Things To Do In Prague |

Christmas in Prague

“Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful, and since we’ve no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.” Well, there is no need to worry about frightful weather as snow has been rather rare in Prague at Christmas in recent years but there are plenty of other ways to enjoy the Christmas spirit in this beautiful city.

Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is the Christmas markets. The traditional Prague Christmas markets are considered to be among the top Christmas markets in the world. They start always on 1 December and close at the end of the year or in the first week of January. Beautifully decorated Christmas trees protect nativity scenes, stallholders offer typical Christmas products and you may also admire displays of traditional Czech crafts.

The largest Christmas market is in the Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí). This year’s angel-themed market is dominated by a large Christmas tree decorated in traditional colours – green, white, golden and red. The entire square is filled with the sweet smells of traditional Christmas treats, such as roasted chestnuts, hot wine, punch or mead as well as Christmas sweets and gingerbread. If you are not a sweet-toothed person, you may choose from a wide variety of meat meals, including Czech sausages, grilled chicken, pork knuckle and many others. Most stalls offer Christmas goods and Czech hand-made products – Christmas decorations, cookie cutters, candles or Advent wreaths. All-time favourites include traditional Czech blown glass balls, straw decorations, hand-woven blankets and wooden nativity scenes. You may also look forward to live performances of folklore and children’s groups. Stalls are open every day from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.

There are many other Christmas markets in squares all over Prague, including Václavské náměstí (Wenceslas Square), náměstí Republiky, náměstí Míru, náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad, Tylovo náměstí and Výstaviště Holešovice (Holešovice Exhibition Grounds).

Czech Christmas culminates on Christmas Eve on 24 December, when Christmas dinner is served. The menu typically includes fish soup, carp, wine sausages and schnitzels served with potato salad. After dinner, people exchange gifts brought to Czech children by Baby Jesus.

Come and experience Christmas atmosphere in Prague and try out all the renowned Christmas goodies!

Cultural Autumn in Prague

Are you wondering whether autumn is the right time to visit Prague? Well, if you are into culture, the answer is a definite yes as there are many significant cultural events taking place in Prague before the winter starts. In this period, you will have a hard time choosing from the wide range of theatres, festivals, exhibitions, concerts, balls and other social events. Moreover, you will not have to make you way through crowds of people running after Christmas presents. And this year, the forecasters are predicting a sunny Indian summer.

CZECH PRESS PHOTO

The world around us never stops changing. We cannot possibly witness all the important moments and visit all the interesting sites on our planet. However, we can still discover and experience them through the prestigious photo competition CZECH PRESS PHOTO. The competing photos are divided into eight categories, including Daily life, Portrait, People in the news or Humans and the environment. The competition includes only photographs taken by Czech and Slovak authors. The photographs from the competition will be exhibited at the Old Town Hall’s Cloisters and Knight’s Hall from 23 November 2019 until the end of January 2020.

Strings of Autumn

The Strings of Autumn Festival is one of the youngest music projects in Prague. So what is it about? Let us employ a metaphor of a multiple-course meal served from 15 October until 13 November at various unconventional venues in the centre of Prague. The aperitif will be the performance of British singer and pianist Laura Mvula, followed by the main course served by saxophone player Charles Lloyd, jazz pianist Fred Hersch or the avant-garde group Jack Quartet. This year’s dessert will be prepared by the legendary hip-hop group De La Soul. The menu also includes another mini-festival “Strings in Film”, presenting film music of composers and musicians associated with Strings of Autumn. You make look forward to personalities such as Miles Davis, Bobby McFerrin, Phillip Glass and many others.

MARTIN’S GOOSE

Last but not least, do not forget to taste the famous St. Marin’s roast goose served with dumplings and sauerkraut. On St. Martin’s Day (11 November), you will find it in the menu of all Prague restaurants as the medieval tradition of dancing, hunting, pig-slaughtering and feasting on St. Martin’s Day is still very much alive today.

