Prague! (part 2)

Ok, here we are with other news about Prague!

WHAT TO DO&SEE: Prague is rich of history, especially jewish history. In fact this city had one of the biggest jewish quarter in Europe, Josefov. 

Jewish Cemetery

1- The Jewish Museum is actually quite expensive, the ticket for all the sites is 480 CZK (discount ticket for student, 320 CZK). It comprises 6 sites plus the Old Synagogue: I think that the two main attractions are the Old Synagogue and the cemetery, because in the other sites are more like a real museum. To notice: in most of the historical places in Prague you have to pay an additional fee to take photos!

2- The Prague Castle is really beautiful, hanging on a hill on the other side of the river. I suggest you to take tram n°22 or 91 and get off at Prazsky Hrad: with these trams you have a beautiful view of the castle and it seems to be in San Francisco when it goes up the hill!

San Vitus Cathedral

You can choose whether if take the short tour (San Vitus's Cathedral, Old Castle, San George's basilica and the Golden Street) or the long one (in addition you can access some expositions). Here are the prices for the different tours. After having bought the ticket, just follow the map! It's not too big, I think that one morning it's enough to visit it. Tip: when you exit the castle, follow the small street on the left side, you will see a very small gate (always on the left). If you run down and then go up tho the hill, you will find yourself in the Royal Garden, just next to the Summer Palace! Walk back to the top of the castle and you will see the Orangerie, and some hawks to take photos with.

Charles' Bridge by night

3- Charles Bridge is actually more beautiful from any another bridge on the river. In fact when you are walking over it I think you cant' appreciate it at all. On the bridge there are a lot of artists that trying to sell their works.

4- If you visit Prague's Castle, you have to go to Strahov Library too! It's just two tram stop after the castle; it's a monastery with a magnificent library. I think it is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen.

Venceslao's Square by night

5- Venceslao's Square is more like a street than a proper square. In the middle you can find some food stands where you can eat (see "Prague part 1"); at the end of the square there is a small monument that remembers a victim of the communist dictatorship. Something particular: if you take Vodickova street, in the middle of the square, you can find the oldest cinema in town, with a strange sculpture (a horse hanging upsidedown the ceiling). The cinema, called Lucerna, is in a passage on the left side of the street.

Clock tower by night

6- The Old Town Square is very famous, especially for the astronomical clock. The astronomical clock every hour (not every hour actually, I remember from 10 a.m. to 18.00 p.m., but maybe because it was off-peak season) offers to tourists a sort of "show": the 12 Apostles exit from two small (very small) doors. You can also go into the tower. Ok, if I have to tell the truth, I think that this show is overrated, you can't see anything from the square!

7- Walking along the river: do it, do it, do it! Take tram n° 3/7/17/52 and get off at Vyton stop, then try to go down, just along the river, better if it's sunset time! Now, walk back to the city centre: you can admire a lot of small "pubs" where you can drink a beer looking at the sunset. At a certain point you have to go up to the street, and you can see the dancing house. From this bridge you can also see Charles Bridge by night. Unforgettable.

Small pub along the river

Dancing house

SOUVENIRS: Prague's souvenir are quite expensive (of course if you want to buy orrible things the price is lower). I bought two nail files for my friends (they were 89 CZK each) in one of the shops near the old town square. Shops near there are all the same (I'm not jocking, it's the truth). Ok I know nail files are not the best souvenir ever, but Prague is also famous for the Bohemian crystal, so I thought that these could have been a good idea. Then I bought a small pottery house for my parents (they love pottery houses, so I buy one in all my journeys; this was 380 CZK, not very cheap, but for mum and dad...): there is a street that runs down the castle in which there are a lot of cool shops, or at least different from the ones of the centre. This street was Nerudova street, and it has a beautiful architecture, too. Last but not least I had to by something for my aunt&uncle: this is the real problem, they already have all. I saw that around Prague there are some shops called Manufaktura: they sell things for the bath, like soap and something else, all natural and all made in Czech Republic (they also sell wood toys for children). I bought a slice (yeah, it's like a cake cut in small slices) of a pear soap with a small bag to put it in, and I paid more or less 5€.

TRANSPORTS: As I told you, we were quite far from the centre, so we decided to buy three one-day tickets (110 CZK each). We like to go back "home" during the day, so that it isn't too tiring. The one-day ticket is valid for 24hours, so if you validate it at 5 pm, it will last till 4.59 pm next day. There is also a three-day ticket, but it's only sold in a tourist information centre (don't know where). Here you can find more information about transports.

This is my personal experience, and I suggest you to buy a good travel guide before leaving, and to READ IT at home, planning your journey. My best friend are the Lonely Planet guides, I absolutely love them (it looks like an advertising, it is not, I swear it!)