Travel: City Break - Everything you need to know about Prague
Hi everyone,
This is my first blog post written as a wife! It sounds so weird being called somebody's wife and calling Warren a husband is even more "weird"! To be honest I don't think it's hit me yet or I just haven't registered it. I will be doing a full post on the wedding with more pictures as I have been bombarded with questions to show a picture of my dress in full. Patience ladies & gents! We have just been in such a lovely bubble since we got married that I wanted it to last a little longer. Anyway going back to today's post. We went to Prague for 5 days after the wedding, just to get away from everyone and spend time just the two of us and basically just to de-stress after the wedding. This was not our honeymoon - we will be going on our proper honeymoon in September.
We decided on Prague as it's quite affordable and it's very similar to the city where I am from in Poland - Kraków and also neither of us have been there before.
CURRENCY
Despite being in European Union Czech Republic uses Czech Korunas as local currency. €1 equals to approx. 26 Korunas. Many places will accept Euro as payment, however change will be given in Korunas (and you will lose out on the exchange).
GETTING TO & FROM THE AIRPORT
To city center:
I have done some research online as to how to get around to and from the airport to the city center. Prague is very like large cities in Poland and public transport is very reliable (luckily). From the airport you take a bus no 119 to the last stop - Nadrazi Veleslavin. Once you get off the bus you will need to switch to a Green Line Metro (otherwise also known as Metro A) and get off at stop called Mustek (8th stop). Mustek is the most central Metro Stop.
TICKETS: You can purchase tickets at the airport. There is a yellow ticket machine next to the airport exit. You have to buy a 90 minutes ticket to cover your entire journey. This ticket costs 32 Korunas = €1.50 and the machine accepts cash as well as cards.
To the airport:
To get to the airport you can either revert back the journey mentioned above or 2 stops further from Mustek you can go into the Metro Stop called Namesti Republiky (this stop is right beside the Municipal House) and take the Yellow Metro to stop called Zlicin - get off there and take the bus 100.
Ticket rules apply same as above.
ACCOMMODATION:
We have stayed in a hotel called Hotel Motel One. It's a German group of hotels and as a hotelier myself I could not fault the place. (I don't think I have EVER said that about a hotel). It was quite affordable for 4 nights we stayed there. It's very modern & clean and their attention to detail is superb! There was not one mark on the wall or carpet or anywhere for that matter in our room. No signs of wear & tear anywhere which is basically unheard of in hotels. However I wouldn't be myself if I didn't point out something about the room. There is no lotion in the room and no phone (which I found a little strange). As it's a budget hotel iron & ironing board is available once requested from reception. The hotel offers breakfast for €9.50 per person, however there is no restaurant in the hotel, the only thing available are light snacks and sandwiches.It's not an issue as Prague offers wide variety of affordable restaurants.
The location is perfect - less than 10 minutes slow walk to city center.
THINGS TO DO/POINTS OF INTEREST:
Old Town Square & The Astronomical Clock
The focal point for all the tourists and where you will find cafes which will be the most expensive ones we have come across in Prague. It's also where you will find an Irish Bar (cough cough) called Caffertys. Located in the square is the Astronomical Clock which is just beautiful and a cathedral which according to Warren looks like the Hogwarts School when lit up at night.
You will also find couple of stalls that are selling cheap beer; local produce and grilled sausages which are just yummy. The sausages cost 110 Korunas (approximately €4.50).
City Hall
Minutes from the old town square you will find a local City Hall. Now, the building does not stand out and there's nothing culturally interesting about it however they do have the most amazing lift (yes, lift) which does not stop and does not have doors so you need to hop on and off in time to get to the floor you're looking for. It's called the Paternoster Lift. I have linked a Youtube Video showing this here (forward to 1:38 to see it).
Charles Bridge
This is one of the biggest points of interest in Prague. This bridge has 30 statues representing different things. There is one statue in particular 8th on the right (where you will see the biggest crowds) of St. John of Nepomuk. He was a priest under King Venceslas IV and he was thrown off the bridge for not revealing Queen's confessions to the King. If you touch the falling priest on the statue (you will know where as it's quite polished and different color by now from all the touching) it should bring you good luck & it means you will one day return to Prague. On the entrance of the bridge there is a tower for which you can buy tickets and see incredible views of the bridge as a whole and some of the city. Not many people know but there is also exhibition downstairs which will show all of the things found in the water whilst doing renovation work in the late 90s.
John Lennon Wall
On the other side of the Charles Bridge you will find the John Lennon Wall. It's absolutely incredible and you can also write your name on it and leave your mark there :)
Roesel Bar
Also on the other side of the Charles Bridge you will find a lovely hidden bar called Roesel Bar and you will find an organic beer that will only cost you 0.70c! It's quirky and one of those cheap, hidden places on the main street tourists don't really know about.
From the Charles Bridge you can go to the right where you will find Prague Castle or left and you will get to Petri Hill with the Petri Lookout Tower.
Prague Castle
Prague Castle is definitely one of the most expensive admissions in Prague, however still affordable. By most expensive I mean more than anything else but the admission is 350 Korunas which is approximately €14.00 so it will not break your bank. There are many things to see within the grounds of the castle. One of my favorite things was The Golden Lane. It's full of tiny cottage like shops which once where houses and some of them are left intact to show how people in that village lived. It's essentially a little village of people who were able to live on the castle grounds such as local priest and fortune teller.
Petri Hill/ Gardens/ Lookout Tower
This is the place where view of the Prague is incredible. Admission to Petri Lookout Tower with admission to the Mirror Maze is 200 Korunas per person - approximately €8.00.
I personally would not recommend the mirror maze as it was not great and it was very small. On the other hand the Petri Lookout Tower shows the most amazing views overlooking the city center - perfect for Instagram Snap :)
NH Hotel Cable Cart Lift
This is for those who like to explore somethings different from your usual touristy stuff. NH hotel is located in Smichov - area of the city which is approximately 35 minutes walk from city center or a 10 minute ride in a local tram. This hotel has a lift that turns out to be a cable cart and it will bring you to their terrace restaurant and also views of the city are incredible from there. It is free to use if you are up for a trek outside the center.
FOOD
For those (who like myself) like to try traditional food of the country they visit here are some of the most common and delicious things to get.
Goulasz
Soup Served in carved out bread and it's absolutely delicious. Most of the restaurants offer Goulasz so it's easily accessible.
Trdelnik
Cinnamon Treat available at many many stalls across city center. They come with ice cream, nutella so definitely a sugar bomb! Prices start at 60 Korunas which is around €3.00.
Chlebicky
Chlebicky are little bread slices with many different savory toppings and they are to die for. Super affordable - available in Ovocny Svetzor which is just off Wenceslav Square. There is also a hidden garden next to it right in the city center. Perfect place to sit out and enjoy Chlebicky which is exactly what I did! Ovocny Svetzor is also know for the best ice cream in town if you are after something sweet, however be prepared to stand in line for awhile.
A lot of these things I learned from the Honest Guide and it really made my experience in Prague so different than to what I would experience if I went down the typical tourist route.
Please let me know if there is anything you have done in Prague I have missed and I'd be delighted to know if any of you do use some of these tips for your own trip.
I hope you liked this (lengthy) post & until the next time.
As Always,
Lots of Love,
Joanna xo