Hot summer in Prague

Most of us are excited about the arrival of summer. We count down the days until the cold and grey days without sunshine are over. Sounds familiar? You wake up in the morning but the sun is nowhere in sight, only lazily breaking the dawn. Then, the long-awaited summer arrives and the sun finally rises earlier than you do. And perhaps you start wishing that the daylight would come just a little bit later… And then it is all over again.

If you are planning a summer trip to Prague and you are in that stage when you would welcome the sun taking more time to wake up, you will definitely appreciate these few tips on where to hide from the burning heat and cool down for a bit.

There are several hidden spots not far from Prague where you can take a swim, go for a pleasant walk or enjoy a picnic in the shade.

Kosov Quarry

As this is a flooded former quarry, you will by no means feel as Mr or Mrs Chlorine after taking a dip in the crystal turquoise water. The quarry is big enough for everyone to swim comfortably without bumping into other people all the time. Access to water is a bit tricky but do not let this discourage you from the visit as there are many spots on the shore where you will have no problem getting in. The quarry has been abandoned and of course there is no mining going on but swimming there is still at your own risk. Apart from people looking for recreation, it is also a popular destination for palaeontologists and environmentalists. You can see the bottom of the lake through the crystal clear water, which is home to various species of fish, water plants and crayfish. As we all know, crayfish are a sign of clean water. This spot is simply a perfect one-day hideaway in hot days. If you are in the mood for a swim in clean cool water and a bit of an adventure, the Kosov Quarry is the place to go (“Lom Kosov” in Czech). Our tip: take your food and drinks with you since unspoilt nature kind of excludes the presence of snack bars.

Průhonice Dendrological Garden

Have you ever dreamt of a place where you could go with your loved one on a hot sunny day and enjoy a romantic picnic in the shade of a tree by a small lake, surrounded by fragrant flowers? A place where you would have privacy without having to look at another couple’s lunch? Or perhaps you are wondering whether there is a place where you could let your children play outside but still see them all the time? Or maybe a place you could visit with your friends and take a walk while having a pleasant chat, followed by a cold beer in the shade of a tree? If your answer to any of these questions was yes, then we recommend going to the Dendrological Garden in Průhonice. It covers the area of 72.8 hectares and offers nearly 8,000 species of plants. You may admire – and smell – the most beautiful collections of rhododendrons, ornamental apple trees, lilacs or spireas in the Czech Republic. You will also find beautiful climbing roses, old rose species and rose bushes as well as various pine trees and spruces in the park. It is a true paradise if you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the centre of Prague but, at the same time you, you do not want to travel far away. On top of that, you can expand your knowledge of botany as each plant is marked by its Latin name.

photo credits: https://dendrologickazahrada.cz/

Mlékojedy Beach Park

The beach park opens in mid-May and welcomes visitors throughout the whole summer. It is located on the shore of a flooded sand quarry in Mlékojedy, a tiny village near Neratovice less than 40 km from Prague. It is a great place for swimming, where you can also play beach volleyball or football and try out a climbing wall or let your kids have fun on the playground. There are many different events organised every night, including live concerts, DJs, film screenings, workshops, sports events and much more. You can sleep in a tent but there is a real possibility that all the great music will not let you close your eyes and you will simply dance all night long. Four-legged companions are welcome. Come and enjoy a party, awesome music and sports activities with your friends – all in one place!

photo credits: http://www.beachparkmlekojedy.cz/

Family Holiday in Prague

Everybody has their own idea of the perfect family holiday. These ideas might differ even within the family itself. Children usually prefer a place, where they can play and have fun all day long and – more importantly – get away from their parents for a while. Mums might dream of a place where they do not have to cook, will get a good night’s sleep, relax, maybe get a suntan and perhaps get away from their kids for some time. And most dads want to go to a place where they can watch sports events, enjoy great food and get away from everyone, just for a while. J Did we get it right…?

Before you take your family to Prague, read our holiday tips that will make everyone happy!

