UltimateCity Guide Prague
Our favourites
Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral above the Vltava, with Charles Bridge and a river boat in spring sun Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral above the Vltava, with Charles Bridge and a river boat in spring sun The bridges of Prague over the Vltava in autumn, seen from the Letná slopes, with the Old Town beyond The Church of Our Lady before Týn and the Kinský Palace across a quiet Old Town Square in morning light Prague from Petřín: St Vitus Cathedral, the roofs of Malá Strana and the city to the horizon

The city guide to Prague, Czechia

Best of Prague

Prague Castle above the river, Charles Bridge at dawn, the astronomical clock and the spires of Týn, Mozart at the Estates Theatre and Dvořák at the Rudolfinum, svíčková and a glass of Pilsner, and the 2026 MICHELIN stars: Prague, checked place by place.

Launch edition · Autumn 2026

Where to eatWhat to see
The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakSister guideULTIMATE Rail JourneysThe story of the train, the great journeys and where to book themA cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, MontenegroSister guideULTIMATE CruisesLines, ships and itineraries, from river to expeditionThe Matterhorn in winter above ZermattSister guideULTIMATE Ski ResortsSeason dates, hotels, après and ski schools, resort by resort
The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratSister guideULTIMATE PropertyPrime neighbourhoods, agents, new developments and how buying works

Your trusted, one‑stop guide to Prague

Prague is the city of a hundred spires: a Castle on its hill, a Gothic bridge, a medieval Old Town and a Baroque Lesser Town, on UNESCO’s list since 1992, and one of Europe’s great music cities. Here are the grand hotels and the 2026 MICHELIN stars, the sights, the opera houses and concert halls, the districts from Staré Město and Malá Strana to Vinohrady, Žižkov and Holešovice, the Christmas markets, and day trips to Kutná Hora, Karlštejn, Český Krumlov, Karlovy Vary, Dresden and the Terezín Memorial. We’ve checked every listing against the venue’s own website or an official source, and we leave out anything we can’t confirm.

Prague, the city of a hundred spires: the back story

In depth

The city of a hundred spires

Prague·In depth

The Castle and St Vitus, Charles Bridge, the Old Town Hall and its clock, Josefov, Strahov and Vyšehrad: how to read the historic centre.

Read the story

Arts + Culture

Mozart at the Estates Theatre, the Czech Philharmonic at the Rudolfinum, the National Theatre, the Prague Spring and the National Gallery.

The painted curtain, gilded boxes and red velvet of the State Opera auditoriumArts + CultureArts & Culture in PragueOpera, concerts, galleries and film

Prague by area

From the Old Town to Holešovice, each district has its own guide: the medieval square and the bridge, the Lesser Town and the Castle, the Jewish Quarter, Charles IV’s New Town, elegant Vinohrady, Žižkov and Karlín, and the art district in the river bend.

The Church of Our Lady before Týn and the Kinský Palace across a quiet Old Town Square in morning lightArea guideStaré MěstoThe Old TownThe red-tiled roofs and dormers of Malá Strana below PetřínArea guideMalá StranaThe Lesser TownPrague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral above Malá Strana and Charles BridgeArea guideHradčany & the CastlePrague CastleThe gilded, Moorish-style dome of the Spanish Synagogue in JosefovArea guideJosefovThe Jewish QuarterThe dome and columned front of the National Museum at the top of Wenceslas SquareArea guideNové MěstoThe New TownThe Church of St Ludmila on Náměstí Míru in VinohradyArea guideVinohradyElegant Prague

On foot

Prague’s historic centre is best on foot: stay in the Old Town or Malá Strana and walk everywhere, with a 24-hour PID ticket for the trams up to the Castle.

The Žižkov Television Tower rising above the roofs of ŽižkovArea guideŽižkov & KarlínThe tower and the riverThe white galleries of the Trade Fair Palace, home of the National Gallery Prague’s modern collectionsArea guideHolešovice & LetnáThe art district

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go: tickets for the metro and trams, the Airport Express, the Czech crown, and itineraries for a first visit and a luxury weekend.

