Things to Do in Prague

The 130-foot-high (40-meter-high) green cupola of the church of St. Francis of Assisi peeps above the rooftops of Prague’s Staré Město (Old Town). Designed by French architect Jean-Baptiste Mathey, built by Gaudenzio Casanova and Domenico Canevalle, and consecrated in 1688, the neoclassical structure replaced the original Franciscan church, which was built in 1270. 

 

The marble interior of the church is a masterpiece of frenzied baroque frescoes, including a series by Czech artist Václav Vavřinec Reiner depicting the Last Judgment, which adorns the domed cupola. Reiner also painted the portraits of the church’s patrons covering the pillars in the cross-shaped nave. Fellow Czech artist Johann Christoph Lischka painted the angels on the ceiling of the presbytery, as well as Stigmata of St. Francis adorning the main altar.

 

St. Francis of Assisi Church boasts the second-oldest organ in Prague, a massive gilt affair that was played by both Mozart and Dvořák. Today this Roman Catholic church is one of the city’s most popular venues for classical, baroque, and jazz concerts led by performers from the renowned Czech Opera and Orchestra. The church is small, with only 70 seats, and the concerts are popular, so reserve tickets ahead.

 

St. Francis of Assisi Church is just off Prague’s famed Charles Bridge, less than a 10-minute walk from the center of the Old Town. Metro line A and tram 17 stop at Staroměstská station, a five-minute walk away. Karlovy lázně tram station, served by lines 17 and 18, is a two-minute walk away.

 

The church is open daily from 10am to 7pm. Concerts and recitals typically take place in the evening. Usually three musicians, soloists from prominent opera and orchestra ensembles, perform at the concerts, which typically last one hour. Close to several elegant restaurants serving traditional and contemporary European food, the church is an ideal place to enjoy a concert before dinner.

 

Adjacent to the church, you’ll find a monastery of the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star. Originally established as a hospital fraternity by Agnes of Bohemia in 1233 and promoted to the order of the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star in 1237, it is the only order of Czech origin. You can see the symbol of the order engraved into sidewalk directly in front of the church.

Opened in late 1957, the Reduta Jazz Club is the oldest jazz club in Prague. Deriving its name from places in ancient Greece that were centers of fun and music, the club has a storied history. In the 1960s, it operated as both a jazz club and as a cabaret theater, with theatrical performances known as text-appeals. The club played an increasingly important role in Czech culture and politics into the 1980s as it became a gathering place for dissidents. Over the years, it hosted the likes of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the U.S. Army Big Band, the European Big Band and even welcomed former U.S. president Bill Clinton for a jam session in 1994.

Known as well for its great acoustics and Petrof grand piano, the club today features everything from jazz and blues to big band and swing music. The theater still operates as well, offering mime performances, kids’ shows and a unique black light theater, the first of its kind in the world.

Opened in 1993 in a former tram depot in Prague-Střešovice, the Public Transport Museum is a two-fold exhibition, with featured displays covering the history of public transport in Prague as well as showcasing more than 45 historic vehicles. Exhibits date back to 1875, when horse-drawn trams were introduced into the city and include well-preserved, gleaming electric trams, fire engines, coaches and buses, all neatly lined up in rows. Many other exhibits, including models, advertising posters, photographs, route maps, travel tickets, old models and short, flickering films, higlight the development of Prague’s transport network over the last 150 years.

Combine a visit to the Public Transport Museum with a turn on the ‘nostalgic’ Tram Line No 91. A fleet of bright-red trams set out from the tram depot — built in 1909 and a city landmark in its own right — every Saturday and Sunday between March 25 and November 17 to do the rounds of Prague’s major sights, including the Castle and Wenceslas Square. Departures are on the hour; the trip takes 40 minutes and costs 35 CZK one-way.

