Our Guide to Prague

History of Prague through the Centuries

10th century
- Foundations are laid to St. Vitus Rotunda and the Vyšehrad Castle.
- The Prague bishopric is founded in 973.
11th century
- Vratislav II becomes the first Czech king in 1085 but remains subordinate to the Holy Roman Empire
- and the German king.
12th century
- The first stone bridge over the Vltava, Judith Bridge, is built in 1172.
13th century
- The Old Town (Staré město) is founded in 1231.
- The Lesser Town (Malá Strana) is founded in 1257.
14th century - Prague's Golden Age
- John of Luxembourg rules the country (1310-1346).
- The Prague Castle Area (Hradčany) is founded around 1320.
- The Old Town Hall is founded in 1338.
- Judith Bridge collapses in a flood in 1342.
- Charles IV rules the country (1346-1378) and will be remembered as the most beloved Czech king.
- Prague becomes one of the most prosperous cities in Europe and the cultural capital of Central
- Europe.
- The Prague bishopric is upgraded to an archbishopric.
- Construction of St. Vitus cathedral begins.
- The New Town (Nové město) is founded in 1348.
- Charles University is established in 1348 and becomes the first university in Central Europe.
- Charles IV elected Holy Roman Emperor in 1355; Prague becomes the capital of the Holy Roman
- Empire.
- Construction of Charles Bridge begins in 1357.
15th century
- The Hussite wars are sweeping the country from 1419 to 1437 as a result of the religious conflicts
- between the Hussites and the Roman Catholic Church. Many historical artifacts are destroyed and
- the Prague Castle deteriorates.
16th century and Prague's Second Golden Age
- The reign of the Habsburg dynasty begins in 1526 and the seat of power moves to Vienna.
- Prague Castle is reconstructed in the Renaissance style and a number of recreational sites are added
- (the Royal Garden, the Belvedere, the Ballgame Hall, etc.)
- Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor, is crowned the Czech king in 1575 and moves his court back to
- Prague in 1583. Prague becomes the center of science and alchemy and earns the nickname "Magic
- Prague". Many famous scientists are attracted to Prague, such as astronomers Tycho de Brahe and
- Johannes Kepler.
17th century
- The Protestant uprising begins in 1618.
- Protestants are severely defeated in the Battle of the White Mountain (bitva na Bílé hoře) in 1620.
- The Dark Age of the Czech history (doba temna) begins.
- Prague loses importance and the Prague Castle deteriorates.
18th century
- The four independent urban areas of Prague (Old Town, Malá Strana, Hradčany, New Town) are
- united by Joseph II in 1784.
- A Czech nationalist movement called the National Revival (národní obrození) begins in 1784.
- The Czech language, culture and national identity are being brought back to life.
- Joseph II issues the Edict of Tolerance in 1781, granting political and religious rights to religious
- minorities.
19th century
- The Industrial Revolution begins.
- A railway between Vienna and Prague opens in 1845.
- The growing industry results in an increase of Prague's Czech population as people move to the city
- from the countryside.
- Josefov is added to Prague's historical center in 1850.
- The National Revival continues. Czech institutions are established to celebrate the Czech history
- and culture: the National Theater opens in 1868, the National Museum opens in 1890.
20th century
- The Austro-Hungarian empire falls in 1918 and Prague becomes the capital of independent
- Czechoslovakia.
- Prague Castle becomes the seat of the first president of Czechoslovakia, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.
- Prague becomes close with Paris between WWI and WWII.
- Prague and the rest of the country are occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II (1939-1945).
- The Prague Uprising and liberation by the Soviet Red Army end World War II in 1945.
- The Communist Party seizes power after the February 25, 1948 coup d'etat.
- Alexander Dubček, secretary of the Communist Party, attempts to create "socialism with a human
- face", culminating in the spring of 1968 ("Prague Spring").
- "Prague Spring" fails and five Warsaw Pact member countries invade Czechoslovakia on August 21,
- 1968.
- The Velvet Revolution starts in Prague on November 17, 1989 and brings an end to communism.
- Czechoslovakia becomes a democratic country.
- Václav Havel, former dissident, is elected president in the country's first democratic elections
- in January 1990.
- Czechoslovakia splits into two independent countries, Czech Republic and Slovakia on January 1,
- 1993. Prague becomes the capital of the Czech Republic.
- Václav Havel is elected first president of the Czech Republic in January 1993.
- The Czech Republic joins NATO in 1999.
- In 2002, the Czech Republic is approved to become a member of the European Union.
- The Czech Republic is accepted into the European Union on May 1, 2004.

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Key Sights

The Prague Castle

This can be classified as the main sight of the city. It is the largest ancient castle in the World according to the Guinness Book of Records, covering an area of 753473 square feet (70,000 m2) with a measure of 1870 feet (570 meter) length and 426.5 feet (130 meter) width. It is something more than a castle, though; it represents the first settlement and city boundaries since its perimeters were the original “city wall” (a palisade). The forerunner to the St. Vitus Cathedral was also constructed around this time and was a small rotunda of a similar style as the St. Martin at Vyšehrad. The original settlement was gradually redeveloped into a castle complex and the St. Vitus basilica, a much larger temple replaced the rotunda and was kept in existence until the final design came into being, namely the cathedral of today, which took approximately 600 years to build.
The castle is now the home of the president but there are several areas, which are opened for tourists such as the Vladislav Hall with a unique gothic interconnected vaulted roof of a type that is also reconstructed in the Dresden Rezidensschloss. A very interesting museum dedicated to the development of the castle complex is highly recommended; it also contains different pieces of the older structures and walls, which is a fascinating glimpse back in time.

The key sights of the castle is:

Churches

• Katedrála svatého Víta, Václava a Vojtěcha (St. Vitus Cathedral)

• Bazilika svatého Jiří (St. George's Basilica, Prague) and Klášter svatého Jiří (St. George's Convent, Prague), it is the oldest surviving church building within Prague Castle.

