Typically if you bring up Prague within earshot of someone who has been there they’ll empathetically shout, “Oh my goodness, I LOVE Prague!” Needless to say, before I got there I was a little tired of hearing the constant “I love Prague” chant. However, after spending a week in Prague I am sorry to say that I have been enlightened, and will now talk people’s ears off with how much I LOVE Prague! It truly is a magical city, with majestic views, an endless amount of things to do, and a very safe atmosphere.

Whether it was strolling across the Charles bridge at midnight, or dancing the night away in a club until 5am, I never once felt unsafe, which is saying something as a solo female traveler! However, Prague is known for some pickpocketing, so do be aware, and take some precautions to secure your belongings. I talk about preventative measures you can take in my blog post about being robbed in Berlin.

First off, Prague is such a walkable city. I never once took public transportation besides my day trips to Kutna Hora, Cesky Krumlov, and Karlstejn Castle. You can easily spend days exploring the varying sights of Prague, but I would highly recommend taking a free walking tour to orient yourself to the city, and to learn some of this beautiful city’s history. It’s usually around three hours and the guides are wonderful; they work on a tips only basis, so be sure to have cash for gratuity! The Sandman tour meets under the astrological clock, which makes for a good first day! Don’t forget to take your time walking across Charles Bridge. I’ve always enjoyed watching artists create drawings and caricatures and this bridge is a perfect place to do it. If you have a spare 20 euros, go ahead and get one! There are usually talented musicians performing as well, which was such a delight. Right before the end of the Charles bridge, you’ll see a staircase on the left, if you descend the stairs and continue walking down the street (not under the bridge), your first right will lead you to the tucked away, infamous John Lennon wall. When I was there, a large “RESIST TRUMP” message was spray painted in the middle of the wall in bright green. Funnily enough, I found out later that one of my professors from Denver and her family, spray painted that just the day before! Small world. Across the bridge is an uphill walk through several beautiful buildings to get to Prague Castle. After walking uphill for a while, I was thrilled to see a Starbucks pop up in my view. It provides one of the best views of the city with an open rooftop overlooking the orange and green buildings of Prague. Walking around the castle is free, with admission required for some rooms or galleries. None of which I felt were necessary to see, but a walk through the royal gardens is gorgeous, and in the heat of the summer, the shade is a relief.

A great way to start an evening here is the Underground Prague Tour. I didn’t realize this, but apparently over the course of a hundred years, all of Prague’s first stories were buried due to rising water levels. This means that underneath all of the city are buried first floors from the 12th century, with tunnels connecting them throughout. It’s a lesser version of the Paris catacombs in a way. However, since these tunnels and rooms are so old, many of them are sealed off, or have been destroyed. However, there are a number that still remain, and it was a memorable experience being able to set foot in abandoned, 12th century basements. It’s about 15 euros per person, which by european standards is very reasonable for an interesting hour and a half long tour!

People say that NYC is the city that never sleeps, and while that may be true, I think Prague might have them beat. There are always plenty of people on the streets, because it’s a constant state of party in Prague. It’s very easy to avoid if you’re not looking for that, but if you’re looking for a clubbing scene, you’ll find it here! Especially on the weekend, there are dozens of stag and hen (bachelor and bachelorette) parties adding a whole new level of crazy! There are many clubs to choose from, but my personal favorite was the Golden Tree; they have four levels with numerous bars, and many rooms, so whether you feel like dancing, drinking, resting, or watching girls dancing on a pole, they have it all! The dance levels are in an underground cavern, with glass ceilings, so it’s a very unique space.

One my favorite things to do whenever I explore a new city, is to find the best views. There’s nothing quite like getting that overhead panoramic view of a city for miles and feeling the breeze fly past you. Luckily for me (and you!), Prague offers many opportunities for that. My personal favorite was being able to go up to the Prutin Tower, which is a watchtower on a massive hill overlooking Prague. The way up is a trek, but doable. If you don’t feel like taking the walk up, there are trams that will take you to the top for a couple euros. I took the tram down once it was dark, it’s much faster to say the least! I would strongly recommend going for sunset, so you can see the Prague castle surrounded by light pink and blue hues, before watching the entire city sink into the vivid blue that follows dusk. Watching the lights illuminate Prague as it is enveloped by the night sky is something you’ll never forget. The dancing house is another one of my favorite spots! It’s an interesting piece of architecture with two whimsical looking buildings twirling together in what appears to be a dance. It provides a majestic view of Charles bridge and Prague Castle in all their glory. The terrace is home to a bar, so the price of admission is a drink – very reasonable, and everyone on the terrace is very friendly! Surprisingly enough, there’s usually a decent amount of locals enjoying a drink and the view there as well.

While the city itself is beyond amazing, there’s also so much more outside of the city. See what fun day trips you can take to the medieval castles, bone churches, and picturesque towns! No matter your reason for coming to Prague, by the end of your trip, you’ll find more than one reason to love this city.

The adventure continues, 

Lexi