I did not suspect that Prague would become one of my top two favorite cities in Europe. The other is Disentis, my grandfather’s hometown, in Switzerland.

Prague

Activites

• Gröbe Villa
  • Incredible park, very expansive, there’s a cafe, vineyard, great view of the skyline, and a villa that has opera and theater performances.
• Městský stadion Ďolíček
  • Go here and watch the local football team, Bohemia 1905. They hilariously have a kangaroo as their mascot because they toured in Australia and got two kangaroos as a gift, which they then donated to the Prague Zoo.
• Prague Castle
  • So fun to walk around! There was architecture I’d never seen before, intricate etching in the stones on the sides of buildings! They also had a few incredible gift shops, and some of the most surprising Starbucks locations I’ve ever encountered. (I will say it’s a bit jarring to see a modern company in the middle of an ancient castle.) The Golden Lane is one of the main tourist sites there, a conglomeration of small museums / staged stores and homes from the people that lived in the castle, apothecary, armory (which was a highlight), etc. On the Golden Lane there’s also a “Franz Kafka house” where he temporarily stayed. Unfortunately it’s just an extremely small gift shop. Each house is really small and I don’t know if I’d pay to go in. I somehow walked in through the exit and got in for free.
• Wallenstein Palace
  • Stumbled into these amazing grounds: fountain, huge pillars. It feels like a small Gardens of Versailles.
• MOMENT – Nadační second hand
  • Incredible thrift store!! I got three items for under $8.
• National Technical Museum
  • I was surprised to find myself at the National Technical Museum. I can’t say I would recommend it. Most of the exhibits were on printing, household appliances, and a small display of airplanes, cars, and bicycles.
• Frisbee shop
  • Extremely random, but I bought an ultimate frisbee here. It was $20, so not inexpensive, but I have become convinced that frisbees are underrated souvenirs.
• Trade Fair Palace
  • Unbelievably good museum with Van Gogh, Picasso, and Klimt. Also, fun creative areas where you could play the piano. A range of sculptures and beautiful paintings. Also free if you’re under the age of 26. Highlight was seeing the Lenin visits Prague exhibit, which was stunning.
• Walk along the river!
  • Find the Dancing House, then walk toward the bridge and water. You’ll eventually find a path to walk down to the canal, with a lovely bike path, art galleries, and tons of cute shops and cafes.
• Rudolfinum Park
  • Great little park that borders the water. Immaculate for watching the sunset.

Eats

• Lokal
  • I got the goulash, fantastic, very hearty. They serve goulash with “dumplings” e.g., mashed potatoes pressed together and circles of bread that don’t have any crust.
• Crème de la Crème
  • Their chili mango ice cream was icy and had weak flavor.
• Kavárna co hledá jméno
  • Unbelievably cute spot tucked away in the middle of a parking lot… I got the passion fruit kombucha, super super watery. They have great outdoor seating and are known for their eggs benedict, which looks insane because of the height but has hollandaise that’s a bit watery, with a ton of microgreens. A slight on humanity.
• U Schnellů
  • I walked in by happenstance and got the nakládaný hermelín, soft mold-ripened cheese marinated in oil, garlic, onions, and peppers. Writing that out makes it sound absolutely hideous. The reality, it was okay, fairly mild, very creamy, but a bit too sour, almost like sauerkraut. Also got Svíčková na smetaně, beef served with a rich, creamy root vegetable sauce. I prefer gulosh. Also had a beer while I was here. It was horrible.
• Kus Koláče
  • THEY HAVE THE MOST AMAZING RASPBERRY (koláč) PIES! Served on a soft doughy crust with cheese and jam. Remarkable. Not too sweet! I wanted to try everything here!
• Café Bar Pilotů
  • It felt like a bookstore met a bar, amazing ambiance! Curated (and overpriced) drinks from vacations that the staff had been on. Mine was inspired from Brazil and was served with a custom-designed postcard. The charcuterie was okay, definitely overpriced.
• Pilot Cafe
  • Remarkable scrambled eggs, as well as the toast and butter. Sausage was a bit salty for me.
• Alchymista
  • I got their dark chocolate cake and passion fruit tea, both of which were extremely mid.
• LAB
  • Incredible raspberry beer and a ham, onion jam, and cheese sandwich.

Cesky Krumlov

For as cute and charming as this little town is, they have three different bus stops resulting in a missed connection when I as heading to Vienna and a slightly scarring experience.

Eats

• Karavan Paradino Musia
  • I got some good cream-filled pastries here.
• Travellers restaurant
  • I had some good duck with dumplings (e.g., potatoes) and red cabbage which was much too sweet. The restaurant is so expansive; feels like someone’s ouse with multiple rooms and indoor and outdoor seating. Great ambiance.

Activities

• State Castle and Chateau Český Krumlov
  • The castle is really charming, and it’s fun to walk around. They have a beautiful little bridge connecting various parts of the castle together that afford a great view of the city. It’s a fun place to hang out. They also have a moat with a bear. A bear!!
• Zdroji
  • Go here, lay on the grass, and watch people canoeing by.