Oldest working astronomical clock in the world faithfully performed at top of the hour.read more

This magnificent clock is not just a timekeeper but also an impressive work of art that tells a…read morestory about the history of Prague and its people..Many call this one of the most over-hyped attractions in Europe, but I did find some interesting points after listening to our tour guide. The Astronomical Clock was built in the 15th century and is the oldest working clock of its kind in the world. It consists of three main components: the astronomical dial, the calendar dial, and the figurines. The astronomical dial displays the position of the sun, the moon, and the stars, as well as the time of day. The calendar dial shows the current date, zodiac signs, and saints' days. Finally, the figurines perform every hour, with the twelve apostles appearing in a procession. The clock face displays four different times, some recognizable and others ancient. Beginning on the outer edge of the dial, in deep blue, is Bohemian (or Old Czech) time shown in the Gothic numbers. The day consists of 24 hours and starts from the sunset (rather than midnight, as we'd use today). Bohemian time was utilized by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, and is pointed by the golden hand. Next is Central European Time (CET) Zone, two sets of 12 hours shown in Roman numerals inside the Bohemian time numbers. CET is also indicated by the golden Sun hand. Third is Babylonian (or Arabian) time, the oldest time displayed on the astronomical dial. Babylonian time, displayed in black Arabic numerals, separates the time between sunrise and sunset; that's why there are only 12 hours. Finally, there's star time, or sidereal time. Sidereal uses the time it takes Earth to rotate once on its axis and return facing a distant star. Its time is 23 hours and 56 minutes, four minutes shorter than a solar day. A solar day is defined by when the Sun is overhead at noon, which must account for the Earth tracking one degree, or day, along its orbit around the Sun and hence is longer. Follow the little golden star among the Roman numerals for sidereal time. Now you are prepared to tell time via the stars or even back in the Middle Ages. Fun piece of workmanship.

Their credit card machine was down when we went so had to pay cash only to get up, thankfully…read moresomeone in my group had enough. I did appreciate that they have reference points so you know what you are looking at. The way the windows are built makes it hard to get good photos (at night at least). Took about 20 minutes to explore each of the rooms at the top. If you are nearby it's worth it but otherwise I think there are better sights to explore in Prague.

I lived next door to this tower for months with a lovely view of it from my living room window…read morebefore I finally decided to stop in for a visit. Actually, it was quite on accident that I met someone one evening who gave me a tour. The Zizkov TV Tower is known as the ugliest building in Prague by most of its natives, but I quite enjoy the uniqueness of the structure. And seeing it towering amidst the sea of buildings always let me know which way was home:) No matter where you are in Prague, its hard to miss that iconic landmark soaring over the skyline. There are nine pods along the tower - the three lower ones at around 210 feet house a beautiful restaurant/bar with glass windows all around, offering a 360-degree view as you dine. Right upstairs from the restaurant, a few feet up, is a luxury one-bedroom hotel! And the three pods above those contain the observatory deck where you can also get a panaromic view of Prague. So, we stopped in to the tower late evening just after sunset, and we were actually able to go up to the observation deck without having to pay as you do during the day. The elevators to the right took us up to the restaurant. And then the elevators to the left took us to the observation deck. Nighttime views are great. My fave part of the observation deck is the dimly lit, zen-like room with the space pod chairs. Suspended from the ceiling by one chain with another chain loosely holding each chair to the ground, and allowing it to sway gently as you sit in ... utter bliss! Felt like you were floating. I could have stayed there forever. We actually stayed up there for quite a while. One of the other rooms on this level shows where the tower ranks among its fellow towers in the World Federation of Great Towers. To note: David Cerny's giant bronze baby statues that crawl up the sides of the tower were removed for restoration, to be returned later this year. However, if you don't get a chance to see the babies on the tower, you can see three more of them "crawling" in Kampa Park, right next to Charles Bridge and the Cerny Museum.

The story here goes back to World War II and the operation Anthropoid were Heydrich got killed…read more These were Czech soldiers who were hidden down in this church after the assassination. Finally they were found. They committed suicide after fighting heroically with the nazis. Today you can visit the Krypta and see the marks of the gunshots in the window. La historia aquí se remonta a la Segunda Guerra Mundial en la operación Anthropoid donde mataron a Heydrich. Estos eran soldados checos que se escondieron debajo de esta iglesia después del asesinato. Finalmente fueron encontrados. Se suicidaron después de pelear heroicamente contra los nazis. Hoy podes visitar la Krypta y ver las marcas de los disparos en la ventana.

