Prague tourism information:

Prague is the "Jewel in the Crown" of Central Europe and tourism plays an important role. This Prague tourism guide offers useful information, including the layout of the city.

Prague Castle

Prague Tourism Information
Prague (Praha) is the ancient capital of Charles IV's Bohemian Kingdom, and the city has played a pivotal role in the development of Central Europe since the Middle Ages. Its epic history has made Prague one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with tourism of vital economic importance.

Prague is not overrun by tourism, but its effects are evident for all to see. Much of the post-communism reconstruction and regeneration of Prague has been driven by tourism, as ancient buildings have been transformed into fine restaurants and stylish hotels.

Key Prague Tourism Fact: in 1992 the historical centre of Prague, all 866 hectares, was listed in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Register.

Layout of Prague's City Centre - map of Prague
Prague's historical centre is divided into five areas, spanning both banks of the Vltava River. Charles Bridge is the main connection between the two.

On one side of the river is the Old Town (Stare Mesto), centred on the Old Town Square; the New Town (Nove Mesto), centred on Wenceslas Square; and the Jewish Quarter (Josefov). On the other side is the Lesser Town (Mala Strana); and high above this the Castle District (Hradcany), centred on Prague Castle.

Other areas which are close to the city centre are Vinohrady, Holesovice, Smichov, Karlin and Vysehrad.

Charles Bridge and Prague Castle

The historical centre is denoted by the postal districts Prague 1 and some of Prague 2.

Key Prague Tourism Fact: Prague has a compact city centre. From Prague Castle on one side of the historical centre, to Wenceslas Square on the other (walking down through the Lesser Town, across Charles Bridge and through the Old Town), is just a 25 minute stroll. Stay in a hotel or apartment in Prague 1 or Prague 2, on either side of the river, and you can easily walk to all the sights and attractions.

Old Town Square in Prague

Prague's Most Beautiful Views
Prague Castle is the premier Prague tourist attraction. Set on a hill, it offers fine views over the entire city.

There are also excellent views from the following sights and attractions: Old Town Hall Tower, Old Town Bridge Tower, Mala Strana Bridge Tower, Klementinum, Jindrisska Tower, Petrin and Vysehrad.

Tourism in Prague has encouraged several top floor restaurants to open, boasting stunning views over the city. Enjoy a spot of lunch in the sunshine, or watch the city light up at night: restaurants with city views.

Prague Sights & Attractions
Prague tourist guide books often use English names for famous sights. This can be confusing for visitors, as maps and street signs are nearly always in Czech. The following Czech translations might be useful:
Prague = Praha
Old Town = Stare Mesto
Prague Castle = Prazsky Hrad
Charles Bridge = Karluv Most
National Theatre = Narodni Divadlo
Wenceslas Square = Vaclavske Namesti
Old Town Square = Staromestske Namesti
Lesser Town/Lesser Quarter = Mala Strana

More information: Prague sights & attractions

Wenceslas Square in Prague

Estates Theatre in Prague

Prague Highlights
The dramatic history of Prague is reflected in the beauty of the buildings. Once the seat of a mighty medieval empire, Prague is an open air museum best explored on foot. Our Prague tours can help with this. River cruises are also popular, as many of the attractions in Prague border the river.

Opera and classical concerts are another highlight of Prague, with performances at stunning opera houses, concert halls and several old churches around the city. Prague also has some unique theatre performances.

Finally there is food and drink. Prague restaurants have a reputation for offering good, often excellent cuisine in lovely settings, from candlelit cellars to rooftop eateries with views over the whole city. And of course, there is the world famous Czech beer.

More Prague Tourism Information
Our Prague tourist information section contains more up to date traveler advice and information on the city.

Czech Language
Czech, a consonant-rich Slavic language, is one of the most difficult European languages to learn. English speakers find some sounds very hard to pronounce.

Fortunately, tourism and global commerce mean many Czech's now speak English, particularly in Prague.

St. Nicholas Church in Prague

Czech Republic in Europe

Czech Republic & the Czech People
The Czech Republic covers an area of 78,864 square kilometres. It borders Slovakia, Austria, Germany and Poland. The highest mountain is Snezka (1604m). The longest river is the Vltava (434km).

The population is 10.3 million. Czech's belong to the West Slavic group of peoples, along with the Poles, Slovaks & Luatians. Romanies, or Gypsies, are the most conspicuous minority in Prague. They are thought to descend from Indian migrants in the 15th century.

The Prague tourism and construction boom attracts migrant workers from Central & East European states, plus former Soviet block countries like the Ukraine.

For the best introduction to Prague, try our Prague city break: Prague Package

Prague Experience: Prague Tourism Information

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