The Church of Our Lady before Týn and the Kinský Palace across a quiet Old Town Square in morning lightBefore you goPrague essentialsTickets, the airport, money and 112A modern Prague tram at Karlovo náměstíGetting aroundBy metro, tram and trainPID tickets and the Airport ExpressPrague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral above the Vltava, with Charles Bridge and a river boat in spring sunItineraryThree days in PragueThe classic first visitThe courtyard garden of the Mandarin Oriental, Prague, in the former Dominican monastery in Malá StranaLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addressesThe Tower Suite of the Hotel Paris, its round window framing the spires of the Týn church at nightItineraryThe Gold weekendThe Hotel Paris, Field and MozartThe courtyard garden of the Mandarin Oriental, Prague, in the former Dominican monastery in Malá StranaItineraryThe Platinum weekendMandarin Oriental, Papilio and Karlštejn

Our advice

Cross the bridge at dawn

Charles Bridge, begun in 1357, is at its best early in the morning, before the day’s visitors arrive; then climb through Malá Strana to the Castle, which opens its summer and winter seasons on 1 April and 1 November. Charles Bridge

Beyond the city

Kutná Hora, Karlštejn, Český Krumlov, Karlovy Vary, Dresden and the Terezín Memorial: a silver town, a Gothic castle, a castle town on the Vltava, a spa town, a Baroque city on the Elbe and a place of remembrance.

The flying buttresses and tracery windows of the Church of St Barbara in Kutná HoraBeyond the cityKutná HoraThe silver townKarlštejn Castle and its Great Tower above the wooded hillBeyond the cityKarlštejnThe Gothic castleČeský Krumlov: the castle tower, the bend of the Vltava and the old town roofsBeyond the cityČeský KrumlovThe castle townThe Grandhotel Pupp and the spa houses of Karlovy Vary at dusk in DecemberBeyond the cityKarlovy VaryThe spa townDresden’s Hofkirche, palace towers and the Elbe at nightBeyond the cityDresdenBaroque on the ElbeThe fourth courtyard of the Small Fortress at the Terezín MemorialBeyond the cityTerezín MemorialA place of remembrance

Our advice

Book the opera before you fly

The National Theatre sells tickets for its three stages, the National Theatre, the Estates Theatre and the State Opera, months in advance on its own site; an evening of Mozart at the Estates Theatre, where Don Giovanni had its premiere, is the most Prague of nights. Arts & Culture in Prague

In depth: Prague’s back stories

Czech cuisine, the city of spires, music and art, eating, the grand hotels, film, the trams and where to buy: the stories behind the city.

The lit Christmas tree and market on Old Town Square at nightChristmas & New YearChristmas in PragueThe markets and the Czech Christmas tableSvíčková na smetaně: beef in cream sauce with bread dumplings, cranberries and whipped creamEatCzech CuisineSvíčková, koláče, the Christmas carp and PilsnerThe bridges of Prague over the Vltava in autumn, seen from the Letná slopes, with the Old Town beyondFeaturePrague, the classic and the newCastle, music, the table and the new PragueCharles Bridge and the Old Town Bridge Tower in evening light, with boats on the VltavaFeaturePrague on filmAmadeus, Mission: Impossible and Casino RoyaleThe Gothic towers and great south tower of St Vitus Cathedral over the third courtyard of Prague CastleThe back storyThe city of a hundred spiresThe Castle, the bridge and JosefovThe painted curtain, gilded boxes and red velvet of the State Opera auditoriumThe back storyMusic and artMozart, Dvořák and the opera houses

In season

The Christmas markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square run from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027: book hotels early for Advent and New Year.

The ceramic-tiled walls and mosaic ceiling of Café ImperialThe back storyEating in PragueThe stars and the Bib GourmandsThe courtyard garden of the Mandarin Oriental, Prague, in the former Dominican monastery in Malá StranaThe back storyThe grand hotelsFrom Four Seasons to the Hotel ParisA modern Prague tram at Karlovo náměstíThe back storyBy metro, tram and trainTickets, the airport and the trainsThe red-tiled roofs and dormers of Malá Strana below PetřínThe back storyBuying in PragueThe districts and the land registryThe gilded dial of the Prague Astronomical Clock on the Old Town HallFun factsPrague fun factsThings you might not know

Across Central Europe with the ULTIMATE guides

Vienna, Berlin and Budapest by train, the Alps in winter and the great train journeys of the world.

