🇨🇿 Prague, Czech Republic — Beginning Our Grand European River Cruise
Part of: Viking Grand European River Cruise • Europe • Cruising • Immersive Encounters
Note:
This 18-day journey began in Prague and ended in Amsterdam. To make the experience easier to follow, we’ve divided the trip into four posts:
- Prague
- Grand European Tour – Budapest & Vienna
- River Cruising Through Europe
- Amsterdam: Viking Grand European Cruise Finale
🌆 Discovering Prague
Prague is one of the great historic cities of Central Europe. Beautifully preserved and rich with culture, Prague offers visitors a remarkable blend of medieval architecture, vibrant neighborhoods, and a deep sense of history.
We began our 2022 European vacation with a three-day stay in Prague before boarding our Viking River cruise ship in Budapest. This was our second visit, and we appreciated the city even more the second time around.
During this trip we stayed at the Prague Marriott Hotel, located near Old Town Square on the east side of the river. The location made sightseeing very convenient.
On our first trip we stayed at the beautiful Golden Well Hotel near the Embassy District. While slightly less convenient for walking around Old Town, the Golden Well is an exceptional five-star hotel with a rooftop terrace that has been ranked among the best in the world.
Prague itself is fascinating. The Old Town dates back to the 9th century, while the “New Town” was established in the 14th century by Emperor Charles IV.
Connecting the two sides of the city is the famous Charles Bridge, a pedestrian-only bridge lined with historic statues, street performers, and local artists. Crossing it feels like stepping back in time.
🏰 Prague Castle & St. Vitus Cathedral
The castle complex overlooking the city is one of Prague’s most iconic landmarks.
Prague Castle dates back to the 9th century and is considered the largest ancient castle complex in the world.
Within the castle grounds stands the magnificent St. Vitus Cathedral, whose construction began in 1344 and continued over many centuries before finally being completed in 1929.
The castle complex also includes royal palaces, gardens, and government buildings. Today it serves as the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic.
Walking the castle grounds provides incredible views over Prague’s red rooftops and the winding Vltava River.
Nearby streets wind through charming neighborhoods filled with embassies, historic homes, and cafés. On the way back toward Old Town we also passed the beautiful St. Nicholas Church, a stunning Baroque cathedral built in the 1700s.
⏰ Old Town Square & the Astronomical Clock
The heart of Prague is Old Town Square, one of the busiest and most beautiful squares in Europe.
The square is famous for the Prague Astronomical Clock, originally installed in 1410 and still operating today.
Crowds gather each hour to watch the clock’s famous animation known as the “Walk of the Apostles,” when figures appear in two small windows as the clock chimes.
The surrounding streets are filled with shops, restaurants, and cafés. Sitting at an outdoor restaurant in Old Town Square — day or night — is a perfect place to relax and watch the energy of Prague unfold.
✡️ The Jewish Quarter
Another important part of Prague’s history can be found in the Josefov Jewish Quarter.
During our first visit to Prague we took a guided tour of this historic neighborhood and highly recommend doing so if you have the opportunity.
The area includes several synagogues, museums, and the Old Jewish Cemetery, which together tell the powerful story of the Jewish community that lived in Prague for centuries.
Learning about the experiences of this community before, during, and after World War II was both heartbreaking and deeply meaningful.
🍽 Experiencing Prague Through Food
One of our favorite ways to experience a new city is through a guided food tour, and Prague was no exception.
Our Prague food tour included a three-course meal served across three different restaurants, allowing us to sample several traditional dishes.
We began with small open-faced sandwiches served on baguette slices topped with ingredients such as roast beef, shrimp, egg salad, and other local specialties.
The main course featured duck with sauerkraut and potatoes, a classic Czech dish.
For dessert we visited one of Prague’s famous pastry cafés near the historic Old Town gates and sampled a variety of traditional cakes.
Prague is also well known for its beer culture and pastries, which can be found throughout the city.
We also discovered a fun little restaurant called Sad Man’s Tongue Bar & Bistro, a quirky hamburger spot with a retro theme and a fantastic menu. If you find yourself craving a burger while in Prague, this place is worth a visit.
And of course, no visit is complete without trying the famous Trdelník pastry — often served as a “chimney cake” cone filled with ice cream.
🕊 A Visit to Terezín
One of the most powerful experiences of our trip was visiting Terezín Memorial, located about 30 miles north of Prague.
Originally built in the 18th century as a fortress known as Theresienstadt, it was later used by the Nazis during World War II as a concentration camp and transit point for Jewish prisoners.
More than 150,000 Jews passed through Terezín, many of whom were later transported to extermination camps such as Auschwitz.
Of the 15,000 children imprisoned there, fewer than 150 survived.
Visiting Terezín is a sobering experience, but an important one. Understanding the tragedies of the past helps ensure that history is never repeated.
This excursion was offered through Viking as a pre-cruise optional tour, and we are grateful we chose to participate.
🕊 The Czech Perspective on Freedom
The Czech Republic has endured a long and difficult history of occupation and political upheaval.
After World War II the country fell behind the Iron Curtain under communist rule. One of our guides shared personal stories of growing up during this period, describing how limited freedoms and economic hardship affected everyday life.
The communist regime finally ended in 1989 during the peaceful Velvet Revolution, which restored democracy to the country.
Today the Czech people deeply value their independence and democratic freedoms.
Throughout Prague we noticed many Ukrainian flags flying in solidarity with Ukraine during Russia’s current invasion. It was a powerful reminder of how deeply Central Europeans understand the importance of protecting freedom.
For Americans, visiting places like Prague offers an important perspective. It reminds us how fortunate we are — and how important it is to preserve the freedoms we often take for granted.
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