Old Town New Adventure: 3 Days in Praha
So far Jenna and were master budgeters, so we felt we could afford to fly and have our own room in Prague. Dorms are fun every once in a while, but when you’re on a longer trip you’d be surprised what a relief it is to have your own space. We stayed at the Rosemary hostel, a low budget place just a short subway ride to old town. This area wasn’t the nicest, but our rooms were okay and the front desk lady was the biggest sweetheart. She recommended the Vortex pub which was a quick walk from our hostel and had amazing nachos and local beers. If you want a good place to budget travel I highly recommend Prague because food, drinks, and accommodation are super cheap! Our whole meal and drinks cost about 5 dollars Canadian. Click here if you just want the The Run Down.
Prague Castle:
It depends on your personal preference and time, but more often then not Jenna and I prefer to walk when we explore rather than taking public transport. If you want to get to a destination as soon as possible there is no shame in subways and buses, but we find often then not, there’s hidden treasures on the path less traveled. In this case, we were right. We walked through forests and cobblestone streets to get to Prague Castle. 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 other ones we’ve seen before in that rather than having a regal pompous look to it, Prague Castle had this darker gothic vibe to it. It reminded me of something out of Edward Scissorhands. It’s not so much the castle itself that people go to see, but the views of Old town you can see from hiking up the castle property. You can see this whole town that looks like it’s straight out of a fairytale.
Beatles Mania: Give Peace a Chance:
We strolled down the iconic castle steps to find the infamous John Lennon Wall. At 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 in a collage of kind messages from tourists and locals alike. Supposedly they repaint the wall every few years, but Jenna and signed our names and left a heart, Just like Prague left an impression on our hearts. And of course if you hang out at the wall long enough some talented stranger will surely come and fill the streets with Beatles music.
Old Town:
First things first, A quick reminder on the most important packing tip of all. SHOES. You may think you have the right pair of comfy shoes, whether it be runners or combat boots, but walking on cobblestone streets for hours on ends can be very hard on your feet so always keep that in mind! Sore feet are a price to pay to see charming places like Old town square. All the buildings here are so unique in design, colour, and trappings; but they co-exist to create the perfect medieval atmosphere. Like many town squares, this spot is where all the tourist flock to, so there is a lot of…let’s say interesting things going on lol. From men dressed up as creepy baby puppets, to guys throwing chains and whips to heavy metal music. **Disclaimer: Puppets are really a really big thing in Prague, you can see them in every shop corner and lots of street performers using puppet. 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 bridge in Prague for some great photo opportunities, souvenirs, and beautiful artwork:)
We returned to Prague Castle at night, which I highly recommend because the city views during the evening are even better then the day. It’s such a peaceful little town with big character. I’m sure there are probably many more areas and activities to do in Prague, but we had a perfect little taste for our short time there. We ate a cute little restaurant near the castle, though you can pay to eat at the castle if you choose.
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!
Don't Look Back 