Oldest working astronomical clock in the world faithfully performed at top of the hour.read more

This magnificent clock is not just a timekeeper but also an impressive work of art that tells a…read morestory about the history of Prague and its people..Many call this one of the most over-hyped attractions in Europe, but I did find some interesting points after listening to our tour guide. The Astronomical Clock was built in the 15th century and is the oldest working clock of its kind in the world. It consists of three main components: the astronomical dial, the calendar dial, and the figurines. The astronomical dial displays the position of the sun, the moon, and the stars, as well as the time of day. The calendar dial shows the current date, zodiac signs, and saints' days. Finally, the figurines perform every hour, with the twelve apostles appearing in a procession. The clock face displays four different times, some recognizable and others ancient. Beginning on the outer edge of the dial, in deep blue, is Bohemian (or Old Czech) time shown in the Gothic numbers. The day consists of 24 hours and starts from the sunset (rather than midnight, as we'd use today). Bohemian time was utilized by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, and is pointed by the golden hand. Next is Central European Time (CET) Zone, two sets of 12 hours shown in Roman numerals inside the Bohemian time numbers. CET is also indicated by the golden Sun hand. Third is Babylonian (or Arabian) time, the oldest time displayed on the astronomical dial. Babylonian time, displayed in black Arabic numerals, separates the time between sunrise and sunset; that's why there are only 12 hours. Finally, there's star time, or sidereal time. Sidereal uses the time it takes Earth to rotate once on its axis and return facing a distant star. Its time is 23 hours and 56 minutes, four minutes shorter than a solar day. A solar day is defined by when the Sun is overhead at noon, which must account for the Earth tracking one degree, or day, along its orbit around the Sun and hence is longer. Follow the little golden star among the Roman numerals for sidereal time. Now you are prepared to tell time via the stars or even back in the Middle Ages. Fun piece of workmanship.

Creative architecture by Frank Gehry that is best viewed from multiple angles, also be sure to view…read morethe hanging figures in the dome

This pillar of modern architecture in Prague "danced" to life in1996…read more The project comes from the drawing board of world-renowned architects Vlado Milunić and Frank O. Gehry. Its concept was inspired by the dance skills of the famous film couple, the stone tower symbolizes Fred Astaire and the glass tower, his partner Ginger Rogers. A gallery and a restaurant with a terrace (the Glass bar) offering a 360° view of Prague can be visited in the Dancing House. We visited both in the daytime and also in the evening to get pics at different times of day and to appreciate the lights that made the structure a beautiful glass jewel at night....Loved it....

Stopped by for a quick breakfast and coffee before starting our day in the city. Yes, it's a…read morebeautiful place, although not as gorgeous as New York Palace in Budapest. The food is good. I got the mini pancake with the berry jam and a cappuccino. The jam on the pancake was tangy and sour and sweet, which elevated the dish. The server that served us was good, but we went around 8:30, and there were only 4 other customers sitting down. We didn't see a server at first or a hostess, so we tried to ask someone that's behind the entrance making coffee if we can just sit down. Let me tell you that she was so rude, as in she didn't even acknowledge our existence and totally stared and turned her head away. For an establishment in the middle of a tourist center open during breakfast hour, maybe have a cup or two of coffee so you don't become so rude. A few days in Prague, and by far, this was the rudest encounter. Everywhere else, they were super nice.

The Art Nouveau Municipal House is a must visit to view the architecture. They also offer classical…read moreconcerts in the evenings. It is right next to the Powder Tower so an easy stop on your old town walking tour.

Cannot avoid this bridge visiting Prague. Beautiful, relaxing and enjoying the air, the view and…read morethe deep history behind this medieval stone arch bridge since 1357 and its 30 Baroque statues. Visit in sunrise and late night for less crowded space and beautiful view.

Charles Bridge also previously known as a Stone Bridge is almost 700 years old bridge across the…read moreriver Vltava in old town Prague. Used for many centuries as the only bridge in Prague it was also the main road for coronation processions and it decorated with religious statues along the way. Today the bridge is used for pedestrians and is visited mostly by tourists. Even on rainy and snowy day when I visited - it is nothing short of impressive. In particular - the bridge is roughly 35 feet wide - and considering its age it is an amazing fear of engineering.

Late Gothic Landmark with Limited Hours…read more Peter Parler and Matthias of Arras designed and built this 14th century spired cathedral. It is so interesting how the "face" has been changed with the addition of a building directly in front of the church entry. Climb the Old Town Hall Towers for a better view. Note: There are limited hours for entry. Check the schedule, we were lucky to enter 5 minutes before they closed midday.

