Entertainment
Charles Bridge
The 13th century Charles Bridge throngs with people, but is none-the-less a top priority on the list of Prague attractions to visit. Try early morning for a less crowded walk, or go at night for a truly romantic stroll, with fairytale views of the Prague skyline, dominated by magnificent Prague Castle. Charles Bridge is not just a tourist attraction. This is the main pedestrian route linking the Old Town with the Lesser Town (Mala Strana), and then onto Prague Castle itself. During the day, souvenir stands and street musicians line the bridge; look out for the jazz band, who can be particularly entertaining.
Old Town Square
To step into the Old Town Square in Prague is to step back in time, 600 or 700 years. As you stand in awe, the dramatic history of Prague permeates the atmosphere. Dating back to the late 12th century, with its ancient buildings and magnificent churches, this is one of the most beautiful historical sites in Europe.
Jewish Quarter
The Jewish Quarter, known as Josefov, is located between the Old Town Square & the Vltava River. Its torrid history dates back to the 13th century. Entrance fees apply at several of the sights.
Wenceslas Square
Wenceslas Square is Prague’s main boulevard. It is a centre for bars, restaurants, shops, banks, casinos, hotels and apartments. Wenceslas Square is one of the most popular places to stay in Prague, with tourists attracted by the nightlife and shopping. Most of Prague’s sights and attractions lie within easy walking distance.
Hlavni Nadrazi
Hlavni Nadrazi is the biggest and busiest railway station in Prague, an Art Nouveau structure that represents Prague as the Mother of Cities. It is only a 5 minute walk from Wenceslas Square and has many convenient facilities to accommodate visitors.
The National Theater
The National Theatre in Prague is a stunning neo-renaissance building, constructed between 1868 and 1881. It sits proudly alongside the banks of the Vltava River, its golden roof gleaming in the sunshine on fine weather days. For Czech people, the National Theatre is one of the most important cultural institutions in Prague. Since its inception the theatre has played an important role in the development of the Czech language, Czech music and the dramatic arts.
Vysehrad Park and SS Peter & Paul Church
Few areas of Prague are as quiet and peaceful as Vysehrad. Vysehrad Park covers a large area and there many interesting features to explore. Visitors can enjoy pleasant walks through landscaped gardens, plus admire fine views over the Vltava River. It also makes a great place for a picnic. The two dominant spires in the park belong to the Church of SS Peter & Paul. The impressive interior of the church has been restored and is open to visitors.
Lesser Town
Lesser Town (Mala Strana), also known as the Lesser Quarter, clusters around the foothills of Prague Castle, on the opposite side of the river to the Old Town. This picturesque area, with its ancient burgher houses, quaint side streets and St. Nicholas Church, is a favorite setting for movies and commercials. Most tourists pass through the Lesser Town as they cross from the Old Town over Charles Bridge, to climb up Nerudova Street towards Prague Castle.
Petrin Hill and Observation Tower
For the best views of Prague’s many sights and attractions, climb to the top of the Observation Tower on Petrin hill. The magnificent panoramic vista of Prague is well worth the 299 steps.
Strahov Monastery
This monastery sits above Petrin Hill with a serene view of the Lesser Town (Mala Strana). This tranquil location offers one a chance to quietly meditate or an opportunity to visit its famous library of over 16,000 books.
Prague Castle
Prague Castle is Prague’s premier attraction. This vast complex includes palaces, a church, a monastery, museums and art galleries, viewing towers and the supreme St. Vitus Cathedral.
Travel
Berlin, Germany
Berlin is one of the greenest cities in the world. When travelling around, you will notice that more than half of the city is either a park or a river. Berlin has many beautiful attractions such as Berliner Dom, Brandenburg Gate, and Potsdam and Sanssouci Palace. If you are looking for great nightlife, go to the Western Centre of Berlin where you will find many hotels and clubs.
Vienna, Austria
One of the most popular tourist attractions is Schonbrun Palace where you can learn about Vienna’s monarch history. To see the local side of the city, visit Naschmarkt Vienna, which is one of its most prominent outdoor markets. For an elegant night out, go to an opera at the State Opera House which is world renown.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam has canals that lead to beautiful scenery. Take a canal cruise to relax and see some of Amsterdam’s sights through the maze of canals in the city. There are also many art museums such as Amsterdam’s Historisch Museum. At this museum, unusual objects make up the art pieces to map the last eight centuries of the city. Amsterdam is also known for its cozy coffee shops so be sure to stop by a few. The fastest way to travel in Amsterdam is by bike. Consider renting a bike for the weekend to get around to all the places the city has to offer!
Transportation
Transportation from the Airport
Public transportation from the airport - http://www.pragueairport.co.uk/public-transport.htm
Taxis - Getting into any taxi at the airport is not recommended. However, there are several very well-established and respectable companies you may use for getting around the city or transport from the airport to the dorms. AAA-Taxi company has English speaking operators and English speaking drivers which can be requested: http://www.aaa-taxi.cz/index.php?xSET=lang&xLANG=2
There is an AAA representative near the exit of the airport. S/he will be able to assist you.
Transportation within Prague
Metro – The metro is the main mode of transportation in Prague. There are three lines that are color coordinated which make it very easy to use. They are Line A (green), Line B (yellow), and Line C (red). The metro runs from 5 a.m. to midnight and a subway comes about every 2-3 minutes.
Trams – For a more scenic route, take the tram. A tram comes about every 8-10 minutes. During one of your weekends in Prague, be sure to ride the tram called the Nostalgic Tram No. 91. It only runs on weekends and holidays and it takes you through Prague’s city center.
Buses – Buses are mostly used in the outskirts of Prague. A bus comes about every 10-20 minutes.
A transportation pass is recommended because you will be staying there for an extended time. You can buy a month pass at any metro station and it can be used on any of these modes of transportation.
For more information about Prague’s transportation, visit http://www.dpp.cz/en/