Exploring Old Town Prague: What to See in Prague’s Old Town

Exploring Prague, and specifically, Old Town Prague, is like stepping into a fairy tale.

With it’s charming cobblestone streets, incredible architecture, and looming castle complex, Prague could very well be straight out of a fairy tale.

As first time visitors to Prague, we found ourselves spend a lot of time in Old Town Prague as it contains some of the top things to do in Prague.

This makes sense though, given that the majority of the attractions that Prague is famous for are located in Prague Old Town.

If you’re like us, and Prague is just one stop on your central Europe vacation, then you’re time is probably limited in the Czech capital.

That is why we put together this guide to exploring Old Town Prague.

Let us show you some of the top sights in Prague Old Town so that you can make the most of your visit to this beautiful city!

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Old Town Square

Old Town Square is one of the many places where you will feel like you have been transported to a real life fairy tale. I mean, just look around at the pastel-colored buildings surrounding the Old Town Square!

Not only is the Old Town Square area home to beautiful architecture, but it is also home to some of the top attractions in Old Town Prague.

Amidst the crowds of people in Old Town Square, it is here that you will find the Astronomical Clock, Old Town Hall, and the Gothic Church of Our Lady Before Tyn.

Prague’s Old Town Square has been a bustling area since the eleventh century when it served as the city’s main marketplace.

Still a bustling marketplace today, you will probably find yourself visiting the Old Town Square again and again while visiting Prague.

It is also here, in the market square, that the famous Christmas markets of Prague are held. I haven’t been yet, but I can imagine they are amazing.

Pro Tip: While I loved some of the food stalls in the Prague’s Old Town, we were warned by our Airbnb hosts to avoid most of the restaurants around Old Town Square. The restaurants are known to be overprices for mediocre food, so buyer beware.

Old Town City Hall

The centerpiece of Prague’s Old Town Square is Old Town City Hall, one of the most important monuments in Old Town Prague.

The Old Town Hall was completed in 1364, and has undergone many renovations during its history.

The Old Town Hall complex that you see before you today consists of five adjacent Renaissance and Gothic-style buildings.

After passing through the incredible Gothic doors, visitors to Old Town Hall can take tour the Gothic building to learn more about the historical significance of the Old Town Hall.

We highly recommend taking this tour of Prague’s Old Town City Hall!

Not only do you get to learn the history of the Town Hall, but you also get to see the dungeons, the underground area, and several hidden rooms. It’s really a historical dive into the Town Hall and well worth some of your vacation time.

Astronomical Clock

One of the most popular attractions in Old Town Prague is the Astronomical Clock, which is located on the southern wall of the Old Town Hall.

The 15th century astronomical clock is a gorgeous work of art in itself, but people don’t just gather here to marvel at the clock’s beautify.

Nope…they are here to see the clock’s show while visiting Prague’s Old Town!

Every hour, the Old Town Square area is packed with tourists hoping to get a glimpse of the show put on by the Astronomical Clock.

When the clock chimes, a door opens and figures (representing the 12 Apostles) pass by the window marking in a new hour of the day.

Pro Tip: In our opinion, the show isn’t worth spending too much of your vacation time on. If you happen to be in the area, then check it out. If not, I wouldn’t stress about it.

I would, however, recommend paying to go to the top of the Town Hall Tower. For a small fee, you can get some great views of Old Town Square and Old Town Prague.

Tyn Cathedral (Church of Our Lady Before Tyn)

The Church of Our Lady Before Tyn stands tall, looking over Old Town Prague.

The towering twin spires and gorgeous pointed arches of the late Gothic style church are hard to miss anywhere in Old Town.

Look closely at the twin spires, and you will notice that one is slightly taller than the other. This is said to represent the masculine and feminine elements of the world.

Construction on the church began in the late 14th century, and the Baroque style interior of the church was added in the 17th century.

Take time to tour the inside of the church when you visit Prague, especially during the daytime when the sunlight shines through the magnificent windows.

The Baroque style interior shines in the sunlight, and the alter dedicated to the Virgin Mary glistens. The Virgin Mary altar is truly beautiful and well worth seeing!

