kappa1

> turnip on Mar 7, 12 at 7:54pm
The Charles Bridge at sunrise. Great light for photos and minus the tourist horde.

> Percy on Mar 7, 12 at 8:47pm
Yep, I woke up at 5:30 AM to be at Charles Bridge at sunrise

I second/third the sunrise time on Charles Bridge. I tend to stay away from the crowd packed bridge during the day but almost everytime I visit the city, I do this early morning walk. But I never had to wake up at 05h30 to do that. Where did you stay Percy? I stay usually in Mala Strana area, more precisely at the foot of Petrin (near cable car station) and Charles Bridge is an easy 7-minute walk across the Kampa Park, that's pleasant too. The morning sun over the castle and Mala Strana is such a glorious sight to see. I hope the OP's hotel will not be far. I have done this many times in mid winter - Christmas time, sometimes freezing cold, you bet, but I was quite warmely dresssed and enjoyed the walk and photo shooting quite a lot.

Anyway when you are talking about just 2 days (2 full days?), naturally you cannot do all that have been recommended above. Perhaps you can do just a few of them. If the OP is fine with the usuals, my choice would be the classics such as 1) Royal Road (or part of it) between Wenceslas Square, cross the bridge and up to the Castle on Nerudova Street, 2) Castle site, 3) One of the tower top for great sceneries, I like The Old Town Square Tower ( there a lift but you can walk up and down as well) or maybe the gate tower at Charles Bridge (no lift), the Old Town side. Do if you can around late afternoon or sunset. It might depend on when you are going as well. My visits to Prague are often in winter - low season when the tourists are (relatively) less. Tower tops are not a large space so if there are too many people, I might think again before buying the ticket. I did the castle tower ( about 280 steps in a narrow stairway ) twice, some years back, then free of charge, but not sure if it's open these days.

I also recommend, near the castle and Petrin Hill, a stop for a beer or a coffee (or even a lunch) at the terrace of Bellavista restaurant. Completely open view with no obstacle at all over the city of Prague underneath.

I'm not sure if you can include Vinohrady or Vyshrad in a 2-day visit. But that's a question of priorities.

> easytraveler on Mar 23, 12 at 5:38am
Here's something that I enjoyed a lot in Prague...
http://www.european-city-parks.com/p...jnska-zahrada/

I enjoyed it too. I visted a couple of times when I travelled in warmer time. The park is closed in winter. Ponds with gold fish, garden with statues and peacocks. Waldstein Garden, I must be saying it in German. When I went out from the other side, I was also able to vist a govermental bulding (senate?) with nice - old interior.

Dick

Unclegus, that looks like great fun....but we will be in Budapest and Vienna during the festival

The Prague Marathon will be taking place during our time in Prague
My wife is a runner and looking forward to running a portion as a bandit

kappa1

I have just realised that Percy has written of the Royal Road in details above already (without calling Royal Road? maybe?)It starts at teh Powder Tower by the Municipal House and ends at the castle.

Percy

kappa1

Very good ideas.

I could not open your link to the europe-city parks.

I do not think that first time visitors to Prague realize the amount of people walking the Street...more so on the Charles Bridge.

I took the lift to the top of the Old Town Clock Tower
I climb up the Charles bridge Tower on the Lesser Town ( Quarter )side.

I also walked all over Petrin Hill... through the Hunger Wall , Observatory and then climbed the Petrin Tower..right to the top.

Of course the views are terrific!!

My advantage was that I was there for a full week , I have no trouble walking...
( others find it difficult to keep up with me )

and I knew where 95 % of the major places were...I found this was the biggest time saver...just knowing where things and places are.

I will send you the ling to the hotel I stayed at, 2 blocks from Charles Bridge

unclegus

yes the royal roure is a great idea to walk ,covers a great deal of the historical side of the city. this link explains it.
http://www.expats.cz/prague/article/...m/royal-route/
Prague.net had a much more detailed description but for some reason that site seems to have shut down.Percy I have done the Petrin hill ,the hunger wall walk in the opposite direction and headed towards the Strahov Monastry complex for a beer in the Klasterini Pivovar.It really is a lovely area any time of year.
It is a lovely walk if you have the time and if you have a couple of hours in the evening quite possible, there is the Fennicular to get you up or down the hill to save time runs until after 11.00pm.

Percy

Hi unclegus:

Yes, I was at the Petrin Hill park and you are right it is a lovely place and offers the most spectacular views of Prague.

Going up at night offers a gleaming view of Prague

I walked up in a zig-zag fashion( Switchback), but I passed a few nice monuments, ther nicest being the one of Karel Macha, this is really a lovely one to see.

it really is a Georgeous Monument, who died at the age of 26 of Pneumonia , putting out a fire.

He sure must have beeen loved because the Statue Monument is really something.

He was a Romantic Poet Writer

I also went up at night to Petrin Hill but I walked.

I did see the Funicular, it apparently takes you to a couple of nice restuarants.

There is a picture of President Clinton seated here with a glorious view of downtown Prague.!

For those that go to the Strahov Monastery( atop Petrin Hill)..you HAVE to walk inside the Library ( Theological Hall).

I will not tell you about the Library..let it be a surprise


kappa1:

here is the website to hwere I stayed.

www.uzlatestudny.cz

When you open the website , click on Photo Gallery to see the nice pictures of the rooms

Toucan

Book mark. Good stuff.

