My last summer 2022 destination was to Prague. I did visit two other cities during the summer: Lisbon and Porto but Prague was a different and mysterious adventure. For one, visiting countries in Eastern Europe was something that I had stayed away from because of stories of how Black people were treated in those countries. I crossed off the entire region.
While it is not one of the first regions on my bucket list, I knew that if I wanted to experience a different type of cultural travel, with stunning landscapes and culinary dishes that I wouldn’t experience anywhere else, I would need to travel in the region. This is why Eastern Europe is mysterious to me and it’s a mystery that I want to uncloak.
BEST TIME TO GO TO PRAGUE
The best time to go to Prague is during the spring, summer and early autumn. If you want to avoid the crowds, I would suggest not going in the summer. When I was visiting in July, there were a lot of people and you can see this when you visit the Charles Bridge. I don’t think I have seen so many people gathered in one spot at once. In mid-July, it was extremely hot especially as we had the constant heatwave for three months. It was around 30 to 37 degrees Celsius while I was there. If you are going to visit during the spring and early autumn, I recommend bringing a light jacket and an umbrella.
GETTING TO PRAGUE
From Geneva airport to Václav Havel Airport Prague, it is about 1hr 35 minutes direct flight. As always I recommend taking an early flight in so you can seize that day. Without the everyone travelling in the summer and the current cost of living crisis, I suggest buying your flight tickets at least 6 weeks to 3 months in advance.
WHERE TO STAY
Depending on the type of trip you are planning to have in Prague, you can either stay in Old Town or in New Town. Old Town is better if you want to experience traditional Czech culture and be close to all the tourist attractions. New Town is great if you want to experience the nightlife, be closer to the train station, modern hotels and modern restaurants etc. As my trip was a family adventure, the nightlife was not in plans. However, I stayed at the Hilton Prague in New Town because it was closer to my mum’s office and it was the area that she knew best. From my hotel, Old Town was less than a 20 minutes walk. It wasn’t too far of a trek.
Here is a list of other hotels both in Old Town Prague and New Town Prague:
- INNSiDE by Melia (Prague Old Town)
- BoHo Prague Hotel (Prague Old Town)
- Hotel Liberty (Prague Old Town)
- Emblem Hotel (New Town Prague)
- Design Hotel Jewel Prague (New Town Prague)
- Hotel Maximilian (New Town Prague)
WHERE TO EAT
I was spoiled for choice for food in Prague. In New Town, you will find a range of cuisines from Thai food to Japanese food, Italian food etc. dishes that you could get anywhere. One of the things I like to do when I travel is to try dishes that are authentic to the country. I found that I had to go into Old Town across the Charles Bridge to eat traditional Czech dishes. One thing that I noticed with Czech dishes is that they love their gravies, dumpling and hearty food. I don’t know much about the culture but the dishes reminded me of the type of foods you would eat during harsh winters. If you want more traditional dishes, go where the locals stay. Here are a few suggestions:
WHAT TO DO & SEE
Climb to the top of the Old Astronomical Clock Tower. There is a ticket counter opposite the entrance.
Take a historical cruise on the Vltava River
Take a stroll on Charles Bridge and visit Old Town for an afternoon and have Trdelník, the national Czech dessert.
Visit the Royal Gardens and Prague Castle
Book an unique AirBnB experience: I had a 10 course meal dinner with a group of strangers cooked by a chef
WHAT TO WEAR
Prague was very hot when I went during the summer. The temperature was in the high 30s and it was humid. I recommend wearing light clothing that covers your shoulders, a hat and sunglasses to protect your face. I got burnt in Lisbon so I prepared myself for Prague. For shoes, I wore regular trainers and these ASOS sandals which were really comfortable on the cobbled stones.
Although my time in Prague was short, I would like to go back again and experience more of Old Town. I believe staying in New Town stopped me from experiencing what Old Town had to offer. Check out my TikTok for more Prague content and my Instagram highlight for more. If you have visited Prague and have any recommendations, drop them in the comments below. I’d love for this post to become a resource for those who want to travel there in the future!
Until next time,
Folakemi
