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Historic Centre of Prague

Prague · Czechia

Background

World Heritage since
1992
Type of site
Cultural
Built up
11th–18th c.

Built between the 11th and 18th centuries, the Old Town, the Lesser Town and the New Town speak of the architectural and cultural influence Prague has enjoyed since the Middle Ages. UNESCO singles out Hradcany Castle, St Vitus Cathedral, the Charles Bridge and the many churches and palaces built mostly in the 14th century under the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV.

The Old Town grew from a marketplace on the Vltava, with a Saturday market recorded in 1100. When Charles IV became emperor in 1355 the city turned the attention of medieval Europe on itself; he founded the New Town and the university, and the Old Town Hall's tower was the tallest in the city when finished in 1364.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 1100A Saturday market is recorded on the Old Town marketplace
  2. 1348Charles IV founds the New Town and the university
  3. 1355Charles IV becomes Holy Roman Emperor; Prague is the seat of the empire
  4. 1364The Old Town Hall tower is completed
  5. 1992Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    Prague Castle and St Vitus
    The castle, the cathedral, the royal palace and Golden Lane on the hill above the river.
  2. 2
    Charles Bridge
    The statue-lined bridge to the Lesser Town; the GoGo guide crosses it before 8am.
  3. 3
    Old Town Square
    The Astronomical Clock, the Týn Church and the Jan Hus Memorial.
  4. 4
    Josefov
    The former Jewish Town in the corner of the Old Town, with six synagogues and the old cemetery.
  5. 5
    Malá Strana
    The baroque Lesser Town below the castle, with St Nicholas Church.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Bridge Before Breakfast
Cross the Charles Bridge before 8am to have it nearly to yourself.
Metro to the Old Town
Staroměstská and Náměstí Republiky stations are at the edge of the Old Town.
Old Town Square Food Stalls
Wikivoyage warns that some stalls on the square charge ham by weight and serve tourists far more than they asked for.
Two Full Days
One for the castle side of the river, one for the Old Town and Josefov.

Castle, Bridge and Old Town

From the GoGo Prague guide · Open the Prague Guide ›

  1. 09:00
    Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral2.5 hrs
    The cathedral and the royal palace.
  2. 11:45
    Golden Lane30 min
    The tiny houses along the castle wall.
  3. 14:00
    Charles Bridge30 min
    Across the statue-lined bridge.
  4. 14:45
    Lanes of Malá Strana90 min
    The baroque Lesser Town.
  5. 22:00
    Charles Bridge at Night45 min
    The bridge and castle lit up.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: May–Sep. Freezing days in Dec–Feb.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Aug (81 mm), driest Feb (32 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
Kutná Hora's cathedral and bone chapel are an hour by train; Český Krumlov is a long day trip, about three hours each way.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 616 · Wikipedia: Old Town (Prague) · Wikivoyage: Prague/Old Town and Josefov (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Prague guide · UNESCO listing