Showing posts with label Karluv Most. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Karluv Most. Show all posts

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Top Tips for Prague

What I found to be helpful:

Transportation

Get the travel card.

Although most of the sites are clustered together and thus are within comfortable walking distance from each other, if you want to make the most of your time in Prague, you can still opt to use the transportation system to save time (e.g. walking for 40 minutes versus riding the tram for 12 minutes to get from one side of the Vltava River to another). 

The travel card comes in 1 day, 2 day or 3 day unlimited use of all kinds of transport. Just don't forget to validate it once because officers in casual attire regularly check and you don't want to pay a hefty fine if you get caught. It is very convenient, really.

Knowing the City

Join a walking tour.

Because what's the whole point of going to a place and just looking at the buildings or surroundings and not knowing what they meant or what history they possess?
Walking tours in Old Town Square
Join a free walking tour first. There are loads of types of tours to choose from. We chose Discover Prague tours because they got the best ratings and their schedule fitted ours. We didn't regret attending their Royal Walk free tour, and as a result, we ended up booking for their Prague Castle district tour which was 300 CZK pp.

Discover Prague Tours: David from Colorado
 It's a good way to learn about the city - especially if the tour guide is good and fun (we had David from Colorado). It is also a fun way to meet fellow travellers.

Go inside Museums.

We went inside the Museum of Communism as majority of Prague's history includes the bloody events brought about by the communistic era. Entrance fee is 290 CZK pp.

Money

Bring your Euro or GBP.

Instead of changing your money straight into CZK before going to Prague, bring your local currency and have them changed to Koruna in Prague. You'll get more out of your money because the exchange rate is higher, believe me.

Change your currency at Mango or Praha Exchange in Jindřišská, or at the International Currency Exchange in Mala Strana. They have 0% commission fee - so what you see in the exchange rate is what you get. ATMs or banks have lower exchange rates and they also have a processing/commission fee. 

Must do

Cross the Karluv Most (day and night).


Karluv Most early in the AM

Cross it as often as you can. I guarantee - you it's a different experience each time. The ideal time would be real early in the morning when there are only literally a handful of people present.
Karluv Most at night

See the Old Town Square (day and night).

Old Town Square at daytime
Sit back and relax at the square both during day and night. There are simply loads to see: the Astronomical clock tower and its show, St. Nicholas church, Church of Our Lady Before Tyn, etc. The same goes with sitting/strolling along the Vltava River.
Old Town Square at night

Cruise along the Vltava River.

Either have a lunch, snack or dinner, or just a simple cruise sans food/drinks along the Vltava River to enjoy the sights that the city has to offer.

Vltava River view at night
Vltava River at daytime

The Castle and the Changing of the Guards.

Prague Castle Complex - St. Vitus Cathedral
The castle complex is a must do in Prague and so is the changing of the guards at midday in the first courtyard. I suggest that you watch it instead in the gate near the Stag Moat/Jelení Príkop to be able to watch it with less people around. Be there about 30 minutes beforehand to secure a good spot in front of the gate.
Changing of the guards at the side gate

Panoramic Views.

Go up to Letna Park observation deck, the Petrin Hill, Prague Castle's South Gardens and Strahov Monastery for different panoramic viewpoints of the city. They're all free and breathtaking.
View from Strahov Monastery

View from Letna Park
View from Petrin Hill
View from Prague Castle's South Gardens


Find David Cerny's works.

Prague is known to have bizarre and provocative works of art scattered throughout the city. Look out for David Cerny's works, those dedicated for Franz Kafka, Sigmund Freud, and many more. Can you find them all?

7ft Sigmund Freud
Franz Kafka statue: a depiction from his story "Description of a Struggle"

Anna Chromy's Il Commendatore (Hollow Man)
Broken Men: A memorial to the victims of Communism
David Cerny's Piss

Nightlife

PubCrawl

3 pubs. free shot per pub. 1 hour open bar in the first pub. freebies. games/activities. Get to know people. For the nights we won't remember.
Drunken Monkey Pub Crawl

Food/Drinks

Koleno

Pork knuckles marinated in beer.

Duck confit (front) and Koleno (rear)

Trdelnik

Rolled dough which is grilled and topped with sugar and walnut mix.
Trdelnik

Goulash

Beef cooked with sauerkraut paired with bread dumplings.

Czech Beef goulash

Oplatky

Spa wafers with cream flavouring sandwiched between layers.

X-Beer 33

With an ETOH content of 11.8%, this is the strongest beer in Prague. The dark bittersweet lager ferments for 6 months in oak barrels and can be found in U Medvidku Beer Hall and Restaurant - Prague's first cabaret, the city's largest beer hall, and smallest brewery.


X-Beer 33


Sunday, October 1, 2017

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

 

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