I too recommend St Charles at sunrise. While on a morning run I had it all to myself, except for a few overnight partiers that were just leaving.

Toucan

Oh, and the Monastary Library was incredible!

unclegus

the Library that Percy mentions is quite stunning I was lucky enough to see it during renovations and then again jsut after they were finished, you can do a special tour (don't ask me how) that allow you right into the Library itself but for us ordinary folk you only get to look at it through the door, but its worth the entrance fee (80Kc i think)
When I was last in (may2011) it was crammed full of tour groups, obviously packing them in to pay for rennovations.
The Klasterini Pivovar is right across from the Library and makes some of the finest beer you will ever taste ( watch out it can be very strong ie 6.3%) , the food there is pretty good too, always a must stop place for me when I am in the city.

easytraveler

If you can't get into the Library, here's a 360 degree virtual visit:

http://www.360cities.net/gigapixel/strahov-library.html

cookiekn

Stepanka (STEFFI) Holesova
HOLS-tour
e-mail: [email protected]
We used Stephanka a few years ago for one day; age 65/75; it was like having our favorite cousin show us her city - she knew exactly how to jump on/off buses & get us into the beautiful palace (?), cathedral - where to meet for the separate Jewish tour - local place to eat, etc. She met us at hotel...........we paid about $80 & paid for bus/tickets, etc. NO shouting - she held up one gloved hand to help us see her in a crowd. We were there a week?

maitaitom

Here's my trip report (with photos) from 2008. Chapter One Through Four are all on Prague with a day trip to Kutna Hora. Have fun!


http://www.travelswithmaitaitom.com/...nice_2008.html

Percy

Thanks easytraveler

That is the Philosphical Hall Library.

The painting on the ceiling is called,"Struggle of Mankind to know Real History".

The Theological Hall is equally impressive with a lower ceiling.

Maybe you could find a 360 on this Hall also. ( please )

cookiekn: Your guide sounds like a real treasure.

<b> Now I have a question : </B>

I had a lot of places and sites I wanted to see in Prague and I saw them all ( almost)!

The almost is because there is a very small narrow lane where only one person at a time can walk through this narrow alley.

The unique thing about this narrow street(lane) is that it is regulated by traffic light!!!

so when you push the button at your end ..the green walk light comes on and it is red ( stop) at the other end.

It is not like this is a heavy traffic area !

I could not find this place, and my ladies at the hotel did not know where it was either.

I have a picture of this unique lane that is regulated by a traffic light .

It is somewhere in the Lesser Town(Quarter area)!

There is an equally narrow lane)street) in StockholmSweden but this one in Prague is narrower still .!

If you want to see the picture to jog your memory...then e-mail me at [email protected] and I will e mail you the picture .
Thanks.

easytraveler

here you go, Percy. You have to click on the right edge to move the frames.

http://www.360cities.net/image/strah...0,-56.20,102.9

Percy

Ah Thank you Bless your heart!!

That is it , I rememeber those row of Globes but I could not take my eyes off the ceiling!!

kappa1

> www.uzlatestudny.cz

Hi Percy, thanks for above. I just meant in which area you stayed so that you needed to wake up at 5h30 to visit the early morning Charles Bridge. But anyay, when I saw above, I knew : the 4* (I think) hotel where you stayed is located on the royal road and only a couple of minutes on foot to the bridge, the old town side. This hotel is often confused, due to its similar name meaning " the gold well ", with the other Golden Well hotel 5* in Mala Strana. I had looked at its web site some time ago when I was choosing a hotel (I end up with Mala Strana side most of the time.)

Tiniest street with traffic light in Prague

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PeH3...eature=related
Have seen one of these Youtube videos before.
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/W...u_prask_ulicka
Beeing next to Kafka Museum, where I have been many times to see the fountain with 2 peeing men, I have not noticed this street. Maybe next time.

kappa1

At every visit to Prague, it is my habit to walk up Petrin hill at once (I took the funicular only once, the first time to go up all the way to the tower). Walk is definitely better (if it's your kind of thing to do) view-wise. Even in winter when the hill is covered with snow, you still can walk like this. It seems I did this walk in January 2007.

https://picasaweb.google.com/kappa34...75543021116818

I don't walk all the way up to the tower. Midway around the level of Nebozizek (finicualr station and a restaurant of the same name), I take a level road to the right toward the castle, always nice view and you will arrive underneath the above mentioned Strahov Monastery and Bellavista Restaurant.

Percy

Thanks very much kappa1:

I know where that narrow street is now (after hunting websites for it )and it even irks me more because I walked right past it.

I must have been looking across the street at the time,but then I did not know the location when I was there.

I was at the Kafka Museum also and took pictures of those men urinating, and this narrow street is less than 1/3 block away!!!

Oh well...next time

There is only so much you can see in a week and believe me I was going from morning till night!!

I know exactly where and how you walk about Petrin Hill, I spent a whole afternoon walking the Park ,which included the Observatory and the famous Rose Garden ( on the other side of the Hungar Wall.)

and those Way of the Cross Chaples leading up to Strahov Monastery

Thank you kindly for your help ,I appreciate it .

Dick

easytraveler and kappa ...thanks for the links...

That really is one narrow street!

I just realized...we will be in Prague in about 6 weeks

easytraveler

Dick,

You're quite welcome!

I've gotten so much from travel websites like Fodors that it feels good just to be able to return favors a bit!

Have a great trip!