6.Czech Republic
3 Days in Praha: Old Town New Adventure
Prague is a great place to travel on a budget. We flew from Amsterdam at about 100$. Food, Drinks and Accommodations are super cheap; you can get a whole meal under $5 CAD. We looked for the cheapest of the cheap and got our own room at $14CAD at Rosemary Hostel , although bathrooms are shared with one other room. The hostel is a short subway ride to Old town, but of course we decided to walk to take in all our new surroundings.
The front desk lady at Rosemary was such a sweetheart, for dinner she recommended The Vortex Pub, a short walk from the hostel. The pub is also a brewery so I highly recommend trying one of the local beers. The nachos were also soooo good. To find out what to do in Prague read on. If you just want quick tips head Click here if for the The Run Down.
Prague Castle
If you want to get somewhere ASAP there is no shame in subways and buses, but more often then not, there’s hidden treasures on the path less traveled. This rings true in Prague. It was a beautiful fall day and the colourful leaves painted the lovely setting for Old Town. When we arrived at Prague Castle it was different from the ones we’ve seen before because rather than having a regal pompous look, Prague Castle is a darker gothic beauty. It reminded me of something from Edward Scissorhands. It’s not so much the castle itself that people go to see, but the views of Old town from the top.
Beatles Mania
If you take a stroll down the steps of Prague castle, you can make your way towards the infamous John Lennon Wall. Once a symbol for Peace in Prague now stands a wall covered in graffiti of inspiration and nostalgia. From bright coloured peace signs, to Beatles lyrics, this wall is a collage of kind messages from tourists and locals alike. Supposedly they repaint the wall every few years, but Jenna and signed our names in a heart, Just as Prague left an impression on our own hearts. If you hang out long enough some talented stranger will surely come and fill the street with Beatles songs.
Old Town
Important Packing tip for Prague: Comfortable shoes are a MUST in old town…your feet will start to feel it after a couple of hours of walking.
The buildings here are unique in design, colour, and trappings; but they co-exist to create the perfect medieval atmosphere. This spot is where all the tourist flock to, so there’s a lot of… interesting things going on lol. From men dressed up as creepy baby puppets, to guys throwing chains and whips. **Weird fact: Puppets are really popular in Prague, you can see them in every shop corner and lots of street performers use them. What’s the weirdest street act you’ve come across?
There was however, this young fellow who had a lovely voice and put on quiet the show: (apologies for the crap phone quality)
And of course you don’t want to miss the famous Charles bridge in for some great photo opportunities, souvenirs, and beautiful artwork:)
I highly recommend returning to Prague castle at night as the city views are stunning! For dinner there are tons of cute restaurants in the vicinity to the castle, there is even one at the castle but it’s a bit pricier if you’re on a budget.
The Run Down:
Where to stay: Rosemary’s Hostel, or if you prefer closer to Oldtown: Prague Hostel Tynn
Where to eat: Vortex pub, The Prague Castle (a bit more money), At the Three Fiddles (near the castle), Tavern by Seven Swabians
Best Place to grab a quick bite/Coffee: Loads of vendors and Costas located in Old Town square, we recommend the candy apples! delish:)
Nightlife: Prague Castle for the views, Vortex pub, recommended bars/pubs include: Hemingway, Absintherie, Tretter’s
Sights and Excursions: Prague Castle, Old Town Square, The John Lennon Wall, Charles bridge, and every cute boutique shop and restaurant along the way