The Czech capital, called “golden Prague”, is a city in which the atmosphere of the Middle Ages is especially strong, because there are a lot of not just architectural monuments of that era, but entire areas that have almost completely preserved their former appearance. Whoever has been here at least once is fascinated by this city forever. What is worth seeing in Prague in 2 days on your own in order to get a better idea of it? We offer you the following properties.

1 day

To get a more complete picture of the Czech capital, it is better to start the tour from the place where the beautiful Prague began.

Prague Castle

The castle complex, spread out on the left bank of the Vltava, is the most grandiose old fortress (9th century), with the largest residence in the world, listed in the Guinness list. On an area of 7 hectares, there are 3 courtyards with many magnificent palaces and majestic temples of the past. The gate leading to the (1st) Court of Honor is a true work of art, decorated with graceful statues of titans. In this courtyard you can see the luxurious royal Halls, including the Throne and Spanish. The 2nd courtyard is famous for the chapel of the Holy Cross, the Art Gallery with a rich collection of masterpieces of painting, the Imperial stable.

Very interesting to visit in the third courtyard is the Cathedral of St. Vitus (11th century), in whose walls the crowning of Czech rulers and their subsequent burials took place. This honor was also awarded to the Prague archbishops. The magnificent architectural and religious monument of the Gothic style still continues to amaze with its majestic halls, watchtowers and unique design. Passing through the square St. George, you find yourself on the Golden Lane – a charming authentic corner of the Middle Ages, with tiny charming houses of the 16th century. According to legend, alchemists lived in them, turning stones into gold. There is a wonderful toy museum, an exhibition hall in the former burgomaster's residence, which are worth a visit.

Gradchanskaya Square

It is impossible not to visit the famous Hradcany Square, which can be reached through the Western Gate of the Prague Castle. You will be amazed by the beautiful palaces that surround the square on all sides; A plague column with figures of the apostles, with a sculpture of the Virgin Mary; green velvet lawns and dimensions of the old square. The Salm Palace is named after the place of residence of its owner and founder, Vilém from Salm. Another owner, having bought a neoclassical building with Empire decorations, connected it with a neighboring building, and a grandiose palace complex was formed. It now houses an impressive 19th-century art exhibition.

The Schwarzenberg Palace of the 16th century, whose Renaissance facade is decorated in the straffito style, is a real decoration of the square. It's just as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. The original interior paintings have been preserved only on the 3rd floor. The Tuscan Palace is an incredibly beautiful monument of classical Roman baroque architecture, whose facade is crowned with the family coats of arms of the counts of Tuscany, and the top of the building is crowned with 7 allegorical sculptures of the “free arts”. All 6 palaces of the square with luxurious facades will make an indelible impression.

Observation deck of the Petrin Tower

If you want to see the entire Czech capital at once, please visit the observation deck of the famous Petřín Tower, built in 1891 on the occasion of the International Exhibition. Its creators, impressed by Eiffel's masterpiece, decided to create something similar at home. The result is a smaller analogue of the Eiffel Tower, located on Petrin Hill and at the same height with it (324 m above sea level).

Among the intricate metal structures there are 2 observation platforms, the upper one is located at a height. 55 m. Having climbed it by elevator (for 60 kroons) or on foot along the 299 steps of the stairs, you can admire the picturesque surroundings of Prague and its famous sights to your heart's content. Going down to the 1st floor, you can relax in a small cozy cafe with a cup of tea or coffee, buy national souvenirs in a shop (located nearby), visit the mini-museum of the popular literary hero of the Czech Republic – Jan Tsimrman. Entrance to the tower costs 120 kroons, children and citizens of preferential categories – 65 kroons.

Nerudova street

To feel the atmosphere of ancient Prague even more, you should definitely visit the street. Nerudov in the district of Mala Strana. This street with preserved buildings of the 15th-17th centuries can be called an open-air museum, in which literally every facade is a kind of architectural monument of different styles: baroque, renaissance, gothic. A characteristic feature in this corner of the Middle Ages was the absence of license plates on the houses – instead of them, the family coats of arms of the owners were placed. Gothic arches, rare door handles and massive decorations, unusually shaped castles amaze the imagination and take you back to the distant past. You can't help but admire the beautiful example of Renaissance architecture – the house “At the Golden Cup”, which was once home to a famous jeweler, whose profession is marked with the sign of a goblet of gold.