The lovely late Baroque Troja Chateau was designed by Italian architect Jean Baptiste Mathey for Count Václav Vojtěch Šternberk and was completed in 1689; it was used by the count as his summer residence. The striking russet-red and white palace is entered via a spectacular flight of steps flanked by figures taken from Greek mythology and has an impressively elaborate interior swathed in frescoes; the best are found in the ornate Grand Emperor’s Hall — named for Emperor Leopold I, who came visiting in 1702 — and are by the Dutch artists Abraham and Isaac Godyn; the project took five years to complete. The opulent rooms are filled with sculptures and artwork and the chateau forms part of Prague City Gallery.

Troja is surrounded by formal gardens divided into terraces and parterres and decorated with fountains, statuary and ornamental trees. An imposing stable block stands in the courtyard, with vaulted ceilings decorated by Abraham Godyn with more scenes from Greek mythology.

Northwest of the city center near Prague Zoo and the botanical gardens, the chateau can be reached along the new bike path following the banks of the River Vltava. It is a popular venue for public functions and is only open to the public at weekends, although the grounds are open daily.

Situated between Prague’s Old Town and New Town, Republic Square (Námestí Republiky) is one of the main focal points of the city. The large 19th century Municipal House dominates the square, and it is also home to a number of bustling shops, cafes, restaurants, and art galleries.

The Powder Gate is a particular draw for those visiting Republic Square. This ancient Gothic tower sits on the edge of the Old Town and was one of the original city gates, dating back to the 11th century. In stark contrast to this historical building, elsewhere on the square there’s a large modern shopping center that opened in 2007.

Another notable building within Republic Square is the Czech National Bank. There are also a number of market stalls around the square, with a farmer’s market held weekly.

Located in Mala Straná (Lower Town) on the left bank of the River Vltava, the 17th-century, Baroque Wallenstein Palace was built by military commander Albrecht von Wallenstein, who achieved great success during the Thirty Years War of 1618–48. He used his wealth to create an extraordinary garden around the palace, filled with fountains and Mannerist bronzes of heroes from Greek mythology created by the Dutch sculptor Adrian de Vries. Von Wallenstein’s fantastical parklands were completed in 1630 but he was murdered four years later at the command of Emperor Ferdinand II, who felt threatened by his power.  

Today Wallenstein Palace is home to the Czech Senate and only open occasionally for guided tours; in summer there are concerts in the palace’s frescoed loggia. The Wallenstein Gardens (Valdstejnska zahrada), however, are free to visit; they are a spectacle of bizarre grottoes and follies, neat ornamental topiary, and pathways lines with bronze statues (copies of the originals, which were stolen). A vast statue of Hercules stands over a pond full of ornamental fish, peacocks roam freely and there’s a refuge for owls.  Wallenstein is a tranquil spot to linger after visiting Prague Castle and the gardens can also be enjoyed as part of walking tours of Mala Straná.

The Rudolfinum is a prestigious music and art venue located on Jan Palach Square on the bank of the Vltava River in Prague. This impressive neo-Re­naissan­ce bu­il­ding was built between 1876 and 1884, opening in 1885 to serve as a multi-purpose cultural center combining concert halls and exhibition rooms.

Today, the Rudolfinum is home to the Ga­le­rie Ru­dol­fi­num and hosts a varied programme of classical music concerts and art exhibitions. It is the home venue of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, which was founded in 1896. The Philharmonic Orchestra holds world-class classical performances throughout the year from the building’s largest hall, the Dvořák, which is one of the oldest concert halls in Europe and is noted for its exceptional acoustics.

As well as being able to buy tickets for various performances and exhibitions at the Rudolfinum, guided tours are available for those interested in the history and architecture of the building.

As impressive as it is macabre, Sedlec Ossuary is the peculiar star attraction of the Kutná Hora UNESCO World Heritage Site. The subterranean ossuary lies beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints and is decorated and furnished entirely with human bones and skulls, earning it the nickname the "Chapel of Bones.”

 

Most travelers opt to visit Sedlec Ossuary on a day trip from nearby Prague. A walking tour is the most popular way to explore Kutná Hora, taking in UNESCO-listed monuments, such as the Church of St. Barbara, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady at Sedlec, and the 14th-century Church of St. Jacob. It’s also possible to visit one of Kutná Hora’s old silver mines, a throwback to the town’s heyday as a silver mining center.

