Prague is such an amazing with to explore and the Czech republic a spectacular country to explore with so many historical towns, cities and spectacular monuments and Unesco sites as well as beautiful countryside. To inspire you to visit around the country, check out these favorite and popular attractions shared by top bloggers and travel writings sharing their favorite places to visit in Prague. Here’s the best of places to visit in Prague to inspire you to put this on your bucket list of countries to visit soon.
Top attractions and places to visit around Prague
Visiting Prague Castle
Prague Castle is one of the most famous places to visit in Prague and it’s a must visit when exploring the Czech capital. The castle is currently the largest coherent castle complex in the world and it’s still one of the most beautiful castles in Europe to this day. It was originally built in the 9th century but it has been renovated and re-built many times through the centuries.
The castle is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site and it’s actually made up of several palaces and ecclesiastical buildings. The St. Vitus Cathedral is one of the most famous monuments inside the castle complex, which is the most important temple in Prague. The Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica and the Golden Lane are other popular sights inside the complex that can’t be missed during visiting Prague Castle. The Golden Lane was originally inhabited by goldsmiths and it’s a very narrow street boosting adorable little houses on both sides.
Since Prague Castle is located in the heart of the Old Town, it’s really easy to reach it. You can easily walk up to the castle or alternatively there are several metro stations and tram stops nearby. The castle complex is open between 6am-10pm every day but the historical buildings can only be visited from 9am to 4pm in winter and 5pm in summer. You can purchase different types of tickets based on which sights you are planning to visit. The Circuit A type ticket costs 350 CZK per person and it includes a visit to all the popular monuments.
Krisztina Harsanyi with She Wanders Abroad
Exploring the spa town of Karlovy Vary
About 90 minutes from Prague, you’ll find the gorgeous spa town of Karlovy Vary. It’s surrounded by rolling hills in the West Bohemia region of Czechia. It has been a popular destination for international celebrities since the mid-1800’s. European royals and film stars still flock to the thermal spa resort town for treatments and relaxation along with hordes of tourists each year. The city oozes Old World charm with gilded architecture, especially in the spa district along the river.
Among the famous landmarks of the city are the colonnades featuring thermal water fountains peppered around the town. One of the most famous is the Mill Colonnade. Its columned walkways are the most grandiose in the city. The iconic structure took a decade to construct and when it opened in 1881. Visiting the Mill Colonnade and its 124 Corinthian columns is one of the best things to do in Karlovy Vary.
There are 13 major thermal springs in the city and the Mill Colonnade has five of them. Others worth visiting are the Market Colonnade, which hosts three hot spring fountains that range in temperature, mineral content and history. It features ornate wooden carvings and the structure is beautiful to photograph.
Derek and Mike with Robe Trotting
A concentration camp at Terezin
Of all the places to visit in Prague, Terezín holds a darkly unique place in the history or World War II. Originally a fortress town just north of Prague, the town of Terezín was used by the Nazis as a concentration camp and ghetto to house captured Jews from 1941 until its liberation in 1945.
Unlike other concentration camps, however, Terezín was used as part of the Nazis’ false propaganda campaign to fool the world into thinking that all was well for their Jewish prisoners. Inmates were encouraged to engage in the arts – painting pictures and putting on plays – and when the Red Cross visited the site, the “mayor” of the town (a coerced prisoner) gave them scripted tours of the camp and grounds. In reality, around 33,000 people died due to the conditions of the camp, many through malnutrition and disease due to overcrowding, with many more being held in Terezín before being transported to other concentration camps and killed later.
The town now stands as a memorial site, with almost all of the original buildings still intact, including the barracks, the original fortifications and the crematorium. Many of the buildings showcase the former inmates’ artworks, such as drawings, paintings, costumes and literature, all created as part of the Nazis’ illusion of calm stability. Terezín is not an easy place to visit, but the town stands as an important and moving memorial to those who were held there.
Terezín is less than an hour’s drive north of Prague, and there is a bus that leaves regularly throughout the day from Praha-Holesovice in Prague city centre – it will be heading for Litoměřice, but the stop for Terezín is well signposted.
