What places should be included in the top sights in Prague? Let’s check out 20 of the best!
20 Top Sights In Prague You Cannot Miss!
Standing out with its ancient beauties, Prague is called the “Fairytale City” of Central Europe.
With its historical texture and fascinating atmosphere, Prague is one of the rare places where you can catch unforgettable landscapes with the fascinating colors of autumn. Therefore it is recommended to be visited between July and November.
The buildings that preserve their untouched original historical texture, the squares, towers and cathedrals that can be visited by car, reflect the cultural atmosphere of the city with a gothic atmosphere and offer views that you cannot find in modern cities.
The city, which is the oldest city in Europe with its historical bridges and castle closed to traffic, is the subject of poems with its atmosphere. The fact that the historical places to be visited and visited in the city, which is divided into 10 regions in total, are close to each other, allows you to enjoy a unique trip all day.
In Prague, finding accommodation is very easy thanks to its centrally located hotels, the “Old Town” area, which contains the most touristic places of the city, offers many conveniences from accommodation to shopping, thanks to its central location.
Prague carries its architectural texture from the past to the present and is protected by UNESCO in the World Heritage list.
1. Astronomical Clock and Old Town Hall
The Old Town Hall which was first built in 1338 holds great significance.
The story goes that the Old Town Hall was the location in the center of the Velvet Revolution in 1989, when the independence of the Czechoslovak State was declared in 1918 and the country became a democratic republic.
The administration building, which has Romanesque and Gothic living sections in the basement, took its current form as a result of the works between 1905-1910.
The most interesting part of the building which is a MUST- SEE is the 15th century engravings, the old assembly hall, and the Overhanging Window Chapel, which is the tower added to the structure in the 14th century and the Astronomical Clock.
The hour, in which the figure that appears at the beginning of the hour, causes many travelers in the square to gather around with its dance, consists of 3 parts.
While 4 sculptures symbolizing death, greed, pleasure and arrogance form the first part, there is a mechanism showing the time and the movements of the sun and moon in the second part. The last and newest part of the watch shows the zodiac signs along with the date of the day.
If you wish, you can buy a ticket to the observation tower on the top floor of the building and take the elevator to watch the magnificent view of the city.
2. Old Town Square
Amongst the many historical buildings worth seeing, Old Town Square is one of the top sights in Prague throughout the year as it was used as a market area during the Middle Ages.
The Astronomical Clock and Old Town Hall, Tyn Church, Kinsky Palace, Jan Hus Monument and St. Niklaus Church are among the structures you must see.
This place has scenes of important events for the country’s history, such as the execution of the 27 leaders who opposed the pro-popular Jan Zelivsky and Emperor Matthias.
3. Prague Castle
Built by the Premysl Dynasty in the 9th century, the Prague Castle is a 45-hectare land containing historical palaces, offices, military buildings, gardens, religious buildings which is known as one of the largest in the world!
Greatness and sheer size make this building one of the most ideal spots to watch the city view together with the Astronomical Clock.
A part of the ostentatious building, which was used as the administrative center of the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Holy Roman German Empire in the past, is now allocated to the President of the Czech Republic.
Also in the Prague Castle, visitors can enter through security control, St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, the Golden Path, the Summer Gardens and the White Tower.
You can visit Prague Castle with various tickets purchased at the entrance. You can tour the building complex individually or with a guided tour with package tours. The most comfortable way to reach the region for an individual tour is to use the tram line that passes close to the palace.
4. St. Vitus Cathedral
The coronation ceremonies of the kings and queens who took over the administration of the country also found St. Vitus Cathedral to be their final resting place.
St. Vitus Cathedral, which began construction in 1344, completed the infrastructure in approximately 600 years using Renaissance and Baroque styles, mainly Neo-Gothic.
In the religious building decorated with stained glass by Czech painter Alfons Mucha, besides the royal tombs, the Chapel of St. Vaclav and Flight of the Noble Frederick govern great attention.
The grooves, choir section, and the golden stone door vaults on the west facade are other parts of the cathedral that are worth seeing.
5. Wenceslas Square
Reaching its current appearance in the 19th century, Wenceslas Square is at the center of Prague thanks to its shopping markets with luxury shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues that surround it.
Wenceslas Square is thus one of the top sights in Prague you have to visit as there’s even the reminder that it was a horse market.
