My first impressions of Prague began long before I arrived. Some cities look so beautiful in photographs that you wonder whether they’re really going to live up to your expectations when you finally visit them.
For me, Prague was one of those cities.
I’d seen pictures of its colourful buildings, medieval streets, beautiful bridges and Gothic towers. It looked like something straight out of a fairy tale. But photographs don’t always tell the whole story, do they?
So I decided to find out for myself.
And this trip was particularly special to me.
After almost nine months without travelling, I was finally back on the road. My last adventure had taken me to Malta and Rome, and I’d really missed exploring somewhere new, walking around with my camera and sharing those experiences.
This time, I was in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.
I had one big question in mind: Is Prague really as beautiful as everyone says?
Finally Back on the Road: My First Impressions of Prague
My first day started outside Prague’s National Museum, at the top of Wenceslas Square.
It felt great to be travelling again.
There’s something about arriving in a new city that always excites me. You don’t know exactly what you’re going to discover, which streets you’ll end up walking down or what little surprises are waiting around the corner.
Standing outside the National Museum, I was already impressed by the architecture.
The building looked magnificent, and the long boulevard stretching out in front of it was full of life.
People were walking around, trams were passing nearby, and there were shops, cafés and restaurants everywhere.
Prague was already making a good first impression.
My First Walk Through Wenceslas Square
I started walking down Wenceslas Square, taking in the atmosphere and admiring the buildings along the way.
One thing I noticed immediately was the contrast between Prague’s historic architecture and its modern everyday life.
There were grand old buildings standing alongside international shops, restaurants and hotels.
And despite its name, Wenceslas Square felt more like a long boulevard than a traditional square.
I passed the famous statue of Saint Wenceslas on horseback, one of the landmarks of this area.
Of course, after travelling and starting my day of exploring, I needed coffee.
I stopped at a café and bought a large coffee for 79 Czech koruna.
Nothing particularly exciting, I know! But when I’m travelling, even something as simple as drinking coffee in a new city feels different.
Coffee in hand, I continued walking towards the historic centre.
And that’s when Prague started getting even more interesting.
Getting Lost in Prague’s Beautiful Streets
As I walked further away from Wenceslas Square, the streets gradually became narrower.
The modern shops gave way to older buildings, cobblestone streets and little passageways.
This was exactly the Prague I’d imagined.
I love exploring cities on foot. Sometimes I deliberately avoid taking public transport because I feel like you miss so much when you travel underground or go straight from one attraction to another.
Walking allows you to notice the small details.
A beautiful doorway. An interesting little shop. A street musician. A building you weren’t expecting to find.
And Prague seemed to have something interesting around almost every corner.
I also came across souvenir stalls, small markets and vintage-style sightseeing cars taking visitors around the city.
Out of curiosity, I asked about the price of one of those car tours.
A 40-minute ride was €80 for a car accommodating up to five people.
It looked like a fun experience, especially for a group, but I decided to continue exploring on foot.
After all, walking around a beautiful city is one of my favourite free activities!
Old Town Square: The Moment Prague Really Impressed Me
Eventually, I arrived at Prague’s famous Old Town Square.
And this was probably one of my favourite moments of the day.
I’d seen the square in pictures and videos before, but standing there and seeing everything around me was a completely different experience.
The colourful buildings, beautiful façades and impressive Gothic towers created an incredible atmosphere.
The Church of Our Lady before Týn immediately caught my attention.
Its two dark towers rise above the surrounding buildings, making it one of the most recognisable sights in Prague.
On another side of the square stood the beautiful Church of St. Nicholas.
There was so much to look at that I kept turning around with my camera.
Honestly, I didn’t know which direction to film first.
And that’s something I really liked about Prague.
You don’t necessarily need to enter every attraction to enjoy the city. Sometimes simply standing in a historic square and admiring the architecture is an experience in itself.
But there was something else I noticed.
Prague was busy. Really busy!
There were tourists everywhere, taking photographs, joining walking tours and exploring the surrounding streets.
I’d imagined Prague as a romantic city with quiet little streets, and while those places certainly exist, the main tourist areas were much livelier than I’d expected.
Still, I enjoyed the atmosphere.
Watching the Famous Astronomical Clock
Another landmark I was excited to see was Prague’s Astronomical Clock.
Located on the Old Town Hall, this incredible clock dates back to 1410.
It’s one of the oldest working astronomical clocks in the world, and it attracts large numbers of visitors.
What makes it interesting is that it doesn’t simply tell the time.
Its astronomical dial displays different kinds of information, including the positions of the Sun and Moon.
And every hour, visitors gather to watch the clock’s famous mechanical display.
Standing there, surrounded by tourists from around the world, I couldn’t help thinking about how many generations of people had stood in the same square looking at this remarkable piece of history.
That’s one of the things I love about travelling in Europe.
History isn’t always hidden away inside museums.
Sometimes it’s right there in front of you, in the middle of a busy city.
Trying Prague’s Famous Chimney Cake
After all that walking, I started noticing something delicious.
Everywhere I looked, tourists seemed to be carrying these sweet, cylindrical pastries.
Of course, I’m talking about chimney cake, commonly sold in Prague as trdelník.
You can find it all over the historic centre, sometimes covered in cinnamon and sugar, and sometimes filled with ice cream, chocolate or cream.
Although it’s extremely popular with tourists in Prague, it isn’t originally a traditional Czech speciality.
But that didn’t stop me from wanting to try it!
I started with a cinnamon version.
The outside was sweet and slightly crispy, while the inside was softer.
Later, I also tried one filled with ice cream and chocolate.
