Prague sights
The best sights to see in Prague. Top 17 most popular sights in Prague with descriptions and location on the map.
Prague is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved cities of Europe. The capital of the Czech Republic has dozens of outstanding sights, among which stands out the medieval Charles Bridge. Charming narrow streets and ancient squares of Prague are dotted with beautiful examples of Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance and Art Nouveau that create an interesting contrast and take you into the atmosphere of different historical periods.
Prague is often called the “City of a Hundred Spires”. To understand this, you need to look at its panorama, which is adorned by the spires of ancient churches and towers. Prague is a city of architectural gems, ancient monuments of history, great gastronomy and atmosphere. Our list of the best sights will only convince you of that and let you know what to see in Prague!
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Kutná Hora, Sternberg Castle and the famous Kostnice
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Map of Prague with sights
Map of Prague showing all the most significant sights with descriptions in Russian
What to see in Prague in 1 – 2 days
List of the best sights and interesting places in Prague with descriptions and pictures.
Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge (Czech: Karlův most) is a beautiful stone bridge over the Vltava river connecting the historical districts of Malá Strana and Staré Mesto. It is one of the main symbols of Prague and probably the most beautiful stone bridge in the world. It came into use already in 1380. According to legend, the first stone was laid in 1357 by Charles IV – the Holy Roman Emperor. For a long time, Charles Bridge linked Stare Mesto and Malá Strana and served as a passage for kings and delegations to Prague Castle. The entrance to the bridge is decorated on both sides by magnificent Gothic bridge towers: the Old Town Tower (Staroměstská mostecká věž) and the Malostranská mostecká věž.
According to legend the first stone was laid in 1357 by Charles IV, the Holy Roman Emperor. For a long time, Charles Bridge linked Stare Mesto and Malá Strana and served as a passage for kings and delegations to Prague Castle. The entrance to the bridge is decorated on both sides by magnificent Gothic bridge towers: the Old Town Tower (Staroměstská mostecká věž) and the Malostranská mostecká věž.
Prague Castle
Prague Castle
Prague Castle is a magnificent ancient fortress which is one of the symbols of Prague. It is a complex of ancient buildings, sacral monuments and fortifications stretching from Petřín Hill to the streets of Malá Strana. Prague Castle is the largest castle in the world and one of the most important historical monuments in the Czech Republic.
The most interesting sights of Prague Castle:
St. Vitus, Václav and Vojtěch Cathedral
The Katedrála svatého Víta, Václava a Vojtěcha (St. Vitus Cathedral) is a gem of Gothic architecture. This magnificent church is located at Prague Castle and reads as the main sacral monument in Prague. The construction of St. Vitus Cathedral began in 1344 and was not completed until 1929. This church is one of the major long-term construction projects in Europe. St. Vitus Cathedral is the national shrine of the Czech Republic. It is the burial place of the Czech kings, and also houses the royal regalia.
Golden Lane
Golden Lane is a small alley in Prague Castle. It is a place with a magnificent historical atmosphere, built with small two-story houses built into the arches of the fortress wall. The Golden Lane was formed at the end of the 16th century. It is believed that alchemists lived here.
Vysehrad
Vysehrad
Vysehrad is a historical monument in the south of Prague, situated on a high hill above the Vltava River. It is an ancient fortress built in the 10th century. The heyday of Vysehrad was in the 11th century, when the royal residence was moved here from Prague Castle. During that period, the hilltop was surrounded by powerful walls, fragments of which have survived until today. There are several interesting sights here: the new basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, the remains of an ancient Romanesque basilica, the Romanesque rotunda of St. Martin, the Visehrad Cemetery (the burial place of famous Czech celebrities).
Sights of Vysehrad:
Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
Saints Peter and Paul Basilica is the main architectural dominant feature of Vysehrad and one of the most beautiful churches in Prague. This magnificent neo-Gothic cathedral was built in the 11th century. You can get inside for free and admire its interior, as well as numerous relics. The Church of Saints Peter and Paul is a three-nave pseudo-basilica in neo-Gothic style with chapels and sacristies in the side aisles, a deep closed presbytery and two symmetrical towers on the sides of the main façade.
St. Martin’s Rotunda
The Rotunda of St. Martin is an ancient building located in Vysehrad. It is considered one of the oldest buildings in Prague.
