D1–D4: Prague—Where Medieval Charm Meets Modern Wonders(Part 1)

Prague, often called the "City of a Hundred Spires," is a captivating blend of history, architecture, and culture. Nestled along the Vltava River, this enchanting capital of the Czech Republic boasts a rich tapestry of Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance landmarks. From the iconic Charles Bridge to the grandeur of Prague Castle and the bustling charm of Old Town Square, the city offers a timeless journey through European heritage. Whether you’re strolling through cobblestone streets, admiring the intricate Astronomical Clock, or discovering hidden gems like the Lennon Wall, Prague is a destination that seamlessly weaves the old with the new.

Overlook Church of Our Lady before Týn and Old Town Square from the Old Town Hall 

TRANSPORT IN PRAGUE

Most attractions in Prague's city center are within walking distance if you're comfortable walking.

Note: The airport ✈ is also within Prague's metropolitan area, so the following information applies to city transportation, including routes to and from the airport.

• Public Transport Fares
• Subway/Tram/Bus Tickets (valid across all types of public transport, except for vintage lines K, 41, 42 and Airport Express AE):
• 30-minute: CZK 30
• 90-minute: CZK 40
• 24-hour: CZK 120
• 72-hour: CZK 330
• Petřín Funicular: Included with 24-hour or 72-hour tickets; single ride costs CZK 60.
• Note: The funicular is out of service from September 13, 2024 until further notice. 
• Large Luggage (over 25×45×70 cm): Requires a CZK 20 ticket (free with 24-hour or 72-hour tickets). Luggage tickets are valid for 5 hours from validation.
• Ticket Validation
• Validate tickets when entering the first vehicle:
• Subway: At the yellow machines before entering.
• Trams/Buses: After boarding (inside the vehicle).
• If you use the PID Lítačka app to purchase tickets, after manual activation, tickets take 2–3 minutes to become valid to prevent fare evasion.
• Subway 🔗[Subway Map]
• Older stations may lack elevators, check out Status of elevators and platforms
• Schedule: Every 2–4 minutes during peak hours, every 5–10 minutes during off-peak times.
• Trams (numbered with 1-2 digits) 🔗[Tram Map]
• Ticket machines inside tram cars stamp tickets upon purchase. Do not double-stamp it!
• Trams with "yellow bumpers" are equipped with air conditioning—useful to know during the hot summer months. 🌞
• When boarding/exiting, doors don’t always open automatically. Press the door button if needed.
• Buses (numbered with 3 digits) 🔗[Bus Route]
• Ticket machines inside buses stamp tickets upon purchase. Do not double-stamp it!
• Bus 194 connects to several attractions: 12 stops departing from Nemocnice POD Petřínem and ending at Florenc. Use Google Maps for navigation.
• Note: Press the stop request button to signal the driver to stop (from June 29, 2024).
• Vintage sightseeing tram—Tram 42
• Ticket Fare: CZK 350 / 24-hour, unlimited hop-on and hop-off
• Note: The ticket is not valid for regular Prague public transport.
• Hours of Operation: daily 10:00–18:00, runs every 40 minutes. 



Vintage Tram 42 Route Map

SCULPTURE AND INSTALLATION

1. Franz Kafka - Rotating Head by David Černý 🔗[Map]
• Rotates for 15 minutes every hour on the hour.
2. Man Hanging Out by David Černý 🔗[Map]
3. Lilith by David Černý 🔗[Map]
4. Upside-Down Statue of King Wenceslas Riding a Dead Horse by David Černý 🔗[Map]
5. Crawling Babies by David Černý 🔗[Map]
6. Bell #9801 🔗[Map]
• This memorial commemorates a tragic chapter of history: During World War II 9801 bells were taken from the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and melted down to make weapons. Ninety percent of the bells disappeared from the steeples of churches and town hall towers.
7. Yellow Penguins 🔗[Map]
8. Monument to Victims of Communism 🔗[Map]
9. Statue of Nicholas Winton at Prague Main Train Station (Prague hl. n.) 🔗[Map]
• Sir Nicholas Winton was known for organizing the rescue of 669 Czech children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia to UK during the 9 months before war broke out in 1939. 
• Film One Life (2023) is based on the story of Nicholas Winton and stars Anthony Hopkins.
10. Il Commendatore by Anna Chromý 🔗[Map]

LOOKOUT TOWERS IN PRAGUE

A. Tips about Lookout Towers

• 💰 Tip 1: If you're a fan of towers, consider purchasing the "9 Landmarks in 365 Days" ticket for CZK 990. This ticket grants access to the 8 towers listed below and the Petřín Mirror Maze, and is valid for 365 days.
• 💰 Tip 2: Many lookout towers offer early bird ticket discounts.
• 💰 Tip 3: Show any of your tower tickets to receive a CZK 50 discount on the historical Tram 42 (valid only on the day of your visit).
• 💰 Tip 4: Present your Tram 42 ticket to get a 20% discount on one tower ticket (valid only on the day of your ride).

