Luxury hotels in Prague

Prague guide

Prague: the Castle, the Charles Bridge and the Old Town

Cross the bridge at dawn, watch the astronomical clock and climb to the castle above the Vltava.

The Charles Bridge, lined with baroque statues and linking the Old Town to Malá Strana, is the most cited sight in Prague, and dawn is the only quiet time to cross it. Above, Prague Castle, one of the largest castle complexes in the world, holds St. Vitus Cathedral and the Golden Lane.

In the Old Town Square, the medieval astronomical clock performs on the hour, and the Jewish Quarter's synagogues and cemetery are deeply moving. The historic centre is a UNESCO site, and spring, autumn and the Christmas markets are the loveliest times.

The Jewish Quarter of Josefov

Josefov, Prague's Jewish Quarter, is one of the city's most cited areas: the Jewish Museum's combined ticket covers the Pinkas Synagogue, whose walls bear the names of some 78,000 Czech victims of the Holocaust, the Spanish Synagogue and the Old Jewish Cemetery, with layers of tombstones.

The Old-New Synagogue, from the thirteenth century, is one of the oldest active synagogues in Europe and the setting of the legend of the Golem. The quarter closes on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.

Classical music and Czech beer

Prague is one of Europe's great music cities, and an evening at the Estates Theatre, where Mozart conducted the premiere of Don Giovanni in 1787, or a concert of the Czech Philharmonic at the Rudolfinum, is among its most cited experiences. The Municipal House, an art nouveau gem, also hosts concerts.

Czech beer culture is just as celebrated: Pilsner was born in nearby Plzeň, and Prague's historic taverns pour it in styles such as hladinka, with a creamy head. A guided tasting introduces the country's breweries.