A gem of Eastern Europe, Prague is a great city, catering for a range of interests. It is cheap, yet this does not diminish its value as a great destination for party goers and culture fans alike. After visiting in January 2017, I can safely say it is an absolute dream to visit, here’s why:
- Beer is cheaper than water
Pretty self-explanatory. If you like to drink on your travels, Prague is the city for you, with a pint of beer setting you back as little as 23CZK (around 80p). Most of their beer is brewed within the country, with the Pilsner Urquel being by far the most popular. Not to mention that the city houses a monastery with a microbrewery that dates to the thirteenth century. According to our taxi driver (and trip advisor), their beer is the absolute bomb.
You can also go to beer spas, where you bathe in beer whilst drinking an unlimited supply of beer on tap. What’s not to love? It’s easy to see why the Czech Republic has the highest beer consumption in the world.
The beer spa also comes with two sausages…
If you’re not a beer fan, mulled wine and cider is equally cheap and readily available in winter. Providing a much-needed alcohol blanket.
- Great frescoes and stained glass windowsIf you’re a massive culture vulture like me, Prague has some seriously underrated religious art. St Nicholas Church boasts some beautiful baroque style frescoes and architecture, perfect if you’re a sucker for an elaborate ceiling.
If you’re more of an art nouveau fan, St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle houses an extraordinary Alphonse Mucha stained glass window alongside other elaborate works and yet more detailed frescoes. If you’re more of a gothic fan, the Catheral’s architecture will almost certainly take your breath away. Not to mention the fact that it contains relics of the renowned St. Wenceslas.
The city’s religious art does not stop with Christianity. The Spanish Synagogue provides a more unique aesthetic experience. Based on Arabic designs, the Synagogue is more of a Moorish revival style with golden patterns and domed stained glass windows. With such variety, Prague is sure to satisfy the needs of art fanatics.
- A real-life Disney filmCobbled streets, medieval castles and shops and an orange roofed skyline all add to the fairy tale theme of the city. Add some snow and you’re basically walking through Arendelle from Frozen. It really is like stepping back in time.
- Insane food
As a vegan, I am always apprehensive about visiting a new place in fear of simply struggling to find things to eat. Prague pleasantly surprised me- there were vegan restaurants everywhere, and decent ones too! The choice was huge, and the food was delicious. Country Life, Maitrea and Vegan’s Restaurant Prague were my favourites. We also visited some great Japanese restaurants that had some delicious, fresh food that we couldn’t fault. If you’re a hardcore carnivore, there is plenty out there for you too, with a lot of traditional Czech dishes containing meat including svickova (vegetable sauce with beef) and schnitzel (fried tenderised meat). Let’s not forget trdelnik, a kind of doughnut cylinder, covered in sugar and often filled with ice-cream or other sweet fillings.
- Rich history
Dating from the ninth century, the history of Prague is vast, and I stand no chance of covering it in this post. However, in brief, the city is full of medieval and renaissance architecture and art, including those from the Bohemian dynasty. Then there’s the rich Jewish history, from the seventeenth century or ‘Golden Age’ of Jewish Prague, to Nazi occupation. Not to forget the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when the city was a part of the Holy Roman Empire, and the twentieth century, in which the region was heavily involved in the World Wars. Finally, there’s the city’s history of Communism, in which it played a crucial role in dissident movements and the political party’s ultimate downfall.
Prague certainly doesn’t lack stories to tell, many of which you can discover simply by roaming the winding cobbled streets that define the city.
So, get yourself over to Prague! I can guarantee that you won’t regret it. Flight are cheap, accommodation is cheap, so no excuses there. If you like a cheeky bev or two, you should definitely be sold. If you live for good food, history and culture, you should be equally satisfied. Prague does not disappoint.
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