Things to Do in Czech Republic

Located close to Prague castle, Strahov Monastery (Strahovský Kláster) has been home to a community of monks since the 12th century. The monastery is one of the most important landmarks in the Czech Republic and is famous for its historic library, which contains countless volumes, including over 3,000 original manuscripts.

The Villa Tugendhat in Brno is the only example of Modern architecture in the Czech Republic. Also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was designed by famed architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in the early 20th century. The villa was confiscated by the Gestapo in 1939, suffered serious damage at the end of World War II, when it served as quarters and stables for the Soviet military. The original owner, Greta Tugendhat, returned to the villa in 1967 and a group of Czech architects began work to return it to its original state. After another renewal and restoration in 2010-12, the villa now appears much as it did in 1930.

Since 1994, the villa has been open to the public as a museum. The interior features exact replicas of the original furnishings and an exhibition tells the story of van der Rohe, the Tugendhat family and the era during which is was built. Guided tours take visitors through the main living space, kitchen, bedrooms, garden and, on extended tours, the technical floor where the boiler room, engine room and laundry room can be found.

St. Vitus (or Katedrála svatého Víta) is the biggest and most important church in Prague, the pinnacle of the Castle complex, and one of the most knockout cathedrals in Europe. It's broodingly Gothic, with a forest of spires and a rose window to rival that of Notre Dame.

Enter by the Golden Portal to take a look at the stunningLast Judgement mosaic. Inside you'll find the final resting places of both Charles IV (who gave his name to Charles Bridge) and Saint Wenceslas. The chapel containing Wenceslas' remains is a stunner, encrusted with semi-precious stones.

The cathedral also contains the crown jewels of the Bohemian kings and an Art Nouveau window by Mucha. Climb the tower for a stunning view of the Castle District.

One of Prague’s most popular tourist attractions, the Astronomical Clock (Prazský Orloj) was built in the 15th century and is a mechanical marvel. Found on the south side of Prague’s imposing town hall in Old Town Square (Staromestske namestí), visitors line up in their hundreds to see the display as the clock strikes the hour.

Malá Strana is the area that meanders down from the Castle Hill to the Vltava River. A literal translation of its name would be 'Small Side' but its most often called the Lesser Side. Unfair? Well, while it might not have the grandeur of the Old Town across the river, many find it more charming.

Because the area was razed by fires in the 16th century, the architecture here is mainly baroque. Its finest site is the Wallenstein Palace with its fabulous walled garden full of fountains and statues. There's also the Church of Saint Nicholas and, high on Petřín Hill, a miniature replica of the Eiffel Tower.

Starting life as a tribute to musical icon and peace activist John Lennon after his untimely death in 1980, Prague’s John Lennon Wall quickly became a symbol of peace and free speech for young Czechs angry and disillusioned with the country’s communist regime—much western pop music was banned under the regime, and some Czech musicians were even imprisoned for playing it.

The Rudolfinum is a prestigious music and art venue located on Jan Palach Square on the bank of the Vltava River in Prague. This impressive neo-Re­naissan­ce bu­il­ding was built between 1876 and 1884, opening in 1885 to serve as a multi-purpose cultural center combining concert halls and exhibition rooms.

Today, the Rudolfinum is home to the Ga­le­rie Ru­dol­fi­num and hosts a varied programme of classical music concerts and art exhibitions. It is the home venue of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, which was founded in 1896. The Philharmonic Orchestra holds world-class classical performances throughout the year from the building’s largest hall, the Dvořák, which is one of the oldest concert halls in Europe and is noted for its exceptional acoustics.

As well as being able to buy tickets for various performances and exhibitions at the Rudolfinum, guided tours are available for those interested in the history and architecture of the building.

Golden Lane (Zlata Ulicka) runs along the northern wall of Prague Castle and is one of the most famous and picturesque streets in the city. The lane and its miniature houses were built in the 15th century for castle guards but later housed artists and writers, including Franz Kafka.

Visible from all over town, hilltop Prague Castle (Pražský Hrad) is one of the city’s most memorable landmarks. The castle is just one part of Prague’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hradcany (Castle Hill), a vast complex of palaces, cathedrals, and royal buildings, including some of Prague’s finest works of architecture.

In a city known for its baroque, Gothic, and Art Nouveau architecture, Prague’s postmodern Dancing House (Tancící Dum) stands out for displaying none of these architectural styles. The curvaceous, concrete, metal, and glass building was designed by the architectural duo of Czech-Croatian Vlado Milunić and Canadian-American Frank Gehry (of Guggenheim Bilbao fame) and completed in 1996.

The Jewish ghetto in Prague grew up in Josefov around the Old New Synagogue (Staronová Synagoga), which was in use as early as 1270. It has the distinction of being oldest functioning synagogue in Europe – for over 700 years services were only halted during Nazi occupation between 1942–45 – and today it is once more the heart of Jewish worship in the city. A Gothic oddity, the whitewashed synagogue is topped with brick gables and its interior is starkly simple and little changed since the 13th century, with one prayer hall for the men and an adjoining gallery for women, who originally were only allowed to witness services from behind a glass screen. An elaborate wrought-iron grill encases the pulpit and the Torah scrolls are contained in a plain Ark on one wall. Apart from a couple of chandeliers, the only embellishment is a tattered red flag bearing the Star of David hanging from the ceiling, given as a gesture of respect to the Jewish community by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in 1357; the red banner close by was a gift from Ferdinand III in thanks for Jewish help in repulsing a Swedish invasion in 1648. Down the centuries the building has survived fires, pogroms and sieges, giving rise to the legend that is protected by angels.

A major landmark along Prague’s Vltava river, the National Theatre (Národní Divadlo) is one of the city’s most culturally important landmarks, with a rich artistic tradition. Built in the late 19th century in neo-Renaissance style, it hosts a regular program of works of both classic and modern theater, ballet, and opera.

One of Ostrava’s most popular tourist attractions, the Viewing Tower of the New City Hall offers a panoramic view of this regional Czech capital. On a clear day, it is possible to see the entire city, the nearby Beskydy Mountains, and even Poland in the not-too-far-off distance.

On Jan. 16, 1969, a student named Jan Palach set himself on fire in Wenceslas Square to protest the Soviet Union’s invasion of Czechoslovakia. Today, a truly unique memorial comprised of a horizontal weather-worn wooden cross rising up from cobblestone streets pays homage to Palach and his friend, Jan Zajic, who killed themselves as an act of political protest.

Today, visitors can stop at Jan Palach Memorial (Památník Jana Palacha) and reflect on the changes that have taken place in this Eastern European country. While travelers agree that the memorial isn’t well marked, or very well-explained, its significance in Czech history is great and certainly worth a visit.