• Chrám Všech svatých (All Saints Church)

• Kaple svatého Kříže (Holy Cross Chapel)

The Czech Crown Jewels are the fourth oldest in Europe

Palaces

• Starý královský palác (Old Royal Palace)

• Letohrádek královny Anny (Belvedere or Royal Summer Palace)

• Lobkovický palác (Lobkowicz Palace, not to be confused with the German embassy in Malá Strana)

• Nový královský palác (New Royal Palace)

Halls

• Sloupová síň (Column Hall)
• Španělský sál (Spanish Hall), Rudolfova galerie (Rudolph's Gallery) and Rothmayerův sál (Rothmayer's Hall)
• Vladislavský sál (Vladislav Hall)

Other buildings

• Daliborka (Dalibor Tower)
• Prašná věž or Mihulka (Powder Tower or Mihulka)
• Zlatá ulička (Golden Lane)
• Purkrabství (Supreme Burgrave's House)
• Míčovna (Ball Game Hall)
• Jízdárna Pražského hradu (Riding School)
• Staré proboštství (Old Provost Residence)
• Mockerovy domy (New Provost Residence)

Gardens

Svatováclavská vinice (St. Wenceslas' Vineyard) on east

• Královská zahrada (Royal Garden)
• Zahrada Na terase Jízdárny (Riding School Terrace Garden)
• Zahrada Na Baště (The Garden on the Bastion)
• Jižní zahrady (South Gardens)
• Rajská zahrada (Paradise Garden)
• Zahrada Na Valech (Garden on the Ramparts)
• Hartigovská zahrada (The Hartig Garden)
• Jelení příkop (Deer Moat)

It is recommended to purchase a visitors pass, which include as many of the sights as possible, since it means a package price and the ability to get to see the most important parts, which is manageable during a day. One detail to note is that the Treasury of St. Vitus is a separate admission; it isn’t included in the regular passes for the rest of the sights.
The gardens are beautiful during the summer and are worth a dedicated visit since they offer a combination of style, elegance and relaxation.

Key historical dates of the castle

Year 870 – The first building on the spot is being constructed: the church of Virgin Mary (now a ruin).
Year 920 – emperor Vratislav and his son St. Wenceslas found the basilica of St. George.
Year 930 – The St. Vitus rotunda is constructed.
Year 973 – The basilica of St. George is reconstructed and enlarged.
Year 1060 – The St. Vitus rotunda is deemed too small and the construction of the St. Vitus basilica are initiated by prince Spytihněv II.
12th Century – A Romanesque royal palace is constructed close to the basilica of St. George.
14th Century – Charles IV reconstructs the palace in gothic style and strengthens the fortifications of the castle.
Year 1344 – The gothic cathedral of St. Vitus is founded on November 21; it replaced the older basilica from 1060 but will take approximately 600 years to finish.
Year 1485 – The castle had been disused after the Hussite wars but was now being reconstructed by King Ladislaus II Jagello starting this year and involved the construction of the Vladislav Hall and new defense towers on the north side.
Year 1541 – Large parts of the castle is destroyed by a disastrous fire, which initiated a reconstruction effort where renaissance buildings were added such as the Belvedere, constructed by Ferdinand I as a residence for his wife Anne. Rudolph II had his main residence here during his reign and expanded the complex with the northern wing of the palace where the Spanish Hall is located (dedicated to his art collection nowadays).
Year 1618 – The second Defenestration began the Bohemian revolt, which also resulted in damages to the castle during the resulting wars.
Year 1648 – Swedes loot a lot of works from the Rudolph II during the final part of the 30 Year War in connection with the battle of Prague.
18th Century – Empress Maria Teresa is performing the last major rebuilding of the castle.
Year 1848 – Former emperor Ferdinand I makes the castle his home after the abdication of Maria Teresa and the succession of Franz Joseph to the throne.
Year 1918 – The first president of the new Czechoslovak Republic, T.G. Masaryk make the castle his home.
Year 1929 – The St. Vitus cathedral is finished and is inaugurated in its fully constructed state on September 28.
Year 1939 – Adolf Hitler spend a night at the castle, enjoying his new possession after the country has been “handed over” to the Germans by President Emil Hacha (which suffered a heart attack during the negotiations).
Year 1941-1942 – Reinhard Heydrich is installed at the castle during the German occupation as a “Reichs Protector of Bohemia and Moravia” and is attacked by Czech resistance soldiers on May 27, 1942. He dies from his wounds a week later, which prompted the destruction of the village Lidice including the execution of its population as an act of punishment. Heydrich put the Bohemian crown on his head when he was installed at the castle; the legend states that a usurper who does this will be dead within a year, which then happened exactly as predicted.
1948 – The new communistic government is installed at the castle.
1968 – During the Prague Spring, people want to install Alexander Dubček as the new president but intervention from the Soviet Union ends the whole process of moving toward a more liberated political system.
1993 – Czechoslovakia is divided into the Czech and Slovak Republics and the castle becomes the seat for the new government; President Vaclav Havel take necessary steps for renovating the complex.

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Loreta

This cloister is one the major sights of the city and also an important place for pilgrimage and provides an interesting architectural experience with a lot of interesting interiors, artifacts and paintings, including fascinating pieces on the renovation of them. The initial construction started in 1626 and the Holy Hut was blessed on March 31, 1631. The cloister parts were added during the following fifty years and a second floor was added in 1740. The architect Giovanni Orsi designs the complex in Italian style. The peal, which consists of 30 smaller and larger bells, is one of the most famous parts of Loreta and it has been heard regularly since August 15, 1695. A clockmaker, Peter Neumann created it in 1694.
The main exhibitions are dedicated to treasury and its preservation; special exhibitions are also held.

Address:
Loretánské nám.7,  118 00 Praha 1 – Hradčany
tel./fax: +420-220-516-740
http://loreta.cz/en/index.htm
loreta@loreta.cz

Opening Hours

WINTER PERIOD (1st November - 31st March): Mon - Sun 9:30 - 12:15 AM and 1:00 - 4:00 PM

SUMMER PERIOD (1st April - 31st October): Mon - Sun 9:00 - 12:15 AM and 1:00 - 5:00 PM

Directions:

Tram 22 to the Pohorelec stop

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A visit to this park is highly recommended. It offers excellent views of the city and also a couple of interesting attractions that were part of the 1891 Industrial Exhibition. The recommended itinerary is to take the funicular from Újezd to the top-level station and to walk up to the Petřínská Rozhledna (Petřin Tower), which is a small copy of the Eiffel Tower. It has a very similar design but is just 200 feet/60 meters high; the interesting detail is that the main viewing platform is on the same level over the sea as is Parisian forerunner due to the height of the hill itself (800 feet/240 meters). The tower is recently restored back to its original glory and provides two ways of reaching the top: by stairs or elevator. A small café is available at the entrance level.
A short walk from the tower is the Mirror Hall, which offer a fun walk through the different mirrored corridors with an ending at the diorama over the battle of Prague and the Charles Bridge with the Swedes during the 30 Year War. It is a fascinating item to look at and provide a decent glimpse of the dramatic history of the city.