 

Full-day tours from Prague typically stop at other attractions, such as the Gothic Zleby Castle along the way, and afford stunning views of the Bohemian countryside.

 

 

Direct trains run to Kutná Hora from Prague and take around an hour; it’s just over an hour’s drive along the D11. From Kutná Hora-Sedlec Station, it’s a 10-minute signposted walk to the Sedlec Ossuary.

 

The Sedlec Ossuary is open year-round, although opening times vary throughout the year. If you’re visiting in winter (November–February), be aware that the ossuary typically closes for an hour or two over lunchtime.

 

The bones from more than 40,000 Black Death and Hussite Wars victims, originally buried in the cemetery, makeup Sedlec Ossuary. Czech woodcarver Frantisek Rint created the eerily beautiful ornamentation in 1870, following a commission by the aristocratic Bohemian Schwarzenberg family. Skulls adorn the Gothic pyramids in front of the altar and swathe the walls. Even the nave’s fantastical centerpiece is a chandelier created using every single bone from a man’s skeleton.

St Nicholas Cathedral is the most famous Baroque church in Prague. Along with the former Jesuit college, it is situated in the center of the city’s Lesser Town Square. A 13th century Gothic parish church stood at the site until the current cathedral took its place in the mid-18th century.

St Nicholas Cathedral is a superb example of High Baroque architecture and is as impressive from the inside as it is from the outside. The interior was said to have been inspired by the chapel of St. Louis-des-Invalides in Paris, with its intricate frescos, grand sculptures, and elegant stucco designs making it a striking place to visit.

The cathedral’s main Baroque organ is up to six meters in length and features more than 4000 pipes. In 1787, during his stay in Prague as a guest of the Dušeks, Mozart himself played this very organ. Elsewhere, the church’s 79-meter belfry is directly connected with the building’s huge dome and provides panoramic views across the city from its gallery.  

In addition to visiting during the day, guests can attend classical concerts at the cathedral, which are held regularly throughout the year.

Pribram Mining Museum Silver, iron, and uranium were once mined at the Pribram Mine in the Czech Republic. Today the mine is divided up into different sections as the Pribram Mining Museum. Expositions, mining structures, machinery, mining railways and other attractions show visitors what those mining days were like. Exhibits also explain mining technology since the 1950s, the mining history of the area, and what life was like for the miners who once worked here.

Visitors can ride on mine trains, both on the surface and underground. Tours include several miles of underground mining tunnels, and visitors can also travel down into the pit in a mining elevator. There's also a slide that leads to a giant water wheel. You can also see historic mining steam engines and collections of minerals, or peer down Prokop mine shafts that are 5,250 feet deep. Other mine shafts here, called the old Anna shafts, are several hundred years old. Warm clothes and sturdy shoes are recommended for visits to the underground sections.

The Orthodox Cathedral Church of St Cyril and St Methodius (Katedrální chrám sv. Cyrila a Metoděje) was completed in 1736 in honor of the two saints who developed the Slavonic alphabet. In Baroque style, it is the work of architects Paul Ignaz Bayer and Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, and it has an interior adorned with swirling floral frescoes by Jan Adam Schöpf.

However, the cathedral has another, more unexpected, claim to fame. In May 1942, Czech paratroopers were sent into Prague to assassinate the hated Nazi leader of Bohemia, Reichsprotektor Reinhard Heydrich. After wounding Heydrich (he died several days later), the partisans fled into hiding in the crypt of St Cyril and St Methodius but were betrayed to the SS and Gestapo. Realizing there was no escape, they committed suicide rather than be captured by Nazi troops. Later hundreds of innocent people in the Bohemian village of Lidice paid with their lives in retaliation for the assassination.

The intense bravery of the seven paratroopers involved in Heydrich’s death is marked with a permanent exhibition in their memory in the cathedral crypt, known as the National Memorial to the Heroes of the Heydrich Terror. The museum also tells the story of how the Czechs resisted Nazi occupation, and displays include maps, period photos and memorabilia.

