Prague, Don'ts and Don'ts

In this post I would like to enumerate some practical tips, which could be useful in case someone wants to visit Prague for the first time. I hope, this information will help to make the forthcoming trip much safer and more entertaining.

First of all, don't take the high heels with you. Instead, wear some comfortable shoes. Cobbled streets are not going to spare your foot.

Don't be afraid of the long stairs and, probably, the reward is expecting you at the end of the way. In my case it was the restaurant Zvonarka with a beautiful terrace and good kitchen.

Don't forget about purchasing a ticket for the bus or the underground using this machine. You may not see the conductors during your trip at all, but the fine is really huge (it is 800 crowns and more).

Don't miss this place on the Charles Bridge to make a wish by touching the figure on the iron framework.

Don't try to eat the pork knee alone. You will definitely need a partner to share this meal. Otherwise, you would need two hours and many pints of beer to finish this meal.

Don't put your head into the hole of the statue of Don Giovanni near the Estates Theatre. You obviously don't want to get stuck into this trap. Do you?

Don't pick the grapes behind the fencing. Especially, if there is a warning that it is poisoned or there is a fierce curse as it is in Vysehrad. However, I have to admit, that the apples from the Petrinske Zahrady were quite good.

Don't disturb the peacocks in the Wallenstein Palace Gardens and don't pluck out their feathers.

Don't hesitate entering a church if you are tired or feel hot. In most cases the entrance is free.

Don't drink beer in craft bars, because this type of beer is relatively expensive here. Instead, try such popular kinds of beer as Staropramen, Kozel or Bernard with excellent taste and moderate prices starting from 35 crowns.

Prague, Little Italia

It is very hot from the very morning, up to 34 degrees. The weather is unbearable. So, I did not want to leave my apartment at all. Eventually, I plucked up and went to the Excelcior pub, where they offer a daily menu. For the mushroom soup, goulash with lots of gravy, the lemonade and a coffee I paid 263 crowns. It is too much for the lunch, I think. Still, I am ready for a long walking now.

At first, I wanted to visit the top of the Petrin hill. But later I decided to have a look around this area, so I started with observing the Seminary garden on the slope of the hill. They say that there are about 2100 fruit trees here, including apple, pear and plum. The fruits in the garden can be freely picked. At least, I have not noticed any warning that it is forbidden.

I did not dare to climb the Petrin hill, because it was quite tiresome for me. So, I set off for another remarkable place. It was the Vrtbovska garden, the baroque Italian-style terrace garden. This cozy corner is secretly hidden in the court of the palace, accessible from the street Karmelitcka.

The composition effect of the garden is based on a terrace floor graduation, and the floors are connected with stairs.

The entrance fee is 70 crowns. If you are thirsty, you can buy here a small bottle of sparkling water for 35 crowns, but it seems to be expensive, so it is better to take water with you before visit.

In Prague there are numerous free attractions such as street performances, open gardens and active cathedrals. They also are used to running free exhibitions at the cultural centre Rudolfinum. For example, these days they offer audiovisual installation "Ma Vlast - Up Close And Out Loud". In short, this is a unique experience in the perception of the iconic works of Czech music, including the works of Bedrich Smetana and Leos Janacek. Honestly, I liked it very much.

After visiting the show I went to the cafe, which is located in the same building of Rudolfinum. The prices are moderate and the atmosphere is very special here. I did not bother to leave 110 crowns for a cappuccino and freshly squeezed orange juice.

One more time I had to exchange the currency. By the way, the approved address is Panská, 895/6. Today for 100 dollars I have received 2190 crowns.

Speaking about the supper, I have had it today from the Doner Kebab served by a young Chinese man. This meal cost me 90 crowns. I promised myself, that I would not repeat it anymore. I believe, that it is much better to eat some sausage at the local restaurant instead of this kind of street food, and it would cost the same money.

Prague, With the local guide

At 10 am I have another excursion around Prague with the local guide Michaela. Briefly, we have made the journey from the Venclav square to the Letninske sady. On our way I had an introduction to the history of Prague, and Michaela was happy to answer any question.

One of the pleasant discoveries for me was the tranquil garden, hidden in the bustling centre and planted with the numerous fruit trees. It is called the Franciscan garden, and it sets right next to the Church of Our Lady of the Snows. The entrance to this 'secret place' is through a passage from Wenceslas Square, near the street of Vodickova.

Then we passed by one of the oldest markets in Prague - Havelske trziste. I should say, that fruits and vegetables are expensive here, but the small souvenirs are quite cheap.

50 metres from the market the restaurant Ceska Kuchyne is located, where the traditional food is served. Probably, one day I will come to this place, because the prices on display look promising.

Later there was the Powder Gate, 65 meters high, which is one of the important monuments of Late Gothic Prague. Basically, it separates the Prague's New Town from the Old Town, but formerly it was served as a gunpowder store and was part of the "Royal Way", involved into the process of the coronations of the kings.

Another landmark of Prague is the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn, which towers, 80 metres high, can be seen from all over the city. It is located on the Old Town square and partly hidden behind the four-storey Tyn School. The "unnoticeable" entrance to this church is along a passage from the square, through the third (from the left) of the Tyn School’s four arches.

