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Millie Foley
Professor Stapleton
FYS101
December 12, 2021
Czech This Out

Introduction

Calling all history buffs, architecture nerds, and lovers of adventure! Scrolling through

Instagram, people post countless photos of the cool, unique places they travel to across the globe.

What is not pictured are the expenses, stresses, and dangers encountered while traveling. Is there

a place that exists where one can feel safe, save money, and have the experiences of a lifetime?

Prague is all of these and more. Located in Central Europe, Prague is where many different kinds

of cultures fuse together and create its very own authentic lifestyle. If you are looking for a

historical and architectural informative escape, Prague is the destination you have been searching

for all this time.

I. Economical

Traveling to Europe has never been cheap. With expensive air travel tickets and locals

upcharging tourists for nearly everything, one has to work hard to find cost effective ways to

save money. Prague is the perfect destination for travellers on a budget. Like all tourist

destinations, there will be “tourist traps” that take advantage of visitors; however, there are

countless opportunities to take advantage of cheap prices throughout Prague. The exchange rate
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is around 22 czech korunas (CZK) per US dollar. The Czech Republic does not use the Euro

even though they are a part of the European Union. According to Cheapest Destinations Blog, a

beer at a non-tourist bar is only 32 CZK which amounts to around $1.50 in US currency. They

also report sandwiches costing around $2. Obviously the closer you are to the main city center,

the more expensive prices are going to be.

When travelling on a budget, some people choose to stay in hostels, which are notable for

their cheap rates. In Prague, hostels charge around an average of $19 a night. A typical three or

four star hotel close to the city center will charge about $90 to $150 a night on average. A

pension is another option for travelers in Prague. Pensions are located right outside of the city

(about a 25 minute train ride) with a fully furnished apartment. They cost about $40 per night.

This would be perfect for visitors who plan on cooking their own meals some days.

The transportation costs in Prague are also relatively cheap. Currently, Lyft is not

available in Prague, but Uber is operating in the city. It is best to avoid taxis, as they tend to scam

tourists into paying an absurd amount for a ride. Public transit is the way to go. A full day pass

which includes bus, tram, and metro only costs a little under $6. A one way ticket costs around

$1, and a 90-minute pass costs $12. Lastly, there is almost no need to pay an admission fee or

tickets for museums and entertainment. The city can provide all you need for free. Take

advantage of the architectural features and natural history Prague offers.

II. Prime Location

Prague is in the perfect location for travellers who

want to visit more than one country while they are in

Europe. The Czech Republic is a part of the European

Union, so this makes it easy for visitors to cross the border.

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Also due to the easy accessibility to multiple countries and different cities, this makes the ticket

prices lower than in other countries. Prague is less than a four hour drive to Berlin, Germany; a

five hour drive to Krakow, Poland; and a three hour drive to Vienna, Austria. This is only a

fraction of the places within a day's reach of Prague.

III. Safe

Safety is a common concern when traveling to a foreign country. According to the

Overseas Security Advisory Council from the U.S. Department of State, Prague is “a

LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests… a

LOW-threat location for political violence… a MEDIUM-threat location for crime directed at or

affecting official U.S. government interests,” (“Working”). When compared with the US State

department’s crime report on London, Prague is deemed much more safe. London has a high

terrorist threat and medium political violence threat. The reasoning behind Prague’s medium

crime threat is the potential for theft and other economic crimes. In common tourist locations,

people will target and pick pocket distracted travellers. Other than financial theft, “violent or

confrontational crime is rare in the Czech Republic,” (“Working”). The Wandertooth states that

“In 2018 (the most recent year available), the Global Peace Index ranked the Czech Republic 7th

in the world, defining it as a country with “very high” peace and safety,” (Malik). Obviously, one

should always use caution while in an unfamiliar area, but overall, the Czech Republic is a safe

country.

IV. Transportation

Prague’s public transportation system is one of the best in the world. Besides being

cheap, as mentioned before, public transportation in Prague is known for being fast. The

Language House reports Prague “was recently ranked the sixth fastest in the world​, beating out
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both London and New York City,” (“The Good”). Many public transportation options like tram,

bus, and metro makes Prague a very accessible city.

V. Cultural Experiences

The culture in Prague is heavily influenced by its border countries: Germany, Austria,

Slovakia, and Poland. A major aspect of Prague’s culture is the beer. US News reiterates the

importance of understanding pub culture by reminding readers, “The Czech Republic has

frequently been named the top beer-consuming country in the world,” (“Prague Travel”).

Additionally, the Cheapest Destination Blog reports, “Czech people hold the infamous

distinction of being the highest per capita beer drinkers in the world with 148 liters per person

per year,” (Leffel). It is common in restaurants for waiters to continue to bring out drinks until

the customer verbally requests to not have another.

