Birthday break in Prague

Holiday Ratings
Recommended days	3
Budget	£
Difficulty	Easy

This was a package holiday, flying with Easyjet and staying in the Ambassador hotel, near Wenceslas Square. I think this was one of the first packages we had ever done and it was just so easy! For a city break the benefits of travelling independently are less obvious. You basically need a room, flights and transfer to the hotel and the package provides all of that at a discount rate and you are then free for 2 or 3 days to do your own thing.

Deb’s Birthday break in Prague

We had four days in Prague to celebrate Deb’s birthday and see some of the Easter Markets. The first day we arrived late so we had a quick walk around Wenceslas Square and then sat in a McCafe for coffee and cake. It was so nice to be able to go out at midnight and have a coffee without worrying about drunken morons and actually having somewhere where you could go for coffee!

Prague Old City

The next day involved lots of walking – firstly to the Old Town Square where we saw the famous clock, the Easter displays and the amazing architecture, we climbed the clock tower and then back down to meander towards Charles Bridge past shops selling glassware, marionettes, Russian dolls, wooden Easter eggs and, most importantly, cakes. We took our time crossing the bridge, listening to the jazz band, browsing stalls and watching the street artists.

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When we got to the other end of the Charles Bridge we climbed the tower there to take some piccies then stopped at a cafe for a well earned coffee and cake. Crossing the bridge again we climbed the other tower and saw the exhibition on alchemy and then headed to the Jewish Quarter and then eventually back to the hotel for a snooze. Had a traditional Czech meal in the evening (the dumplings were particularly lush!) marred only by smokers and walked back to the hotel whilst the snow was falling.

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On Sunday we headed to the castle via the now familiar route of Old Town Square and Charles Bridge. We stopped off in the Czech Parliament gardens first, the first gardens we have seen here, and saw the white peacocks.

It was a steep climb up to the castle, especially as it was cold so we were togged up in arctic gear! The castle itself was a disappointment, it didn’t seem very well laid out for tourists and we couldn’t actually work out what places were worth visiting, or even open to visit. The buildings were impressive but they were palaces rather than a castle.

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Walking back down the steps and we stopped to have a crepe and trdelnik (sweet pastry) before carrying on towards the bridge and stopping at a cafe for pear grog to warm us up and wash down the second batch of crepe, trdelnik and toast!

We crossed the bridge yet again (yawn) and headed to the Powder Gate. In the tower they had exhibitions of arms and armour, both genuine and replicas made for films such as Hellboy, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Blade, The Borgias etc so that was obviously very interesting.

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McGee’s Ghost Tour

Following this burst of education we walked back to the hotel then for a nap before the ghost walk this evening! The Ghost Walk was excellent, McGee’s Ghost Tour – went around the town square then into the cellars/dungeons under the town hall, good fun. Rounded off the evening with midnight grog in the town square.

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Monday we had a lazy start to the day but left around midday. After a very roundabout walk we arrived at St Cyril’s church only to find it’s closed on Monday- bah! It was one of the places I wanted to see as it is where the assassins of Heydrich were finally cornered by the Germans. We walked along the river bank then back into the old town for lunch. Chilled there for a while, mostly as our feet were aching.

After a suitable break we then visited the Museum of Medieaval Torture – fascinating place. Never ceases to amaze me how inventive man can be when it comes to creating suffering for people, usually at the instigation of the church.

To lift our spirits we then went to St James church to listen to an organ recital – religion can obviously bring out both the best and the worst in people! Finished the day off walking through the Easter market with the lovely smells of cooking trdelnik and crepes wafting over the stalls. Back to the hotel to put our aching feet up before the flight back to the UK.

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This was a lovely birthday break in Prague and it really is one of those ‘must do’ locations. It has been on the frontiers of European warfare and division for centuries and there is so much to see, both tragic and beautiful. It was very crowded in April though, I dread to think what it’s like in summer!

2012