This fairytale city inspires romance, wooing visitors with picture-perfect sights, breathtaking vistas, and intimate spots in which to unwind.
Arguably Central Europe’s most beautiful and well-preserved capital city should be on every traveler’s bucket list. If you haven’t yet visited, there is no better time than now for a long weekend getaway in Prague. It’s the perfect place for a romantic holiday with your significant other.
Prague wasn’t damaged as much as many other European cities during WWII, and its historic city center earned a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation in 1992. It’s easy to see why, with a blend of Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance style architecture lining city streets that wind out from Old Town Square. Safe and easy to navigate, Prague boasts plenty of museums, galleries, gardens, and bridges to explore, not to mention the largest medieval castle complex in the world.
If you’re looking for quality time with a loved one while discovering a new place, consider a Prague weekend trip during its shoulder travel seasons—spring and fall—rather than during peak season in the summer when throngs of tourists crowd city streets and pack top sights. Less congestion will lead to more time to fit in as much or as little as you’d like without the frustration of trying to navigate in a foreign destination filled to capacity, not to mention less difficulty securing reservations and tickets.
Where to Stay
Like any major city, Prague has its share of high-end hotels, but the NH Collection Carlo IV Hotel affords guests the perfect place to unpack and recharge after busy days spent sightseeing. It’s located just 10 minutes on foot from the Old Town Square without being in the middle of the tourist traffic in the heart of the historic center. It’s one of very few hotels in Prague with a spa and offers a 24-hour, well-equipped gym.
The Neo-Renaissance building was originally a Czech mortgage bank, and you can see evidence of this in the lobby and the Vault Bar. The Carlo IV is featured in several movies, including The Bourne Identity and Spider-Man: Far From Home; drinks from the bar are named in a nod to the property’s cinematic ties. Just off the lobby, the 1890 Restaurant & Bar serves an extensive, full breakfast buffet with a la carte options as well as lunch and dinner, with live music on the weekends. It’s a nice place for an intimate meal after a full day spent sightseeing.
Getting Around
The best way to get around the city and into major sights and attractions is to purchase a Prague Visitor Pass for 48, 72, or 120 hours. It includes unlimited public transportation throughout the city (which is clean and very safe), access to many sights and attractions, and even includes several city tours.
The main areas in Prague are Old Town, New Town, Lesser Town, and the district surrounding Prague Castle. Lesser Town and the castle district are across the Vltava River from Old Town and New Town, with the river flowing right through the city. With a short 3- or 4-day stay, focus your time in these locations.
Plan to traverse the Charles Bridge during both the day and the night. Built from 1357 to 1402, this is the most famous of the 18 bridges in the city crossing the Vltava River. In daytime, you can snap pictures of 30 statues and sculptures of saints (now replicas) lining the bridge. At night the bridge is softly lit, punctuated by twin bridge towers on either end; a romantic place to stroll after an evening meal.
Site-Seeing
Klementinum
For a breathtaking panoramic view of the city, take a tour of the Klementinum Astronomical Tower and Baroque Library. The Klementinum, founded by the Jesuits in 1556, is the city’s second-largest building complex after the Prague Castle and consists of religious and school buildings. Mozart played in the Mirror Chapel and Einstein taught here. Though you can’t set foot in the library or peruse roughly 27,000 works, including Kepler’s writings and correspondence, you can view it and take pictures from just outside—a truly beautiful place. The Klementinum boasts the longest continuous series of meteorological observations in Europe; ascend the tower to view the gallery of this station and for that aforementioned view from the balcony.
Old Town
No visit to Prague would be complete without a stop at Old Town Hall and to see the Old Town Astronomical Clock. You’ll notice and want to join the crowd gathering to view the hourly procession of the apostles from the clock between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. The clock dates back to 1410, and the mechanisms still work just as they did then. Tour the State Rooms in Town Hall, see the Chapel of the Virgin Mary, and visit the Romanesque-Gothic underground. The Hall was established in 1338 as the seat of Old Town administration but was almost completely destroyed during WWII and subsequently restored. Take the elevator to the top of Town Hall for another panoramic view of the city.
Prague Castle
In addition to the historic city center’s UNESCO designation, Prague Castle is a World Heritage Site, founded in 880 and filled with palaces and religious buildings. Within the castle walls, visit St. Vitus Cathedral (the largest and most important church in Prague) used for religious services and the coronations of Czech kings and queens. Tour the Old Royal Palace and Vladislav Hall with its stunning ceiling. Stroll down the narrow Golden Lane to see small, colorful houses built at the end of the 16th century, several of which contain exhibits showcasing trades and life during the lane’s 500-year history. Take a romantic stroll through the Royal Garden before stopping for lunch or dinner at Kuchyn, serving traditional Czech dishes within view of the castle entrance. If the weather cooperates, dine outside on the terrace with beautiful views of the city.
Jewish Quarter
Back in the Old Town, visit the Jewish Quarter with stops at the Old-New and Spanish synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery. The Old-New Synagogue is the oldest in Central Europe, dating back to the end of the 13th century, and it’s still in use today. Legend has it that Rabbi Low brought to life the golem, a creature from clay, to protect community residents during the 16th century. You can find souvenir trinkets of the golem in shops and stalls throughout the quarter and even eat at the themed Golem Restaurant. The Spanish Synagogue serves as a museum with an exhibition on Jewish life in this part of the world during the 19th and 20th centuries. The cemetery is among the oldest surviving Jewish burial grounds in this part of the world, with the first tombstone dating back to 1439. It’s a surprisingly peaceful and beautiful place for a contemplative stroll.
Where to Eat
Cap off days spent exploring the city with romantic evenings out at special occasion restaurants in Prague. Make a reservation well in advance of your travels at La Degustation, Restaurant Mlýnec, or Červený Jelen Restaurant. Each offers elevated cuisine in a unique setting for a meal that is sure to be memorable.
For your weekend getaway in Prague, learn more at www.prague.eu/en.
For information or to obtain a Prague Visitor Pass in advance of your trip, go to www.praguevisitorpass.eu.
For information on the NH Collection Prague Carlo IV, go to www.nh-collection.com/en/hotel/nh-collection-prague-carlo-iv.
Cover photo was obtained from the photo bank of the Czech Tourism Board – CzechTourism. Photographer: Peter Čech.
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