorhome, there it is common to park them in some camping or autocamp, places where you can park and also have different services.
Where to eat
In this destination you will find many options to eat. From traditional Czech restaurants to the most famous food chains, through establishments around the world, highlighting the Japanese.
The premises of the historic center are the most tourist. Although they do not usually have abusive prices, there is quite a difference with restaurants farther away from the big attractions.
Some of the most typical dishes are the goulash, the knuckle and the duck, all accompanied by salsa and dumplings, a kind of balls of cooked dough made of flour, bread or potatoes.
A sweet that you will find in a large number of establishments in the center is called Trdelník, which is made with flour and roasted in the fire. It can be accompanied with sugar, chocolate, ice cream or fruit.
You can't leave Prague without trying its famous beer. The Czech Republic is the country that consumes this drink most in the world, so beer tourism is not far behind. Even some restaurants make their own.
Appropriate clothing
The appropriate clothing to travel to this area depends on the time of the year in which we do it. Whatever the season, it is advisable to bring an umbrella or raincoat, since when it rains it is usually done with intensity.
In July and August it is usually hot, so it is advisable to wear fresh clothes, but always with comfortable shoes, since the entire old town of Prague is pedestrian and usually walks a lot.
In the winter months you should take Thermal clothing or cold insulation, as well as gloves, scarf and hat, since the average temperature during this period is zero degrees.
In spring and autumn temperatures are more moderate, but shelter is usually essential. In addition, they are the rainiest seasons, so it is likely to rain during the trip.
Language
The official language of the country is Czech. Fortunately, in the tourist places of Prague they communicate with tourists usually in English. If we move away from the tourist area, it is more difficult to communicate.
It is also possible to travel to Prague without knowing English, since due to the number of tourists from Latin America and Spain, in some shops and restaurants they know Spanish or have a letter in this language.
Some useful phrases in English to use during the trip are:
- How much?: How much is it?
- You can help me?: Can you help me?
- Thank you: Thank you
- Where is the bathroom?: Where is the toilet?
- Where is ….?: Where is…?
Czech is a complicated and difficult language to pronounce. If you still want to try, some of the easiest words are Hi (now), please (prosim) and thanks (díky).
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