Prague – Day 10 of a 10-Day Trip in Europe
Day 10 was my last full day in Europe and I had come full circle. Back in Prague for my final day! This time I stayed on the other side of the Charles Bridge, in the area known as Malá Strana (or Lesser Town). This is a quieter area compared to the Old Town area as there are not as many night activities on this side of the bridge. That does not mean there is not much to do in the area. Activities in this part of town include visiting the Prague Castle, Petrin Park, and the Lennon Wall.
Day 10
Prague
My day started with a trip from Vienna to Prague by train. I picked up a pretzel from one of the bakeries at the train station. The train ride is 4 hours long, and I arrived in Prague just after 11:15am. Once I arrived in Prague, I purchased a 24-hour transit ticket, then headed to my hotel, Three Golden Crowns Apartments, in the Malá Strana area. My room was already ready, so I was able to drop my bags directly into my room. The room was very big with a kitchen area, like an apartment. The courtyard of the hotel was cute too and had an open roof. The front gate is locked between 9am-10pm so you get a key to unlock/lock it if you are returning/leaving outside the “open” hours.
Across the hotel is the St. Nicholas Church. I only snapped a photo of the outside as there was an entrance fee. I felt like I had seen enough churches at this point and did not want to pay for entry. St. Nicholas Church is a Roman Catholic Church built in the 18th century.
On the next block is a restaurant called U Glaubiců. It was busy, but luckily a table just opened up and I was seated quickly. There were others that showed up right after me, who were told that the wait would be at least 30 minutes! I ordered the roast pork knuckle and a pilsner. This was not just any pilsner, this was a Pilsner Urquell, the world’s first pale lager and a Czech Republic staple. These golden beers have been brewed since 1842 in Plzeň, a town southwest of Prague. The roast pork knuckle plate came with warm sauerkraut and sliced flour dumplings. The warm sauerkraut was not my favourite (I personally like chilled sauerkraut). The first few bites of the roast pork knuckle (crispy skin!) was delicious, but it is extremely fatty and rich, so it was hard to finish.
After lunch, I walked about 15 minutes uphill to the Prague Castle. There are some great views of the city from atop the hill.
The Prague Castle is a large complex with multiple historical buildings. There are guards in front of the large yellow building near the entrance due to it being the workplace and residence of the Czech Republic President. The castle complex was built in 870 and since then, has been the home of Bohemian kings, emperors, and presidents. There are different ticket options, but the most commonly bought ticket includes entrance to the Old Royal Palace, St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica, and the Golden Lane. There are ticket scanners at each entrance. The Old Royal Palace has a Gothic and Renaissance architecture and its history dates back to the 12th century. The most important room is the Vladislav Hall, which has seen many commemorative royal events in its lifetime. St. Vitus Cathedral is a Catholic Church within the castle walls and was originally built in 930! Within the cathedral walls are the tombs of many of the country’s rulers. St. George’s Basilica may be smaller in comparison to St. Vitus Cathedral, but age-wise, it has been around longer than St. Vitus Cathedral. St. George’s Basilica completed its build in 920 and was built in a Romanesque style. The Golden Lane is a narrow street filled with small colourful houses. The houses show glimpses of what it was like to live in this area many years ago.
As I exited the Prague Castle complex on the opposite side of where I entered, there was another gorgeous viewpoint of Prague.
Next destination was the Petrin Park. You can climb up the hill, but it will take about an hour and a half. Alternatively, you can take the funicular up from the Újezd station. The funicular is considered public transit (i.e. the price is the same as a bus ticket or like me, if you have a valid Prague transit pass, it is free). Riding the funicular made it easy to get to the top, but the operator was not the most friendly person. They yelled at people to get on the funicular and had a bit of an attitude. The trip up is slow and there is a stop mid-way up (although I’m not sure how many people would get off here). Once at the top, I walked around the park and visited the Petrin Lookout Tower. I did not go up the tower, but instead just snapped a photo. The tower looks like a mini Eiffel Tower. From there, I started to walk down the hill. Along the way, I passed a cool viewpoint between the trees where the funicular ran.
The walk took about 30 minutes. Next location to visit was the John Lennon Wall. This wall is dedicated to the Beatles Legend, John Lennon, with graffiti-art and lyrics written on the structure.
I then walked to the Charles Bridge. There was a small Christmas Market near the Charles Bridge, so I stopped at a stall for a cup of Medovina. Medovina is a Czech Republican mead made from flower honey and mixed with spices. I was recommended to try by a co-worker and it did not disappoint.
I actually headed back to the hotel after this to pack up my bags and prepare for my trip home. Once that was completed, it was about time for dinner. I took the bus to the Old Town area and got off near the Národní Muzeum (The National Museum). The museum was closed at this time, but there was a Christmas Market in front of it and I wanted to browse the stalls and look for a Christmas ornament.
For dinner, I really went full-circle and went to the restaurant, Kantýna. This restaurant was the location of my first meal during this Europe trip and it would also serve as my final meal on this trip. I ordered the beer tartar (again) which came with toasted bread. This plate was my favourite meal for the entirety of the trip. It was so delicious! The restaurant was extremely busy however, and since it is more of a cafeteria-like structure (order and seat yourself), the staff do not really monitor tables, space, and people. I found a standing corner near the entrance where I ate my dinner. The plate was yummy, but for some reason, I did not enjoy it as much as I did on Day 1. It may have been because of the uncomfortable seating situation, or maybe just the fact, that this was a bittersweet moment – the end of my trip.
I had one last thing to check off my list before heading back to the hotel and that was to get a trdelnik for dessert. Trdelnik is a spit cake sprinkled with sugar and filled with cream. It was crispy and scrumptious, although I wished the cream was a bit sweeter. Ready to call it a night, I headed back to the hotel.
Complete Day 10 Itinerary
*Travel times may vary. Check Google Maps for most accurate travel details.
7:00am: Take the train from Vienna to Prague Main Station (4 hour train from Vienna).
11:30am: Have lunch at U Glaubiců (30 minute transit from Prague Main Station).
12:30pm: Visit Prague Castle (13 minute walk from U Glaubiců). Visit the Old Royal Palace, St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica, and Golden Lane. Take in the views of the city from the Prague Castle hilltop!
2:30pm: Take the Petrin Funicular at the Újezd Station (4 minute transit from Prague Castle). The funicular takes about 10 minutes to go up the hill. Visit the Petrin Lookout Tower. Walk down the mountain and stop at the viewpoint on the bridge overlooking the funicular.
4:00pm: Wander the Mala Strana. Visit the John Lennon Wall (9 minute walk from Újezd Station).
5:00pm: Wander the Charles Bridge area (5 minute walk from the John Lennon Wall).
6:00pm: Have dinner! Kantyna (12 minute transit from the Charles Bridge) is an option!
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!
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Travels with Carolyne 