1-Prague

Basic Info:

• Called Praha in Czech,it is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic.
• Currency-Czech Koruna or Crowns (CZK)-Denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 (which are coins) and 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 CZK (which are banknotes.) As of now(in April 2018)Although Czech is part of the European Union,Euro is an unofficial second currency.If you pay in euro, you will usually receive crowns in change.Look out for the sign-“Přijímáme euro” meaning we accept Euros.
• 1 Euro=25.3 CZK    1 OMR=53.6 CZK(again as of April 2018)

• Place in the world:

(Image courtesy: ultr.me)

• Languages spoken:Czech and I'm hoping English
• Visa required: Schengen plus the passport must be valid for at least 90 days after departure from the Czech Republic.(Rules for an Indian citizen!)
• Geographically significant structure to keep in mind:River Vlatava
• Best months to visit:March,April,May,September,October,November
• City card:YES!I love it when a city has one of these.Saves me lots of time and money.Most websites however indicate Prague is a 'walking' city so the card might not make sense.Will have to calculate current ticket prices for attractions when this trip is being planned.
• The flag of Czech republic:

Random trivia:

• Prague is known as The City of a Hundred Spires.
• Prague is the proud owner of the largest castle in the world.It's called(and why would it be called anything else??)-Prague Castle
• On Easter Monday, tradition holds that women must be whipped (gently, please) by men, lest they “dry out” during the following year. In return, men should receive chocolate and hard-boiled eggs!!
• It was in Prague that Pluto was taken down a notch. The general assembly of the International Astronomical Union, which gathered Aug. 14–25, 2006 in the Czech capital, voted to redefine Pluto as a “dwarf planet” rather than a full-fledged planet, thereby decreasing the number of official planets in the solar system from nine to eight!
• Vltava is the longest river in the Czech Republic
• On the summer solstice ever year, around June 20 or 21, when you observe the sunset from the gate of the bridge tower on the Old Town end of Charles Bridge.as the sun inches toward the horizon and disappears behind St. Vitus Cathedral on the hill, the last rays appear precisely at the spot where the remains of St. Vitus are buried.
• It is said that egg yolks were mixed into the mortar to strengthen the construction of the Charles bridge!

Top things to see:

