PRG to Prague City Center (Staroměstská)

Prague's historic center near Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, and the Astronomical Clock.

Prague's historic center around Staroměstská (Old Town Square) is one of Europe's most perfectly preserved medieval cityscapes, largely untouched by the destruction of World War II. The square is dominated by the 600-year-old Astronomical Clock (Orloj) on the Old Town Hall, the twin Gothic spires of the Church of Our Lady before Týn, and the Baroque St. Nicholas Church. Every hour, crowds gather to watch the Orloj's mechanical Apostles perform.

The Old Town seamlessly connects to other historic quarters. Cross the iconic Charles Bridge — a 14th-century stone bridge adorned with 30 Baroque statues — and you enter the Lesser Town (Malá Strana) with its palace gardens and charming streets leading up to Prague Castle. The Jewish Quarter (Josefov), with its hauntingly beautiful synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery, lies just north of the Old Town Square.

Prague's cultural life is extraordinary for a city of its size. The Estates Theatre, where Mozart premiered Don Giovanni in 1787, still performs opera. The labyrinthine streets reveal hidden courtyards, jazz clubs, craft beer pubs, and centuries-old beer halls. The city's café culture, influenced by its Habsburg past, thrives in places like Café Slavia and Café Imperial.