The Art Nouveau Fanta building of Praha hlavní nádražíULTIMATE ViennaViennaSouth by trainThe Dresden skyline and paddle steamers on the Elbe below the Brühl’s TerraceULTIMATE BerlinBerlinNorth by train, via DresdenThe lit bridges of Prague across the Vltava at dusk, seen from LetnáULTIMATE BudapestBudapestEast by trainČeský Krumlov: the castle tower, the bend of the Vltava and the old town roofsULTIMATE Ski ResortsSki ResortsThe Alps in winterA modern Prague tram at Karlovo náměstíULTIMATE Rail JourneysRail JourneysThe great train journeys

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

Europe

See all Europe
Canal houses and bridges in Amsterdamthe NetherlandsULTIMATE AmsterdamThe canal ring, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, canal-house hotels, twenty MICHELIN-starred tables, brown cafés, and day trips to Haarlem and Keukenhof.Visit the guide The Alhambra in Granada in the evening lightSpainULTIMATE AndalusiaSeville, Granada and the Alhambra, Córdoba, Málaga, Cádiz and Jerez, Ronda and the white villages, Doñana and Cabo de Gata.Visit the guide The floodlit Acropolis and Parthenon at dusk, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide The road winding out to the lighthouse on Cap de Formentor, Mallorca, above the open seaSpainULTIMATE Balearic IslandsMallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera side by side, and how to hop between them by ferry.Visit the guide The Sagrada Família lit up at nightSpainULTIMATE BarcelonaGaudí and the Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter, four Three-Star MICHELIN kitchens, the beaches and day trips to Montserrat and Girona.Visit the guide Belgrade's old town and the spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael above the Sava at sunsetSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin against a blue skyGermanyULTIMATE BerlinThe Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island, the Philharmonie and three opera houses, the story of the Wall, and day trips to Potsdam and Dresden.Visit the guide The Royal Pavilion in Brighton under a blue skyEnglandULTIMATE BrightonThe Royal Pavilion and the piers, the Lanes and the North Laine, Kemptown and Pride, and the South Downs on the doorstep.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide Nyhavn, CopenhagenDenmarkULTIMATE CopenhagenNyhavn and Tivoli, Rosenborg and Amalienborg, smørrebrød at lunch, Geranium and Kadeau’s three stars, Danish design and the harbour baths.Visit the guide A cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegroships & regions)ULTIMATE Cruises (linesThe world’s cruise lines for every budget, from family resort ships to yachts, expedition ships and river boats, with the cruising regions port by port.Visit the guide Aerial view of the white sand spit of Ses Illetes and Llevant, the salt pans and, across the strait, Ibiza and Es VedràSpainULTIMATE FormenteraThe white sands of Ses Illetes, the lighthouses of La Mola and Barbaria, the craft markets and an island made for bikes.Visit the guide The Baie des Anges, NiceFranceULTIMATE French RivieraNice, Cannes, Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Èze, Menton, Saint-Tropez and Cassis: palace hotels, three-star tables, beach clubs, the Festival de Cannes and the painters’ coast.Visit the guide Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide Helsinki Cathedral above the South HarbourFinlandULTIMATE HelsinkiSuomenlinna and the South Harbour, saunas by the sea, Aalto and the Design District, two-starred Palace and day trips to Porvoo and Tallinn.Visit the guide The walls of Dalt Vila and the cathedral above the harbour of Ibiza Town, in late sunSpainULTIMATE IbizaDalt Vila’s UNESCO walls, Es Vedrà, three MICHELIN-starred kitchens, the beach clubs and the quiet north, 30 minutes from Formentera.Visit the guide Hagia Sophia and its minarets in golden evening lightTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide Varenna on Lake ComoItalyULTIMATE Lake ComoVilla d’Este and the Villa del Balbianello, Bellagio and Varenna, the gardens of the villas, Riva boats and the four MICHELIN stars of the lake.Visit the guide Congress Square, Ljubljana, with the castle on its hill behindSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower lit at dusk across the ThamesUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, great museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide The Metrópolis building at the start of the Gran VíaSpainULTIMATE MadridThe Prado and El Retiro, the Royal Palace, DiverXO’s three stars and cocido since 1870, with day trips to Toledo and Segovia.Visit the guide La Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la MarSpainULTIMATE MallorcaPalma’s cathedral and palace hotels, the UNESCO Tramuntana, Deià and Sóller, nine MICHELIN-starred kitchens, and Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.Visit the guide Valletta’s honey-coloured skyline, with the dome of the Carmelite church and the spire of St Paul’s, above the harbour at sunsetGozo & CominoULTIMATE MaltaValletta’s knights’ city, temples older than the pyramids, Caravaggio, seven MICHELIN-starred kitchens and the Blue Lagoon.