Four-Days in Prague, Czechia Guided by a Local Through Time

Anne and Vera wrap up their time in Europe in Prague, reuniting with family and taking in the stunning beauty of this historic city from which music flows. Their four-days in Prague, Czechia, guided by a local through music and history was nothing short of magical.

Anne Webster and her sister Vera poise for a photo with Prague's Old Town in background. — _{Anne and Vera happily spend four-days in Prague, Czechia.}

Four-Days in Prague, Czechia

There is so much to love about Prague, Czechia that I hardly know where to begin – from its stunning beauty to the joy of reuniting with family from across Europe, our four wonderful days in this beautiful city were magical.

Seven of us met up in Prague – our grand-niece Maria lives there, our other grand-niece Anna along with her husband and one-year old son flew from Sweden, our niece Olya made the long journey by bus from Ukraine, and my sister Vera and I flew from London after our Northern European cruise.

A smiling family of 5 women and one man carrying a baby poising for a photo in front of Ludmila Church in Prague, Czechia. — _{^{Anne & Vera (on the left) with their European family sightseeing four-days in Prague, Czechia. Pictured here at Ludmila Church.}}

Our group came together each day for sightseeing, picnics, dinners, and other activities, all planned and led so wonderfully by Maria. We were so lucky to have her as our own personal guide, taking us to all the main tourist sights, as well as many of her own favourite spots, allowing us to see far more than the average tourist in four-days in Prague, Czechia.

Day 1 : A History of Music and Marches in Old Town Prague, Czechia

Rudolfinum Concert Hall, a stop during four-days in Prague, Czechia. — _{Rudolfinum Concert Hall, a stop during our four-days in Prague, Czechia.}

This busy sightseeing day started with a Metro ride to Jan Palach Square, a quiet spot honouring the student who died while protesting the Soviet Invasion of 1969. We passed the elegant Rudolfinum Concert Hall and a statue of Czech composer Anton Dvorak. As a pianist, this was an utter delight for me.

Meeting the statue of Czech composer Anton Dvorak during four-days in Prague, Czechia. — _{Meeting Czech composer Anton Dvorak during our four-days in Prague, Czechia.}

A short walk took us to the historic heart of the city and one of Prague’s most popular tourist areas, the Old Town Square. We admired the Old Town Hall, a beautiful medieval landmark, and popped into the lovely St. Nicholas Church, before joining the crowd gathering at the iconic Astronomical Clock at the Old Town Hall. Like clockwork, as the chimes rang out on the hour, the figures representing the 12 Apostles came out of the clock in a little performance well worth the wait. You can also join a tour of the Old Town Hall and Tower.

Visiting St. Nicholas Church in Prague, Czechia.

The ornately vaulted ceiling inside St. Nicholas Church in Prague, Czechia.

Our stroll through Old Town continued down Celetna Street, where we came to the Golden Angel apartment where Mozart had once lived – another exciting moment for me, having played so much of his piano music. Today you can book a stay at the Golden Angel Suites. Further down the street is the Powder Gate Tower (Prasna brana), a Gothic gate that once guarded the city. To go inside and learn about its history, book a ticket to the Powder Gate Tower. Nearby you can also visit the elegant Municipal House (Obecni dum), a beautiful arts & culture centre, and purchase tickets to the performing arts.

Wandering Celetna Street during our four-days in Prague, Czechia.

Anne Webster visiting the one time home of Mozart, Golden Angel apartment in Prague, Czechia.

Taking a break from the heat, we enjoyed lunch and family time at Maria’s place. Later we resumed our sightseeing at Namesti Miru (Peace Square) and the beautiful Basilica of St Ludmila, an area we would come to know well as our meeting spot each day.

Basilica of St. Ludmila is a neo-Gothic Catholic church at Namesti Miru in Prague, Czechia. — _{Basilica of St. Ludmila, a neo-Gothic Catholic church at Namesti Miru.}

Further along, we passed the National Museum and strolled through Wenceslas Square where many historic protests have taken place, particularly the demonstrations that led to the end of communist rule in Czechoslovakia in 1989.