There is also an observatory located close to the funicular station, which also mark the direction for a long and relaxing park walk. By following the path past it, it is possible to walk through the area while gradually descending. Some interesting and little known ruins exist along this path; one of them is a former restaurant, which were a part of the Industrial Exhibition but later disused. There are other ruins close by, also with a similar connection and they provide a nice opportunity for urban exploration as a nice addition to the visit.

The southbound trail, which leads to those ruined buildings, ends at the Ethnographical Museum and a visit there paired with something to eat and drink at the café make a nice grand finale to the walk.
Another place related to the Exhibition is the Nebozízek Restaurant to the left of the middle station on the Funicular. It provide a great view of the city and is worth a visit for the historical purpose but also because the building is intimate itself.  
There is another restaurant accessible from this station, namely the Petřin Terrace, which can be reached by walking to the right from the funicular. It is a summertime place to have a beer and something to eat while enjoying the panoramic view of the city.

Directions: Tram 6, 9, 12, 20 or 22 to the Újezd stop.

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The Vítkov Hill

The most eye-catching part of this hill is the statue of Jan Žižka on his horse, overlooking the city toward the Prague Castle. It is an important historical monument since he won the battle against the Holy Roman Empire and Hungary in 1420 on the very hill, which came to bear his name. This achievement was honored with the third largest statue of the type, which was inaugurated in 1950 and placed on this very prominent position. The recognition of his victory was also the reason behind the renaming of Vinohradý 1 to Žižkov in 1877. An initiative to construct the monument began in 1881 and was led by Karel Hartig, the first mayor of the town and the process continued until World War 1, when the plans were abandoned for the time being. After the war, a competition was held regarding the design of the resistance monument and the winning design called for two buildings, which were accepted and the construction began in 1928 when president T. G. Masaryk put the first corner stone in place. The upper building behind the statue later became the mausoleum of Klement Gottwald and acted as such between 1953-1962. Nowadays, it contains the National Memorial and the tomb of the Unknown Soldier together with other exhibitions and were totally renovated and reconstructed between 2000-2009. The lower building houses the Museum of Military History. The Vítkov park is a nice place to walk even if it is much smaller than Petřin and it offers great views over the city from a very different angle. The shape of the hill makes it a good option to take the streetcar to Biskupcova and then walk from there and then descend the steps to the Museum of Military History and then continue back to the city center, which is close. Directions: Tram 9, 10, 11 or 16 to Biskupcova         Back to top   Kampa Island It is highly recommended to seek out this calm and romantic place of relaxation, which is the small Kampa Island, located below the Charles Bridge. Despite its proximity to the crowded areas, there is nothing of the sort here; the ambiance is soothing instead. A tour of the city center and a walk over the bridge toward the Mala Straná is a typical itinerary that would benefit from a detour here. The small island offers a park, wonderful views of the Charles Bridge and also a small water powered mill. A few restaurants and cafes are available and offer a calmer atmosphere compared to other alternatives in the area. Directions: Cross the Charles Bridge and take the stairs down to Kampa on the Mala Straná side of the river.

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This museum offers an impressive collection of musical instruments including very unique pianos with dual keyboards and a large amount of different unique violins. There are also interesting exhibits of the development of waltz and other traditional styles from the Austrian-Hungarian era beside Czech folklore and its evolution. The location is convenient in Malá Straná and is easy to reach by streetcar.

Address: Karmelitská 2/4,
118 00 Praha 1
http://www.nm.cz/Hlavni-strana/Visit-Us/Czech-Museum-of-Music.html?xSET=lang&xLANG=2

Opening Hours from 4. June, 2012

Monday: 10.00 AM-6.00 PM

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday - Sunday: 10.00 AM-6.00 PM

Directions: Subway A, station Malostranská. Tram 12, 20, 22, or 23, station Hellichova.

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Everyone interested in the history of this great composer must visit this beautiful, small museum housed in a very elegant villa from the early 18th Century designed by the Czech architect Kilián Ignác Diezenhofer. The house has no particular connection to Dvořák himself but is a great environment where his instruments, including his Bösendorfer piano is on display together with original scripts and his history of life. There is a small gift shop selling excellent Czech recordings of his music together with books and other items such as decorative artifacts.
Outside of the museum is a small garden with statues from the workshop of Matyáš Bernard Braun.

Address: Ke Karlovu 20, 120 00 Praha 2

Opening Hours:

Monday: closed
Tuesday: 10 AM–1.30 PM and 2.00 PM–5.00 PM
Wednesday: 10 AM–1.30 PM and 2.00 PM–5.00 PM
Thursday: 10 AM–1.30 PM and 2.00 PM–5.00 PM
Friday: 10 AM–1.30 PM and 2.00 PM–5.00 PM
Saturday: 10 AM–1.30 PM and 2.00 PM–5.00 PM

Sunday: 10 AM-1:30 PM and 2.00 PM-5.00 PM

Directions: Subway C, station I.P. Pavlova. Tram 4, 6, 10, 22, or 23, stop I.P. Pavlova or Štěpánská.

E-mail: a_dvorak_museum@nm.cz

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This museum, dedicated to the other main composer of the country, is located in a very beautiful Neo-Renaissance building, originally housing the Old Town Water Works. The location is stunning, immediate at the Charles Bridge with a fantastic view over the Vltava River and the castle. The architectural conception of the structure is enhanced by rich sgraffito decoration designed by Mikoláš Aleš and František Ženíšek (important Czech painters of the 19th century) related to the battles of citizens of Prague with the Swedes on the Charles Bridge in 1648.

