EuroTribe

your guide to Europe off the beaten path

Category: Czech Republic

6 Less-Known And Alternative Things To Do In Prague

The city of Prague is one of Europe’s most beautiful destinations, famous for its lovely architecture, world-class museums, and eclectic cuisine. In this post, we highlight some less-known and alternative…

The city of Prague is one of Europe’s most beautiful destinations, famous for its lovely architecture, world-class museums, and eclectic cuisine. In this post, we highlight some less-known and alternative things to do in Prague.

6 Less-Known And Alternative Things To Do In Prague

The Museum of Alchemists and Magicians of Old Prague

This museum is located near the Prague Castle and it’s where the alchemist Edward Kelley lived. The exhibition is dedicated to a number of alchemists including Rudolf II ( known as the “Mad Alchemist”), the magician Žit and others.

The exhibition consists of a magical room of Faust’s house which you can walk through, the spiral staircase from the 16th century which was built by Kelley, and an authentic laboratory.

You’ll also find plenty of information about the alchemy in general. Bring your camera with you and capture this unusual and eclectic tourist attraction.

Go On a Culinary Tour

One of the best experiences to have when traveling is trying new food. A unique way to sample delicious Czech food is by going on a culinary tour in Prague. A culinary tour is an awesome way to do something new, enjoy a portion of great food, and at the same time learn more about the culture of that place. You’ll also get a good introduction of many things you can eat while you’re in the city.

Some famous foods you can try in Prague include chimney cake, gingerbread, sauerkraut soup, kulajda, goulash, and many others.

Idiom Installation

Bibliophiles will appreciate seeing this installation made by Matej Kren. A tower of books that appears to go on forever. What more can you ask for?

Originally, this installation appeared in 1995 for the first time, during the Sao Paolo International Biennial, but it found its permanent home at the Prague Municipal Library in 1998.

Matej Kren has done another fantastic book-themed installation called the ‘Gravity Mixer’.

Franz Kafka’s Head and the Franz Kafka Museum

The head of Franz Kafka is an outdoor sculpture done by David Cerny. It’s made of 42 rotating panels and is 11 meters tall. These panels form the face of this world famous Prague-born writer. The sculpture depicts Kafka’s tortured personality and self-doubt.

You’ll find this statue just next to the Quadrio business center.

David Cerny has also done another complementary state called Metalmorphosis which is located in the North Carolina, USA.

Those who have read the works of Franz Kafka should also visit his museum which was open in the summer of 2005 and since then became one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.

Taste Beer At The Alternative Bars

Trying beer when in Prague is not really an alternative thing to do. It’s essential. After all the city is one of the best destinations for beer lovers. However, you can enjoy world-famous Czech beer at some of the city’s alternative venues.

Here’s a list of some great ones:

  • Cross Club
  • Pivovarsky Klub
  • Black Angel’s Bar
  • Riegrovy Sady Beer Garden
  • Letna Beer Garden
  • Vinohradsky Pivovar

See The Spanish Synagogue

The Spanish Synagogue in Prague is a beautiful piece of architecture that you should see. The building was inspired by Alhambra which explains its exotic interior style. Nowadays, the synagogue belongs to the Prague’s Jewish Museum. It houses different cultural exhibitions and concerts of classical and sacred music.

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6 Less-Known And Alternative Things To Do In Prague

The city of Prague is one of Europe’s most beautiful destinations, famous for its lovely architecture, world-class museums, and eclectic cuisine. In this post, we highlight some less-known and alternative…

The city of Prague is one of Europe’s most beautiful destinations, famous for its lovely architecture, world-class museums, and eclectic cuisine. In this post, we highlight some less-known and alternative things to do in Prague.

6 Less-Known And Alternative Things To Do In Prague

The Museum of Alchemists and Magicians of Old Prague

This museum is located near the Prague Castle and it’s where the alchemist Edward Kelley lived. The exhibition is dedicated to a number of alchemists including Rudolf II ( known as the “Mad Alchemist”), the magician Žit and others.

The exhibition consists of a magical room of Faust’s house which you can walk through, the spiral staircase from the 16th century which was built by Kelley, and an authentic laboratory.

You’ll also find plenty of information about the alchemy in general. Bring your camera with you and capture this unusual and eclectic tourist attraction.

Go On a Culinary Tour

less-known and alternative things to do in prague

One of the best experiences to have when traveling is trying new food. A unique way to sample delicious Czech food is by going on a culinary tour in Prague. A culinary tour is an awesome way to do something new, enjoy a portion of great food, and at the same time learn more about the culture of that place. You’ll also get a good introduction of many things you can eat while you’re in the city.

Some famous foods you can try in Prague include chimney cake, gingerbread, sauerkraut soup, kulajda, goulash, and many others.

Idiom Installation

Bibliophiles will appreciate seeing this installation made by Matej Kren. A tower of books that appears to go on forever. What more can you ask for?

Originally, this installation appeared in 1995 for the first time, during the Sao Paolo International Biennial, but it found its permanent home at the Prague Municipal Library in 1998.

Matej Kren has done another fantastic book-themed installation called the ‘Gravity Mixer’.

Franz Kafka’s Head and the Franz Kafka Museum

The head of Franz Kafka is an outdoor sculpture done by David Cerny. It’s made of 42 rotating panels and is 11 meters tall. These panels form the face of this world famous Prague-born writer. The sculpture depicts Kafka’s tortured personality and self-doubt.