Old Town Square
Old Town Square
Old Town Square is one of the oldest squares in Prague and the heart of the historical Stare Mesto district. It is one of the most charming places in the Czech capital, constantly crowded with tourists and surrounded by magnificent sights as well as beautiful old buildings of different historical epochs and styles of architecture.
Old Town Hall
Old Town Hall is one of the most important historical buildings in Prague and a popular landmark on Old Town Square. The town hall was founded in 1338. The oldest preserved part is the magnificent Gothic tower with a unique astronomical clock known as the Orloj, which from 9 am to 11 pm shows a small show.
The Church of Our Lady before Týn (Týn Church)
The Church of Our Lady before Týn (Týn Church)
Týn Church of Our Lady before Týn is a religious sacral monument in Prague, one of the most impressive Gothic buildings in Europe and a landmark of Old Town Square. Its pointed spires pierce the sky and the church dominates the ancient square, hidden behind facades of houses, but at the same time being its most visible part. The Týn Church is a vast gallery of Gothic, Renaissance and early Baroque architecture, and its organ is the oldest in Prague.
The history of the temple begins in the 12th century. Already at that time a Romanesque basilica was built on its site. In the 14th century the history of the modern Týn Church began, when rich citizens of Prague decided to build a new church there. The construction of the church continued until the early 16th century. In the 17th century, the interior was reconstructed in the Baroque style.
Church of St. Nicholas
Church of St. Nicholas
The Church of St. Nicholas is a magnificent Baroque building in Prague’s historic Malá Strana district and is considered one of the greatest examples of Baroque architecture north of the Alps. This sacred monument was built in the 18th century on the site of an older Gothic religious structure. The church has an imposing site with a diameter of 20 metres and an impressive Baroque façade.
Josefov
Josefov
Josefov (Czech: Josefov) is a Jewish quarter, one of the most mystical and mysterious places in the Czech capital. It is situated in the district of Prague 1. Until 1850 it was the center of the Jewish Community. The quarter takes its name from Emperor Josef II, who in the course of his reforms improved the lives of Jews. The Jewish quarter is situated between the right bank of the Vltava River and Old Town Square.
Josefov appeared in Prague in 1850 during the administrative transformation. There are several interesting sights here: Old Synagogue, Pinkas Synagogue, Maisel Synagogue, Klaus Synagogue, High Synagogue, Jewish Town Hall, Jewish cemetery in Prague.
Old Synagogue is one of the oldest Jewish religious buildings in Europe. The synagogue was founded in the 13th century and is still active. It is a small old building in Gothic style. According to a legend, in its attic there is a Golem made of clay by Rabbi Judah ben Bezalel for the protection of the Jewish community.
Strahov Monastery
Strahov Monastery
Strahov Monastery is an architectural monument and one of the oldest Czech monasteries. It is located in the historical district Hradčany in Prague. Strahov Monastery was founded in 1140-1143. Throughout its history, it underwent several reconstructions and refurbishments, thanks to which it acquired Baroque and Renaissance features.
The monastery is famous for its excellent brewery.
Dancing House
Dancing House
Dancing House is an office building in Prague built in the style of modern architecture. It consists of two cylindrical towers, one of which was built in the style of destruction. The normal tower symbolizes a man, while the destructive tower represents a dancing woman.
Clementium
Clementium
The Clementium is a baroque ensemble of historic buildings in Prague, located in the historic district of Stare Mesto. It is one of the largest architectural complexes in Prague, second only to Prague Castle in size and scope.
Originally the site was occupied by St. Clement’s Church, which was taken over by the Dominican order in 1232. The Dominicans built a monastery here and administered it for four centuries, until the Emperor Ferdinand I invited the Jesuits to Prague. They bought the monastery and built a library, collegium, and other buildings. Even though they were expelled from Prague during the 1618 revolt, the Jesuits were able to return and rebuild everything. The Clementium now houses the National Library of the Czech Republic.
Powder Tower
Powder Tower
Powder Tower (Czech: Prašná brána) is a majestic Gothic tower built in the 15th century. The Powder Tower is located in Prague on the Republic Square, where the first part of the road leading to Prague Castle begins. The Powder Tower is 65 m high. At the height of 44 m there is an observation deck, which can be accessed by spiral stairs.
Prague Loreto
Prague Loreto
Loreta or Nativity of Christ Church is a sacral building complex in the historical Hradcany district of Prague. The Loreta was built in 1626 in Baroque style. Architectural dominant of the complex is the Church of the Nativity of Our Lord. Its ensemble also includes six chapels, two fountains and the Holy Cabin of Our Lady of Loreto.