Church of Our Lady before Týn is the name of the ridiculously gorgeous Gothic church that stands in…read morePrague's Old Town Square. You've seen pictures before. Despite visiting years ago, it took living here for a month for me to learn its name or explore inside. It wasn't until one of my new friends invited me along for a classical music performance that I became acquainted with it. I heard that it's a rarity to be able to attend a concert in the church, but I also heard the opposite, so I'm not actually sure. Either way, if you have the extra funds and want to experience some local, albeit touristy, culture, be sure to book through Via Musica. The ticket cost me around $38 (935 crowns...NOT cheap!!) but I think it was worth it for a one-time visit. I spent most of the 65-minute concert mesmerized by the church itself. Faces everywhere. Gold everywhere. Intricate designs. Unreal beauty. It was such an amazing experience! It was also cold. Keep in mind it's a very old church. Even though it's indoors, it's not like they have central heating so you'll still feel the elements. Dress appropriately! And be sure to arrive early for a good seat. If you're visiting Prague, don't miss a trip inside this church. Classical concert or not!

This Gothic tower built in the 15th century is very impressive and garnered it's name from the time…read moreit was used to store gunpowder.

Powder Tower is a gorgeous gothic tower in Old Town that is open to the public to go up…read more I didn't go up, but I did enjoy admiring it and taking photos of the building.

This is an interesting artwork and implores you to think about what it might mean. At the time we…read moresaw it, there were several cruise ship tour groups, so we waited about 10 minutes to get a clear shot. Check it out in the morning or late afternoon.

Iconic sculpture of the famous writer, located in the Jewish quarter…read more His writings were published by a friend after Kafka's death and they became world famous. So many people have held onto the front of Kafka's shoes that they have become shiny, this is a popular tourist activity, supposedly bringing good luck and return to the city in the future. But take a look at the cobbles under the base of the statue and in amongst the red cobbles are many black ones which make the shape of a "gigantic insect" which is a reference to the opening line of Kafka's short story called The Metamorphosis.

We took a guided tour of the castle and it was a fantastic experience. The castle complex is…read moreenormous--about 753,473 square feet--making it the largest ancient castle in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The complex stretches down to Lesser Quarter (Mala Strana), where you'll find several beautiful chateaux and palaces. One notable example is Wallenstein Palace, which is home to the Czech Senate and includes 26 houses and six gardens. Inside the castle walls, there's so much to explore: a stunning cathedral, multiple museums, the office of the Czech president, the Bohemian Crown Jewels, and much more. The entire complex is incredibly expansive--it can easily take several hours to see everything. If you're visiting Prague, this is definitely a must-see landmark, and taking a guided tour really helps you appreciate the history and scale of the place.

Prague Castle is every bit as breathtaking as you imagine. The grandeur of St. Vitus Cathedral, the…read moresweeping views over the city, and the layers of history make it an unforgettable experience. Arrive early, take your time, and simply wander~there's magic around every corner, especially Golden Lane! A must-see when visiting Prague.

Tickets to the Klementinum sell like hotcakes. You cannot enter the Klementnum and see the Baroque…read moreLibrary and Astronomical Tower without a tour ticket. I went back in the morning to try to snag a ticket, and the line at 9:55am was already looong. After I got in line, it instantly grew looooonger behind me. I got a 2pm ticket, which I feel very lucky to get. I came a little late, but thankfully my group for my time slot didn't go too far. I can see why we needed a tour guide. We were led up these veerryyyyyy narrow winding stairs for multiple floors. It felt very scary, going up these narrow and steep stairs that I worry about the stability of, AND going so high up. The view of the Baroque Library was worth it. What a beautiful library. Made me feel like I was in a magical library! Took a bunch of photos and a video. I just wish we could actually enter the library. Everyone was crowding to take photos and videos from the doorway. To reach the Astrological Hall, we went up wooden stairs that are the original from the 18th century! More scary stair-climbing. The views of Prague from the top floor of the tower balcony were very beautiful. Even though I was scared of heights, dropping my phone, and bumping into someone and risking falling, it was very cool to be so high up and get a bird's-eye view of Prague. Made it back down safely! This is not a great tour for anyone scared of heights. And you'll be disappointed if you were expecting to enter the library.

This was one of the most overrated and underwhelming tourist experiences in Prague. Online tickets…read moresold out about a week in advance, so the only option was to get a same-day ticket by lining up at 9AM. I got to the ticket office at 8:50AM and there were already about 100 people in line. At around 10AM, I made it to the front of the line and was able to purchase tickets for 1:30PM. Most same-day tickets run out by 11AM. The tour itself was only 45 minutes long and no one could even go into the heavily advertised Baroque Library (1 star off). The library was barely lit and the tour group had to look in from the entrance. The library looked impressive overall, but I was not able to see the details the tour guide described, being held so far from them. In fact, I learned more from the digital rendition of the library. The was not what I had expected after lining up an hour and paying CZK380 for a live tour. The tour included the Astronomical Tower, but it was just an empty room with two small display cases of small (astronomical?) instruments (1 star off). The aerial view was nice...if you could squeeze in the tight balcony. An obese lady in my group sadly could not experience it. The tour did not include the Chapel of Mirrors, which was included in past tours. Now it requires a separate ticket. Save your money and time by learning about this place online...from the comfort of your own home or the Starbucks across the street from the Klementinum.