The statue of Saint Wenceslas oversees Wenceslas Square in Prague, Czechia. — _{Saint Wenceslas oversees Wenceslas Square in Prague, Czechia.}

A few streets down we marvelled at all the fresh fruit and Czech goods at the lively Havel’s Outdoor Market, before arriving at the Estates Theatre where Mozart’s Don Giovanni opera premiered in 1787 – especially fascinating for us to learn of the namesake of our hotel, Hotel Don Giovanni.

Niece and Grand Niece in Havel’s Outdoor Market during our four-days in Prague, Czechia.

Carefully piled summer fruit in Havel’s Outdoor Market in Prague, Czechia.

Plague commemorating Mozart’s Don Giovanni on Estates Theatre in Prague, Czechia.

After a yummy gelato break, we admired the majestic Klementinum with its ornate library and courtyards before crossing the historic Charles Bridge and taking in the breathtaking scenic views of the Vltava River and the city. The bridge itself is stunning, a 14^th C. medieval masterpiece originally built to connect Old Town and Prague Castle.

_{Klementinum housing the National Library of the Czech Republic.}

Prague Old Town, as viewed from Charles Bridge in Prague, Czechia.

View of Prague Castle from Charles Bridge in Prague, Czechia.

Crossing to Kampa Island, the cute crawling babies (‘miminka’ in Czech) sculpted by David Cerny, made us smile. Just as a short while later Anna & Jonas’s adorable baby Hjalmar also made us smile, as we ate our delicious Czech dinner at the Vinohradsky Parlament Restaurant.

Statue of a crawling baby on Kampa Island in Prague, Czechia.

Real baby opening it's mouth for a bite of food, while dining at Vinohradsky Parlament Restaurant.

Day 2 : Architecture Through the Ages Along the Vltava River

July 1^st was a special day all around – jam-packed with more fabulous sightseeing, full of family activities, Anna’s birthday, and Canada Day back home!

Our sightseeing began at Vysehrad, a historic fortress dating back to the 10^th century, where we wandered its massive grounds and gazed at the ancient towers and churches. In a picture-perfect spot we enjoyed a leisurely picnic as we soaked in the fabulous views of the city and river.

Vera, Anne and their Great Grand Nephew as a baby seat on the lawn with a church at Vysehrad in the background.

Making our way down to the riverfront we strolled along the harbour, taking in the sights of boats gliding along the Vltava and charming cafes along the way.

Dancing House, a uniquely beautiful feat of architecture that we enjoyed in our four-days in Prague, Czechia. Photographed by Pedro Szekely, shared via Wikimedia Commons. — _{^{Dancing House, a uniquely beautiful feat of architecture that we enjoyed in our four-days in Prague, Czechia. Photographed by Pedro Szekely, shared via Flickr.}}

The walk eventually brought us to the Dancing House, a uniquely shaped office building designed to look like two dancers in motion. From this modern structure, a few blocks along we stepped back in history again as we came to the 18^th C. St. Cyril Orthodox Cathedral, a church of the same faith as ours, and its magnificent ornate interior was a cool, peaceful refuge from the summer heat.

Beautifully painted murals on the ceiling inside St. Cyril Orthodox Cathedral in Prague, Czechia.

Gates of St. Cyril Orthodox Cathedral in Prague, Czechia.

From here an Uber ride brought us to the upscale U Mateje Restaurant, where all of us, including Maria’s boyfriend Antonio, gathered for a special family dinner to celebrate Anna’s birthday. The delicious food, lovely courtyard setting, and the joy of family time together all made for a wonderful birthday celebration.