Art is also an important aspect of Prague’s culture. On Charles

Bridge, artists line the streets, selling affordable art pieces from handmade

jewelry to paintings of the city. The bridge also features sculptures of

important saints along both sides. Many other sculptures and statues can be

found throughout the city. Some notable pieces include eight foot tall

babies, yellow penguins, and a man hanging from a building. The baby

and penguin statues can be found in Kampa Park, while “Hanging Out in

Prague” (pictured on the right) is located in Prague’s Old Town.

Prague residents value the importance of music in their city. Premium Incoming reports,

“a good tradition most of the children learn how to play at least one musical instrument,”

(“Prague: City”). Therefore, music is found almost everywhere throughout Prague. Mozart also

lived in Prague for a short period of time which might have influenced the city’s love of music.
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The pubs in the city feature live music, often experimenting with jazz. Visitors will also find

many street musicians along Charles Bridge or Old Town Square. They play all types of music

ranging from pop to classical.

VI. Festivals

Throughout the year, Prague is host to countless festivals celebrating their culture,

heritage, and accomplishments. As the home of the world’s first Pilsner beer, the Czech Republic

hosts the Czech Beer Festival in Prague. Held every May, the Czech Beer Festival “features

around 120 varieties of beer, from which, 70 brands are from the Czech Republic,” (“Czech”).

Foreign beers from the US and UK are featured in a separate tent called “Beer Diversity.” The

event also features music performances and a weekend after party.

Another notable festival in Prague is the Bohemian Carnevale, or Prague Carnival. This

event takes place at the end of February and the beginning of March. The Prague Carnival

celebrates Prague tradition, fantasy, and life in general. Festivities include masked marches,

restaurants including carnival themed menus, and a chance for people to get decked out in

carnival gear at Carnival Saloons. This event is family friendly, and it is highly encouraged to get

kids involved in the Carnival activities.

In October, Designblok brings fashion designers, students, and consumers together to

showcase European fashion. Designblok is “largest select design and fashion show in Central
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Europe,” (“About”). Around 50,000 people attend this festival of fashion from not only the

Czech Republic, but also around Europe.

VII. Historic

Prague is surrounded by centuries of history. Arguably one of the best preserved historic

city centers in Europe, Prague offers visitors to fully immerse themselves in history. At Olsany

Cemetery, the Black Plague victims fill up around two million graves. Visitors have the

opportunity to explore the burial sites and learn more about how the Black Plague rampaged

through Europe. Golden Lane is another unique experience visitors can have in Prague. Inside

the Prague Castle, a lane of colorful houses decorate the street. Often called the “street of

alchemists,” Golden Lane has an extensive history, including many myths and legends.

Originally, these houses served as housing for the palace guards, but today they serve as little

shops and mini museums. The name “Golden Lane” comes from the stories of alchemists living

in the houses and trying to make the philosopher’s stone, elixir of youth, and turn metal into gold

for Emperor Rudolf II of Austria. Eventually, the royal goldsmiths lived in houses during the

17th century. Furthermore, Golden Lane has had a couple famous residents from over the years.

Writer Franz Kafka, World War II film historian Josef Kazda, and Nobel Prize-winning writer

and poet Jaroslav Seifer all lived on Golden Lane.

Thirty miles north of Prague is the Terezin Concentration Camp. On a tour of the

concentration camp, visitors learn about Czech-Jewish history, World War II, and the Holocaust.

They also visit “monuments, memorials, and museums and find hidden traces of its dark past

while discussing present-day attitudes,” (“Terezin”). Visiting Terezin is an eye opening and

sobering experience, but it is also highly educational. The Nazis used the Terezin Concentration

Camp as propaganda, specifically in “Operation Embellishment.” They depicted Terezin as an

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adequate living environment for the Jewish community. Obviously, they were lying to the Red

Cross and outside visitors. Discover Prague describes that Terezin “epitomizes the worst aspects

of the human spirit but its prisoners left the world striking examples of human potential and the

power of compassion,” (“Terezin”).

In recent history, after John Lennon’s death in 1980, a Prague local painted his image on

a wall across from the French Embassy. Since then, the Lennon Wall has been a source for

political graffiti and The Beatles lyrics. When under communist rule, the wall became “a symbol

of hope and peace for the city's population,” (Dearsley). The wall is an unlikely attraction, but it

captures a different historical aspect of Prague. It also combines many other aspects of the city

like their passions of music and art.

VIII. Architecture

Prague is most known for its incredible architecture and is commonly referred to as the

“city of 1,000 spires.” With many buildings featuring gothic, romanesque, and baroque

influence, each building looks uniquely ancient. Prague Castle (pictured above), a UNESCO

World Heritage site, perfectly captures Prague’s architecture aesthetic. Within the walls of the

castle, there are a multitude of other remarkable buildings including St. Vitus Cathedral, St.

