The Only Guide You Need For a Weekend Trip to Prague
Photo by Wojtek Witkowski on Unsplash
The Only Guide You Need For a Weekend Trip to Prague
The weekend is finally here and so is your vacation! You’ve got a few choices on your hands; you can lounge around the house on a staycation, you head to someplace familiar, or you can travel somewhere new. Variety is the spice of life, so you choose the third option. Specifically, you head to Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic.
The second you land in Prague, you’re instantly blown away by the city’s breathtaking atmosphere. But you’re also at a bit of a loss; you’ve never been to the Czech Republic before, let alone Prague. You really want to enjoy everything that this gorgeous city has to offer, but you don’t have the first idea of what you should do or where you should go.
Well, that’s where we come in. Today, we’re going to show you how to make the most of a weekend trip to Prague. You’ll learn about some of the city’s most famous landmarks and most popular tourist attractions. We have a long trip ahead of us, so take your extra gear and shopping parcels to a luggage storage service to sightsee hands-free.
Wenceslas Square
The first stop on our weekend trip to Prague is Wenceslas Square. This massive city square is packed with dozens of stores, stalls, independent vendors, and restaurants. How iconic is Wenceslas Square? When you search for images of Prague online, this venue will pop up more times than you can count. Wenceslas Square is also very used to accommodating tourists at this point. Chances are that most of the shopkeepers and staff around here will be able to speak with you in your native language. Last but not least, you can find several amazing hotels nearby.
Municipal House
A government building might not sound like the most exciting place to visit, but Prague’s Municipal House isn’t your average government building. This place is the home of Smetana Hall, the single most popular concert hall in the city. Orchestras, ballets, musicals, symphonies — you name it, chances are Smetana Hall has hosted it. Aside from that, the Municipal House is a key part of Prague’s history. Records show that the building was constructed in 1383. This makes the Municipal House one of the oldest structures in the city — or at least one of the oldest structures that’s still around today.
Dancing House
No, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with your screen. The Dancing House is a masterwork of deconstructivist art that was simply built that way on purpose. As far as Prague’s landmarks go, the Dancing House is relatively young; it was built between 1992 and 1996 by Architects Frank Owen Gehry and Vlado Milunic. Prague’s architecture is one of its biggest draws. With all of the cathedrals that dot the skyline, it’s no wonder people call Prague “the City of a Hundred Spires”. Gehry and Milunic just wanted to make something that went against the grain. Decades later, that Dancing House is still turning heads.
Strahov Monastery
Speaking of Prague’s churches and cathedrals, we have the Strahov Monastery. There are countless reasons to visit this culturally significant venue, but its world-famous library is a standout attraction. Not only is the section of the monastery a sight to behold, but it’s also filled with hundreds of books. Some of the books that are stashed here can’t be found anywhere else in the entire world.
Photo by Guido Coppa on Unsplash
Lennon Wall
The Prague Spring consisted of a series of protests against the Czech Socialist Republic. Citizens challenged the unjust actions of their government from early January 1968 to late August of that same year. Right around this time, bands like the Beatles were filling the airwaves with songs about revolution, peace, and love. This wall is dedicated to the Beatles and is named after John Lennon. You can find lyrics and pro-reform messages painted all over the Lennon Wall. It’s crazy to think that such a chaotic event happened so recently, but that’s why the wall is so important.
Powder Tower
Back in the day, Prague used to look like a kingdom straight out of Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones. A series of massive city gates walled Prague off from outside forces. Over the years, those gates were either torn down to make room for other buildings or destroyed during attacks on the city. Now, the Powder Tower is all that remains of Prague’s old city gates. The Tower features striking architecture that was heavily inspired by the Gothic movement. Moreover, the Powder Tower has become a symbol of Prague’s resilience in the face of adversity.
Franz Kafka Museum
Quite a few famous artists hail from Prague; H. G. Adler, Robert Weltsch, and Jan Werich are just a few names that come to mind. Even Mozart spent the bulk of his life performing in Prague, come to think of it. This museum is dedicated to the late Bohemian author Franz Kafka. Kafka’s works include The Castle, The Trial, and The Metamorphosis. This museum features exhibits based on Kafka’s bibliography and also offers rare insights into Kafka’s history and personal life.
Prague Castle
The last stop on our weekend trip to Prague is possibly the city’s most definitive structure. We’re talking about Prague Castle, the home of the Czech Royal Family. This building is so ancient that leading historians aren’t 100% certain when it was built. The general consensus is that Prince Borivoj had it built during the late 800s. That’s right, the 800’s! When you visit the castle, try to stop by the St. Vitus Cathedral and check out the Czech Crown Jewels.
Sources
https://www.hrad.cz/en/prague-castle-for-visitors
https://www.prague.eu/en/object/places/102/powder-tower-prasna-brana
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lennon-wall
https://www.prague.eu/en/object/places/406/strahov-monastery-strahovsky-klaster?back=1
https://www.prague.eu/en/object/places/417/municipal-house-obecni-dum?back=1
https://www.pragueexperience.com/places.asp?PlaceID=605
