Prague – Charles Bridge, Dumplings and beer 

Prague is on the list of cities that can be reached by a car rented from PANEK Rent a Car. This city attracts tourists like a magnet, and its proximity and good connection with many cities in Poland makes it possible to spend 3 weekend days there. 

Prepare first 

The significant expansion of modern roads in Poland means that the journey from Warsaw to Prague takes just over 6 hours, but we you can there get from Wrocław in about 3.5 hours. Highways in the Czech Republic are tolled. On January 1, 2021, the Czech Republic introduced a new toll collection system. The existing vignettes stuck to the windshield have been replaced with an electronic system that scans the car’s license plates. Before entering the Czech Republic, it is therefore necessary to buy an electronic vignette (e.g. on the official website www.edalnice.cz), and a confirmation in the form of a PDF printout, it is worth having with you in the event of an inspection. A 10-day vignette costs CZK 310 (about PLN 54). You should also pay attention to specific regulations regarding additional car equipment, such as spare bulbs, fuses or reflective vests for all passengers, which must be in the cabin of the vehicle. We also pay attention to the very meticulous checks by the Czech police. You can get a fine here for speeding by as little as 4 km / h. 

Time to explore

If we successfully go through the procedures, all we can do now is enjoy the road and what awaits us in the capital of the Czech Republic. However, it will quickly turn out that the weekend is too short to visit all the attractions of the city, so we recommend seeing the most important ones at the beginning.

The most important place on the tourist map of Prague is certainly Prague Castle, which is also the largest building of this type in the world. The President of the Czech Republic has been residing here since 1918, and the building includes a castle, outer bailey, defensive walls, the famous Golden Lane and the Cathedral of St. Greets. To avoid the crowds, be here early in the morning. Only just after sunrise will you be able to feel the magic of this place and the beauty of the surrounding architecture.

Second on the list, right next to the Old Town, is the Jewish Quarter, which was not destroyed during World War II. The reason is simple: Hitler intended to create an Extinct Race Museum here, and for that he needed exhibits. The district has remained practically unchanged to this day, and while walking along the same streets as Franz Kafka wandered, you will come across, among others, the oldest synagogue in Europe.

The Old Town Square and the Town Hall are the next important places in Prague on the list. We recommend climbing the tower of the Town Hall, from where you can admire the beautiful panorama of the city and the red roofs of historic tenement houses. Every hour, the astronomical Orloj clock plays its show. The construction from the beginning of the 15th century is considered by the Czechs as the greatest treasure. Legend has it that the creator of the clock – Master Hanusz, after he finished his work, was blinded that he would never construct anything better and more beautiful. On the market square you will find many gothic tenement houses, and the most important building built in this style is certainly the Church of Our Lady in front of Tyn with its characteristic twin towers. 

One cannot forget the famous Charles Bridge, considered by many to be the most important monument of Prague and the symbol of the city. The building was built in the fourteenth century and is guarded by a dozen or so gothic figures of saints. Huge crowds of tourists want to take a picture here, and the buzz does not stop practically around the clock. Leaving the bridge over the Old Town Tower, we reach the main tourist route, which is Kralova Street, surrounded by 16th-century tenement houses. In addition to the Church of St. Salwator and the Powder Tower you will find hundreds of restaurants and beer cafes here. Here you can find accommodation in one of the atmospheric hostels.

A good meal is essential 

After an exhausting walk, you should eat well to have the strength to explore the city further. There is no need to mention the fact that you can taste beer on every corner. Golden drink lovers will associate Praga with paradise. However, man cannot live only by drinking beer, so it is worth tasting a few local specialties. The first is Kulajda, also known as Czech Soup. This is a slightly sour dish based on mashed potatoes and cream with mushrooms and dill. The next dish is Goulash, brought to Prague from Hungary. Often served with the Knedliks, it gained a completely different character from its Magyar original. The classic of the genre is Vepro Knedlo zelo, the most characteristic dish of Czech cuisine. Dumplings, meat, pickled cauliflower and beetroot treated with a large dose of cumin deserve the company of a hearty mug of beer, just like Svickova – a delicate beef tenderloin dipped in a cream and vegetable sauce served, and, of course, with Knedliks. Don’t forget about Fried Syra, Bramboraki and pork knuckle. Now you know why there are so many breweries and beer pubs in Prague.

Prague is not by chance one of the five most visited capitals in Europe. You will surely come back here more than once, enchanted by the wealth of architecture and the specific atmosphere of the city and tasty cuisine.