You’ll find this statue just next to the Quadrio business center.

David Cerny has also done another complementary state called Metalmorphosis which is located in the North Carolina, USA.

Those who have read the works of Franz Kafka should also visit his museum which was open in the summer of 2005 and since then became one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.

Taste Beer At The Alternative Bars

Trying beer when in Prague is not really an alternative thing to do. It’s essential. After all the city is one of the best destinations for beer lovers. However, you can enjoy world-famous Czech beer at some of the city’s alternative venues.

Here’s a list of some great ones:

  • Cross Club
  • Pivovarsky Klub
  • Black Angel’s Bar
  • Riegrovy Sady Beer Garden
  • Letna Beer Garden
  • Vinohradsky Pivovar

See The Spanish Synagogue

The Spanish Synagogue in Prague is a beautiful piece of architecture that you should see. The building was inspired by Alhambra which explains its exotic interior style. Nowadays, the synagogue belongs to the Prague’s Jewish Museum. It houses different cultural exhibitions and concerts of classical and sacred music.

No Comments on 6 Less-Known And Alternative Things To Do In Prague

7 Fantastic Walks in Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe offers some fantastic opportunities for walking and not just in the countryside and wilderness, but also in its cities rich with culture and history. Not only will you…

Eastern Europe offers some fantastic opportunities for walking and not just in the countryside and wilderness, but also in its cities rich with culture and history. Not only will you explore new places, but walking is also a fun recreational activity suitable for all ages. Here are my picks for the 7 fantastic walks in Eastern Europe:

The Castle District and The Old Town, Prague

Prague is definitely one of Europe’s most beautiful cities and the best way to explore it is to start from the Castle District. The Prague Castle is the seat of the Czech president and it’s one of the most famous attractions in the city. The views from the top are amazing and from here you can get down to the Charles Bridge which is flooded by tourists, musicians and painters. Continuing to the Old Town you’ll see numerous historic buildings including the famous Astronomical Clock.

View from the Charles Bridge Prague

Meteora, Greece

You don’t get to walk in “the middle of the sky” every day. Well, that’s what Meteora basically means in Greek. This complex consists of 24 monasteries located on immense rocks which were split by earthquakes a million of years ago. This place served as a shelter for those people who seeked spiritual isolation, and considering that they had to use ladders and ropes to inhabitate this unfriendly area, it’s pretty amazing to imagine what they’ve done. However, only six remain today and they are part of the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Walking is definitely the best way to explore Meteora and to enjoy truly breathtaking views and that’s the reason why so many tourist agencies offer interesting hiking tours.

Meteora monasteries

Durmitor and Northern Montenegro

The best way to explore Durmitor national park is to start from Zabljak, which is the highest populated town in the Balkans. 18 glacial lakes also known as the “mountain eyes” add so much to the beauty of this place. The park has more than 200km of marked hiking trails that pass through pine forests and numerous springs. I also suggest a visit to the Holy Trinity Monastery in Pljevlja which is hidden in the woods and has one of the richest art collections in the ex-Yugoslav countries.

Holy Trinity Monastery Pljevlja Montenegro

Old Town, Warsaw

Surely there are more beautiful historic centres in Europe but Warsaw deserves to be a part of this list mainly because of the reconstruction of its urban core after the WW2. It’s just amazing to walk its streets and to imagine that 90% of the city was completely demolished and that exactly looked like this. The historic centre is surrounded by Barbican  – one of the few remaining fortifications in Warsaw. Other prominent tourist attractions in the Old Town include the Royal Castle, St. John’s Cathedral and the Sigismund’s Column.

Old town Warsaw

Eastern Serbia

If you want to escape from civilization Eastern Serbia is a place to go! This hidden gem is famous for its fascinating beauties, waiting to be discovered by more travelers. Picturesque villages located below Stara planina, the highest mountain in eastern Serbia, Zavoj lake with ideal places for camping and interesting geological forms are definitely gonna attract more travelers interested in adventure tourism to this area. For instance, Dry Mountain is a great place for hiking as it offers breathtaking views from the top and it often gathers mountaineers from various parts of the Balkans.

Zavoj lake Serbia

Skocjan Educational Trail, Slovenia

You definitely shouldn’t miss Skocjan Caves once in Slovenia as this place ideally combines beautiful nature and cultural heritage. The underground canyon of Skocjan caves is the largest of its kind in the world and touring this place will make you feel like you’re in an Indiana Jones movie! The most impressive part is walking down the stairs and reaching the bridge inside the cave which is located above the Reka river, some 45 meters above. The cave is surrounded by Skocjan and Betanja villages which are also part of the Skocjan Educational Trail and they are also worth exploring because of the rich cultural heritage and great hiking paths.

Skocjan caves Slovenia

Istiklal Avenue, Istanbul

Walking down this street for the first time will surely never leave your memory. With a never ending flow of people, art galleries, cinemas, libraries, historical patisseries, cafes and restaurants you’ll be like Alice in Wonderland.  The only thing that can interrupt your walk are beautiful historic red trams which are the symbol of the city.  However don’t just walk the Istiklal street, but also explore the alleyways with markets and restaurants.

Istiklal avenue

What’s your most memorable walk?

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