Why visit Prague?

Prague is renowned for its picturesque beauty far beyond its borders and attracts tourists from all over the world every year. Over time, it has earned several nicknames, such as "the Heart of Europe" – due to its location (approximately equidistant from three major seas of Europe – the Baltic, the North, and the Adriatic), and "Prague of a hundred spires" – a title that originated in the 19th century due to the city's characteristic appearance with a large number of church spires easily visible from a distance. Although Prague now has many more spires (the exact number is unknown, but it is estimated to be around 1.000), this name, evoking the romantic atmosphere of the city, has remained. "Stone Prague" – a name that originated in the 10th century due to the stone buildings of Romanesque architecture.

Prague boasts a large number of monuments listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The historic center, with its architectural gems in the form of historic buildings, bridges, and cobblestone streets, dominated by the Prague Castle, retains its unmistakable charm in every season. Visitors are often pleasantly surprised by the unusually rich greenery for a capital city. You can read more about it in our article Parks and Gardens.

The Czech capital offers an abundance of cultural activities – from theaters, exhibitions, museums, opera, classical music, and dance to modern art, festivals featuring world-renowned artists, and art for children.

It is no wonder that this place has captivated many world-renowned artists. For example, composer W. A. Mozart frequently visited and stayed with friends at Bertramka in Smíchov, where he found understanding and admiration from the Prague audience, presenting his opera Don Giovanni (after which the famous line "my Prague people understand me" followed). The works of Franz Kafka, a German-speaking writer, are inseparably linked to old Prague. His stories are most often set in the Old Town, where he spent most of his life, in Malá Strana, and at Prague Castle. The most translated Czech writer, Milan Kundera, incorporated Prague into several of his books.

The Czech Philharmonic, based at the Rudolfinum in Prague, is a world-renowned musical ensemble. A confirmation of its high standing in the world was its invitation to Carnegie Hall in the fall of 2024, where it had the unique opportunity to perform three concerts.

Would you like to discover Prague?

Our guides are happy to share their knowledge with you on one of our tours.

Would you like to add a special experience to your stay in Prague? Check out our offerings in the Activities tab.

However, when visiting the Mother of cities, don't forget to be cautious of the tourist traps, as there are quite a few in the capital.

For all useful information about Prague, such as accommodation, monuments, where to eat, etc., please click here.

... And now a few basic facts about Prague

• Area: 496 km²

• Population: cca 1.4 million (the Czech Republic has approximately 10.9 million inhabitants) (2024).

• Capital of the Czech Republic: Prague is home to the President of the Czech Republic (the office is at Prague Castle), to the Senate in the Wallenstein Palace, the Chamber of Deputies in a complex of several palaces in the Malá Strana as to the individual ministries and embassies.

• Administrative divisions: 22 boroughs (Prague 1 to 22)

• River Vltava (Moldau in German): The longest river in the Czech Republic originates in the Šumava mountains and flows through South Bohemia, passing through Prague and reaching Mělník, where it joins the Elbe. From there, it flows through Germany to the North Sea. The length of the Vltava River running through Prague is 31 km.