George's Basilica, the Powder Tower, and Golden Lane. Prague Castle is the largest castle
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complex in the world, so it takes a while to tour. One can see the architectural differences of

Prague comparing St. Vitus Cathedral and St. George’s Basilica. St. Vitus is a beautiful building

inside and out. The stained glass windows and gothic style makes the building mesmerizing. On

the other hand, St. George’s Basilica is very romanesque. The stone and arches make the

building feel more monumental than the cathedral.

Outside of the castle grounds, the Astronomical Clock (pictured

left) overlooks the Old Town Square. The clock, one of the last

medieval clocks built, shows four different times: Old Czech

time, planetary hours, semi-astronomical hours, and sidereal

time. Built in the 15th century, the clock comes alive as the

Apostles and other historical figures parade in procession. The

clock has undergone many refurbishments and repairs over the years, but it still remains as an

interesting piece of architecture.

Prague has eye-catching modern architecture as well.

The Dancing House (pictured right), constructed between

1992 and 1996, mimics two dancing figures. The tower on

the left resembles a woman wearing a skirt with her partner,

the tower on the right. People occasionally refer to the

building as “Fred and Ginger” after dancers Fred Astaire and

Ginger Rogers. Visitors can eat at the top floor restaurant

and catch a glimpse of Prague’s 1,100 year old skyline. The

building also consists of a hotel, cafe, and offices.

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Conclusion

Anyone can find a reason to fall in love with Prague. Whether it’s the awe inspiring

architecture, historical landmarks, or unique cultural experiences, Prague has so much to offer its

visitors. There is never a dull moment in the city with all of the seasonal festivals and active

street life. Prague is perfect for people looking for a European city that will not break the bank

and provide quick transportation to other nearby cities. The affordability, safety, and location of

Prague is unmatched which makes it a must-see destination. “The city of a thousand spires” has

rightly earned its name and continues to dazzle visitors.

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Works Cited

“About Designblok.” Prague International Design Festival,

https://www.designblok.cz/en/pro-navstevniky/o-designbloku.

“Bohemian Carnevale.” Prague, www.prague.net/bohemian-carnevale.

http://www.prague.net/bohemian-carnevale.

“Czech Beer Festival Prague .” VisitCzechRepublic,

https://www.visitczechrepublic.com/en-US/bf591fe9-c250-451e-a337-e967804493be/eve

nt/e-czech-beer-festival-prague.

Dearsley, Bryan, and Dianna Bocco. “21 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Prague.”

PlanetWare, https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/prague-cz-pr-p.htm.

Forrest, FG. “Astronomical Clock.” Prague,

https://www.prague.eu/en/object/places/3129/astronomical-clock?back=1.

Forrest, FG. “Historical Buildings.” Prague Castle for Visitors,

https://www.hrad.cz/en/prague-castle-for-visitors/objects-for-visitors.

“History of Terezin - Terezin: Children of the Holocaust.” Terezin,

http://www.terezin.org/the-history-of-terezin.

Leffel, Tim. “Travel Prices in Prague, Czech Republic.” Cheapest Destinations Blog, 9 Feb.

2021,

https://www.cheapestdestinationsblog.com/2018/08/06/travel-prices-in-prague-czech-rep

ublic/.

Malik, Nicole. “Is Prague a Safe Place to Travel?” Wandertooth Travel, 20 Feb. 2020,

https://www.wandertooth.com/is-prague-safe-for-tourists-and-travelers/.
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Morata, Noel. Prague's Public and Street Art Scene, 18 Mar. 2021,

https://travelphotodiscovery.com/pragues-public-and-street-art-scene/.

“Prague: City of Music.” Premium Incoming, 3 Aug. 2019,

https://www.premiumincoming.com/european-destinations/prague-city-of-music/.

“Prague Festivals.” Biggest Festivals and Fairs in Prague. Prague.com,

https://www.prague.com/v/festivals/.

“Prague Travel Guide.” U.S. News Travel. https://travel.usnews.com/Prague_Czech_Republic/.

“Terezin Concentration Camp Tour.” Discover Prague Tours,

https://discover-prague.com/terezin-tour.

“The Golden Lane.” Prague, http://www.prague.net/the-golden-lane.

“The Good, Bad and Strange of Prague.” The Language House, 9 Feb. 2021,

https://www.thelanguagehouse.net/what-we-love-and-hate-about-prague/.

“Working Together to Protect U.S. Organizations Overseas.” OSAC,

https://www.osac.gov/Country/CzechRepublic/Content/Detail/Report/0d3db5a8-0af8-47a

c-b035-18cb0e97cb75.

“Working Together to Protect U.S. Organizations Overseas.” OSAC,

https://www.osac.gov/Content/Report/9c9f4a53-615e-4997-adc2-189433fb0724.