From the minute the taxi started driving along the Vltava (Moldau) river, I fell in love with Prague. The sight of all the pastel building façades, sometimes decorated with golden ornaments or magnificent statues, combined with the fantastic bridges, made my heart skip a beat. I was finaly here! Prague was on my bucket list for a long time. So I couldn’t wait to start exploring the city. There are probably a hundred reasons why I think you too should visit this fantastic place. After wandering around the city for 4 days, let me give you the 10 best reasons to visit Prague!

10 reasons to visit Prague

1. Spot people’s reactions after the clock work show of the Astronomical Clock

The Astronimical Clock can be found on the Old Town Square (Staromestske Namesti) of Prague. Every hour “The Walk of the Apostles”, a clock work show, takes place. I’m not going to specify what this means in detail, but the reactions of the dozens of people that were waiting there to witness the spectacle, are hilarious.

2. Watch the sunrise and sunset at Charles Bridge (Karluv Most)

The Charles Bridge is always packed with people except early in the morning and later in the evening. Experiencing a sunrise here is truly unique with the statues lighting up slowly as the sun appears from behind the church tower silhouettes. The sun turns the Prague castle to gold and the sky pink. But also around sunset this bridge is a great place to spend your time. I watched the sun set from the banks of the river and from the bridge tower with my eyes on the Charles Bridge and Lesser Town with the Prague castle. The moment the lights of the bridge and the castle turn on is magical combined with the purple sky in the back!

3. Experience the feeling of being at an open-air museum

Prague itself is like a museum. Every street, every building, every bridge,… just everything you encounter on your way is a piece of art. And the city is so clean! Every day street swipers work hard to keep the streets nice and tidy.

4. Walk along the picturesque river Vltava (Moldau)

The Vltava is spanned by over 30 bridges in Prague. Its banks are decorated with the most beautiful pastel building façades. Walking along the river is great on a sunny day. You’ll pass charming parks, gorgeous buildings and the river is covered with boats, paddle boats and canoes.

5. Discover the breathtaking views from the parks and towers

Prague has a lot of hillside parks and towers to climb. The views from up there are always worth the climb and effort! Make sure you don’t miss Letna Park, Petrin Hill, Old Town Hall Tower and the towers from the Charles Bridge.

6. Taste Trdelnik

Trdelnik (chimney cake) is a Czech cinnamon pastry that can be found all over Prague. It makes its streets smell like cinnamon bringing water to your mouth. You can eat it without anything (classic version), but you can also eat it filled with chocolate pasta, icecream or anything else that’s sweet and creamy.

7. Visit one of the world’s most beautiful libraries

The Klementinum library in Prague is called one of the world’s most beautiful libraries. It’s currently closed due to reconstruction though. But I have a great alternative! The library of the Strahov Monastery is very similar! You’ll have to climb up the hill but it’s worth it! The Theological Hall contains 18000 ancient books!

8. Enjoy a drink at the Bellavista Restaurant

If you’re thirsty or hungry after climbing the hill to get to the Strahov Monastery, you can enjoy a drink or meal at the terrace of the Bellavista Restaurant. Like its name states; the view from the terrace on Prague is striking!

9. Write something on the John Lennon Wall

The John Lennon Wall knows some history. After John Lennon’s death, the wall became a political focus for Prague youth who weren’t allowed to listen to Western pop music. In the 80’s students used the wall to write down complaints and resentment during the communist regime. It came to a confrontation between hundreds of students and the police. After the fall of the Berlin wall, the political messages started to disappear behind the lightweight graffiti. Now the wall is the property of the Knights of Malta. They repainted the wall white several times, but young people and tourists keep painting images of John Lennon and write down positive messages. This place truly is an inspiration!

10. Listen to the music everywhere!

Music is literally everywhere in Prague. You have the most amazing street musicians and you can experience classical music in dozens of churches and palaces. My apartment was next to the Clam Gallas Palace and I even experienced a orchestra from my bed in the evening! Magical!

If these 10 reasons aren’t enough to convince you; you can shop till you drop in Prague near the Wenceslas Square, at the Palladium or the Novy Smichov Shopping Center. Prague is also a very cheap city to stay at and to eat and drink.