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Turquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, MenorcaSpainULTIMATE MenorcaA UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: the coves of Macarella and Turqueta, World Heritage Talayotic sites, Ciutadella and Maó’s great harbour.Visit the guide The Duomo di Milano and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II on the Piazza del DuomoItalyULTIMATE MilanThe Duomo and the Last Supper, La Scala and Brera, the Quadrilatero della Moda, Bartolini’s three stars, and day trips to Lake Como.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Oslo Opera HouseNorwayULTIMATE OsloThe Opera House you can walk on, MUNCH and Vigeland, the polar ships of Bygdøy, Holmenkollen and Maaemo’s three MICHELIN stars.Visit the guide The Eiffel Tower seen from the Trocadéro in ParisFranceULTIMATE ParisThe Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, Notre-Dame reopened, the palace hotels, nine three-star tables, the bouillons, and day trips to Versailles and Giverny.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratOur sister guideULTIMATE Property (prime markets worldwide)Prime neighbourhoods, estate agents, new developments and how buying works, market by market across the ULTIMATE network.Visit the guide The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakOur sister guideULTIMATE Rail Journeys (great train journeys worldwide)The story of the train, the great rail journeys of the world and where to book them, from the Orient Express to the Glacier Express.Visit the guide The Church of St John at Kaneo above Lake Ohrid, North MacedoniaOur sister guideULTIMATE Regions (editor’s letters & regional guides)Editor’s letters and the food, markets, nature and seasons each region shares, starting with the Balkans.Visit the guide Reykjavík and Mount Esja from HallgrímskirkjaIcelandULTIMATE ReykjavíkHallgrímskirkja and Harpa, the geothermal pools and Sky Lagoon, whales and the northern lights, and the Golden Circle a morning away.Visit the guide St Peter’s Basilica in Rome under a clear blue skyItalyULTIMATE RomeThe Colosseum and the Vatican, the grand hotels above the Spanish Steps, La Pergola’s three stars, the trattorias, and day trips to Tivoli and Pompeii.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Matterhorn in winter above ZermattOur sister guideULTIMATE Ski Resorts (Europe & North America)Ski resorts in Europe and North America, country by country, for every budget: season dates, hotels, mountain restaurants, après, ski schools and getting there.Visit the guide The Warrior on a Horse fountain in Macedonia Square, Skopje, lit at nightNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia, under a pink evening skyBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide The restored Pyramid of Tirana under a blue skyAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide Rolling green hills and a farmhouse near Pienza in the Val d’OrciaItalyULTIMATE TuscanyFlorence, Chianti, Siena, the Val d’Orcia, Pisa and Lucca, Versilia, Bolgheri, the Maremma, Arezzo and Elba.Visit the guide Calatrava’s Hemisfèric lit at twilight, reflected in its poolSpainULTIMATE ValenciaCalatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences, the Gothic Lonja, paella by the sea, Las Fallas and the nine-kilometre Turia Garden.Visit the guide The Grand Canal and Santa Maria della Salute, VeniceItalyULTIMATE VeniceThe Grand Canal and St Mark’s, palace hotels, Two MICHELIN Stars at Glam, the bacari, the Biennale, and Murano, Burano and Torcello.Visit the guide The tiled roof of St Stephen’s Cathedral and the rooftops of central ViennaAustriaULTIMATE ViennaThe State Opera and the Musikverein, Schönbrunn and Klimt, the coffee houses and Heurigen, and Railjets to Budapest every hour.Visit the guide St Mark's Church and its tiled roof on St Mark's Square, Zagreb's Upper TownCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide Zurich and the LimmatSwitzerlandULTIMATE ZurichThe Limmat and its two minsters, Chagall’s windows, the Bahnhofstrasse and Sprüngli, the lake, Baur au Lac and The Dolder Grand, and the city’s MICHELIN stars.Visit the guide

