Old Town & Josefov

The Staroměstské náměstí (Old Town Square) is the central square of Prague and one of the most beautiful city squares in Europe. Since the 12th century, it has been the heart of the city — marketplace, execution site, political stage, and today a tourist magnet. The square is framed by an architectural ensemble that is second to none: Gothic churches, Baroque palaces, Renaissance houses, and a monumental Art Nouveau building.

The Highlights of the Square

• Old Town Hall with Astronomical Clock: The Town Hall dates from the 14th century, the Astronomical Clock (Orloj) from 1410 — making it the oldest functioning astronomical clock in the world. Every hour on the hour (9 AM–11 PM), the twelve apostles move, Death (skeleton) rings the bell, and a rooster crows. The astronomical dial shows the positions of the sun and moon. Tip: Climb the Town Hall Tower (elevator available) — the view over the square and the Old Town is spectacular.
• Týn Church (Týn): The Gothic Church of Our Lady before Týn with its two 80-meter-high towers dominates the square. Inside: a magnificent Baroque altar, the tomb of astronomer Tycho Brahe, and one of Prague's oldest baptismal fonts (1414). Free entry.
• St. Nicholas Church (Kostel sv. Mikuláše): The Baroque St. Nicholas Church at the northwest corner of the square — not to be confused with the more famous St. Nicholas Church in the Lesser Town. Regular evening concerts.
• Jan Hus Monument: The powerful monument in the middle of the square commemorates the reformer Jan Hus, who was burned as a heretic in 1415 — 100 years before Luther. Hus is the greatest national hero of the Czech Republic.

The Karlův most (Charles Bridge) is Prague's landmark and one of the most famous bridges in the world. King Charles IV laid the foundation stone in 1357 — according to legend, on 9.7.1357 at 5:31 AM, because the sequence of numbers 1-3-5-7-9-7-5-3-1 forms a palindrome and was supposed to bring good luck. The architect Peter Parler (who also began St. Vitus Cathedral) designed the 516-meter-long stone bridge with 16 arches.

The 30 Baroque Statues

Between 1683 and 1714, 30 Baroque statues were placed on the bridge — most are now copies, the originals are in the Lapidarium of the National Museum. The most famous: Saint John of Nepomuk (statue No. 8 from the Old Town side). Rubbing the bronze reliefs on its pedestal is said to bring good luck and guarantee a return to Prague. Every day, thousands of hands rub over the shiny spot.

The Best Time for Charles Bridge

During the day, the bridge is a mass of people — street musicians, caricaturists, souvenir vendors, and selfie sticks. The magical time is sunrise (5:30–6:30 AM in summer): mist over the Vltava, golden light on the statues, the castle as a silhouette — and almost no people. Alternatively: after 10 PM, when the bridge is illuminated and the lanterns glow.

The Bridge Towers

At both ends of the bridge stand Gothic towers that can be climbed. The Old Town Bridge Tower is considered one of the most beautiful Gothic towers in Europe — the view from the top of the bridge, the Vltava, and the castle is the most iconic perspective of Prague. Admission: 100 CZK (4€).

The Josefov is the former Jewish ghetto of Prague — and one of the best-preserved Jewish memorial landscapes in Europe. Jews have lived in Prague since the 10th century, at times forming the largest Jewish community in Europe. The history fluctuates between tolerance and persecution, between cultural flourishing and pogroms.

The Jewish Museum

The Židovské muzeum comprises six synagogues, the Old Jewish Cemetery, and one of the most extensive collections of Jewish art and history worldwide. The peculiarity: The Nazis did not plunder the synagogues but planned a "museum of an exterminated race" — thus the collections were preserved. A cruel irony of history.

• Old-New Synagogue (Staronová synagoga): The oldest active synagogue in Europe (1270). A Gothic building with a unique double-nave construction. Here, the Golem of Rabbi Löw is said to rest in the attic — the most famous Prague legend. Separate admission: 200 CZK.
• Old Jewish Cemetery: Burials took place between the 15th and 18th centuries — in a confined space because the cemetery could not be expanded. 12,000 tombstones stand closely packed, pushed over one another, tilted, covered with moss. Beneath them lie an estimated 100,000 deceased in up to twelve layers. One of Europe's most poignant places.
• Pinkas Synagogue: The walls bear the names of all 77,297 Czech and Moravian Holocaust victims — handwritten, name by name, birth date, death date, deportation destination. Upstairs: children's drawings from the Theresienstadt concentration camp. There are few places in the world that leave one so speechless.

Powder Tower (Prašná brána)

The Powder Tower (1475) was once one of the 13 gates of the Old Town fortifications and served as a gunpowder store — hence the name. Today it is a photogenic Gothic tower that can be climbed (186 steps, admission 100 CZK). The view extends to the castle.

Municipal House (Obecní dům)

Prague's Art Nouveau masterpiece: The Municipal House, opened in 1912, is a total work of art with mosaics, murals by Alfons Mucha, the magnificent Smetana Hall (home of the Prague Spring Festival), and an elegant café. A tour is recommended (290 CZK) — the interiors are breathtaking.

Clementinum

The second-largest building complex in Prague (after the castle) — formerly a Jesuit college, now the National Library. The Baroque Library with its ceiling frescoes and globes is one of the most beautiful rooms in the world (literally — it has been repeatedly chosen as such). From the observatory, there is a splendid view. Tour: 300 CZK.

Vltava Boat Trip

A boat trip on the Vltava shows Prague from its most beautiful side — especially in the evening when the bridges and the castle are illuminated. Providers can be found at the Čech Bridge bank and at the Slavic bank (Slovanský ostrov). One hour: from 300 CZK (12€). With dinner: from 800 CZK.