The permanent exhibition from 1998 is covering the whole life of Smetana and includes many interesting artifacts such as original instruments, musical notes, documents, personal artifacts and also a section dedicated to his years in Sweden. Another interesting feature is the possibility to listen to his music, which can be played on visitor discretion.

Address: Novotného lávka 1, 110 00 Praha 1

http://www.nm.cz/Hlavni-strana/Visit-Us/Bedrich-Smetana-Museum.html?xSET=lang&xLANG=2

Opening Hours:

Wednesday–Monday: 10 AM–5 PM
Tuesday: closed

Directions: Subway A, station Staroměstská, Tram 17.

E-mail: b_smetana_muzeum@nm.cz

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Everyone interested in Czech folklore and culture from Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia is recommended to make a visit here. The museum is located in the beautiful Pálac Kinských in the Kinských Garden and offers a very rich collection of clothing, artifacts, tools, paintings and more showcasing the typical life of people and how the national culture evolved.  Many beautiful folkloristic dresses are on display and a small, romantic café with garden view is available, which is a great place to unwind after a walk in the Petřin Park paired with the visit to the museum.
Attached to the museum but located in the park is a very unique wooden church dedicated to the Saint Archangel Michael constructed in the 17th century, which was moved from Ukraine in 1929 and reassembled in Prague. Its architecture is very typical for the period but has also some similarities to Scandinavian wooden churches like those existing in Norway today (the stave churches of Heddal and Gol).

Address: Kinsky Folly, Kinského zahrada 98, 150 00 Praha 5

http://www.nm.cz/Hlavni-strana/Visit-Us/Ethnographical-Museum-Musaion.html

Opening hours:
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday–Sunday: 10 AM–6 PM

Directions: Tram 6, 9, 12, 20, station Švandovo divadlo, or bus 176 stop Kobrova

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The Prague City Museum provides a very interesting collection of artifacts, models and exhibitions covering the whole development of the city. A very important highlight is the 3D movie that is showing the city how it looked like before the reconstruction of the Jewish quarters in the 19th Century. There is a very detailed model of the city showing the former layout with all buildings, which has been digitized and transformed into street level videos, thus enabling a unique insight in the city structure and a fascinating comparison with the layout of today. The redesign process involved the creation of the Pařišzka Street and the construction of new buildings and the introduction of an airier streetscape in the area. The whole project was heavily debated back then and the model and 3D movie is a very important historical document, which enable people to go back in time and study the before and after moments.
A visit to the museum is not complete without seeing this part of the exhibition.

Address: Na Poříčí 52, 180 00 Prague 8

http://en.muzeumprahy.cz/main-building/

Opening Hours:
Daily except Mondays 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
The last Wednesday in the month extended: open until 8 p.m.

Directions: Metro line B, C, tram: 8, 24, 26, 3, automobile: 133, 207, 135
bus station Florenc, train Station Masarykovo nádraží

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The National Technical Museum offers a great exhibition of everything from cars to TV broadcast equipment to printing presses and also mining machinery including a complete iron and ore mine. There are also sections on aviation and shipping, which include a rare model of the German liner Imperator (later to become Berengaria for Cunard Line).
One of the special items on display is the train of the Kaiser Franz Joseph and also a BMW 003 jet engine from WW2 together with Tatra T77 and T87 streamline cars of the 30s. The room dedicated to the development of printing is a must-see since it offer a complete collection of equipment for all parts of the process from manual type-setting to computer based direct-to-plate preparation.
Different special exhibitions are often in place, providing a deeper insight in particular subjects. The museum was closed for renovation during a long time but is now open again with an improved layout and more space, making it easier to study and photograph the different artifacts.

Address: Kostelní 42, 170 78 Prague 7

http://www.ntm.cz/

Opening hours:
Monday:                        Closed
Tuesday - Friday - 9 am - 5.30 pm
Saturday - Sunday: 10 am - 6 pm

Directions: Take the streetcar 1, 8, 12, 25 and 26 to the Kamenicka stop followed by a short walk to the museum

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The National Museum is currently closed for renovations but special exhibitions are provided in the former government palace to the left the main building at Vaclavské Naměstí. The regular exhibitions are not available here due to the space constraints; only special exhibitions are offered.

Directions: Take the Metro, line A or C to the Muzeum stop. Streetcar line 11 stops at Vaclavské Naměstí behind the museum.

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The aviation museum, located in Kbely outside of Prague is a must for everyone interested in aircraft history and development. One of the key attractions is the finely renovated Tupolev Tu-104A OK-LDA from ČSA, which is an important part of the development of the jet age. The national airline of Czech Republic was the only export customer for this airliner, which was the only passenger jet in service between 1956-1958. The museum also offer an interesting collection of military aircrafts such as the MiG-15 and an Avia CS-92, a license built version of the Messerschmitt Me-262, one of the first jet fighters in the world. The civilian collection consists of different general aviation aircraft beside the aforementioned Tu-104A and also memorabilia and models of ČSA aircrafts. A rare model of the Avia Av-14 Super – a license built Ilyushin Il-14 with pressurized cabin is also on display.

Address: ul. Mladoboleslavská, Praha 9 – Kbely

http://www.vhu.cz/english-summary/

Opening Hours:

The museum is open in the summer season, i.e. from May till October, every day except Monday from 10.00 AM to 6 PM

Directions: From Metro line B, Palmovka station: Bus 185
From Metro line B, Vysočanska station: Bus 375
From Metro line C, Letňany: Bus 185, 280, 259, 302, 375, 376
Take the bus to the stop “Letecké museum”. Use the “stop” button since the bus only makes requested stops here.

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This museum, located in the former Střešovice depot offers an impressive collection of streetcars and buses representing the whole history of the transportation system in Prague. The first electric streetcars were introduced in 1899-1901 followed by bus service in 1908 and the different eras from the beginnings to later models represented by the Tatra T1, T2 and T3 is being shown. It is worth to mention the US connections with those cars since the three Tatra types are based on the PCC design; it was in 1951 the first T1 were delivered to the public transport company of Prague and the era of modern, efficient streetcar service began.
Some of the highlights of the museum include the very elegant saloon cars from the beginning of the 1900s with “maximum traction” bogies and a lot of equipment, controllers, radios and models and also a unique Tatra T400 trolley bus representing the era of such service in the city.

