20 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Prague

Also known as the "golden city", Prague has many beautiful places to visit. You will learn exactly about them in this article, in which I will present the most important tourist attractions in Prague.

If you want to visit Prague, don't plan to do it by limiting yourself to a city break. The Czech capital is full of tourist attractions, so give it several days to visit it.

You will be surprised by the culture, the history, and the many architectural styles that you will find on the streets of the city of the Czech Republic.

If you want to be among the more than seven million tourists who visit Prague annually, here is a list of the most important places to visit in Prague.

1. Prague Castle

One of the most important tourist attractions in Prague is the castle of the same name. If initially it was built as a fortress, it is currently the residence of the President of the Czech Republic.

Prague Castle is a unique place, all the more so as you meet here the most important architectural styles of the last millennium.

It would be interesting to admire the castle at night when the lights on the walls turn it into a real spectacle.

2. Charles Bridge

The Charles Bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in Europe. It is worth visiting especially after dark when it becomes one of the most attractive tourist sights in Prague.

It seems that then it has a special charm, due to the lights and statues that accompany the 520 meters long bridge.

One of the most important statues on the bridge is of King Charles. During his reign, a bridge was built, which still bears his name today.

3. Saint Vitus Cathedral

Saint Vitus Cathedral is the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the Czech Republic and one of the most important tourist attractions in Prague.

It took more than 500 years to be built. During all this time, changes and improvements were made, leading to a combination of several architectural styles.

You can see how the baroque style is combined with the neo-gothic style or the gothic style is harmoniously combined with the renaissance style. Inside, the splendid colors of the stained glass windows, which depict the Holy Trinity, attract attention.

A climb up the cathedral's main tower provides you with a special and unique view of the entire city.

4. Old Town of Prague (Staré Město)

The ideal place to enjoy a coffee or stroll through the historic streets of the city of Prague is the old center.

Here you will find a lot of restaurants, terraces, pubs, entertainment, and leisure centers, art galleries, and museums.

The beginnings of trade are connected to the square in the old center of Prague, somewhere around the 11th century. At that time it was an important commercial point of several routes on which various goods were transported. This made the old center always crowded.

This is what happens nowadays, when not only Czechs but especially tourists, visit the place with great interest.

5. The Dancing House

Built between 1992 and 1996, the Dancing House has a more recent history, compared to the other major tourist attractions in Prague.

However, this construction caused great controversy in the first years after its completion. The locals thought that it did not fit into the architectural style of the area, but seeing the interest of the tourists, they accepted it.

The name of the building is not accidental at all, because looking at the construction you can almost say that you see two dancers.

With modern architecture, made up of unique curves, one of the two towers is in the shape of a woman wearing a skirt. For this reason, it was nicknamed "Fred and Ginger", after the famous American dancers Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

6. Klementinum Building (National Library)

The Klementinum building is one of the most beautiful buildings in Europe and one of the unmissable tourist sights in Prague. Currently, it houses the National Library in Prague.

Built-in the Baroque style, the building had the role of serving as a workplace for a number of important mathematicians, philosophers, astronomers, and historians.

After it became the property of the state, the foundations of a library were laid here, which, at the moment, holds over 6 million books.

7. National Gallery

The National Gallery in Prague houses some of the most important art collections in Europe. Although it focuses mainly on works by Czech artists, there are also other foreign artists, such as Monet or Picasso.

An essential element to mention is the fact that it also includes other forms of art, such as photography, sculpture, fashion, or applied arts.

8. Municipal House

The Municipal House is the most emblematic Art Nouveau building in Prague.

Inside, the Municipal House contains several halls, among the most important of which is Sala Smetana. It mainly hosts the concerts of the Symphony Orchestra, the Spring Festival, or organ concerts.

Another important hall of the Municipal House is known as the Mayor's Hall. In 1918, the act of "birth" of the independent state of Czechoslovakia was signed here.

9. The Jewish Quarter (Josefov)

The Jewish Quarter is also part of the list of tourist attractions in Prague. This area became known, with the construction of some interesting apartment buildings, in Art Nouveau style.

However, today it enjoys special popularity thanks to the Jewish Museum. It includes the Spanish Synagogue, the Maisel Synagogue, the Klaus Synagogue, the Pinkas Synagogue, the Old Jewish Cemetery, and the Ceremonial Hall.

10. Golden street (Zlatá ulička)

One of the most famous streets in Prague, Zlatá ulička, consists of only 11 brightly colored houses. They were built at the end of the 16th century, with the aim of hosting the guards of Emperor Rudolf II of Habsburg.