North America

See all North America
Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coastUSAULTIMATE CaliforniaSan Francisco, Napa and Sonoma, Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway, San Diego, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and the national parks.Visit the guide A schooner silhouetted against the sunset off Key WestUSAULTIMATE FloridaOrlando and the theme parks, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Sarasota, St. Augustine and Scenic Highway 30A.Visit the guide The Las Vegas Strip at duskNevadaULTIMATE Las VegasThe Strip and its shows, MICHELIN dining, Sphere and Fremont Street’s neon, with Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon beyond.Visit the guide Downtown Los Angeles at sunset beneath the snow-capped San Gabriel MountainsCaliforniaULTIMATE Los AngelesHollywood and the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills’ grand hotels, the Sunset Strip, the Getty and the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu.Visit the guide Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide The New York City skyline from Top of the RockNew YorkULTIMATE New YorkManhattan’s grand hotels and MICHELIN dining, Broadway and the Met, Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park and the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO.Visit the guide The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery SpencerCaliforniaULTIMATE San FranciscoCable cars over Nob Hill, North Beach cafés, the murals of the Mission, three-star tables and the Golden Gate Bridge.Visit the guide

Caribbean

See all Caribbean
The pink sand beach of Harbour Island, the BahamasOur sister guideULTIMATE The BahamasSeven hundred islands: Nassau and Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays and the swimming pigs, Harbour Island’s pink sand, marinas and island hopping.Visit the guide The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesOur sister guideULTIMATE BarbadosThe Platinum West Coast and Sandy Lane, UNESCO-listed Bridgetown, rum where it was born, Friday nights in Oistins and the wild Atlantic east.Visit the guide Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsOur sister guideULTIMATE St LuciaThe UNESCO Pitons and Soufrière’s drive-in volcano, Marigot Bay, Rodney Bay and the Gros Islet street party, reefs, rum and cocoa.Visit the guide

Asia & Indian Ocean

See all Asia & Indian Ocean
The Grand Palace reflected at dawnThailandULTIMATE BangkokThe Grand Palace and Wat Arun on the river, the grand hotels of Charoen Krung, MICHELIN stars from street food to tasting menus, rooftop bars and the Thai islands.Visit the guide Hong Kong Island and the harbour at night from Victoria PeakOur sister guideULTIMATE Hong KongThe harbour from the Peak, the Star Ferry, Cantonese dining rooms with MICHELIN stars, dim sum in the lanes of Central and the museums of West Kowloon.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbourIndiaULTIMATE MumbaiThe Taj and the Gateway of India, Marine Drive’s Queen’s Necklace, three UNESCO sites, modern Indian restaurants and day trips to Elephanta and the Ghats.Visit the guide The Lujiazui skyline lit up at night across the Huangpu RiverChinaULTIMATE ShanghaiThe grand hotels of the Bund facing the towers of Pudong, every MICHELIN star, Yu Garden, the two Shanghai Museums and day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou.Visit the guide The towers of the Central Business District lit up at night, reflected in Marina BayOur sister guideULTIMATE SingaporeMarina Bay and Raffles, three restaurants with three MICHELIN Stars, the hawker centres, and the Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Visit the guide A caparisoned elephant in the Esala Perahera procession, KandyOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide Longtail boats on West Railay beach beneath the limestone cliffsOur sister guideULTIMATE Thai IslandsWinter sun on two seas: Phuket, Krabi and Railay, Phi Phi and Koh Lanta on the Andaman, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in the Gulf.Visit the guide

Middle East

See all Middle East
Burj Khalifa and Business Bay at blue hourUnited Arab EmiratesULTIMATE DubaiBurj Khalifa and the Fountain, abras on the Creek, resorts on the Palm, every MICHELIN star of 2026 and day trips to Abu Dhabi and Hatta.Visit the guide

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and locals talking about Prague, its restaurants, theatres, museums and neighbourhoods.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    Strahov Monastery and Library