5 women, 2 men and a baby enjoying a birthday dinner around a round table outdoors on the patio at at U Mateje Restaurant in Prague, Czechia. — _{A wonderful family dinner for Anna’s birthday at U Mateje Restaurant in Prague, Czechia.}

After dinner we headed over to Letna Park for an evening stroll. The park was alive on this warm summer night with large groups of people partying. Climbing up winding paths, at various high vantage points we were treated to incredible panoramic views. This special day was spectacularly topped off by seeing the gigantic Prague Metronome perched high above us in the park, this one amusingly a fair bit larger than the metronome I use back home.

View of Prague Old Town at sunset from Letna Park.

People enjoying the view of sunset over Prague, Czechia from the Prague Metronome.

Day 3 : Royalty and Reverence with Prague Castle, Monastery, Music and Modern Art

Day 3 of our visit kicked off with our grandest sight yet – the historic Prague Castle! The city’s oldest and largest, it is actually not even just one castle, but a whole sprawling complex of palaces, courtyards, and churches. From as far back as the 9^th Century it has been home to kings and emperors, and is now the official residence of the president of Czechia.

_{Tourists enjoying a sunny day exploring the grounds of Schwarzenberg Palace in Prague, Czechia.}

Highlights for us included the beautiful Royal Garden, the magnificent St. Vitus Cathedral, and the majestic Schwarzenberg Palace. Out on Hradcany Square we caught part of the daily Changing of the Guard ceremony, as the guards marched past us with impressive precision.

Royal Garden at Prague Castle, a peaceful visit on our four-days in Prague, Czechia.

St. Vitus Cathedral on the grounds of Prague Castle.

Prague Palace Guard standing on guard in a baby blue uniform in a blue and white striped guard house.

Guards marching in baby blue uniforms during the Changing of the Guards at Prague Castle.

Tourists admiring Schwarzenberg Palace and the view over Prague, Czechia on a sunny summer day.

From there we left the castle grounds and climbed up lovely winding paths to the historic and serene Strahov Monastery. High above the city, the wide-open views from Strahov are absolutely spectacular. We passed through the ornate Baroque gates and admired the library and basilica before settling in at St. Norbert Brewery for some scrumptious goulash and refreshing craft beer.

At the gates of the red roofs and white buildings of St. Norbert Brewery in Prague, Czechia.

5 women and a man enjoying a brew around a long wooden table at St. Norbert Brewery, during four-days in Prague, Czechia.

Winding our way back down from the sky, we ambled through the cobblestone streets of Mala Strana (Lesser Town), passing the Czech Museum of Music and stepping inside the St. Nicholas Church. In this gorgeous church, Mozart once played the organ. A short walk on brought the ultimate thrill for the musician in me – seeing 11 Lazenska Street, the home where my favourite composer Beethoven once lived.

The green domed roofs of St. Nicholas Church down the streets of Prague, Czechia.

Angels looking down from ceiling murals in St. Nicholas Church in Prague, Czechia.

Anne pointing to 11 Lazenska St, the home where Beethoven once lived in Prague, Czechia.

A memorial to Beethoven on 11 Lazenska St in Prague, Czechia, his past home.

I carried the joy of that moment with me as we made our way from Mala Strana and through the city to the lively Zizkov neighbourhood, one of Maria’s favourite areas. With its quirky mix of historic and modern buildings, and abundance of bars and cafes, as well as the most unusual futuristic-looking TV Tower with more of sculptor David Cerny’s crawling babies storming the tower, it was a wonderful fitting conclusion to a day that had started steeped in history.

David Cerny's statues of crawling babies climbing a TV Tower in the Zizkov, a neighbourhood of Prague, Czechia.

Statues of crawling miminka (babies), sculpted by David Cerny, climbing a TV Tower in Zizkov, a neighbourhood of Prague, Czechia.

Day 4 : A Fond Farewell with the Serenity of Music, Art, Views, Nature and Brews

This day brought so many mixed emotions, as it was our final day in Prague and we would be flying home this evening. After stowing our luggage and pausing to hear the hotel’s lobby pianist one last time, we headed out for this last day of sightseeing and family time.