The square, which hosted a horse market in the Middle Ages, has been at the center of many important political events in the country’s history, such as the Velvet Revolution, which led to the burning of Jan Palach in 1969 and the collapse of the communist regime.
Among the structures worth seeing around the area are the National Museum, Palaca Koruna and Franciscan Gardens. In addition, when you visit the square, you can see many large and small works of art, especially the statue of St. Wenceslas, which was erected in 1912.
6. Charles Bridge (Karl Bridge)
Charles Bridge is one of the symbols of the city and one of the top sights in Prague.
The 516-meter long Charles Bridge is an indispensable part thanks to its architectural details.
Charles Bridge was built between 1357-1402 in place of the Judith Bridge, which was heavily damaged during the flood in 1342, the building was built by Charles IV.
There are defensive towers on both sides of the bridge, which was started to be named after the ruler who ordered it to be built in 1870. In addition, there are 30 statues on which saints and saints are depicted, as well as the Prophet Jesus.
Among these sculptures placed in the period from 1683 to 1928, the one that depicts St. John of Nepomuk draws the greatest attention.
7. Kampa Island
Kampa Island which is another top sights in Prague you cannot miss is called Venice due to its structure. Thanks to its romantic atmosphere and nature, Kampa Island is full of people who want to relax and enjoy the sun, especially in the summer months.
The island located in the Devil’s Stream of the Vltava River where there is a very large mill from the 15th century, was densely populated and had a population engaged in linen processing, pottery and laundry in the past.
8. Dancing House
The Dancing House which is also nicknamed Fred and Ginger after the famous dancers is one of the top sights in Prague!
It was built by the American army in 1945 to replace an old structure that was destroyed during the air raid 1992-1996
The Dutch insurance company Nationale Nederlanden, which bought the 1992 land, commissioned Vlado Milunic and Frank Gehry to design the house on the banks of the Vltava River.
Today, the Dancing House is a hotel, art gallery and restaurant operating in the building, which attracts travelers to the city thanks to its original design.
The terrace of the restaurant, which also houses offices for businesses, is quite ideal for watching the scenery.
9. Petrin Hill or Observation Tower
Petrin Hill or Petrin Tower which became famous for its vineyards in the 15th century, was opened to the public in 1825.
Local people and travelers prefer to come to the 300 meters high hill, where celebrations related to Pagan rituals are held on May 1 every year, both because of its fresh air and view.
There are structures and artifacts worth seeing such as the Labyrinth of Mirrors, Strahov Stadium, Hunger Wall, and Karel Hynench Macha Statue.
Built for the Anniversary Exhibition in 1891, there is a rumor that the 60-meter-high structure Eiffel Tower which is in France was designed based on Prague’s Petrin Tower.
To reach the top, it is necessary to climb the spiral-shaped 299-step staircase. However, the magnificent view of the city seen from the viewing area is more than worth the effort.
10. Mala Strana (Lesser Town)
Little Side (of the River) is the literal translation of this town that was established by order of Ottokar also known as King of Bohemia II in 1257.
What makes it one of the top sights in Prague is that this district of the city of Prague has a lot of history! With historic neighborhoods you get to see the historical buildings within its borders which were built by the Holy Roman Emperor IV in the second half of the 14th century.
Mala Strana (Lesser Town) is also a district where most citizens of German and Italian origin lived in the past.
Although the majority of the buildings in the settlement area had traces of Baroque architecture at first, the Renaissance style dominated the Small Town after the fire disaster in 1541.
The structures you can visit in the region, which has a quieter structure compared to the Old and New City regions, is the St. Niklaus Church and Wallenstein Palace.
11. Josefov – Old Jewish Quarter
The Old Jewish Quarter (or Josefov) whose settlement is thought to have started in the 13th century, is located between the Old Town and the Vltava River.
No one has any idea about its former state, as most of the area was destroyed during the work carried out between 1893 and 1913, aimed at making Prague similar to Paris.
However, despite this negative situation, the neighborhood helps to obtain unique information about the Jewish community that has lived within its walls for 500 years, thanks to its remaining structures.
Here you can visit the 6 synagogues in the region and end your tour at the oldest and largest Jewish cemetery in Europe.
