We came to Prague, one of the most fascinating cities of the Eastern Europe, through car from Germany. The ride was comfortable as there are fantastic roads to Czech Republic from Deutscheland as the Germans call their country. We did not have to make much hustle bustle to find a hotel. There are many a hotel in Prague around the city centre. The place is also near to the historic old town and the Vltava River. On our way to the main city we had seen many hotels in the quieter places and transport in Prague is very good so as to reach the city centre easily from these hotels too. But all of us except our cameraman wanted to stay at the city centre. The reason was very simple. Prague's historical centre is divided into five areas, spanning both banks of the Vltava River. Charles Bridge is the main connection between the two. By staying here you can have an easy stroll about the city's main sights and attractions with lesser fatigue.
                We all woke up early morning and did not waste much time to get ready. The breakfast was no problem as like most of the hotels of Prague include breakfast and our hotel was no exception. It was dawn and most of the visitors were still in their hotels. I think that was the best time to come to the Charles Bridge and watch a quieter Prague with the ripples of Vltava River. The place at that time was really pleasing and the river at that was a treat to watch. There were fewer people and a lesser traffic to interrupt the peace. Taking shots and wandering about the bridge to imbibe the beauty of Vltava, we stayed there for hours. Slowly, the crowd of the visitors had started gathering around the bridge and we decided to give a rest to our weary feet on the river.
                After a while, I along with Kapil, our Photographer decided to take a cruise to Troja along the Vltava River where there was a plenty to see from the Troja Chateau to the Zoo and Botanical Gardens. At noon we were so tired and again the all pervasive beauty of Vltava came to our relief. There are numerous riverside restaurants and all of them are so good that it becomes hard to choose one. They serve a variety of meals but there is one similarity. They all serve Gambrinus, the world renowned Czech beer. The restaurant we chose served excellent French food that is very popular in Czech Republic but had a plenty of continental dishes too. One more thing, the Prague is not as costly a city as some west European ones are. The food too like accomodation is available in quite reasonable prices.
                Prague or Praha, as the locals call their city, is the ancient capital of Charles IV's Bohemian Kingdom and the city has played a pivotal role in the development of Central Europe since the middle Ages. Its epic history has made Prague one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with tourism of vital economic importance. Prague is not overrun by tourism, but its effects are evident for all to see. Much of the post-communism reconstruction and regeneration of Prague has been driven by tourism, as ancient buildings have been transformed into fine restaurants and stylish hotels.
                Prague, like most of the eastern cities, is best seen by walks or through local transport that is easily available. From the cobbled streets of Prague's Malá Strana district to majestic Prague Castle, first-time visitors can easily explore the city centre on foot. With all its 866 hectares, in theUNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage, Prague historical center is more than ten centuries old. It fascinates visitors by the unparalleled ensemble of many architectural styles- Romanesque rotundas, Gothic spires, Renaissance palaces, the Jewish synagogues, Baroque churches and monasteries, Art Nouveau and Modernist houses -all telling the story of the city largely untouched by natural disasters, the last century wars and sealed off by Iron Curtain from the rest of the world for the last fifty years. The visitors staying at the city centre generally go to the Charles Bridge first to enjoy the beauty of the river Vltava and the place around it. There they find history wandering along the Royal Way through Old Town Square and past the intricate Astronomical Clock which has been ticking since the 15th century. The poignant old Jewish Cemetery and the Kafka Museum which pays tribute to one of Prague's most famous sons, are within walking distance from here.
                Prague is divided by the Vltava and once we were across the River, the road led us up to Prague Castle's courtyards. Prague Castle is the premier Prague tourist attraction. Set on a hill, it offers fine views over the entire city. The Summer Palace at Prague Castle is one of the earliest examples of the Renaissance period. One can Wander the parks that flank the castle, Letná and Petrín, home to a scale model of the Eiffel Tower. Then there is towering St. Vitus Cathedral, a great example of gothic architecture like Charles Bridge. One can also wander without aim in Josefov, the Jewish Quarter and Vy sehrad, Prague's second, rocky castle.
                The day second was more hectic. Our itinerary was tight and Prague had so many places to watch. We ventured a few metro stations to ŽZizkov and took the lift up the landmark communist-built TV Tower which boasts panoramic 360-degree views of the city... Created by sculptor David Cern, they made a great topic of conversation sipping a local Gambrinus beer in a nearby pub. Prague is just full of monumental buildings; especially the churches are really beautiful. There are two magnificent Baroque Churches of St. Nicholas in Prague, both built by the same architect Kilian Ignac Dientzenh offer, one in the Old Town and the second one across the river in Mala Strana. There is a wonderful church at the old town square, the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn. The old town has also has Mucha Museum filled with Art Nouveau of Czech artist Alphonse Mucha. Prague's Municipal House (Obecni Dum) is also a showcase of Art Nouveau design. Cheerful Dancing Building (Tancici Dum) by Chorvatian Vlado Milunic and American Frank Gehry is a modern architectural addition to the city, inspired by the couple of Fred Astair and Gigner Rogers. Moreover, Prague is one of the few cities in the world where you can see cubist architecture. Famous buildings of the city, House of the Black Madonna (Dum U Cerne Matky Bozi) on Celetna are built in this style.
