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- Last year, I traveled from the US to the Czech Republic for a study abroad program in Prague.
- I spent six weeks there, and loved walking along Charles Bridge and shopping the local vendors.
- I didn’t think the nightclub Karlovy LáznÄ› was worth the hype compared to other spots I visited.
Last year, I swapped a summer in my Wisconsin hometown for a study abroad program in Prague.
With cobblestone streets, beautiful churches, and its own castle, the city is one of the most beautiful and fascinating places I’ve ever been to.
After spending about six weeks there, here are the top four things I’d do again and the two I’d skip next time.
Sydney Gray
Riegrovy Sady is a park on a hill that overlooks the city. It also has a beer garden, which was quite spacious and had lots of vendors selling food and drinks.
Although the Czech Republic is famous for its beer (particularly Pilsner Urquell), I’m not much of a beer drinker, so I enjoyed a cider on one of the benches before sitting on the hill to watch the sunset.
I stopped by a few times throughout the semester, and the park was always crowded with fellow sunset watchers.
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Charles Bridge is a large pedestrian bridge and a popular landmark that’s been featured in movies like “Spider-Man: Far From Home” and “Mission: Impossible.”
I loved walking across it to move between the city’s Old Town and Lesser Town neighborhoods, and always stopped to admire the beautiful views.
I also appreciated the statues lining the bridge, and think it’s a great spot for art and history lovers.
Plus, many vendors line up along the bridge to sell jewelry, art, and other trinkets, so I was able to purchase two necklaces as souvenirs.
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I spent about two to three hours at Prague Castle — and I’m glad I did.
During my visit, I waltzed into rooms with crowns and armor, saw the dungeon of Daliborka Tower, and explored St. Vitus Cathedral.
One of my favorite areas to visit on the castle grounds was Golden Lane, a street lined with colorful houses that used to be inhabited by families, castle marksmen, and goldsmiths. These houses now contain historical exhibits and souvenir shops.
I stopped into a few that were selling jewelry and figurines, and even purchased a pocket watch.
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Dating back to the 10th century, Old Town Square is a popular shopping, restaurant, and sightseeing spot in Prague’s Old Town neighborhood.
I loved wandering around and appreciating the architecture, especially that of Old Town Hall and its Astronomical Clock. Every hour from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., the clock does a short “show” featuring sliding panels and mechanical figurines.
Another site in the Square I liked looking at was the Jan Hus Memorial, which is a large historical monument.
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Located in the Municipal Library of Prague is an optical illusion and popular photo op known as the “Idiom,” or the Infinity Book Tower.
The installation was created by artist Matej Kren using 8,000 books and mirrors at the top and bottom to create the effect of an infinite tower.
Although I love books, I didn’t think the quick photo op was worth going out of my way for. It’s nice that the installation is free to visit, but I probably wouldn’t wait in line to see it again.
Instead, I’d recommend checking out the gorgeous Strahov Library, which is located inside Strahov Monastery. I also enjoyed visiting The Globe Bookstore and Café, which sells books in English.
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Prague is known for its nightlife scene, and Karlovy LáznÄ› is the largest club in the city. It’s five stories tall — with each floor dedicated to a different genre of music (including a silent disco) — and has everything from an ice bar to a robot that serves drinks.
It sounded promising, but honestly, I didn’t think the experience was worth the cover.
Alternatively, I enjoyed going to Vzorkovna. This bar seemed to have a younger crowd, and I liked that there were rooms with live music, dancing, and foosball. Plus, the drinks were pretty affordable, in my opinion.
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