B. The 8 Lookout Towers

1. Old Town Hall with Astronomical Clock 🔗[Map] 👍 Highly recommend!
• Admission: CZK 300 | Elevator fee: CZK 100
• On Tuesday—Sunday, 50% off the admission fee during the first hour after opening.

  
  

  Old Town Hall with Astronomical Clock
  
  

  

  Overlook from the Old Town Hall

  
  
2. Petřín Tower 🔗[Map] 👍 Highly recommend!
• Built as part of the Jubilee Exhibition in 1891 as a loose copy inspired by the Eiffel Tower. Its peak is at the same altitude as the real Eiffel Tower.
• Admission: CZK 220 | Elevator fee: CZK 150
• Combi-ticket
• Petřín Lookout Tower + Mirror Maze: CZK 260
• Petřín Lookout Tower + Mirror Maze + Štefánik Observatory: CZK 300

  
  

  Petřín Tower

  
  

  

  Overlook from the Petřín Tower

  
  
3. The Clementinum Astronomical Tower and Baroque Library 🔗[Map] 👍 Highly recommend!
• The Jesuits founded the Clementinum in 1556 and named it after the former Dominican monastery of St. Clement from 1227, where they settled. In 1775, meteorological data began to be collected here regularly; thus Prague has the longest continuous series of meteorological observations in Europe.
• The Clementinum is Prague's second-largest building complex after Prague Castle and houses the most beautiful library in the world.
• Albert Einstein taught here, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart played here numerous times.
• Admission: CZK 380
• 50% off the admission fee every day for the first two morning tours – 09:00 EN and 09:30 CZ.
• 10% discount on admission when buying an eTicket online.

  
  

  The Clementinum Baroque Library
  
  

  

  Reach the Clementinum by entering through the red box.

  
  
4. Old Town Bridge Tower 🔗[Map] 👍 Highly recommend!
• Admission: CZK 190
• 50% off the admission fee during the first hour after opening.
• 10% discount on admission when buying an eTicket online.
• Combi-ticket
• Old Town Bridge Tower + Lesser Town Bridge Tower: CZK 280

  
  

  Overlook from the Old Town Bridge Tower
  
  

  

  Overlook from the Old Town Bridge Tower
  
  

  

  Inside the Old Town Bridge Tower, you can find text and video presentations about its historical stories.

  
  
5. Lesser Town Bridge Towers 🔗[Map]
• Admission: CZK 190
• 50% off the admission fee during the first hour after opening.
• 10% discount on admission when buying an eTicket online.
• Combi-ticket
• Old Town Bridge Tower + Lesser Town Bridge Tower: CZK 280

  
  

  Lesser Town Bridge Towers

  
  
6. Powder Gate Tower 🔗[Map]
• Note: The viewing gallery is partially closed from October 2024 until further notice. During this period, admission fee is 50% off.
• Admission: CZK 190
• 50% off the admission fee during the first hour after opening.
• Combi-ticket
• Powder Gate Tower + The New Mill Water Tower: CZK 250

  
  

  Powder Gate Tower

  
  
7. New Mill Water Tower 🔗[Map]
• Note: Closed from October 7, 2024 to March 31, 2025 due to the installation of a new exhibition.
• Admission: CZK 150
• 50% off the admission fee during the first hour after opening.
• Combi-ticket
• Powder Gate Tower + The New Mill Water Tower: CZK 250
8. St. Nicholas Bell Tower 🔗[Map]
• Admission: CZK 190
• 50% off the admission fee during the first hour after opening.
• 10% discount on admission when buying an eTicket online.

MY ROUTE

👉 The routes are grouped by general area for ease of navigation, but not all attractions are located strictly within the specified district.

👉 Adjust your route based on the accommodation location, incorporating art installations encountered along the way, and considering the operating hours of attractions. 

