Prague - Experience

With its maze of cobbled lanes leading to sumptuous baroque churches, Art Nouveau mansions and eccentric museums, Prague is a magical city with a fairytale skyline.

Mighty 9th-century Prague Castle and Gardens, sitting high above the River Vltava, is the premier port of call. You’ll also find the soaring St Vitus Cathedral within its walls. Across the river, the Old Town Square is dominated by Prague’s iconic Astronomical Clock, while the synagogues of the Jewish Museum are dotted around the Josefov district.

Stroll along super-smart Parízská for international designer wear, or pick up cheaper items on Wenceslas Square, where you’ll also find the city’s biggest bookstores. The streets around Old Town Square are lined with shops selling Bohemian crystal, jewellery and souvenirs, while Malá Strana is a rewarding hunting ground for antiques.

Prague’s biggest park is Stromovka, where you can picnic beneath the trees and feed the ducks. Atop Petrin Hill there’s a maze and an observatory where you can spy on the stars. An organised bike tour is a great way to explore the city at a friendly pace.

Prague is a truly musical city. Catch a concert at the Rudolfinum, home of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, or a performance at the Prague State Opera. Prague is famous for ‘black light theatre’ – a unique kind of backlit pantomime. See a show at All Colours Theatre. For the best live jazz, head to AghaRTA Jazz Centrum.

Traditional Czech pork-and-dumplings are a staple at many restaurants, but cosmopolitan Prague has a huge array of international cuisine to try. Splash out on a fine French meal at riverside C’est La Vie, enjoy Brazilian or Japanese food in Staré Mesto, or sample the bistros of Vinohrady.

Scan the city from the viewing deck at the top of the 216m TV Tower. View the river while dining on lobster in Céleste on top of Gehry's Dancing House (also quaintly know as the 'Fred and Ginger Building'). Or gaze down at Wenceslas Square from the upper floors of the National Museum.