Mirror Maze

Have you ever imagined yourself giant-like, dwarf-like, Edward Scissorhands-like, Pinocchio-like or any other “-like”? Your kids will howl with laughter, and you will too! The Mirror Maze is indeed the place to go if you want an afternoon filled with laughing. From the outside, the maze looks like a castle and once you step in, you will get lost in endless corridors with mirror walls. Lost sight of your kid? And what is that long-nosed thing laughing its head off in the distance? Yes, you are right, that is your child… But wait, there are more! An only child turning into triplets? Everything is possible here. See for yourself what your family look would like in all shapes and sizes. But beware! Some keep their long noses even after leaving the maze…

Strahov Library

Adding an educational interlude into your holiday itinerary might be a source of dispute. However, the unique Strahov Library is both a feast for the eyes and a historical gem. It is a part of the Strahov Monastery, the oldest Premonstratensian monastery in Bohemia, founded in 1140. There are about 200,000 volumes in total in the library, including more than 3,000 manuscripts and 1,500 incunabula. The library offers a truly magical atmosphere. You can literarily feel the history breathing down your neck back with all these books and fascinating frescoes on the ceiling. Definitely something you do not want to miss on your visit.

Letní Letná

It is no easy task to describe this event, taking place in the last two weeks of August in the beautiful park Letná in Prague 7, in a few sentences. Let’s say it is a festival of new circus, acrobatics, music, dance, theatre, pantomime, fine arts, games and laughter. You can see all kinds of performances, listen to music or visit art workshops at night as well as during the day. There are also special performances for children, toys are available directly in the park and you might bump into clowns and jugglers. Naturally, you can enjoy all of this with great food and drinks. Each member of your family will find what they are looking for. Come and see for yourself at this year’s 15^th edition of this exceptional festival from 14 August until 1^st September.

Bakeries in Prague

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man,
Bake me a cake, as fast as you can;
Pat it, prick it, and mark it with B,
Put it in the oven for baby and me.

Remember kindergarten? Well, in the following bakeries, they definitely do not make cakes as fast as they can, but as best as they can.

With the arrival of spring, we are all looking forward to picnics in the parks of Prague. And there is no picnic without good bread and pastry, right? So where to grab the best bite to eat out in the sun?

From the long list of cafés, sweet shops, snack bars, bistros, delis and patisseries, we chose three very different bakeries definitely worth a visit during your stay in Prague.

In all of them, you will witness a play co-starring quality and passion for baking. Their owners prepare their baked goods themselves, so you can feast on fresh pastries directly from the oven.

NAŠE TOUSTÁRNA

Forget about shelves full of toasts and sandwiches of various shapes in “Our Toast Bar”. Goods baked in this toast bar, including delicious bread, buns or the local speciality – sweet “drawers“ – are all toast-like, at least in their shape. If you don’t see your favourite combination right away, no need to worry, the staff will prepare a special toast with only the ingredients of your choice.

We would definitely recommend the sweet “drawers” available in many different seasonal variants: chocolate, rhubarb, apple, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, cherry, banana, poppy, coconut, pear…

Address: Dělnická 1565/56, 170 00 Prague 7

ARCTIC BAKEHOUSE

Arctic? Frozen? Cold? Shake off the shivers and visit the bakery Arctic Bakehouse, run by two enthusiastic Icelanders who decided to bake Nordic specialities in Prague. Any particular reason why in Prague, you ask? Cherchez la femme, as the French say… Despite the bakery’s name, both men sweat every day to make everything ready as each piece of bread goes through their hands. They are no newbies as they have been in the business for 25 years, so they really know their stuff.

We recommend the sweet fried cinnamon or vanilla snails. But consume responsibly, cases of addiction have been reported.

Address: Újezd 11, 150 00 Malá Strana

PRAKTIKA

Czechs are known for feeling very strongly about their bread. If you ask Czech expats what they miss the most from their homeland, they will often answer bread. They might as well say bread from Praktika. Made from stone ground flour, slowly proved from sourdough and highly hydrated, local bread is truly unique.

We recommend tasting the wheat and rye bread. However, there’s a real danger that no other bread will ever be good enough for you again, so at your own risk!

Address: Bělehradská 66/990, Prague 2, 12000

Top 3 lookout points in Prague from a local’s point of view

Planning a trip to Prague, the City of a Hundred Spires and capital of a small country in the heart of Europe? Are you one of those thoroughly prepared tourists who make a detailed itinerary ahead of their journey and follow it closely during their holiday? Or rather are you one of those travellers who also plan their programme beforehand but then let themselves be carried away by chance?

