Prague Looks Like A Fairy Tale

Last July, I traveled to Prague, Czech Republic, with my friend Julia. We have been friends since elementary school, so at least 15 years. Our friendship has survived moving across state lines and country borders. We met up in my home town, Ramat Gan, Israel (she visited friends and family in Israel) then traveled to Prague. We spent about 5 days in Prague before flying together to Baltimore, MD. She returned home and I moved on to phase 2 of my vacation, visiting my parents in Maryland.

We landed in the airport near Prague late at night and took at taxi directly to our hotel, Ibis Praha Mala Strana. I was starving, so we searched for dinner in the square near the hotel. Everything was closed, except for KFC and McDonalds. I gave in to the inevitable and ordered fast food. I never eat fast food.

Day 1

We woke up, got breakfast at Starbucks next door (exciting for me because there is no Starbucks in Israel), and went to the Charles Bridge. The Charles Bridge is a major tourist attraction and, obviously we wanted to see it. Julia read online that it is worth it to get to the Charles Bridge before 10 am to beat the massive crowd of tourists. We arrived around 9:45 and watched the Charles Bridge become more and more crowded over the next half an hour or so.

1View of the start of the bridge from the middle.

2View of Kampa Island the river from the Charles Bridge.

We wandered around the area and found a picturesque alley, so, of course, we took an impromptu photoshoot. Julia brought a real camera with her on this trip, so we played around with it and took a little photoshoot. I love having unexpected photoshoots when I find a beautiful spot.

We took a tour of the Klementinum, a museum with artifacts and information about scientists and astrologers who worked there, and the Baroque Library. The Baroque Library is known as the most beautiful library in the world and I’m not arguing. We climbed to the top of the Astronomical Tower. Obligatory “I climbed a lot of steps to get a great view” pictures. If you are under 26 and show student ID, you can receive a 100 czk discount on your ticket.

3View of Prague from the top of the Astronomical Tower.

We took a free walking tour with Sandemans New Europe tours and then relaxed by the river. The tour guide was very knowledgeable. She shared her personal insights along with a detailed history of the city of Prague and its famous buildings. When I travel to a new place I always take a free walking tour, usually with this company, to orient myself to the history and landmarks.

Day 2

On our way to the metro station to buy tickets, we stumbled into an open air market and explored. I bought the cutest dress! It’s navy blue with little white birds on it. Eventually, we took two streetcars to the Prague Castle. We didn’t pay for a guided tour, opting to wander around with a map and choose what we wanted to see and for how long. The Prague Castle Complex holds more than just the castle. Inside it are the Cathedral of St. Vitus and Rainbow Row. St. Vitus’ Cathedral is gothic. Its striking image overpowers the other buildings in the complex and sticks out in memory. In contrast, Rainbow Row is a lane of colorful cottages that used to house servants and other people living in the complex but are now shops.

4Cathedral of St. Vitus. In the Prague Castle Complex.

That afternoon we went to the Museum of Communism. In the square in front of the Museum was another market with shandy (beer + lemonade, it’s quite tasty and refreshing in the summer), chimney cake, and beautiful glass earrings. Am I still obsessed with the earrings I saw? Yes. Do I wish I had bought more? Also yes. Julia and I bought gifts for friends and family.

The Museum of Communism was very informative. It told the story of communism in the Czech Republic from the point of someone in Prague. It was a fairly new museum. Both Julia and I appreciated it as a source of information that we otherwise wouldn’t have seen. It’s full of content and artifacts.

Day 3

We took a train to the city of Nizbor to visit  Ruckl Crystal Factory. We took a tour of the factory in English and saw firsthand how each piece of crystal is made by hand. It’s an incredible and intricate process. At the gift shop, I bought an 30th anniversary present for my parents, as well as a pair of two beautiful crystal shot glasses for myself. I wanted something useful, and small, but not so delicate that I would be afraid to use it.

After the factory tour, we sat in the cutest little restaurant next to the train station. It’s bigger than the train station, and that’s saying something. I got a coffee, of course, and Julia drank some delicious hot chocolate.

Day 4

Since we packed so much into the first three days of Prague, we did not have much left to see on the last day. We scoped out the place to buy Gingerbread, and, of course, bought some to take home. We also took a tour of the Jewish Quarter. We paid for the tour sponsored by the Jewish Museum and hated it. If you are interested in taking a tour of the Jewish Quarter of Prague, I suggest taking a private tour, especially if you are Jewish.   

We also went back to the square outside of the Museum of Communism, Náměstí Republiky, to visit the market again. We ate the best grilled cheese sandwiches ever.

At the end of the day, we climbed up a hill to go to the Letna Beer Garden. It looked exactly like a beer garden should, with long tables full of people, and a few stands for selling food and beer. There was also a less crowded fancy restaurant. We chose to sit with the crowds at the picnic tables and enjoy the garden part of beer garden. The weather was perfect, as it had been for the whole trip. What sets this beer garden apart is the amazing view.