Prague

The capital city of the Czech Republic has a variety of sights and activities.

Activities

Prague Castle and gardens (Hours: daily 6am-10pm; Tram: Malostranská; Metro: Malostranská)

Prague Castle was built in the 9th century and is now the official residence and workplace of the president of the Czech Republic. It is a complex of various buildings, including the Gothic-style St Vitus Cathedral, constructed in 1344.

Charles Bridge (Tram: Karlovy lázně)

This bridge, over 650 years old, served as the most important connection between Prague Castle and the city’s Old Town. The main draw is its over 30 statues, mostly built between 1683 and 1714.

Prague Zoo (U Trojského zámku 120/3, 171 00 Praha 7, Czechia; Hours: daily 9am-5pm; Prices: Adults CZK 330/3-15 years CZK 250; E-ticket: Adults CZK 300/3-15 years CZK 200; Bus: Zoo Praha – Troja)

Prague Zoo is a great destination for families, with many different kinds of animals. These include otters, giraffes, polar bears and Asian elephants, among others.

Another highlight is watching the gorillas. The group consists of one adult male, a group of females, a smaller male and a baby. They usually eat leaves or wander around the enclosure, and sometimes one of the females can be seen feeding the baby!

The Josefov (Old Jewish Quarter) and Jewish Museum

Old-New Synagogue (Červená, 110 01 Josefov, Czechia; Hours: Sun-Fri 9am-5pm, closed Saturdays and Jewish holidays; Tram: Právnická fakulta)

The Old-New Synagogue is the oldest active synagogue in Europe, built in the 13th century. According to legend, it contains the remains of the Golem, a clay figure created by Rabbi Judah Loew to protect the Jewish community.

Pinkas Synagogue (3, Široká 23, Josefov, 110 00 Praha; Hours: Sun-Fri 9am-4.30pm, closed Saturdays and Jewish holidays; Tram: Staroměstská)

The Pinkas Synagogue was built in 1535 and was originally used as a place of prayer. It is the second-oldest preserved synagogue in Prague. Nowadays, it is a memorial to the over 80,000 Jewish victims of the Holocaust from the Czech lands, their names painted on the walls in alphabetical order.

Klausen Synagogue (1, U Starého Hřbitova 39, Josefov, 110 00 Praha, Czechia; Tram: Staroměstská)

The Klausen Synagogue was founded in the 1690s and was the second most popular synagogue in the Jewish Town. Today, it contains exhibits about Jewish festivals and traditions.

Meisel Synagogue (Maiselova 10, 110 00 Praha 1, Czechia; Hours: Sun-Fri 9am-4.30pm, closed Saturdays and Jewish holidays; Tram: Staroměstská)

The Meisel Synagogue was built in 1592. It is named for Mordecai Meisel, the mayor of the Jewish Quarter from 1592 to 1601, who financed its construction. Nowadays, it houses an exhibition of the history of Jews in the Bohemian lands from the 10th to the 18th century, as well as a collection of religious objects.

Spanish Synagogue

This synagogue actually replaced an earlier one, known as the Altschul (Old Synagogue). The current building was constructed in 1868 in the Moorish Revival style, and now houses an exhibition about the history of the Jews in Bohemia and Moravia. It is also used for concerts.

Old Jewish Cemetery (Široká 3, 110 00 Josefov, Czechia; Hours: Sun-Fri 9am-4.30pm, closed Saturdays and Jewish holidays; Tram: Staroměstská)

The Old Jewish Cemetery is one of the oldest surviving Jewish burial grounds in the world, with many notable personalities buried there. Keep an eye out for symbols on some of the tombs, which symbolise the person’s name or profession. The Maharal’s tomb (pictured above) is by far the biggest, with stones placed on top by Jewish visitors.

Places to stay

THE MANES Boutique Hotel Prague (Myslíkova 20, Prague 120 00 Czech Republic; Tram: Myslíkova; Bus: Myslíkova; Metro: Národní třída) Housed in a building dating back from 1891, The Manes offers a peaceful retreat from the bustle of the city and is close to the main places.

Grand Majestic Hotel Prague (Truhlářská 16, Prague 11000 Czech Republic; Metro: Náměstí Republiky) This 4-star hotel provides 196 spacious design rooms, with an additional six luxury suites. Amenities include free wireless internet access in public areas, an atrium restaurant and parking in the hotel garage. It is situated in the city centre, within walking distance of all major tourist attractions such as Charles Bridge, Old Town Square and the Jewish Quarter.

Hotel Residence Agnes (Haštalská 19, Prague 110 00 Czech Republic; Metro: Náměstí Republiky) This hotel is located in the heart of the Old Town, close to the main attractions, as well as the Palladium shopping centre.

Hotel Cube (Křemencova 164/18, Prague 110 00 Czech Republic; Tram: Národní divadlo; Metro: Národní třída) This is a new 4-star hotel located right in the historical centre.

Places to eat

AMERICAN, VEGETARIAN: Sad Man’s Tongue Bar and Bistro (£; Konviktská 7, Prague 110 00 Czech Republic; Hours: Wed-Sun 11am-5am, Mon 11am-1am, Tue 11am-11pm; Tram: Karlovy lázně)

DESSERT, EUROPEAN: Trdelník & Coffee (£; U Starého Hřbitova 42/2 Maiselova Corner, Prague 110 00 Czech Republic; Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-6pm, Fri-Sun 11am-6.30pm; Tram: Staroměstská)

INTERNATIONAL, EUROPEAN: Kolkovna V Kolkovně (££-£££; V Kolkovně 910/8, Prague 110 00 Czech Republic; Hours: daily 11am-12am; Tram: Staroměstská; Metro: Staroměstská)

KOSHER, MIDDLE EASTERN, ISRAELI: Mizlala Kosher Restaurant Prague (££-£££; Hybernská 26, 110 00 Nové Město, Czechia; Hours: Sun-Thu 12pm-9pm, closed Fri-Sat; Tram: Jindřišská)

KOSHER, ITALIAN, PIZZA: Shelanu (££-£££; Břehová 208/8, 110 00 Josefov, Czechia; Hours: Sun-Thu 9am-10pm, Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 10pm-1am; Tram: Právnická fakulta)

Getting to Prague

Air

Václav Havel Airport Prague is the main international airport.

Train

Praha hlavní nádraží is the main international hub and serves Western and Central Europe.

Day trips from Prague

Český Krumlov: A town located 134 km (83 mi) south of Prague, Český Krumlov is well-known for being a tourist centre as it is among the most visited places in the country. A particular draw is the historic centre with the Český Krumlov Castle complex. The castle is unique as it has a moat filled not with water, but with bears.

České Budějovice: This city, located in the valley of the Vltava River, is the political and commercial capital of the South Bohemian Region. It is home to the Budweiser Budvar Brewery, founded in 1895. The historic city centre contains various pieces of architecture including the Black Tower, which was built in the 16th century.