                Prague is full of art and music also as we found out the next day. There are hundreds of concert halls, museums, galleries, movie theatres and music clubs in the city. Prague also hosts internationally acclaimed festivals. The most famous one is the annual three-week “Prague Spring” International Music Festival (May-June) that brings in musicians and music fans from all over the world. There are nearly 40 different theatres in Prague. Among them the National Theatre, the Estates Theatre (the first theatre to be built inPrague), State Opera and National Marionette Theatre are all gorgeous buildings hosting a wealth of performances, mostly concerts, opera and ballets. To see complete list of all Prague theatres, cinemas, monasteries, galleries, clubs etc. you can visit daily updated portal, Prague - Heart of Europe. Not surprisingly, The Czech Republic and especially Prague is a top destination for foreign movies production. The city was a carefully chosen shooting location for many movies produced in different parts of the world. If you are in the mood to watch something different while in Prague, stop at Svetozor in Praha 1 located at Vodickova 41. It is an arthouse movie theatre showing classic, current and independent movies and also Czech movies with English subtitles.
                The most important cultural institutions in Prague are the National Gallery with its extensive art collections, spread throughout the city in six locations and the National Museum hosting historical and natural history exhibits. Prague's other fine museums are definitely worth a visit. The Jewish Museum with the world's largest collection of Judaic art, Rudolfinum which hosts contemporary art temporary exhibitions and House of the Black Madonna, one of the rare Cubist buildings in Europe itself, with exhibitions of Czech Cubism.
                The end of a journey to Prague comes in nearly the similar fashion for all overseas tourists. Another walk about the City Centre, one more visit to the Charles Bridge and of course yet another boat ride in Vltava with a sip of Gambrinus. The Czech Republic is a fantastic country having great cities with wonderful buildings and a classical architecture... its capital Prague corroborates to this fact. The dramatic history of Prague is reflected in the beauty of its fabulous buildings. Once the seat of a mighty medieval empire, this east European city is an open air museum, best explored on foot. Believe me, this classical city has a romantic appeal combined with an enthralling charm that is infectious. A visit to the city of Prague is simply unforgettable.
A Guide to Prague
                Actually the Greater Prague is divided into ten main districts, each containing a number of municipalities. In an hour you can easily stroll from one edge of the historic center of Prague - Praha 1 to the other. Most travellers will never attempt to venture further than Praha 1 as nearly all tourist attractions are to be found within this area. Praha 1 embraces five distinctive city districts: Stare Mesto, Josefov, Mala Strana, Hradcany and Nove Mesto.
Stare Mesto- Old Town
                Prague's Old Town is centered around Old Town Square or Staromestské Námesti, the heart of the city, with the Jan Hus Monument and the Old Town Clock Tower with the built-in astronomical clock from the 15th century. There are quite a few notable churches here, including the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn. It is a tourist hub in Prague dotted with courtyards and abundant cafes, bars and restaurants catering to every taste. The Old Town Hall is open daily. It is only a short walk away from Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske Nam esti), a historic place that witnessed many political protests and celebrations of Prague in the last century.
Josefov- Jewish Quarter
                Its history dates back to the 13th century when historical documents describe the destruction of a Jewish settlement on the bank of the Vltava River. It was a confined walled ghetto for many generations of Prague's Jews until the late 19th century when almost all structures were demolished for the city's reconstruction plans. A few of the most significant buildings have survived a testimony of Prague's Jewish history. These buildings form the best present complex of Jewish historical monuments in all of Europe. Six synagogues, the Jewish Town Hall and the Old Jewish Cemetery are all that remains. Weekly services are still held at the Old-New Synagogue, Europe's oldest.
Mala Strana- Little Quarter
               Charles Bridge connects Stare Mesto to Mala Strana, an area just below Hradcany and bordering the river. Now home to many foreign embassies occupying buildings built by the Catholic nobility, the area is full of palaces, gardens and baroque churches, including the Church of St. Nicholas (Sv. Mikulase). Frequent concerts and recitals (both at lunch time and in the evenings) feature the works of Mozart and Vivaldi.
Nove Mesto- New Town
                This is Prague's main commercial and business district. It is built around Wenceslas Square and topped by the National Museum and the two main commercial streets Na Prikope and Narodni with shopping malls, hotels, bars and restaurants.