Whether you belong to either of these groups, I believe that the following tips might come in handy.

I consider myself to be somewhere in between these two categories. I like to read about places of interest in the given destination and other travellers’ recommendations before the journey but once there, I also enjoy discovering interesting places by chance and with the help of the locals.

Being a Praguer born and bred, I would like to share with you the must-see lookout points in our beautiful city.

Vyšehrad Castle

Vyšehrad castle surrounded by medieval ramparts owes its charm not only to its location, being built directly on a rock overlooking the Vltava River, but also to its intriguing history, playing a key role in several Czech legends.

Vyšehrad is a must-see and a walk along the castle walls offers breathtaking views of the city and the river. You might even be lured by one of the boats in the small port bellow and let yourself be carried away on water.

The best time for a visit is just after lunch, when the sun is shining high – just find a comfy spot on the ramparts and savour the view of the sparkling river snaking through the city.

Prague Metronome

The metronome located in the park Letenské sady – a green oasis and a perfect summer chill-out place for all age categories – is also called the Pendulum or Stalin. It replaced Stalin’s memorial from the communist era, which might be the principal reason why the Pendulum has become a popular venue for music shows, theatre performances and other cultural events organised by independent artists.

It is a truly magical place, with an exceptional view of the whole of Prague – seriously – you can see the Old Town, Charles Bridge, National Theatre, Petřín, Žižkov TV Tower as well as all the other Prague towers and spires.

Our recommendation: plan your trip after the sunset. The entire city with all the lights on will lie open before you – a genuinely inspirational experience is guaranteed.

Riegrovy sady Park

The park located in the very heart of Žižkov, a part of Prague 3, also known as the “most rebellious” Prague quarter is the perfect place to chill out for a bit in a beer garden and watch the sunset.

The best view is from the meadow next to the popular beer garden and the main access path with benches. The meadow is on a moderate hill, so you will feel as in a cinema, where the film is produced by nature itself. This view of the hundred-spired Prague bathed in the sun is simply breathtaking.

In summer, there is no need to leave after the end of the show as the park turns into a lively festival of people sitting on blankets and enjoying a picnic or a refreshing drink.

Old Town Bridge Tower

You have already explored Prague through and through, gone to most Prague city tours, seen all the main historical sites including the mesmerizing view from Prague Castle, experienced the touching atmosphere of the St. Vitus Cathedral and strolled through the romantic narrow streets of Prague Venice and the Old Town… Do you still maintain the foolish view the media have been claiming for so long – namely that Paris that is the most romantic city?

Then you must have missed the sunrise or sunset from the top of one of Europe’s most beautiful medieval Gothic buildings – the Old Town Bridge Tower!

8_of_10_-_Charles_Bridge,_PRAGUE

The Old Town Bridge Tower dates back to the reign of the famous king Charles IV in the 14^th century (who allegedly designed a part of the tower himself). In my opinion, it belongs to the 10 top things to do in Prague. After a nice breakfast or dinner in one of Old Town’s pleasant restaurants or cafes (please try to be moderate with the beer this time!) and a lovely walk towards Charles Bridge, with the warm spring breeze blowing away all the smog while bringing the nice river smell and the dim light gradually giving way to the sunset, take the hand of your loved one, forget about the improper comment they made about your hair the day before and simply say a couple of nice words to create the right atmosphere. Arriving at the entrance to Charles Bridge, don’t blindly follow the unknowing crowd hurrying towards the bridge but instead, turn left to the monumental Old Town Bridge Tower. Climb to the first floor to watch an amusing cartoon about the history of Charles Bridge and then continue to the very top (for a small of fee of about 90 crowns).

