Walking Tours Prague

The Czechs Republic has shouldered its fair share of triumph and misery throughout the ages. The country lies at a crossroads in the center of Europe. This prime location has made it a pivotal point for trade and commerce, as well as a territory to cross, hold on to or invade during times of conflict and war. Despite the many hardships the Czechs have had to endure, the city has somehow managed survived, and even flourish. The Czech capital is a grand city, full of architectural wonders and old world charm. The people inhabiting this little spot on the globe have given the world magnificent works of classical music by the likes of Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana (famous for composing ‘My Country’ and its most celebrated part, ‘the Moldau'), great beer and a bevy of wonderful poets and writers, such as Franz Kafka, Karel Capek (inventor of the word ‘robot’) and Milan Kundera.

Prague is overflowing with museums, churches, theaters and towering spires. The city is a repository of culture, and outstanding architecture, encompassing numerous periods and styles.

Beautiful stone bridges span the gently flowing waters of Vltava River, which passes by some of Prague’s most prominent districts. The river drifts past the district of Malá strana (the Lesser Town) and the sublime St. Nicholas’ Church. Then the currents continue on, running beneath Charles Bridge, the oldest and most significant bridge in all of Prague.

On the opposite side of the river, you’ll find Nové město (the New Town) and Staré město (the Old Town), butting right up against one another. The New Town is full of bars, boutiques, shopping malls and even a few brothels (so be warned), while the Old Town is more laid back, replete with cobblestone streets, art galleries, ancient churches and a variety of performance centers.

Come nightfall, especially on the weekend, both areas tend to get packed with sightseers, partygoers and just about every other kind of person you can imagine, not to mention the drunken men wandering about on their stag (bachelor party) nights, as well as quite a few inebriated women who have come to celebrate their last days of freedom with a ‘hen weekend,’ or bachelorette party.

The Czechs love beer, and they drink more of the stuff than any other nation on earth per capita. The majority of the beer guzzled down here is lager, and the most famous brands of lager are: Bernard, Budvar (not to be confused with the American Budweiser), Gambrinus and Pilsner Urquell.

Beer is partaken during lunch, after work, with dinner and after dinner. Of course, it goes without saying (but let’s say it just to be sure) that plenty of beer is consumed on Friday and Saturday night to boot. There’s also an abundance of pork, knedliky (bread dumplings) and svičková (roasted beef drowning in a thick sour cream sauce) to go along with the beer, in case appetite strikes. Beer in the Czech Republic is known as ‘liquid ‘bread,’ which means there shouldn’t be any problem filling up your stomach.

The Czechs pride themselves on how they brew beer. They only brew with natural ingredients. Laws have even been setup to safeguard the purity of the beer, and the beer making process. So, if you’re a fan of pork and lager, head into Prague, any district will do, find a local hospoda (pub), grab a chair and get ready for some heavy drinking.