The Czech Republic has flourished in the past decades, and has emerged as one of Europe’s most sought-after holiday destination. Prague, the gorgeous capital city, has always been favoured among architectural buffs and it’s not hard to resolve why that would be. The sheer number of splendid buildings found in the centre and neighbouring areas are enough to induce a head-spinning euphoria in even the most seasoned of tourists; the maze of cobblestone alleyways, picturesque gardens and grand palaces going a long way to ensuring Prague still remains Central Europe’s most celebrated treasure. While Prague is an exciting and rewarding holiday destination any time of year, visiting in winter gifts a truly unforgettable experience. The city comes alive with a multitude of gorgeous outdoor Christmas markets, and Prague’s stunning streets are further enhanced by the multitude of colourful lights and festive decorations. The most celebrated market, the one held in the Old Town Square, is preceded by a stellar reputation as central Europe’s most authentic and enchanting of all, so book your holiday rental apartment in Smichov, the trendy quarter on the west bank of the Vltava river, and explore a Christmas market worthy of its legendary praise. When to go, what ...

Prague is one exquisite holiday destination for lovers of art, culture and all things beautiful. Long regarded as one of Europe’s most distinguished addresses, Prague offers an almost infinite array of activities and attractions for lone travellers, families and even the more mature tourist. Not to be outdone, the city’s nightlife reflects the eclectic mix of this captivating capital beautifully. Whether it’s relaxing jazz tunes you wish to hear, or the resounding beat of modern Czech dance music, or simply a quiet bar to enjoy a cocktail or two, Prague’s got you covered. The most impressive bars, discos and jazz clubs are found in or near Stare Mesto, the city’s most revered Old Town Centre. Considering the Metro closes at 1am in Prague, you’ll have yet another reason to book your holiday rental apartment in Stare Mesto! Pack your dancing shoes along with your camera and take advantage of all the fun that’s to be had in Prague, long after the sun sets. Following are just a few of our favourite drinking holes we’d love for you to try... Čili Bar, Kožná 8 Praha 1 A stone throw away from the town square in stare Mesto is Čili Bar, an infinitely trendy choice, if ...

Prague’s Old Town Centre, Staré Město is arguably the most outstanding historic city center in Europe. Declared a UNESCO site in 1992, the center used to be walled-in, separated from the outside by a moat and bridge, and dates back to the 9th century. The addition of Baroque and Renaissance architecture over the years has added to the historic importance, and booking Prague holiday apartments in Staré Město is by far your best bet if you wish for a truly authentic Czech experience. Staré Město also offers innumerable chances for specialty shopping. While many internationally renowned brands are found here, it’s the locally made gems which are the town’s most coveted items. Bring home some gorgeous wares from one (or two) of the following shops, and make your Czech vacation an unforgettable one. Dum Porcelanu Praha, Jugoslávská 16 Showcasing some of the Czech Republic’s best porcelain, china and crystal wares, this glorious shop is not for the clumsy-at-hand! Designer products are spread out over two enormous floors and include known brands such as Royal Dux Bohemia, Cesky Porcelan and Haas & Czjzek. Delmas, Lucerna Palace This leather-lover’s paradise comes courtesy of local craftsmen and women. Specializing in handmade-bags from designers of the Pavel Hajn ...

Prague is not only an ideal location for couples or those in search of culture, there is also plenty for kids to enjoy in the city. Below are some of the child friendly activities in the Stare Mesto area of Prague. Lego Museum Lego has for decades been one of the favourite pastimes for kids, and today is no different. This Lego museum is a great way for children to discover Lego through the years by viewing fantastic Lego constructions, playing with Lego and also having the chance to purchase it. This is the largest Lego museum in the world and boasts a staggering 2,000 unique constructions, each of which will capture your child’s imagination in a different way. Hall of Mirrors If you have been to a hall of mirrors before you will know all about what to expect, but if you haven’t, the idea is that you have to find your way around a maze, with the twist being that all of the walls are made of either see through materials or mirrors. Hours of fun. Ultra Ant Climbing Wall Take your child to this attraction and let them indulge in the instinctive activity of climbing. There are different walls to climb to suit ...

I went to Prague on a Christmas Market shopping trip, and stayed in a hotel on the outskirts, it’s easy to get around on the metro. The weather was cold and dry, no snow unfortunately as that would have added to the festive atmosphere.The cobbled streets of the old town were filled with wooden market stalls selling traditional Christmas gifts and decorations, hand-painted glass baubles and carved wooden toys. My favourites however were the stalls selling hot glühwein?, and freshly baked sugary dough spirals called Trdlo.I went into the fascinating library in the Klementinum and climbed the 172 steep steps in the Astronomical Tower, well worth the effort for stunning views over the city. From the gallery I took a photo of the Tyn Church, in my opinion the most beautiful building I have ever seen. It's many black spires have windows all the way up them which are illuminated at night, truly stunning.The Charles Bridge over the River Vltava is worth crossing to see the statues that are along both sides, and near one end of the bridge is a museum of torture instruments, although I can't comment if it is worth visiting as I drew the line at ...

