Okay, maybe you don't have to take a physical picture of it - perhaps just wander down (or up) to those spots & take a moment to enjoy them. Every single time I look at these pictures I appreciate the city even more than I had when I was standing there. Prague has some of the most gorgeous views you can imagine - and I want to share my 5 favourite spots that make my heart skip a little and my fingers go snap happy on my camera!
The River
The River Vltava is the longest river in the Czech Republic. It's also the centrepiece of the city itself - there are altogether 17 bridges across the river just in the capital and I beg you - go & stand on one of those bridges and look around. Do a little 360° dance. Look down at the pillars holding the bridges up, the gothic and baroque railings, the jazz boats floating on the river. Or you know what? Pop down to the Strelecky Island, sit on its sandy beach & watch it all from up close.
The full Monty
The most impressive views are usually the ones that cost you an arm & a leg. Or a bucketful of sweat in my case. Walking up the Petrin Tower will only cost you a few quid - but even those who boast that they are not afraid of heights will experience heart palpations, I guarantee that. The tower is a bit of an Eiffel-lookalike however it's built mostly from metal, mesh & some wires (I might be exaggerating here but hell this beast is wonky!). You can feel even the lightest breeze when walking up. The views are so worth it though!! With sweat patches & trembling hands you will have the whole Prague on the palm of your hand. The green trees, red roofs, the river, the castle - the little people walking across the bridges - you will get the full package!
The one from the Castle
Perhaps the most photographed view (& most definitely with the largest amounts of tourists - all day every day) is the view from the Prague Castle. It's the infamous view from where you can see all the little towers, the sea of red roofs, the pigeons flying about and even the Petrin Hill with it's monstrous tower.
The crooked little lane
Those big views might distract you from what's right in front of you. Prague has got so many little lanes, alleyways & passages! Most of them are cobbled with little colourful houses dotted along the street. One of my favourite ones are the streets of the New World - an almost forgotten quarter at the back of the Prague Castle which used to be famous for it's bohemian atmosphere. The houses there are especially small with windows almost touching the ground so you can easily peak inside! Back in the day the houses served as ateliers & studios for artists so you could watch them paint & draw whilst walking through the streets. Today it's mostly apartments and the odd cafe but that doesn't take away from its charm!
The trees & roofs
Another view that many don't explore is the view from Prague's many gardens. My favourite is the Great Furstenberg garden which is the easternmost of the palace gardens, situated on the southern slope of the Castle. It has a little vineyard, stunning statues & the views are just to die for - very green in summer, warm & colourful in autumn - with red roofs poking out from behind the trees!
The one after dark
Don't forget to wander around after dark too - the city's pretty safe (just like any other capital but still - the Czech Republic has been rated as one of the safest countries in the world!) and you will see a whole new Prague. You can read more about my tips for nighttime wanderings here.
Have you enjoyed any of these views when you visited Prague?
Which one's your favourite?