Anne Webster standing at the white piano in the lobby of the Hotel Don Giovanni in Prague, Czechia. — _{As a pianist, it is rather a delight to stay Hotel Don Giovanni in Prague, Czechia, with its white piano in the lobby.}

Meeting up at Namesti Miru, we went into the beautiful Ludmila Church just as we had on our very first day, and it felt like a serene full-circle moment.

Vaulted ceilings and cool, peaceful light inside Ludmila Church in Prague, Czechia. — _{A beautifully serene last visit to Ludmila Church.}

A quick bus ride brought us to the huge National Theatre, a historic ornate building for opera, ballet, and dance performances. After admiring the beautiful theatre we crossed over the Legion Bridge, drinking in the gorgeous views, with the Charles Bridge and Old Town in the distance now feeling like old friends.

Prague National Theatre, an enviable places to enjoy the performing arts.

View of Prague Old Town from Legion Bridge

We strolled down to Strelecky Island, a quiet and picturesque oasis in the middle of the river. Tree-lined shady paths, benches, and boat watching created a perfect interlude, with a couple of beaver-like nutrias wading along the shore providing a cuteness factor and some entertainment.

An entertaining scene from Strelecky Island over the Vtlava River. Two men steer a boat fashioned as an old car across the river, while nutria ramble through the shallows.

A pair of nutria wandering through the shallows of the Vtlava River.

A nutria on the banks of the Vtlava River.

From here, we headed over to the Palladium Mall and along Na Prikope for some shopping and browsing, checking out everything from groceries to fashion.

Strolling the cobblestone streets of Prague, Czechia.

As the day waned, ultimately it was time for one last stop, and the Riegrovy Sady Outdoor Beer Garden, with its large area of tree-shaded picnic tables providing a lovely casual spot for all of us to gather, reflect on our time together, and say our tearful goodbyes.

Our four days in Prague were indeed magical – and unforgettable.

Tips & Recommendations for Four-Days in Prague, Czechia

Hotel Don Giovanni – A lovely hotel with huge buffet breakfast and a lobby piano (and at times, pianist). Highly recommend.

Vera standing in the white lobby of the Hotel Don Giovanni in Prague, Czechia, with its white piano.

Metro, Buses, Trams – Free for seniors, aged 65 and older. Half price for transit users aged 60 – 64. Be sure to carry ID, in case asked for proof of age.

Prague Castle – Don’t miss this spectacular castle complex. It is very popular and busy, so your best times of day to visit are 9 – 10 am to tour the interiors (you can also enjoy a peaceful stroll of the grounds as early as 6 am), around 3 – 4 pm for the golden light, and after 6 pm for the outdoor scenery with fewer crowds. Golden Lane is also free for the public to stroll after 6 pm. The grounds are open from 6 am to 10 pm, and the historic buildings are open from 9 am to 4 pm.

U Mateje Restaurant – Delicious Czech food with a lovely outdoor seating area.

Sightseeing – All the sights mentioned above were free to walk around outdoors. Check for entrance fees for the interiors of some of the sites.

Prices – In general we found the cost of food AND accommodation very reasonable. Use Czech Koruna (CZK) or credit cards. Few places take Euros.

What Are Your Tips for Four-Days in Prague, Czechia?

_{The view over Prague, Czechia and the Vtlava River.}

Four-days in Prague, Czechia had us falling in love with the city, but we dearly wished we’d had longer. There is so much to do, see and experience, that we are all going to have different experiences and see and do different things. What are your tips in visiting Prague, Czech Republic? We’d love to read them in the comments below.

Prague, Czech Republic Accommodations Map

Visiting Prague, Czech Republic? Check out this interactive map to different accommodations available in Prague, Czechia.

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Four-Days in Prague, Czechia Guided by a Local Through Music & History