Travano

Our Central European adventure continues with a visit to Prague, the breathtaking capital of the Czech Republic. With so many stories to tell, I decided to split our Prague experience into three parts.

We continue where we left off from the previous episode:

Leaving Bratislava at around noon and driving straight to Prague without stopping. I have to say that the trip was probably one of the most boring parts of our whole trip. You know how boring those long way drives can be 😀

Even though I am used to them, the highway portion between Brno and Prague seemed 3 times more boring than any other highway or road I ever drove on before.

Arrival and First Impressions

We arrived at our hotel: Vienna House by Wyndham Andel’s Prague at around noon. There was a conference located at the hotel that we had to attend and the company paid for the accommodation costs.

After dropping our luggage of, we decided to eat at an Italian restaurant located right next to our hotel – Corleone’s Pizzeria, pretty good 😀

It started raining right afterwards so we decided to take a short nap and go out for a leisurely late night walk through the old town to get a first impression.

A Late-Night Walk Through the Old Town

Prague’s beauty took on a whole new dimension under the soft glow of street lamps. The contrast between the busy daytime crowds and the calm of the night was remarkable and allowed us to truly appreciate the architectural grandeur.

After our walk, we stopped to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat at one of the coolest restaurants in the Old Town: Bar Restaurant Orloj. The ambiance was fantastic, and it was the perfect place to unwind with a cold Czech beer and some delicious local cuisine.

A Rainy Morning at Petřín Tower and Park

In our first full day, we attended the conference held at our hotel right after breakfast. It was interesting but not quite what we expected.

After several presentations, networking and interesting conversations, we walked towards the Petřín Gardens and the Petřín Tower, often referred to as Prague’s Eiffel Tower.

Petřín Park, surrounding the tower, was a peaceful retreat, one of the best nature spots we ever visited, its winding paths offering picturesque spots to admire the scenery despite the persistent drizzle.

However the climb to the top of the Tower was exhausting because the elevator was not working. As we climbed all the way up, we were rewarded with some stunning panoramic views of the city, even with the overcast sky.

After our midday exploration, we sought refuge from the rain at Restaurace U Labutí, a charming restaurant near Prague Castle. The cozy ambiance and warm, hearty Czech cuisine would provide the perfect break from the chilly weather. We had to wait around 30 minutes for our food to be ready because of the heavy rain the place was packed (earlier we tried 4 other restaurants but there were no free tables available). Ultimately, we were glad we chose this place because the food was great and overtime, the rain gradually began to ease, allowing us to continue our adventure with clearer skies.

Exploring Prague Castle and Its Courtyards

With the weather improving, we proceeded to Prague Castle for a deeper exploration. The castle’s vast courtyards were magnificent, each corner steeped in history. We took our time strolling through the grand spaces, appreciating the intricate architectural details and the sense of history that lingered in the air.

The Old Royal Palace and St. George’s Basilica added to the grandeur of our visit, offering insight into centuries of Bohemian royalty and tradition.

After we decided to climb down from the Castle, we saw some other interesting landmarks of Prague, including the St. Nicholas Church, the Kafka Museum as well as the funny nutrias looking for food next to the river.

Crossing Charles Bridge

No trip to Prague would be complete without a walk across the Charles Bridge which I believed we traversed at least 5 or 6 times. (during both daytime and nighttime)

This historic stone bridge, adorned with baroque statues, connected the Old Town with the Lesser Quarter. As we strolled along, we admired the stunning views of the Vltava River and the iconic Prague Castle in the distance.

Night time was upon us, so we started heading back to our hotel. On our way, we passed another set of statues which had a very original design. I will let the photo speak for itself.

Pretty interesting huh? 😀

Going back home, we decided to try Italian again, this time at Grosetto, also near our hotel. I would say it was slightly better than at Corleone’s but not by much. After dinner, we went back home to get some rest as the second day approached again and we had a lot more to explore

Final Thoughts on Our First Days in Prague

Our first part of exploring Prague was surprising to say the least. While the weather was not that great in our first full day of exploring the city, we were nevertheless impressed.

From its medieval streets to grand castles, every corner of the city had a story to tell. The mix of history, culture, and charm made for an unforgettable experience

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we dive deeper into Prague’s vibrant culture, hidden gems, museums and some of the best food and drinks the city had to offer us!