2. What are the "must sees?"

We will be in Prague for only two days.

Hedgie's guide lists the premier sights in six areas of the historical center. Use it to select your own list of "must sees," depending on your interests and what pace you like to keep. Print it out as a supplement to the hardcopy guide you have. It helps cut through the surplus of information, highlighting the things you really don't want to miss.

Note Hedgie's FAQ C on the pros and cons of hiring a guide.

TIPS:

The historical center of Prague is relatively compact, so you can see nearly all of it by walking, supplemented with a few tram rides. Your hotel location is absolutely key to a good visit when you have only 2 days. Staying in the historical center itself allows more time to explore the area and to recuperate in your room before an evening outing. See the tips in our FAQ#4 on preferred areas to stay.

Hedgie's FAQs #8 and #9 give restaurant, pub, cafe, and deli recommendations to dovetail with these sights.

Best Map: The absolutely best map for finding your way easily in the historical areas is the Prague Panoramic Map published by ATP Pubishing House in Jihlava, The Czech Republic. It is a three-dimensional color drawing of the historic center,completely labeled. You simply can't get lost. Easy to carry and a great souvenir, too. The information center in the Old Town Hall on Old Town Square now carries them. (ISBN 80-86374-51-3)

This map has become so popular that there are now detailed 3-D maps of the Prague Castle and of towns like Česky Krumlov by the same company.

OLD TOWN - STARE MESTO

At a moderate pace with some stops, allow about 4 hours. In particular, do not miss

1. Old Town Square - huge beautiful square, with statue of Jan Hus
2. Tyn Church with its delicately-spired towers
3. Astronomical clock - do wait for the hour to chime and figures to emerge
4. View from the Town Hall tower
   This is often crowded, but is just the right height and just the right location to see nearly all of the historical center in detail. It's especially magical just after a fresh snow.
5. Male namesti (Small square)- just off the Old Town Square, and not to be confused with Malastranske namesti, on the other side of the Vltava river. Wonderful facades and 2 large excellent crystal shops, U Rotta and Moser.
   INSIDER'S TIP:If you visit the Polish Cultural Center here, you can see exhibits in splendid original Gothic-era rooms.
6. Celetna Street - part of the Royal Way. Pedestrian zone. Many shops and boutiques.
7. Obecni Dum (Municipal House) - Art Nouveau. Tours available - check in gift shop/cafe downstairs for times, languages, tickets. Contains 2 restaurants and a huge cafe as well as a concert hall and many private reception rooms.
8. In season, open-air Christmas markets (try the hot mulled wine or the grog and buy fabulous hand-made Christmas ornaments) and Easter markets (buy hand-decorated eggs) in the Old Town Square and Namesti Republiky (near Obecni Dum)

NEW TOWN - NOVE MESTO

Seeing the New Town's highlights is an easy extension of your walk through the Old Town. Add 2 hours.

1. Wenceslas Square or Vaclavske namesti - wide boulevard lined with hotels and shops. The square of many key political gatherings including the rallies leading up to the 1989 fall of Communism. Statue of St. Wenceslas in front of the National Museum. Metro stops for Wenceslas Square are at the top and the bottom of the boulevard: Mustek or Museum. Numerous trams run through the center of the square and stop at "Vaclavske namesti."
2. Hotel Europa - splendid Art Nouveau exterior and public rooms
3. Franciscan Garden (Frantiskanska zahrada) - a hidden treasure accessible through an arcade (pasaz) from Wenceslas Square or from Jungmanova square. Roses, herbs, quiet seating on benches. Ask for help with directions.
4. Na Prikope - wide pedestrian shopping street, formerly the moat around the Old Town. Leads to Obecni Dum (see Old Town notes).

CASTLE AREA - HRADCANY

Your best bet is to use a tram (#22 or #23, stop "Prazsky hrad") to the top of the hill. Alternately, exiting at the Malostrankska Metro station will put you near the foot of the Old Castle Steps, where it's a picturesque walk up to the Castle, though equally picturesque walking down after you have seen it, of course. To walk from the Hradcanska Metro station is longer, much more complicated, and not efficient.

The famous profile of the Castle which dominates the hill is actually the Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral surrounded by the primarily Baroque buildings of the castle. Some of the older Romanesque and Gothic structures remain within the castle complex and can be toured. The president of the Czech Republic works and entertains in the castle. There are also various art galleries and concert venues within the complex. The Strahov Monastery is a short walk away.

Whereas most of the sights in the Old Town can be seen while walking, many of the interesting sights here are indoors and require tickets. Very pleasant on a rainy day. Seeing everything recommended could take 5 to 6 hours, not including a meal stop.

1. Castle tour, especially the Royal Palace, the Kralovsky Palace with the riding staircase, Vladislav Hall, and the site of the defenestration of 1618.
2. St Vitus cathedral, including archaeological digs in the crypt
3. St. George's Basilica
4. Golden Lane
   Entry tothe Golden Lane now requires that one purchase a comprehensive ticket for the Castle complex. This is a disappointment to many who simply want to have a quick peek or visit some of the tiny craft shops. At the moment, however, the gates are unlocked and entry is free after 4pm until dark.
   Be sure to exit at the bottom, through a shop there, to see a large and highly unusual contemporary statue representing David and Goliath.
5. Powder Tower museum
6. History of Prague Castle exhibit
7. Numerous views of the city from the castle walls
8. Strahov Monastery, especially the Philosophical Hall and Theological Hall libraries.

LITTLE QUARTER - MALA STRANA

The sights in Mala Strana, as with the Old Town, are seen mainly by strolling. The area has few pedestrian-only areas and is not as old as the Old Town, but it is nevertheless picturesque. Allow an hour or two, plus museums, galleries, cafes, shopping.

1. Nerudova Street
2. The Old Castle Steps
3. Kampa Island, including the new Kampa Museum near the water's edge
4. Charles Bridge

JEWISH QUARTER

Tip: If you go to the Museum of Decorative Arts and walk along 17th November Street (17 listopadu) toward the Intercontinental Hotel and Parižska street, you can catch a glimpse of the Old Jewish Cemetery through a small window in the high back wall of the cemetery. There is also a splendid view from the back windows of the Museum of Decorative Arts.

We recommend:

1. Old Jewish Cemetery (Stary Zidovsky Hrbitov)
2. Old-New Synagogue (Staronova Synagoga)
3. Parižska street: Decidedly upscale shopping and elegant restaurants and cafes, or just a very pleasant stroll under the trees down this long beautiful boulevard from Old Town Square to the river.

VYSEHRAD

1. St. Martin's Rotunda - one of the few remaining Romanesque buildings in Prague
2. The National Cemetery -- great figures of Czech history are buried here, including Dvorak and Smetana.
3. Heroic sculptures of figures from Czech mythology, including Libuse and Premysl.
4. Splendid views to the south and the north along the fortification walls overlooking the river.

EVENING ENTERTAINMENT

There is something for everyone in Prague, and the city swings late into the night. Except in strictly tourist venues, weekends can be quieter than weekdays, as residents leave for their country cottages in warm weather and for ski weekends in the mountains in winter. See our FAQ#3 on Nightlife for more details.