Address: Patočkova 4, Prague 6

http://www.dpp.cz/en/urban-mass-transit-museum/

Directions: Take the streetcar 1,2 or 18 to the Vozovna Střešovice stop (direction Petřiny).

Opening hours:

The museum is open from the 28th March to the 17th November 2015 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 9 AM to 5 PM

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The Public Transport Museum offers this nostalgic streetcar line during the summer, operating with old, traditional cars of the ČKD make. The line is excellent for touristic purposes since it travels from the museum to Výštavistě Holesovice with a route bringing it through the old town such as Malostranské Naměstí and to the newer areas such as Vaclavské Naměstí (Wenceslas Square) on its way to the terminal station. Regular transit tickets are not valid on the 91 line; tickets are purchased onboard the streetcar.
This line offers an excellent way of getting a great overview of the city and is highly recommended.

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This is a newly opened museum fully dedicated to the development of cooking and cuisine with a focus on the domestic but also global sector. It contains a lot of interesting memorabilia and kitchenware, utensils and interesting explanations of everything. Different realistic environments of time typical kitchens and also breweries are created and there are a small gift shop selling books about Czech cooking and cuisine.
It is a unique experience and close to the hotels as well.

Address: Jakubská 12, 110 00 Praha 1, Old Town

http://www.muzeumgastronomie.cz/en/home

Directions: Nearest stop is Náměstí Republiky: Metro B, Tram 5, 8, 24, 26, Bus 207.

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The Praha Expo 58 former restaurant is well worth seeing for those who appreciate elegant modern and futuristic architecture as well as a great view of the city. The building was originally constructed at the World Expo 1958 in Brussels and won prices for both design and cuisine, which also helped to establish the then Czechoslovakia on the world map. The establishment was dismantled and moved to the Letná park in Prague where it became the Expo 58 Restaurant complete with an outdoor terrace offering an excellent panoramic view during the summer.
The restaurant was later gradually sinking into disrepair and was finally severely damaged in a fire, which brought about its closure. An Austrian company later bought the disused building and renovated the exterior and interior as an office, which means availability for exterior viewing but not dining. Despite this adaptive reuse, the building itself is well worth seeing and offers a very delicate modern styling.
The recommendation is to walk through the Letná Park and to make a detour to the Expo 58, which is located at the eastern end of the grounds.
The Museum of Gastronomy provide more background information and old photographs of the Expo 58 restaurant and is described in a separate entry.

Address: Bruselský pavilon - restaurace, Letenské sady 1500/80, Praha 7

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Prague offer excellent shopping choices and the selection have been through large improvements during the last two decades. A key difference between now and then is the rise of large shopping malls and hypermarkets, which transformed the market and selection of goods completely.

Modern retailing has a long history, though since the first Art Deco styled department store, Bilá Labút opened. This establishment marked the entry into a new era of shopping for the city and survived the system changes in 1948 and 1990. Two new stores were opened at the Vaclavské Naměstí to supplement it, namely “Dům Mody” (House of Clothing) and “Dům Potravin” (House of Food), which became main providers of those two categories of goods during the Communist era.

Later, a very centrally located department store, Máj, opened at Narodní Třida and became one of the last retailers opened by the government. This particular building was also center for a controversy about naming streetcar stops after businesses and a big question mark was put up about the name “Narodní Tesco” (the Máj was purchased by the British Tesco chain after the velvet revolution).

A Swedish designed department store also opened in the 70s, Kotva. This building is a very modernistic design of a very typical styling of the era, partly reminiscent of some suburban designs of Stockholm and provided a “Western Style” retail experience to the population and it is still up and running.

During this time, Prague were supplied through small stores, which also resulted in an under dimensioned retail system, which then became a huge market enabler later on. What happened during the period of 1990-2015 is almost a miracle; huge hypermarkets opened up in the different suburbs and shopping malls came into being at an astonishing rate, while Western brands flowed into the market and transformed the whole landscape. One example of this is the Nový Smíchov mall, which was constructed where the old Tatra/Ringhoffer streetcar and railway rolling stock factory were located. As late as the early 1990s, the vehicle production was going on before everything got closed down and later demolished, leaving a huge open space in a pretty central location. It took a couple of years to get all contracts sorted out but then, construction began and the large mall complete with a French Carrefour hypermarket opened its doors in 2001 (this chain abandoned the country shortly after and Tesco took over their stores, some of them under still construction).

One of the largest retail projects in the city was then devised in Letňany and started out with the Tesco Hypermarket as phase 1, followed by a swimming bath/fitness center and a mall with 206 shops, movie theatre, food court and also apartment renovation and new construction. An extension of the Metro line C then put all of this within convenient reaches and reduced the commuting times noticeably. Today, this complex is well worth a visit since it offers excellent shopping and entertainment possibilities paired with attractive pricing.

One product, which is very popular among tourists are fine Bohemian crystal items and the city center offer a lot of stores selling everything related to decent prices. It is interesting to note that the Prague 1 area around the Old Town Square is so well covered by those retailers that one can be seen in almost any direction.

The best way of finding a great selection of products is to move out of the most touristic parts of the city center, which requires just a short walk to a place such as the Palladium mall or Vaclavské Naměstí where the options appear. There are two types of store common in the pure tourist area, namely money exchange and crystal/souvenirs, which makes the detour worthwhile.

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This is the former Máj department store, mentioned before. It is recently renovated and offers a wide selection of products within different categories such as clothing, electronics, crystal, shoes and more. Many famous brands are represented. A Tesco supermarket is located in the basement, which provide a decent selection of groceries. Even if the architecture is quite bland, it is an interesting insight in how retail was conceived in the 80s.

Address: Národní třída 26, Prague 1

http://www.mystores.cz/en

Directions: Metro B to Národní třída or streetcar 6, 9, 18 or 22.

Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 8 AM–9 PM/Tesco Supermarket 7 AM-9 PM, Sun 9 AM- 8 PM/Tesco Supermarket 8 AM-8 PM

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This is the mall constructed on the spot for the Tatra/Ringhoffer streetcar/railway car manufacturer and a section of the former assembly hall remains as a memory. It is the largest shopping center with a location close to the city center and offer a lot of different stores selling everything from clothing to computers, including electronic supermarkets such as the Czech analogues to Best Buy (Electroworld and Datart Megastore). A two-floor Tesco hypermarket is a key attraction of the mall and it offers a big selection of groceries and other everyday products to great prices. There is a multiplex cinema available in the center and a couple of eateries.

Address: Plzeňská, 150 00 Praha 5

http://www.novysmichov.eu/en/

Opening Hours:

Shops - Monday-Sunday: 9.00 AM - 9.00 PM

Hypermarket Tesco - Monday-Sunday: 6.00 AM - 12.00 PM

Restaurants and Entertainment - Monday-Sunday: 11.00 AM - 11.00 PM

Multicinema Cinema City Nový Smíchov - Monday-Friday 11.30 AM - 1.00 AM
Saturday-Sunday 9.30 AM - 1.00 AM

Directions: By Metro - Route B, Metro station Anděl

By Tram - Links 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 20

By Bus - Links 120, 137, 167, 191 and 231

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This can be categorized as the mall of the malls in the city and is highly recommended for any shopper. It is also an interesting study in suburban development since it was initiated as a multi-stage project where the Tesco Hypermarket and recreation center with pool came into existence as the first parts. The task was to supply the suburbs of Prosek and Letňany with a decent shopping experience since there were a lack of options but it turned into a total redevelopment, which also involved housing and became an initiator of apartment complex renovation in the areas as well.

Nowadays, it provides approximately 206 different shops covering all the famous brands and product areas together with a modern and elegant environment. A decent multiplex cinema and food court is available; this place was originally equipped with a prepaid card payment system, which was unique at its inception but later replaced. It is possible to have a decent lunch for a very attractive price of around $3-5 including something to drink, which is also a way of getting in touch with the non-touristic pricing level of the city.

Address: Veselská 663, Praha 9

http://www.oc-letnany.cz/

Opening Hours:

Daily 10.00 AM – 9.00 PM
Tesco Hypermarket NONSTOP

Directions: Metro C to Letňany, OCL shuttle bus departs 4-5 times per hour

Metro B to Palmovka, bus 140 to the Tupolevova stop

Metro B to Vysočanská or Skalka, bus 195 to the Tupolevova stop

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This is the most recent mall opened and it is located at the Náměstí Republiky, opposite of Kotva and close to the Obecní Dum (Municipal Hall). The exterior consists of beautifully renovated old buildings, which make it a fascinating blend of old and new. The inside is modern and airy; with a lot of open spaces and atriums while the store selection is decent and cover most things. One convenient detail with the mall is that the restaurants are located on the top floor, making it easy to find and choose what to eat. There is no regular food court available; table service establishments are the norm.

Address: Náměstí Republiky 1, Praha 1

http://www.palladiumpraha.cz/en/

Opening Hours:

Shopping gallery
Sun-Wed   09-21
Thur-Sat    09-22
Restaurants
Mon-Sun    8-23
Supermarket
Mon-Sun   07-22

Directions: Metro B to Náměstí Republiky or Tram 5, 8, 14 or 91 to either Náměstí Republiky stop, Dlouhá třída stop

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It is necessary to mention this department store due to its historical importance. Inaugurated in 1939, it was the arrival of modern retailing to the city and the Art Deco design with elegant rotating swans (one on top, two above the entrance level) is a spectacular and quite romantic sight during the nights. Unfortunately, most of the spaces are empty nowadays so the shopping experience isn’t what it used to be but the historical importance makes it worth to visit. A Lidl low-cost supermarket is located in the building, offering their own store brand products of good quality to low prices.

There has been some dismissal of the Bilá Labútas a “communistic” establishment, which isn’t a totally accurate statement. It rather provide a glimpse into a bygone era and how modern retailing was conceived in the 30s since many parts are original from that time, including the exterior with its Art Deco front windows.

Address: Na Poříčí 23, Praha 1

http://www.bilalabut.cz/

Opening Hours:

Monday-Friday 9.00 AM – 8.00 PM
Saturday 9.00 AM – 6.00 PM
Sunday 10 AM – 6 PM

Directions: Metro B to Náměstí Republiky, tram 3, 8 or 24 to the Bilá Labút stop

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This is a former market for fresh produce and meat built in a Spanish style but now converted into a small local shopping mall complete with its own supermarket at the basement. It provides a nice upscale experience with some exclusive shops but is also a testament to different architectural influences in the city. The focus is on furniture and design after the recent renovation in 2013.

Address: Vinohradska 1200/50, 120 00 Praha 2

http://pavilon.cz/cs/

Opening Hours:

Shops:
Mon-Fri: 10-19.30
Sat: 10-18
Sun: closed
Cafe Pavilon:
Mon-Fri: 10-18
Sat: 10-18
Sun: closed
Activacek:
Mon-Fri: 9-19.30
Sat: 9-18
Sun: closed
Supermarket Albert:
Mon-Fri: 7-21
Sat: 7-21
Sun: 7-21
On Sunday, the entrance is opened only from street Vinohradska.

Directions: Metro B to Náměstí Míru

Tram 10 or 16 to the Šumavská stop

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Atrium (formerly Palac) Flora is a large mall with a large selection of shops and restaurants including more specialized categories such as audio gear that are not found in “every mall”. A highlight of this location is an IMAX cinema, which itself is worth a visit as it is quite unique in Prague.

Address: Vinohradská 2828/151, 130 00 Praha 3

http://www.atrium-flora.cz/en

Opening Hours:

Shopping Gallery - Daily 8.00 AM - midnight

Supermarket Albert - Daily 7.00 AM - midnight

Shops - Mo - Sa 9.00 AM - 9 PM
Su 10.00 AM - 9 PM

Directions:

Metro A to Flóra
Tram 5, 10, 11 or 16 – the stop is right at the entrance

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This large complex is located at the western terminus of Metro line B and provide different stores such as a Tesco Hypermarket, IKEA and other large chains. It represented the introduction of large scale retailing in the city and the beginning of a new era when it was opened but it lacks the refinement of the Letňany Mall. Despite a few years between inaugurations, there are noticeable differences in layout and general structure of the two Tesco’s, which also represents the evolution of consumer preferences and maturity toward the concepts.

