(content by Marek H)
What’s the best way to see the Old Town, not let anything important slip you by and enjoy all the oldest parts of Prague? J ust like the kings of old did on their way to coronation! The King’s Path offers all of the above.
Start your journey following the footprints of lords at the Municipal House, and hopefully by catching a marvellous concert. Smetana Hall and the entire building are an exceptionally well-preserved Art Nouveau pride of Prague whose decoration was completed by an array of significant artists from the time. Your King’s Path continues to the Powder Tower, which is one of Prague’s more well-known symbols. The tower was made in the late Gothic style and once stood on the route from Old Town Prague to Kutná Hora where silver was mined. You can climb your way to the top of the 43-tower to enjoy the view, you’ll just need to make it past the 186 steps first.
Shopping on Celetná Street and a Cubist Gem
World-wide brands can be found concentrated on Prague’s Celetná Street, so don’t hesitate to go shopping in these breathtaking historical buildings. Also don’t miss out on the cubist one-of-a-kind, the House of Black Madonna. As you walk the length of Celetná Street you’ll arrive at the most famous city square in Prague, the Old Town Square. You can see the apostles’ procession around the astronomical clock at the top of every hour. Should you desire a closer, more spectacular view of the show, purchase a ticket to the Old Town Hall where you can watch the figures march from the chapel. The Old Town Hall even has an interesting underground. A tour of the most significant historical sites on the Old Town Square are wrapped up by the Church of Our Lady before Týn, where Tycho Brahe was buried. We recommend staying in a hotel close to the Old Town Square, which can make a great starting point for you to go on tours of the city. If you’re looking for a hotel stay in Prague’s Old Town at a reasonable price, give hotel Rott a try.
The hotel is located on Malé náměstí (Small Square) where the King’s Path will inevitably lead you. At this triangular-shaped square you will be primarily interested in the fountain with its renaissance grate dating back to the 16th century. The Path continues on around the Clementinum to Charles Bridge, the second oldest bridge in the Czech Republic with its magnificent statues. Then continue along Mostecká street to Malostranské Square and further to Nerudová street to Prague Castle, a unique complex with history dating back more than 1,000 years. We recommend dedicating an entire day to a tour of Prague Castle.
How to avoid running into any issues
Many gastronomic and historically interesting businesses with acceptable prices can be found among the restaurants in Old Town Prague. There’s no need to eat just sausages, fried cheese and French fries sold from the street vendors, they are often prepared in burnt grease and can cause stomach problems. But if you’re still up for it, pay attention to the cleanliness of the stand and the actual preparation of the food, for example, whether the sausages are cooked on fat-free plates. The delicious delicacy ‘chimney cakes’ should be safe to eat, even though they unfortunately aren’t traditional Czech food as the advertisements will try to convince you of otherwise, they’re originally from Transylvania.
Prague is a very safe city when it comes to serious criminality. However, a large number of pickpockets can be found in the city centre. Take care of your personal items, especially when taking public transport and in tightly packed spaces. Exchange money in banks or in verified currency exchange offices, and never from somebody who approaches you on the street. There are many frauds here who would offer you worthless banknotes from other countries or useless currencies. Also be careful when exchanging money at actual exchange offices, compare them to other places beforehand to make sure you’re not getting ripped off.
