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Leitfaden für Anfänger in Prag

Exploring this fairy-tale city is truly magical, especially for first-time visitors.

Travellers enjoy exploring Prague's historic center.
Hi, I'm Katie!

Katie Nadworny is an Istanbul-based writer who specializes in travel and stories at the intersection of culture and politics in Turkey, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, The Daily Beast, The Guardian, The Independent, and BBC Travel, among other places. She has lived in Turkey since 2013.

The Czech capital is one of the most charming destinations on the European continent, with memorable highlights like the dreamy Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge that sprawls across the Vltava River. Prague is known for its Gothic, Renaissance, and baroque architecture, moody cobblestone streets, and abundant parks. Beneath the surface, Prague boasts a world-renowned beer tradition, unique history, and a budding creative culture. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your first trip to Prague.

1. Visit Prague Castle

View of the Prague Castle, a complex that features baroque and Gothic architecture.
Prague Castle is imposing and beautiful.Bildquelle: Vojta Herout / Viator

Explore the complex that dominates Prague’s skyline.

No first-time visitor to Prague should miss the city views from Prague Castle, a complex that features baroque and Gothic architecture. To maximize your time, pre-book admission to the castle grounds and St. Vitus Cathedral. Don’t miss its stunning stained glass windows designed by Alphonse Mucha. Then, check out the Lobkowicz Palace Museum to get your fill of fine art and royal portraits. Visit Golden Lane and learn about the history of its residents, including Franz Kafka.

2. Try local Czech cuisine

Sausages and beer in Prague.
Expect to find sausages and beer on many local menus.Bildquelle: Vojta Herout / Viator

Eat your way through Prague.

Taste your way through Prague’s traditional and contemporary eateries to understand the flavors of the city. Try traditional Czech dishes, including chlebicky (open-faced sandwiches), duck with sauerkraut, bramborove knedliky (potato dumplings), svickova (bread dumplings with braised beef and cranberry compote), Czech cheeses and charcuterie, and more. Pair your meal with local Czech beer, usually a Pilsner.

3. Cruise the Vltava River

A view of Charles Bridge from the Vltava River.
A cruise along the river can be sublime.Bildquelle: Vojta Herout / Viator

Take in views of Prague from the water.

The best way to see Prague’s skyline of spires is from the water, so board a boat and head out on the Vltava River. A centerpiece of Prague’s geography, the winding Vltava is best experienced on a river cruise. Romantics can book a dinner cruise to take in the evening skyline views. Alternatively, opt for a canal cruise to see landmarks such as Prague Castle and Charles Bridge while enjoying the fresh breeze out on the water.

Related: Where to Find the Best Views in Prague

4. Learn about Prague’s communist past

A view of Wenceslas Square in Prague.
The main square in Prague.Bildquelle: maziarz / Shutterstock

Visit spots that were pivotal in the country’s communist history.

Under Prague’s beauty is a darker recent history. Learn about the history of communism in 20th-century Prague, which dominated the country until the Velvet Revolution of 1989. Get a sense of what it was like to live in Czechoslovakia under communism by visiting a nuclear bunker and the former secret police building where political prisoners were held. Make sure to visit spots like Wenceslas Square that were important during the Prague Spring in 1968 (a mass protest), which can help you understand how modern Prague grew out of its recent past.

5. Experience Prague’s nightlife

Bar patrons enjoy a flight of beers in Prague.
Travelers enjoy a flight of beers in the capital.Bildquelle: Vojta Herout / Viator

Pub crawl your way through Prague.

Prag ist bekannt für seine historische Architektur und sein erstklassiges Bier und bietet zahlreiche Möglichkeiten, die tschechische Kultur kennenzulernen. Von der Burg auf dem Hügel der Stadt bis zu ihrem gewundenen Fluss, von lokalen Restaurants bis zu UNESCO-Welterbestätten: Hier finden Sie alles, was Sie wissen müssen, um Ihr erstes Mal in Prag optimal zu nutzen.

Rund um die Stadt sehen

Orientieren Sie sich an einer Stadtführung. Hop-on-Hop-off-Bustouren sind eine flexible Möglichkeit, wenn Sie nur wenig Zeit haben. Oder genießen Sie die frische Luft auf einer Fahrrad-, Roller- oder E-Bike-Tour.

Besuchen Sie die Prager Burg

Kein Erstbesucher von Prag sollte den Blick auf die Stadt von der Prager Burg, einem Komplex mit barocker und gotischer Architektur, verpassen. Um Ihre Zeit zu maximieren, buchen Sie den Eintritt zum Schlossgelände und zur St.-Veits-Kathedrale im Voraus und besuchen Sie das Lobkowicz-Palastmuseum, um sich mit Kunst und königlichen Porträts zu füllen.

