Staré Mesto, Prague's Old Town: Shopping, Sightseeing & Restaurants

The center of Prague is divided into two regions, Staré Mesto Prague Old Town on the eastern bank of the Vltava River with sights such as the Old Town Hall, Jewish Quarter, and the Astronomical Clock.

Prague Castle with St. Vitus Cathedral, the Golden Lane, and the John Lennon Wall are in Prague Lesser Town on the western bank of the Vltava River.

Since 1402, both sides have been connected by the Charles Bridge, the landmark of Prague.

Here we have collected all the important information about Prague Old Town, including sights, attractions, good places to eat, hotels, museums, and travel tips.

Sights, Attractions, and Experiences

Tours, Tickets, and Guided Tours

• Prague: Old Town, Medieval Underground & Dungeon Tour
• Prague: Ghost Walking Tour Where Legends Come To Life
• 1.5-hour guided tour of Prague: ghosts and legends of the Old Town (Bestseller)
• Guided tour of Prague's Old Town and the Jewish Quarter
• 3-hour guided tour of Prague: Old Town, Charles Bridge and Prague Castle
• Best of Prague: City tour by boat, bus and on foot (Recommended)
• Ticket Overview of Prague Astronomical Clock

How Do I Get to the Old Town?

The center of the Old Town is the Old Town Square. It is connected with the Charles Bridge on one side and Wenceslas Square on the other.

Publicly, the Old Town Square with sights such as the Old Town Hall, the Astronomical Clock, and the Jan Hus Monument is most easily accessible by metro line A, green line to the Staroměstská stop. To Wenceslas Square, take the green line A or the yellow line B to the Můstek stop or yellow line A and the red line C, to the  Muzeum stop.

Eating in the Old Town

In the Old Town in Prague there are many restaurants that offer popular Czech cuisine. Czech cuisine is closely related to Austrian, Hungarian, and South German cuisine. There are many meat dishes, which are typically prepared with sauces. All kinds of dumplings are very popular as a side dish.

People eat lunch relatively early in Prague, around 12 o'clock. Lunch is the main meal, in the evening there are often only cold dishes. Therefore, many restaurants close relatively early in the evening.

Bon appetite or Dobrou chut and Přeji vám dobrou chuť  as the people in Prague say......

History of the Old Town

The center of Prague's Old Town is the Old Town Square with its numerous sights. In the 11th and 12th centuries, merchants and craftsmen settled here, and the fortified Old Town of Prague was granted city rights in 1234.

In the 13th century, the Jewish quarter was established, located in the north of Prague's Old Town.

During World War 2, Prague suffered little damage from Allied air raids, as the 90% Czech population was to be spared.

The charm of the Old Town consists of the juxtaposition of buildings from different eras, behind some Baroque facades also hide Gothic walls, which in turn rest on Romanesque foundations ...

The Most Important Periods