TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN PRAGUE FOR FREE
1. VISIT OLD TOWN SQUARE - see the hourly show at the Astronomical Clock
Dating from the 15th century, this beautiful and intricate clock lies in the side of the Old Town Hall Tower and is one of the city’s most popular attractions. Every hour, on the hour you will see crowds gathering in front of the clock to watch the ‘Procession of the Twelve Apostles’.
There are also 12 medallions below the clock, each of which represents the signs of the zodiac, which were added after the clock in the 19th century.
2. STROLL ACCROSS CHARLES BRIDGE
Once the only means of crossing Prague’s River Vlatvain in the region, Charles bridge is just as important as a pedestrian connection to the Old Town, as well as a popular sightseeing attraction. This beautiful bridge is always full of people using it as a means of crossing the river as well as taking in the spectacular views that it boasts. All along the bridge you’ll find street artists, musicians, dancers and other entertainers. Get there early in the morning or late at night if you’re keen to see it without the crowds.
3.EXPLORE THE GROUNDS OF PRAGUE CASTLE
Dating from 870 AD, Prague Castle is a popular tourist attraction that dominates the city skyline and was once the seat of the ancient Czech Kings. You can explore the castle gardens and much of the grounds for free, and you’ll often find lots of events and concerts taking place around the grounds. There’s also the ‘Changing of the Guards’ which you can see every hour on the hours from 6am – 11pm
4. VISIT JOHN LENNON WALL
The Lennon Wall, or John Lennon Wall, started off as just any old wall, but since the 1980s it has become a tribute to the famous band member. After Lennon’s murder in 1980, his image was painted on this wall opposite the French Embassy along with song lyrics and political graffiti. Despite numerous coats of white wash from the secret police in the early years, along with the property owners in recent years, the graffiti was always reposted and they have bowed down to the posting of it in recent years.
5. SEE THE VIEWS FROM PETRIN HILL
If the Petrin Observation Tower looks vaguely familiar it’s because it’s actually a small version of Paris’ Eiffel Tower! While the tower itself doesn’t exactly reach great heights at just 60m tall, it affords unforgettable views thanks to its location on top of Petrin Hill. It’s a 299-step climb up to the top, but you’ll be rewarded on a clear day with a view that extends to the highest peak in the Czech Republic.
6. NÁPLAVKA
Rašínovo nábřeží embankment is currently the most attractive and liveliest society venue on the banks of the river in downtown Prague. Those who come here get a beautiful view of the Hradčany Castle panorama, making it a place much sought after by tourists. The Rašínovo embankment space offers a whole gamut of activities throughout the year, ranging from the regular farmers’ markets to sports, cultural and gastronomy events. Vaults in the wall of the river embankment that were originally used for ice storage have been renovated and now house shops, cafés, and bars.
7. WALLENSTEIN GARDEN
When walking around the streets of Lesser Town, the most picturesque quarter of Prague, you should not miss the chance to see Wallenstein Palace and its garden. The complex is one of the most prominent buildings of the Czech Early Baroque period. Today, Wallenstein Palace is the seat of the Senate of the Czech Republic. Situated in the east you can see Sala terrena with three arcades. The walls of Sala terrena are decorated by frescoes and stuccoes representing Trojan wars. Many statues and fountains that you can see in Wallenstein Garden are copies of the original ones made by famous Dutch artist Adrian de Vries. Wallenstein Garden is 1,7 ha large and there is enough space for a pond where you can feed ducks. The pond was used for small boats in the past. The garden has become a pleasant place for relaxation for locals.
8. VYŠEHRAD CASTLE
Vysehrad or the “Castle on the heights” is a beautiful place to visit any time of day or season. To get into the essence of the place you need to take a walk through the huge, beautiful park that covers the area. Maybe more impressing than the beautiful park and historic buildings will be astonishing views over Prague, the bridges over Vltava and the Prague Castle.The best viewing points are from Gothic ruins of Libuses’s Baths. Walks at sunset and by night will have a guaranteed effect, so be sure not to miss out on them!!!
9. NOVÝ SVĚT
Novy svet (which loosely translates as “The New World”) is a fantastic, picturesque part of the Castle district that is severely neglected by virtually all the tourists but secretly loved by all the locals. Dating back to the 14th Century, it is a small area consisting of just a few streets that have retained the atmosphere of a small village. If you want quiet far from the madding crowds (actually, it’s just two streets away from the main route between the Castle and the Strahov Monastery), this is where you’ll find it.
10. VISIT THE CZECH MUSEUM OF MUSIC
In the captivating Baroque Church of Santa Maria Magdalena is the Czech Museum of Music which houses a unique collection of musical instruments. There’s free entry to this great attraction on the first Thursday of every month and it’s definitely worth checking out. Not only will you see instruments dating back to centuries past, you can also delve into the connection that man and music possess, along with hearing audio samples of all kinds