The house “At Two Suns”, where the poet Jan Neruda lived and worked for 53 years, will be of interest for its appearance, with a memorial plaque depicting a young man holding a shield with a Masonic sign in his hand. Other authentic buildings deserve attention. For example, “At the White Swan” is a palace mansion, the facade of which is decorated in the Baroque style, with a relief image of a white swan above the door. Walking along the entire “Nerudova Street” to the Old Town Square, you will see near the Town Hall a true masterpiece of baroque architecture – the Church of St. Nicholas.

Church of St. Nicholas

The magnificent domed cathedral, now owned by the Hussites, has a very complex, long history and is an unsurpassed example of religious architecture. Erected in the 17th century as a symbol of Catholicism, the cathedral has undergone many reconstructions, served as an Orthodox and Catholic church, a grain warehouse, and survived years of neglect and devastation.

After the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the cathedral was given to the Orthodox inhabitants of the city, and its resurrection began, in which the Orthodox churches of Europe and Russia took part. The restored temple was consecrated on August 16, 1874 – the parishioners were literally blinded by its external and internal beauty.

You can endlessly admire the magnificent baroque decorations and statues of saints on the facade, the beautiful frescoes of the inner vaults and the altar, the amazing chandelier in the form of a royal crown (a gift from Alexander II). The temple has unique acoustics, which makes it possible to hold concerts of organ and classical music in it. It is known that during a visit to Prague by W. A. Mozart, he played the organ of the church and recognized its acoustics as impeccable.

Having gained spirituality and aesthetics, it's time to think about daily bread. If you don't want to waste time on a full meal, you can have a bite to eat with the famous Prague “trandlicks” with coffee – all this is sold anywhere in the square. A complex lunch in the national style will be offered to you in any cafe in the nearest alleys. After refreshing, walk along with the crowd to the oldest bridge in Prague – Karlov.

Prague: hop-on hop-off bus, ticket for 24 or 48 hours – 20€
45-minute sightseeing cruise to Chertovka canal – 14€
Prague tourist card for 2, 3 or 4 days – 58€
50-minute river cruise – 13€
New Year's Eve dinner cruise with fireworks – 160€
Folklore dinner with music and dance – 57€
Hot air balloon flight over Prague – 199€

The Charles Bridge

This is another symbol of the Middle Ages, a large-scale miracle of bridge-building architecture (its length is 516 meters wide. 10 meters), a kind of open-air museum. The rich past of the bridge can be described for a long time, but the most important thing is that it has been standing since the 14th century, gradually acquiring towers and sculptures (there are 30 of them). It is constantly crowded with people. Now the Charles Bridge is only pedestrian, it is the main Prague attraction, where creative people gather at any time of the year: musicians, artists, craftsmen. Here you can buy not only small trinkets, but also genuine works of art.

Looking at the magnificent statues of Czech saints, you can visually get acquainted with the history of the national religion, see familiar and new names, and feel the spirit of united Orthodoxy. A romantic legend is associated with the statue of the holy martyr J. Nepomnutsky, who was drowned in the Vltava by order of the king. If you touch the foot of the sculpture and make wishes, they will surely come true – this is the essence of the legend. You can experience the result for yourself.

Old Town Square

Having crossed the bridge, having enjoyed all its delights, you will find yourself on the Old Town Square – the heart of the district of Stara Mesta. Here in its center in 1915 (the 500th anniversary of the execution) a monument was erected to the famous leader of the Hussites, the national hero Jan Huska. On the masterpiece of sculptural architecture, Yang is depicted with his associates and emigrants who were forced to leave the country after the defeat of the uprising. The monument touches with its sculptures and the content of the phrases carved on the pedestal.

Of undoubted interest here is the Old Town Hall, with a 56-meter tower and the Astronomical Clock placed on it. In the square adjacent to it, the names of 27 executed leaders of the Hussite uprising are engraved on the sidewalk. Visit to the Hussite Church of St. Mikulas (northern part) will add positive emotions and strong impressions, as will a visit to the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, located in front of the Tyn School.
You will not be able to pass by the magnificent Kinsky Palace, where the future Nobel Prize winner Berta Kinsky was born and raised. All the buildings surrounding the square have an interesting history and are monuments of medieval architecture.

powder gate

From the Old Town Square to the New Town are the Powder Gates, located on the square. Republic. They began to be built at the end of the 15th century. and were supposed to serve as the 13th entrance to the Old City, but remained unfinished for a long time. Gunpowder was stored in the tower under a temporary roof, so the whole structure became known as the “Powder Gate” or “Powder Tower” – an architectural gem. In the 1919s, the tower was reconstructed in neo-Gothic style, as a result of which all decorations and details that did not correspond to Gothic were removed.