Petøín
Petøín
Petøín is a high hill with a huge park area and a beautiful view of Prague. It has a height of 327 meters and is one of the oldest sites of the Czech capital. Here pagans worshipped Perun. In the Middle Ages fortifications were built on Petøín. In the 19th century on top of the hill was built Petøín Tower, which is a scaled-down copy of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
There is a funicular to the top of Petøín.
Kampa island
Kampa island
Kampa Island (Czech Kampa) is an artificial island in Prague, called the “Venice of Prague”. This amazingly picturesque and romantic place, which can be accessed by descending the stairs from Charles Bridge, just behind the statue of Brunswick. On one side Kampa is separated by the majestic Vltava, on the other – the Čertovka, one of its branches.
Kampa Island was formed around the 15th century. Originally it was covered by gardens. But after a fire in 1541, which devastated Prague, the remains of damaged buildings were moved to the island. As a result, the surface was levelled and the island was built up. Artisans were the first to settle here. After them, the island began to be settled by wealthy people.
Now Kampa Island has many cafes and restaurants with an excellent view of the Vltava River and the Charles Bridge, as well as many hotels. It is pleasant to stroll along the banks of the Vltava and ýertovka and admire the architecture of buildings, which are located at the water’s edge.
Church of Our Lady of the Snow
Church of Our Lady of the Snow
Church of Our Lady of the Snow is an ancient Gothic church located in Prague near Wenceslas Square. This religious structure was conceived as the second-largest church in the Czech capital (after St. Vitus Cathedral), but it was never fully completed.
The church, along with the monastery of the Carmelites, was founded in 1347 on the occasion of the coronation of Charles IV. During the Hussite wars, its construction was interrupted. The Church of Our Lady of the Snows was badly damaged and abandoned. After that, the religious building fell into disrepair by the end of the 16th century.
At the beginning of the 17th century, the church was taken over by the Franciscans, receiving Renaissance and Baroque features in the process of reconstruction.
Monument to Franz Kafka
Monument to Franz Kafka
The Franz Kafka monument in front of the Quadrio Business Center is one of the most unusual sculptures in Prague. It represents 42 movable tiers, forming the face of the famous Czech writer. The sculpture is 11 meters high and weighs 39 tons.
Waldstein Garden
Waldstein Garden
Waldstein Garden (Valdštejnská zahrada) – garden, located in the center of Prague. A real corner of silence and tranquility. In this quiet and nice place you can find the Senate of the Republic. Here you can see peacocks, large carp in the pond and look at the beautiful bronze sculptures.
Stare Mesto
The Old Town or Stare Mesto is a district of Prague with a great concentration of places of interest and the first place every tourist who comes to visit the capital of the Czech Republic sets out here. Itineraries of walks through narrow streets and courtyards with arcades hiding behind pointed houses, churches, taverns and small stores, leave unforgettable impressions in the memory of guests of the city.
Every street in the Old Town is a gallery of monuments of art, which carefully preserves the memory of medieval times and its heritage, expressed by the architectural landmarks. During its millennial history, the Old Town has concentrated on its territory a large number of houses and churches. It is a unique architectural complex, every stone of which breathes history.
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History
Old Town was the original site of settlement in Prague, which arose at an important crossroads of trade routes between west, east and along the banks of the Vltava River as early as the eighth century. The first Christian buildings are mentioned in the ninth century. In the 10th century, the Přemyslids already settled in Prague. Already in a century trade was actively developed here. The city was on the other side of Prague Castle, which gave it some freedom. Stare Mesto was located in a low area, the “Czech Chronicle” refers to a flood in 1118, which killed many houses.
In 1158, the Judith Bridge, the predecessor of the Charles Bridge, the second bridge in Europe, was built. It connected Stare Mesto and Malá Strana.
It is generally believed that in the twelfth century Prague was protected by walls only the hrads (Prague Castle, Vyšehrad). The lack of walls became especially dangerous when, at the beginning of the 13th century, Central Europe was at risk of invasion by the Tatars. Therefore Wenceslas I ordered to enclose the towns with walls, protect them with wood and stone, and compel monks and laymen to build moats and ramparts. It is supposed that before 1250 the fortifications were finished. They were a total length of 1,700 meters and bounded an area of 140 hectares.
