Top ten things to see

1. Prague Castle

Prague's majestic Castle overlooks the rest of the city from a hilltop on the west bank of the Vltava River. It was founded in the 9th century, though it has been rebuilt and renovated several times over the intervening years. The castle's thick walls enclose a number of interesting sights, including the towering, Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral, which after 600 years of on-again, off-again construction was finally finished in 1929. Also within the castle walls is the Old Royal Palace, whose Vladislav Hall is the site where Czech leaders have been elected or sworn into office for centuries
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2. Stare MestoStare

Mesto, or Old Town, is Prague's charming medieval district. Its centerpiece is the charming Old Town Square, surrounded by eight tall towers. Here you'll find the Old Town Hall, most famous for its astronomical clock that features an hourly performance by the figures of Christ and the Apostles; climb the building's tower to get an up-close-and-personal view of the show. Allow yourself some time to get lost amid the cobblestone streets of the Old Town and soak up the city's historic atmosphere.


3. Charles Bridge

One of the city's most popular sights is Charles Bridge, crowded with tourists, portrait artists and vendors throughout the day. (For a more intimate experience, come back in the early morning or late evening and look out over the river and the city lights.) The bridge was built in 1357 and served as the only one in Prague until 1841. It's topped with some 30 statues, as well as a monument marking the spot where St. John Nepomuk was thrown to his death after refusing to tell King Wenceslas IV the details of the adulterous queen's confession.

4. Jewish Quarter

Josefov, Prague's Jewish Quarter, is located within Stare Mesto near the Old Town Square. Prague's Jews lived here within the protection of a 12-foot wall until the late 1800's, when much of the Jewish Quarter was demolished to build a bourgeois district in its place. Then, with the advent of World War II, most of the Jews were evacuated and sent to Nazi death camps. What remains are a number of synagogues as well as the Old Jewish Cemetery, a poignant reminder of all who came before. Most of the area's attractions are looked after by Prague's Jewish Museum, so one ticket will get you into nearly all of the area's attractions. Don't miss the Pinkas Synagogue, which contains a memorial to more than 77,000 of the nation's Jews who were killed in Holocaust.

5. Mucha Museum

The Mucha Museum is dedicated to the work of Alphonse Mucha, the celebrated Art Nouveau artist best known for the publicity posters he made for actress Sarah Bernhardt. On display here are the artist's groundbreaking drawings, posters, oil paintings, sketches and more, most of them made during his time living in Paris at the turn of the 20th century. There is also a replica of the artist's Paris studio, including original furniture and memorabilia.






6. Church of Our Lady Before Tyn

A Gothic structure nestled across from the Old Town Hall in the heart of Stare Mesto, the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn is distinguished by its twin spires, which dominate the surrounding landscape. None of the original church, which dates as far back as 1135, remains; the present-day building may have been started around 1360. The church is the burial place of astronomer Tycho Brache, who died in 1601.

7. Prague Spring

Starting on May 12 of each year (the day that Czech composer Bedrich Smetana died), Prague hosts one of the world's top classical music festivals, Prague Spring. The program starts each year with the performance of Smetana's Ma vlast and ends on June 2 with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. In between are weeks of concerts by prestigious orchestras from around Europe and the world.






8. Dancing House

In a city that lives and breathes history, Prague's Dancing House stands out as a striking example of modern architecture. Opened in 1996 and designed by American architect Frank Gehry, the Dancing House is made of two attached buildings with unusual curving lines and a dynamic, fluid shape. The Dancing House has been compared to Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire (the jutting curve of the building on the left is said to represent Ginger's skirt). The building now houses the restaurant La Perle de Prague.



9. St. Nicholas Church

St. Nicholas Church is located in the Mala Strana (or Lesser Town) district and is the city's most distinguished Baroque building, from its impressive dome and bell tower to the intricate chapels and frescos within its soaring interior. Mozart is said to have played the organ here during a visit to Prague.

10. Karlstejn Castle

Located atop a hill in Bohemia some 45 minutes by train outside of Prague, Karlstejn Castle is a fairy-tale vision. It was built in 1348 at the request of Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, who wanted a place to store holy relics and the Empire's crown jewels. The castle's current neo-Gothic incarnation dates from the late 1800's. Inside you'll find medieval paintings, a portrait gallery and the bejeweled Chapel of the Holy Cross.