Explore Prague

👑 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐝 & 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 🏰 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞

Meet one of Prague Castle's most fascinating buildings: the Old Royal Palace. 👑 At first glance, it might seem quieter than St. Vitus Cathedral or the castle courtyards.

But behind its walls lies nearly a thousand years of Czech history.
The palace wasn't built all at once. Over the centuries, each ruler left their mark, creating a remarkable blend of 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐞, 𝐆𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 architecture that tells the story of Prague itself.

Step inside, and you'll discover 𝐕𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐯 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥 – one of Europe's greatest late Gothic ceremonial halls, so vast that medieval knights could even hold tournaments inside. ⚔️

But the palace also witnessed one of the most dramatic moments in European history. It was here, in 1618, that two imperial governors were thrown from a castle window during the Second Defenestration of Prague.

An extraordinary act of rebellion...that helped ignite the Thirty Years' War, changing the course of Europe for decades to come.

So what exactly is a defenestration?

Why did throwing people out of a window become one of history's most famous political protests?

And how did a royal palace become the setting for an event that reshaped an entire continent?

The best way to discover the stories behind the Old Royal Palace – and understand why it's far more than just another castle building is during our Prague Castle Tour, where medieval kings, emperors and centuries of Czech history come vividly to life. 🎧

🕑 2:00 PM (main season) | 🕜 1:30 PM (off-season)
👉 Book here: https://www.exploreprague.cz/tours/best-of-prague/

One day. One part of Prague. No tram-hopping across the city to escape your decision.

Where are you spending it? 👀

We have our answer, but we’re keeping quiet for now.

Tell us yours – and more importantly, tell us WHY. 👇

🎪 Prague in August gets a little… acrobatic.

One of the city’s favourite summer traditions is back: 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐢́ 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐚́, Prague’s international festival of contemporary circus and theatre.

From 𝟏𝟐–𝟑𝟏 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, Letná Park fills with circus tents and performers from the Czech Republic and around the world. Expect seriously impressive acrobatics, contemporary circus, clowning, theatre, outdoor performances, music and workshops. 🤸‍♀️🎭🎶

And no, we’re not talking about the old-school circus of your childhood. This is circus reinvented: theatrical, creative, occasionally weird, and involving people doing things with their bodies that make the rest of us question whether we’ve been using ours correctly. 😅

But here’s our Prague tip: you don’t actually need a ticket to enjoy Letní Letná.

Come up to Letná, wander through the festival grounds, grab something to eat or drink, soak up the atmosphere and stay for the evening. Some of the programme takes place outdoors, and the festival turns this corner of Letná into its own little summer world. 🌳✨

And since you’re already in Letná, you’re in one of Prague’s best places for a sunset stroll and a view over the city.

📅𝟏𝟐–𝟑𝟏 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
📍 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐚́ 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤, 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝟕

🌿 Looking for a quiet escape from Prague's summer crowds?

Step away from the crowds for an hour and head to 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 🦚, one of the city's most beautiful hidden gems. Peacocks wander freely between fountains, perfectly trimmed hedges, and one of Prague's most unusual artificial grotto walls. It's peaceful, surprisingly spacious, and best of all, it's completely free. ✨
Sounds idyllic.

Now for the twist. 👀

The garden is named after 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐭 𝐯𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧 (1583-1634), Duke of Friedland, a military commander so powerful that even the emperor who promoted him eventually became afraid of him. During the Thirty Years' War, Wallenstein rose from a relatively modest noble family to become one of the richest and most influential men in Europe. Commanding enormous imperial armies, he amassed vast estates and decided he needed a palace to match his ambitions. 🏰

So, in the 1620s, he built what is now Wallenstein Palace and its magnificent gardens, just below Prague Castle. Entire blocks of medieval houses were demolished to make room for his new residence.

He barely got to enjoy it.

As Wallenstein's influence grew, Emperor Ferdinand II began to suspect he was becoming too powerful - and perhaps even disloyal. In 1634, the emperor declared him a traitor. Just days later, Wallenstein was assassinated by officers loyal to the emperor in the town of Cheb.

His palace survived.
Today, it houses the Czech Senate, while the gardens are open to everyone looking for a quiet corner of Prague. 🌿

So next time you hear the resident peacocks loudly announcing their presence, remember you're walking through the former home of a man who climbed to the very top – only to discover that, in seventeenth-century Europe, success could be just as dangerous as failure.

🕰️ Opening hours (April–October)
Mon–Fri: 7:00–19:00
Sat–Sun: 9:00–19:00
🎟️ Entrance: free

🍺 "Beer is cheaper than water."

It's probably one of the most repeated sentence about Prague.

No, Czech restaurants aren't trying to discourage you from drinking water. 💧 And no, every beer isn't magically cheaper than every bottle of water.

But in many traditional pubs, ordering a perfectly poured Czech lager for less than bottled water is a very real possibility. That's the result of centuries of brewing tradition, local production, and a culture that takes beer surprisingly seriously. 🇨🇿

Because in Prague, beer isn't just a drink.

It's history served in a glass. 🍺

August is Prague's last full month of summer, and the city knows how to make the most of it.

The gardens are still in full bloom. 🌿
The parks turn into open-air theatres. 🎪
The city still feels wonderfully unhurried. 🚶

And this month on Explore Prague...

🇨🇿 We'll revisit the Prague Spring, when one bold idea gave Czechoslovakia hope... before Soviet tanks rolled in.

🏰 We'll step inside the Old Royal Palace and uncover how Prague's most famous window changed European history.

🦚 We'll escape the crowds in Wallenstein Garden, a peaceful oasis built by one of Europe's most powerful (and ultimately doomed) military commanders.

🎪 And if you're visiting Prague this month, don't miss Letní Letná, when one of the city's most beautiful parks transforms into an international festival of contemporary circus and theatre.

Whatever brings you here this August, we've got plenty of stories waiting. 💛

🥐 Prague has never really understood the phrase "we have enough cafés."

And honestly... we're not complaining.

The latest openings include specialty coffee shops, a French gourmet boutique, a wine bar, and even a new taco spot.

We've shared Prague Morning's roundup below if you're looking for your next favourite place.

📖 Full list: https://praguemorning.cz/r/A5Zba

Which one are you trying first? 👇

😋 Prague's food scene continues to grow, with a fresh wave of cafés, bistros, and bars opening across the city.

Here are the latest openings: https://praguemorning.cz/r/A5Zba

You've probably noticed lots of people walking around Prague with a trdelník (a.k.a. chimney cake) in hand. 🍦

And honestly? We don't blame them, it smells amazing.

What many visitors don't know is that trdelník isn't originally from Prague (or even Bohemia). It traces its roots to the historical Kingdom of Hungary and only became a tourist icon in Prague in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when it started being widely marketed as a "traditional Czech pastry."

That doesn't mean you shouldn't try one - it just isn't the dessert most Czechs grew up eating.

If you'd like to taste pastries you'll find in traditional Czech cukrárny, here are four local favourites:

🥮 Koláče – soft yeast pastries filled with poppy seed, plum butter, sweet cheese or fruit

🍞 Buchty – fluffy sweet buns with sweet traditional fillings

🍮 Větrník – caramel choux pastry with vanilla and caramel cream

Which one would you try first? 🇨🇿

🚨 Unpopular opinion time...

Every city has that one place everyone tells you to visit... but doesn't always live up to the hype. 👀

So let's hear yours. 👇

Prague has done most of the hard work over the last thousand years.

We're just here to introduce you. 📖

Thanks for the wonderful reviews, the great questions, and for letting us share our favourite city with you. 💚