Prague – Day 1 of a 10-Day Trip in Europe
I arrived in Europe during the Christmas Season. The plan was to do a round trip from and to Prague in Czech Republic, stopping at Nuremberg and Munich in Germany and Salzburg and Vienna in Austria along the way. Day 1 was spent in Prague, the capital city of Czech Republic. It was warm (~10°C) despite being December. I was lucky when it came to the weather – I had just missed the cold snap the week before.
Day 1
Prague
I arrived in Prague in the morning. The trip to the city center from the airport is about 20 minutes by bus, then a transfer to the underground train for another 30 minutes. Bus tickets can be bought from the machine at the airport with options of 30 minutes to 3 days validity. After dropping off my bags at the hotel, I walked to the IC Centre Bohemia to purchase a 1-Day Prague CoolPass. The CoolPass gives the user admission to multiple attractions in Prague such as the Jewish Quarter Synagogues, Museums, and a Cruise along the Vitava River. Next stop was lunch. I picked a restaurant called Kantýna, which was a butcher/restaurant. Upon arrival, I received a slip of paper which I brought to the counter. At the counter, I ordered the beer tartar. The employee then filled out my sheet based on my order. Within minutes, my food was given to me on a tray and then I looked for a spot to sit (like a food court). There are standing tables as well. The restaurant opened at 11:30am and I was one of the first guests, so there were sit-down tables available. However, the sit-down tables filled up very quickly after the restaurant opened, so it might be a good idea to be there early. The beer tartar (raw beef, spices, and onion) came with toasted bread and garlic. The idea is to rub the garlic on the toast. The beef tartar was delicious – the best tartar that I ever had. The portion was large and the tartar seemed so fresh. I would definitely recommend!
Next, I walked to the Jerusalem Synagogue – admission is included as part of the Prague CoolPass. The Synagogue was built in 1906 and is a beautiful building both inside and outside. The second floor of the building is an exhibition area and recounts the history of the synagogue, as well as key Jewish individuals.
Afterwards, I walked to the Jewish Quarter, passing through the Old Tower Square on the way. I stopped by the Church of our Lady before Tyn, but only saw the courtyard as the church was closed that day.
The Jewish Quarter is a neighbourhood in Prague and a popular spot for tourists to visit. There are many synagogues (i.e. Spanish Synagogue, Maisel Synagogue, Pinkas Synagogue, Old New Synagogue, and Klausen Synagogue) in the neighbourhood as well as the Old Jewish Cemetary, the Robert Guttmann Gallery, and the Ceremonial Hall. The admission for all these places are included in the Prague CoolPass (except the Robert Guttmann Gallery, which is free). You can also buy tickets at any of the synagogues. The route I took to visit everything was Spanish Synagogue to the Robert Guttmann Gallery to Maisel Synagogue to the Old Jewish Cemetary to Pinkas Synagogue to the Old New Synagogue and finally, to Klausen Synagogue. Each synagogue has a lot of history – the oldest synagogue is the Old New Synagogue, which was built in 1270. My favourite synagogue was the Spanish Synagogue – the interior was absolutely beautiful.
Afterwards, I walked to the Charles Bridge and booked the Prague Venice Cruise (this is included with the Prague CoolPass). The tickets are purchased from the Charles Bridge Museum. The cruise is about an hour long and has a virtual guide that describes the historical landmarks. You get a snack and drink as part of the cruise as well and the views of the city are nice. On the tour, I learned that the grout used to build the Charles Bridge had eggs mixed in it – maybe this has contributed to its support strength? Another weird and random fact is that the Charles Bridge finished construction September 7, 1357 at 5:31pm. Upon returning from the cruise, I visited the Charles Bridge Museum which is located right by the Old Town Bridge Tower.
I then walked back to the Old Town Square and stopped to admire the Astronomical Clock. The clock was first installed in 1410 and is the oldest astronomical clock still in operation.
The Old Town Square was set-up with Christmas festivities with a large decorated tree in the center and boutique stalls around the tree. I stopped at a hot dog stall for dinner and spiced wine stall for an after dinner drink.
It was still a bit early, so I stopped by the modern art museum in the Old Town Square for a quick visit. The artwork was modern and the building was quiet despite being near the city center. I was exhausted due to my long flight that morning, so I headed back to the hotel for the evening. I stayed at the Design Hotel Jewel in Prague, which was an ok hotel. I thought the walls were thin and it was confusing where the hotel front desk is. It would be good if the hotel gave instructions that you have to go through the restaurant to get to the hotel front desk. Breakfast was included in the stay, but I had to leave early the next morning so I missed it, but unlike most hotels, they did not offer an alternative breakfast option. All-in-all, the stay was fine, but could have been better.
Complete Day 1 Itinerary
*Travel times may vary. Check Google Maps for most accurate travel details.
11:30am: Have lunch at Kantýna. Order the beef tartar!
1:00pm: Visit the Jerusalem Synagogue (6 minute walk from Kantýna). Then walk to the Jewish Quarter (20 minute walk from Jerusalem Synagogue). Visit the Spanish Synagogue, Robert Guttmann Gallery, Maisel Synagogue, Old Jewish Cemetary, Pinkas Synagogue, Old New Synagogue, and Klausen Synagogue.
3:00pm: Go for a river cruise (the Prague Venice Cruise) (11 minute walk from the Jewish Quarter). After the cruise, visit the Charles Bridge Museum and walk along the bridge.
5:00pm: Visit the Old Town Square (8 minute walk from the Charles Bridge Museum). See the Astronomical Clock, the Church of our Lady Before Tyn, and the various museums/buildings in the area.
6:00pm: Have dinner at the Christmas Market in the Old Town Square (if it is the season).
10-Day Europe Itinerary
Click “Download” below for an excel version of my 10-Day Europe Itinerary to Czech Republic, Germany, and Austria. Feel free to use the excel file as a planning template for your own trip!
Czech Republic Links:
Travels with Carolyne 