10 Things I Learned in Prague in 5 Days
In Prague, you can feel like you are part of fairytale with such classic, elegant and storied structures surrounding you.
Things I Learned in Prague
Prague has some pretty impressive nicknames.
City of a Hundred Spires.
The Golden City.
The Heart of Europe.
It is a city that charms, bursting with history and European elegance.
Today, Prague’s population is over 1.2 million, making it the largest city in the Czech Republic. I was so excited to take a trip to Prague for my birthday week, a place known for being a beautiful city.
10 Things I Learned in Prague in 5 days
I can say Prague in the winter is pretty darn cold! However, that didn’t take away from discovering its famous old town or heading to other districts including where one Asian country has set up their own thriving community.
Here are the top 10 things I learned in Prague in five days.
A Fairytale City
Majestic cathedrals, grand and elegant castles, storied clock towers and stone bridges lined with amazing statues all combine into a panorama that makes you feel like you just walked into a story about princes and princesses. The old town is just gorgeous. A true travel experience to be had in Europe.
Many Layers of History
Prague boasts a fantastic characteristic that European cities have: layers of history. Taking a closer glance at the architecture alone you can spot the various centuries and eras Prague has lived through.
The old town is lined with historic buildings, many with beautiful murals. Prague’s architecture ranges from Art Nouveau, baroque, cubist, Gothic, neoclassical and modern.
I learned a lot about these layers of history while on a wonderful city tour with Eva of CAT tours. We even went “underground” to discover Prague’s past.
An Impressive Old Town
Since 1992, the historic center of Prague has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a European city that has managed to remain intact throughout the decades, surviving both World Wars. So, what you see is actually original.
Highlights from the old town include the Old Town Square, the town hall and the astronomical clock. Tourists gather on the hour to see the “Procession of the 12 Apostles” at the clock.
Prague Castle is Stunning
Dating back to the ninth century, Prague Castle is an impressive structure, a series of magnificent churches and buildings. It is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest castle in the world.
For more, check out my post: Photo Tour: Prague Castle.
Charles Bridge: A Must Walk
The Charles Bridge is a pedestrian way built over the Vltava River and it is one of the “must-do” walks while in Prague. It is lined with 30 statues of saints, some you can rub for a little luck.
Czech Language: Wow
Gosh, the language is interesting. It took me awhile to pronounce thank you properly. Dekuji. I notice some words that are similar to Serbian (thank you Serbian lessons) but I’ve read the language is closer to Polish but still in the whole Slavic family.
Puppet Culture and the Arts
Popping in and out of the shops, I learned that there is a fantastic marionette and puppet culture. There’s a water monster myth, too.
The Significance of Lennon’s Wall
I learned in Prague that John Lennon was considered hero during communism. Lennon’s music praised a different world and people were jailed for playing such songs. As a result, what was once a plain wall has been filled with Lennon inspired graffiti, it was the way to irritate the communist regime at the time.
Such Hearty Food and Delicious Cakes
I’ve read having a beer is one of the foodie things to do in Prague, but I don’t drink beer. I know! Not the beer connoisseur, never liked the taste. However, I ate a lot of hearty delicious meals. Over five days I tried roast duck, roast pork, beer sausage, red and white cabbage and Czech style dumplings.
Coffee breaks were fantastic because I made sure to include delicious layer cakes.
Prague Has a Little Vietnam: Sapa District
Around 95 per cent of this population are Czechs, but I also learned that there is a Vietnamese minority. I wrote a story about this ethnic community which appeared in Urban Travel Blog. Find out why there is a strong Vietnamese community in Prague, visit my post: Guide to the Sapa District Prague.
What to Do in Prague
For more on Prague, what to do and see, visit the Prague City Tourism website.
For a great tour of Prague, I highly recommend Eva Vondrusova with CAT tours.
Where to Eat in Prague
As aforementioned in this post, Prague is known for its food scene. Read my review on La Dégustation Bohême Bourgeoise, a Michelin-starred restaurant in old town.
For traditional hearty plates I enjoyed the traditional Czech pub restaurant and unique wall art at Hostinec “U Kalicha” Restaurant (Na Bojisti 12-14, Praha 2).
For cheap and hearty cafeteria style traditional plates, head to Havelska Koruna (Havelská 501/23, Praha 1 – Staré Město), near the market in old town.
That sums up my list of 10 cool things I learned in Prague in five days.
Have you ever visited Prague? I would love to hear what you learned during your visit! Please comment in the comment box below.
