Prague itinerary for first-timers

The great medieval square of the Old Town, framed by the twin spires of the Týn Church, the Jan Hus Monument and the Old Town Hall with its 15th-century astronomical clock.

• Astronomical Clock
• Týn Church
• Jan Hus Monument
• Old Town Hall Tower

The clock's figures move on the hour from morning to evening; arrive a few minutes early for a place in front.

Celetná Street leads from the square to the Gothic Powder Tower, one of the old city gates, and the Art Nouveau Municipal House beside it.

• Celetná Street
• Powder Tower
• Municipal House

The old Jewish town between the square and the river, with the medieval Old-New Synagogue, the richly decorated Spanish Synagogue and a monument to Franz Kafka.

• Old-New Synagogue
• Spanish Synagogue
• Franz Kafka monument

The 14th-century stone bridge over the Vltava, lined with baroque statues, with towers at both ends and the castle rising above the far bank.

• Old Town Bridge Tower
• Baroque statues
• Castle views

The bridge is crowded from mid-morning; at sunrise or late in the evening you can almost have it to yourself.

The vast castle complex on the hill above the river, with its courtyards, the Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral, Hradčany Square and views over the red roofs of the city.

• St. Vitus Cathedral
• Castle courtyards
• Hradčany Square
• City views

The castle courtyards open early; arrive before the tour groups and walk down afterwards.

The Lesser Town below the castle: baroque palaces, church domes, walled gardens and cobbled lanes, calmer than the Old Town across the river.

• Malostranské náměstí
• St. Nicholas Church
• Nerudova Street

The riverside island park just south of Charles Bridge, separated from Malá Strana by the narrow Devil's Stream, with the Kafka Museum and its courtyard nearby.

• Kampa Park
• Devil's Stream
• Kafka Museum

The long boulevard at the heart of the New Town, scene of the protests of 1968 and 1989, and Národní Street, where the student march of 17 November 1989 began the Velvet Revolution.

• Wenceslas Square
• Národní Street
• Lucerna passage

Charles Square, once the largest square in medieval Europe, the church crypt that hid the 1942 parachutists, and Frank Gehry's curving Dancing House on the river.

• Charles Square
• Sts Cyril and Methodius crypt
• Dancing House

A hilly working-class district turned bohemian, known for its pubs and for the futuristic Žižkov Television Tower, climbed by David Černý's crawling babies.

• Žižkov TV Tower
• Pub streets
• Vítkov Hill views

Elegant residential streets of Art Nouveau buildings around Jiřího z Poděbrad Square, ending in Riegrovy Sady park, with its beer garden and a view across to the castle.

• Jiřího z Poděbrad Square
• Riegrovy Sady
• Skyline view

The slope of Riegrovy Sady faces the castle and is a favourite local spot for sunset.