Gönnen Sie sich die lokale Küche

Genießen Sie die herzhafte lokale Küche und waschen Sie sie anschließend mit einem erfrischenden tschechischen Pils ab. Nehmen Sie an einer Food-Wanderung oder einer Bierverkostung teil und verpassen Sie keine Spezialitäten wie eingelegte Wurst und Chlebicky-Sandwiches mit offenem Gesicht.

Fahren Sie auf der Moldau

Die gewundene Moldau ist ein Herzstück der Prager Geographie und lässt sich am besten auf einer Flusskreuzfahrt erleben. Romantiker können eine Dinner-Kreuzfahrt buchen, um die abendliche Aussicht auf die Skyline zu genießen. Alternativ können Sie eine Kanalrundfahrt wählen, um Sehenswürdigkeiten wie die Prager Burg und die Karlsbrücke zu sehen.

Erkunde die böhmische Landschaft

Entfliehen Sie der Stadt und besuchen Sie einige der historischen Städte der Tschechischen Republik, darunter Kutná Hora und den UNESCO-geschützten Cesky Krumlov. Zahlreiche Touren starten in Prag und führen zu Kirchen, mittelalterlichen Städten und einem alten Schlosskomplex.

6. Visit Cesky Krumlov or Kutna Hora

A view of Cesky Krumlov, a town in Prague.
The red roofs of central Prague.Bildquelle: Silvia Longhi / Viator

Enjoy an excursion out of the city.

While Prague is a center of buzzing urban energy, escape the city for the day and head to some of the Czech Republic’s historic towns, including Kutna Hora, featuring the Sedlec Ossuary bone-filled rooms, and the UNESCO–listed Cesky Krumlov and its famous castle. A day trip allows you to explore the Czech countryside and get to know life outside the busy city. Numerous guided tours leave Prague and get you back within the day.

7. Visit Josefov

Viator
Josefov is well worth the visit.Bildquelle: Silvia Longhi / Viator

Learn about the history of Prague’s Jewish Quarter.

Get to know the history of Prague’s Jewish community in Josefov, the historical Jewish Quarter of the city. Take time to stop by the Jewish Cemetery and the Spanish Synagogue. Booking a tour that includes admission to the Spanish Synagogue and lets you skip the line will make your visit easier and more comfortable as you learn about the modern textures of the neighborhood and its history. Stop by the Jewish Museum to further deepen your knowledge of Prague’s Jewish community.

8. Spend a night at the opera

The exterior of Estates Theatre.
Estates Theatre is an opulent venue.Bildquelle: Premysl / Shutterstock

Experience world-class productions in sumptuous settings.

Prague’s historic prominence in the opera world dates back at least to the rapturously-received 1787 premiere of Mozart’s Don Giovanni. A night at the opera in Prague today combines an opportunity to experience top-notch artistry with some truly dazzling architecture. Take your pick from Prague’s selection of opulent venues, from the 18th-century jewel-box of the Estates Theatre to the grandly gilded neo-Renaissance National Theatre. If the opera calendar doesn’t suit your taste or schedule, it’s worth just taking a tour of the theaters–and Prague offers a host of other options for watching performances in historic concert halls.

9. See the city from above

Petřín Lookout Tower.
Petřín Lookout Tower offers aerial views of Prague.Bildquelle: Mistervlad / Shutterstock

Enjoy the views and historic attractions at one of the highest points in Prague.

Standing atop the 1,063-foot (324-meter) summit of Petřín Hill, Petřín Lookout Tower offers bird’s-eye views of Prague’s famous rooftops and spires. The structure was inspired by the Eiffel Tower and opened as part of the Prague Jubilee Exhibition in 1891, along with the nearby Mirror Maze, which is also worth a visit. Bike or take the funicular up Petřín Hill, then ascend to the 167-foot-high (51-meter-high) observation cabin for a stunning panorama of Prague and the Bohemian countryside. If the weather’s right, you can see all the way to Mt. Sněžka, the highest peak in the Czech Republic.

10. Explore Old Town Square

People in Old Town Square.
Old Town Square is home to impressive architecture and monuments.Bildquelle: Vojta Herout / Viator

Immerse yourself in the bustle of a medieval marketplace.

Though teeming with tourists, Old Town Square’s concentration of impressive architecture and monuments make it a great place to get a feel for Prague. The medieval heart of the UNESCO–listed Historic Center of Prague, this former market square features a colorful array of arcaded houses alongside the dramatic twin spires of the Church of Our Lady Before Týn. Learn about the square’s history on a guided tour, or settle at a café for people watching. Be sure to position yourself near the 15th-century Astronomical Clock when the hour strikes to watch the astonishing parade of mechanical Apostles emerge from its face.

This article features additional content written by Miriam Coleman.

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