1. Prague Castle-It is a UNESCO world heritage site.(click to find out why that is important!) It spans an impressive 18 acres.The complex where it stands is also home to several other attractions-St. Vitus Cathedral, the Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica and the Golden Lane.Arrive at the castle before midday so you don't miss watching the ceremonial changing of the guard including a fanfare and flag ceremony which takes place in the first courtyard of the castle at 12:00 daily .Entry to the castle ground is free but the other attractions will need tickets.(Free for city card holders) Prague Castle is accessible by subway from the Hradcany station or you can take Tram 22 to the Pražský Hrad stop. It's also a 0.8 km walk from Charles Bridge.The complex is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
2. Old town-This is a medieval settlement of Prague which was separated from the outside by a semi-circular moat and wall, connected to the Vltava river at both of its ends. The moat is now covered up by the streets and the Old Town is surrounded by the New Town of Prague.Places to see in the Old Town include the Old New Synagogue, Old Town Square and Astronomical Clock.Do not miss-a seven foot tall sculpture of the world famous psycho-analyst Sigmund Freud hanging from a metal beam located somewhere in Stare Mesto which is the sublime urban area of the old town.Often mistaken for a suicide attempt, the sculpture has also been responsible for several calls to the emergency services since its creation.
3. Astronomical Clock-Also known as the Prague Orloj,it mounted on the southern wall of the Old Town City Hall.It has three main components: the astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky, a calendar dial with medallions representing the months and an hourly clockwork.It's the oldest still working intact example of an astronomical clock!Btw,telling time with this clock is supposedly harder than interpreting some of its astronomical data :) As I write this, according to the official website-The Old Town Hall tower is undergoing general repair. While its observation deck is open to public, the Prague Astronomical Clock is being repaired.The medieval clock has been taken apart and it will be back in place in August 2018. Climbing the tower needs a ticket.(Free for city card holders)The clock has a 45 seconds 'performance' when it's close to striking an hour.Take the metro-Starometska line A or Tram 2/17/18 to the old town square.
4. The Zizkov Tower.Also known as the TV tower,this is Prague’s tallest and most surreal landmark. Standing at 216 meters, the tower supports 9 pods offering panoramic views of Prague and the surrounding area.It has a series of crawling faceless babies on the walls(which have,as of now,been taken down for cleaning and safety checks and are due back up soon!).The Observatory is open every day from 9am to 2pm and needs tickets.It is located close to the Jiriho Z Podebrad metro station on the green Line A route.Most websites do not recommend eating at the restaurants located there.
5. Petrin lookout tower-Prague's loose copy of the Eiffel tower!At the same altitude as the real Eiffel Tower,it takes 299 steps to get to the top.Also needs tickets. (Click on the link for 'how to get there' details as well.Not sure if I'd want to do this one.Unless I've really run out of things to do/see/eat.
6. Charles bridge-supposedly a fun 30 min thing to do.Located between old town market and castle,this crosses the Vltava river.Only foot traffic is allowed on the bridge.It's free!30 saint statues built to honour various saints,line the bridge.Take the tram 12,20,22 to Malostranské náměstí tram stop,tram 17,18 to Karlovy lázně tram stop,Staroměstská metro station to get there.A great time of day to come to the bridge is at sunset when one can enjoy a breathtaking view of the fully lit Prague Castle against the evening sky.
7. Trifot-This is a kinetic sculpture by Czech installation artist David Černý(same guy who installed the crawling babies on the Zizkov tower and the hanging Freud statue in old town)The 40-foot-tall statue is modeled on vintage cameras with eyeballs in place of lenses. The bulging eyes swivel about independently, watching passersby, who might find themselves broadcast onto one of six monitors in the area. Take metro line B to Nové Butovice to get there.
8. Dancing house-The building is an example of deconstructivist architecture, with an unusual shape. It reflects a woman and man (Ginger Rogers and Fred Astair) dancing together.The house is located near the Jiraskov Bridge ( two down from the Charles Bridge ), within walking distance from the underground station Karlovo namesti. The 2/3/17/21 Trams pass outside.You can either buy an admission ticket to the rooftop(100CZK) or buy a drink for free entry to the terrace accessible via the Glass Bar.The place offers a rare view of the Vltava River and Prague Castle.
9. Loreta-is a pilgrimage destination in Hradčany, a district of Prague, Czech Republic. It consists of a cloister, the church of the Lord’s Birth, the Santa Casa and a clock tower with a famous chime.The Loreta treasure consists of a rare collection of liturgical objects from the 16th to 18th centuries, the most famous of which is the "Prague Sun", a monstrance encrusted with 6,222 diamonds.Tickets needed.Located close to the Prague castle.
10. Powder tower-This is basically a gate which separates Prague’s New Town from the Old Town. To get to the Powder Tower you can walk either from the “Náměstí republiky” metro station or take a slightly longer walk from Wenceslas Square, along the street “Na Příkopě”
11. Lennon Wall-A wall covered with Beatles' song lyrics, peace signs and paintings of John Lennon.Not really a fan but apparently it's quirky and good for a quick see and pictures.Located in Mana Strana,close to the Charles Bridge Tower.There is also a love-lock or padlock bridge ie Čertovka pedestrian bridge located close to this.
12. St.Nicholas's church-This is a short walk from Prague Castle.It is well visited for its stunning baroque architecture, lust frescoes and classical sculptures.

Tours to take within the city:

1. The city offers a tour of all of David Černý. The free of charge tour with no entrance fees begins at the Franz Kafka Museum (just a 5 minute walk from Malostranska Metro station, A line).To complete the more central leg of the tour should take no more than 1 hour 30 minutes on foot.
2. Hop on hop off bus- plenty to choose from and probably what I would do if I just cant figure out the city.
3. Segway tour-suitable for age 15+
4. Walking tours-Michal comes highly recommended on many websites.Although the concept of 'free' here means feel free to pay what you like based on your experience with it-a concept I'm not sure if I'm ok with!
5. Food tours-Eating Europe  comes highly recommended.

Kids might like:

1. Mirror Maze:This building resembles a small castle, but inside, instead of a labyrinth with mysterious stone hallways, you’ll find one made of mirrors.Needs tickets.
2. Kampa park:This park – an island between the Vltava River and its side branch, Čertovka, where you can see the huge mill wheel of the 15th century former Grand Priory Mill, is one of the most romantic and picturesque places in the city.Close to Mala Strana.Has a museum.
3. Planetarium:The Prague Planetarium, with a 23 m high projection dome with a surface are of 843 m2, is one of the largest in the world. The integrated opto-mechanical and digital systems can create a perfect illusion of outer space.Needs tickets.
4. Mořský svět aka sea world:Largest display of marine life in the Czech Republic. A 100,000 litre salt-water tank houses not only corals of all types, but also sharks. In another tank you'll find over 200 fish and other sea creatures peeking out of the shipwreck of the Bounty, and in an aquarium inspired by the legend of Atlantis, you can observe creatures virtually unchanged since prehistoric days in and amongst the ruins of the lost city.Tickets needed.
5. Children's island-Cant seem to find more about it at this point.However,will hit google up once I'm ready to visit and if my kids are still young enough to find joy in parks!
6. Prague Zoo:Prague Zoo has  a geotrail, an exhibition gallery, the sigtseeing path Zakázanka or unique Gočár´s Houses.Kids have a unique play area called Bororo Reserve and other smaller playgrounds as well as an observation tower. There is also a chairlift. They can ride a pony, a minitrain or a children´s tram. The Zoo also offers special entertaining programme such as feeding of giraffes and camels or making paper from elephant dung.Details and ticket prices can be found here.
7. Magic garden-This would probably be a day trip by itself (again depending on my kids)since it’s a small Chateau in Kunice just a few km away form Prague towards Brno.It's fairy tale land for kids with fairy tale creatures and miniatures of Czech castles. Use this link for details.
8. Creative world park:It's a cafe with an outdoor area called the fairy tale trail and has many activities for kids to do.I would look here for details.
9. Lego Museum:A must for Lego fans I guess.The size and number of exhibits ranks it not only the largest in the Czech Republic but also in Europe!Ticket info here.

