There are so many sights to see in Prague, the UNESCO World Heritage capital city of the Czech Republic! If you haven’t already, head on over to my post on what to explore in Old Town on your first day in Prague. Then, read on about my suggestions for the Lesser Town & Castle District of Prague.
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Castle District
On your second day in Prague, head across the Charles Bridge, over the Vltava River, to the part of the city known as Malá Strana (Lesser Town). From here, walk uphill along Nerudova Street. Then, ascend 209 steep steps of the New Castle staircase to reach Prague Castle, which sits high atop Hradčany Hill.
Alternatively, you can take the (very easy to use) metro to the Malostranská stop. Just take any A-line train heading in the direction of Nemocnice Motol. When you exit Malostranská station, turn left, and you will stumble upon the much less steep Old Castle staircase (which only has 101 steps!). From here you can stroll along the Garden of the Ramparts towards the main castle entrance. Make sure to stop along the way to take in the beautiful vista looking down at the Vltava River, Old Town, and beyond.
Prague Castle
Prague Castle was once the seat of power for the Bohemian Přemyslid dynasty and capital of the Holy Roman Empire. It now houses the office of the President of the Czech Republic. Much of the castle complex is open to the public for free. You can more than fill your time just taking in the exterior of the buildings and the castle grounds. But you should purchase a ticket if you want to take a closer look at some of the main buildings in the castle complex, including the Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, and St. Vitus’ Cathedral. You will also need a ticket to wander the Golden Lane, which is lined with colorful houses built into the castle wall.
St. Vitus’ Cathedral
St. Vitus’ Cathedral is the most impressive building in the castle complex; the spires of this Gothic cathedral can be seen from across the city, sitting tall at the top of Hradčany Hill. Construction of the cathedral began in 1344 but, incredibly, was not finished until 1929 due to disruption from the Hussite Wars between Protestant Czechs and Catholic Germans. Inside the cathedral is the ornate St. Wenceslas Chapel and the Crown Chamber, home of the Crown Jewels; the Czech kings are buried in the crypt of the cathedral.
Loreto Church
After exploring all the components of the castle complex, exit through the main castle entrance, which is where the changing of the guards takes place hourly on the hour from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. You can descend the hill back towards Malá Strana via the New Castle stairs (it is much easier to descend the steep incline than it is to climb up the staircase!) or you can check out the Loreto Church nearby the castle. This Baroque church is a Catholic pilgrimage site and it contains a replica of the house in Italy where the Virgin Mary is thought to have received the Incarnation.
Nerudova Street
While in Malá Strana, you must go on a Prague house sign scavenger hunt! Houses in Prague were not given identifying numbers until 1770; before that they were identified by house signs or symbols which were allegorical or advertised the profession of the family living there. Start the scavenger hunt by strolling up and down Nerudova Street. The House of the Two Suns at Nerudova 47 is the birthplace of Czech poet/author Jan Neruda, who was born here, and after whom the street is named. Some other signs to keep an eye out for on this street are the White Swan, Green Lobster, Golden Key, Three Fiddles, and the Red Lamb.
Church of St. Nicholas
At the bottom of Nerudova Street, you’ll pass through the main square of Malá Strana. This square can also be reached from the Charles Bridge by passing through the Lesser Town Bridge Towers. Here you’ll find the Baroque-style Church of St. Nicholas (not to be confused with the one in Old Town Square, though similar in aesthetics). The viewing gallery at the top of this church is yet another opportunity for a bird’s-eye view of Prague, if you have the energy to climb over 200 steps to get there!
Petřín Hill Funicular
If you have time left in the day or, better yet, a third day to spend in Prague, you should spend some time exploring Petřín Hill. I recommend taking the funicular on the way up, and then get lost on purpose wandering the pathways back down the hill. It’s like a “choose your own adventure” but you’ll eventually reach the main street if you keep going downhill. To get to the funicular from the Church of St. Nicholas, follow Karmelitská street for a few blocks; the entrance to the funicular that takes you to the top of Petřín Hill is at the corner of U Lanové dráhy. It is through a graffitied alleyway and can be hard to miss.
Petřín Lookout Tower
Petřín Hill is a lovely public park filled with shady paths, rose gardens, and even a Mirror Maze! However, the main attraction is the Lookout Tower. The tower was built in 1891 and modeled after the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It is definitely not the most beautiful piece of architecture in Prague. But, the view from the top might be the most impressive of all the bird’s-eye views in the city. You have the option to climb 299 stairs to the
Whatever you do, do NOT leave Prague without trying a trdelník (or two or three)! These doughy confections are rolled in cinnamon sugar (with an option to be filled with ice cream or chocolate). They are to die for and reason enough to visit Prague!
Did I miss any must-see sites in Prague’s Castle District? Comment below!
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