Was it delicious? Yes, I enjoyed it.
Was it the best dessert I’ve ever had? Not really.
I still think Italy has given me some of my favourite ice cream experiences!
But that’s part of travelling, isn’t it?
Sometimes you try something famous and absolutely love it. Other times, you enjoy the experience without necessarily wanting to eat it again.
Either way, at least you’ve tried it for yourself.
Walking Towards Charles Bridge
After spending time in Old Town Square, I continued towards another of Prague’s most famous landmarks: Charles Bridge.
As I walked through the historic streets, I kept noticing how beautiful the buildings were.
There was something almost cinematic about the city.
The narrow streets, old towers and colourful architecture made even an ordinary walk feel special.
And eventually, I reached the bridge.
Charles Bridge crosses the Vltava River and connects Prague’s Old Town with the Malá Strana neighbourhood.
Construction began in 1357 during the reign of Charles IV.
Today, it’s one of the city’s most photographed attractions.
And I could immediately understand why.
Charles Bridge Was Beautiful — But So Crowded!
Let me tell you something about Charles Bridge.
If you’ve seen photographs of it early in the morning, with almost nobody around and the beautiful towers in the background, you might imagine a peaceful, romantic walk.
Well, that wasn’t exactly my experience!
The bridge was packed with people.
Tourists were taking selfies, photographers were looking for the perfect shot, and street musicians and artists added to the atmosphere.
But despite the crowds, I really enjoyed being there.
The views across the river were fantastic.
You could see historic buildings along the waterfront, beautiful church towers and Prague Castle rising above the city.
And the bridge itself was fascinating.
Statues lined both sides, giving it a completely different character from an ordinary bridge.
One particular statue attracted a lot of attention.
According to a popular local tradition, touching the bronze plaque associated with Saint John of Nepomuk is supposed to bring good luck and help ensure you’ll return to Prague.
So, naturally, I gave it a try!
Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll be back in Prague, and I can blame that statue.
My First Experience With Czech Food
By this point, I’d been walking for hours.
And as much as I love sightseeing, eventually my stomach starts reminding me that I need to eat.
So I decided to try some Czech food.
I ordered beef goulash, a hearty dish served with bread.
The beef was tender, and the rich sauce made it a satisfying meal after a long day of exploring.
I enjoyed it, although I wouldn’t say it was one of the most amazing dishes I’ve ever tasted.
And I think that’s important when sharing travel experiences.
I don’t want to tell people that everything is incredible just because I’m visiting somewhere new.
Some experiences are amazing, some are average, and occasionally something disappoints you.
That’s normal.
For me, being honest about those experiences is part of what makes travel storytelling interesting.
Was Prague as Affordable as I Expected?
Before visiting Prague, I’d often heard people describe it as a relatively affordable European capital.
And while it can certainly be more budget-friendly than some Western European cities, I quickly realised that the tourist centre isn’t necessarily cheap.
Food, drinks and activities around the most famous attractions can add up.
But I also discovered something important.
You don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy Prague.
Some of my favourite experiences that day didn’t cost anything.
Walking through Wenceslas Square, exploring the narrow streets, admiring Old Town Square and crossing Charles Bridge were all memorable experiences without an entrance ticket.
And that’s one of the reasons I enjoy this style of travelling.
I don’t believe you need a luxury hotel, expensive restaurants or organised tours to have an unforgettable trip.
Sometimes all you need is comfortable shoes, a camera and the curiosity to explore.
What Surprised Me Most About Prague?
Looking back at my first day, a few things stood out.
First, the architecture really was as beautiful as I’d hoped.
Prague has an incredible concentration of historic buildings, and walking around the city feels different from visiting somewhere dominated by modern skyscrapers.
Second, I hadn’t expected the tourist areas to be quite so crowded.
Prague may look peaceful and romantic in photographs, but the popular attractions are full of energy.
And third, I loved how walkable the historic centre was.
I could explore so many interesting places without needing to constantly use public transport.
For someone like me who enjoys walking and filming along the way, that was a big advantage.
So, Is Prague Really That Beautiful?
After spending my first day exploring Prague, I finally had an answer to the question I’d been asking myself.
Yes. Prague really is that beautiful.
But not necessarily for the reasons I’d expected.
Of course, the famous attractions are impressive.
Old Town Square, the Astronomical Clock and Charles Bridge absolutely deserve their popularity.
But what I enjoyed most was the experience of simply walking around.
Turning into a narrow street without knowing where it would lead.
Stopping to admire a colourful building.
Trying something new to eat.
Watching the city go about its everyday life.
And discovering little details that don’t always appear in travel photographs.
Prague wasn’t a perfectly quiet fairy-tale city. It was busy, lively, sometimes touristy and occasionally more expensive than I’d expected.
But it was also beautiful, fascinating and full of character.
After nine months away from travelling, it felt like the perfect place to begin a new adventure.
And this was only my first day.
There was still so much more of Prague waiting to be explored.
If you’re planning your own trip, the official Prague City Tourism website is a useful place to find visitor information and local attractions.
Watch My Prague Adventure on YouTube
If you’d like to see what Prague really looked like during my visit, you can watch my travel vlog on Time for Travel.
I take you along as I explore Wenceslas Square, Old Town, the Astronomical Clock, Charles Bridge and some of Prague’s famous food.
The video was originally recorded in Persian, but English auto-dubbing is available on YouTube, so you can follow my journey in English too.
Simply open the video’s settings and select the English audio track.
And if you’ve already visited Prague, I’d love to know what you thought.
Did Prague live up to your expectations, or was it different from what you’d imagined?
Thanks for joining me on another adventure.