Metropole is a large mall located at the metro station itself and provide the traditional mix of brand stores and a multiplex movie theater. It can be a convenient place for last minute shopping before heading to the airport (via bus line 100) even if it is smaller than some of the other malls mentioned. A fitness center is also provided as part of the services.

Address: Skandinávská 15a, 155 00 Praha 5

http://www.prague.avion.cz/

http://www.metropole.cz/en/index.html

Opening Hours (Avion):

Shopping Center: 9.00 AM – 9.00 PM
IKEA: 9.00 AM – 9.00 PM
TESCO Extra: nonstop
Beckiland: 1.00 PM – 8.00 PM
McDonald’s: 7.00 AM – 11.00 PM
Starbucks: 8.00 AM – 9.00 PM
Way24: nonstop
Creative World: 9.00 AM – 6.00 PM

Opening Hours (Metropole):

Centrum: 7.00 AM-Midnight
Shops: 10.00 AM – 9.00 PM
Albert hypermarket: 7.00 AM – 10.00 PM

Directions: Metro B to Zlíčin, walking distance to Metropole, shuttle bus every 3-5 minutes to Avion Shopping Park.

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This is a huge record/movie store located at the Koruna Palace at Vaclavské Naměstí and has become a more unique place now due to the development of online services. Their selection of classical music and Czech folk/pop artists is excellent and a great place to visit for finding typical pieces of the country. They are also providing a decent selection of Czech movies, some of them with English subtitles.

Address: Václavské náměstí 846/1 11000 Praha 1

http://www.bontonland.cz/praha-music-megastore/

Opening Hours:

Mo-Fri: 9.00 AM – 8.00 PM
Sa: 10.00 AM – 8.00 PM
Su: 10.00 AM – 8.00 PM

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Founded in 1993, this bookstore is the largest one specialized in English language books, which make it a must for visitors. Approximately 10 000 titles are available from many different categories and there is also a used section. Since most other stores are dedicated to Czech language literature, The Globe is an interesting alternative and well worth the visit. They are also offering one of the largest children book collections of Prague, which is another reason to check them out.

Address: Pštrossova 6, Prague 1, 110 00

http://www.globebookstore.cz/

Opening Hours:

Monday-Friday: 10.00 AM - 12.00 PM

Saturday-Sunday: 09.30 AM - 01.00 AM

Directions: Tram 14 to Myslíkova

For exquisite French dining, this is the place to visit. The restaurant offers a beautiful Art Nouveau interior and excellent dishes in a very elegant and sophisticated atmosphere, which also makes it suitable for a romantic dinner as well. The service is excellent and the value for the money great. It is something that must be experienced at least once during a visit to the city.

The prestigious guide Gault & Millau awarded it for the second time this year. Francouska restaurace got 2 cook´s caps, it means that one of the most influential guides in the world got to the restaurant 15 points from 20 possible.

Address: Náměstí Republiky 5, 110 00, Praha 1

http://www.francouzskarestaurace.cz/en/

Opening Hours:

12 PM – 11 PM

Directions: Metro B to Náměstí Republiky or tram 5, 8, 14 or 91 to the Náměstí Republiky stop

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For a typical Czech lunch or dining experience in a traditional environment, this is the place to visit. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal with a typical beer hall feeling, which is supplemented by carefully prepared dishes representing the typical “home cooking” style of the national cuisine. A recommendation can be to have a lunch here and then dinner at the Francouska Restaurace one floor above.

Address: Náměstí Republiky 5, 110 00, Praha 1

http://www.plzenskarestaurace.cz/

Opening Hours:

11:30 AM – 11 PM

Directions: Metro B to Náměstí Republiky or tram 5, 8, 14 or 91 to the Náměstí Republiky stop

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Opposite to the Francouska Restaurace is the café, which offer an elegant interior and sophisticated experience with a tart trolley moving around with excellent tarts and cookies while Czech dishes are available from the menu. It is a great place to stop by for a lunch or a coffee during a walk through the city center.

Address: Náměstí Republiky 5, 110 00, Praha 1

http://www.kavarnaod.cz/kavarna-obecni-dum-2/

Opening Hours:

7:30 AM – 11 PM

Directions: Metro B to Náměstí Republiky or tram 5, 8, 14 or 91 to the Náměstí Republiky stop

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This is an excellent café with a wonderful view over the Národní Divadlo (National Theater) or the Vltava River with the castle, perfect for stopping by for a coffee or something to eat. A great selection of cookies, pastries and typical Czech dishes are available and the ambiance is refined elegance with piano music, yet informal. It is a great way to experience a very different café style and culture, with similarities to the Wiener analogue.

Address: Smetanovo nábřeží 1012/2, Praha 1, 110 00

http://www.cafeslavia.cz/index.php?id_page=uvod&id_rest=slavia&id_lang=en

Opening Hours:

Mo - Fri: 8.00 AM – 12.00 PM
Sa - Su: 9.00 AM – 12.00 PM

Directions: Tram 6, 9, 18, 22 or 17 to the Národní Divadlo stop

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Prague has one the best public transit systems in the world when it comes to reliability and efficiency. The main mode of transportation is the Metro with three lines (A, B and C), the streetcars and buses. For touristic purposes, the streetcars are the most common way of moving around and one of the best lines for sightseeing is number 22 that operates through the Mala Straná and the castle on its way through the center. Many of the key attractions are located along its route, which make it convenient.

One of the best things to do is to ride different streetcar lines in order to see how the city looks like outside of the typical central areas, which also allows for some spectacular views such as those offered by line 10 and 16 between the Biskupcova stop and Palmovka metro/streetcar station. On this section, a wonderful panoramic view is provided, which stretches to the Prague castle and the Petřin hill.

Another view with some environments looking like they were taken from a fairy tale can be experienced by taking the streetcar up to Barrandov, the film industry part of the city, which also provide elegant villas even if a lot of apartment blocks has been added during the 70s and 80s.

Prague offers many different environments and a sightseeing trip with one of the streetcar lines give a great glimpse into the everyday life of the people. It is also recommended to stop by a restaurant mainly frequented by locals on such a trip in order to experience a different atmosphere and style of life than what the city center provides.