• I had two separate stays in Prague. For the first stay, I chose accommodation near the city center to explore Prague itself. For the second stay, I stayed close to the train/bus station for convenient access to nearby cities, and to revisit Prague attractions I missed earlier.
• Legend: Lookout Towers marked🗼 | Sculpture and Installation marked 🎭

Day 1: Prague Castle and Letná Park

• 🎭 #1 Franz Kafka - Rotating Head → Take tram 22/23 to Pražský hrad → (Prague Castle area) Royal Garden and Summer Royal Palace → At 12:00 noon, watch the Changing of the Guard at Matthias Gate 🔗[Map] → PACKED LUNCH → Buy castle tickets → Explore St. Vitus's Cathedral → The Old Royal Palace → St. George's Basilica → Golden Lane → Daliborka Tower → Lobkowicz Palace → (Outside Prague Castle) Lookout Platform 🔗[Map] → Wallenstein Palace & Garden → Letenský profil (Take photos of three bridges in one frame: Mánes Bridge, Charles Bridge, and Legion Bridge) 🔗[Map] → Letná Park → DINNER.
• Approximate Route (Limited to 10 locations due to Google Maps restrictions)

  
  

  Changing of the Guard at Prague Castle
  
  

  

  Lookout Platform

  
  

  

  Letenský profil, Letná Park

Day 2: Staré Město (Old Town) & Josefov (Jewish Quarter)

• 🎭 #2 Man Hanging Out → Charles Bridge (fewer crowds in the early morning) → 🗼#3 09:00 The Clementinum EN tour → Explore Staré Město district → LUNCH → Exhibition in Czech National Bank 🔗[Map] → Prague Main Post Office 🔗[Map] → Mucha Museum → 🎭 #10 Il Commendatore → Continue exploring Staré Město district → Josefov district → 🗼#1 Before sunset, ascend the Old Town Hall → DINNER.
• Approximate Route (Limited to 10 locations due to Google Maps restrictions)

  
  

  Book Tower at Municipal Library of Prague

  
  

  

  Prague City Center (Left: Štorchův dům, painted with St. Wenceslas. Center: Clam-Gallas Palace)

Day 3: Malá Strana (Lesser Quarter) & Hradčany (Castle District)

• Pass by National Theatre and Legion Bridge → Walk along the Vltava River → 🗼#4 10:00 Ascend the Old Town Bridge Tower → Charles Bridge → Narrowest alley 🔗[Map] → Kafka Museum → LUNCH → Lennon Wall → Church of Lady Victorious → St. Nicholas Church → Walk along Nerudova Street → Hradčany Square → Loreto Church → Strahov Monastery → 🗼#2 Petřín Tower → 🎭 #8 Monument to Victims of Communism → Kampa Island → 🎭 #7 Yellow Penguins → 🎭 #5 Crawling Babies → Shooter's Island → At sunset, view Legion Bridge and Charles Bridge → DINNER.
• Approximate Route (Limited to 10 locations due to Google Maps restrictions)

  
  

  Follow the traffic lights at the Narrowest alley.
  
  

  

  Nerudova Street, named after Jan Neruda, who once lived in the House of the Two Suns (upper right).

  
  

  

  Shooter's Island. Don't feed the nutrias (exotic species).

Day 4: Nové Město (New Town) & Vyšehrad

• Dancing House 🔗[Map] → Ss. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral → 🎭 #6 Bell 9801 → Farmer's Saturday Market (08:00–14:00) 🔗[Map] → Vyšehrad district → The oldest Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic of Prague's General Faculty Hospital (a beautifully designed building) 🔗[Map] → Antonín Dvořák Museum → LUNCH → St. Ludmila Basilica → Wenceslas Square → 🎭 #4 Upside-Down Statue of King Wenceslas Riding a Dead Horse → Franciscan Gardens → Memorial plaque of Jaroslav Hašek 🔗[Map] → New Town Hall → DINNER.
• Approximate Route (Limited to 10 locations due to Google Maps restrictions)

  
  

  Dancing House
  
  

  

  Farmer's Saturday Market
  
  

  

  The oldest Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic

Second Stay Highlights:

• During my second stay near the train and bus stations, I visited:
• Jerusalem Synagogue
• 🎭 #9 Statue of Nicholas Winton on the train platform
•  🎭 #3 Lilith in Karlín district

👉 Article list: Czechia