6 unique places to visit in Prague
Prague is a wonderful city with architecture, museums, a colorful old town, great food, and offers a variety of activities for both the first-time traveler and the more frequent visitor.
I can't even count how many times I've been to Prague, visiting every season except winter. And these are my top 6 favorite things to do in Prague that I have done more than once.
1. Go on a river cruise
The Vltava River flows through Prague, and cruising on the river offers a wonderful view of the city and its bridges from a different perspective than we are used to.
There are many options for going on a Prague river cruise, such as a short cruise with a pre-recorded guide, a cruise with snacks/drinks, or a vintage-style boat tour. Or, for example, in cold and rainy weather, it's great to go on a lunch or dinner cruise and spend a few hours exploring the city from the river while eating.
On GetYourGuide, for example, you can find a wide variety of cruises because it's easy to book tickets in advance for a specific day and time, and you'll also see a list of things that come with your cruise.
2. Enjoy theater or opera at the National Theatre
I have visited the Prague State Opera, but it is under renovation until January 5, 2025. There are four buildings among the National Theater and they all look great! These buildings alone are worth a visit if you are not a particular theatre/opera fan. The staff speak beautiful English, so don't miss out because you're afraid you might struggle to find your floor, seat, etc. - they're already helpful and guide everyone efficiently step-by-step.
I must say that I watched the Savoy Ball (Ball im Savoy), which I have seen before. But their interpretation was modern and different from what I have seen before. So I didn't mind watching it again as the modernized version was like a breath of fresh air.
Operettas are usually performed in the local language and every opera house has a translation on screen. In the State Opera, everyone had their own screen in front of them, where they could see today's opera singers and subtitles in their preferred languages (English, German, etc.).
There is no specific dress code (only on special occasions) and people used to wear polite pants/skirts and blouses/cardigans. I wore a black dress and even felt a little overdressed. So, don't skip your visit because you didn't pack an evening dress or suit.
You can buy tickets and read more information on their website HERE.
3. Visit the Prague Zoo
Prague Zoo is considered one of the 10 best zoos in Europe! Also one of the largest and most visited zoos. And even if it doesn't look like the biggest, it's built on a landscape where part of the zoo is on top of a hill and the rest is below. You can walk up and down the trail or buy a ticket to ride the chairlift.
Prague Zoo is almost 100 years old, founded in 1931. Today, they are very committed to ethical and modern zoo practices, such as providing animals with natural habitats and different levels.
The Prague Zoo is quite close to the Botanical Gardens and the Troja Palace, so you can easily spend a day in the area. You can get there by bus, ferry or car. You can read more about how to get to the zoo by public transport HERE.
There are four parking areas that can accommodate 870 cars. Parking fee per day is 300 CZK (approx. 11.80 €). You can find the parking lots as follows: north entrance, under the castle (main entrance), south entrance (the largest) and also the park and ride area (on Povltavská street) (where parking costs 100 CZK (about 4 €), which also includes a bus ride to the zoo and back, this area is open in July and August every day, in September on weekends and public holidays).
It is wise to buy a zoo ticket in advance, as during peak hours it is more convenient to simply scan it and enter without waiting in line. In addition, the e-ticket is cheaper. For example, an adult ticket at the box office costs 330 CZK (~13 €) and an e-ticket costs 300 CZK (~11.80 €).
The zoo is open Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 or 7 p.m., depending on the month. Check opening times before you go.
4. Visit Prague Castle
You can walk through the Prague Castle District for free and see some of the buildings from the outside. But you need a ticket to visit the buildings and visit certain parts. There are four ways to buy tickets.
The first one is the Main circuit, which costs 450 CZK (approx. 17.80 €), the second option is the permanent collection, which costs 300 CZK (approx. 11.80 €). Then you can only visit the Prague Castle Picture Gallery, where the ticket is 200 CZK (approx. 7.90 €), and to visit the cathedral tower, you need a separate ticket - 200 CZK (about 7.90 €). There are 280 steps to climb and a 360-degree view of Prague - the absolute best place to see Prague from up high.
If you go to buy tickets on the spot, take your time, the queues can be quite long.
5. See Prague Astrological Clock
The Prague Astronomical Clock is the third oldest astrological clock and the oldest working clock in the world. Definitely worth a visit if you're walking around the old town. Between 9am and 11pm, the skeleton rings a bell every hour and the 12 apostles and other figures appear.
Apart from showing the day and time, the watch also shows the position of the sun, moon and stars, calendar and zodiac signs.
There is a myth about the clock - if the clock is neglected for a long time, bad times will hit the Czechs, and the skeleton in the upper right corner confirms this with a nod. In order to escape suffering, the clock should be reset, and the boy born on New Year's Eve gives hope for this.
It's free to watch the clock statues move on the hour, but the statues are high up and there's a lot of people watching, so come a little before the hour to get a spot where you can see the clock.
It is possible to visit the tower from the inside for 300 CZK (approx. €11.80). (A little tip to get a discount: Tuesday-Sunday, the first hour after opening, admission is 50% off). Check the opening hours HERE, as they depend on the month and the working day.
6. Check out the Lennon Wall
The Lennon Wall in Mala Strana has changed over time. It started after 1980 when someone painted a mural of Lennon on the wall after John Lennon's murder. The artwork expanded and became a free space for self-expression in communist Czechoslovakia. Today everyone can leave their mark on the wall (so bring a marker!).
There is also a lovely gift shop next to the wall, which I recommend you go in and check out.
Also go early to see the wall, then you can take pictures and admire the wall without pushing through the crowd,
