Prague Itinerary

Old May 25th, 2013, 03:31 AM
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Prague Itinerary

Good morning everyone,

I will be traveling to Prague in a month, and I am still having doubts as to how feasible or enjoyable my itinerary is. What has been your experience?

I will arrive around 13:00 to Prague and, because of jetlag, I don't want to count on this day 1 to plan for anything. I will be staying off Miru Square, in Vinohrady.

My plan is to focus on a couple of landmarks and spend the rest of the day strolling around the neighborhood where they are located. For example: the castle and St. Nicholas Church on day 2, the Spanish Synagogue and Tyn Church on day 3, Wenceslas Square and Vysehrad on day 4, I seem to have day 5 off which I thought I could spend wandering around Vinohrady and Zizkov, and spend the day on Petrin Hill on day 6 to rest and/or wander around Smichov. I will be leaving in the morning of day 7.

I am aware that I have only planned for a couple of things a day, but, of course, walking around the neighborhoods is part of the sightseeing and I don't know how tiring this can be. I've read the center of Prague is compact, but I don't know how compact it can be. I like enjoying things and not just passing by an array of landmarks as if I were leafing through a book, otherwise, when I return home, I will remember it like a blurry dream.

I appreciate any comments you may have.
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Old May 25th, 2013, 03:56 AM
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I would go to Budapest on day 5. I have not been there yet but plan on going very soon. Will be interested in your trip report.
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Old May 25th, 2013, 04:11 AM
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You can certainly add a lot more to your Prague itinerary.

Day 2 - see the Loreta church and walk down Nerudova Street for the architectural embellishments on the buildings.

Day 3 - are you not interested in the other synagogues and the Jewish Cemetery? They are all near each other and can be seen in a couple of hours. Tyn church has limited opening hours. There's a sign on the door giving the hours.
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Old May 25th, 2013, 04:18 AM
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You can also take one of the days to go to Terezin.
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Old May 25th, 2013, 05:54 AM
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Prague has way more things to see/do thanyou ahve listed. I would do some research and pick them out. Also - on the day you arrive head for the Town Hall. It has a ton of information on guided walking tours of different neighborhoods (small groups and very modest prices) that are fascinating. Also you might want to consider taking a day trip to one of the near castles in the countryside.

The tourist center of Prague is quite small. TheCastle is on the heights of one side of the river - and it an take the best part of a day to explore the castle, cathedral and castle comples. There is another charming neighborhood on the hill below the castle. And finally - the entire old town and central new town area on the other side of the river can be walked across in about an hour.

Not sure of exactly where you are staying (I would get a very good street map) but we stayed on the edge of the Old Town and found it very convenient to walk from there - but used a ram to get to the top of the Castle complex on the other side of the river.
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Old May 25th, 2013, 06:15 AM
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Castellanesse:
You can easily add a walk to three attractions that are important and very close to each other:
The Dancing Houses, interesting architecture, the church where the commando that killed Heydrich received shelter(and they were killed there),Ss. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral;and accross the river the Memorial to the Victims of Communism.
An interesting walk, not far from the Charles Bridge.
The Mac Cafe at the uper córner of Wenceslas square serves really good capucinos and amazing apricot pastries.
For sure, you will enjoy the city.
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Old May 25th, 2013, 07:09 AM
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Thanks, everybody, for your suggestions.

Perhaps, my "underplanning" comes from the fact that I think I don't count on enough days to tour the city. I'm afraid that if I plan for more, my trip will become the "blurry dream" I described above.

Am I stressing about it unnecessarily?
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Old May 25th, 2013, 07:21 AM
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>

Yes you are.

What I do is list the sights I want to see and start each day with the most important sights. If I get to my second or third choices that's fine and if I don't that's fine too.

You don't want to be standing around thinking "what do I do now."

Do some more reading about Prague. There is lots to see just walking around but you need to know where to walk.

Take a couple of walking tours to increase your enjoyment of the city.

Day 2 - St. Vitus Cathedral is in the castle area (wonderful church but go early to avoid long lines) and so is Golden Lane. There's also St. George basilica. You're walking right by them so stop in and look around.
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Old May 25th, 2013, 07:25 AM
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I would definitely visit the Loreto Convent, Mucha Museum, the Moser glass shop on Na Prakope, the Jewish cemetery.

You could also do a day trip to Terezin with a tour company like Sylvia Whittman.

The Decorative Arts Museum is also worth a visit.

I am quoted 4 times in Fodor's Prague.


Thin
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Old May 25th, 2013, 08:18 AM
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Old May 25th, 2013, 08:38 AM
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For your first night, walk the bridge after dark. The river and the city are so pretty lit up at night.

For what it's worth, Wenceslas Square was a big disappointment to us. A pretty location, but chock full of cheap tourist shops and chain stores/restaurants. It was the only place in Europe where we saw pickpockets unabashedly working the crowd. But off the square, we found a convent or monastery that had a lovely secluded garden and was a great place to sit with a snack.

The fort is a must see, and the top of the hill has great views. I remember it was raining and we stopped at the Hotel Neruda for a light lunch on their rooftop patio with umbrellas. It was so charming!
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Old May 25th, 2013, 11:50 AM
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I totally agree with seeing the Mucha Museum; small and outstanding.

I was quoted twice in Fodor's Prague and the Best of the Czech Republic.
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Old May 25th, 2013, 02:14 PM
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>

This is the worst suggestion I've seen for a day trip. Budapest is a seven-hour train ride EACH WAY. The OP is spending a week in Prague, not Bratislava.

The Communism Museum is in a building off Wencelas Sq, on the floor above a casino. You don't mention the Josefov area, which is a different subset of Old Town.

Terezin would be an educational day trip, to be understating it.
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Old May 25th, 2013, 02:42 PM
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I wish I still had my book so I could see those quotes, but I threw it out when we left Prague.

Agree, just take your time. I'm in the middle of writing a trip report and had a wonderful guide, if you want her email click on my name. Have fun!
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Old May 25th, 2013, 05:45 PM
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Old May 26th, 2013, 05:51 AM
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BigRuss, thanks for the info on distance from Prague to Budapest, Google says 4hr43min but that still would be too long for a day trip, but you could fly into one and out of another spending the night. http://www.google.com/search?sourcei....0.GYGii3XfGDw
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Old May 26th, 2013, 06:34 AM
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I never believe what I read about driving times and always add 25% time.

I would not go all the way to Budapest for 1 day. You can take day or overnight trips outside of Prague that are closer such as Kutna Hora or Cesky Krumlov (probably the most popular).
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Old May 26th, 2013, 11:37 AM
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Why would you go to Prague just to leave it to go to Budapest?

If you are in Prague, you should SEE Prague!


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Old May 27th, 2013, 05:42 PM
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Thank you again, everybody.

I am feeling better about my trip. My concern came because, before purchasing my flight, I planned my trip with a guidebook that only covered the historic center. Then, after I bought my ticket, I found this other one including the outlying districts, and I started freaking out about what I might have left out.

Thanks for your suggestions. Vysehrad, St Vitus, Loreto and other places are also on my to visit list. As recommended above, I will focus on a few, and then move on to the next ones as they come and as they intertest me. I will also take into account the Mucha Museum as well as the day trip to Terezin.

Castellanese
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Old May 27th, 2013, 09:37 PM
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We enjoyed our brief stay in Prague. See if this helps:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-with-kids.cfm
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