However, it seems that the name of the street is due to goldsmiths who lived there a few years later.

The street is also known as Alchimistilor Street, due to a legend that says that some alchemists lived in those houses. They would have tried to transform iron into gold, to obtain the elixir of life and the philosopher's stone.

It seems that the famous Czech writer Franz Kafka lived at house number 22.

11. Petřín observation tower

The Petřín observation tower, located on the hill of the same name, looks like the Eiffel Tower, one of the most representative tourist attractions in Paris.

Although the appearance of the Petřín Tower is strikingly similar to that of the Eiffel Tower, the difference between the two is that the tower in Prague is only 63 meters tall.

The Petřín Observation Tower is one of the most spectacular places to visit in Prague. Visitors can climb the stairs to the top of the tower or choose the convenient option, the elevator.

No matter how they choose to climb, the view from the top will take their breath away.

12. Wenceslas Square

Wenceslas Square was built during the reign of King Charles XIV, initially being the horse market. Many years later, in 1989, the Velvet Revolution took place in this market, which had as its purpose the removal of the communist regime.

Currently, the market is permanently filled with emotion, because the main demonstrations and street shows take place here.

13. John Lennon's wall

Although the famous singer John Lennon never arrived in Prague, he has a wall here that bears his name. Immediately after his death, fans showed their pain by drawing lyrics of his songs on a wall.

Another reason for the drawings seems to have been a silent protest against the communist regime under whose dictatorship the country was at that time. The authorities allegedly deleted the drawings, but they were redone.

The place became a symbol of hope and peace, and since then people gather annually to commemorate the singer's death.

14. The astronomical clock

One of the most spectacular tourist attractions in Prague is the astronomical clock in the old city center. The clock dates back to 1410 but was restored 80 years later.

A strange legend says that the watchmaker who made the work had his eyes gouged out. The reason for this horror is to prevent him from making another similar watch in another city in Europe.

At the fixed time, between 9 am and 9 pm, the figures of the 12 apostles can be seen moving in the upper part of the clock.

15. Saint Nicholas Church

Being one of the newest churches in Prague, the St. Nicholas church stands out for its style.

Built by the Jesuits in the 18th century, it has a splendid interior, made in Baroque style by the well-known Czech painter Karel Skreta.

Concerts are frequently organized inside, especially for classical music, but also for religious music.

16. The National Theatre

Located on the banks of the Vltava River, the National Theater in Prague is an elegant and emblematic building for the performing arts.

With a tumultuous past, closed for a long time by the communists and even burned to the ground, the National Theater is a symbol of Prague culture.

17. Vyšehrad Castle

Situated on a hill on the eastern bank of the Vltava River, Vyšehrad Castle (Upper Castle) is the ideal place for a relaxing stroll or perhaps a picnic. In addition to an enchanting view, you will discover here a fortress whose history is surrounded by mystery.

It is said that the fortress dates back to the 10th century. According to popular legend, Vyšehrad Castle was the first settlement in Prague, owned by a princess who wanted to build a city around it. Later, it became, for a long time, the residence of King Vratislav II.

The Vyšehrad Fortress includes the Vyšehrad Cemetery where the graves of some elite personalities from the Czech Republic are located and the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

Also here you will find the Roundabout of Saint Martin, the oldest building in the Czech capital.

18. The National Museum

The oldest museum in the Czech Republic, the National Museum, was founded in 1800. In order to host as many collections from different fields as possible, the National Museum has several locations.

All sum up millions of articles from fields such as archaeology, anthropology, mineralogy, zoology, music, and arts.

To get a clearer idea of all the museum's locations and collections, I recommend you visit the official website of the National Museum.

19. The Zoological Garden

Visitors' reviews rank the Prague Zoo among the top 10 in the world. On an area of over 140 hectares, approximately 700 species of animals can be found, some of them on the verge of extinction.

Being arranged in such a large area, the zoo can also be visited by a chairlift. Such a visit promises wonderful views of several animal enclosures, including the interior tropical jungle.

20. Strahov Monastery and Library

The Strahov Monastery dates back to the 12th century and is the second oldest monastery in Prague.

The most important halls of the monastery are the ones that host the Philosophical Library and the Theological Library.

No matter how many days you want to spend in Prague, you must also experience Prague cuisine during your trip. The numerous restaurants and breweries in the city will make your experience unforgettable.

Especially since Prague is very attractive from this point of view. There are also beer tastings, which are organized almost at every step.

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