Prague_-_Old_Town_Bridge_Tower

If there is anything you have been long afraid to ask your better half, now is the right time! If not, just enjoy the romance and the panoramic view of practically the whole historical heart of Prague. But also remember the 21 protesters against the Catholic Church beheaded on the Old Town Square in 1621. There are 21 white crosses on the pavement in front of the Old Town Hall in memory of the tragedy. Twelve of them had the unique opportunity to enjoy the view of Charles Bridge from the Old Town Bridge Tower for almost 10 years (imagine the smell!). If this is still not romantic enough, remember all the “criminals” (who committed petty thefts or simply had a bad face expression when in the company of a wealthy person, which was a crime serious enough) and “witches” subjected to proving their innocence in this place. Just opposite the Jesus Christ statue right below, those people were put into a small tub and thrown into the water. The tub was lifted out after ten minutes and if the person survived, they were vindicated. Indeed, life in the Lands of the Bohemian Crown, just like in most medieval societies, was harmonious and the rule was just.

View of the Powder Tower. Prague. Czech Republic, Western Europe. October 23, 2012

But do not get carried away! Disregarding the magical view and the fascinating history of this place, keep in mind the opening hours (from 10 am till 10 pm in the summer season). So don’t miss on one of the best tourist attractions in Prague!

Screen Shot 2017-05-08 at 12.18.21

We wish you a nice stay in Prague full of romance!

Prague From Stalin’s Viewpoint

You may have come across a beautiful postcard or an amazing Photoshopped picture of Prague that made you wonder where the heck the picture could have been taken?! You comfort yourself with the idea that the photographer must have suffered a lot and surely walked miles before getting to this distant secret place, or even worse, must have gone on some kind of dreary walking tour of Prague!

letná 2 — photo credits: http://poprve.blogspot.cz

However, things that seem distant and unreachable are often closer and more accessible than we think. In fact, one of the most beautiful and popular parks in Prague – Letná – is only a short ride from the city centre! You can take tram no. 15 from “Náměstí republiky” (the square with two shopping centres, the Municipal House and the Powder Tower) or tram no. 17 from “Právnická fakulta” (Faculty of Law at the riverbank at the end of the famous “Pařížská ulice” (Paris Street) full of luxury boutiques). Either way, you will get to the stop “Čechův most” in no time and then you just have to climb up the stairs.

Praha,_Holešovice,_zimní_Letná,_schodiště_k_Čechovu_mostu_II

Still having trouble finding this place? Don’t worry, the people of Prague have gone to great lengths to make it clearly visible from far away… Just look for a huge ticking triangular thing right next to the Vltava River. By now, some of you might be asking yourselves who in their right mind would build a giant metronome in the middle of a city? To satisfy your curiosity, we must look back at a chapter of Czech history, which is not a particularly happy one to recall for most Czechs.

Praha,_Holešovice,_zimní_Letná

In 1948, the Soviet Union decided that the freedom celebration party in Czechoslovakia after the Second World War had been going on for far too long, so we became a communist country. As peoples’ hearts were being injected with communist ideals, the park in Letná suddenly started feeling too empty. The Czechs were forced to show their gratitude to their Soviet liberators (just like we are grateful to our boss for letting us work overtime, thus liberating us from the chains of laziness…) and the empty Letná Park was the perfect place. As a result, since 1955 no tourists (if there were any), however bad their sense of direction was and even without a tourist map of Prague, could have possibly missed this place. There was a huge statue of Stalin, enjoying a beautiful view of Prague from the top of the Letná Park (while everyone else worked in factories). It was the biggest statue in the whole of Europe at the time (no wonder the architects committed suicide before it was officially revealed, probably due to exhaustion). What is interesting (and a bit upsetting for some) is that some of the stone used for the statue was taken from sites playing a significant role in the history of our nation (e.g. the Old Town Hall, our national hill Říp or from village Ležáky, annihilated by the Nazis along with Lidice).

