Praha Castle

The largest medieval castle in the world.

What to know:

Opening hours:

Complex: 6AM - 10PM

Buildings: 9AM - 5PM (4PM in winter)

Ticket prices: there are different combos of buildings you can enter. Check out their website for more details.

No dress code implemented.

You can enter the castle complex without charge, as well as the St. Vitus Cathedral. But for the latter, you will need a ticket to be able to go around the cathedral. The other buildings require tickets for entry.

We didn't purchase any tickets because we weren't really keen on going inside each of the buildings. Mind you, just the views of Prague from the South gardens, and the squares inside the complex will already take plenty of your time.

It usually gets crowded starting 10AM. So if you want to have photos with less tourists, I suggest you have an early start.

Recommended length of stay: dedicate at least half a day's worth especially in peak times when there's a long queue to get inside each of the buildings/attractions. But if you have ample of time (like a whole day to dedicate), I would recommend buying a ticket to be able to enter all of the buildings.

Mind you as well, before you enter the complex, there is a security/bag check and the queue here gets really long starting 10AM.

I recommend the following route:

Climb the steps to the castle starting near Malostranská station.

Steps to the castle

Believe me, the views are worth it. You can also have a wine stop at a restaurant at the top of the steps before entering the castle complex or vice versa (i.e. after a day or half-a-day's worth of exploring) while enjoying the views of Prague and the Vltava River.

Wine stop with a view

Enter the complex and head straight to the back of St. Vitus Cathedral

Courtyard at the back of St. Vitus Cathedral

You'll find:

- The Basilica of St. George

Basilica of St. George

- The Story of Prague Castle

- The Back of St. Vitus Cathedral (looking like Notre Dame)

Side of St. Vitus Cathedral near the gate to Powder Tower

Proceed to the side of St. Vitus Cathedral and marvel at it's side facade

Side of St. Vitus Cathedral

You'll find:

- The Old Royal Palace

- An Obelisk

- The Great South Tower of the Cathedral

Draped in smooth marble and gold - St. Vitus Cathedral's exterior

Watch the Changing of the Guards at 12 NN

- The main one happens in the 1st courtyard, but you have to be outside the castle complex to witness it front view. Otherwise, go to the other gates and find yourself a nice spot in front of the guards and watch the change with less people around. We watched the one in the gate going to the Stag Moat or Royal Garden.

Changing of the guards

Go Inside St. Vitus Cathedral

And marvel at the stained glass and the details of the interior.

Front of St. Vitus Cathedral

The Cathedral serves as a place of worship, coronation site, and houses tombs of important figures of Prague.

Stained glass inside St. Vitus Cathedral

St. Vitus Cathedral's interior

The exterior is mostly Gothic but the top part of the cathedral was completed in the Renaissance and Baroque styles. This is due to the fact that whenever there is a change in rule, the preferred style changed as well.

St. Vitus Cathedral

Marvel at the City of a Thousand Spires from the South Gardens

Ala-King's Landing view of Mala Strana from the South Gardens

Breath taking, I tell you. The views of Prague from the South Gardens will leave you feeling like you've been to King's Landing. Dedicate loads of time for this spot for photo-taking!

Part of the South Gardens

Walk down the steps to Mala Strana

And after all the photos taken in the South Gardens, you can head back down to Lesser Quarter through the steps on the end of the Gardens near the 1st courtyard.

View from the top of the steps going down to Mala Strana

Other things to do:

- The Golden Lane

- The Stag Moat

- The Royal Garden

- The First Courtyard

- The Powder Tower

Gate to the Powder Tower

Mala Strana

Exploring the Lesser Quarter

Mala Strana means "Little Side." It is also known as the Lesser Quarter/Town/Side because, originally, it was a market settlement where most of the poor population of Prague resided. But today, the postcodes here are among the most expensive in Prague.

What to do and see?

Cross the Karluv Most from Old Town

Mala Strana end of Karluv Most

Because why not? It is always fun to walk over the most famous bridge in Prague. Besides, it's got 360 degrees of views to offer whilst you cross.

Crossing the Karluv Most

John Lennon Wall

Visit this wall with graffiti dedicated to one of the most brilliant persons of the musical industry. It also features lyrics from songs of the Beatles. Just imagine there are no people.

Lennon Wall

Hear Mass at Church of Our Lady Victorious

Church of Our Lady Victorious

This church is home to the Infant Jesus of Prague. The church dates back to 1611, and the said statuette was originally from Spain and was donated to the Carmelites of Prague. Sightseeing is allowed except during mass times. English masses are held here every Thursdays at 5PM, and Sundays at 12NN.

Infant Jesus of Prague

U Maltézskych Rytîrü Lunch

After hearing the 12 NN mass, we went and had lunch at the nearby restaurant. We ordered Cesar salad, chips, and honey pork ribs.

