Travel Tuesday: A Guide to Prague

For this weeks Travel Tuesday we are sharing our travel tips.  Want to join in?  See how at the end of this post.

I've been working on this for awhile and thought it would fit nicely into this theme.

Living in the city of Prague for many years and taking people on tours through the city has been something I've done several times.  Prague is fairly compact and you can see a lot in a short time.

If you only have one day and want to know how to spend it, here is a little guide I put together.  In future posts I'll share some restaurant recommendations, great areas to stay in and a more thorough guide of each area.  So be on the lookout for more to come! 

Compared to other European cities, Prague is inexpensive.  At this time, 

20 koruny (crowns) = $1
27.50 crowns = €1

33 crowns = £1

You can buy a 30 minute transportation pass for 24 crowns.  Purchase at vending machines, tobacco shops, and some, but not all stations, have a designated area where you can purchase tickets at a booth.  You can buy day passes, but it can save you a lot of money to buy a few 30 minute passes and validate as you need them.
Walking the city is possible.

With this guide I recommend only needing 1-2, 30 minute tickets for the whole day.  One to start your day and one to finish, depending on where you're staying.

Ticket punch machines are located on all trams and at the entrance of every metro station.  Don't forget to punch your ticket!  Many tourists don't realize they need to do this and have paid a hefty fine for this mistake!

Watch for pickpockets jamming up tram entrances and other areas.  I've seen them in action more times than I can count!  One of my most import travel tips to go along with this is to carry a messenger bag that crosses in front of your body and you can pull tight in front of you when in crowded areas.  I've been fortunate to have not been pick pocketed because of this very method.

Alright, on to your day in Prague!

1.  Start at the Prague Castle
  My suggestion is to take tram 22 to the Pražský hrad stop. There are beautiful views of the city on the way up!  At the castle, admire the gardens, see the castle guards, walk through St. Vitas Cathedral.  You can bypass the ticket lines to see inside the church, it's free!  Take a peek at The Golden Lane, my favorite area of the castle.  The street is lined with unique shops.  If you want to see more of the castle and if the lines are horrific, purchase tickets near the Golden Lane at the ticket windows there.  It's less busy!

2.  Walk Nerudova Street
From the castle, weave your way to the quaint street of Nerudova admiring the shops and small offshoot of cobblestone streets and down into Mala Strana (Lesser Town).

3.  Karlovy Most (Charles Bridge)
 Walk across the Vltava River on the famous Charles Bridge and take in the scenery.   Stop to admire the water wheel on your right, it's a favorite spot of mine along the bridge. 

4.  Old Town Square (Staroměstské Náměstí)
 Follow the crowds from the bridge through the main streets that take you to the square.
5.  Astronomical Clock on Old Town Square 

Watch this medieval clock chime on the hour.

6.  Gaze at the amazing Tyn Church on the Square  
Several of the streets off of the Old Town Square have it's own charm, shops and restaurants.  Wander down a few of them if you have time.

7.  The Jewish Quarter 
This can be a lengthy tour, however, you can walk through the streets of the Jewish Quarter and catch a glimpse of tomb stones stacked on top of one another as well as some of the buildings and synagogues.

8.  Melantrichova Street
From the Old Town Square, there is a small street across from the Astronomical Clock, with a Starbucks on the corner.  There are some great shops along this narrow street, one of my favorites being Manufaktura with traditional handmade Czech gifts or find some crystal or garnets from the Czech Republic.

9.  Havelska street market
One of the cross streets of Melantrichova is Havelska street.  A great place to find souvenirs, fresh fruit and veg as well as treats, such as spa wafer cookies.

10.  Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí)
Finish up your tour walking up the square to the Wenceslas Monument and admire the National Museum.

This can be done in a day.  It just depends on how often you stop and linger and if you want to concentrate more of your time in one of these areas.

As I mentioned, I'll be sharing a more thorough guide of each area in the future.

Have you visited Prague?  If so, what was your favorite area?  If not, would you like to visit Prague?

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Each week Bonnie, Melanie and I feature a post from the previous link up.  This week I'm featuring Tanya from The Other Side of the Road and her trip to Mauritius.  I was just green with envy when I saw her pictures of this beautiful place!!  There is something amazing about having palm trees, sand and surf just a step outside your hotel room!  Ahhh!

Want to join in on the Travel Tuesday theme: travel tips?

HERE IS HOW IT WORKS:

1. SHARE a post about travel! From road trips to trips abroad and from past travels to dream vacations. You can write about travel tips and tricks, favorite places to stay, or anything in between! Just make it about traveling somewhere!

2. GRAB the lovely button. If you run into trouble, just make sure to mention Bonnie, Melanie & Tina in a link! 

3. LINKUP goes live every Tuesday at 0800 GMT.

TIPS: 

1. Please only one linked up post per blogger. Save other posts for future linkups!

2. The last Tuesday of every month will be a themed prompt if you want to join in!

3. HOP around and meet new travel loving bloggers! Check back to visit some of the newer travel posts!

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