Undoubtedly, you will be interested in the walls of the tower, on which there are sculptures of crowned heads, Czech saints, builders, guards and angels – the history of Prague in faces. In general, there are many interesting details here: at the entrance to the Powder Tower there is a warrior in a red robe with an ax, inviting you to enter, inside there are models of armor, against which tourists will be photographed. If you go up to the observation deck of the 2nd floor (for this you need to overcome 186 steps of a spiral staircase), you can admire the irresistible view of Prague from a height.

Wenceslas Square

Walk from the Powder Gate through the Fruit Market (just treat yourself to fruit), bypassing the Theater of the Estates, and exit to the main square of the New Town – Wenceslas Square. “Vaclavak”, as Praguers call the square, is more like a wide boulevard, beginning with an equestrian statue of St. Wenceslas is a place of meetings and rendezvous. The former horse market has turned into a place where vibrant life boils here day and night. A series of endless shop and restaurant signs, beer bars, crowds of tourists staring at the sights, which abound on Wenceslas. You will immediately notice the neo-Renaissance building of the National Museum, in front of it is the statue of Wenceslas. If time permits and there is a desire, you can go inside to get at least a superficial idea of the scale of the expositions.

The building of the Korona Palace, which is now a commercial and office center, will interest you with its corner tower with a luminous crown and allegorical sculptures. Beautiful modern palaces “Europe” and “Astra”, the ancient buildings of the hotel “Ambassador”, pharmacies “Adam”, Peterka's house in the style of Prague Art Nouveau and other architectural monuments will be remembered for a long time for their extraordinary views. At the end of the 1st day, you can enjoy dinner in one of the cozy cafes in the square, if you don't save money. You can find quite a few budget eateries outside the square, where delicious healthy food is prepared.

In Prague, tourism.com.de recommends the following hotels in the center:

2 day

The second day will not be as eventful, but no less interesting and surprising, because you will see the places where Prague began.

Visegrad

The legendary district of the Czech capital, located on a rocky hill near the banks of the Vltava, Vysehrad, filled to the brim with legends and fairy tales, grew out of a fortress that arose in the 10th century. Representatives of the first princely dynasty settled here, including the famous princess Libushe. Then other noble families built their residences in this place, churches appeared, Vysehrad became both a royal residence and a symbol of the national history of the Czech Republic. Entering the Visegrad Gate, you will immediately understand that Visegrad is the center of architectural and historical monuments. It is impossible not to notice the high towers of the Peter and Paul Cathedral, striking with its well-preserved appearance and magnificent interior decoration.

It is impossible not to admire the oldest (10th century) building of the Romanesque style – the Rotunda of St. Martin and a later building (18th century) of the Chapel of the Virgin Mary, in front of which the Plague Column is installed as a sign of mournful memory of the thousands of people who died from the plague. Outwardly unsightly attraction – the Devil's Column will be of interest to many legends and beliefs about its origin. The Visegrad casemates will amaze the imagination with their mysterious corridors and sculptural compositions, as well as the Visegrad cemetery “Slavin” with the famous names of prominent personalities of the Czech Republic.

Emmaus Monastery

In the same district of Prague 2, you should definitely visit the Emausky Monastery. A building striking from above with its Art Nouveau spiers among other buildings, Emmaus Monastery was founded by Charles IV as a monastery for the Order of Benedict in the place where Jesus is said to have preached to his disciples on the road to Emmaus. The purpose of the monastery was to maintain the traditions of Cyril and Methodius and, in general, the Old Slavonic language, therefore the second name of the monastery is “Na Slovaneh”.