Food not to be missed!

1. Trdelnik – or the chimney cake.Look for stands that serve them hot off the fire.Basic street fare!Usually topped with a dusting of sugar, nuts or cinnamon or filled with Nutella or icecream.
2. Perníky Czech gingerbread made with honey, butter, and nuts.Enough said!Perníčkův sen is a go to place to try some according to a lot of travelogues.
3. Bramboráčky another street food.These are potato pancakes folded over meat and vegetable mixtures to make a meal.
4. Kolache-Savoury pastry.Another regular street fare but Simply good supposedly has one of the best.
5. Rakvička- a sweet, crunchy,hollow cookie in a pile of whipped cream that goes best with coffee.
6. Olomouc cheese.Dont think I'm brave enough to try this as yet primarily because it is a particularly stinky variety of soft cow’s cheese.But it's very very Czech.
7. Chlebičky open faced sandwiches
8. Kulajda-A soup similar to a sour cream soup, and contains mushrooms, potatoes, dill, and an egg – often a quail’s egg.
9. Knedlíky-Bread dumplings that are staple with most food.
10. Langose-a kind of fried pizza with lots of tomato sauce and grated cheese on top
11. Prazska sunka-Prague ham brine cured, smokes and boneless. It is grilled over an open fire.
12. Pečené vepřové koleno-pork knuckle and knee.It’s usually marinated in dark beer and herbs, roasted, and then served with a number of accompaniments, the most essential being horseradish, pickles, and bread.
13. Nakládaný hermelín-Pickled cheese similar to Camembert.
14. Moravian sparrow-roasted pieces of pork belly or shoulder marinated in garlic and caraway seeds and then served with dumplings and sauerkraut.
15. Klobásy/utopenci-grilled sausages/pickled sausages
16. Spirits-Well Prague is supposed to be a beer republic but I'm not really a big fan of beer so doesnt really appeal to me.The other must try spirits here are-Cherry Wine,Becherovka,Slivovice,Fernet Stock.

Restaurants not to be missed:

1. Vyoptana Railway restaurant- where the spacious tables are surrounded by a large toy train, train tracks, villages, bridges and more! Each table at Vytopna has a track in the middle of it, which enables drinks and snacks to be delivered to you by train after you order them.Serves Czech fare.Located in Václavské Nám. 56 (Palác Fénix building), Praha 1.
2. Medieval Tavern-Entry is by ticket, which must be purchased in advance.The Medieval Tavern is a historic restaurant in the Old Town. It lays on the finest medieval feast in Prague with entertainment, hearty food and drinks included. Swordsmen, jugglers, dancers and musicians perform.
3. Restaurace Vozovna Stromovka-This is a charming garden restaurant with a lovely outdoor open air terrace, having its own playground complete with a trampoline to keep children entertained.
4. Nase Maso-meat lovers paradise.Enough said!

Souvenirs to look out for in Prague:
Aside from the fridge magnet/mug/beer steins etc etc

1. Beer cosmetics by Manufaktura
2. Garnet though pricey
3. Spa wafers-These are very thin and very large (the size of a small vinyl disc) and hide an unexpected surprise layer of sweet cocoa, hazelnut, or vanilla. Boxes of wafers can be bought at stores and supermarkets everywhere in Prague.
4. Spirits as mentioned above especially Becherovka since the recipe is supposed to be a well guarded secret!
5. Pink porcelain

There!I think I found everything I needed to know.This was purely based on what I would go for or want to see.Most of my research did show me a couple of things that I haven't mentioned only because I didn't think I would be interested-not really a museum or beer person.Nevertheless,if you are reading this and would like to tell me about something I missed,I'd love to hear from you!Till then....

Vive valeque♡

Kavita