Visiting Karlštejn Castle
Karlštejn is a majestic Gothic castle, strategically placed on a hill overlooking the beautiful Czech forests. Karlštejn holds an exceptional position among Czech castles. It was founded in 1348 by the Czech king and Roman Emperor Charles IV. as a private residence and a safe place for the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire. You can still find the replica of St. Wenceslas crown of Czech kings there. In a Chapel of the Holy Cross can be found a world unique paint collection of Master Theodoric, the court painter of Charles IV.
Karlštejn can be visited every day except Mondays, and there are several guided tours to choose from, depending on your interest and preferences. You can visit just the Great tower or join longer tours to explore representative rooms of Emperor Charles IV. or choose the exclusive tour which takes you even to the Chapel of Holy Cross.
Karlštejn is an ideal destination for a day trip from Prague – It can be easily reached from Prague Main Station (Praha Hlavní nádraží) by train in only 40 minutes. To find out more practical information about the castle and how to get there, read this Insider’s guide to Karlštejn Castle.
If you have extra time, don’t miss the opportunity to do a nice trip to quarries Lom Velká Amerika and Malá Amerika. It’s about 5 kilometers to get to Velká Amerika. A very nice trail leads to queries from Karlštejn Castle but you can get there also by car.
Adriana Plotzerová with Czech The World
HIstoric Kutna Hora Ossuary
Kutná Hora town with its Sedlec Ossuary is one of the most popular places to visit outside Prague and belongs to the top tourist sites in the Czech Republic. It is located on the outskirts of Kutná Hora in Sedlec. The Gothic chapel decorated with human bones comes from the 14th century. Adjacent to a local Cemetery Church of All Saints, it belonged to the Cistercian Abbey of Sedlec from the 12. century.
The chapel’s interior is as spooky as can be. It contains skeletons of 40,000 people, neatly arranged into mounds and various large-scale objects. You can admire a large chandelier made of all bones in the human body including skulls, or e.g. a bone-made coat of arms.
The bones come from mass graves, which contained several layers of tombs – from 5 to 26! The 30 unearthed mass graves contained remnants of people who died because of famine, epidemics and the Hussite wars.
However, Kutná Hora has more interesting sights worth exploring. Right next to the Ossuary you can find the majestic, and UNESCO-listed, Gothic and Baroque-Gothic Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady and Saint John the Baptist. Also the heart of Kutná Hora is UNESCO-listed, together with the Church of St Barbara, another unique Gothic gem. The whole town of Kutná Hora is lovely and hides a few more medieval architectural treasures.
Tickets can be bought for the ossuary only, a combination of the ossuary and the Cathedral, or for all three sights including the St. Barbara’s Church. Purchase them at www.sedlec.info or at a stand near the parking lot (you cannot buy a ticket right at the ossuary).
You can visit Kutná Hora easily on a day trip from Prague. A direct train from Prague to Kutná Hora takes 50 minutes. The Sedlec Ossuary can be reached from Kutná Hora train station in 20 minutes. You can also take a bus (3 minutes). Driving from Prague takes about an hour and there’s a large parking lot available on the site.
Veronika Primm with Travel Greekery
Kutna Hora town visit
Just an hour’s drive from central Prague in the Central Bohemian District, you’ll find the small historic town of Kutna Hora. Despite its small size, the city is well worth a visit. As a world-famous UNESCO heritage site, Kutna Hora is known for its Gothic and Baroque architecture, medieval town-planning as well as several iconic cultural landmarks. Get away from the hustle and bustle of Prague and take in this unique Czech city.
Though the Kutna Hora is tranquil today, it was once a thriving political and economic center, rivaling the likes of Prague. In the 14th century, the city gained prominence due to the silver mines that were discovered in the area. An influx of people and wealth led to the establishment of several iconic landmarks being built during this time. Culture and history buffs will love exploring stunning architectural sites such as the majestic St. Barbara’s Cathedral, an enormous Gothic cathedral that dominates Kutna Hora. Another highlight is the Sedlec Ossuary, also known as the “Bone Church”, which is decorated with real human bones. It is estimated that 40,000 skeletons were used, reflecting the medieval concept of ‘Momento Mori’, meant to serve as a reminder that we will all die one day.