Letna-park._Európa_legnagyobb,_30_méteres_Sztálin_szobra_volt_(állt_1962-ig)._Ma_egy_25_méteres,_működő_metronóm_van_a_helyén._Fortepan_7365

Fortunately (for us), Stalin’s supporters didn’t enjoy this magnificent statue for long (those who miss it can buy Chinese Pu-erh tea with a picture of Stalin and Mao Zedong in one of the many Prague tea shops). When Khrushchev took power, he openly criticized Stalin’s cult of personality and the statue was taken down (narcissism never gets fully appreciated…). After the fall of communism in 1989, when the hearts of people were being filled with money for a change, the Letná Park seemed a bit empty again. The Metronome Monument was built at exactly the same spot where Stalin’s statue used to stand. The rationale was to remind us that times can change and to warn us against repeating the mistakes of the past (anyway, there is no need for that today, since dry river beds, infertile soil and climate change can do the job very well on their own).

letna12 copy_1

So come and enjoy the view Stalin once had and see our beautiful city of Prague from a different angle. Since there are several playgrounds in the park, it is one of the things to do in Prague with kids. And don’t forget to learn from your past mistakes (especially don’t make the mistake of not having an awesome once-in-a-lifetime Prague holiday)!

For Mucha Lovers From Prague With Love

The end of 2016 meant not only the end of the year but also the end of one whole chapter – the exhibition of the Slavic Epic by Alphonse Mucha in the Prague National Gallery, which was launched in 2012. Large size paintings are making their journey to the far away Japan right now. They will be available for visitors in Tokio between March and June 2017. During the whole time of the exhibition in Prague, a total of 380 000 people paid a visit to the Slavic Epic.

For people like me, who like to boast about any world-known artist with a feeling, as if the genius belonged to our own child, the temporary removal of Slavic Epic exhibition is a highly tragic event. However it is important to keep in mind, that for Mucha lovers, Prague has still plenty to offer!

If you want to admire Mucha’s works, there are several places which are a must visit in Prague for you!

While being immersed in deep prayers in the St. Vitus Cathedral of the Prague Castle, one of the major Prague tourist attractions, your spiritual experience (somewhat obscured by a huge portion of duck with dumplings and sauerkraut accompanied by Pilsner bier which you consumed just now in one of the many local pubs) can be deepened by the very look at the glass window designed by Alphonse Mucha between the years 1928-1930, depicting the dawn of Christianity in Czech lands. The window became one of the most popular artifacts in the Cathedral. But don´t let your spiritual experience to get spoiled by the potential tour guides in your surroundings having a Prague castle tour, telling people something about murders- that is probably only our first baptized duchess Ludmila killing her daughter Drahomíra, or maybe Ludmila’s grandson king Václav being killed by his younger brother. We all have our little faults!

st-_vitus_cathedral_muchas_window — Stained-glass Window by Mucha at St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague

For those of you who would rather prefer traveling to the past instead of prayers, there is Alphonse Mucha museum in the city centre. You can even book a guided tour there (at least a week ahead). You can find there most importantly the exhibition of Mucha’s works from his Paris period. This period was the one, when Alfonse Mucha became famous artist for the first time. It was for his posters painted for a theater star Sarah Bernhardt. While admiring the works of “the king of art nouveau” there is one important detail to keep in mind. Mucha wasn´t one of those who would create their art works under the motivation in form of golden coins in their pockets and would blindly follow the customs or trends of that time. High art was available only for the richest people and therefore the highest esthetic experience of an average citizen at that time was probably the entrance sign of the factory gate, where he or she worked. Commercial posters were conventionally without any taste and kitschy (from my own experience I must admit, that for attention drawing it really works well). Mucha however, as one of the first people created posters as artistic works and the time he spent with creating them was also no different from a real painting. In this way he gave the opportunity for common people to enjoy art on the street, the kind of art for which you had to spend astronomical sums of money in that time. Some people might call this casting pearls before swine, but I am on the opposite delighted that thanks to people like Mucha, I can visit my favourite exhibition in the 21. century, because even the world leading authorities have realized, that even though a human being is only a mere workforce for them, catalyzing economic growth, in order to boost their productivity and ensure their compliance, it is necessary to fulfill their psychological needs, which were scientifically proven to exist.