The Metro provides fast transportation in the city but is strictly underground; no over ground lines exists beside the sections on the B line in a glassed tube after Nove Butovice to Lužiny and Rajská Zahrada to Černý Most. Despite this, it is worth to take since the stations offer a modern styling and a clean environment. The first line was the C between Florenc and Kačerov, which were inaugurated in 1972. Its station are built with high quality materials such as marble and give an insight in the achievement made, especially since it also resulted in the creation of the bridge over Nusle and heavy cut and cover work in the city center. One less fortunate factor was the introduction of a highway straight through the city but that mistake is on its way of being rectified with the brand new Blanka Tunel, which will change the environment for the better.

For tourists, the A line is most common since it provide transit between the central areas such as Vaclavské Naměstí and Mala Straná; it is a popular route to the airport as well (by taking the Metro to Dejvická and bus 119 onward).

The bus network is excellent and dedicated to suburban service; the streetcar is the main mode of transportation in the central areas even if a few bus routes such as 135 and 176 operate there as well.

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Ticketing

Tickets are to be purchased before boarding a vehicle or entering the designated area of the Metro stations. Single ride tickets (60/90 minutes validity) can be purchased through vending machines, kiosks and Trafika stores (tobacco stores) and other places and are fine for limited rides but day cards (1, 3 or 5 days) are usually a better option for the stay since they can give a decent saving when a couple of rides are taken.

A few years ago, the prices were increased dramatically and the previous 7- and 15-day cards were removed and replaced with the new 3- and 5-day ones. At the same time, prices went up and the new 5-day card is more expensive than the old 15-day; something that make it interesting to purchase a monthly card instead. Such a card can be obtained through the customer service of DP Praha and give unlimited rides for 30 days at a price just marginally higher than the 5-day card. If a stay exceeds five days, it make sense to get one of those, especially if we are talking about ten days or similar, where two 5-day cards would be needed for full coverage.

Frequent ticket controls are being performed and the fines are steep; make sure to have a ticket and buy a card preferably since those needs just one validation, which means less risk for missed punching and extra surcharges in case an inspection is being performed.

One very important thing to do is to get a route map with re-routings. Track works occur, especially during the summer and means streetcar line changes and also the introduction of special operation with numbers in the 30 series. Those changes are announced on the DPP website, in the Prague Post English language newspapers and at the stops and customer service centers. Updated maps showing the operational network with re-routings are always available at the Metro stations with customer service kiosks and are a great help since it can be confusing otherwise, especially when a special one replaces a regular line.

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Pricing

Prague is a city with two distinct price levels: touristic pricing and local pricing and the difference between them is substantial. One example is restaurants where typical establishments for foreigners can charge 300-800 CZK for a meal while a similar styled local place can provide an identical dinner for 150-250 CZK. In some restaurants, a main course can be ordered for around 80-100 CZK compared to the 300-500 CZK it can cost at the tourist place.

Restaurants in Prague 1 are mostly geared toward foreigners and charge high prices. The value proposition can be discussed and a better option is to look for upscale environments targeted toward the wealthier local population instead since they give better cuisine to similar prices. Examples of such places are the Francouska Restaurace Art Nouveau or La Perle de Prague (in the Ginger & Fred/Dancing House) or the fine Italian Ostroff restaurant.

By going to those, a luxurious dinner can be experienced to prices that provide value for the money. Regular meals can be enjoyed at local restaurants and those can be found not far from the touristic areas. By moving from Prague 1 to Prague 2 (Vinohrady), many decent restaurants with local customers can be found and they offer decent food and a non-touristic environment, thus providing a glimpse of the everyday life of people.

Similar pricing strategies can be found at the museums; the more specialized ones are less frequented by tourists and offer lower admission fees than the Prague Castle as one typical example. This also means that a lot of culture can be experienced during a stay, while offering a great value as well.

In the case of shopping, a special situation has been created after the velvet revolution. Almost all shops in the Prague 1 area are strictly geared toward tourists and the selection is a bit monotheistic with Change and Bohemia Crystal/Souvenirs almost everywhere. Other products such as clothing, groceries, books, music, furniture and everything else are to be found outside of this area; it is necessary to move to Vaclavské Naměstí and Na Příkopě in order to start finding the variation.

Before the system change, other shops such as groceries and hardware stores were available in the touristic area but were forced out in order to make space for all Change and Bohemia Crystal/Souvenirs. An example of this was the U Rotta building where a hardware store existed for a very long time before it was converted into a department store for crystal products.

Because of this, a visit to the shopping malls and exploration of the other parts of the city is highly recommended since it paints a completely different picture, both of the selection of goods but also the general price level, which is attractive when moving to different areas. Even for typical gifts such as crystal, it is worth to detour out of Prague 1 and to check the malls since the selection is decent paired with a better value proposition.

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Safety

Prague is a safe city, generally speaking even if crimes occur. In the case of visitors, the typical things to look for are pickpocketing, which can happen on the Metro or the streetcars. It is always recommended to keep the wallet safe, especially when traveling through the tourist areas. If there is special call-outs onboard the streetcars (beside the regular announcements of the next stop and so on, be on the watch since those usually is a heads up about the need for increased attention). Those announcements are usually made on the line 22 from Malostranská up to Karlovo Naměstí since it is a section often frequented by visitors.

It is also important to avoid black cabs or to take cabs near the Charles Bridge and similar locations. Licensed AAA cabs or hotel cars are to be used rather than “nameless” ones, which can be operated with very high fares by shady drivers. It is better to arrange transport from the hotel rather than trying to take the “first” cab on the street.

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Finding your way around

It is recommended to use GPS and a mobile device with appropriate informational apps in order to navigate the city. Some museums provide apps as well, which can give a better understanding of the different artifacts and also stimulate further studies before or after the visit. Prague is very pedestrian friendly in general but some parts of the old town can be quite tricky to navigate, which make a digital map helpful.

Another thing that is highly recommended is to use apps that use the camera of the device in order to identify and provide information about different buildings, which can be a fun and interesting way of learning more by seeing and doing. 

Enjoy Prague!

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The Prague Guide by Matts Lindmark