Next, wander the charming narrow streets of the Old City. You’ll find small narrow houses, cobblestone streets, small churches, and cozy cafes to stop and enjoy a drink. Though the city can easily be explored as a day-trip, it’s also a nice place to spend a night or two away from the throngs of tourists in Prague. Either way, you’ll love the picturesque architecture and tranquility Kutna Hora has to offer.
Courtesy of Natasha from the Great Ocean Road Collective.
Strahov Library
The Strahov library is widely considered to be the most beautiful library in the world. Situated in a suburb of Prague, this is a must-see attraction for any visit to the Czech Republic.
The library is a part of the Strahov Monastery (Strahovský klášter) which is located in the Strahov district on the west bank of the River Vltava, away from central Prague and across the Charles Bridge. The monastery was founded in the mid-12th century by Premonstratensian monks from around the Rhine River in Germany. It suffered centuries of looting, sacking, burning of its books, and French cannon fire, but somehow escaped damage in the world wars. It was secularized after the Second World War and turned into a communist museum. It was only after the Velvet revolution that the Premonstratensians finally got their monastery back.
The Strahov Library consists of the Theological and Philosophical Halls. The Theological Hall was built in 1670 and houses 18,000 books about religion. This is the real reason for coming to the Strahov! Built in an ornate Baroque style, the Reading Room is the most beautiful reading room in the world. If you can draw your eyes away from the spectacular ceiling, the furnishings include large antique wooden globes.
The Philosophical Hall has a similarly lavish ceiling whose fresco was painted by the Viennese painter, Anton Maulbertsch, and is called ‘the Intellectual Progress of Man.’ This is the secular part of the library, holding books about astronomy, mathematics and history.
The Strahov Library is located at Strahovské nádvoří 132/1, Praha 1-Hradčany. It’s easy to get to as it’s only a three minute walk from the Pohořelec tram stop.
By Monique at Trip Anthropologist
Exploring Tisa rocks
A great thing to do around Prague for those who love nature is a visit to the Bohemian Switzerland national park. A natural wonder of Europe, Bohemian Switzerland is a natural park that continues also in Germany with Saxon Switzerland. It is also reachable from Berlin in under 3 hours driving.
This national park hosts several places to see and among these places are Tisa rocks. Known as the “Land of Narnia”, because of the famous movie “The Chronicles of Narnia” that was filmed here, Tisa rocks have something magic. The labyrinth formed by these interesting geological formations can be explored in an easy hike. The nearby Tisa village gives their name and once you arrive there you can park the car next to the old church. The trail has a loop shape and starts in front of the ticket office. The path on the right is easier and following it you will explore the amazing labyrinth of rocks. Some people like to practice climbing here.
Try also the path on the left if you want to enjoy the view from above. The left trail route is harder than the other one since includes some level difference and stairs. But at the end of it, you will reach a belvedere spot where you can see the landscape of Tisa village and the forest that surrounds it. The great sensations of exploring Tisa rocks come from the tight space between them, from their supernatural aspect, from the marvelous sights they offer once you get on the top, and from the coolness they provide during hot, summer days!
John Lennon Wall
Prague’s iconic John Lennon Wall is one of the most iconic landmarks of the city. Unlike the castles, classic architecture and Czech cuisine that the city is typically known for, this quirky attraction is just as famous – and much more photographed! Come rain or shine, you will find travellers from all over the world taking photos and admiring the street art at this location on Velkopřevorské náměstí.
The John Lennon Wall has been populated with artwork since the 1980s. The fan art of Lennon was inspired by his tragic death and has lived on. Nowadays, it’s covered with tributes to Lennon as well as other colorful, unrelated murals. You may wonder why an artistic shrine to a British musician can be found in the heart of Prague. The answer is simple: the Beatles’ music was an inspiring light in the dark for young Czech citizens during the totalitarian era. Lennon became a symbol of freedom from Western culture.
The wall had previously been used to display poems and messages against the regime. After Lennon’s death, images of him started to appear and soon the wall became somewhat of a shrine to him. Prague may not need to fight for its freedom these days but this colorful area is still a much-loved feature of the city!
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