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6.02.2016

Prague: a visit to Praha Castle

Prague panorama

If you follow me on Instagram (and I can only suggest to do that ;p) you already know I’ve recently been in Prague to visit my little cousin – who’s not that little anymore – who’s doing an internship there.

I hopped on a plane on a Friday morning and arrived in an incredibly warm and sunny Prague just in time for lunch.

My cousin being still at work when I arrived, I just had a quick toast & a cappuccino before heading to Prague castle.


Prague castle

Actually the castle is not just a castle, it's a real city inside the city. It sits on the top of a hill & its silhouette is visible from every corner of the city. Ne need to say, from up there you enjoy a wonderful view over the city below.


Prague view from the Castle

The castle is surrounded by beautiful gardens, that were bursting with colors & smells.


Prague castle

Wandering among the castle's palaces, churches & gardens is the perfect way to spend half a day while in Prague.

You can reach the castle by foot or take an old fashion tram. I would suggest this second option and then you can go back to the city centre by foot, as the hill is quite steeply plus the walk till the castle is quite long and, trust me, you're gonna walk quite a lot inside the castle as well.


Prague castle

Little time-saver tip: to buy tram tickets, you need to go in a subway station. 
(Obviously I didn't know that, I thought I could just buy tickets on the tram, as I just did on the airport bus. Eventually, the tram driver very nicely, made me go up on the tram anyway).

You can enter the castle and the gardens for free & explore around and it's yet very beautiful, but if you wish to visit some of the historic monuments you'll have to get your ticket ;)
You can chose between a long & a short tour ticket. I chose this last option, that gives you access to the Old Royal Palace, Saint George Basilica, Saint Vitus Cathedral and the Golden Lane.

Just be aware that while the castle and the gardens are open until 6pm, the monuments close at 5pm, but starting from 4.30pm, the attendants begin not wanting tourists in. Summer time hours, you can find all the opening hours here.

Prague castle

I started my visit with the most emblematic building: Saint Vitus Cathedral.


Saint Vitus Cathedral, Prague

Saint Vitus Cathedral, Prague

The interior is huge 


Saint Vitus Cathedral, Prague

Saint Vitus Cathedral, Prague

& heavily decorated (in a good way ;p) 

Saint Vitus Cathedral, Prague

Saint Vitus Cathedral, Prague

& the stained glass are just wonderful. The lights enter through them, creating colorful drawings

Saint Vitus Cathedral, Prague


Saint Vitus Cathedral, Prague

Saint Vitus Cathedral, Prague

But the noise of the huge crowd of tourists took some of the pleasure of the visit away.

That's probably why I preferred Saint George basilica. The monument is clearly less impressive

Saint George Basilica, Prague

but it was empty from tourists, resulting in a very peaceful & charming place.

Saint George Basilica, Prague


Saint George Basilica, Prague

Saint George Basilica, Prague

I wandered around the courtyard and south gardens...


South gardens, Prague castle

Courtyard, Prague castle

To arrive to the Old Royal Palace. I expected a Versailles style place, but instead I surprisingly found quite austere rooms.


Old Royal Palace, Prague castle

Old Royal Palace, Prague castle

Old Royal Palace, Prague castle

I continued with Golden Lane a colorful alley, which didn't impress me much, probably, again, because of all the tourists.


Golden Lane, Prague castle

I finished with the upper & lower gardens, which was what I preferred. As always & not surprisingly I'm more an outdoor girl.


Royal gardens, Prague castle

Royal gardens, Prague Castle, Queen Anne's Summer Palace

Royal gardens, Prague castle

Royal gardens, Prague castle

Royal gardens, Prague castle

Royal gardens, Prague castle

Royal gardens, Prague castle

Royal gardens, Prague castle

I've spent so many time wandering around the gardens that, before I could realize, it was 6pm and the guardians made me get out.

I kept on walking to come back to the hotel enjoying the beautiful views of Prague at sunset...


Prague panorama

Prague Charles bridge

Prague Danube and Castle

Tired & happy I found my cousin Elena at the hotel & after a quick shower off we were again for some local meal.

We went to a very nice place suggested by one of Elena's colleagues, of which I unfortunately cannot recall the name.

Where we share the biggest skewers I've ever seen and a typical beef dish with a raspberry sauce and bread dumplings.



And one (or two) enormous beer... we're in Prague after all! Chatting & laughing until tiredness won us (and we realized we were the only clients left, but waiters were too nice to tell us something)!



Not resisting to take a last few snaps on the way home...

But hey Prague at night is very charming (and empty of tourists!!).

Plus I was enjoying being with someone that takes almost as many pics as I do instead of hubby that usually sighs every time I take my camera (please, tell me I'm not the only one!) ;))

prague clock tower at night

old town square Prague at night

Church of the Virgin Mary Before Tyn at night, Prague

9 comments:

  1. Oh my.. are those cherry blossoms?? How gorgeous... The details of the cathedral are just mind-boggling. I am totally blown away by all your photos!! Wish I was there to see such a grand sight and drink one of those enormous beer and munch on that gigantic skewer. #CityTripping

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes Prague was all blossoming when I went there, it was really beautiful!
      But the places you are visiting, according to your pics, are equally gorgeous! :)
      xx
      Umberta

      Delete
  2. Oh Prague is so beautiful - I remember the cathedral really vividly from my visits before but not the castle as much, except that it's more of a fortress. Lovely to see your photos as a reminder. It's a fantastic spot on top of the bridge. Thanks for linking up with #citytripping

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I loved to participate in #citytripping, I read so many beautiful stories, thanks for organizing it! I'm surely keeping on linking up! :)
      xx
      Umberta

      Delete
  3. I too have a husband who takes no photos and gets annoyed when I stop to take them. I've enjoyed viewing yours. Looks like you had a great trip. I don't remember a lot of detail of the castle from my trip so thanks for the refresh. I do remember the beer though - oh, it is good! #citytripping

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Eheh I think it's a problem of many of us to have a husband who's not into taking pictures ;)) and yep, it's impossible to forget Prague beer ;)
      xx
      Umberta

      Delete
  4. Prague is such an enchanting city. I visited about six years ago to visit a friend. It was great having someone who knew the city to show me around. Sadly I had a really bad camera at the time so didn't get half as many wonderful photos as you. This has brought back a lot of fun memories! #citytripping

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Claire, yes it's definitely the best think when you have a local person to show you around! :)
      Otherwise, to have a new camera & wanting to take pics can be a good excuse to organize a trip back to Prague ;))

      Delete
  5. Nope, you are not the only one, my husband says I take too many photos ( thus seeing everything through a camera lens ), and of everything. But I love capturing the memories. I enjoyed reading that recount of your day in Prague. #citytripping

    ReplyDelete

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