It seems that the very space in front of the ancient monastery is saturated with the atmosphere of Czech history, a special spiritual energy emanating from the Chapel of Saints Cosmas and Damian, located at the entrance. A visit to the Church of the Virgin Mary in Slovaneh and the entire monastery will make a deep impression. Here you will see the rarest examples of Gothic painting – frescoes with biblical scenes, acquainting parishioners with the history of the Christian religion, and other rare artifacts. And now the Benedictine monastery continues to be a link between the two branches of the Orthodox religion, which is very important especially in our turbulent times.

Charles Square

Continuing to walk along the district of Nove mesto (Prague 2), from the monastery we go to the largest (among 27) historical square, founded by Charles 4 in 1348 on the site of the market. All who come here are immediately fascinated by the magnificent English-style park, with beautiful monuments and sculptures, numerous historical and religious buildings on all sides of the square. Here you will see sculptural images of Czech poets and writers, public and political figures and great scientists.

Everyone will be interested in an unusual monument in the form of a fountain with a Plague Column in the center, on which a divine statue of St. Joseph. You will not pass by the original building of the Town Hall, overlooking the square with a central 3-storey wing. If you go inside the 1st floor, you will find yourself in a Gothic style hall, where marriages take place today. It would be unforgivable not to see the famous House of Faust, completely covered with a veil of mysterious mysticism, which tells about the departure of the hero Goethe to hell from here. The basis of the legends was living in the house of alchemists, doctors and naturalists.

Brewery House

After getting acquainted with the spiritual and cultural values of Prague, you can taste carnal joys as a tasting of the Czech branded beer, which is popular all over the world. To do this, it is worth visiting the beer house “Pivovarsky Dom” near Wenceslas Square, at the intersection of Yechnaya and Lipovaya streets. Today, a solid 7-storey building, built instead of an old house, belongs to a research institute. A mini-brewery opened here on the 1st floor in the 90s of the 20th century. and gained incredible popularity among Praguers and tourists, becoming the best institution of its kind. You will be amazed by the variety of beers, among which Štjepan is considered elite.

Here you can try for the first time dessert beer with banana, cherry, coffee flavors; champagne, chopped and even … nettle. All this will be presented to you on a kind of carousel – a wooden turntable that rotates 8 glasses with different beers. There is a “carousel” with stronger drinks. Beer is served with delicious national dishes and snacks, including the famous pork knee. You will spend unforgettable minutes here, watching the brewing process, looking at ancient artifacts.

Embankment of the Vltava

After a hearty dinner with a beer tasting, it is best to take a stroll along the Vltava embankment with stunningly beautiful views of ancient palaces and mansions reflected in the waters of the river. It is impossible “in one sitting” to bypass all the embankments, all 18 bridges, but to see the architectural miracle – the “Dancing House”, located at the intersection of the street. Resslovaya and the embankment, should certainly. This architectural masterpiece of deconstructivism of the 90s of the last century, represented by 2 cylindrical towers, personifies a dancing couple. The metaphorical brainchild of Milunich and Gehry was popularly nicknamed “Ginger and Fred” (famous American dancers). On both sides of the Vltava, you will see the significant historical buildings of Prague: the Insurance Academy (government house), Rudolfinum (house of art), Clementinum, St. Salvator and many other interesting objects.

Jewish Quarter

Turning from the embankment onto the street. Parisian, you will come to the “Josefov” or “Jewish Quarter”, founded in the 12th century. by order of King Joseph. Turning off the street Parisian on Shiroku, you will come to the Spanish Synagogue, where at the entrance there is a monument to the writer and philosopher Kafka in mystical and allegorical execution. The unusual image will attract attention, make you think and search in memory for what you know about this figure.

The beautiful Moorish-style synagogue building itself is also interesting, and its insides will dazzle with the brilliance of gold jewelry, the brightness of enamel, the beauty of stucco, and the quirkiness of patterns. There is a functioning Old New Synagogue here, whose symbol is the mythical clay man Golem, supposedly revived by the Jew Levi.
Interesting objects will be the Jewish Town Hall, the High, the Pinkas Synagogue and the Old Jewish Cemetery, where the expressive Memorial of the “Victims of the Holocaust” was created. At the exit from the cemetery, you will see the luxurious building of the Maisel Synagogue, and then you can go to the Golem restaurant to not only enjoy delicious food, but also see the autographs of famous visitors on the walls.

Prague can be explored for months and years, but what you see in 2 days will give you a succinct idea of the amazing fairy-tale city, the city-museum.