Czech Lunch

The place was cosy, and the service was prompt. There are toilet facilities. The food is average and reasonably priced. The servings were generous apart from the honey pork ribs. Overall, I'd say it was a relatively satisfying meal.

View from Petrin Hill funicular station

Petrin Hill

Ride the funicular to go up Petrin Hill. But if you fancy a bit of uphill walk, feel free to do so - just about 20 minutes. Otherwise, enjoy the views of the city from the funicular as you ascend.

Rose Garden at Petrin Hill

- Explore the rose gardens as you head towards the Carpathian Ruthenian Church of Saint Michael Archangel. It's a 17th century wooden church relocated on the side of Petrin Hill from the Carpathian Mountains in 1929.

Back of the wooden church

Ruthenian Church

View of Prague from Kinsky Garden - Petrin Hill

- Sit along the lake Lachtan in Kinsky Gardens

Petrin Hill

- Climb the 299 steps of Petrin Lookout Tower - Prague's own version of Eiffel Tower. Measuring around 378m, the cast-iron tower has an observation deck for more panoramic views of Prague. Entry is worth 50 CZK. There are toilet facilities.

Petrin Lookout Tower

- Try out the Mirror Maze - adults pay 70 CZK. Make your way through a maze of diorama of the battle of the Praguers against the Swedes, and then through a hall with mirrors that will warp your appearance in fun and crazy ways.

- Visit the Holy Sepulchre and Cavalry Chapel, and the St. Lawrence Church. The Holy Sepulchre has a window which is strategically positioned so that a sun beam falls right on the sacrificial stone located at the centre of the chapel during Easter at 3PM. The Cavalry Chapel serves as a reminder of the Good Friday.

St. Lawrence Church

Filipinsky Dessert

Try out the Filo Halo-Halo in a Filo store located across the Church of Our Lady Victorious. For 75 CZK, enjoy a traditional dessert made of shaved ice usually mixed with agar jelly, sweet beans, coconut, fruits, and sometimes, ube (yam) while walking along the streets of Mala Strana.

Halo-Halo in Prague

Walk along the streets of Mala Strana

Go inside St. Nicholas Church

Dome of the Cathedral

St. Nicholas Church took a hundred years and 3 generations of architects to complete. Apart from the impressive details of its interiors, marvel at the ten paintings depicting the Passion of Christ, the copy of the Gothic wooden sculpture of Our Lady of Foy, and the cathedral's main organ consisting of 4000 pipes up to 6m in length - the organ that was said to have been played by W.A. Mozart during his visit in Prague.

The Altar

The main organ

Our Lady of Foy wooden sculpture

Cross the Karluv Most again and head to Old Town at night

Because the darkness brings out the light - Karluv Most is different at night, as well as the views of the Astronomical Clock Tower and the Old Town Square. Enjoy people watching while you marvel at these Czech gems.

Mala Strana at night

Old Town Square at night

Astronomical Clock Tower at night

Walking in the City of Love

The best way to explore Paris is to walk it. So better be wearing your trusted comfy footwear because you have a lot of ground to cover, literally.

Breakfast

Second day started early - as for every traveller. Arty Paris serves breakfast between 6 to 9 AM in the dining area. The breakfast was fairly simple - French croissant and baguette, bread, butter, marmalade, orange nectar, espresso and other caffeine options as there was a vending machine. The dining area with adjoining kitchen has a good and warm atmosphere, with electric sockets - probably for those with laptops and for charging mobile phones/other gadgets while having meals or while just hanging around.

Eiffel again

TOUR DE EIFFEL

I took bus 92 to Champ de Mars to be awestruck again by Eiffel Tower. This time, I went inside Tour Eiffel and climbed 330 steps up into the 1st level. I did not bother taking the elevator as I preferred to enjoy the sights of Paris while climbing up the stairs. The ticket was worth 7 euros.

Tour de Eiffel

On the first level, there is a souvenir shop, and restaurant 360, which was closed during that time. But the main attraction would have to be the breathtaking romantic panoramic views of Paris. I was blown away literally and metaphorically, as it was a windy day that day and I was wearing a dress. There was even a spot there where you and your lover could share a sweet kiss (or two). Binoculars were also available, and some tidbits of information about the iconic landmark. You can still opt to continue up to the higher levels of the tower, but since I had limited time, I had to keep going.
(Recommended length of stay: at least 1 hour)

Place to Kiss at Eiffel Tower

TROCADERO GARDENS

I then walked along Pont D'lena to Palace Chaillot at Trocadero Gardens to still marvel and enjoy the beauty of Eiffel Tower from a different view. The gardens boast of it's centre piece fountain, the Warsaw Fountains that offer a spectacular water display with its 20 water canons. There are also a number of statues in the gardens that you can admire.