12. Church of Our Lady before Tyn
Construction began in the middle of the 14th century and ended in the 16th century.
Completed in its first years, Tyn Church is shown as one of the most magnificent structures of the city with its 80-meter-high twin towers bearing the names of Adam and Eve and Gothic exterior architecture.
The interior of the church, whose piano is the oldest of those used in religious buildings in Prague, includes a large Rococo style altar and the tomb of Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, carries traces of Baroque architecture.
The entrance to the religious building, where musical organizations are held at certain intervals throughout the year, is made through the school of the same name, located in front of it.
13. Prague Town Hall
Prague Town Hall or Old Town Hall was made in accordance with the Art Nouveau approach.
30 leading artists of the period contributed to the construction of the building, which rises on the area of the royal palace used by the Bohemian kings from 1383 to 1483.
At the entrance of the city hall, whose exterior is decorated with sculptures, the magnificent “Devotion to Prague” mosaic greets the guests. There is also a cafe and restaurant in the building, which hosts the largest concert hall of the Czech Republic, Smetana.
14. Prague National Museum
Prague National Museum, which was designed by the National Museum, holds a large collection of detailed information about the country’s cultural, artistic and scientific past.
In the cultural facility, you will have the opportunity to see the busts and sculptures of Czech scientists, writers and artists, as well as resources on the country’s past.
15. Prague National Theater
Prague National Theater is intended to be the symbol of the country’s independence and language with its presence.
However, the ostentatious building which opened its doors to art lovers in 1881 for the first time was heavily damaged in the fire that occurred the year it was opened, and it was forced into a 2-year grueling reconstruction process.
Throughout the history of the building, which has become completely symbolic as a result of the construction of new buildings in various parts of the city, many classical opera performances as well as various ballet performances were presented to the Prague audience.
You can join guided tours that take an average of 1 hour to visit the building and get detailed information about it.
16. Strahov Monastery
Strahov Monastery was founded in 1143 by Jindřich Zdík, the bishop of Olomouc.
The monastery, which was closed during the communist regime, was turned into a center of intellectual and spiritual life by the monks who returned after the revolution.
After the French bombardment in 1742, the Baroque style dominated the religious complex, most of which was originally built using wooden materials, was rebuilt with Romanesque and then Gothic architecture.
In addition to the library and art gallery, a pub and a miniature museum operate within the building group. There are also two churches, an art gallery and a library within the Strahov.
17. Prague Castle or Clementinum Klementinum
Prague Castle, which is the largest building complex in the city, was founded by the Jesuits
The community, which settled in the old monastery dedicated to St. Clement, continued its activities here until 1773, when they left the city.
After the departure of the Jesuits, the University of Prague and the National Library took over the complex.
You can get detailed information about the churches, schools, observatories, and printing houses in the Mirrored Chapel.
18. Gunpowder Gate Barut or Powder Tower
Powder Tower is the starting point of the King’s Road from Hradcany Castle to the Royal Palace gate.
It was originally built by King Vladislav in the late 15th century as a coronation gift and Gunpowder Gate Barut was intended to be an attractive entrance into the city, instead of a defensive tower
However, when it was damaged in the fire in 1541, it was rebuilt and became the workshop of the ammunition depot and bell manufacturer Tomas Jaros.
Located close to the City Hall on Cumhuriyet Square, the tower offers an exquisite view of the city to its guests, who climb to the top thanks to its location.
19. John Lennon Wall
The colorful wall facing the square across from the French Embassy has turned into a monument thanks to the paintings made by young people from Prague after the murder of
periodically cleaned by the secret police during the communist regime’s reign.
And yet, the John Lennon Wall is obviously not a place worth visiting especially. But since it is close to the Charles Bridge, you can have a look at the area while visiting.
20. Church of St. Niklaus
The Church of St. Niklaus, where you can go up to its green dome to watch the city, was built between 1703-1752.
Most of the sculptures in front of and inside the church were created by Ignac Frantisek Platzer, whose frescoes were made by Frantisek Xavier Palco and Jan Lukas Kracker.
The religious building, with Johann Hennevogel’s signature on its exterior decorations, played the piano during Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s lifetime in Prague.
The name of the church, which became an important center in the field of classical music with this movement of Mozart, is also mentioned as the most valuable Baroque structure not only of the Czech Republic but also of the entire Alps.