Jan Hus Monument

The huge bronze and stone statue in the center of Old Town Square is a statue of Jan Hus, a Czech priest at Charles University who was passionate about church reformation.

After speaking out against the Catholic Church, Jan Hus was burned at the stake.

His work paved the way for the Protestant Movement of the 16th century, and ultimately, the Hussite Wars.

Today, the Jan Hus Monument stands as a reminder to have strength against all oppressors.

St. Nicholas Church (Prague Old Town)

The St. Nicholas Church in Prague Old Town is another great church to visit while in Old Town Prague.

The neo Baroque façade is hard to miss when compared to the surrounding buildings.

After serving as a Russian Orthodox congregation for many years, the St. Nicholas Church in Old Town is now owned by the Hussite church.

You can catch daily concerts here, so be on the lookout.

The Josefov District (The Jewish Quarter)

The Josefov District is another area of Old Town that is definitely worth exploring.

This historical area served as the Jewish quarter for many years, and today, is a mix of historical Jewish buildings and modern boulevards.

This small area of Prague’s old town can be found between Old Town Square and the Vltava River.

We took a private tour with a local guide to learn more about the Czech history of the Jewish people who called Prague’s old town home.

The tour allowed us insight to the hardships faced by the Jewish community that were forced to live in this area.

During the tour, you can see the Jewish Town Hall, the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Spanish Synagogue, and the Old-New Synagogue, the oldest active synagogue in Europe.

Pro Tip: You can purchase a ticket while in the Jewish Quarter that covers entry into all of the major sites.

Wenceslas Square

While not officially in Prague’s Old Town, Wenceslas Square is really close to Old Town, and well worth visiting while you are in the area.

Throughout history, Wenceslas Square has served as the main square for political demonstrations and acts of opposition against oppression.

Today, the boulevard is lines with cafes, Prague hotels, and luxury department stores, Wenceslas Square is still a pillar of the city.

Klementinum

Nestled between the Charles Bridge and Old Town Square is a complex of buildings that contain some of the most beautiful architecture in Prague.

The Klementinum consists of four wings, three churches, and a few courtyards.

It is here that you will find the National Library of Prague as well.

Take a few minutes after escaping the crowds from Prague’s Old Town market square and the astronomical clock to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

Powder Tower

The Powder Tower stands tall at one of the most important gates in Prague, the eastern entrance gate.

Constructed in 1475, the Gothic structure is one of the city’s original city gate, and was used for, you guess it, gunpowder storage.

This historic tower not only marks the entrance to Old Town Prague, but it was also here that the King’s coronation ride would begin.

If you’re up to it, you can climb the 186 steps up to the top of the Powder Tower to learn more about the tower’s history and to get some great views of the city.

Charles Bridge

One of the main attractions in Prague is the Charles Bridge, which stretches across the Vltava River, connecting Old Town Prague to Lesser Town Prague (Mala Strana).

Seeing as we were staying Mala Strana, we crossed the Charles Bridge every day during while visiting Prague.

While this medieval bridge is always crowded, try to overlook the hoards of people and focus on the magnificent views of Prague Castle, the Vltava River, and the stunning architecture of the bridge itself.

The Charles Bridge tells the history of Prague through the 30 statues that line the Charles Bridge, each telling a unique story about Prague’s history.

I guess that makes sense when you realize that the Charles Bridge was erected in 1357, making it the oldest bridge in the city of Prague.

In the center of the Charles Bridge is a popular statue, the statue of John of Nepomuk. History tells that John was a patron saint that was thrown off of the bridge by Wenceslas IV when he refused to tell the queen’s confessions.

It is believed that rubbing the foot of John’s statue will bring you good luck.

You never know, it’s worth a try during your time in Prague’s Old Town!

The bridge is flanked on either end by historic towers, the Old Town Tower and the Mala Strana Tower, which once ensured the safety of the city.

Pro Tip: Be sure to visit the Charles Bridge early in the morning or late in the evening. Not only are there less people, but this is a great time to see Prague Castle in the perfect light.

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