Exploring Prague!
Sidney's Long-Awaited Return To Where She Studied Abroad
Prague is a trendy pick for “favorite city in Europe” among many people I know.
It is also a popular pick for American students looking for a great location for a study-abroad program!
It is an ancient city that has an extensive list of historical significance.
Prague was the capital of ancient Bohemia, home to several Holy Roman Emperors, a hotspot for some of the greatest musical composers of all time, and a stronghold of the Habsburg dynasty.
However, I am willing to wager that it is not the history that attracts students from all over the world, but rather, the vibrant nightlife and cheap beer!
Let me be clear, when I say “cheap”, I am only referring to the prices. The quality of Czech beer is actually quite impressive, and far superior to the cases of Natty Light that fuel game days at campuses across America.
The prices, however, are actually pretty comparable!
Sidney happens to be one of those aforementioned American students that elected to spend a college semester in Prague, and she was understandably excited to return!
Prague is a place that I have not had the pleasure of being acquainted with before this year, and I was elated at the opportunity to explore the Czech capital!
While I could go on all day about every single landmark and building we saw during our 4 days of exploration, I am going to attempt to keep it brief by sharing my three favorites.
Right off the bat was the famous Old Town Square, which is definitely in competition for the most beautiful square in Europe!
This square is, somehow, simultaneously similar and different from all of the European squares we have seen this year.
Beautiful building facades, terracotta roofs, a statue, a church, yada yada yada. We are no strangers to these features after 9 months in Europe!
However, there was something distinctly unique about this one, and it took me a while to realize what I was noticing.
The bold design of the church towers and the city hall tower create an amazing visual effect!
The church in particular caught my eye. It is known as the “Týn” Church, and while it is categorized as gothic, the unique black spires on top of the towers sent chills down my spine.
Especially at night, the only word that comes to mind when trying to describe it is “spooky”. It made me think of vampires, bats, lightning, and organ music 😆
The City Hall was also well worth a visit for two reasons.
Reason number one is the famous Astronomical Clock that attracts hordes of passersby on the hour, every hour! There is a display on the clock face that is operated completely by the gears of the massive clock.
It is the oldest Astronomical Clock in the world that is still operating!
Reason number two is the view from the top of the tower. It offers a 360° view of the city, which is a great way to visualize the layout before setting out to find all of the world-famous landmarks!
The next can’t-miss attraction in Prague is the historic Charles Bridge.
This bridge was decreed to be built by King Charles IV all the way back in 1357, hence the name.
When it was completed, it became the first connection across the Vltava River. Believe it or not, it remained the ONLY connection all the way up to 1841!
The bridge was the sight of sieges, coronations, and even executions.
Today, a walk across the Charles Bridge involves lovely views over the river, rows of artists selling their paintings, and dozens of intricate statues that flank each side.
It is a truly incredible experience to walk across a bridge that has been the setting for 600 years worth of historical events!
Once across the bridge, it is just a short hike up to my third MUST-SEE landmark when visiting Prague.
The Prague Castle!
Visiting this vast complex will change the way you think of castles. At least, it did for me.
Usually, when picturing a castle, I think of a single structure that housed only the royal family and their servants.
However, a castle often referred to an entire settlement that included streets, buildings, churches, and homes that were all enclosed within the battlements to ward off attackers.
Prague Castle is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as THE largest ancient castle IN THE WORLD, and has centuries of history preserved within its medieval walls.
This fortress is on top of a hill overlooking the city, and it was used as the official seat of power for Bohemian Kings, Holy Roman Emperors, presidents of Czechoslovakia, and even today as the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic!
A walk around the castle is well worth it, but my favorite aspect was the incredible views overlooking Prague. While the City Hall Tower provides an amazing vantage point in the middle of the city, it is an entirely different perspective to look over the entire city and surrounding neighborhoods from the battlements of this ancient fortress.
Prague is a gift that keeps on giving for history nerds like me. But with that said, that’s enough history for today. Let’s talk about the real reason everyone loves this place.
The nightlife and the prices!
Prague’s famous nightlife scene is a lot more along the lines of what we saw in Budapest and Berlin than the glitz and glam of London or Milan.
You could find overpriced night clubs and stand in line all night if you wanted to, but frankly, you would be wasting your time!
Prague is home to hundreds, if not thousands, of cozy one or two room bars that all have one particular beer on tap.
Pilsner Urquell!
This beer originates from the Czech town of Pilsen, which is about an hour outside of Prague.
In fact, the town’s name is where the term “Pilsner” originates from! Every Pilsner that has ever been brewed has followed in the footsteps of the original Pilsner Urquell.
After drinking my fair share of Pilsner pints throughout the week, I noticed something about the way the beer is served.
We ALWAYS had it on tap, and the quality of the pour was always top-notch! It was foamy and ice cold at every establishment we visited, and I was just blown away by the consistency of the presentation throughout the city.
We also had the chance to meet up with Martin, a good friend of ours who not only lives in Prague, but actually works for Pilsner Urquell!
Martin was Sidney’s assigned buddy during her orientation week at school, and he eventually became everyone’s buddy after taking the exchange students around his favorite hangouts in Prague!
On our last night, we went back to a few of these old favorites, and Martin explained how to recognize a perfect pour of Pilsner on tap.
While many people try to avoid the foam when pouring beer, the Czechs use the foam to insulate the beer!
A nice frothy head on a mug of beer allows the beer in the glass to stay the same temperature and consistency as it was in the keg.
They truly have it down to a science!
I thoroughly enjoyed my first trip to Prague, and I can easily see why it ranks towards the top of a lot of people’s lists!
The combination of fascinating history, beautiful architecture, affordable prices, and delicious beer make it a worthy inclusion on any European bucket list.
