Prague is now one of the most interesting and popular Europe;s top tourist cities. Whether you visit Prague for pleasure or you have a business trip, you should allow yourself at least three days for visiting the many museums and galleries, monuments and castles, or enjoy the nightlife and events that are organized in the city.

Due to the fact that Prague was slightly touched during the World Wars, the city has an almost intact historic architecture, so there are a lot of old buildings and places that worth visiting.

PRAGUE'S TOP TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Prague Castle

It is the largest ancient castle in the world and Prague's number one attraction and most popular spot visited in the city. The castle is 570 meters long and 128 meters wide, covering an area of 7.28 hectares. The history of the castle dates back from the 9th century, when it was built by Premyslid family. Since then, it has been through numerous transformations, starting from a wooden fortress to the impressive architectonic building that stands in Prague today.

The castle is not built in one style, because there were many rulers who brought their own ideas, so the castle is actually a mixture of styles and constructions. During Charles IV's reign, Prague Castle became the seat of the Holy Roman Emperor and it was the period when the construction was highly developed. Since then, the building suffered many reconstructions but, as time passed, it became the symbol and living legend of Prague. The castle has three courtyards, many museums, galleries and chapels inside which were made public in 1989, for the first time. Nowadays, the Castle is the seat of the country's president and the most important National Cultural Monument of the Czech Republic.

To get to the castle on foot you can walk on Nerudova Street, Castle Steps and Old Castle Steps and you should choose this option if you are prepared for breathtaking views! If you don't like walking at all, you can also take the tram 22 to the Castle, but maybe walk on the way back, you will not regret it!

Usually, during summer season, the Castle can be visited daily between 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and during winter season between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Be sure to spare at least half a day for the major attractions inside the castle and one day to visit both the interior and the exterior, the gardens and parks from the courtyards.

Charles Bridge

The oldest bridge in the city, built between the 14th and the 15th century, it is one of the few bridges over the river Vlatva, but certainly one of the most beautiful spots in Prague. The bridge has two Gothic style towers on both ends and it is lined with lamps and 30 statues across its length, standing on 16 pillars.

The bridge's construction started in 1357 and in the first period it was called the Stone Bridge, which now connects the Old Town and Mal?trana. It has survived many floods, including a really severe one in 2002, the worst in the last 500 years. The bridge is 516 meters long and nearly 10 m wide, and it is recommended to come to take a walk on it at sunset when you can enjoy the view of the lit Prague Castle in the evening sky. Don't worry about the traffic on the bridge because now it is a pedestrian area, but be careful when you choose to walk on the bridge, because it is usually very crowded except for early mornings and late nights.

St. Vitus Cathedral

This cathedral is the most important church in the whole country. Actually, it is also the biggest and it's the seat of the Archbishop of Prague, being a great example of Gothic architecture. It is the place where Bohemia kings, saints, emperors and prices are buried and it is filled with chapels, mausoleums and royal crypts. In fact, the cathedral's masterpiece is St Wenceslas Chapel, built in honor of the patron of Czech lands, St Wenceslas.

There is no admission fee for visiting the cathedral and the church is open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and it is worth seeing it.

Old Town - Main attractions

First, the city was divided by walls which were eventually dismantled but they can still be traced by the way the streets are located. During the reign of Charles IV, the Old town became the Holy Roman Empire's capital, but in 1784, the Old Town hall became the headquarters of Government.

The Old town Square

Located in the center of the Old town, the square is always full of people walking or relaxing in the cafes.

Municipal House

It was supposed to replace the Royal Court after it was demolished, but instead, it became an architectural masterpiece, due to some artists who wanted to develop a cultural center there. The Municipal House is Prague's favorite place for concerts and festivals that take place throughout the year.

Astronomical Clock

Another impressive sight of Prague, the clock is situated on the Southern wall of the Old Town Hall in the Old Town Square. The latest researches prove that the astronomical clock was built in 1410 by Mikulas of Kadan and Jan Ondrejuv, called Sindel, professor of mathematics and astronomy at Prague Charles University. The astrolabe mechanisms that they made over 600 years ago are still functional, but 80 years later, the legendary master Hanus rebuild the clock and the legends says the Councilors had him blinded, so that he would not succeed in building another instrument greater than the Orloj in Prague. The clock dial indicates the most important astronomical events such as the movement of the sun, the phases of the moon, the equinoxes, the seasons, the days and the zodiac.

New Town - Main attractions

The New Town was built by Charles IV in 1348 with the purpose of increasing the population and size of the city, bringing lots of business and trade. For those times, the new town area was quite modern because it contained wide boulevards and three large squares that were considered markets. Even though the New Town was initially built in Gothic style, now its architecture is specific to the end of the 19th century.

Wenceslas Square

It is the business and cultural center of Prague, named after the Saint Wenceslas. The square is best known for demonstrations, celebrations and other events or gatherings. Besides the shopping area of the square, it is also a great place for entertainment and nightlife.

Lucerna Palace

It is located between two central streets, Stepanska and Vodickova and it comprises many restaurants, shops, a cinema and some theatres.

National Museum

It is one of the biggest in Prague and also a top tourist attraction, having approximately 14 million items of arts, music and history. The entrance to the museum is free of charge every first Monday of each month.