This is an aspect of WWII history about which I knew very little before visiting this museum. The…read moredisplays were quite interesting with English descriptions available. The memorial to the heroic challengers of Nazi oppression who died fighting during this series of events was appropriate and well done. Being at the place at which these brave men died was seminal to the experience. It was not hard to be caught up in the drama of the events while reading the account of their last moments when the Nazis closed in on them. It was also particularly poignant to read about the rounding up and execution of their collaborators. This is typically not listed as one of the top tourist sites in Prague. I definitely recommend adding this to your itinerary if you have any interest at all in WWII history or local culture. The nominal fee (75 CZK, or about $3 USD at the time I visited) is well worth it.

You are looking at the best known Prague statue. This statue has witnessed big days in today's…read moreBohemia and big days in old Czechoslovakia of the past. As you probably know, the Czech Republic is not formed from one land. Czech Republic is formed from Bohemia, Moravia and Slezia. Moravians have a statue of Jošt in Brno, but its not so beautiful and famous. St. Wenceslaus I. was the duke of Bohemia in 907-935. He was glorified for his heroic goodness. Some people think that he was too weak to be a great king. He was a good diplomat and very religious. His "goodness" cost him his crown. Anyway, what ever big event is going on in Prague (Bohemia), you can find people around this statue. Bohemians love their St. Wenceslaus I. Take it in consideration and be respectful around. PS: dont forget to try Czech Pilsner, Becherovka or Moravian Slivovice!

Walk across this bridge for views of all sides of Prague and stop half way on the island for a walk…read morealong the uncrowded park and more views of the bridge and the town.

Legion Bridge! This is that oooother bridge in Prague…read more Everyone knows the Charles Bridge. It's the most iconic bridge in the whole country. But this isn't that bridge. It's a much more functional bridge than Charles Bridge. This one is nowhere near as crowded as the other one. It's not just for pedestrians, unlike that other bridge. This one has trams that cross it, and traffic! In a rush to cross the river and don't want to walk it? This is where you'll likely cross to get to all the attractions in Prague across the river. It's a scenic bridge- a great standpoint to get photos of the Charles Bridge and Old Town all in one shot. The bridge is unique looking- all stone, with arches that combine to span the river. It's pretty old, built in 1900 or so!

This is the star architecture within the Prague castle complex and visible from all over Prague…read more It is worth the tour ticket but it is also quite crowded. The shear amount of gold, tall ceilings, two organs and the silver Tomb of St John of Nepomuck are all stunning. Despite the crowds, you will have plenty of time to walk around

This large cathedral inside Prague castle is celebrated for its Gothic architecture, historical…read moreimportance as a burial site for Bohemian kings, and its role in Czech coronations and housing the Crown Jewels. There's an entry fee to visit. Some free guided tours can get you in to see the organ, but that is under reconstruction at this moment, so it would not be ready until next year.

We took a guided tour of the castle and it was a fantastic experience. The castle complex is…read moreenormous--about 753,473 square feet--making it the largest ancient castle in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The complex stretches down to Lesser Quarter (Mala Strana), where you'll find several beautiful chateaux and palaces. One notable example is Wallenstein Palace, which is home to the Czech Senate and includes 26 houses and six gardens. Inside the castle walls, there's so much to explore: a stunning cathedral, multiple museums, the office of the Czech president, the Bohemian Crown Jewels, and much more. The entire complex is incredibly expansive--it can easily take several hours to see everything. If you're visiting Prague, this is definitely a must-see landmark, and taking a guided tour really helps you appreciate the history and scale of the place.

Prague Castle is every bit as breathtaking as you imagine. The grandeur of St. Vitus Cathedral, the…read moresweeping views over the city, and the layers of history make it an unforgettable experience. Arrive early, take your time, and simply wander~there's magic around every corner, especially Golden Lane! A must-see when visiting Prague.

Very nice part of the Jewish museum. I would recommend seeing all of the synagogues in the Jewish…read moremuseum path, they are all nice and historic.

Hallelujah concert was phenomenal!!! Talented musicians...worth every penny. Highly recommend…read moreviewing the Hallelujah concert. The singer was not in attendance but the 5 string players with the brass player were all incredible.