Food and Accommodation
                Prague is one of those European cities where you may find best of accommodation in reasonable prices. A large number of hotels with all budgets and ranges are scattered around the City Centre. The Prague hotels around Stare Mesto also have access to a unique slice of history. Likewise, Hotels aboutHradcany Castle are ideally located if you want to gain an insight into Prague's past.
                The same is the situation with eateries which are numerous. There are hundreds of restaurants in Prague. You have the choice of eating anywhere across this gastronomic city. You will find countless restaurants serving traditional Czech goulash and roast pork dishes but also plenty of other European cuisine too. In fact, Prague's restaurants are famous for filling meat dishes and beer. City's cobbled Old Town and Malá Strana are renowned for vaulted cellar restaurants. For a little romance, you may slip into a riverside restaurant with castle views. Choose from a range of world cuisine and dine with diplomats in Dejvická or eat with the locals in residential Vinohrady and trendy New Town. When restaurants close, join Praguers for Wenceslas Square's all-night fast-food. And yes, for the Indians there is Khajuraho Restaurant at Richtruv Dum in the old town. Tourism in Prague has encouraged several top floor restaurants to open, boasting stunning views over the city.

Nightlife
Town: Kick your Prague nightlife off with a sundowner on the Vltava River to take in the panoramic views across the city's golden spires towards Prague Castle. Mingle in Malá Strana jazz bars or sip cocktails before catching an opera in Prague Old Town. Rock out with live music then dance on as Prague's alternative nightlife hits morning.

Bars: Toast Prague nightlife with sophisticated cocktails or one of Prague's famous beers. Prague is renowned for its huge number of bars and you will find the edgiest nightlife in grungy Zizkov. Join the stag nightlife at Irish and English pubs or discover the intimate Prague nightlife nestled in candlelit cellars. Keep pace with the Prague nightlifers and party until dawn in the glitzy Old Town or ethnic Vinohrady.

Clubs: Prague's clubbing nightlife is varied, subterranean and non-stop. Check out live music before midnight then groove to DJs until dawn. Prague nightlife includes a healthy mix of international and local bands at mainstay venues like the Roxy, Akropolis and Mecca. Head to Letná and ŽZizkov for young, loud nights of local drum 'n' bass, breakbeats or rock music. Stick to slick clubs on the banks of the Vltava River, in Prague's Old Town and in Malá Strana for chart-topping tunes.

Entertainment
                Book a ticket to the opera at Prague's 18th-century Estates Theatre where Mozart conducted the premiere of Don Giovanni in 1787 or opt for the State Opera and National Theatre, renowned Prague opera, theatre and ballet venues. Prague nightlife can lure you into smoky Malá Strana jazz bars with nightly live performances. Be prepared for the ultraviolet lights of Prague's imaginative black-light theatre in the Old Town or buy tickets for an ice-hockey match.