Prague, according to many travel advisories, is one of the most visited cities in Europe. In fact, it comes sixth among the list of most visited European cities, coming after London, Paris, Rome, Madrid and Berlin. Nicknamed as the Golden City, Prague has remained virtually unscathed even after the comings and goings of two World Wars; and has remained as the Czech state’s cultural, economic and political seat of power for more than 1,100 years. As such, there are so many culturally and historically rich architectural sites you may want to visit – cobblestone streets, majestic churches, resplendent squares, and fortifications worthy of royalty. However, Prague has not remained stagnant over the years. It is an energetic city, full of change and progression; if you are coming to this city to enjoy time with your family and friends, then you have certainly come to the right place. Besides, Prague has a wonderful night life arena that you may certainly enjoy after a long day touring.
We do, however, recommend that you learn how to use the public transport system in the city, especially if you want to tour the city without the aid of a tour guide. Admittedly enough, the services of private tour guides are rather expensive in the Golden City, so we would not find fault if you decide to travel on your own. There are trams or city trains that run through the town center and perhaps one of its most famous rides is the Nostalgic Tram No. 91. There are also buses, and ferry rides to contend with, and all of them have common ticketing systems. If you prefer a bit of a change, we highly recommend you take the chairlift at Prague Zoo.
The Prague Zoo at the Troja District has been listed in the 2008 Forbes Traveler Magazine as the 7th best zoo in the world, and is also the sanctuary and breeding home of the endangered Przewalski Horse. There are about 4,600 animals housed in the area, and these come from all parts of the globe. If you plan to take your family here, may we suggest that you shoe everyone in comfortable sneakers or walking shoes because the entire zoo is over 65 hectares wide. Zoo usually opens at 9 in the morning and is accessible to wheelchairs.
On the other hand, although taxis are bountiful in this beautiful city, travel advisories say that one should be wary of independent taxi drivers, particularly those who are not regulated by any major taxi cab companies in the city but continue to pick up passengers nevertheless. Overpricing the fare is a prevalent practice at such taxis. Tourists are thereby advised to be careful in selecting the cabs they get into, know the approximate amount that should be charged before going anywhere, and always (always!) ask for a receipt before you get down from the vehicle.
Some of the more breathtaking sites that one should consider visiting are: the Astronomical Clock; the National Musuem; New Town that features the historic Wenceslas Square; the Old Jewish Quarter that features the Old Jewish Cemetery and the Old New Synagogue; Lennon Wall; the Prague Castle that features the St. Vitus Cathedral; etc.
For shopping in the city, we highly recommend you drop by the Andĕl in Prague 5’s central quarter of Smichov. Not only are there great architectural sites to see here and nearby, but the modern shopping mall is certainly a treat. We also recommend spending a panoramic lunch or dinner atop the Dancing House, a.k.a. the Fred and Ginger Building, a.k.a. The Drunk House at Praha 2. The food is okay, but it’s the building you should actually see. And lastly, if you want some avenue for serious partying, Prague has a number of clubs, pubs and themed discos to choose from – all you really have to do is step out into the street and you are there.
Hello! Great post, really informative.
Comment by Elen Prague — April 14, 2008 @ 3:18 am