The St. Agnes Convent is a complex of 13th-century buildings and churches tucked away in a corner of Prague’s Old Town. Consisting primarily of the convent of the Poor Clares and the monastery of the Friars Minor, it represents the first example of a Gothic style of architecture in Bohemia, although part of the monastery was reconstructed in a Renaissance style in the 16th century. The complex was restored and renovated in the 1980 and began exhibiting the National Gallery’s collection of medieval and early Renaissance art in 2000. The collection includes art from the 13th to 16th centuries from Bohemia and central Europe, including more than 200 paintings, sculptures and other crafts. Works from the reign of the Luxembourgs and artwork associated with the rise of the Czech lands during the reigns of Vladislav and Ludwig Jagellon are considered national treasures. 

In addition to the art collection, visitors can also explore the 13th-century cloister, including the French Gothic Church of the Holy Saviour, where St. Agnes and Queen Cunegund are buried, and the Church of St. Francis, where King Wenceslaus I is buried.

Villa Bílek was designed in 1911 by sculptor, master craftsman and architect František Bílek; it is in a mixture of Art Nouveau and Symbolist styles, of which he was one of the leading Czech exponents. Constructed of red brick and carved stone columns and reminiscent of an Ancient Egyptian temple, it is crescent shaped and was designed as a family home and studio.

Bílek lived between 1872-1941 and it was his heartfelt wish for his ornately decorated house to become a museum of his work. In 1963 his hopes were realized and today the villa is under patronage of Prague City Gallery; its exhibits include the artist’s studio, where some of his most famous works are displayed; a museum of his religious sculptures; displays of his hand-crafted Art Nouveau furniture; and a series of temporary exhibitions. Recent shows have included drawings and sketches from Bílek and his Art Nouveau compatriot Alphonse Mucha.

The house where Bílek was born in Chýnov is also under the stewardship of the Prague City Gallery, along with five other historic properties including the House of Photography in Prague Old Town and the fabulously Baroque Troja Château in Prague 7. Villa Bílek is an easy walk from the treasures of Prague Castle in Hradčany, where the sculptor’s ethereal wooden Crucifixion is on display in St Vitus Cathedral.

The Strahov Monastery in Prague was established in 1143. It has survived fires, wars, revolutions, and communist regimes, though it has occasionally been rebuilt. Even when the monks were unable to remain in the monastery, they waited in a safe place until they could return. Today it is still a place of learning, meditation, and tranquility, and approximately 70 monks live there. The impressive spires of the basilica are a famous part of Prague's skyline, but the library is the monastery's most important feature. The library contains thousands of volumes, including 3,000 original manuscripts. The Theological Hall contains mostly literature of a theological nature and thousands of editions of the Bible. 

The monastery's location on Petrin Hill near the Prague castle is a good place for views of the city due to the higher elevation. The monastery has also been the backdrop for several major films, such as the horror film “From Hell” starring Johnny Depp and in the Bond film “Casino Royale” starring Daniel Craig. 

The Czech Republic’s longest river, the Vltava begins in southern Bohemia before meandering 270 miles (430 kilometers) northward toward Prague. The river has shaped the Czech capital over millennia, splitting Malá Strana (Lower Town) in the west from Staré Mĕsto (Old Town) and the modern city to the east.

As it runs through Prague, the Vltava River’s most famous sight is the 14th-century Charles Bridge, lined with looming statues, buskers, and souvenir sellers. Many city tours include river cruises, which afford the perfect vantage point for views of hilltop Prague Castle, the church spires in Malá Strana, and the towers of the Staré Mĕsto. Most cruises start from beneath the Charles Bridge.

Turning north through the heart of the city, cruisers pass the Rudolfinum and National Theater, the Strahov Monastery (Strahovský klášter), and the giant metronome in Letná Park (Letenské sady). Small open-topped wooden barges also venture into the Devil’s Canal (Čertovka), once a millrace around Kampa Island and now a sleepy backwater lined with baroque townhouses. Even if you don’t take a cruise on the Vltava, a stroll along the riverbank affords some excellent city views.

