Are you in desperate need of a mid-term weekend getaway? Or planning the places you should include on your European road trip? Or just interested in traveling the world via the internet? This article is meant for you.
Last summer, I finally had saved some money for a small trip abroad and was browsing my options. Somewhere not too hot, beautiful and, of course, inexpensive… Prague wasn’t the first place to pop into my head, but I’m sure luckily it did at some point (ahem okay, it might have been my boyfriend’s suggestion… Nevertheless!). Prague most certainly fit the bill with all my requirements: in August, the weather was not too scorching, the city had amazing architecture, and it most certainly was inexpensive (beer for two euros a pint!).
For someone like me, who knew next to nothing about Prague, the Czech Republic was a bit of a hassle at first. That’s why I wanted to make a list for all of you guys who might be traveling to Prague to know your way around and “Czech” out the most awesome places in town.
Things to know:
- Language:
The people in the Czech Republic speak their own language, Czech. It looks and sounds a bit intimidating. Most people in the city center do speak English, so no need to worry – however, most of the street signs are only in Czech. And, if you want to ask someone where some place is, it’s likely that they won’t understand your pronunciation of a Czech word. So, it might be best to write the address of your hotel, for example, on a piece of paper if you need directions or you take a cab to your hotel.
- Money:
The Czech currency is called the Czech crown. The exchange rate is quite good for us tourists, as for one euro you can get up to 25 crowns (depending on the current rate and place of exchange of course – always check the exchange rate when changing money). The average dinner with drinks for two cost us around 800 crowns (around 35 euros) in total, with tips. There is a custom to tip, and the tip should be around 10–20 percent depending on the service.
- Transportation:
The transportation system in Prague is fairly simple and runs smoothly. The subway reaches most of the places where tourists usually go, or you can also take a bus or a tram. Tickets can be bought on news stands, kiosks and vending machines and they can be used on all the vehicles. You can buy a ticket for 30 minutes, 90 minutes, 24 hours or 72 hours and the they are really inexpensive. That’s why I wholly advise using the public transportation or walking instead of using taxis, which are usually way more expensive and can rip you off.
Places to go:
- The Old Town / Vyšehrad
The Old Town is known for its castle (Prague Castle), church (The Cathedral of St. Vitus) and beautiful architecture around the narrow streets. It sure is beautiful and worth checking out, but bear in mind that the prices are higher and the streets are more crowded, and there is a risk of being pickpocketed. If you’re not a fan of the things mentioned above, I would suggest you might go elsewhere to see the same kind of a scene.
Where to go instead, you ask? There are a beautiful park and castle in an area called Vyšehrad that is waaay less crowded and also has a remarkable cathedral (St. Peter and Paul Basilica). The view from the top of the castle is also kinda cool.
- Prague Zoo / Obora Žleby
If you have more time than a few days to explore, you can visit Prague Zoo. It’s a large park that will take the whole day if you wish to see all the animals (which I obviously did). There are giraffes, tapirs, penguins and a whole lot more furry and non-furry animal friends to observe.
But if you’d like to experience more of an adventure and support a local business, you can plan a trip outside of Prague to visit a wildlife sanctuary called Obora Žleby. They rescue wildlife and work on re-growing the population of extremely rare white deer. They also offer tours that’ll let you fly birds of prey and feed some rescued animals. You can get to Žleby by train (you need to switch trains though). The journey, however, will only take a bit over an hour and you’ll get an overview of the countryside, which is extremely pretty. Visiting Obora Žleby was probably the most memorable thing during this trip, and I wholeheartedly wish them all the best. They definitely deserve more recognition for the amazing work they do.
- Food: Lehká hlava & Maitrea, Beer: Everywhere / U Kunstatu
Because I heard that the traditional Czech food is quite meat-oriented, I felt the need to plan where to eat beforehand, me being a vegetarian. I searched for the best veggie restaurants, and oooh boy were they good. Lehká hlava and Maitrea are both parts of the same restaurant group, and they somewhat differ in menus. I ate the best veggie burger I’ve ever had in Maitrea, and they had killer tacos in Lehká hlava. A complete hit. But any of you meat-eaters, do try the traditional dishes of the Czech cuisine!
Okay, okay, I know. Beer is what you are most interested in, right? No wonder, as the Czech Republic is perhaps best known for its beer. You can buy it almost anywhere, and it literally costs less than water. Even me, who’s usually not that into beer, had to admit that it was something else. The few most common brands were everywhere, but if you’d also like to taste some craft beers, there’s a bar in Old Town called U Kunstatu. They have more locally crafted beers from small breweries that are not served in other bars.
Overall, Prague was an amazing experience, and I feel like there would still be a lot more to see. This mini-handbook will only get you started, but I do suggest you find exactly the things you are interested in, whatever trip you’re taking next.