A Weekend in Prague

Often called the city of a thousand squires, or even the Paris of Eastern Europe, Prague is breathtakingly gorgeous. It is easy to see why people fall in love with this beautiful old city. Prague’s historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and there is no shortage of great restaurants, museums, galleries and world class shopping. Plus, the beer is cheaper than water!

TRAVEL

Prague is just over 4 hours from Vienna by train, on the same train that goes to Brno. You will arrive at Praha hlavní nádraží, which is walking distance from the old town square and most of the hotels.

EAT

Sansho  |  I read about Sansho on Taste of Prague, and went for dinner our first night in town. It was fabulous. The kind of meal that you are still thinking about weeks later. The kind of meal that you want to travel back to Prague for. The dinner is a set menu, and when you sit down your server asks if you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions. Then the dishes just start coming out. I was a little nervous about this, as I’m not big on surprises. But I can honestly say that we loved every single dish. My favorites were the salmon sashimi, smoked trout salad, soft shell crab sliders, and the pork belly with watermelon and hoisin sauce. So, so good! Be sure to get reservations in advance for dinner.

George Prime Steak  |  A very nice, upscale steak restaurant, boasting USDA quality beef. The interior is dark, moody, and perfectly minimal. I had the filet mignon wrapped in bacon with a blue cheese crust and balsamic reduction. A bit pricey, but delicious. This is a great choice for a date night, not so great for kids.

Café Savoy  |  An excellent brunch spot, but what I really loved were the unique homemade lemonade flavors. There were at least 5 that I wanted to try! If you have kids, take them downstairs to watch the bakers making the cakes and pastries through a window near the door to the restrooms.

Sisters  |  This little cafe serves a dozen different types of chlebíčky, classic Czech open-faced sandwiches. They are quite small, which is perfect if you just want a little snack, or if you want to be able to try a few different flavors. If you go, try the ham and potato salad!

Naše Maso  |  Right next to Sisters, this is an insanely popular butcher shop. The meat is the highest quality, sustainably raised meat, all from local Czech farmers. In addition to buying a cut of meat to prepare at home, you can chose something and they will cook it for you to eat there.

SLEEP

Boscolo Prague  |  After such a wonderful experience at the Boscolo Budapest, I was so excited to stay at the Boscolo Prague. The location is wonderful, right around the corner from the main train station, and a short walk to the old town square. It is significantly smaller than the Boscolo Budapest, and lacks the grandeur. But just like in the Boscolo Budapest, it is beautiful, the staff is beyond friendly and gracious, and I would definitely stay there again.

Check the latest prices on:  Booking  |  Hotels.com  |  Agoda

Read reviews on:  TripAdvisor

SEE & DO

Prague Castle Pražský Hrad  |  You could spend an entire day exploring the castle and grounds. According to the Guiness Book of World Records, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world. But if you don’t have all day, I recommend at least climbing to the top of the St. Vitus Cathedral Bell Tower. It is a bit of a workout, with 287 steps, but the amazing views are well worth it.

Old Town Hall & Clock Tower  |  I read somewhere not to bother with the astronomical clock show that happens on the hour, every hour. But we were there just a few minutes before the top of the hour, so I decided to see for myself what all the hype was about. The clock itself is beautiful. But the show…let’s just say you aren’t missing anything if you go see the clock at a less crowded time. Although the clock show was a bit disappointing, the view from the top of the clock tower is not! Definitely go inside the Old Town Hall and to the top of the clock tower.

Vltava River & Bridges  |  Although the Charles Bridge gets all the glory, there are numerous bridges in Prague, and many of them are just as beautiful, and much less crowded with tourists than the Charles Bridge. Spend a few hours walking along the river and admire the architecture of all of Prague’s stunning bridges.

Ride the Metro  |  Using public transportation is one of the best ways to really experience a city. Once you go underground into any of the Prague Metro stations you will feel immediately transported back in time to Communist Czechoslovakia. Skip the taxis and ride the metro!

SHOP

Papelote  |  I could have spent all day in this beautiful store. Their motto is “body and soul of paper” and you can feel that as you enter the store. It is filled with unique notebooks, journals, fabric book covers, and more, all made in the Czech Republic from eco friendly materials. But my favorite item they make is a brightly colored elastic band that stretches over a notebook and holds pens or pencils. I bought a bunch of them and my girls love them as much as I do!

Lavmi  |  An amazing selection of Czech-designed wallpaper, textiles, lighting, clocks and kids stuff. This is the place to go for stylish home decor items.

MORE

A few books to read before you go: The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Mulan Kundera, and anything by Franz Kafka.

Read more about the Czech Republic.

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