Czech This Beautiful City Out!We had booked a 4-day city break staying 3 nights at a 4 star Superior Hotel in Prague – and what a fabulous way for an introduction to this beautiful city. Ideally situated, our hotel was just a few steps away from the Municipal House and a short walk to Wenceslas Square, the Old Town Square and Charles Bridge.Prague offers something for everyone with its wide variety of entertainment, galleries, theatres, pubs and restaurants. It’s a city full of rich opulence with an epic history and the cityscape is simply quite stunning. It’s known as ‘the city of 100 spires’. Having over 4000 monuments and 150 places of interests, it was just so difficult to decide how best to spend our time here. The choice was endless so we picked out the most popular sights and decided to go with the flow. We figured the best place to start was Wenceslas Square, one of the two main squares in the city, and one, which offers easy access to all of Prague’s sights and attractions. The square is a vibrant 750 meter-long x 60 meter-wide boulevard that comfortably holds up to 400,000 people. Over the years, ...

It is impossible to digest Prague’s multi-faceted uniqueness and charm in one quick trip. I visited the fairy tale-esque Czech city the week before Easter last year while I was traveling during my semester abroad, and already I seem to possess an insatiable itch to return. The city’s architecture is quirky and stunning at the same time – from Old Town Square’s astronomical clock tower and the magnificent cathedral overlooking the city, to Frank Gehry’s ultra-modern Dancing House and the faceless baby statues sprinkled throughout a park bordering the Charles River, the city’s countless oddities did nothing but delight me.It is more than just Prague’s diverse architectural gems that captivated me, however, it is everything about Prague culture. After a few days in Prague, I found myself with a continuous craving for a Pilsner (and to pay with their funky currency, the koruna) and an urge to check out the new additions of graffiti on the epic Lennon Wall. Memories of my nights in Prague also leave me feeling nostalgic – and considering I hit up the same club two nights in a row (Chapeau Rouge, Jakubská 2,), I feel a return trip only makes sense so I can see ...

For lovers of classical music and opera, there is possibly no better destination in Europe than Prague. The capital of the Czech republic has a year-long calendar of concerts and recitals, performed in the gorgeous art nouveau and baroque churches and theatres the city is renowned for. The most famous of these is the Národní divadlo, or National Theatre. This giant early neo-Renaissance edifice embodies Czech identity and national pride. Built (and then re-built) with public donations during a time of cultural and political repression, the laying of its foundation stone was celebrated as the birth of a nation, and today the Národní divadlo is seen as the alma mater of the Czech Republic. The National Theatre’s Opera Ensemble repertoire ranges from classical such as ‘La Traviata’ and ‘Cosi fan tutte’ to ‘Tomorrow There Will Be’, an opera based on the life of Dr. Milada Horáková, a Czech politician executed by the communists. If scheduled, don’t miss a performance of ‘Libuše’. This opera by Bedřich Smetana christened the National Theatre and is seen as the ultimate musical expression of patriotic sentiment. But visiting opera buffs need not just limit themselves to one performance. In keeping with the National Theatre’s ...

Prague is a wonderful city steeped in history and historical buildings but during your Prague holiday you may wish to go further afield and visit some of the nearby treasures Czechoslovakia has to offer. KARLSTEJN CASTLE & TOWN A trip to Karlstejn Castle is about 45 minutes by train from Prague. It is a majestic castle that was built in the 14th century and well-worth visiting for a day. When you arrive at the castle there is a choice of the 50-minute tour or a 70-minute tour, the latter requires booking in advance. Apart from the castle, Karlstejn town has a good choice of places in which to eat and drink and there is a fine selection of shops. There is also a golf course. KARLOVY VARY Karlovy Vary is a spa town that has been renowned for its curative hot springs since the 14th century. The simplest way to get to Karlovy Vary is the express coach which leaves from Florenc bus station and takes about 2.5 hours. When you reach Karlovy Vary there is much to see although most of it is focussed on the hot springs. Make sure to visit some of the wonderful churches and the local museum. KUTNA HORA Kutna Hora ...

Prague airport is about nine miles or fifteen kilometres from Prague city centre and the taxi journey into Prague takes up to forty minutes, depending on the traffic. But there is no need to go to the expense of a taxi. Travelling by public transport is an inexpensive way of getting to downtown Prague and can be by bus or a mix of bus and metro. However, during peak hours, the metro can be crowded and difficult to use if taking heavy bags. From Prague airport there are a number of buses that go to various metro stations on their way into Prague. Bus number 119 leaves Prague airport at intervals that vary from five to twenty minutes and the journey time to the Metro A Dejvicka station is twenty-five minutes.Bus number 100 goes from Prague airport to the Metro B Zlicin station and leaves at intervals that are between fifteen and thirty minutes, with a journey time of eighteen minutes.Bus number 225 is a limited bus service from Prague airport to the Metro B Stodulky station with a travel time of forty minutes. Bus number 179 leaves Prague airport for Metro B Nove Butovice station at intervals of between ...