 

Cruises typically start close to the Charles Bridge, a 10-minute walk from the heart of Old Town. Staromĕtská metro station is a five-minute walk away. Some tours pick guests up from the center of Prague or directly from their hotels. 

Evening cruises typically include dinner and offer views of Prague at its most atmospheric, as the castle is lit up by floodlights. Summer is the city’s busiest tourist season. If you want to skip the crowds but avoid the cold of winter, visit in spring or fall.

Vltava (The Moldau), the symphonic poem by Bedřich Smetana, is a musical interpretation of the river’s course through Bohemia and one of the best-known classical works by a Czech composer. It is part of a set of six symphonic poems called Má vlast (My Country).

St George's Basilica is the oldest church within the Prague Castle complex. This Romanesque building was founded by Prince Vratislav of Bohemia in 920 and was expanded upon in 973, with the addition of the St George's Benedictine Convent. In 1142, the basilica had to be rebuilt following a fire, and the Baroque facade that can be seen today was added in the late 17th century.

The church is home to several tombs and shrines of historical significance. A Gothic-style chapel holds the tomb of the saint, Ludmila of Bohemia, while the shrines of Vratislav and Boleslaus II are also inside. The interior is both unique and grand, with its high dark-wood ceiling serving to accentuate the narrowness of the church, and decorative windows in the stone walls allowing for light to enter in a dramatic way. The intricate paintwork of the altar and the frescos of the dome are the work of V.V. Reiner.

Today, St George's Basilica houses the 19th century Bohemian Art Collection of the National Gallery, as well as hosting various classical concerts.

The Spanish Synagogue in Prague is the newest synagogue in the Jewish Town area. Ironically, it is built on the site of the 12th-century Altschul, which was thought to be the oldest synagogue in the city.

The current building was constructed in 1868. It was designed by Vojtěch Ignátz Ullmann in a neo-Moorish style, which was inspired by the art of the Arabic period of Spanish history – hence the synagogue’s name. The elaborate interior was designed by the architects, Antonín Baum and Bedřich Münzberger, and includes beautiful stained-glass windows and a stucco-covered ceiling of intricate stylized motifs, which also adorn the walls, doors, and gallery balustrades.

The Spanish Synagogue in Prague holds regular services, permanent and temporary exhibitions, classical concerts, and a variety of other programs and events.

Tocnik Castle is a castle with both renaissance and baroque styles from the late 14th century that was once a royal chateau for Wenceslas IV. The site was abandoned in the 17th century after the Thirty Years War, though many of the architectural aspects have been well preserved over the years. Today the castle is owned by the state and has been turned into a museum. 

Visitors can explore the royal palace and castle museum, the dungeon, and the sgraffito-decorated great palace. The western entrance gate is adorned with heraldic decorations, while the eastern gate has a large bridge that crosses the moat. Visitors can climb the castle's hexagonal tower to the lookout point for views of the countryside. You can also see the nearby Zebrak Castle, which was built before Tocnik Castle. The castle museum shows visitors a glimpse of what life was like for Bohemian nobility during this time.

The Prague Zoo is one of the best zoos in the world and aims to educate the public about wildlife while protecting the animals that live there. Many of the exhibits allow visitors to get up close and personal with the animals. Despite being in the middle of a city, there is lots of greenery at the Prague Zoo, making it a nice escape as well as a fun place to see a wide variety of animals. There are several areas geared towards children such as play areas, a petting zoo, and a viewing train.

Some of the more interesting animals you can see at the zoo include the Komodo dragon, western lowland gorilla, polar bear, honey badger, Galapagos tortoise, Malayan tapir, camel, kangaroo, southern cassowary, Malayan tiger, antelope, aardvark, Przewalski's horse, eastern black and white Colobus monkey, Steller's sea eagle, cape fur seal, Red River hog, giraffe, river stingray, Humboldt's penguin, lesser panda, rhinoceros hornbill, Asian elephant, and hippopotamus. The Prague Zoo is involved in helping different species survive through breeding at the zoo and protecting them in their natural habitats in different parts of the world.