Hours: April- Oct. 10:00am- 6:00pm, May and Sept. 10:00am- 7:00pm, June and July 10:00am- 9:00pm, Aug. 10:00am- 8:00pm

Tickets: long tour CZK 350, CZK 250 students; short tour CZK 250/ 125

    Prague Castle dates back to 870 AD when the first major structure, a church, was built on its grounds. It is the largest ancient castle in the world and contains Czechoslovakia's Crown Jewels.  A changing of the guard happens each hour, so visitors are sure not to miss it.  However, the changing of the guard at noon includes fanfare and a flag ceremony.

    Charles Bridge spans the Vltava River and has been in existence since 1357. Said to have been built with egg yolks to strengthen its mortar, the bridge has withstood the test of time.

    Located near Charles Bridge, Staromestske namesti serves as a popular community center. It is older than its New Town counterpart, the Vaclavske namesti, and features a wide variety of historic architectural styles.

    Wenceslas Square serves as a frequent location for protests and other public gatherings. It was originally named for the horse markets that often were held on the property but was renamed in 1848 after St. Wenceslas.

    The Prague Astronomical Clock is a medieval astrolabe mounted on a tower that overlooks the Old Town Square. It was built in 1410. Be sure to view the clock at the strike of the hour, for stationary figures on the clock come to life. The 12 apostles bless the city every hour, and at noon, they all make a presence for the blessing.

Address: Celetna 5

    Tyn Church was built in the 1300s, replacing a Romanesque church with the present, gothic-inspired structure. It contains the oldest pipe organ in Prague, made in 1649.

Address: Staromestske namesti 12

Transportation: metro A to Staromestska, metro B to Mustek

Tickets: CZK 100, CZK 50 students, price reduction after 4:00pm

    Rococo-styled, the Golz-Kinsky Palace stands high above the Old Town Square as a reminder of Prague's 18th century opulence. It was once occupied by the Communists, and today it houses the National Gallery (open 10:00am- 6:00pm).

Address: Malostranske namesti

    But another of Krystof Dientzenhofer's architectural masterpieces, St. Nicholas has another distinction as having had Mozart play at its organ. Today, you can listen to evening concerts from April- Oct. almost every day.  Concerts cost CZK 450 for adults, CZK 300 for students.

Hours: Summer: Mon- Sat 9:00am- 5:00pm, Sun. noon- 5:00pm; Winter: Mon.- Sat. 9:00am- 4:00pm, Sun. noon- 4:00pm

    A gothic cathedral named after the saint whose relic – a forearm – its benefactor had acquired, St. Vitus was founded in 925 AD by Wenceslaus I and serves as the seat of the archbishop of Prague. Entry to St. Vitus’s is free.

Hours: 9:00am- 5:00pm; Nov.- March closes at 4:00pm

    The seat of princes, the Old Royal Palace was built in the 9th century and was home to many in the royal family. The basement of the building contains ruins from an old Romanesque palace on site before it, built by Sobeslav I.  The main hall in the palace was used for many rituals and ceremonies, but also held equestrian tournaments.  The staircases are wide enough, with steps low enough, to allow horses to trample down them. 

Address: Prague Castle, Hradcany

Transportation: metro A Malostranska, tram 22 or 23 to Prazsky Hrad

    Perhaps more appropriately named a concert hall given its current use, St. George's is the largest church building inside Prague Castle, and the best-preserved Romanesque church.   Concert tickets begin at around CZK 450.

Address: Kaunicky Palac, Panska 7

Hours: 10:00am- 6:00pm

    Art Noveau lovers will love the Mucha Museum, dedicated to the artwork of renowned Czech artist Alphonse Mucha. The collection includes more than 100 displays consisting of paintings, photographs, drawings, pastels, and personal items from Mucha. 

Address: 2 Cihelna

Hours: 10:00am- 6:00pm

Tickets: CZK 120, CZK 60 students

    Artifacts and documents from the influential writer are featured at a long-term exhibition at Franz Kafka Museum in Prague. The museum consists of two different sections: Existential Space and Imaginary Topography, both giving insight to the city of Prague and how it influenced Franz Kafka.

Hours: 9:00am- 9:00pm

Transportation: Metro stops Mustek and Nam Republiky

Tickets: CZK 180, CZK 140 students

Address: Krizovnicke namesti 1

Transportation: Tram 17 and 18

Hours: 10:00am- 10:0pm

    Not for the faint of heart, the Museum of Medieval Torture Instruments is everything the title implies, and more. Stocked with instruments of pain from centuries past, it even explains in English how each instrument was used.

Address: Melantrichova 18

Hours: 10:00am- 11:00pm

Tickets: CZK 250, CZK 150 students

    With three floors and over 200 mechanical appliances, this museum takes on a more exploratory mood than most sex museums. The collection also includes a gallery of erotic art and a cinema featuring old erotic movies. The museum doesn’t only feature machines used to enhance sexual pleasure; you can also view a French electric anti-masturbation machine from 1915 and a German chastity belt from the 16^th century.

Flights:  Ruzynĕ Airport handles Prague’s intercity travel, and it is accessible by bus route 119 .  Taxis to the airport are expensive, so use them as a last resort.

Buses: Czech National Bus Transport is a state run service that operates four terminals in Prague.  Florenc is the largest of them, and it accommodates backpackers looking to get to Berlin (7hr), Budapest (8hr), Paris (14hr), and Vienna (5hr).  Check www.vlak-bus.cz for current schedules. 

Public Transportation:  Getting around while backpacking in Prague is easy thanks to their excellent public transportation.  There is a Metro, tram and bus service that all operate with the same tickets.  The Metro runs three lines, A, B, and C, which all run from 5am-midnight.  If you miss the last Metro, night trams and buses run every half hour from midnight-5am. 

Taxis:  Prague’s taxis are typically reliable although they have been known to scam backpackers.  Try to get a set price before you leave to avoid any problems. 

Address: Vodickova 10

Hours: Mon.- Fri. noon- 2:00am, Sat. and Sun. 2:00pm- 2:00am

    If you like wine, Vinarna U Sudu is your place, but if you like wine and techno, then there's no better place in Prague.

Address: Karoliny Svetle 30

    Located in the Old Town, Duende features a wide selection of wines, spirits, and beers. An arty and sophisticated crowd frequents this bar and enjoys concerts on Friday nights.

Address: Templova 8

Hours: 2:00pm- 2:00am

    This Absinthe drinkers paradise offers a warm, relaxed setting, with red-orange walls, wooden furniture and a laid back crowd.