    This week's pick

    Strahov Monastery and Library

    Hradčany·Monastery

    Strahov Monastery, founded in 1140, keeps two of the most beautiful library halls in Europe, the Baroque Theological Hall and the frescoed Philosophical Hall. Go in the late afternoon, then walk down through the Castle as the lights come on.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral above the Vltava, with Charles Bridge and a river boat in spring sunItineraryThree days in PragueThree daysThe organ and stage of the Dvořák Hall at the Rudolfinum before a concertItineraryA musical day in PragueOne dayThe lit Christmas tree and market on Old Town Square at nightItineraryA Christmas day in PragueOne day in AdventThe red-tiled roofs and dormers of Malá Strana below PetřínItineraryA property viewing day: Malá Strana, Vinohrady and KarlínOne dayThe Grandhotel Pupp and the spa houses of Karlovy Vary at dusk in DecemberItineraryBeyond the city: a day in Karlovy VaryOne dayThe Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau corner tower of the Hotel Paris PragueItineraryThe Gold weekend: a luxury weekend in PragueTwo daysThe courtyard garden of the Mandarin Oriental, Prague, in the former Dominican monastery in Malá StranaItineraryThe Platinum weekend: Prague at its most exclusiveTwo days

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1Eating in Prague: the back storyPrague · In depth
    2. 2Czech CuisinePrague · In depth: food
    3. 3Restaurant PapilioVysoký Újezd · Restaurant
    See all 42

    Cafés

    1. 1Café LouvreNové Město · Grand café
    2. 2Café SlaviaStaré Město · Grand café
    3. 3Grand Café OrientStaré Město · Cubist café
    See all 7

    Bars

    1. 1Bugsy’s BarJosefov · Cocktail bar
    2. 2AnonymouS BarStaré Město · Cocktail bar
    3. 3U Zlatého tygraStaré Město · Pub
    See all 9

    Hotels

    1. 1The grand hotels of Prague: the back storyPrague · In depth
    2. 2Four Seasons Hotel PragueStaré Město · Grand hotel
    3. 3Mandarin Oriental, PragueMalá Strana · Grand hotel
    See all 27

    Sights

    1. 1Prague, the city of a hundred spires: the back storyPrague · In depth
    2. 2Prague CastleHradčany · Castle
    3. 3St Vitus CathedralHradčany · Cathedral
    See all 22

    Arts & Culture

    1. 1Prague, city of music and art: the back storyPrague · In depth
    2. 2National TheatreNové Město · Theatre
    3. 3Estates TheatreStaré Město · Opera house
    See all 34

    Gardens

    1. 1Wallenstein GardenMalá Strana · Baroque garden
    2. 2Vrtba GardenMalá Strana · Baroque garden
    3. 3PetřínMalá Strana · Hill park
    See all 8

    Walks

    1. 1The Royal RouteStaré Město · Walk
    2. 2Malá Strana, Kampa and PetřínMalá Strana · Walk
    3. 3Vyšehrad and the embankmentsNové Město · Walk
    See all 5

    Shopping

    1. 1MoserPrague · Glass
    2. 2ArtělPrague · Glass
    3. 3Granát TurnovPrague · Jewellery
    See all 9

    Health

    1. 1Emergencies: call 112Prague · Emergency
    2. 2General University Hospital in PragueNové Město · Hospital
    3. 3Na Homolce HospitalMotol · Hospital
    See all 9

    Property

    1. 1Buying in Prague: the back storyPrague · In depth
    2. 2Svoboda & WilliamsPrague · Agency
    3. 3Czech Republic Sotheby’s International RealtyPrague · Agency
    See all 6

    Developments

    1. 1Dvorecký mostPodolí · Project
    2. 2Vltavská filharmonieHolešovice · Project
    3. 3Petřín funicularMalá Strana · Project
    See all 5

    Cars & Trams

    1. 1Škoda MuseumMladá Boleslav · Car museum
    2. 2National Technical MuseumHolešovice · Museum
    3. 3Historic tram line 42Prague · Vintage tram
    See all 5

    Getting Around

    1. 1Prague by metro, tram and train: the back storyPrague · In depth
    2. 2PID: Prague Integrated TransportPrague · Public transport
    3. 3Prague metroPrague · Metro
    See all 7

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