On the Old Town square you will also find the prominent monument to Jan Hus. By the way, Jan Hus is the most important and influential religious reformer of the fifteenth century. His personality became the symbol of disagreement and the symbol of strength against the despotic regimes of that times. Martin Luther himself was strongly influenced by this Czech theologian.

One of the signs on the memorial, devoted to this philosopher, says "Milujte se, pravdy kazdemu prejte" or "Love each other and wish the truth to everybody".

Finally, we crossed the river Vltava and finished our excursion in the beer garden drinking a glass of beer and chatting freely about everything,

After the tour I have visited the places which were recommended by Michaela. First, it was the restaurant Lokal with relatively cheap prices and, secondly, it was the restaurant T-Anker on the roof of the shopping mall. The main feature of this restaurant is the fantastic view to Prague.

When I came back home I fall asleep at once. I woke up at 9 pm and felt extremely hungry. Therefore, I started to look for a place to eat not far away from my apartment. I stayed at the restaurant U Bansethu. Here, I went for the duck with sour cabbage and potato. In simple words, it was delicious. I would say that from that moment the duck has become my favorite dish. All in all, the supper cost me 150 crowns.

Prague, Welcome back

The clock was set to 5 am, but for some reason I have not noticed it. Probably, I did not keep in mind how I had skipped the alarm. Anyways, I should hurry, because obviously the bus is not going to wait for me, as well as the plane.

Today I fly to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. Yet again, the trip is spontaneous. I planned it only two weeks ago. However, I already have the draft plan of my forthcoming staying in the city. Moreover, I have already booked some excursions.

We were at the airport Tolmachevo in 34 minutes with the bus from the central railway station. It is pretty fast, and the price of 38 roubles looks very attractive.

There are no queues at the airport, because my flight is the only one for this morning. So, I checked-in, passed through the passport control and was inspected really fast. And now I am waiting for boarding.

Honestly speaking, this is my second visit to Prague. The first trip was in 2011, and I also wrote a story about my journey, but at that time it was inked in Russian. Anyways, the previous post is available by the link: Trip to the Czech Republic June 2011. 

It is very handy that from my last trip I have some crowns left (for the information, 'crown' is the name of the national currency in the Czech Republic).

So, I am on board. The plane is fully loaded. The taking off was a little bit delayed. The brief information from the pilot: the distance between Novosibirsk and Prague is 4500 kilometres; we are racing with the speed of 850 kilometres per an hour at the height of 11400 meters; the temperature outside is minus 56 Celsius degrees; we are going to fly over Belarus, Poland and the Czech republic.

Six hours have just gone away, and, in the end, I am in Prague. An officer at the airport did not ask a single question, and I easily crossed the board.

First, I bought a bus ticket from the ticket machine for 32 crowns and went to the bus stop, which is located 20 meters from the entrance to the airport. Actually, the ticket is valid only 90 minutes. So, I cannot move slowly. Immediately, I take the bus 119, which should deliver me to the terminal stop, where the underground station is located.

It is 10:40 a.m.. The weather is hot. The grass is scorched. Maples, lindens, birches are everywhere. Everything looks native. It seems to me that I haven’t left my homeland.

Another 20 minutes have gone, and I am in front of the underground station called Nadrazi Veleslavin, which is the part of the green line. My next point of destination is the station Mustek.

I am on the Old Town square (Staromestske namesti) taking some "stock" photos. There are many things to admire, but I feel very hungry.

I have googled in advance about some cheap places to eat in the old town. One of the found recommendations was Svetozor canteen. The dish Switchkova and orange water cost me 124 crowns. It is not expensive, but at the same time it is not the cheapest option for a budget tourist. Just for your information, Switchkova is the traditional Czech meal, which is beef with sour cream, usually served with dumplings.

Well, the first day I am staying at the hotel Peko. The hotel is very good, and it has very attractive price. The only disadvantage about this place is that it is located rather far from the old town, and it is impossible to walk there on foot. However, the trams go regularly, and the trip to the city centre would take only 18 minutes.

After checking-in I had a short break, and then I went to the city centre by tram, which is a very comfortable type of transport in Prague and goes strictly to the schedule.

First of all, I have visited the Vaclav square and the Staromestska square. These two squares are very often visited by tourists, and usually they are the starting points for many excursions.

On the Vaclav square I located the Marks and Spencer shop, where they offer delicious food, and sometimes it goes with a good discount.

On the Staromestska square I tasted for 60 crowns the local baking which is called trdlo. It was not bad, but I would add to the original recipe some cinnamon.

Surprisingly, the price for trdlo at different places is more or less the same.

At 9 p.m. my first excursion started. It is called "a night watchman". We made a walking path from the Powder gate to the Charles Bridge with the city's guard carrying a halberd and a lantern. Our historical character told us about his duties in the past time and about the history of the city. In fact, there were many executions, plagues, bloody wars and religious battles between Catholics and Protestants. I also learnt that the most important historical personalities were Jan Hus and Charles the Fourth.

Yet, it was the informative and nice introducing to the charming city of Prague.