A WEEKEND IN PRAGUE

Welcome to the Czech Republic! This was my first time in Eastern Europe and for some reason, I was a bit apprehensive about going. Most likely fear of the unknown, but nevertheless I was also excited to explore someplace new. We stayed in an Airbnb right in the center of Old Town. Old Town is to the right of the Vltava River which splits the city in two. For reference, the Prague Castle is one of the biggest attractions on the left side of the river. The Old Town has a lot of character, as most of the city does with the amazing architecture and vibrant orange roofs. The people in Prague are quite friendly, although I guess it depends on who you run into! For Airbnb recommendations, send me an email and I can refer you to the one we stayed in (eagerexploration@gmail.org).

AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION

Getting from Prague’s International Airport, Václav Havel, and into the city is quick and easy. Locals recommend taking a bus or the subway, but Uber is also very popular and safe. Our Uber cost about $16 USD (so very cheap). Taxis have been known to rip people off, so try to avoid using them. The ride was about 20 minutes long which is very convenient if you are limited on time!

CURRENCY

In the Czech Republic, the currency is Czech Crowns (czk). Banknotes are issued in hundreds and thousands. 1 Czech Koruna is equal to .044 USD so it is an extremely cheap country to visit. Beer is cheaper than water! A lot of places accept credit cards, however we did run into a lot of food shops and bars that were cash only.

LANGUAGE

Like most of the world, a lot of people know English so it’s easy to communicate. However, it’s also nice to try and use the national language as the locals appreciate it. Here are a few words you might need to know!

Hello/Goodbye-Ahoj

Thank you- Děkuji

Please- Prosím

Beer- Pivo

May I please have the check?- Mohu mít prosím šek?

WALKING AROUND TOWN

The first thing we did when we got there was explore the area around our Airbnb. The city is very walkable so we were able to see a good portion of the Old Town.

Monument Josefa Jungmanna

One of the things on my list to do in Prague was go up to the top of the Old Town Hall Tower. On the side of this building is the famous Astronomical Clock. The clock is the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world, and the oldest still working today. So before going to the top, you might want to have a look at that! To get to the top of the tower, you do have to buy a ticket at the counter inside the building. No need to buy tickets ahead of time, although I did go in January which is a very low tourism time of year. Maybe double check the recommendations online if you’re planning on visiting during the summer or around Christmas, as these are popular tourism periods. The ticket was around $3, so this trip won’t break the bank!

You can either take the elevator or walk up a ramp to get to the top. The views of the city are incredible and truly show off Prague’s beauty.

A view of Prague Castle

The next spot we visited was the Charles Bridge. This bridge was constructed 1357 under the endorsement of King Charles IV. It is a very popular tourist spot with street performers and loads of people taking pictures.

Once we had crossed over the river, we walked up to Prague Castle. The walk is beautiful, and the Castle itself is quite impressive.

The Castle is the official office of the President of the Czech Republic. The Castle is really more of a complex and was built in the 9th century. It is also the largest ancient castle in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records (approx. 750,000 sq.ft). King Ottokar II of Bohemia was the first to rebuild the palace, followed by Charles IV. The last person to rebuild the castle was Empress Maria Theresa. After her reign, the former Emperor, Ferdinand I claimed the palace as his home.

Finding a nice view of the Charles Bridge was a must for me. We found this spot once we walked down from the Prague Castle.

Lastly, we found a cute bakery called Perníkový Panáček Gingerbread Shop. I will say, they definitely look a lot better than they taste! After we bought some, we had to run back down to the river to snap a pic.

FOOD REC

We weren’t in Prague for long, but I had one of the best meals of my life here. If you go to Prague and you like Mexican food, you must go to Las Adelitas. Get the tacos (I got chicken) and a mango margarita. You will not regret it..

 Leave me a comment about your dream place to travel!

xx, Katherine