The Top 10 Attractions in Prague

Prague's other castle hill — a 10th-century fortress above the Vltava with ramparts, the national cemetery where Dvořák and Smetana rest, and the city's best sunset views. Locals picnic here while tourists queue at Prague Castle. Grounds are free and open around the clock; a friend would absolutely send you.

A forested hill rising above Malá Strana offering the best panoramic views of Prague's red rooftops and spires, accessible by a charming funicular railway. The slender Eiffel-inspired lookout tower at the summit gives an even higher vantage point for a small fee. The hill is a genuine local escape — families picnic here, couples walk the orchards in spring blossom. The funicular gets crowded on weekends; walking up via the garden paths takes about 20 minutes and is more pleasant.

A working Premonstratensian monastery above the castle with two of the most beautiful baroque library halls on earth. Honest caveat: you view the Theological and Philosophical Halls from the doorways, not inside — some visitors feel shortchanged at 220 CZK. Still worth it, and the monastery brewery next door seals the deal.

The dramatic walk along the Vyšehrad cliff edge (distinct from the fortress interior) offers vertiginous views over the Vltava river valley and the brutalist Nusle Bridge — one of Prague's most striking pieces of 1970s engineering. This is a genuinely local experience with almost no tourists; residents jog and walk dogs here. Combine it with a stroll through the Vyšehrad cemetery where Dvořák and Smetana are buried. Best in late afternoon light.

Prague's leading contemporary art institution occupies a converted factory complex in the up-and-coming Holešovice district, showing ambitious international and Czech contemporary art alongside design and architecture exhibitions. The programming is genuinely challenging and changes regularly — check the website before visiting. The rooftop Gulliver airship installation is a permanent landmark. The surrounding neighborhood with its cafés and galleries makes for a great half-day itinerary.

A Baroque pilgrimage complex built around a replica of the Santa Casa (Holy House from Nazareth), featuring an ornate church, cloistered courtyard, and a treasury with extraordinary liturgical objects including a diamond monstrance with 6,222 stones. It sits just steps from Prague Castle but receives a fraction of the visitors, making it one of the Old Town's best-kept secrets. The hourly carillon of 27 bells is worth timing your visit around. Deeply atmospheric and genuinely underappreciated.

A UNESCO silver-mining town an hour east of Prague, famous for the Sedlec Ossuary — a chapel decorated with the bones of some 40,000 people. Genuinely worth the day trip: the ossuary is haunting, St. Barbara's Cathedral is magnificent, and the town itself is lovely. Book ossuary tickets online ahead; photography inside is banned.

The world's largest ancient castle complex — a hilltop city of cathedrals, palaces, and lanes that's been the seat of Czech power for over a thousand years. Walking the grounds is free (6:00-22:00); interiors need a ticket (Main Circuit 450 CZK, valid 2 days). Go early or late — midday is a tour-group river.

This monumental 1920s Functionalist building houses the National Gallery's collection of modern and contemporary art, including works by Picasso, Klimt, Monet, and a strong Czech 20th-century section. It's consistently undervisited compared to Old Town attractions, meaning you can actually stand in front of great paintings in peace. The building itself is architecturally spectacular with its vast atrium. Allow at least two hours and check the website for temporary exhibitions.

The medieval Orloj on Old Town Hall puts on its little apostle show every hour — it's charming, free, and takes 45 seconds. Honest take: the show underwhelms many; the real payoff is climbing the tower (350 CZK) for the best rooftop view in Old Town. Watch the show once, then go up.

Charles IV's gothic hilltop fortress, 40 minutes from Prague by train — the classic Czech castle silhouette. A friend would send you for the Chapel of the Holy Cross (Tour 2, 300 CZK, book ahead — it sells out). Caveat: closed Mondays, and the village street up is a gauntlet of souvenir shops.

A compact, well-curated museum dedicated entirely to Alphonse Mucha, the Czech Art Nouveau master whose flowing poster designs defined a visual era. The collection includes original posters, paintings, drawings, and personal photographs in an intimate setting that lets you get genuinely close to the work. It's small enough to do thoroughly in 90 minutes. The gift shop is one of the better ones in Prague if you want quality reproductions.

The Lennon Wall is a graffiti-covered wall in Malá Strana that became a symbol of free expression and peaceful protest under communist rule, plastered with John Lennon imagery and Beatles lyrics. It is constantly repainted, so no two visits look alike, and visitors are welcome to add their own message. It is small and often crowded with tour groups, so it works best as a quick stop.

The Dancing House is a curving deconstructivist office building nicknamed Fred and Ginger, completed in 1996 by Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunic. Its warped glass tower appears to lean into its stone partner like a dancing couple. Most people come to photograph the exterior; there is a rooftop bar and gallery upstairs if you want to go inside.