Back to Mucha though. Another aspect of this extraordinary artist was his nationalism. The proof for his love of motherland is not only the Slavic Epic (he created it for 24 years), but also the decoration of the Mayor room in the Municipal house. The Municipal house was built in the year 1912. It was one of the most important buildings for the Czech nationalist movement. For the decoration of the Mayor room Mucha didn´t accept any monetary reward, as a sign of solidarity with Czech artists. In that time in most of the public places in Czech the only language was German as we were part of Austrian-Hungarian Empire. The Czech language started to fade. The Municipal house was therefore intended as a gathering place for Czech artists and all performances were conducted only in Czech language. The Municipal house played also an important role in our independence. In the year 1918 the independent Czechosklovakia was announced by our first president Tomáš Garrique Masaryk from the balcony of the Municipal house and with that event, Czech became an independent state after almost 400 years.

1280px-mucha_kouzlo_slova_slovanska_epopej_praha_6265 — The Slav Epic by Alfons Mucha

It was no coincidence that it was the Municipal house where our independent state was announced. In the place of the house used to stand the Royal palace, where the last king of Czech origin- Jiří z Poděbrad use to rule in the 15^th century, not long before Czech lands became part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. In the Municipal house decorated wholly in art nouveau style, you can enjoy the magic atmosphere of local restaurant or visit the most prominent classical music concerts in the Smetana hall of the first floor.

Smetana Hall, at the Municipal House, Prague

However even the missing Slavic Epic doesn´t leave the womb of Prague for too long. Already now the city authorities are searching for a place to exhibit Slavic Epic after its return form world tour. After all Mucha also returned to Prague in the end after his stay in France and America. It is in the human nature to thrive for exploring new worlds and broadening horizons during long journeys to tropical lands with the feeling of courageous missionary gaining spiritual knowledge. However it is only after I return home and see hundreds of cute towers under the curtain of tender mist that I realize that no matter what adventure I experience, no matter what place I go, there will always be plenty of fun things to do in Prague!

New Year’s Eve Prague Guide

Prague is a popular tourist destination to celebrate the New Year’s Eve. Prague in December is animated by colourful lights and decorations, while bars and restaurants are filled with people. Prague is well known for its lively nightlife throughout the whole year and all the more so on the New Year’s Eve!

If you are a gourmet looking for something special on this day, we recommend welcoming the New Year from the Žižkov Tower. The TV transmitter constructed between 1985 and 1992 is the highest building in Prague. Today, it serves as a luxury restaurant, café, bar and a one-room hotel. At 93 metres above the ground, you may enjoy wine degustation, molecular drinks mix, a delicious buffet and music programme. At midnight, you will watch the fireworks cover the whole city from the restaurant windows. Price: 149 EUR/person.

If you’d rather spend the New Year’s Eve in the heart of a pulsating city but still be surrounded by greenery, visit Prague and the Žofín Garden Restaurant. Located on the Slovanský Island in the middle of the Vltava River, its programme for the last evening of 2016 takes place in the neo-renaissance Žofín Palace surrounded by a park, an oasis of peace and calm in the middle of the city. The New Year’s Eve’s theme this year is CASINO, so a mobile casino will be opened the whole night. With the services of a professional croupier, the night promises a lot of fun without the risk of losing any money. You may also look forward to a music programme, carefully selected buffet menus, a welcome drink and a midnight toast. Price: 149 EUR/person.

Would you like to spend the New Year’s Eve in the city but instead of restaurants, bars and clubs, you are looking for a less conventional public space to fully take in the magic of the metropolis with your closest friends and family? Then we’ve got another tip for you!

The functionalistic National Memorial on the Vítkov Hill covered by a large park in the very centre of the city offers a unique view on the whole of Prague with all the major monuments. The memorial was built in 1929-1933 and the bronze equestrian statue of Jan Žižka on the top of the Vítkov Hill is the third largest bronze equestrian statue in the world. You will hardly find a better view on the New Year’s Eve’s sky in Prague than this one.

You may also celebrate the New Year from onboard a ship on the Vltava River. During the cruise, you will see all the Prague monuments beautifully lit at night and listen to a live jazz band. The voyage is a perfect opportunity to see the city from a different perspective. Price: 20-130 EUR (buffet and music included).

Whatever your choice of party on your holiday in Prague, be it cheap or expensive, intimate or wild, the Czech capital is the place to be at the very start of 2017.