Prague Things to Do

The Vltava River starts its journey in Šumava, southern Bohemia, and it flows 270 miles (433 km) through Prague before joining the Laber River at Mělník in the north of the Czech Republic. For more than 1,000 years Prague has grown up around the Vltava; the river separates the Baroque Malá Strana (Lower Town) and majestic Prague Castle on the west banks from the largely Gothic Staré Město and the bustling streets of the modern-day city to the east.

The Lesser Quarter, or Malá Strana, is a section of Prague rich with history, looking up to the city’s famous castle west of the Charles Bridge and part of the King’s Route.

In many ways, Prague is the perfect city break option. It is crammed full of so much gorgeous architecture – from many eras – that most other cities should be insanely jealous. You walk around the streets cooing at buildings, most of which have been lovingly preserved and repainted. There’s also a remarkable number of museums, many of which have such narrow subject fields that they’re worthy of visiting for quirk value alone. If you’re interested in particular historic figures, there are museums devoted solely to Leonardo da Vinci, Johannes Kepler and Franz Kafka, while other highlights to browse through include medieval torture instruments, chocolate, toys, marionettes and ghosts.