In the 18th century Joseph II began to implement numerous reforms. During the short 10 years of his reign (1780-1790) he managed to change Prague fundamentally. In the decree of 1784, he ordered to unite the Prague cities into one, the main city of Prague, which meant that Staré Mesto became Prague I, Nové Mesto became Prague II, Malá Strana became Prague III, and Hradčany became Prague IV. Joseph II dissolved many church institutions, medieval organizations, and courts. A magistrate was appointed as the governing body in Prague and was housed in the Old Town Hall. It had to be partially rebuilt for this purpose, the medieval hall was destroyed. The emperor instituted building codes, fire codes, and recommended that projects be approved with emphasis on strength and regularity and on the straightness of streets. In fact, he brought the same thoughts that dominated the redevelopment of Prague 100 years later.
Attractions and museums
The Public House (1905-1911) is a magnificent example of Prague Art Nouveau, built on the site of the ruins of the Royal Court. Above the portal is a mosaic “Worship of Prague” with the Prague coat of arms, the Burgomasters’ Hall is decorated by A. Mucha with pictures on national themes and the main hall is named after a famous Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. All this clearly indicates that the house was built at a time when the national culture and history were in the public eye. On October 28, 1918, the independent Czechoslovak Republic was proclaimed here.
The Powder Gate, preserved next to the Public House, was built from the XV to the XVI centuries. In the 18th century the tower was used as a gunpowder warehouse, hence the name. The today’s appearance of the tower is the result of the restoration in 1886. The tower now houses a historical exhibition (April – September 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., October – March 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.).
Old Town Square – the main square of the Old Town. On its east side stands the Gothic church of Virgin Mary before Týn with two pointed towers (1339-1511). The interior space of the church is decorated with paintings made in the 18th century by the court painter K. Shkreta. In the cathedral are buried heads of those 12 noblemen, who were executed for participation in the Battle of White Mountain and hanged for public view on the Charles Bridge. The entrance to the temple from the square is under the arcades.
The main attraction of the square is the Astronomical Clock. It is not just a clock that shows the time of day, but also the month and the current season. They also show the signs of the zodiac (traditional zodiac), the position of the sun and the holidays of the Christian calendar. Every hour the figure of death (skeleton) appears and rings the bell, after which the figures of the twelve apostles appear above. In addition, when the rooster sings, statuettes appear, such as the Turk shaking his head in disbelief, the Miser looking at his sack of gold and Vanity looking at himself in the mirror.
The oldest part of the clock is the mechanical clock and the astronomical discs, which both date to 1410. The clock front and calendar are believed to have been added around 1490. The statues were added in the 17th century, and the apostles were added during renovations from 1865 to 1866.
Visitors can also climb inside the clock tower for a spectacular view of the city’s red roofs.
The town hall is the main structure in the square. In the Middle Ages the town hall was the center of political life in Prague. After the May Uprising of May 8, 1945 only the tower and a small fragment of the adjoining house survived. There is a viewing platform on the tower (entrance through the Tourist Office, April/October 9.00-18.00, November-March 9.00-17.00). On the southern wall of the town hall there are curious astronomical chimes of the Orloj. Every hour, the windows at the top of the clock open and the 12 apostles “pass” behind them. Other figures also come into motion. A crowd of tourists gathers to watch this, and the picture as a whole comes out very funny.
The Jan Hus Monument (1915) on the northern part of the square was erected to mark the 500th anniversary of the preacher’s death and has become one of the symbols of independent Bohemia.
The Church of St. James was founded by Wenceslas I in 1232, and at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries it was rebuilt in Baroque style. The interior decoration of the church is splendid: there are 21 altars, the remains of noble nobles rest in richly decorated sarcophagi and the local organ is the biggest and oldest in Bohemia. Don’t be frightened when you see a dried-up human hand hanging from a hook at the entrance to the church – it’s the hand of a thief who was punished by the Virgin Mary herself when she tried to rob it.
One of the most crooked streets in Prague, Karlova Street, leads from the Lesser Square to the Charles Bridge. On such tourist pedestrian streets of Prague it is nice to get lost and just wander from restaurant to beer house, from beer house to souvenir shop, and after leaving the store, go back to the cafe.
In Stare mesto there are interesting museums: Czech Cubist Museum, Smetana Museum, Historical and Cultural Museum Naprstek, Kafka Museum. By the way, do not be fooled by the sign “Mucha Museum” on the building near the Old Town Square. The Mucha Museum is in the Nové Město area, and here is just bait for tourists to sell reproductions.