(Recommended length of stay: 30 minutes to 1 hour or longer - depending on what you'd like to do as you can just hang out in the gardens as you bask in the sun and the view of Eiffel tower)

Trocadero Gardens

ARC DE TRIOMPHE

From Trocadero Gardens, I walked for about 20 minutes along Avenue Kieber to Arc de Triomphe. Being the world's largest triumphal arc, this famous Parisian landmark is the climax of a vista seen the length of the world's most beautiful avenue, Champs Elysees, from the smaller Arc de Triomphe du Carousel in the Tuileries Gardens and from the Obelisque de Luxor in the Place de la Concorde. It commemorates the victories of the French armies. I no longer climbed up the top of the arc, but I have read that they offer stunning views of the avenue and surrounding streets. I think, though, that admiring the arc from below and looking through it to glimpse the avenue is still a great experience.
(Recommended length of stay: 30 minutes to 1 hour)

Warning: As I was taking selfies with the arc, I almost got mobbed by a group of 3 young ladies. Their modus operandi is that they would approach you and ask what language you speak (normally, they will ask if you speak English) and then forcibly ask you to sign their petition for whatever charity (e.g. kids with special needs, the blind/deaf, etc). But beware! As when one girl was asking/forcing me to sign their papers, the other two girls were trying to open my bag! I just backed away from them and started shouting for them to leave me alone. You should know that there were tourist buses with tourists nearby and nobody even bothered to help me. It was really distressing and it got me flustered all throughout the day. After that experience, when I spot people holding clipboards or paper, I immediately steer clear from them and don't make eye contact. I also put on a rude/angry expression as I found out, it helps ward them off. They are all over the city so be warned especially if you are traveling solo like me.

Arc de Triomphe

I then had a quick stop over at one of McDonald's most beautiful branches along Champs Elysees, just about 5 minutes from the arc, to have lunch. If I might say, the branch was indeed different from most McDonald's branches - you can even choose either you want to pick up your food from the counter or have them serve it to your table.

Sacre Coeur

SACRE COEUR

After lunch, I took the tube from George V station to Anvers station to get to Sacre Coeur. This Roman Catholic basilica sits on top of the Montmartre hill, offering stunning views of the city. Go up to the dome to enjoy the second highest point, after the Eiffel Tower, offering such city views. The dome was closed when I visited because of the strong winds, so I was not able to go up, but the view just from the steps of the basilica is more than enough too.
(Recommended length of stay: at least an 1 hour)

Tip: The walk to/from Anvers station is lined by shops for souvenirs, which are actually among the cheapest or relatively good deals I have seen, so I suggest you buy some, if not all, of your souvenirs from here. I bought my fridge magnets from a corner shop in front of the station.

Parisian view from Sacre Coeur

AVENUE DES CHAMPS-ELYSEES

From the basilica, I went back to the city centre and got off at Grand Palais station. From there, I walked past Grand Palais and Petit Palais where there is a Christmas Village, during my time of visit, which I quickly browsed as I made my way to the Louvre.

Place de la Concorde

PLACE DE LA CONCORDE -> TUILERIES GARDENS -> ARC DE TRIOMPHE DU CAROUSEL

On the way to the museum, I walked past the Place de la Concorde, the Tuileries Gardens and the Arc de Triomphe du Carousel. This walk took about 20 minutes. I sat down on one of the benches in the gardens before heading to the Louvre for an art overload experience.

The Tuileries Gardens

MUSEE DE LOUVRE

It was a Friday, and every such day, everyone aged 25 and below from anywhere in the world can enjoy free admission to the museum starting from 6 PM. So I got in for free. Before I went in, I had a couple hundred of shots outside the museum, which was grand in itself. The three glass pyramids were a sight to see, especially at night, with its lights on. The top 5 pieces of art that I went to see were, of course, the Mona Lisa, Liberty Leading the People, the Winged Victory, the Coronation of Napoleon, and Psyche Revived by the Kiss of Love. My favorite spots of this attraction can be found at the main entrance, the 3 glass pyramids, and at the exit, the famous Inverted Pyramid, where it was thought that the remains of Mary Magdalene can be found far below as per Dan Brown's fictional novel, Angels and Demons.
(Recommended length of stay: I spent 2 hours and I wish I could stay longer as it was not enough to really explore the treasures that this place hold.)

Inside the Louvre's glass pyramid entrance

LE FUMOIR

I took the exit to Rue Rivoli and walked towards Le Fumoir for a 3 course dinner on my own. It is one of the top rated restaurants around the Louvre so I opted to try it. The dinner was elegantly cooked and the atmosphere was warm and sophisticated. The staff are nice, and service is really good as well. It was a good dining experience, priced at 35 euros.

Dinner at Le Fumoir

With my belly full, I walked along the Seine towards the bus stop in front of the Louvre to take bus 95 to Brancion to get to my hostel and retire for the night.

Outside the Louvre

Day Expenses:

- 7 euros: Tour Eiffel

- 8.95 euros: McDonald's lunch

- 35 euros: Le Fumoir lunch

Total = 34.5 euros